Alex Collins

London, United Kingdom

Journalist at BBC

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bbc.co.uk

bbc.com

Articles

Heartstopper: 'How Netflix show's eating disorder story helps me'

Oct 19, 2024 | bbc.co.uk | Alex Collins

The latest series of popular LGBT teen drama Heartstopper is all about Nick and Charlie’s relationship. But this series also brings Charlie’s eating disorder to the fore, a topic that is rarely talked about in the LGBT community despite studies showing it's a common experience. In real life, there is one school day in Year 9 that Heartstopper fan Sharan, who uses the pronoun they, will never forget.
Heartstopper: 'How Netflix show's eating disorder story helps me'

Oct 19, 2024 | bbc.com | Alex Collins

Netflix hit Heartstopper is raising awareness of a crucial challenge the LGBT community faces.
Autistic MI5 officer: ‘Keeping secrets is never an issue’

Oct 1, 2024 | bbc.com | Alex Collins

Autistic MI5 officer: ‘Keeping secrets is never an issue’Getty ImagesThe entrance to MI5's London headquarters, Thames HouseThe BBC has been given rare access inside MI5’s headquarters in London to meet a senior intelligence officer who shares what it was like to discover he was neurodivergent. Liam was chairing a top-level national security meeting when he suddenly realised something was wrong. An intense pain developed in his head and he began to lose focus.
People stuck in mental health hospitals for too long, says Mencap

May 8, 2024 | bbc.co.uk | Alex Collins

Rose (not her real name) has been waiting to leave a mental health hospital for three years, but due to lack of provision in the community, the 35-year-old is still there. According to the charity Mencap, she is one of thousands of learning disabled and autistic people who spend years in mental health hospitals unnecessarily. It calls this "a national scandal". The NHS says it is working hard to discharge patients into community settings safely. Rose's mum, Sarah, has been left heartbroken.
'I've lost over £4,000 because of the ADHD tax'

Jan 17, 2024 | bbc.com | Alex Collins

'I've lost over £4,000 because of the ADHD tax'By Alex CollinsBBC Access AllRach IdowuRach Idowu runs a blog called Adulting with ADHDJanuary can be a tricky time for many people when it comes to managing post-Christmas finances. But for people with ADHD, like myself, it can be a never-ending problem of spiralling outgoings, sometimes referred to as the ADHD tax. When Rach Idowu arrived at the airport, she quickly encountered problems when her ticket would not scan.
A right royal night out

Jul 7, 2023 | bbc.co.uk | Alex Collins

The tale of an extraordinary night at a legendary British gay pub. Princess Diana, disguised as a man, along with star broadcaster Kenny Everett and Queen singer Freddie Mercury enjoyed a drink in London’s Royal Vauxhall Tavern one night at the height of their fame in 1988. The veracity of the event has been questioned but Cleo Rocos, who co-starred with Kenny in his hit TV show, described the celebrity night out in her in her book The Power of Positive Drinking.
Anti-gay police raid at Tasty nightclub

Jun 21, 2023 | bbc.co.uk | Alex Collins

In the early hours of 7 August 1994, police raided Tasty, a gay nightclub in downtown Melbourne, Australia. On the hunt for drugs they strip-searched more than 450 people in a raid that lasted hours. Many people felt what happened was homophobic and that the police had abused their powers. Some of those searched took legal action. Damages were awarded and years later Victoria Police gave a formal apology.
The Missing Titanic Sub

Jun 20, 2023 | bbc.co.uk | Alex Collins

Rescue efforts are ongoing for the missing Titanic sub. In this live Newscast, Adam is joined by three guests to help understand why a tourist submersible carrying five people went missing while diving to the wreck of the Titanic. Simon Platts directed a BBC documentary episode about the Titanic sub last year. David Russell was a Royal Navy submariner in charge of the British response to the Kursk submarine disaster in 2000.
Conspiracies: Inside the Rabbit Hole

Jun 2, 2023 | bbc.co.uk | Alex Collins

Journalists and podcast hosts Jon Ronson and Gabriel Gatehouse join Marianna for a special episode of Americast delving deep down the rabbit hole of conspiracies. The trio talk about why America is a breeding ground for conspiracies, how to spot them, and what happens if they’re true. We also look at whether conspiracies and misinformation might affect the outcome of the 2024 presidential election and what role artificial intelligence could play in their spread.
German child evacuees of World War Two

May 16, 2023 | bbc.co.uk | Alex Collins

07:50GMT BBC World Service 11:50GMT BBC World Service 17:50GMT BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa 21:50GMT BBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only 02:50GMT BBC World Service Show more / Show less