heartfelt depiction of Christ has led even lifelong atheists to embrace Christianity. He said that two men who had never believed in God were sent the series by friends. Unexpectedly, they were captivated by the first episode, began reading Scripture and attending church, and ultimately converted. He called their transformation remarkable, noting that many viewers express similar experiences. Roumie said his own deep relationship with Christ shaped the sincerity of his performance, helping him convey love, compassion, and authenticity. He also described the emotional and spiritual weight of filming Season 6 (to be released in 2026), which depicts Jesus’ crucifixion; he prayed for insight into Christ’s suffering and sensed God responding.
Joe Rogan has spoken openly again about his growing interest in Christianity, saying he finds the Bible deeply compelling and is moved by the kindness of believers he has met. He says he no longer believes Scripture is merely myth, but an ancient record conveying real truth, even if he is still discerning how literally to take its claims. He recently discussed Revelation with his daughter, acknowledging the mystery of how its prophecies will unfold. Rogan has been attending a non-denominational church in Austin, where the Christians’ sincerity and consistent kindness - even in the car park - have deeply impressed him. He described the Bible as 'fascinating,' and said Christianity 'works,' noting how the believers he knows live out their faith with remarkable grace. Over the past year he has been increasingly willing to explore faith publicly, hosting long conversations about Jesus, the supernatural, and the Resurrection, which he now finds more persuasive than secular explanations of the universe. Rogan’s journey continues to draw widespread attention. See
A major new report has confirmed extensive police failings before and after the 1989 Hillsborough stadium disaster, which killed 97 Liverpool fans - the UK’s worst sporting tragedy. After a decade-long investigation, the Independent Office for Police Conduct found that twelve officers would have faced charges of gross misconduct had they not already retired, leaving families devastated that no one will ever be held accountable. Those who lost loved ones in the crush condemned the outcome as another profound injustice. The report also criticised the initial police review as biased and found further evidence clarifying how police decisions, including the opening of an exit gate, led to the fatal overcrowding. Previous inquests concluded that supporters had been unlawfully killed and discredited early attempts to blame fans. Despite official apologies and admissions of catastrophic failure, no officer has ever been convicted. Families say the proposed ‘Hillsborough Law’ cannot compensate for truth acknowledged without accountability.
A deeply disturbing safeguarding scandal has unfolded in north London after nursery worker Vincent Chan admitted to 26 charges including sexual assault and creating severe indecent images of children in his care. The investigation began after a whistleblower raised concerns, leading police to uncover extensive, distressing evidence on Chan’s devices and on iPads at Bright Horizons nursery, which has since closed. Detectives described the case as among the most harrowing and complex they had encountered. Parents listened in tears as charges were read in court, later issuing a joint statement expressing shock, anger, and a sense of betrayal by the nursery’s management and safeguarding failures. Bright Horizons acknowledged that the abuse had occurred despite its procedures and has commissioned an independent review of its practices. Education secretary Bridget Phillipson said that her department was working with Ofsted and local leaders to assess what more can be done to keep children safe. Chan, who had passed standard DBS vetting checks, will be sentenced on 23 January.
A row has erupted over England’s move to require all GP surgeries to offer online booking for non-urgent appointments, with Wes Streeting accusing the British Medical Association (BMA) of acting like ‘moaning minnies’. While he praised GPs for rapidly adopting the system - now used by more than 98% of practices - the doctors’ union is concerned that patient safety is at risk. The new method of booking, which all doctors have to provide on weekdays from 8:30 am to 6:00 pm, also allows patients to ask questions, describe symptoms, and request callbacks. But the BMA says the software cannot differentiate urgent from routine needs, leaving surgeries overwhelmed and increasing the risk that serious issues will not be triaged properly. Healthwatch England raised concerns about limited patient awareness, difficulties for those less digitally literate, and some practices restricting online slots. Many GPs say they are already at capacity and fear unrealistic expectations without additional resources. The Government maintains it has invested extra funds and recruited more doctors.
In Birmingham, the city council and the Unite union remain locked in a bitter deadlock as the city’s bin strike enters its twelfth month, including nine months of full walkouts. Despite the ongoing dispute, Councillor Majid Mahmood has announced the council will press ahead with major reforms to its waste service, including fortnightly collections, expanded recycling, and a new weekly food waste scheme (which all local councils have to introduce in 2026). He said that all individual employment issues had been resolved, with workers either accepting new roles, choosing voluntary redundancy, or (rarely) being made compulsorily redundant. He could not understand why Unite members remained on strike. Unite, however, has accused the council of failing to consult it properly, and insists affected workers deserve compensation for lost pay and status. While new equipment and systems are ready for rollout, neither side appears willing to compromise, leaving the city without a resolution.
The Government is preparing a major expansion of facial recognition technology across the UK, giving police access to passport and driving-licence photos to speed up the identification of offenders. The Met Police, which has already made 1,300 arrests and tracked more than 100 sex offenders using the technology over two years, says live facial recognition is a key tool for public safety. The Home Office has launched a ten-week consultation to shape new legislation after concerns about 'Big Brother Britain' and the erosion of civil liberties. Critics argue that safeguards remain inadequate, noting previous findings by the Equality and Human Rights Commission that the Met’s policies were 'unlawful'. Civil liberties groups warn of potential misuse, disproportionate surveillance, and a chilling effect at protests. Supporters insist that the technology is becoming more accurate, with strict oversight needed rather than abandonment. Police chiefs say it will help find dangerous offenders and missing people more quickly. The consultation will determine what safeguards are necessary and whether expanded use is proportionate to the harms being targeted.
The classic worship song Shine, Jesus, Shine has been newly reimagined for the UK-wide ‘Shine Your Light’ Christmas campaign, which seeks to unite thousands of believers in a shared moment of worship and national prayer. First written by Graham Kendrick in 1987, the song is one of the most recognisable modern hymns in Britain. The initiative was sparked by Christian teacher and musician Nicole Hobday, who first dreamed as a teenager of churches singing the song simultaneously. The vision resurfaced after witnessing Kendrick lead believers to sing the song as a prayer over the nation. Feeling a sense of urgency following last August’s unrest, Hobday approached Kendrick, who encouraged her to take the idea forward. The new arrangement features children’s voices, multilingual lines in Punjabi and Mandarin, a rap element, prayers, and a choral arrangement by Ken Burton. Hobday described the recording session at COM Church as deeply moving. Running from 12 to 14 December, the campaign involves around 2,000 churches and aims to mobilise 200,000 Christians to share the Gospel with two million people.