Hannah Bradfield

My Latest Work

Hannah Bradfield •

Spending a night on the town with Safe Haven

With post-pandemic nightlife back in full-swing in Norwich, I met up with Safe Haven — a volunteer-run community project operating on Saturday nights.

I spent two nights with the team to see what a typical Saturday night involves (spoiler: there is no typical Saturday night) and the types of support they provide.

From being a safe space to keep warm and charge your phone to providing life-saving medical support, services like Safe Haven are vital but rare.
South West Londoner •

Despite decline in contraceptive prescriptions, pill remains most popular

While the total number of contraceptive prescriptions in the UK* has decreased, the pill remains the most commonly prescribed method, new data has shown.

The data, obtained from the NHS Business Services Authority via a Freedom of Information request, shows the total number of contraceptive prescriptions decreased by more than 15% between the financial years 2015/2016 and 2022/2023.

The data reveals that the contraceptive pill — the first iteration of which was invented more than 60 years ago
The Indiependent •

TV Diaries: Everything I’ve seen this month and what I’m excited about

Are you looking for a watchlist but overwhelmed by online recommendations? Hannah Bradfield breaks down everything she’s watched recently and delivers the verdict on what’s worth the watch, what isn’t, and what she’s planning to watch next.

While this isn’t a super recent release, it’s had a resurgence after landing on BBC One and BBC iPlayer this year, having aired previously in Ireland. Created by Ciaran Donnelly (Camelot) and Peter McKenna (RED ROCK), Kin follows the Kinsellas, a hardened Du

Record-setting ultrarunner on adventure, patience and the joys of a Wetherspoons lasagne

Dressed as a giant purple crayon, Elise Downing didn’t think she could feel any more ridiculous running her first marathon. Until she began to cry. Then, she became the giant purple crying crayon. Catchily shortened by some passing children simply to ‘the crying crayon’. It turns out, though, if you don't really train or fuel properly, crying is a perfectly natural reaction to running 26.2 miles. Crayon outfit or not. And to rub salt in the wound, as she finally neared the finish line of the 201
Journo Resources •

‘It’s A Bias That Gets Deprioritised’: How To Report On Age Responsibly

Age is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010. Yet, in 2021, research by the Centre for Ageing Better found that 55 per cent of adults agreed the UK is ageist. The media is a powerful player when it comes to promoting — and challenging — long-held attitudes and opinions. So, how might it have influenced age-based prejudice? And, more importantly, what role can it have in empowering older and younger generations in ways that don’t pit them against each other? In the latest instalm
The Indiependent •

Global Disney+ and BBC release date announced for 'Doctor Who'

It has been revealed that season 14 of Doctor Who will premier on Saturday, May 11, in the UK and Friday, May 10, in the US and internationally.

For UK viewers, the first two episodes will drop on iPlayer at midnight on May 11. It will then be broadcast on BBC One later that day, presumably before the Eurovision final. From sci-fi straight into singalong, it’s set to be a Saturday evening of stellar TV.

It is expected weekly episode releases will follow this format; first dropping at midnight
Happiful •

How to be there for others when you're grieving, too

One person shares her story of bereavement

My Nana was the life and soul of any party. Demure yet feisty, she could make you cry with laughter. A trusted and dependable listening ear for family and friends, she was also a volunteer with the charity Samaritans for almost 40 years.

For as long as I can remember, she would quietly pop out of the house, including on Christmas day, calling out, “I’m just off to Sam’s, you won’t notice I’m gone”. For years, my cousin thought she was off visiting a f
The Indiependent •

TV Review: ‘Trigger Point’ season two is far-fetched but does it matter?

You might have to suspend belief when watching season two of Jed Mercurio’s Trigger Point, but when it’s this good, does it matter?

“The Met is under a constant state of alert. We need to adapt to new threats, new techniques, new enemies,” says Lana Washington (Vicky McClure), as episode one opens. Moments before London goes up in flames behind them. Fresh from a teaching secondment in Ukraine, Lana is back in London. You can’t blame her for wanting to leave the UK, even for a warzone. To recap
Runner's World •

Is it safe to run when you are breastfeeding?

For a long time, there was a startling lack of evidence-based guidelines on pregnancy and exercise. Incredibly, the first official UK guidelines weren’t issued until 2017, and advice on exercising postpartum wasn’t included until 2019.

The full document highlights that physical activity doesn’t negatively impact breastfeeding postpartum. However, female runners are likely to have many more questions about running and breastfeeding: can it affect your milk supply? When should you feed/express? W
North West Londoner •

The Lexington pub to put free ASICS trainers on tap later this week

To highlight the mood-boosting benefits of exercise, sportswear brand ASICS has partnered with Islington pub The Lexington to serve trainers as well as pints this week.

The sportswear brand will feature on The Lexington’s menu on Thursday, 25 and Friday, 26 January.

Between 4pm and 6pm on these days, asking for an “ASICS Dry Run” at the bar could get you a free pair of trainers rather than a pint.

Research commissioned by ASICS earlier this month found that 25% of Brits attempted Dry January
The Indiependent •

Louis Theroux: why is he such a great interviewer?

Following another successful series of BBC Two’s Louis Theroux Interviews, we explore what has cemented Theroux as one of today’s most iconic interviewers.

“I’ve got a high tolerance for awkwardness, but yours is off the charts.”

“Explain,” Chelsea Manning replies to Louis Theroux, sitting inches away from her, his sensible white trainers almost touching her chunky lace-up boots.

“Well,” he says: “You seem to be more comfortable sitting in silence. You’re even better at it than I am.”

Disarm
The Indiependent •

Arriving at the Who-niverse 18 years late — why I’ve only just watched ‘Doctor Who’

After almost two decades without, I have finally welcomed Doctor Who into my life. To celebrate this incredibly significant moment, here are my thoughts on this glorious show — 18 years late.

My dreams have been Dalek-themed ever since.

What took me so long?

I was five when Doctor Who relaunched in March 2005, and whilst I can remember fragments of it in the background, it was never something we really sat down to watch as a family.

As a child, I was not necessarily brave with my TV choices
South West Londoner •

Waterloo Veteran club not a hotel: Union Jack Club's unique space

Lambeth Council’s planning committee has approved plans for a neighbouring 20-story office block, despite concerns from a Waterloo veteran club about being confined to the shadows of the community,

During October’s planning meeting, several councillors struggled to pinpoint the status of the Union Jack Club’s (UJC) space, likening it to a hotel.

But the Union Jack Club says it is not a hotel, but a much more unique space than that.

UJC Chief Executive and former Royal Marine, Hugh Player said
Journo Resources •

Everything 'Ugly Betty' Got Right About Journalism

Before Barbie, there was Betty.

America Ferrara may have made history this summer with her iconic performance as Gloria in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, but she was also making waves back in the noughties as Betty Suarez on ABC’s Ugly Betty. Here, we look back at the programme to explore what the show got right about journalism and if anything has changed.

Ugly Betty follows the home and work life of Betty Suarez — a recent graduate from Queens College in New York, with dreams of making it big in the
South West Londoner •

Hollywood Handshake data analysis: Great British Bake Off

What is one thing Paul Hollywood is known better for than his silver locks, piercing azure eyes, and bread-based talents?

As another season of GBBO ends, here is a fresh Hollywood Handshake data analysis (dough-ta analysis, if you will) to ascertain whether the famous gesture still means what it once did.

If you are a GBBO OG, you will know the iconic baking show has been through its fair share of shake-ups (we miss you, Bezza).

Perhaps the biggest of which was its move from BBC One to Channe
The Norwich Seeker •

A night out with Prince of Wales Road's Safe Haven team

The Safe Haven team out in Prince of Wales Road on a Saturday night. Photo: Hannah Bradfield

Out with the Norwich Safe Haven Team

Firstly a big welcome to the 12 new Seekers who have signed up since last Saturday - meaning we now have 1011 subscribers!

Like our regular readers you will discover that one of the things I want to do as editor is help support the next generation of journalists.

So today I'm delighted to introduce Hannah Bradfield, a trainee journalist who is putting herself thro
South West Londoner •

Sisters bring makers market to Selfridges

From their favourite vintage finds to this week’s Selfridges pop-up, the Tinker twins tell us the story behind their award-winning makers market Salad Days.

Daisy and Liv Tinker have always loved a bargain.

Growing up, the sisters dreamed of one day working together and, coming from a family of upholsterers, traditional crafts have always been something they’ve celebrated.

The sisters studied fashion-related subjects at university, both going on to work for big industry brands — Daisy in cont
The Indiependent •

The Reaction To Molly Marsh's TikToks Highlights A Problematic Attitude Towards Being "Cringe"

Can a gal not have a boogie now without being called cringe?

“If you cringe at something, you feel embarrassed or disgusted,” understands the Collins English Dictionary. The Cambridge Dictionary agrees. To cringe, it says, is “to suddenly move away from someone or something because you are frightened” or “to feel very embarrassed.” The Oxford Dictionary feels quite the same and says to cringe is “to move back and/or away from someone because you are afraid” or “to feel very embarrassed and unco
South West Londoner •

London reading charity seeking more volunteers

London reading charity Doorstep Library has always recognised the power of the page.

Now, however, against a backdrop of widening attainment gaps, rising poverty rates, and the cost of living crisis, its work is more important than ever.

The organisation, which now runs 19 projects across London boroughs and online, faces a growing waiting list of families and needs more volunteers to reach them, including in south west London.

The far-reaching benefits of reading for pleasure

According to w
The Indiependent •

TV Review: 'Ultimate Wedding Planner' — Irritating or not, I kind of loved it, to be honest

The press hasn’t been kind to the BBC’s recent contest-based reality show, Ultimate Wedding Planner. The Guardian was particularly scathing:

“This pointless, trashy slog of a series sees wannabe organisers of nuptials badly struggle to run couples’ big days – judged by Fred Siriex. It’s so irritating it will make you need a lie down.”

Yes, there are some toe-curling moments of irritation inflicted by both the judges and contestants. However, I don’t think the irritating parts necessarily outwe
The Indiependent •

From Crumpets to Chlamydia Outbreaks — The Legacy of Netflix’s 'Sex Education'

As the iconic, widely-loved Netflix original ends with a bang (pardon the pun), writer Hannah Bradfield chats to those working in the sex and sexual health spaces to discuss the real-world impact of Laurie Nunn’s small screen triumph.

I distinctly remember watching Sex Education for the first time. My university flat would often gather to watch something in the kitchen — taking it in turns to choose the evening viewings. Gingerly stepping over discarded bits of pasta and the odd baked bean, we

WAVE Press | LU Arts | Loughborough University

WAVE Press is an exciting one-off risograph-printed magazine supported by and in collaboration with LU Arts to celebrate International Women’s Day. It’s an artistic, creative, and inclusive publication to showcase, entertain, unite, and raise awareness of women and allies from all walks of life. What does it mean to you to be a feminist in this day and age? What’s your story/outlook/celebration? Why is feminism still misunderstood as advocating for female superiority? Content will include creati
South West Londoner •

The organisation tackling loneliness one ukulele at a time

From care home visits to community classes, The Ukulele Project has donated more than 300 ukuleles across London to schools, community groups and libraries since its inception in 2019.

One day, it hopes to host a Ukulele Proms at the Albert Hall and to have ukuleles in every library in London.

The Ukulele Project, which began as The London Ukulele Project, was founded in 2018 by music teacher Tara Maysey, 42, who lives in Ham, Richmond with her husband and son.

The non-profit organisation, wh
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