Snowmail: what drives a mother to kill her child?
Updated on 26 October 2007
What's in store on tonight's programme...
We begin tonight with a question: what drove a mother to do the unimaginable and kill her own child before committing suicide? Fiona Pilkington and her daughter, Francesca, are the two who were found dead in a burning car in Leicestershire on Tuesday.
Only today is it emerging that they had been the victim of bullying.
Neighbours are starting to reveal how local youths harassed the family because of Francesca's severe learning difficulties. It would by no means be the first suicide apparently inspired by bullying.
Another instance, perhaps, of what some people have called a broken society. Andy Davies will have the latest.
Cervical cancer jabs for girls
To listen to the news this morning, you could be forgiven for thinking that there is a huge row over the government's decision to vaccinate 12- and 13-year-old girls against the human papilloma virus that is the principal cause of cervical cancer.
We've heard a lot about worries that young girls will be driven to be sexually active because of this preventative measure.
The truth is, there is no huge row.
There may be some detractors, but it appears the more interesting dilemma is scientific. Namely, nobody can be sure the vaccination will work in the long term. We will be examining why the green light has been given and how many lives are likely to be saved as a result.
Pirbright opens its doors to Channel 4 News
Tom Clarke, our science correspondent, was today the first reporter allowed into the Institute of Animal Health lab in Pirbright since a foot and mouth outbreak threw farming into crisis earlier this year.
The next few days are likely to see the last restrictions on animal movements lifted. Yet farmers have little reassurance that another leak of another deadly virus could not happen again.
Despite all the inquiries, nobody yet accepts that they were responsible for the escape of the foot and mouth virus.
Game over?
The video games industry has been one of the great unsung success stories of British industry in recent years. Tonight we'll be examining if there's a chance we might lose much of this asset before we truly realise what we've got.
The culture minister, Margaret Hodge, has told us how alarmed she is by tax incentives being offered by Canada that are luring some of our top talent across the Atlantic.
Tonight, should Britain be fighting the Canadians or trying to offer the same deal to make people stay?
Britz: a preview
Finally tonight, I'll be talking to one of Britain's foremost directors, Peter Kosminsky ahead of his most controversial work to date, Britz.
The tale of a brother and sister on very different sides of the war on terror. I can tell you, I watched it last night, all four hours, and was gripped.
However, it will attract much criticism from those who believe Kosminsky is offering an excuse for suicide bombers. I'll be asking him if he's got the causes of terror in proportion.
All that and more, at seven. Krish.
