The most important thing for me in terms of my faith – my Christianity – is that it gives me a sense of perspective. When it comes to the job, I love it, but I am not defined by my career. My value doesn’t come from what anyone else thinks of me and whether I can make a good show. I’ve met people in the industry who are so consumed by what others are saying about them or how their programmes are going down that they find it hard to function. Instead, I am led by what I call the “Fs”: the important Fs to me are family, friends and faith, and the things that don’t matter are fame, fortune and the froth that sometimes comes with the industry. I’ve never once discussed money while talking about a job. It’s always about the quality of the work and the people. Because of my faith, I don’t work Sundays. It’s not something that anyone else has to adhere to – my sister is a nurse and works on Sundays all the time – but I’ve often worked hard the other six days of the week, and I want our family to be together on that day no matter what. Also, if I didn’t do that I’d be completely consumed by my job and probably wouldn’t have been married for 21 years. There are jobs I haven’t got because of that choice, but for every door that’s closed in my face, another has opened.

While Ms Smallman is prepared to forgive her daughters’ killer, who was acting out a satanic fantasy ( News, 9 July 2021), she positions the police officers who tried to avoid being held to account for their gross behaviour at the crime scene ( News, 10 December 2021) in a long line of white men perpetuating discrimination. “Forgiveness is a gift, but you have to be open to that gift.” It is also a timely reminder of the goodness and positivity that drives us forward during challenging times. The new audiobook from the author of the bestselling Remarkable People contains a totally fresh batch of humble heroes whose actions, bravery and determination have helped shape their communities. As one of the UK's leading journalists, Dan has made it his life work to focus on people who often act as the catalysts for change: the unheralded champions who frequently go without getting the recognition they deserve.Suicide and its reverberations is a topic in Standing on the Shoulders, and is also close to his heart, after the loss of his friend Gary Speed, who took his own life in 2011. After completing the “3 Dads” chapter in the book, about three fathers bereaved by the suicides of their daughters, and who walked across England to raise awareness of suicide prevention, Mr Walker took a six-week break from writing. I know that I’m valued; so I don’t take my value from what people say, write, or print about me; so I don’t get carried away by the praise, or dragged too low by the criticism.” Some (not all) of the stories are tragic and just so saddening but overall these are stories of optimism and hope and are uplifting and inspiring and show amazing strength of character. The subject of forgiveness in the face of such awful atrocity has its own chapter with Dan talking to people about their religious beliefs and why they have chosen to forgive rather than live a life of bitterness and hate.

The new audiobook from the author of the best-selling Remarkable People contains a totally fresh batch of humble heroes whose actions, bravery and determination have helped shape their communities.

What gets me out of bed in the morning is bringing out the best in others. I like to think I am still driven by the same things as that kid in the bad cardigan and jaunty haircut – all he wanted was to try to put a smile on people’s faces, enjoy the world around him and see if he could help everyone else enjoy it, too.

You’ll find quite a joyful bunch of people who have a real sense of perspective. Above everything, my faith enables me to have a real sense of perspective in an industry where you’re constantly under scrutiny, and constantly criticised for what you say, what you do, what you wear, how you are, how you talk, what questions you ask, all these sorts of things. My mum and dad were very good at taking an interest in what I was up to and we’d always sit down for tea together. We often had lots of people in the house, crammed around the dinner table, but our parents were keen for the kids to be part of the conversation, too. We’d chat about serious stuff, but most of the time we’d be joking. I can only remember my dad losing his temper once. We were all arguing and throwing stuff, and he went, “Oh, would you lot stop it!” and banged a glass bottle of ketchup on the table, the contents of which went up in the air and landed on his head.

If you're coming to Coles by car, why not take advantage of the 2 hours free parking at Sainsbury's Pioneer Square - just follow the signs for Pioneer Square as you drive into Bicester and park in the multi-storey car park above the supermarket. Come down the travelators, exit Sainsbury's, turn right and follow the pedestrianised walkway to Crown Walk and turn right - and Coles will be right in front of you. You don't need to shop in Sainsbury's to get the free parking! Where to Find Us AS WE are in the neighbourhood of scrutiny and criticism, would he be willing to dispel the confusion around his take on Genesis, and the Creationist label that some columnists have tried to attach? “No, is the answer to that question.” Reflecting on the way in which one of the dads, Tim, considered the question of forgiveness after his daughter’s death, Mr Walker asks: “Can you ever forgive yourself for what your daughter’s done? I think, anybody who’s lost somebody close to suicide goes through that process of guilt, anger, frustration. And it is a long process for many people to forgive themselves.”