Marc and I are absolutely thrilled to announce that we have now officially matched with a surrogate. On June 24th we sat down with the wonderful Lisa and her husband to sign the agreement paperwork. We celebrated with a rather delicious Italian meal and a bottle of Prosecco. – Would you expect any less of me?

We are both so incredibly excited for the next steps ahead of us and I also want to thank both Lisa and Darren for being such amazing human beings to be doing this for us. I will forever be in awe of all the incredibly surrogates out there and what they do to help make other families. June 24th will always be a significant date for us and will certainly be remembered as one of the milestones in our journey.

Johnathan Pryce stars as the psychopathic media mogul, Elliot Carver in Tomorrow Never Dies

JK Rowling has managed to have one of her tweets hit the news again this past week. This time because she called out certain individuals for contributing to the radicalisation of the far-right which has then resulted in another terrorist attack in London. I don’t want to get into whether that conclusion is fair but it did stir up some long-standing feelings that I have about the Media, in particular the printed press. I often wonder, do newspapers even have a place in our world anymore?

In the world we now find ourselves, we are constantly reminded of how much power social media has. It has become a fundamental part of our day to day life, whether you use just one social media platform or several. Of course, there are pros and cons to social media and the impact it has on our lives, most of them highly publicised. One of the potentially pro points is that we are ever connected to what is going on in the world.

Back in the ‘good ole days’ the great masses relied solely on newspapers and town criers to find out what was going on. Straight away it is glaringly obvious to me that with that being the case, the public would have been relying on the newspapers to tell the truth and to also cover the stories that are important. Who decided what was news worthy? Who decided what parts of the story would be told?

And then along came Radio and then TV followed by the internet and now social media. All the while, newspapers have continued to be printed. We have also seen an increase in tabloid newspapers and if anything has remained consistent since those ‘good ole days’ it is that the same questions remain; who decides what is news worthy? Who decides what parts of the story to tell? Of course, we know it is the editor, the owner or in some cases, the shareholders of the newspaper. This applies to all of our news, whether it is on the TV, on the Radio or even the websites we look to for news. For the purpose of this article I am focussing on and referring to the printed media, but my thoughts do apply to all news outlets.

For years now, particularly in the tabloid newspapers, we have seen far darker undertones in our printed press. Cast your minds back to the Hillsborough Disaster. It happened in 1989 and The Sun newspaper launched a monumentally horrific smear campaign towards the football fans and in particular, the people of Liverpool. A campaign, that was totally unjustified, filled with holes and lies. It took the tabloid until 2012 to apologise for what they now refer to as their gravest error. Let that sink in. 23 years! They finally admitted that they told lies. You would think it would have been enough to completely finish the publication off. A ‘newspaper’ which is just making up alternative facts. Surely no one would buy into it? And have they learned anything? It would certainly appear not.

Thankfully, in our world of social media, it is getting harder for tabloids to tell outright lies. We have instant access to check sources and corroborate stories. Of course, caution should always be exercised but it certainly makes it harder for lies to perpetuate but that can only happen if people can be bothered to check stories. Many people out there will buy in to a brand like The Daily Mail, unquestioningly. With more and more people taking up social media it is not an unreal assumption that less are being sold. In fact, in 2016, The Sun sold -41% less publications compared to 2010. The Daily Mail, -25%. The Daily Mirror, -41%. The Daily Express, -42%. The Guardian, -48%. The conundrum for the printed press, is how they can remain relevant in the changing landscape of how we process news. For many years now the media have opted to print and report sensationalist stories, the more outrageous and controversial the better. Whether it is a celebrity scandal or a political viewpoint, their aim is to stir up a wave of feeling amongst the public and ultimately, sell more newspapers.

In the most recent years and in the face of the terrorism that the world finds itself fighting, these tabloids have continued to run sensationalist stories for this end but things have taken a darker turn. The media en-masse and in particular, the printed press, have retaliated to these terrorist attacks with their own vitriolic approach towards specific cultures which they deem to be to blame for the attacks. The headlines that they run have become a daily barrage against a specific religion and how that religion is destroying the British culture and the British way of life. These headlines and stories have been proved to be lies or exaggerations time and time again and yet they continue without recourse or punishment. They continue to peddle what can only be described as hate speech. Designed to manipulate the reader into feeling negatively towards another culture. How ironic that the tabloid media have become hate preachers just like those they claim to oppose. They are doing exactly what these terrorist extremists want. The extremists want the British to turn against other cultures and religions because it serves their purpose. The British media are playing directly into their hands with equally vitriolic rhetoric that is beginning to incite hatred and even violence. I will concede that some tabloids are far worse than others and some do seem to be avoiding the trap of hate.

Yet, here we are and they are getting away with it. It is about time that this media were held accountable for what they publish. I believe that there should be a stronger and more visible non-government body that watches over the press. Just to be clear, I am not talking about destroying freedoms of speech, I'm talking about policing when the media publishes outright lies or conjecture and presents them as facts. I also believe that if they are found to have lied/been incorrect in their reporting, the apology/retraction should cover the same space that the original story did, ie if they publish a story that is a lie and it is a full front page spread, the apology and retraction statement should also be a full front page spread. At the moment, they are allowed to make an apology with just half a column inch buried later in the paper. Never is the apology given the same amount of attention as the original article, but it should be. I know of only one instance where the apology was given the same level of coverage as the original lies and that was The Sun. Their apology for the way in which they covered the Hillsborough disaster was front page news but my word, it took them long enough. My cynical side tells me that this was no true and honest apology. It was simple damage limitation. Apologies and retractions should match the original scope of the headline and this should be the case every single time and not just when the absolute weight of public opinion leaves them very little choice.

It is clear that our media have become incredibly powerful. They are able to sway public opinion for their own end goals. Thankfully that power has waned in the advent of social media but this has not stopped them stepping up their campaign to be more controversial and sensational than ever; No matter who is the victim of their rhetoric. This does not just apply to terrorism and a particular culture either. Look at the reactions surrounding Brexit and the judges were named on the front page of The Daily Mail as 'enemies of the people'. Equally, we have to be wary of what we view on social media because the content can so easily be unverified and easily labelled as 'alternative facts' or 'fake news'.

Tomorrow Never Dies may not be many people’s favourite James Bond movie but I was always particularly intrigued by a media mogul with so much power that he could literally create the events that would be the next day’s headlines. I thought it was somewhat far-fetched back when it was released – yes, all Bond movies are – but now I am not so sure. In fact it was hauntingly prophetic. It is time that we stop allowing us to be led like this. Otherwise we are no different to those that have been radicalised. If we don’t make a stand, we watch our own society become radicalised by our own media...

Imagine what it would be like if every single person around the world simultaneously did something nice for someone else. Just imagine the impact that would have.

The Beckham’s are in the media again. Let’s face it, there are not many a day that goes by where they aren’t reported on somewhere but this particular occasion has really got me peeved. It’s taking a lot of effort to avoid swearing here!

You have probably seen it already, but David recently shared a picture of him and his daughter. It is a beautiful picture which shows the love that they share, from father to daughter. Except it has also got a whole bunch of people criticising it with the mainstream tabloid media ramping up the attention. In the picture, the two of them are kissing on the lips.

I’m going to go out on a limb and say that if you are reading this blog, this is in no way disturbing or unusual to you. However, it would seem that some people out there have really taken umbrage to the fact they are kissing on the lips. Seriously? Personally, I saw the picture and my only thought was, wow, look at the love between them. A wonderful and close relationship between a father and his only daughter. It is a beautiful moment captured in picture.

There have been a few instances of late, where parents, particularly Dads, get criticised for kissing their children, bathing with them, holding them ‘inappropriately’ and it really winds me up.

Why is it weird for a Dad and child to be showing affection for one another? Are these people implying that there is some kind of sordid undertone to the picture? I’m starting to worry about the state of our society if when they see a picture of two people being affectionate towards one another and perceive it to have some sexualised context. Has society been so bombarded by sexualised material that we now see it in everyday, totally innocent images? For years, advertisers have used sex to sell products. Perhaps as a society many people have become so accustomed to that fact that they see the sexualised content even when there isn’t any?

Putting it rather bluntly, if you are one of those that view a picture of a father with their child and see something sordid or think it is disturbing you need to go get your head checked out. In my opinion, it says a lot more about you and the way your mind works than the content of the picture and the subjects’ relationship does. To see a picture like that and automatically jump to some disturbing conclusion can only come from a particularly twisted mind. Seriously, you might want to go and speak to someone about the fact you have a proclivity to see sexual or obscene content when you see a picture that has an adult and a child in it. If anyone is sick in this situation, it is you!

There was another instance recently when an image was shared on social media of a father in the bath tub with his child. I wasspeechless when I saw one of the comments made about the image was, “I hope he is wearing underwear below those bubbles”. Seriously? Are you kidding me? Again, it is a picture of something that is probably a daily occurrence in homes all over the world. It is a picture of a parent sharing a bath tub with their very young child so that they can get washed. Rather than see it for what it is, people make a twisted insinuation that there is something obscene about the father being in a bath tub naked with his child. That is a blatant implication that the father is abusing his child and quite frankly, that is a horrific and nasty accusation to make!

Another recent example in the media was when an airline steward called security to remove a father from a plane upon landing. Why? Because the host felt the father was touching his child appropriately. In reality, the father was cradling his baby child who had fallen asleep. I’ve seen numerous parents hold their baby with the baby’s legs either side of the parents arm with their hand holding them by their nappy. Never once have I thought anything beside the fact the parent is holding their child. Again, if you see anything else, you are twisted!

I can’t help feeling these strange reactions are indicative of societies view on fathers in general.

What if it was a mother kissing her son? Would that still be viewed as ‘weird’?

What if the picture was a mother in the bath tub with her child? Would people still ask if she is wearing underwear?

What if it had been a mother holding her child while it slept? Would the airline stewards still have asked for security to meet them upon landing?

Maybe I am barking up the wrong tree here, but it does seem that these situations really gain traction in the media more so when it involves a father. That in itself is rather insulting. The implication from society here is that fathers are more likely to be perpetrating some kind of abuse than they are just simply being a father. Being affectionate and teaching their child to love, caring for their child or holding them whilst they sleep.

Again, if you automatically jump to such a heinous conclusion it says a hell of a lot more about you than it does the parents in question. Get a bloody good grip on yourself and have a really good think about why your brain goes to that dark place. I strongly suggest you seek help with a counsellor to dismantle why you perceive these images in that way because at the moment, I feel like you are a sick, twisted and vile individual. If I am going to be concerned about my child around anyone, it would be you.

Going back to the Beckham’s picture, I can only imagine the ridiculous outcry had the picture been with Brooklyn, Romeo or Cruz…

So here is the update for my Top 20 played tracks for the month of May.

April saw the entire Steps album ‘Tears On The Dancefloor’ dominating my Top 20, taking up 12 spots. After the initial obsession with the album, I’ve been listening to a more shuffled balance of tracks with only 'Scared Of The Dark' managing to stay in the Top 20, dropping 8 places to number 9. Again, this means a large number of new entries on the chart.

The most listened to new entry comes from Todrick Hall feat. RuPaul. 'Low' is a cracking track which is an insatiable blend of hip-hop and dance, a trend making waves in the big charts right now. I can see this song being a regular go to when I want to just dance it out. Todrick is supremely talented and having RuPaul appear on the track adds an extra glittering of star quality! Go check out the video HERE too…

I should also mention the next highest new entry, 'Holding Out For A Hero', from an often mocked but undeniably legend that is Bonnie Tyler. This track has always been one of my favourite songs of all time. I’ll go months without hearing it but when it does crop up I’ll more often than not put it on repeat for a bit. It always brings back memories of the film Short Circuit 2, the song blasting out while robot Johnny 5 is tearing along a dock seeking justice against the thugs who tried to terminate him. Those are great memories. Some may call it a guilty pleasure and so be it. This is still an incredible track for me.

Also sneaking into the chart at 18 was 'Molossus' by Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard, taken from the Batman Begins soundtrack. As well as being one of my absolute favourite movies (and the trilogy as a whole), Zimmer is possibly my absolute favourite film score writer. I find the track 'Molossus' so powerful and evocative. I almost feel that even I could be a superhero when I hear it… weird huh?

Finally, the number 1 track for me this month was 'It Takes A Lot To Know A Man' from Damien Rice. The song is a rip bare honest account of what a relationship can be like highlight just how difficult it can be at times. The gradually building orchestration makes this song epic in scale but lyrically cutting in its honesty. Rice has always been an artist that I feel I can connect with when I hear him sing. They are not just words, but a conversation and this song really powers this point home. I strongly recommend you check out how he performs this track live too. It takes the concept of a ‘one-man-band’ to a whole new level. You can check out the video HERE.

Here is how the rest of the chart shaped up: