BBC - Victoria Derbyshire's Blog

Tuesday's Programme..

Victoria Derbyshire — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:22:44 +0000

In half an hour we'll hear the opening comments of Sir John Chilcot live at the beginning of his inquiry into the Iraq war. Plus we'll talk about the technique of sperm washing - which allows an HIV positive man to become a father without passing on the virus to either his partner or unborn child. And we'll get reaction from one of the men arrested and then released after those terror raids in the North West of England - today a report into those arrests has criticised the police.

Should beauty advertisers be more honest, and open, about the amount of airbrushing they use?

Victoria Derbyshire — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:06:50 +0000

A new survey suggests that more than two-thirds of women feel they're selling 'perfect' images of women that are unrealistic, and unobtainable. So, just how much tampering goes on with the photos we see in magazines and on billboards? And how damaging can all this be for women's self esteem, and confidence?

We'll speak to the supermodel Erin O'Connor about this today. See what people are already saying about it on my twitter page: search @vicderbyshire.

Next week - Zimbabwe

Victoria Derbyshire — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:56:52 +0000

Inflation has been tamed (it was 500 billion % in February, it's now 3%), a few goods have reappeared in the shops and a little more food is available to a hungry nation. Criticis say President Mugabe has lost none of his readiness to repress his enemies. When we visit Zimbabwe next week we'll hopefully find out for ourselves exactly what life in the country is like right now.

Anonymity - but who is it protecting?

Victoria Derbyshire — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:57:58 +0000

This morning, the 5 live listener who wants to lift the court order protecting her toddler son so YOU can know the identity of the abusive ex-husband who broke five of her son's ribs when he was just weeks old.

The mum is furious that her former partner was given just 170 hours of community service despite admitting two assaults on their baby son. Now she says she would be happy for the courts to lift a banning order put in place to protect her son in order to expose her violent ex.

Is she right?

This is what we're chasing..

Victoria Derbyshire — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:56:17 +0000

How to stop cyber bullying, various court cases, the new ACPO domestic violence register, Elizabeth Truss, Belle de Jour and whatever else happens in the world of news and sport.

Crown Jewels and Compensation

Victoria Derbyshire — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:02:50 +0000

At ten o clock this morning the review of sport's "crown jewels" is expected to recommend that the home Ashes tests and international football qualifiers for the home nations should return to free-to-air TV. David Davies, the former executive director of the FA, who's been leading the review will be taking your calls from 12 today. And we'll get reaction from Giles Clarke - the chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Plus, we'll examine the case of Jay jones. Jay - the three year old boy who was attacked with a car jack eleven times by his friend who was also three at the time. A landmark ruling has decided he IS entitled to compensation and could get up to twenty thousand pounds. We'll speak to his mother.

Carnage on Britain's streets?

Louisa Compton — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:55:17 +0000

Carnage UK is a company which organises pub crawls for students in 45 towns and cities across the UK. They've been accused of encouraging binge drinking by health campaigners and the National Union of Students wants to ban them.

Last week a judge condemned Carnage UK after a student admitted urinating over a war memorial after one of their events. The company says it's just providing a fun evening for students in a safe and controlled environment.

We sent our reporter Andrew Fletcher to find out what really happens on one of these pub crawls. You can see a film of his night in Lincoln below, and from 10:30 on Thursday's show we'll hear from Carnage and the National Union of Students on my programme.

In order to see this content you need to have both Javascript enabled and Flash installed. Visit BBC Webwise for full instructions. If you're reading via RSS, you'll need to visit the blog to access this content.

If you've been on a Carnage night out, get in touch and let us know what it was like.

Tuesday's programme will be busy

Victoria Derbyshire — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:02:18 +0000

Sir Chris Hoy is on the programme today - you can talk to him; also the lottery winners from Wales give a news conference at 10 (ish) and the lottery winners from Liverpool give a news conference at 11. Can money buy you happiness do you think? Plus Gordon Brown's monthly news conference at ten when he'll be questioned about that telephone conversation with the mother of a British soldier killed in Afghanistan. We can't play the conversation in full because it was a secret recording. Mrs Janes has agreed to the release of the recording, so far we haven't had permission from Downing St.

The top-flight ref battling cancer

Louisa Compton — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:23:27 +0000

Today Victoria spoke to Premier League referee Mark Halsey and his wife Michelle. Mark's having chemotherapy after being diagnosed with throat cancer just a few months ago, and Michelle has leukaemia - but despite their illness both are determined to stay upbeat, and Mark can't wait to get back to work.

You can listen to their interview here, on today's programme page.

Afghanistan..

Victoria Derbyshire — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:42:09 +0000

Morning...at 9am Gordon Brown gives a big speech on Afghanistan. Do listen to what he has to say and tell us what you think.

Back in S5

Victoria Derbyshire — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:59:08 +0000

..after Sir Christopher Kelly's news conference at Westminster yesterday. This morning we're expecting to hear whether there will be any sanctions on the Conservative MP Alan Duncan over his expenses arrangements. Back in July the Daily Telegraph reported that Mr Duncan took out a new mortgage on a house he already owned outright so that he could claim the mortgage interest on expenses.

Plus we hope to talk to various Europe Ministers from around the continent to ask their reaction to what the Conservatives would do about repatriating powers if they win the next election. The French one, Pierre Lellouche has been very outspoken in the Guardian today.

And all the latest news and sport of course.

BBC ID - the new comment system

Alex Murray — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:47:04 +0000

The BBC has a new blog sign-in called BBC iD. If you add a comment from now on you'll be prompted to upgrade your account(s). You only have to do it once and it should be quick.

One note of caution though: if you've got multiple BBC accounts, you'll only be able to upgrade one of them to BBC iD using your preferred username and email address.

If you have any questions or need a hand, you can get help over at the BBC Internet blog

Peter Bacon: I'm leaving the UK to start afresh

Victoria Derbyshire — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:20:52 +0000

"I'm thinking of a new name, a new Facebook identity, a new email...a new everything." The words of a 27 year old student from Canterbury who was charged - and cleared - of rape. It took a jury 45 minutes to decide that Peter Bacon had not raped a solicitor who'd claimed she was so drunk she couldn't have consented to sex. After his trial was over, Mr Bacon spoke to me - and it was clear that despite the acquittal - he was traumatised by what he'd gone through.

Today he is back on the programme to reveal the dramatic next steps he's taking to start his life again.

Would YOU give him another chance?

Victoria Derbyshire — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:40:40 +0000

Should Wigan striker Marlon King ever be allowed to play professional football again?

McNulty keeps his promise

Louisa Compton — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:58:05 +0000

The former Home Office and Employment Minister Tony McNulty has apologised after being ordered to repay £13,837 of expenses claimed on his second home. Mr McNulty designated his constituency home in Harrow East, about 13 miles from Westminster, as his second home for expense purposes. It is also the home where his parents live permanently, while he himself lives in Hammersmith, about 3 miles from Westminster. When his expenses were first made the subject of an investigation by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Mr McNulty promised to come back on this programme and discuss the issue in full. Today he kept his promise.