Victoria Derbyshire's Unbelievable Britain

Alex Lewis was a pub landlord and father living an ordinary life when he caught a "cold." That cold was actually Strep A, that left him on the point of death, with a 1% chance of survival. To save his life surgeons amputated all four limbs and part of his face. But instead of giving up, he rebuilt himself in extraordinary fashion.

In this powerful episode of Unbelievable Britain, Alex opens up about the terrifying moment everything changed, the trauma his family endured, and the mindset that carried him through over 130 hours of surgery and years of rehabilitation.

Now an adventurer, campaigner and disability advocate, Alex has gone on to kayak Greenland, climb mountains, row across Britain and help transform the lives of amputees through the Alex Lewis Trust and FLOAT Foundation.

This is a story about survival, identity, resilience and what the human spirit is truly capable of.

For more information about the work Alex and The FLOAT Foundation carries out and how to support please visit www.the-alff.com
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Malin Andersson shot to fame on Love Island, but away from the spotlight she was facing a far more difficult reality, including abusive relationships and sexual assault.

In this powerful episode of Unbelievable Britain, she opens up to Victoria Derbyshire about overcoming abuse, addiction, grief and the devastating loss of her daughter, and how she has rebuilt her life with purpose. From navigating intense public scrutiny to becoming a mother and finding strength in vulnerability, Malin speaks with honesty about resilience, healing and reclaiming control of her story.

If you or someone you know needs support:
📞 National Domestic Abuse Helpline (24/7): 0808 2000 247
🌐 https://refuge.org.uk/
🚨 If you are in immediate danger, call 999. You can use the Silent Solution if you can’t speak.

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From Losing Her Sight to Inspiring Millions

Lucy Edwards, who went blind at 17 due to a rare genetic condition. "In that moment everything I knew had gone."

Lucy opens up about the moment everything changed, from trying to hold onto memories of her mum’s face to navigating a world that suddenly treated her differently. She speaks candidly about discrimination, her IVF journey, independence, and how she rebuilt her confidence to become one of the most influential disability advocates online.

After losing her sight, Lucy began sharing TikTok videos, building a following of 1.1 million, and growing her YouTube channel, ⁠@lucyedwards⁠, to over 800K subscribers, where she shares her lived experience and advocates for the blind and visually impaired community.

This is a powerful conversation about identity, resilience, and redefining what your future can look like when everything is taken away.

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Sherry Lever, widely recognised as the UK’s oldest professional dominatrix. At 74, Sherry (known professionally as Mistress Sofia) shares the incredible story of how a "wallflower" who once struggled to pay the mortgage transformed into an empowered leader in the world of BDSM.

In this episode, we explore:

The Transition: How Sherry went from a phone chat operator to running a professional "playroom" from her conservatory.

The Psychology of Kink: Why high-powered professionals from judges to surgeons seek out submission, and how Sherry views her role as a form of "unorthodox therapy."

Family Ties: The surprising story of how Sherry’s own daughter became her "driving force" and now works alongside her.

Debunking Myths: Sherry explains the difference between being a dominatrix and an escort, and why consent and "safe words" (like Sherry's favorite: "Jamaica") are the foundation of everything she does.

Empowerment at 70+: A powerful message on independence, finding your voice after three difficult marriages, and why Sherry has no plans to retire.Whether you're curious about the BDSM community or looking for an inspiring story of personal reinvention, Sherry’s journey is truly unbelievable.

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#VictoriaDerbyshire #UnbelievableBritain #BDSM #SherryLever #Documentary #Empowerment #humanstories
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"I promised Gina that I’d try every single day to make maternity care safer."

We are joined by Donna Ockenden, the midwife and investigator behind some of the most significant maternity reviews in NHS history.

Donna opens up about a childhood marked by poverty, instability, and a harrowing period of abuse at the hands of her grandfather. She shares how these formative experiences of responsibility and survival eventually led her to a 40-year career in nursing and midwifery—a journey fueled by a quiet but fierce determination to protect the vulnerable.

Donna also recounts the heartbreaking story of baby Gina, a moment that changed her life forever and became the foundation for her "Gina Promise": a lifelong commitment to ensuring no family has to suffer avoidable harm.

In this video:

A Childhood of Resilience: Growing up in poverty in South Wales and surviving trauma.
The "Moonlight Flit": Being uprooted to Ireland and having her identity changed as a teenager.
The Gina Promise: The tragic loss that defined Donna’s mission to make maternity care safer.
Reshaping the NHS: Insights into the Shrewsbury, Telford, and Nottingham maternity reviews.
A Message to Mothers: Why "speaking out and speaking up" is vital for safer births today.
Donna’s story is a powerful testament to how personal pain can be transformed into a professional crusade for justice and safety.

What did you take away from Donna’s journey? Let’s continue the conversation in the comments below.

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