Colleen Harris

They're young, British, and taking on Hollywood. A new generation of black actors, including John Boyega in the blockbuster Star Wars, have been trained at the Identity School of Acting, in London. Established in 2003, it now boasts a roster of talent, that's doing well in America. The British Film Institute has identified a lack of diversity in film making, and Colleen Harris has been to meet some of the school's stars, who're breaking the industry's glass ceiling.

What's it like writing for Beyonce, Rihanna and Madonna? Colleen Harris speaks to the young British women tasting success in America, for BBC News at Six and Ten.

Sophie Ellis Bextor, Ronan Keating and cellist/singer-songwriter Ayanna Witter-Johnson spoke to Colleen Harris about what they think the music industry needs to get back on its feet. Performances of live music was stopped abruptly on 23rd March - leaving musicians, fans and venues not knowing when they would be back in business again. Last week - 1,500 musicians including Ed Sheeran and Sir Paul McCartney signed an open letter - calling for emergency support.

Coventry, Paisley, Stoke, Sunderland and Swansea, are all competing for the title of UK City of Culture 2021, with the winner to be announced this week. The year long celebration of arts, music and culture, has boosted local economies, proving a huge success for the current holder, Hull. Well tonight, in the first of five profiles of the contenders, we're taking a look at the city of Coventry as Colleen Harris reports.

Coventry’s been named as the next UK City of Culture for 2021 - beating Paisley, Stoke-on-Trent, Sunderland and Swansea to the title. The people leading Coventry’s bid say winning will have a huge economic impact not just on Coventry but also on the West Midlands. Our correspondent Colleen Harris is in Coventry...

Fifty years ago, one British record label established Jamaican reggae in the UK. Trojan Records would go on to influence some of the biggest names in punk and pop. A film called 'Rudeboy: The story of Trojan Records' retraces the label’s role in breaking cultural barriers with artists like Jimmy Cliff and Desmond Dekker. Colleen Harris reports.

A team in Cambridge have made breakthroughs in finding ways to communicate with people misdiagnosed as being in a vegetative condition - using MRI scans. Colleen Harris reports. First broadcast on 25 April 2008.

A woman living with an uncontrollable belching condition for two years says she’s too embarrassed to come out of the house. Jean Driscoll, from Chelmsford in Essex, says doctors have been unable to diagnose her condition. In her first ever interview, she’s been describing to Colleen Harris what it’s like to live with.

• An exclusive - first published on BBC Essex in 2009.

One of the victims of the Windrush scandal has exclusively told the BBC Victoria Derbyshire Programme that the Home Secretary is a ‘coward hiding in his ivory tower’ - after she was snubbed from a Windrush event today - the day the government announces how much compensation those caught up in the controversy will receive. Colleen Harris reports.

London Fashion Week is back today in the capital -- and yet again it's not just the clothes but the size of the catwalk models that are under scrutiny. Renewed calls are being made for the British fashion industry to follow other countries that have clamped down on -- and even banned -- the use of ultra-thin models. Colleen Harris investigates.

Sickle Cell disease is the most common and fastest growing genetic blood disorder in the UK. The NHS says the condition - which can cause extreme pain and life-threatening infections - affects 15-thousand people in Britain, mainly people of African, Asian and Mediterranean origin. More than 300 babies are born each year with the condition. Children living with sickle cell are several hundred times more likely to have a stroke. But experimental therapy could bring a glimmer of hope. Colleen Harris went to meet two young people whose lives have been afflicted by the disease.

Leasehold disputes over ground rents and service charges are taking their toll on some people’s mental health. In an exclusive report for the BBC Victoria Derbyshire Programme, a new survey suggests more than two-thirds of people who’ve had leasehold issues feel anxious about their future.

How some Black Britons view the monarchy and Meghan Markle’s arrival in the royal family.

If you have sight loss, learning to read Braille can increase your independence - but fewer children are using it and there are fears it’s dying out as a reading and writing system. Now students at a specialist residential school in Worcester are testing out new LEGO bricks with Braille moulded on them - to encourage the use of Braille and help pupils with literacy and maths. We’ve been given exclusive access. Colleen Harris reports.

‘We were respectable hooligans’ - when ‘granny power’ took on live animal exports in Brightlingsea. Colleen Harris reports for BBC Inside Out. First broadcast in 2010.

Grime is a unique blend of musical influences - it's said to be bold and British - and its popularity is driven by social media. It started in East London around 15 years ago but it's achieved much greater prominence in recent years. Colleen Harris reports.

It's the school known for launching the careers of some of our biggest names in music and film - Adele, Amy Winehouse, Leona Lewis and the new Spider-man actor Tom Holland. Inspired by the 1980s film Fame, the BRIT School in south London is celebrating 25 years since it first opened its doors. Our correspondent Colleen Harris has this report.

The Music of Black Origin awards or MOBOs take place in Glasgow tomorrow night. They celebrate musical talent in genres like Soul, Jazz and R&B. Leading the female nominations this year is Laura Mm-vula - a soul singer and CLASSICALLY trained pianist from Birmingham. She's been speaking to Colleen Harris.

The musician Lily Allen and Beyonce songwriter Carla-Marie Williams host an event aimed at helping women be heard by the music industry. The GETHEARD campaign aims to provide 100 young women aged 16 to 30 the opportunity to showcase their original music to a panel of industry experts. The event will cross all genres of music with a diverse mix of music experts there to listen, encourage and critic their work.

The number of black Muslims in Britain has more than doubled in the past decade with nearly 300,000 living in the UK - many are converts. At a time when Muslim extremism often dominates the headlines, some Muslim musicians are turning to hip hop to express their views on stereotypes and stigma.

Global Pulse introduces Steve J and Yoni P, designers bringing contemporary South Korean fashion to the world stage. Moving on to London they'll be visiting Savile Row to meet bespoke suit makers from Davies and Son, Spencer Hart and House of Hardy Amies. In Buenos Aires they'll be going to Prana to find out more about cutting edge Argentinian hair design and styling, while in Dubai they'll meet fashion designer Essa Walla who doesn't follow any rules and thinks that above all, fashion should be exciting and fun.