and now we can turn to that uplifting news. alan bates who led the campaign forjustice of victims of the post office it scandal being giving —— given a knighthood. he said the honour was notjust for him but for everyone who supported his cause. tracey emin was nominated for the turner prize and now has become a dame. also dame hodes for imelda staunton and the handbag designer anya hindmarch. cyclist mark cavendish was awarded a knighthood along with the composerjohn rutter. our business correspondence went to speak with alan bates. alan bates, congratulations. thank you. what was your reaction when you found out? it was all a bit of a surprise. it was a bit out of the blue. and, also, the time it was given. i think i received it on the lunchtime of the first day of paula vennells being at the enquiry, had a look being at the inquiry, had a look at my emails and it was there. i thought "this is weird." is this a wind—up? yes. to me the things are just say no. but there are a lot of people who want me to have something and i think the paperwork said they wanted to know by end of that day whether i was prepared to accept it. so it was all a bit of a rush, but a very pleasant surprise all the same. what does this knighthood mean for you? well, i think it's another string to my bow to try and drive the rest of the campaign home for the group. we've got to get the funding for everybody, and that's been my priority now for some time. and if it helps there, then great. that's wonderful. you turned down an obe, didn't you? why? i turned down an obe at that time because i felt it was inappropriate. i mean, paula vennells was holding the cbe for her services to post office and i felt it would have been such an insult to the group to accept something like that. and a lot of people applauded me for doing that at that time. the last time we sat down and had a chat like this, the tv drama was about to air and you spoke about how you hoped it would have an impact. it did that, didn't it? it's been an incredible six months. it certainly woke the nation up to what had been going on. paula vennells has got the cbe. you're joking! we are fighting a war against an enemy owned by the british government, while we're just skint little people. they've been really supportive and they've shown it in so many ways. i get hundreds of e—mails from all over the country and letters and cards and all sorts there and, i mean, i think it's also great for individuals in the group, because it's explained what happened to them and what they've been through. i haven't got that money and i don't know where it's gone! but you're not finished, though, are you? no, it's not finished by a long way. we've still got to obtain monies for the groups in there, got to make sure they're resolved at the end of the day. i mean, that's still causing a big problem. it's still tied up in bureaucracy and we can't seem to get through it, no matter what we do. you still haven't got your compensation sorted, have you? no, no. my compensation�*s not resolved yet either. as well as fighting everyone else�*s battle, i'm still fighting mine as well. i mean, ijust don't know. there is always the potential that we may finish up back in court if that's what it takes to resolve it, at the end of the day. i was going to say, what's the next step? the next step definitely for us is to return to the courts again. and this time, i think we can raise the funding, i think the nation will support us if we have to go ahead with another case. have you ever thought ofjust giving up, letting it go? i could never do that. notjust for my own sake, but i couldn't do it for everyone else�*s sake. we've all seen the horror stories, or all heard the horror stories of people, and there are so many, and i keep hearing from so many more these days who are coming out of the woodwork and stories that have never been told. i mean, they are absolutely — it's diabolical what has happened to people. it's very, very sad. you've spent, i think, more than 20 years now devoting all your time to this campaign, to fight forjustice. what's been the high point? was it that high court victory? i think the judgments were certainly a big turning point. and a comment i often take is that i think at that point, we broke post office's control of the narrative, which they'd had for many, many years and which they used to do all sorts of things — to influence mps, to influence the media and all the rest of it, but those judgements certainly broke but those judgments certainly broke that and that enabled us then to move forward. what's been the hardest bit of it all? it's been such a long road for you. i think the hardest thing would have been to put it down. i mean, you just couldn't put something like this down. and, in fairness, it's always been one day after the next and you never know what the following day's going to bring, but it normally brings another victim to light, and so if you needed encouragement to carry on, it's there. this is the best unpaid job i've ever had. it's certainly the longest! but, erm... have you had a day off? i'm looking forward to a day off. there's a rumour i'm having a holiday shortly, so i'm looking forward to that. how are you going to celebrate? i don't know. probably a cup of tea, slice of cake, the usual way. steady! laughter a worthy celebration. some sad news to bring you. former arsenal and everton striker kevin campbell has died at the age of 5a after a short illness, scoring 148 goals died at the age of 54 after a short illness, scoring 148 goals across spells with eight clubs during his career. i spells with eight clubs during his career. . , , , ., ~ ., ., , career. i have been speaking to fans outside the — career. i have been speaking to fans outside the stadium _ career. i have been speaking to fans outside the stadium who _ career. i have been speaking to fans outside the stadium who say - career. i have been speaking to fans outside the stadium who say they i career. i have been speaking to fans| outside the stadium who say they are gutted to lose a core member of the arsenalfamily. it was gutted to lose a core member of the arsenal family. it was with arsenal that kevin grew up. he made his way through youth clubs, the youth squad. he ended up winning the league aged 21 before taking three cups in three seasons. in a statement on x, arsenal said he was adored by everyone at the club and all of us are thinking of his friends and family at this difficult time. that is a message echoed by ian wright. the other half of the famous striking duo for arsenal. kevin went on to play for an a number of clubs and he scored key goals saving everton from relegation.— goals saving everton from relegation. goals saving everton from releaation. , ,, , ., relegation. the pressure is no different to — relegation. the pressure is no different to anybody - relegation. the pressure is no different to anybody else - relegation. the pressure is no different to anybody else and | relegation. the pressure is no. different to anybody else and it relegation. the pressure is no - different to anybody else and it is work, _ different to anybody else and it is work. it _ different to anybody else and it is work. it is— different to anybody else and it is work, it is what i do and i am glad for the _ work, it is what i do and i am glad for the pressure.— for the pressure. everton also released a _ for the pressure. everton also released a statement - for the pressure. everton also released a statement on - for the pressure. everton also released a statement on x - for the pressure. everton also - released a statement on x paying tribute saying notjustjust a true goodison park hero but an incredible person as anyone who ever met him will know. his former arsenal team—mate and captain tony adams said super kevin, a goal machine and giant of a man with a bigger heart. it was notjust giant of a man with a bigger heart. it was not just football that kevin was famous for. he campaigned against racism after suffering abuse when he played in turkey, and after hanging up his boots, he became a successful football pundit. there have been tributes pouring out from around the world and it is clear how much super careful as he was nicknamed will be missed. millwall's goal—keeper, matija sarkic, has died suddenly at his flat in montenegro. the 26—year—old joined the championship club from wolves last august and made 33 appearances last season. millwall said they were completely devastated by the news. there are no further details at present. let's speak to the broadcaster jonty sargeant, who became friends with with matija sarkic when he played at stoke city last year. i know this must be feeling raw still for you. i know this must be feeling raw still for vom— i know this must be feeling raw still for ou. ., ., , ., still for you. how are you feeling? gutted. still for you. how are you feeling? gutted- the _ still for you. how are you feeling? gutted. the words _ still for you. how are you feeling? gutted. the words you _ still for you. how are you feeling? gutted. the words you used - still for you. how are you feeling? gutted. the words you used was l gutted. the words you used was suddenly a few moments ago. it is a massive shock to everybody who knew him. i would like to take the opportunity to express condolences to the rest of his friends and family and to those of the great kevin campbell. i did not know kevin and i know his son, an absolute gentleman, and he will continue to do him proud. just a really sad day for the football community. in terms of our for the football community. in terms of your friendship _ for the football community. in terms of your friendship with _ for the football community. in terms of your friendship with him, - for the football community. in terms of your friendship with him, how - for the football community. in terms of your friendship with him, how did | of your friendship with him, how did you get to know him? i got of your friendship with him, how did you get to know him?— you get to know him? i got to know him when he _ you get to know him? i got to know him when he signed _ you get to know him? i got to know him when he signed for _ you get to know him? i got to know him when he signed for stoke - you get to know him? i got to know him when he signed for stoke city. | him when he signed for stoke city. we were due to film features for the club and in the end we ended up talking rubbish and he was more interested in my life and what i did for a living and we became friends off the back of that. that was who he was as a person. he was infectious. so happy. you will never find a person who would say a bad word about mat. he would spend time in the training ground and always have a smile on his face. he was so proud of everything he achieved, so proud of everything he achieved, so proud to represent his nation. he made me book a holiday to montenegro this summer. we were talking last week about the best places i should go and recommendations on people deceive. absolutely gutted. i cannot put it into any more words.- put it into any more words. hearing our put it into any more words. hearing your description _ put it into any more words. hearing your description of _ put it into any more words. hearing your description of him, _ put it into any more words. hearing your description of him, i _ put it into any more words. hearing your description of him, i will- put it into any more words. hearing your description of him, i will tell i your description of him, i will tell your description of him, i will tell you what the montenegro football association said. remembering him. they say he was a beloved member of the national squad and an eternally smiling guy. the national squad and an eternally smiling guy-— smiling guy. similar to how you remember _ smiling guy. similar to how you remember him? _ smiling guy. similar to how you remember him? absolutely. i remember him? absolutely. infectious. you would not spend a bad moment in his company. he was always laughing, funny, humorous, kind and inquisitive. always interested in what others had to say. he would not necessarily fit the mould of a normalfootballer. footballers are sometimes given a bad name but he was one of the best of them. he gave football a fantastic name.— of them. he gave football a fantastic name. ., , ., fantastic name. you spoke to him last week- — fantastic name. you spoke to him last week. how _ fantastic name. you spoke to him last week. how was _ fantastic name. you spoke to him last week. how was he _ fantastic name. you spoke to him last week. how was he feeling? l fantastic name. you spoke to him - last week. how was he feeling? fine, ha . . l last week. how was he feeling? fine, hau , his last week. how was he feeling? fine, happy. his usual _ last week. how was he feeling? fine, happy, his usual self. _ last week. how was he feeling? fine, happy, his usual self. he _ last week. how was he feeling? fine, happy, his usual self. he never- happy, his usual self. he never suggested to me... i do not know if he suggested otherwise to anyone else, but to me, he was his normal self. it was just before the game against belgium. we were talking about holidays and recommendations for how best to enjoy montenegro. he was no different, no different to a normal conversation you would have with him on any given tuesday, monday. just a normal, fun, happy conversation.— conversation. thank you for taking time to speak _ conversation. thank you for taking time to speak to _ conversation. thank you for taking time to speak to us. _ conversation. thank you for taking time to speak to us. i _ conversation. thank you for taking time to speak to us. i know- conversation. thank you for taking time to speak to us. i know this i time to speak to us. i know this must be raw, how sudden it was. thank you for your tributes to him. john t sergeant paying tribute to matija sarkic. now on bbc news, newswatch how rife is disinformation in the general election campaign? welcome to newswatch with me, samira ahmed. coming up, how fake ai—generated clips are being created from interviews like this and spread on social media to discredit politicians. and a newswatch viewer tells us how a news item about the death of girls aloud singer sarah harding three years ago might have saved her life. there has been a blizzard of activity in the general election campaign over the past few days, including televised debates, sit—down interviews with the party leaders and a host of manifesto launches. friday of last week saw the first bbc debate, with representatives of the seven major parties in great britain being questioned by members of the audience and presenter mishal husain. viewer roger sent us his verdict. let's turn to our next question, which is from suzanne ollerton. my husband and i both work, we have good jobs. i had to say i have been very disappointed in the quality l of the election debates i have viewed so far. _ and i think the main problem is that a serious question is put— by a member of the audience to one . member of the panel, who then starts to answer the question. they are going to put up your taxes by £2,000. that's a lie. however, you get interferencel by other members of the panel and this leads to a sort i of undignified verbal brawl, which is really off—putting to the viewers. _ crosstalk. last friday's tv debate also prompted a question from a number of viewers articulated here by andrew from belfast.