5 Live News Specials

The election is looming - and already we're seeing polished films on social media, snappy campaign slogans and fiery exchanges between politicians.Behind the scenes are groups of specialists - all coming up with what they think is *THE* strategy to secure their party's place in Number 10. So what might we see over the next six weeks? 5 Live's Anna Foster and Tony Livesey put the question to four people who know exactly what those conversations are like. Christian Guy is former special advisor to David Cameron, James Mills is former senior strategic advisor to Jeremy Corbyn, Polly Mackenzie is former chief policy advisor to Nick Clegg and Andy Collier is a former SNP speechwriter.

Fertility issues affect an estimated 3.5 million people in the UK.IVF is an option for some couples, but attending many medical appointments - alongside dealing with the physical and mental effects of treatment - can be difficult at work.5 Live's Nicky Campbell speaks to callers about their experience.This programme was part of #BBCFertilityDay - a joint production for Radio 5 Live and Radio 2.

In Northern Ireland, the laws on abortion and same-sex marriage are due to change at midnight on 21st October.Abortion will be decriminalised while, under the same act, same-sex marriage will become legal. To find out what the impact of legalising abortion will be, Emma Barnett talks to pro-choice campaigner Ashleigh Topley, who was not able to have a termination despite her baby having a fatal foetal abnormality, and Naomi Marsden from charity CARE who is anti-abortion.All information correct as of 16:40 GMT on 21 October.

On the surface, he was the charming, caring young man who gave sermons in his father's Baptist church. But Ben Field had a sinister project: to seduce vulnerable individuals and get them to change their wills.5 Live’s Jo Black takes an in-depth look behind the murder investigation that shook one street in the picturesque village of Maids Moreton.Includes excerpts of Ben Field’s sermon recorded by the Olney Baptist Church.Reporter: Jo Black Producer: Victoria Farncombe

Fairbourne is a small village on the west coast of Wales. In the shadow of Snowdonia, the village, thanks to rising sea levels, is expected to be the UK’s first community to be decommissioned as a result of climate change.Sea defences will stop being maintained in the 2050s, but Gwynedd Council said it may begin "decommissioning" the village before then and start moving residents out. People living there are angry – public consultations on the plans are ongoing. Meanwhile in the village of Happisburgh in Norfolk, climate change is said to be speeding up the impact of coastal erosion. 40 metres of land has been lost this year.5 Live reporters Rory Carson and Stephen Chittenden have been speaking to people in both villages.

After 32 years presenting the Today programme on BBC Radio 4, last month John Humphrys hung up his headphones and stepped away from the microphone for the final time. He's interviewed every British prime minister from Alec Douglas-Home to Theresa May, but it’s time for Humphreys’ role as interviewer to be reversed, as he speaks to Emma Barnett.

An anti-abortion billboard campaign targeted at pregnant MP Stella Creasy is being pulled down amid claims the posters were a form of harassment.Clear Chanel, which owned the billboards, apologised and said it was taking immediate action to remove them.Ms Creasy tabled a recent amendment to decriminalise abortion in Northern Ireland, which was passed by a majority in the Commons in July.Emma Barnett talked to Ms Creasy about her experience, and asked Aisling Goodison from anti-abortion campaign group CBR why they ran the campaign.

The health secretary Matt Hancock has said he is "looking very seriously" at making vaccinations compulsory for all children going to school in England. Some experts have suggested it may be necessary to address falling rates of immunisation and a surge in diseases like measles. 5 Live's Rachel Burden speaks to experts to answer questions about vaccinations and hear views from callers.

Theresa May’s former right-hand man, her Chief of Staff Gavin Barwell, tells Emma Barnett why he thinks she failed to deliver Brexit.

Travel expert Simon Calder and personal finance expert Martin Lewis take questions from 5 Live listeners about the collapse of Thomas Cook, in a special Your Call hosted by Nicky Campbell.What should you do if you’re on holiday at the moment, if you have a wedding planned, and what to do if you’re employed by the company?The tour operator has ceased trading with immediate effect, triggering the biggest ever peacetime repatriation, aimed at bringing more than 150,000 British holidaymakers home. 22,000 jobs are at risk worldwide, including 9,000 in the UK.Plus reporter Justin Bones speaks to passengers travelling from Orlando who were on the last ever Thomas Cook flight into Manchester Airport.

This week former Wales rugby captain Gareth Thomas revealed he was HIV positive, saying he wanted to ‘break the stigma’ around it. However he said he wouldn’t have done it, if a tabloid had not made threats to publish the information. In an emotional interview with 5 Live Breakfast presenter Nicky Campbell, Thomas criticised the fact a reporter approached his parents before the family had discussed it properly.

The Supreme Court is hearing two appeals to decide whether the Prime Minister's decision to suspend Parliament for five weeks during the run-up to Brexit was lawful.Overseeing proceedings is Baroness Hale, the President of the Supreme Court and one of the 11 justices hearing the case.Sitting judges do not speak very often, but back in June she gave 5 Live's Emma Barnett a rare glimpse inside the workings of the court.

What is it like to be separated from someone you love?Nihal Arthanayake speaks to three people forced to be apart: Danielle whose husband is in prison, Lisa Jones whose husband serves abroad in the military, and filmmaker Jeff Togman who was separated from his birth mother by adoption.

In his first Prime Minister's Questions, Boris Johnson clashes with Jeremy Corbyn over Brexit and the possibility of a snap election.Listen back to the first 40 minutes of debate, plus analysis and reaction from 5 Live's Adrian Chiles, BBC Deputy Political Editor John Pienaar, Guardian political correspondent Jessica Elgot and assistant editor of The Spectator, Isabel Hardman.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has asked the Queen to suspend Parliament days after MPs return to work.It means MPs are unlikely to have time to pass laws that could stop the UK leaving the European Union (EU) without a deal on 31 October.That exit date is written into law, so if nothing changes the UK will leave automatically - whether or not a deal has been reached.5 Live's Nicky Campbell asked listeners if they felt outraged or ecstatic about the move.

As Bury Football Club are ejected from the English Football League, Sarah Brett hears immediate reaction from fans and local MPs.

It’s been 50 years since the start of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, when serious violence broke out in 1969. Over 30 years, more than 3,500 people died, communities became divided and there was murder on both sides. These are the Children of the Troubles, their young lives changed forever.Pictured: Danny Toland is in the middle between the mum and dad, and his sister Majella is directly in front with the blue collar.

Stephen Nolan investigates after homes, businesses, hospitals and travel networks were hit by a massive power cut across large areas of England and Wales.He also hears from an energy analyst about what lay behind the outage, after National Grid said it was caused by issues with two power generators but the problem was now resolved.

Nihal Arthanayake spoke to the players and organisers of the annual Homeless World Cup. The 2019 event is the 17th time the football tournament, which aims to improve the lives of rough sleepers and those without a home, has been held. It featured around 500 homeless players from more than 40 countries.The BAFTA nominated actor Michael Sheen, who helped campaign to bring the World Cup to Wales, exclusively revealed to Nihal that he had given everything he has, financially, to ensure the event went ahead.

Adrian Chiles welcomes journalist and political activist Ash Sarkar and comedian Geoff Norcott to chew over one of the most dramatic and significant political weeks in recent memory as Boris Johnson became the UK's new prime minister. They replay the best moments from the week and take a sideways look at some of the funnier moments too.