When the transparency pilot began in early 2023, we covered a contested adoption case... but there's been little press reporting of such cases since.

Some of the most controversial hearings in Family Court are contested adoption - where parents are trying to keep their child. Here the law professor @juliedoughty.bsky.social follows a case in Cardiff - which she found 'disturbing' at times. transparencyproject.org.uk/much-loved-t...

Excellent long read on the battle of the Heath Lido cafe:The City of London is pitted against cannabis experts and Benedict Cumberbatch. Who will win?

Watching America Unravel in Minneapolis www.nytimes.com/2026/01/25/m...

Superb long read Watching America Unravel in Minneapolis www.nytimes.com/2026/01/25/m...

@theguardian.com piece argues family court process is too adversarial- praises the “problem solving” Pathfinder approach.

Asked about this by @theguardian.com just now Keir Starmer sidestepped and talked about tariff statements over the weekend…

Unsigned WhatsApp messages are not contracts judge rules in denying divorced wife the house her ex appeared to promise her bit.ly/3LPX89V so creditors get his half and she must move.

Amol Rajan to leave BBC Radio 4’s Today show to start own company

Who needs the Traitors?

Good article that really sums up why so many people are angry that Corp of London decided to hand over the Heath cafes to avocado toast selling chain www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Six Prosecutors Quit Over Push to Investigate ICE Shooting Victim’s Widow www.nytimes.com/2026/01/13/u...

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/... Great interview about Baby Elsa with David McBride- himself a foundling. He only discovered in recent years that - like Elsa- he has two full siblings.

Trump’s Attack on Venezuela Is Illegal and Unwise www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/o...

Hampstead Heath cafe where you can buy kids lunch for £5.50. That’s thanks to d’Auria family who’ve run it for 44 years. They also serve great pasta for adults- from about £10. The chain that is due to take over doesn’t offer a kids menu…and charge £5.90 just for a portion of chips.

Good Family Court reporting by @thetimes - who obtained Transparency Order to report and to name family. “I had to battle my daughter’s killer boyfriend to care for my grandchild” www.thetimes.com/uk/law/artic...

Anger as Hampstead Heath cafés handed to Australian-themed chain www.thetimes.com/uk/london/ar...

Great that @bigissue.com has highlighted this

www.bigissue.com/news/childho... It’s hard to overstate how important this is. Care records are someone’s personal history: who their family are, why they were taken into care..what actually happened. Shocking that it can take care leavers years to get these (sometimes incomplete) records.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m... And here we go again-

Thinking of all my friends & former colleagues inside the BBC & sharing this from James Landale in Kyiv.

Barrister @drproudman.bsky.social opens an SRA-regulated 'trauma-informed' law firm -- in the @lawsocgazette. www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/charlot...

@mediacomgold.bsky.social Looking forward to speaking at Goldsmiths media forum tomorrow.

Great piece by Mark Urban on finding the secret file on his 1992 book…How the secret state tried to ban my book on the Troubles www.thetimes.co.uk/article/mark...

we hope @sanchia7.bsky.social will continue her excellent work on reporting family courts

Yesterday was my last day on BBC staff after 32 years’ continuous service. I’ve spent most of the time as a reporter on the Today Programme- but this was my first full time reporting job, as BBC Warsaw Correspondent- 1996! I’ll continue reporting freelance for the BBC and I have other projects too.

Especially my recent work on the Family Courts which I plan to continue. I’ve changed policy, law, revealed secrets from the past…and helped open up a powerful section of our courts which has been largely hidden til now.

Personal announcement: I’m leaving bbc staff at the end of August. I’m working on a book proposal and I plan to work freelance for the bbc & others in future. I’m very proud of all the original & investigative work I’ve done over so many years for @bbcnews and the Today Programme…

Legal win for son tricked into moving to Africa by parents

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/... on the front page of BBC News today- our documentary- so sharing once more

includes interviews with the women who found baby Roman six yrs ago & the effect on them; also an interview with HHJ Reardon about the role of the family court in protecting these children. Police sound v concerned about the mother's situation

@fulelo.bsky.social @ikrassi.bsky.social @labailey.bsky.social

Now on bbc sounds: my documentary on baby Elsa and her siblings

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m... At 130 today on Radio 4 my Documentary on Baby Elsa and her siblings produced by the brilliant Lucy Proctor

I really enjoyed taking part in this @warmovietheatre.bsky.social podcast. Great to discuss a rare “flop” for Powell and Pressburger which is now acclaimed…and mention my father’s oldest friend who played a small part in making it.

So enjoyed this podcast responding to a favourite film of mine. I recognise that it divides audiences, and the puzzlement it inspires can relegate it in the eyes of even very sympathetic viewers (such as my best mate, who was completely stumped. ‘Don’t get it’)/THREAD

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0aL... An up and coming band I know…this is their second single

Son loses case against parents over move to Africa

With a new hit film, Netflix has reduced disabled lives to feelgood fodder – and got the facts shockingly wrong | Archie Bland and Ruth Spencer

Robert de Niro talks to @samiraahmeduk.bsky.social tonight 7.15 then at #BBCSounds. Also #Gladiators exhibition, #Festen: Mark Anthony Turnage and Lee Hall's new #opera

Here is a Transparency thing I’m taking part in next week with @joshuarozenberg.bsky.social Gregory Jones KC (Alderman & Sheriff) @sanchia7.bsky.social HH Joseph KC & Melissa Davis. www.pinktape.co.uk/rants/transp...

We now have over 100,000+ followers on @bsky.app. Thank you all for preserving the memory of Auschwitz with us.

Thankyou to The Stage for printing my letter about the erasure of Sylvia Anderson from her own work..

Press now allowed to report from family courts..my piece today. Over the last two years I’ve shown how the transparency Pilot can work covering stories- without identifying families.

..note that “Ella” is with her baby and there will be further family court hearing next month. @oliverconway.bsky.social