Gregg Wallace 'sorry' but says he's 'not a groper'

6 minutes ago Share Save Noor Nanji & Steven McIntosh Culture reporters Share Save

BBC An independent review upheld 45 allegations against Wallace relating to his behaviour on MasterChef

Former MasterChef host Gregg Wallace has said he is "so sorry" to anyone he hurt, but insisted that he is "not a groper, a sex pest or a flasher". In a new interview with The Sun, the TV presenter also defended his sacked co-host John Torode, saying he is "not a racist". Wallace was sacked earlier this month after a report upheld 45 allegations about his behaviour on the programme, including one of unwelcome physical contact and three of being in a state of undress. Torode was also axed after a claim against him using "an extremely offensive racist term" was upheld. He has said he has "no recollection" of the incident.

The inquiry, conducted by an independent law firm, was ordered by MasterChef's production company Banijay in the wake of a BBC News investigation last year, which first revealed claims of misconduct against Wallace. Since then, more than 50 people have come forward to BBC News with claims against him. They include allegations he groped one MasterChef worker at a wrap party and pulled his trousers down in front of another.

The majority of substantiated claims against Wallace related to inappropriate sexual language and humour, but also culturally insensitive or racist comments. In his first interview since being sacked, the presenter acknowledged that he had said things that "offended people, that weren't socially acceptable and perhaps they felt too intimidated or nervous to say anything at the time. "I understand that now - and to anyone I have hurt, I am so sorry." He indicated his background was to blame for those comments, as a former greengrocer from Peckham working in an environment that was "jovial and crude". But he added: "I'm not a groper. People think I've been taking my trousers down and exposing myself - I am not a flasher. "People think I'm a sex pest. I am not." Wallace said that one of the upheld claims against him related to a widely reported incident in which he had allegedly walked around MasterChef's set naked with a sock on his penis. Addressing that incident, he said that there were no contestants on set, and just four of his friends from the show outside his dressing room door. "I was getting changed to go to a black tie event, a charity event. I put my bow tie on and my shirt. It's only them outside the door. I put the sock on, opened the door, went, 'Wahey!' and shut the door again. "The people interviewed were either amused or bemused. Nobody was distressed," he claimed.

Autism defence

Ahead of the report's publication earlier this month, Wallace posted a now-deleted statement on Instagram in which he appeared to link the misconduct allegations he was facing to his recent autism diagnosis. That led to a backlash from charities and groups working with disabled people. One charity told BBC News that autism is "not a free pass for bad behaviour", while other groups warned that such remarks risked stigmatising the autistic community. In his interview on Friday night, Wallace spoke again about his diagnosis, saying: "I know I struggle to read people. I know people find me weird. Autism is a disability, a registered disability." He also repeated a claim that he "never [wears] pants", saying: "It's not sexualised. It's hypersensitivity - that happens with autism."

The BBC has said a previously filmed series featuring Wallace and Torode will still be broadcast as planned

Cambodia calls for immediate ceasefire with Thailand

11 minutes ago Share Save Jaroslav Lukiv BBC News Share Save

Anadolu via Getty Images A Thai soldier stands guard in the Surin province on the border with Cambodia

Cambodia has called for an "immediate" ceasefire with Thailand, after two days of cross-border fighting between the two South East Asian neighbours. Cambodia's ambassador to the UN, Chhea Keo, said his country asked for a truce "unconditionally", adding that Phnom Penh also wanted a "peaceful solution of the dispute". Thailand has not publicly commented on the ceasefire proposal. It earlier declared martial law in eight districts bordering Cambodia. At least 16 people have been killed and tens of thousands displaced in both countries, who accuse each other of firing the first shots on Thursday.

Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai on Friday warned that the clashes could "move towards war". He said the fighting now included heavy weapons and had spread to 12 locations along the border. Thailand also accused Cambodia of firing into civilian areas and evacuated all villages deemed to be within the radius of its rockets. Cambodia, for its part, accused Thailand of using cluster munitions. Cluster munitions are banned in much of the world because of their indiscriminate effect on civilian populations. Thailand has not responded to the allegations. Meanwhile, Thailand's foreign minister told the Reuters news agency there was "no need" for third-party mediation in the conflict, even as global leaders appealed for an immediate ceasefire. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who chairs the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean), had earlier offered to facilitate talks between the two countries. The US also called for an "immediate cessation of hostilities, protection of civilians and a peaceful resolution of the conflict".

​​What is inside the GHF aid box being distributed in Gaza

19 minutes ago Share Save Kevin Nguyen and Alex Murray BBC Verify Share Save

Reuters

More than two million Palestinians in Gaza are facing a starvation crisis, with deaths from malnutrition rising by the day, according to the United Nations. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a group backed by Israel and the US, has been operating in Gaza since late May. It says that it has distributed 91 million meals, primarily in the form of food boxes. While the BBC has been unable to see these boxes first-hand since Israel has blocked international journalists from entering Gaza, BBC Verify has examined photos and other information shared by the GHF and spoken to aid experts who have raised concerns about their nutritional value.

What's in the boxes?

Videos have circulated online of Palestinians showing the contents of the boxes, but the GHF has only shared images of them this week. Two pictures posted on X show mostly dried food items that require water and fuel to cook, including pasta, chickpeas, lentils, and wheat flour. Also included is cooking oil, salt and tahini, or sesame paste.

The GHF has said these boxes also contain some ready-to-eat food, like halva bars - a popular snack made from blending tahini or sesame paste and sugar. The organisation has provided us with a table of what it describes as a "benchmark" list of items in each box, with a calorie breakdown. A typical box contains 42,500 calories, and that "each box feeds 5.5 people for 3.5 days". according to the table.

It occasionally includes substitute items like tea, biscuits, and chocolate, and is also delivering potatoes and onions, but these are not included in the nutritional figures, the GHF has said.

'Serious weaknesses'

An international aid development professor from the London School of Economics analysed the list provided by the GHF to BBC Verify and said that while it could deliver sufficient calories needed to survive, it had "serious weaknesses". "In essence, this basket provides a full stomach but an empty diet," Prof Stuart Gordon said. "The biggest flaw is what's missing… This (is) very much a 'first aid' food basket, designed to stop the haemorrhaging effect that is acute hunger." "A diet like this over weeks would lead to 'hidden hunger', increasing the risk of diseases like anaemia and scurvy" he said.

X: cogatonline The Israeli government has also released images of different items contained in a GHF box

Dr Andrew Seal, an associate professor of international nutrition at the University College London, said the food boxes were deficient in calcium, iron, zinc, and vitamins C, D, B12, and K. He added there was also a lack of foods to suit young children. "Prolonged consumption of these foods, even if they were made available in adequate amounts, would lead to a range of deficiencies and serious health problems," he said. He added that unlike the GHF, agencies like the UN typically distribute food in bulk and supplement it with targeted nutrition for vulnerable groups. The World Food Programme (WFP) has said it also aims to deliver emergency supplies for young children and pregnant women. The GHF did not respond to BBC Verify's questions surrounding the advice it received about the nutritional contents of its aid boxes or whether it planned to address concerns raised by experts.

TikTok/@user427554577 Gazans have posted video of the aid boxes they've received

Why we need to talk about periods, breasts and injuries in women's sport

5 minutes ago Share Save James Gallagher • @JamesTGallagher Inside Health presenter, BBC Radio 4 Share Save

Getty Images

The Euros are reaching their conclusion in a massive summer across women's sport. But away from the drama and excitement on the pitch, there is also a scientific revolution taking place. Teams of scientists are researching the unique ways that elite sport affects the female body – how breasts alter the way you run, but the right sports bra could give you the edge; how the menstrual cycle could impact performance and what role period trackers could play; and why is there a higher risk of some injuries, and what can be done to avoid them? It's a far cry from the era when professional female athletes told me they were thought of simply as "mini-men".

Breast biomechanics

Cast your mind back to the iconic scene from the final of the last European Championships in 2022. It was extra time at Wembley and Lioness Chloe Kelly scored the winning goal against Germany. In the ensuing euphoria, she whipped off her England shirt showing the world her sports bra. It was fitted by Prof Joanna Wakefield-Scurr, from the University of Portsmouth, who proudly goes by the nickname the Bra Professor.

Getty Images England striker Chloe Kelly celebrates her goal during the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 final between England and Germany

Here are her breast facts: Breasts can bounce an average of 11,000 times in a football match

An average bounce is 8cm (3in) without appropriate support

They move with up to 5G of force (five times the force of gravity), comparable to the experience of a Formula 1 driver Laboratory experiments – using motion sensors on the chest – have revealed how a shifting mass of breast tissue alters the movement of the rest of the body, and in turn, sporting performance. "For some women, their breasts can be really quite heavy and if that weight moves, it can change the movement of your torso, it can even change the amount of force that you exert on the ground," Prof Wakefield-Scurr tells me.

University of Portsmouth The University of Portsmouth uses motion capture technology to monitor breast tissue movement during physical exercise

Compensating for bouncing breasts by restricting the movement of your upper body alters the positioning of the pelvis and shortens the length of each stride. That's why sports bras are not just for comfort or fashion, but a piece of performance gear. "We actually saw that low breast support meant a reduction in stride length of four centimetres," Prof Wakefield-Scurr explains. "If you lost four centimetres every step in a marathon, it adds up to a mile." Sports bras also protect the delicate structures inside the breast, "if we stretch them, that's permanent," the professor says, so "it's about prevention rather than cure".

The menstrual cycle and its effect on performance

Calli Hauger-Thackery Calli Hauger-Thackery, Team GB distance runner

The menstrual cycle has a clear impact on the body – it can affect emotions, mood and sleep as well as cause fatigue, headache and cramps. But Calli Hauger-Thackery, a distance runner who has represented Team GB at the Olympics, says talking about its sporting impact is "still so taboo and it shouldn't be, because we're struggling with it". Calli says she always notices the difference in her body in the lead up to her period. "I'm feeling really fatigued, heavy legs, I [feel like I'm] almost running through mud sometimes, everything's more strained than it should be," she says. Calli finds she "lives" by her menstruation tracker, as being on her period is a source of anxiety "especially when I've got big races coming up". One of those big races was in April – the Boston Marathon – and Calli's period was due. She finished in sixth place, and recalls that she "luckily got through" - but says she can't help wondering if she could have done even better.

The menstrual cycle is orchestrated by the rhythmic fluctuations of two hormones – oestrogen and progesterone. But how big an impact can that have on athletic performance? "It's very individual and there's a lot of nuance here, it's not quite as simple as saying the menstrual cycle affects performance," says Prof Kirsty Elliott-Sale, who specialises in female endocrinology and exercise physiology at Manchester Metropolitan University. "Competitions, personal bests, world records, everything has been set, won and lost on every day of the menstrual cycle," she says. This famously includes Paula Radcliffe, who broke the marathon world record while running through period cramps in Chicago in 2002.

Prof Kirsty Elliott-Sale from Manchester Metropolitan University

Working out whether the menstrual cycle affects sporting ability requires an understanding of the physiological changes that hormones have throughout the body, the challenge of performing while experiencing symptoms, the psychological impact of the anxiety of competing during your period and perceptions about all of the above. Prof Elliott-Sale says there "isn't a phase where you're stronger or weaker", or where "you're going to win or you're going to lose", but in theory the hormones oestrogen and progesterone could alter parts of the body such as bone, muscle or heart. "What we don't yet understand is: Does that have a big enough effect to really impact performance?" she says. The professor adds that it is "a very sensible conclusion" that poor sleep, fatigue and cramping would have a knock-on effect on performance, and that dread and anxiety were an "absolutely tangible thing" for athletes on their period who are performing in front of large crowds. She has spoken to athletes who "sometimes even triple up with period pants" to avoid the risk of leaking and embarrassment, and "that's a heavy mental burden".

Katy Daley-McLean, England's highest scoring rugby player

Rugby union team, Sale Sharks Women have been working with Manchester Metropolitan University. I met Katy Daley-McLean, former England rugby captain and England all-time leading point scorer. The team are having open discussions around periods to help them understand the impact that menstruation can have, and how to plan for it. This includes taking ibuprofen three days before, rather than thinking: "I can't do anything about it," Daley-McLean says. "It's through that knowledge and that information that we can talk about this, we can put plans in place, and we can change our behaviour to make you a better rugby player," she says.

How to avoid injuries

One issue that has emerged as women's sport has been given more attention is a difference in the susceptibility to some injuries. Most of the attention has been around the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) – a part of the knee that attaches the upper and lower parts of the leg together. Injuries can be brutal and take a year to recover from. Not only is the risk three to eight times greater in women than men, depending on the sport, but they are becoming more common, says Dr Thomas Dos'Santos, a sports biomechanics researcher at Manchester Metropolitan University. However, there is "no simple answer" to explain the greater risk in women, he says. Partly it could be down to differences in anatomy. Bigger hips in women mean the top of the thigh bone starts from a wider position and this changes the angle it connects to the lower leg at the knee, potentially increasing risk. The ACL is also slightly smaller in women "so it's a little bit weaker, potentially", Dr Dos'Santos explains.

Dr Thomas Dos'Santos, Manchester Metropolitan University

ACL injuries can happen at all stages of the menstrual cycle, but hormonal changes are also being investigated, including a study sponsored by Fifa, the governing body for world football. High levels of oestrogen prior to ovulation could alter the properties of ligaments, making them a bit more stretchy so "there could be an increased risk of injury, theoretically," he says. But Dr Dos'Santos argues it's important to think beyond pure anatomy as women still do not get the same quality of support and strength training as men. He compares it to ballet, where dancers do receive good quality training. "The [difference in] incidence rates is basically trivial between men and women," Dr Dos'Santos says. There is research into whether it is possible to minimise the risk of ACL injuries, by training female athletes to move in subtly different ways. But there is a risk of lessening performance, and some techniques that put strain on the ACL – like dropping the shoulder to deceive a defender before bursting off in another direction – are the necessary moves in sports like football. "We can't wrap them up in cotton wool and say you should avoid playing sport," Dr Dos'Santos says. "What we need to do is make sure that they're strong enough to tolerate those loads, but it isn't just as simple as some people saying we can 100% eradicate ACL injuries, we can't."

No longer 'mini-men'

How reality TV changed the way we think - for the better

37 minutes ago Share Save Alex Taylor • @Tayloredword BBC News Share Save

BBC

It was 17 August 2000 and a group of people were huddled around a computer screen in the BBC TV newsroom, when suddenly there came a collective gasp. One of the group turned around and announced, very solemnly: "Nasty Nick's gone." Nick Bateman - a housemate in the UK reality TV show Big Brother - was found to have attempted to "manipulate" his fellow contestant's votes, and was asked to leave the reality TV house. It would become front-page news. The saga prompted a nationwide moral debate, not only about the incident but the very existence of the show. Writing for the London Evening Standard one TV critic accused Big Brother's top executive Peter Bazalgette of "smearing excrement over our screens". A reviewer from The Herald newspaper denounced the housemates as "fakers, chancers, dullards, no-marks, and dimwits". Yet Britons voted with their feet (or their remote controls). Some 10 million people tuned in for the finale on 15 September - marking the start of a major cultural shift.

Press Association It is exactly 25 years since the first Big Brother UK series - and reality TV has snowballed since

Now, 25 years on, reality TV is one of the most popular genres on screens in the UK. The Traitors attracted more than 10 million viewers for the opening episode of third series in January. And Love Island UK may have seen audiences shrink since its episode peak of six million in 2019, but it has still been renewed 10 times. For years, the dark sides of reality TV have been unpicked. There have been concerning, in some cases devastating, impacts on the contestants of certain shows, which has rightly prompted change. As for critics, some have continued to dismiss many reality TV shows as superficial escapism, at best - or, at worst, harmfully divisive. Listen closely, however, and a small clutch of psychologists and social experts are quietly starting to tell a different story - one that suggests that the impact of watching reality TV might not be as bad for brains (or social consciences) as it may seem.

Getty Images/ Press Association Nick Bateman was asked to leave the Big Brother house. It would become front-page news

Some suggest that it could help viewers build a better grasp of perspectives outside our realm of experience, or even overcome biases. "Reality TV has historically been more diverse demographically than other forms of media," says Danielle Lindemann, a sociology professor at Lehigh University, Pennsylvania. "[It] casts a spotlight over patches of the social landscape that we don't always see, so in that way, it can be a tool for greater social understanding."

A glimpse behind the curtain

The UK Big Brother, based on a Dutch television series of the same name, brought together a group of 10 strangers in a house in London. For 64 days, contestants were sealed off from the outside world and their every move filmed, with viewers voting out roughly one person each week until a winner was handed the £70,000 prize. What was truly innovative wasn't the competition format but the connection between the audiences and the ordinary people whose lives inside the house played out on screen. "That didn't exist before," says Dr Jacob Johanssen, associate professor of communications at St Mary's University, who researches the psychological effects of reality TV. "For the first time, viewers started seeing ordinary people on television who weren't celebrities, which is a very different phenomenon."

ITV/PA Wire Today 'reality tv' covers a broad spectrum, including competition-based shows such as Survivor, The Traitors and Love Island - some of their cast from the 2022 series are pictured

Today reality TV covers a broad spectrum — from fly-on-the-wall dramas that document the lives of friends (The Only Way is Essex, Geordie Shore, Made in Chelsea) to competition-based shows (Survivor, The Traitors, Love Island) that revolve around the 'reality' of contestants' lives. But its power remains the same - each offers a glimpse into the dramas of real peoples' lives - a chance to see behind the curtain. "You do see lots of unfiltered, raw emotions… in these different programmes," continues Dr Johanssen. "If we see them in real life, usually that would happen in the private sphere, certainly not in public."

'People feel less isolated or alienated'

Dr Johanssen has worked on the reality show Embarrassing Bodies, which features patients consulting with doctors, aiming to destigmatise common health complaints. As he sees it, "even though there are lots of problematic aspects to it, it made people aware there are different kinds of body types, there are different conditions people might have. "It perhaps made people feel less isolated or alienated."

The same can go for disability awareness. Pete Bennett, the winner of the 2006 series of Big Brother, was a livewire personality who won over the public, also happened to have Tourette's syndrome. His appearance on the show felt groundbreaking at a time when disability awareness and representation in the UK was nowhere near current understanding - and it gave enough screen time for a mass audience to both be introduced to Tourette's, but also warm to Pete. "I'd get bullied a lot with Tourette's," Pete explained of his time before Big Brother. "I couldn't really go out and enjoy myself without being ridiculed or started on because of my ticks." But he adds: "I've never been bullied since leaving the house."

Getty Images Pete Bennett, the winner of the 2006 series of Big Brother: "I've never been bullied since leaving the house"

Then there are the conversations about uncomfortable, and sometimes controversial, subjects that contestants have delved into too - in some cases a lightning rod for national discussions. Over the years, several Love Island contestants have been accused of "gaslighting," a potential form of coercive control, which is a criminal offence. It has prompted much discussion on social media, in one instance leading Women's Aid to release a statement. Prof Helen Wood of Lancaster University, who researches and advises on the ethics and practices of reality TV, recalls a separate discussion about domestic abuse and argues that raising this can be a positive. "I remember a big debate about Love Island and whether it allows… a conversation on what domestic abuse looks like?" she says. "For some audiences that could be triggering, for some audiences that could be helpful."

Insights into social cues… and deception

Faye Winter was 26 when she appeared on Love Island. She worked as a lettings manager at the time, but lamented there were, as she saw it, "no fit men in Devon", where she lived, so she applied for the show and joined the 2021 series. Quickly, she partnered up with Teddy Soares, a financial consultant originally from Manchester. "From a girl's standpoint, they're going to have to get used to me stirring a few pots and causing a bit of a ruckus," he told ITV after signing up.

Getty Images Love Island contestant Faye Winter's heated, expletive-filled shouts prompted complaints to Ofcom

The promised ruckus soon materialised, after Faye was shown a clip in which Teddy admitted to being sexually attracted to another contestant. Her heated, expletive-filled shouts, in which she called Teddy two-faced, prompted almost 25,000 complaints to Ofcom. Some considered her response disrespectful and an "overreaction". Yet other viewers strongly identified with her. "I got a lot of trolling for it," she later told a newspaper. "[But] I got a lot of people who said they've been through it". Dr Rosie Jahng, an associate professor of communications from Wayne State University in Michigan, believes that the insights offered by reality TV into social cues, body language, and deception, can be valuable. "It becomes like testing a moral boundary – we start to ask, 'what would I do in that situation?'"

When reality TV becomes 'constructed' reality

Understanding how others react in situations can in itself be informative, or prompt self-reflection. But what happens when reality TV deviates away from documented reality to a murkier type of "constructed" reality? A former Made in Chelsea cast member previously explained how it worked when she was on the show. "The producers spoke to us on the phone for hours every week," Francesca "Cheska" Hull, who appeared from the first series, previous said in an interview. "They'd come on nights out with us. They put us in situations that created drama."

Getty Images Cheska Hull (fourth from the left) poses with some fellow Made in Chelsea cast members

She stressed that scripts weren't used but added, "You knew the conversations you had to have". On the surface, at least, this seems to deviate from the idea of following raw emotions. But psychologists have suggested that even constructed reality can have benefits. "It can potentially offer benefits to viewers and society because it can lead to wider conversations about the world we want to live in," argues Dr Johanssen. "For instance when it comes to problematic or unethical behaviour or questions of gender identity and inequality for example."

The darker side of reality TV

The experiences of people who appear on the shows, however, raises an entirely different set of questions. "We have to separate out the value of a show sparking a conversation and what's happening to participants," explains Prof Wood. "A lot of shows, especially early shows, were about putting people in very difficult situations that were trauma-inducing." During the 2007 series of Celebrity Big Brother, actress Shilpa Shetty found herself at the centre of a race and bullying row, after a fellow contestant called her "Shilpa poppadum". The incident sparked a national conversation about racism.

Press Association During the 2007 series of Celebrity Big Brother, actress Shilpa Shetty found herself at the centre of a race and bullying row

"With the Shilpa Shetty case… there were lots of complaints where people felt someone was being bullied or not being treated well on screen," says Prof Wood. "I think that moment enabled a sort of shift. We don't want to see that anymore." More recently, some Love Island contestants have spoken about their experiences of poor mental health following the show, as well as struggles with the relentless scrutiny. A UK parliamentary committee carried out an inquiry into reality TV in 2019, and said its "decision to launch the inquiry into reality TV comes after the death of a guest following filming for The Jeremy Kyle Show and the deaths of two former contestants in the reality dating show Love Island".

PA Media The Jeremy Kyle Show was a tabloid talk show on ITV

"We're still not there in terms of whether participants are completely adequately cared for," argues Dr Johanssen, who submitted evidence to the inquiry. "They have no agency or control over the edit, or what an episode looks like, how somebody is portrayed." However, Love Island's producers have said they've learned how to better support the cast and crew. Revised welfare measures have been introduced including specialised social media training for contestants, as well as video training and guidance on topics including coercive behaviour and avoiding discriminatory language. Ofcom also established new rules to protect those appearing on TV and radio reality shows, following a steady rise in complaints over the welfare of guests — saying broadcasters must "properly look after" contributors, particularly those who might be at risk of "significant harm" as a result of taking part. "A lot of the broadcasters are saying to us that there's a shift in mood," adds Prof Wood, who is working on a research project looking at care practices in UK reality TV. "They want participants… to get something better out of it than they would have in the past."

Reflecting society back at itself - or shaping it?

The question that remains, however, is what the collective impact is. Is reality TV just holding up a mirror to society, or could it really play an active part in shaping it? Prof Lindemann believes that there are examples of positive connections between the material on reality shows and how viewers engage with the world. Even as far back as 2011, it was found to be having an effect on behaviour.

Press Association Big Brother contestant Craig Philips (left) celebrates winning the first UK series 25 years ago

She points to one US study which found that girls who watched dating shows like Temptation Island, The Bachelor, or Joe Millionaire were more likely to talk with one another about sex. In 2014, a paper was published, cowritten Melissa Kearney an associate professor of economics at the University of Maryland, that drew links between a reduction in teenage birth rates in the US, and the airing of a reality series on MTV called 16 and Pregnant, which offered a brutally honest look at life for pregnant teenagers. This show "was not specifically designed as an anti-teen childbearing campaign," wrote the authors, "but it seems to have had that effect by showing that being a pregnant teen and a new mother is hard." They concluded: "We find that media has the potential to be a powerful driver of social outcomes." One decade on, that certainly hasn't changed. Which makes reality television a powerful tool. In some cases that tool is powerful for the worse - but just sometimes, it really could shape those watching it for the better.

Top picture credit: ITV/PA Wire

Teens detained for machete murder of boy on bus

7 hours ago Share Save Jess Warren BBC News Frankie McCamley BBC News Reporting from Old Bailey Share Save

Met Police Kelyan Bokassa was fatally stabbed by two teenagers on a bus

Two teenagers have been given life sentences for murdering a 14-year-old boy who was attacked with machetes on a bus in south-east London. Aspiring rapper Kelyan Bokassa was stabbed 27 times as he sat on the back seat of a route 472 bus in Woolwich, south-east London, on 7 January. The defendants, now 16, previously pleaded guilty to Kelyan's murder and possessing a knife. They were both sentenced to serve a minimum term of 15 years and 10 months. In a victim impact statement read to the Old Bailey, Kelyan's mother Marie Bokassa said: "I stand here not just as a mother but as a broken soul whose life changed forever the day my child's life was taken from me by another child."

During the sentence hearing the court heard Kelyan had cried "take me to my mum's, I want my mum", as he made his way through the bus, before his legs buckled as he bled heavily from a wound to the leg.

Family handout Ms Bokassa told the court her son had loved food, cooking and football, and brought her flowers on her birthday

Ms Bokassa said she had spent her son's 15th birthday at his graveside. "I ask myself what has happened to those two boys that has resulted in that terrible act of violence, and I cannot imagine how can they be so angry," she said. "What they did was horrific and I do not know what has led them to do this, and maybe I will never." Sentencing the pair, Judge Mark Lucraft KC told the court: "For any parent to lose a child is a tragedy. No sentence of a court can truly reflect the loss of a young life."

The Old Bailey heard the youths appeared to have been tipped off that Kelyan was on the bus before they boarded. Members of the public sobbed loudly and hid their faces as footage of the attack on Kelyan was shown in court, while the defendants gave no visible reaction in the dock.

The two killers were captured on CCTV fleeing the scene while still holding their machetes following the murder

Prosecutor Deanna Heer KC said Kelyan had boarded the 472 bus just after 14:00 GMT to attend an appointment at the Youth Justice Centre in Woolwich. CCTV footage showed he went to sit on the back seat on the top deck, with a small kitchen knife in the waistband of his trousers.

Ms Heer said the teenager looked around and out of the windows before taking his seat "giving every impression that he was concerned for his safety". The defendants, who cannot be named for legal reasons, boarded the bus 20 minutes later, each armed with identical machetes hidden in their clothes. The pair walked towards Kelyan "with purpose" and without speaking a word to their victim, thrust their machetes at him 27 times while smiling. The attack lasted 14 seconds. Ms Heer said: "Kelyan Bokassa had no time to reach for his own knife, which remained in his trousers, and instead tried in vain to protect himself with his school bag. "There were several other passengers on the top deck who fled in panic when they realised what was happening. They describe hearing intense screaming from the back of the bus and the victim shouting, 'Help. Help. I've been stabbed'."

Met Police The attack was captured on CCTV cameras

The bus driver activated his emergency alarm just before 14:27 and the defendants fled when the vehicle stopped at Woolwich Ferry. CCTV showed Kelyan stumbled down the aisle to the stairs, where another passenger went to help him. Members of the public flagged down a passing police car and officers found Kelyan had collapsed and his body was limp. Despite attempts to save him, Kelyan died at the scene at 15:23. One of the machetes was discarded in the River Thames, but later recovered. The defendants were arrested on 15 January after a manhunt by Met Police officers and were charged the next day. The court heard both have previous convictions for carrying blades in public. Kelyan had been in care and had spent time at a children's home in Deal, Kent.

Outside the court, a statement read on behalf of Ms Bokassa said: "To the young people who carry knives, I beg you to stop before you raise that blade. "Don't let a moment of anger steal your future. Don't let the streets raise you in a way your mother never would. There is no power in death, only loss." Samantha Yelland, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said the teenagers' "violent attack" on Kelyan left him with "little chance of survival". She said the CCTV evidence of the defendants on the bus left them with little choice but to plead guilty, adding: "I hope their sentences provide some degree of comfort to Kelyan's friends and family."

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk

Failings in care of cricketer who died, coroner says

5 hours ago Share Save Hsin-Yi Lo BBC News, South East Share Save

PA Media Graham Thorpe was a mainstay in the England cricket set-up for many years

There were failings in the care of former England cricketer Graham Thorpe in the months before he died, a coroner said as he recorded a conclusion of suicide. Thorpe was not perceived by healthcare professionals to be in a "crisis situation" after they were told he had asked his wife "for help to end his life" weeks before he died, Surrey Coroner's Court in Woking heard. The 55-year-old, regarded as one of the best English players of his generation, died on 4 August 2024 after being struck by a train at Esher railway station in Surrey. Coroner Jonathan Stevens said there had been "shortcomings" in Thorpe's care, but they did not amount to gross misconduct.

The court heard Thorpe had "spiralled into depression" after losing his job as a batting coach, and had tried to take his own life on another occasion. After he missed an appointment with the community mental health team on 28 June, care co-ordinator Katie Johnson spoke to his wife Amanda on the phone, who said her husband was "constantly asking for help to end his life", the court heard. Ms Johnson said she then spoke to Thorpe who told her he "hadn't been out for a while" and "didn't see the point of being here", but had no immediate plans to act on suicidal thoughts.

'Shortcomings in care'

The coroner said that the last time the cricketer had been seen in person by healthcare professionals was on 20 March. "In my judgment, there were shortcomings in the care that should have been provided to Graham in the last four months or so of his life," Mr Stevens said. "If he had been seen in those last four months, particularly after that incident on 28 June, I cannot say whether it would or would not have made any difference." An investigation was carried out by Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust after Thorpe's death. Dr Shriti Burgul, a consultant psychiatrist who reviewed the investigation's report before it was finalised, told the court one of the findings was "it was noted Mr Thorpe's presentation at his appointment on 28 June 2024 was in keeping with previous presentations and not perceived by the team as a crisis situation".

Asked if arranging an appointment in two weeks was an appropriate response, Dr Burgul said that in the absence of a patient expressing "active intent" or an "active plan" it would be appropriate to allow two weeks. She told the court that Thorpe was not at the level of requiring intervention from the home treatment team. The psychiatrist was asked if there was any evidence that there would have been a different outcome if there had been an in-person assessment. She replied, "no". The investigation noted a letter from when Thorpe was discharged from a private hospital in July 2022, which said a neuropsychologist should be identified to provide further support, the inquest heard.

'A real shock'

Given the conversation was over the phone, the psychiatrist was asked if it would have been appropriate to arrange to see Thorpe quickly. She told the court: "In the wisdom of hindsight, then yes, a home visit would have been clinically indicated." This was never done by the private provider or the GP, and a risk panel advised it should be explored in June 2024, Dr Burgul told the court. Asked whether there was any neuropsychological impact that could have affected the cricketer's ability to engage in appointments, given he missed some, the psychiatrist said: "It's a possibility, yes". Thorpe's cause of death was recorded by a pathologist as multiple injuries, the coroner said. His widow said the termination of his employment with the England and Wales Cricket Board had been a "real shock to Graham", which was the "start of the decline of his mental health".

Briony Leyland/BBC Lawyer Mark McGhee, Amanda Thorpe (wife of Graham Thorpe) and Mr Thorpe's father, Geoff

Mrs Thorpe described her husband as her "best friend and soulmate". Following the conclusion of the inquest, she issued a statement that said: "We will never get over the tragic loss of Graham and we miss him everyday. "Next Friday would've been Graham's 56th birthday and we plan to celebrate his life at the Oval." Mrs Thorpe said the family would gather with the charity Mind to raise funds to help people affected by mental health illness. "We would like to reduce the stigma and shame felt by sufferers, especially middle-aged men," she added. She said the event was to also raise awareness of people who are supporting families and friends living with mental health issues.

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Thorpe was a left-handed batter who had played for Surrey County Cricket Club. He was a mainstay in the England set-up for many years, first as a batter between 1993 and 2005, before spending 12 years in coaching roles. During a distinguished international career, Thorpe struck 16 Test hundreds for England, including a debut century against Australia at Trent Bridge in 1993, and represented his country 182 times in all formats. During his role with the England and Wales Cricket Board, he mentored players Ben Stokes and Joe Root.

'One of England's greatest cricketers'

The ECB described Mr Thorpe as "one of England's greatest cricketers" and was a "deeply admired and much-loved person". A spokesperson for the board said: "His generosity, warmth, and passion for the game left a lasting impact on everyone fortunate enough to know him. "His untimely death is a profound tragedy, and his loss is felt deeply across the cricketing community and far beyond. "Our thoughts and heartfelt sympathies are with his wife, children, his father, and all those who loved him." They added Mr Thorpe's passing was a "stark reminder" of the challenges many face with mental health. "We hope the upcoming 'Day for Thorpey' at the Kia Oval will both honour his memory and encourage others to seek the help," they said.

Additional reporting by PA Media.

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More on this story Thorpe 'spiralled into depression' after losing job

When British 19-year-old Jay Slater went missing in Tenerife, in June 2024, a huge search operation was launched. His body was found nearly a month later.

Now, a coroner in the UK has concluded his death was accidental after he fell down a ravine.

The BBC's Fiona Trott explains what we learned from the court proceedings.

In the fourth round of the 2001 Wimbledon Championships, Roger Federer played his first and only competitive singles match against Pete Sampras.

Pistol Pete was a seven-time champion at the All England Club. Federer, a 19-year-old with a terrible ponytail and no major titles to his name, stunned the GOAT in five sets. Sampras played one more Wimbledon and Federer would go on to outstrip the American with eight titles.

Sport is littered with torch-passing moments. Some obvious, others that reveal themselves in the fullness of time.

Nagpur, 2012. Joe Root, days shy of his 22nd birthday, was called into the England Test side for the first time. Facing a four-pronged India spin attack, he impressed batting in his brand new navy blue cap. Scores of 73 and 20 not out helped England to a draw that sealed a famous 2-1 series win.

In the India team was Sachin Tendulkar. It was the singular occasion he shared the same field with Root in international cricket. Tendulkar, 39 at the time, played just six more Tests and did not make another hundred. He retired a year later with an unfathomable 15,921 runs.

Unbeknown to anyone at the time, the long pursuit had begun. Root was catchin' Sachin.

Liverpool, who won the league by 10 points last season, are top of the list with £269m spent so far this summer. That includes the purchases of Wirtz and Ekitike, as well as Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez for £40.8m and right-back Jeremie Frimpong, who cost almost £35m from Bayer Leverkusen.

It has been a contrast to the 2024-25 campaign, when the Anfield outfit's only major signings were goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili and forward Federico Chiesa, who joined for a combined total of less than £40m.

Chelsea, fourth in the Premier League last season, have spent the second highest total this summer, with just over £212m. Their biggest moves have been a deal worth £60m for Brighton forward Joao Pedro, left-winger Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund for £56m, and Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap for £30m.

Arsenal have been runners-up in each of the past three seasons and they would also pass the £200m mark with the arrival of Gyokeres, having already spent £137m. Their major purchases have included Spain midfielder Martin Zubimendi for £60m from Real Sociedad and Chelsea winger Noni Madueke for just under £50m.

Manchester City finished third last year and did their business early in the summer, with about £127m spent, largely on the trio of midfielder Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan, left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolves and French attacker Rayan Cherki from Lyon.

Manchester United suffered their worst campaign in the Premier League era when they came 15th. They are the only side outside last season's top four to have spent more than Manchester City this summer, but most of their £133.5m outlay has been on two forwards - Cameroon international Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford and Brazilian Matheus Cunha from Wolves.

Tottenham finished 17th in the table, but salvaged a disappointing season by winning the Europa League - beating Manchester United in the final - although it was not enough to avoid manager Ange Postecoglou getting the sack.

Spurs have since spent £122.5m under new boss Thomas Frank, with almost half of that in one transfer - the £55m purchase of midfielder Mohammed Kudus from West Ham, while it cost £30m to turn attacker Mathys Tel's loan from Bayern Munich into a permanent deal.

In hot conditions in Washington DC, both Raducanu and Sakkari struggled to hold their serves in the opening set, with the Briton converting three of her six break points and her opponent two from four.

However, at 4-4, Raducanu struck the decisive blow, breaking Sakkari's serve for the third time before converting a second set point.

The 29-year-old Sakkari, runner-up at the tournament in 2023, had an opportunity to take the match into a decider after breaking serve in the sixth game of the second set and saving two break points for a 5-2 lead.

However, Raducanu roared back to win five consecutive games, including converting two of her five break points, to take the second set 7-5.

She received attention from a physio during the second set and later said she felt a "bit wobbly" due to the heat.

"It was brutal today," added Raducanu. "It was a long match, the first set was over an hour. You just have to enjoy suffering and leave it all out there on the court.

"Maria played an incredible match and the conditions really suit her with the liveliness of her game.

"I need to prepare [for the doubles] and get out of the heat. I felt a bit wobbly at the back end of the second set."

In the men's doubles, Britain's Neal Skupski and Australian partner John-Patrick Smith reached the semi-finals after coming back from a set down to upset fourth seeds Michael Venus and Yuki Bhambri 3-6 6-4 10-7.

Elsewhere, British number four Fran Jones will enter the top 100 in the WTA rankings on Monday for the first time in her career after reaching the semi-finals in Palermo.

The 24-year-old beat Hungary's Panna Udvardy 6-2 6-3 to set up a meeting with Tatiana Prozorova in the last four.

If James loses her race to be fit, then who should replace her in the team will become a huge topic of debate, similar to that around the timing of Wiegman's substitutions, which has dominated conversation this tournament.

The Dutch manager has faced calls to make changes earlier in games if things are going to plan, but she argued it is not that simple.

"It's not a decision that we just make in the moment - when we name the squad, we talk about what me might need at certain moments in games. And what player will fit that," she said.

"Of course it's very nice that we have these players available as options to play for England.

"We have already thought of scenarios, what we might need at certain stages of the game, and which player will fit in that scenario.

"Before every game we sit down and talk through what we might potentially need in the game. And the 'when' [to make the change] is just a feeling - sometimes you might think 'OK, we are doing better now in the second half, so lets keep it [the same], but then when you don't create chances or a goal then you have to change something.

"Change the dynamics a little bit or make your opponent uncomfortable, make them adapt to a new player in the same position. It's a feeling during the game, but of course a lot of preparation has been done before that moment."

Two players pushing for starting berths are Chloe Kelly and 19-year-old Michelle Agyemang, who both played key roles from the bench to rescue England against Sweden and Italy in the quarter-finals and semi-finals respectively.

"It's a nice one [problem] to have, but you mention those two [Kelly and Agyemang] because they have been coming on and scoring goals. But I think Grace Clinton has also made a great contribution - she had to play in Keira [Walsh's] position when Keira had to come out, a very important position.

"Niamh Charles came in against Sweden and made a crucial header defensively. You can talk about more players who have made an impact coming on from the bench. It gives us headaches but I want to have those headaches.

"We look at what opponent we have in front of us and what would fit best when we start the game."

Wiegman said "it's really nice to feel the support," after Football Association chief executive Mark Bullingham said that she is "not for sale at any price".

That said, she would not be drawn on her future beyond the end of her current contract, which expires after the 2027 Women's World Cup.

"I'm so 'in' these Euros - we play a final on Sunday and there is nothing else that I am thinking about," Wiegman said.

"[The crowd] got their money's worth. I think they wanted 15-all but that last leg, I just had to stay focused," he told Sky Sports.

"I didn't really panic. Leg by leg, Andrew started to win a few on the trot, but on the last leg, against the darts, I just had to get over the line.

"He played his part, it's very tough. Andrew never goes out of rhythm, he's the same throw by throw. I just had to find a rhythm to match him."

Littler teased there would be "fireworks" in the fourth quarter-final and Rock delivered.

Both the 24-year-old (104.02) and Price (100.21) averaged above 100, but it was Rock who seized the moment, winning three consecutive legs to open up an 11-8 lead and then extending his advantage to 13-9.

Price rallied to make it 13-11, but Rock - who beat three-time champion Michael van Gerwen in round two - closed out the match in style, winning the last three legs and producing a checkout of 164 in the final one.

"I'm on cloud nine at the minute. What a game," Rock told on Sky Sports.

"I was just like, 'Josh, you're doing nothing wrong, you're playing your own game, happy days'. The form Gerwyn's in, you know what to expect.

"Littler's one of my closest friends behind the scenes. I hope we both turn up. Hopefully it will be a cracking game."

The semi-finals will take place on Saturday evening with England's James Wade facing Jonny Clayton of Wales, before Littler's meeting with Rock.

Joe Root's masterful 150 took him up to second on the all-time Test run-scorers' list and gave England complete control over India at the end of day three of the fourth Test at Old Trafford.

MATCH REPORT: England v India fourth Test - day three

Available to UK users only.

'Don't look away' and 'Prostate patients ignored by NHS'

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The Daily Mirror leads with reports of malnutrition in Gaza, as Israel is criticised about aid supplies reaching people. The UN's food aid programme says almost one in three people in Gaza are going days without eating. Israel says there is no restriction on aid getting through. The paper also features a story about US President Donald Trump raising the possibility of a pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell – who was found guilty of helping Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse young girls.

The Times lead story features Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer rejecting calls for the UK to formally recognise Palestine as a state, after more than 130 Labour MPs called on him to follow France's example and do so.

Prostate patients are being "ignored" by the NHS, the Daily Telegraph reports, as part of its campaign for a targeted screening scheme. Its front page also features a story headlined "Rayner piles pressure on Starmer to recognise Palestinian state".

The Financial Times' Weekend's top story is "Capital gains tax changes backfire". It also prominently features reporting on aid and malnutrition in Gaza, with an accompanying photograph of a severely thin child. The falling number of children in Chinese kindergartens is another focus.

In his first interview since being fired from MasterChef, Gregg Wallace tells The Sun that he is "not a groper, a sex pest or a flasher". The former presenter was sacked from the show and 45 allegations about his behaviour on the show were upheld.

The Daily Mail devotes its front page to a report about how County Lines gangs are switching their focus from drugs to phone thefts. The front page also features an interview with a British national talking about being held hostage by Hamas.

The top story in the Daily Express on Saturday is a plea to "Stop this war on our family farms", as the paper continues its campaign against what it calls "brutal" changes to inheritance tax.

The Star leads on England's footballers as they prepare to take on Spain in the Euros final on Sunday. The team's "secret weapon" is a little dog. The playful headline is "It's coming bone!!!". The Lionesses have promised to bring home the trophy for team pet Reggie.

Sleep, run, hydrate - should you be a stickler for recommended daily doses?

26 minutes ago Share Save Ruth Clegg Health and wellbeing reporter Share Save

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It felt like there was a collective sigh of relief when a study, published this week, suggested 10,000 steps a day isn't the health utopia we had all been led to believe. The news that we only had to reach 7,000 steps was enough to quite literally stop us in our fervent step-counting stride. So what about some of the other health targets that many of us swear by? Can we fall short of the mark but still live long, healthy and happy lives? We've taken a handful of commonly cited healthy lifestyle benchmarks, examined them with various experts to get an idea of why they exist, explored the health claims, and, most importantly asked if there is any wriggle room. Is sleep so important that we have to spend so much of our lives doing it? How much exercise is enough? What about drinking water? How much do we really need? Disclosure - the below is not medical advice, it's more of an inspection of many of the health ideals we have on our radar.

Water (6-8 glasses a day)

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According to the NHS, the average grown-up should be drinking between six and eight glasses (1.5-2 litres) of water a day. However, maybe we don't need to cart our fancy flagons around with us as much as we thought. Prof Neil Turner, kidney specialist at the University of Edinburgh, says as humans we existed for thousands of years without knowing what a pint or a litre was. "I mean, mice don't need flashing water bottles telling them how much to drink - why do we?" he says. "Our bodies are set up to do things just right - we eat when we are hungry, we breathe when we need to breathe, and we drink when we are thirsty." Oh. Is it really that simple? According to Prof Turner, who has seen a lot of kidneys in his time, that rule applies to the vast majority of us. Those with specific conditions, like a kidney disorder, may have to drink more. He says if our urine is dark, in the general healthy population, we shouldn't panic that we haven't drank enough - that is the kidney doing its job. It is reserving water in our body, he explains, and our body should tell us that we feel thirsty and then we will get a drink. Dr Linia Patel, a performance nutritionist, disagrees. We might drink different amounts, she says, due to factors like our size, how warm we are, whether we've been drinking alcohol, but she feels having a target of 1.5 to 2 litres is a good thing - especially for women. "I would definitely say from a women's health point of view, where I work, what I see is a lot of the symptoms [associated] with being dehydrated. It might be fatigue, constipation, brain fog, feeling hungry [or] cravings." She says that if the problem is related to hydration then it's "an easy one to get right, if you're consistent with it".

Sleep (7-9 hours a night)

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Moving on to sleep - the NHS recommends seven to nine hours a night for the average adult, and there's not much wriggle room to be had there. Prof Ama Johal, a specialist in sleep disorders, says sleep is vital; without it we are beginning to shave years off our lives. "The evidence is there, there are huge bodies of research which show that the health benefits are multiple. "A good night's sleep - that's at least seven hours of quality sleep - reduces the risk of obesity, diabetes, depression and finally, it lowers mortality rates." He points to a study which used 10,000 British civil servants - those that slept for fewer than five hours a night had an increased risk of early death. But could we shave an hour off the minimum recommended - and settle for six hours a night? "No," Prof Johal says. "As soon as we lower the limit then there's a risk people will think it's ok to sleep for less time." Cat napping? "Unfortunately not," he says, "Our bodies have very different reactions to naps through the day, and eventually if we tried to make up the hours we were missing overnight by sleeping through the day, we would struggle to fall asleep at night." But all is not lost, nappers among us - there are studies that suggest a short snooze in the day can keep the brain youthful, and even compensate for poor or broken sleep the night before. Prof Johal suggests that for those who struggle to get the recommended amount, try to target a few nights of good sleep a week, and just being "more aware that sleep is so important".

Emily & Lucy Emily Thornton and Lucy Hird - active walkers, but they struggle to sleep

Emily and Lucy are two avid walkers from Manchester. But alongside their love of walking, the two women share a less healthy trait: they struggle to nod off because of their anxiety. But they say the target of seven hours sleep a night is something they "are working towards".

Exercise (150 mins a week)

Emily and Lucy are, however, "definitely nailing it" when it comes to exercise. Through their group, Soft Girls who Hike, they have found a love of walking which has not only improved their mental health, they say, but connected them with many other women. They don't try to meet all the healthy benchmarks on their radar, they explain, because "life just gets in the way". But they are doing 7,000 steps a day and taking long, low impact walks at the weekend. The Chief Medical Officer recommends doing 150 minutes of exercise a week and two strength training sessions. Is that achievable for most? Dr Sinead Roberts, a sports nutritionist who trains elite athletes, is pragmatic in her approach. While moderate strength training and physical activity is vital for maintaining muscle mass, she says, as well as resistance to injuries and supporting our immune systems, you have to adapt the recommendations to fit with your life. "Rules are for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise people," she says. "This phrase really does apply here. "I have friends who do nothing - and that really does show, I say, 'You're walking like an 80-year-old!' "But if you are doing one strength session a week and some moderate exercise then that is definitely a good thing, just try and do more if you can." She uses an analogy of a highway - the more things we can do to stay healthy the wider the road, which, in turn means we can go off course sometimes without careering up a grassy verge. "All those benchmarks are interlinked - you can't just do one healthy thing and ignore the rest. Equally you don't need to put so much pressure on yourself to achieve them all." This attitude chimes with Emily and Lucy, who say they happily "chip away" at some of the health benchmarks. "For example, we might do five minutes of meditation [which is] better than nothing, but we wouldn't stress about not hitting the recommended goal."

Mindfulness (10 mins a day)

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Through its Every Mind Matters campaign, the NHS recommends 10 minutes of mindfulness a day. Basically, instead of pondering the future or thinking about the past, you pay attention to the moment, noticing what is going on inside and outside of ourselves, letting our thoughts pass by without judgement. Some studies suggest activities like mindfulness can have a positive effect and also help change the structure of the brain. Psychologist Natasha Tiwari, founder of The Veda Group, says 10 minutes is a good start to "give the mind time to settle, and the brain enough time to truly benefit" from the process of mindfulness. But many of us lead busy lives, and to carve out 10 minutes in the day can be a luxury. In some respects, could having these targets make life more stressful? Ms Tiwari disagrees - it's less about the time spent and more about the awareness of mindfulness and bringing it to our everyday lives. "Even brief pauses," she explains, "can still have a positive impact".