Lemn Sissay: From Childhood in Care to World Famous Poet | Victoria Derbyshire

From Incurable Cancer to Team GB Athlete | Luke Grenfell-Shaw

In this moving interview, Victoria Derbyshire sits down with Team GB athlete, adventurer, and filmmaker Luke Grenfell-Shaw to discuss his extraordinary journey of resilience and hope. Diagnosed at just 24 years old with a rare, aggressive, and incurable stage 4 cancer that had spread to his lungs, Luke was told he may only have months to live. Just days after starting his first cycle of chemotherapy, his family faced further tragedy when his older brother John died in a tragic accident. Luke shares how a conversation with his father shifted his mindset toward survival and taking control of his time. He discusses his unprecedented treatment success, cycling in his hospital room, and the research supporting exercise during chemo. We also hear about his Bristol-to-Beijing expedition, the human kindness he witnessed, and his transition to a Team GB endurance runner. Finally, Luke explains the meaning behind his bagpipes and shares why we shouldn't wait for a crisis to pursue our dreams. Watch Luke's documentary, "A Life In Tandem", here: https://youtu.be/WLsCanknLjI?si=u9aekeTo2KpmcRQL [https://youtu.be/WLsCanknLjI?si=u9aekeTo2KpmcRQL] If you are gripped by this conversation, please like and subscribe for more extraordinary stories told by the people who live them. #UnbelievableBritain #LukeGrenfellShaw #VictoriaDerbyshire #CancerSurvivor #Stage4Cancer #UltraRunning Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Lemn Sissay: From Childhood in Care to World Famous Poet | Victoria Derbyshire

Poet, playwright and broadcaster Lemn Sissay grew up in the care system. Raised as Norman by foster parents who told him he had been abandoned; at 12, without warning, he was sent away from the family home. He then grew up in children's homes, separated from the only family he knew. It wasn't until adulthood he learnt the truth, discovered his real name and that his Ethiopian mother had repeatedly tried to get him back. He traced his birth family and fought Wigan Council in a landmark legal case that exposed failures in the care system. In this week's Unbelievable Britain, he joins Victoria Derbyshire to explore identity, belonging and the extraordinary journey that shaped his life. Lemn reflects on growing up feeling unwanted, discovering poetry, finding his voice and the lessons he's learned about forgiveness, family and what it truly means to belong. Lemn's project Tell Me Something About Family is here. https://tellmesomething.family/ Please do add your own stories. 🎙️ Listen to Unbelievable Britain with Victoria Derbyshire on all podcast platforms. #VictoriaDerbyshire #LemnSissay #UnbelievableBritain #Podcast #Poetry #CareSystem #Identity #Belonging Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

From Fleeing Hitler to Building a Commune | Hedi Argent at 96

Born in Vienna in 1929, Hedi Argent’s childhood was shattered by rising antisemitism and the Nazi annexation of Austria. She remembers with heartbreaking clarity the cruelty at the hands of her teachers, the desperate attempts to flee and the eventual safety offered by Britain. But alongside the trauma, she also remembers moments of extraordinary kindness including the gift from a Railway Porter that still inspires her today. Now nearly 97, Hedi reflects on what she’s learned about resilience, ageing, and why she helped create the North London co-housing community New Ground for older women built on dignity, independence, and mutual support. Our Later Years: Shared wisdom on ageing powerfully together, by the Women of New Ground is out now, published by Bloomsbury in hardback, ebook and audio https://amzn.eu/d/01BGz0mH https://www.waterstones.com/book/our-later-years/new-ground/9781526692283 Subscribe now for more unbelievable stories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

The Big Brother Winner Who Changed Britain... And What Happened Next | Nadia Almada

Twenty years after winning Big Brother, Nadia Almada joins Victoria Derbyshire to reflect on the extraordinary journey that changed her life forever. From her childhood in Madeira and South Africa, to moving to Britain as a young woman determined to live authentically, Nadia shares the story behind one of the most memorable moments in reality television history. She looks back on life inside the Big Brother house, the overwhelming public support that followed her win, and the experience of becoming a household name almost overnight. But this conversation is also about what came next. Nadia speaks candidly about fame, family, identity and the changing conversation around trans lives in Britain. She reflects on why public attitudes feel different today, the challenges facing the trans community, and why she remains hopeful for the future. At its heart, this is a conversation about belonging, resilience and the power of human connection. #VictoriaDerbyshire #NadiaAlmada #bigbrother #unbelievablebritain #podcast #realstories Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

The Gangster Who Found Redemption | Pastor Mick Fleming with Victoria Derbyshire

From dealing drugs to running food banks, scraping together £20 to having £300k in the bank, Pastor Mick Fleming has had an extraordinary life - marked by crime, violence but full of forgiveness and redemption. In this week's Unbelievable Britain, Pastor Mick speaks candidly to Victoria Derbyshire about his very unconventional route to salvation — his troubled past, the events that led him down a destructive path, and the voice of God that changed his life forever. He reflects on faith, and the challenges facing some of the most vulnerable people in society today. Now the founder of Church on the Street, Mick dedicates his life to supporting those struggling with homelessness, addiction and poverty, offering practical help and hope to people who often feel forgotten. Content Warning: This interview contains reference to child sexual abuse, drugs and violence. If you have been affected by anything in this episode please contact: NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) Website: https://www.nspcc.org.uk Helpline: 0808 800 5000 Childline (for anyone under 19) Website: https://www.childline.org.uk Phone: 0800 1111 (free, confidential, 24/7) NAPAC (National Association for People Abused in Childhood) Website: https://napac.org.uk Support Line: 0808 801 0331 Church on the Street (community support, recovery, addiction and homelessness services) Website: https://www.cots-ministries.co.uk Phone: 01282 222 203 WithYou (drug, alcohol and mental health support) Website: https://www.wearewithyou.org.uk Online support and local services available via the website. Change Grow Live (drug, alcohol, mental health and wellbeing support) Website: https://www.changegrowlive.org Find local services and support through the website. 🎧 Listen now. #unbelieveablebritain #mickfleming #churchonthestreet #addictionrecovery #homelessness #faith #redemption #podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]