All Episodes 2008 - 2024

TV-14

Hitting home: The smacking issue Three out of four Australian parents still smack their kids to keep them in line. That's come as a real shock to child welfare agencies. So much so, they want the government to ban physical punishment altogether. As Peter Harvey reports, there's no way some parents will stop smacking � they're never going to spare the rod and spoil their child. The Boss: Glen Boss and The Melbourne Cup Even if you're not a racing fan � we defy you to watch last year's Melbourne Cup and not be moved, not be on the edge of your seat as Makybe Diva heads for home. The crowd roaring, jockey Glen Boss down low in the saddle, the finish line in sight, the champion's third Melbourne Cup in a row � it was a truly unique achievement for both horse and rider. Makybe Diva's retired now, but Glen Boss is still going strong, hungry for more Melbourne Cups. Saving Corporal Lyon This is MASH � 21st-century style. There's no Hawk Eye or Honeycutt scrounging for supplies, making do with the army's cast offs. That was Korea in the '50s. This is Iraq, 2006, where doctors, nurses and medics are revolutionising combat medicine with mind-boggling science and good old fashioned guts.

GIRLS WILL BE BOYS It's their idea of a fun night out but there's nothing pretty about it. Half-naked, foul-mouthed women throwing down too much booze and throwing themselves at too many men. And to cap off the evening, they're just as likely to pick a fight. They're called ladettes or yobettes, a new breed of young woman hell-bent on outdoing the blokes and they're truly frightening, violent, selfish, with no sense of shame. But not only are they hurting those around them, far more worrying is the damage they're doing to themselves. KNIGHTLEY ATTRACTION You have to keep reminding yourself she's only 23. Because Keira Knightley's already got a body of work most Hollywood veterans would kill for. It seems years ago now she kicked off her career in the cult movie "Bend it Like Beckham" before finding her sea-legs in "Pirates of the Caribbean". Of course, these days Keira's better known for her stunningly glamorous roles. But off-screen this superstar's anything but a preening princess. As Michael Usher discovered, she's earthy, irreverent, one of the boys. THE BEAR AWAKES We all prayed those days were over. But Russia is on the prowl again, in an angry mood and still armed to the teeth with a massive arsenal of nuclear weapons. The bear slumbered for 20 years after the collapse of communism, crippled by its basket-case economy and rampant corruption. But new-found wealth and a growing sense of pride under Vladimir Putin have fuelled a dangerous new nationalism. Now the old belligerence is back. And, as Liam Bartlett reports, suddenly the world is on the brink of a new Cold War.

After the Crash: Tegan Lloyd, a story of drunk driving Going to Pot: Cracking down on Cannibus - is money being wasted on a futile effort. Talking to Elephants: Learning the language of elephants

Includes stories: Cup of Dreams: Germany & Australia The Moon Children: Children allergic to sunlight Poison Tide: Gulf Oil Crisis

A Matter of Justice: Australia's part in the Bore war. Fighting for a Full Pardon. To Infinity and Beyond: A story about the Pixar film studios and how the movie is made. Beyond Redemption: Two teens torture and kill a ten year old boy.

Tonight, Liam Bartlett revists QLD after the floods and how the insurance companies arnt paying up. Ray Martin looks at lap-banding and how children as young as 13 are opting for this procedure instead of a healthier lifestyle.

Victorian plumber Peter Walsh was struck down with the dreaded pneumococcal bug and lost his hands and feet, but that was til an extraordinary micro-surgeon decided to give him a helping hand, literally. Also Michael Usher is in London, post the big wedding.

Liam Bartlett looks at our immigration system at breaking point and the influx of asylum seekers. Ali Langdon examines how our Asian students are topping the class and Michael Usher checks out the increased cases of female adultery.

Olympic champion Alisa Camplin tells of her son Finnan's congenital heart disease. Liz Hayes goes deep into the American South to meet the folk of Westboro Baptist Church who hate Australia and celebrate our natural disasters. Also how can a 24 year old Aussie working in Canada disappear without a trace?

Tonight Alison Langdon investigates the very dangerous sport of cave diving. Liam is with a band of bushies and backpaers in the Kimberley to take out the ugly and unstoppable cane toad population that is wiping out native wildlife. Also New York's latest serial killer and no one's sure how many women he's murdered, but more bodies are turning up...

He's our first bloke, a hairdresser from Shepparton who is consort to the most powerful woman in the land, Julia Gillard. Charles Wooley interviews Tim Mathieson, the smart and very likeable bloke who might just be what the spin doctor ordered.

Just one click. That's all it takes to wreck a young life forever. Liz Hayes explores the dangers of sexting and explains how it can destroy your life forever. Plus, who could ever forget Stacy Keep? The young mum lost her 18-month old daughter, her mother and mother-in law in the Queensland floods. Well, six weeks ago, the Keep family welcomed a little baby girl into their lives. She's helping them heal but it's hard to move forward when there are still so many questions about the events of the past.

It was the most sickening and cruellest of crimes. Last year, Rachelle D'Argent's estranged partner kidnapped their three-year-old daughter, Yazmina and did the unthinkable. Tonight, Rachelle tells her tells her harrowing story for the first time. Also, Ray Martin meets a group of returned Aussie diggers who have overcome their catastrophic injuries in the hope of representing Australia once again - only this time it's on the sporting field.

There really is magic in the story of Harry Potter. Almost 15 years since J.K. Rowling published that first Potter novel, Harry is finally packing up his wand for good and Charles Wooley was in London to witness the magical final chapter. Plus, it's been hyped as the comedy event of the year. And "The Hangover 2" is certainly a very funny movie. But there haven't been too many laughs behind the scenes. Tonight, meet the Aussie stuntman who, after a horrific accident on set, was that was left fighting for his life.

Kidnapped and held captive for 18 years, Jaycee Lee Dugard not only had her youth stolen from her but was forced to mother children to her captor. 60 Minutes presents a compelling exclusive with this young woman who triumphed over evil.

Just last Thursday, Derryn Hinch was sentenced to five months home detention. A fortnight before that, he was on an operating table, receiving a life-saving liver transplant. We've been following the highs and lows of Derryn's battle to survive for five years now and more than anything, he's incredibly grateful for this second shot at life. Plus, meet the blokes who have travelled to the very ends of the earth to find love.

Imagine the shock, 50-years-old and staring down at two blue lines on a pregnancy test. Plus, Charles Wooley catches up with music legend, Rod Stewart at his home in London.

Meet two young Australians who refuse to accept the doctor's verdict that they 'will never walk again'. Plus, every year, hundreds try it, all determined to conquer swimming's Mt Everest and cross the English Channel. However, if they saw what happened to Melbourne girl Chloe McCardel, they may think twice before taking the plunge.

Michael Usher has just returned from an extraordinary encounter with Sarah Ferguson, Liam Bartlett is on the ground in England to make sense of the madness of late, and for two decades now The Wiggles have been enchanting children worldwide and making millions along the way. But on the eve of a massive tour to mark their 20 year milestone, came a frightening blow.

According to the latest research, when it comes to binge drinking, young women are now doing their best to match the blokes. What was once considered embarrassing and outrageous behaviour is now celebrated as the norm. So why do they do it? Plus, Charles Wooley explores the world that is Internet shopping.

The Nine Network’s ‘60 Minutes’ will have a very unusual story this Sunday September 4th. The long-running public affairs program will look at people who can remember every moment of their life. Called Total Recall, the special ability exists in some of the most incredible minds on the planet. Imagine if you could remember every moment of your life like it happened yesterday. ‘60 Minutes’ will also feature a special story on the all-new Mike Tyson (pictured). In his Las Vegas home, reporter Michael Usher looks at how he has changed.

Eight years ago, Bruce and Denise Morcombe were like any other parents. Then their 13-year-old son, Daniel, was abducted. Now they're trying to protect other children in the hope that no family will ever have to go through such agony again. Plus, meet Mike Rutzen - a man who happily goes swimming with Great Whites, even hitching a ride, now and then.

Marathon runner Heather Scott recounts the moments she and her fellow competitors stared death in the face - trapped in a narrow gorge, a raging fire bearing down and no escape in any direction. Plus, take a look inside Australia's toughest boy's school. For decades now, Frank Dando has been picking up the pieces and at 81 years of age, Frank and his committed band of teachers have never met a teenage rebel they couldn't tame.

Allison Langdon’s report ‘The Awakening’ will prove that true love and devotion can produce miracles. This story follows brain injured Sam Goddard who would be unable to walk and talk if not for the dedication of his fiance, Sally Neilsen. Liz Hayes’ report ‘Haunted’ looks at Robert Geeves, a man unlucky in love. With two of the women in his life experiencing tragic and suspicious ends, 60 Minutes meets a a third woman who also claims her life was shattered by Geeves. Liam Bartlett’s report ‘Drama Queen’ features the Hollywood legend Joan Collins who emerged from the Golden age of Hollywood.

Kim Noble is just one person, but she has more than 20 different personalities, maybe as many as 100 separate characters populating her mind. Also, it was genocide on a scale not seen in Europe since the holocaust. In July, 1995, a Serbian-backed paramilitary unit slaughtered 8,000 men and boys in the small Bosnian town of Srebrenica.

Features current affairs stories from across Australia and the globe. Dr Hellfried Sartori claims he can cure terminal cancer. It isn't true, of course. But what makes Dr Sartori's scam truly despicable is that he doesn't just empty out his victims' bank accounts, he poisons them. Plus, less than a year out from the London Olympics, Liam Bartlett catches up with world champion hurdler, Sally Pearson.

The Love Trap Most of us have figured out by now, that transferring our life savings into a Nigerian bank account is a mug’s game. We know there’s no royal fortune. No multi-million dollar return. In fact, no hope of ever seeing our money again. Maybe that’s why the men behind those dodgy emails have moved on to scams that are more sophisticated and far more callous. Now they don’t just bankrupt their victims, they break their hearts as well. So we decided to take them on at their own game. We set up a sting of our own and it wasn’t long before the sharks took the bait. Reporter: Liam Bartlett Producer: David Alrich Cliffhanger What you’re about to see on Sunday night defies belief and the laws of gravity. A young man, clinging to the side of a sheer rock face, a thousand metres up – with no ropes, no harness, nothing to catch his fall. All that’s keeping him from plunging to his death are his toes and finger tips. This madness is called free-soloing and no rock climber in the world does it better than 26-year-old Alex Honnald. Using only his body strength and amazing mental stamina, Alex scales sheer cliff walls as high as the world’s tallest buildings – completely unassisted, simply for the thrill. And if you’re anything like us, just watching this report from American 60 Minutes’ Lara Logan, will have you clinging to the edge of your seat. Reporter: Lara Logan, CBS 60 Minutes Producer: Jeff Newton Thinking Positive It wasn’t so long ago, that AIDS was a guaranteed death sentence. And thanks to those confronting ads in the 80s, we all knew it. They weren’t exactly subtle – in fact, they scared the hell out of us. But the shock tactics worked and the rate of HIV infection in Australia plummeted. We thought we had it all under control. That we were playing it safe. But guess what. The infection rate has shot up again. And surprisingly it’s now straight women who are among the most vulnerable. Reporter: Michael Usher Pro

The Empty Nesters It had to happen, eventually. That generation of stay-at-home kids has finally grown up and flown the coop. Peter Overton first met these coddled twenty and thirty-somethings five years ago. Back then, they were sleeping in their childhood bedrooms, letting their parents pay the bills and stashing away money for a future that never seemed to arrive. Well, it has now. And their Mums and Dads couldn’t be more pleased, most of them, anyway. They’re celebrating, happily spending their hard-earned savings on something completely different – themselves. Reporter: Peter Overton/ Producer: Sandra Cleary Time Bomb Heart attack is only supposed to happen to the middle-aged and the elderly. But every week, up to ten young Australians die because their hearts simply stop. They suffer from a condition known as SADS – Sudden Arrhythmic Disease. And for most victims, a heart attack is their first and only indication that anything is wrong. Only a lucky few discover they carry the rogue gene before it’s too late. But as Ellen Fanning reports, sometimes that knowledge can be a terrible burden. Reporter: Ellen Fanning/ Producer: Paul Steindl Dame Helen Sometimes, it’s the late starters who finish first but it’s a rule that doesn’t often apply to Hollywood. Dame Helen Mirren is a spectacular exception. Her career only took off when she was in her forties. And when it did, she managed to shatter another movie star myth, by proving an actress could combine beauty and brains. Along the way, she’s become a Dame of the British Empire, and an international pin-up girl for ageing gracefully. But when Liam Bartlett was granted an audience with Dame Helen in Berlin, he soon found this Oscar-winning screen queen is not one for airs and graces. Reporter: Liam Bartlett/ Producers: Gareth Harvey, Sandra Cleary

High Stakes Everyone knows it. Even police admit they’re fighting a losing battle against the illegal drug industry. But the war just got even harder. Right now, in Australia, you can get the potent effects of ecstasy, cocaine or cannabis straight over the counter and completely legally – thanks to the booming industry in synthetic drugs. By mimicking their illicit counterparts with clever chemistry, the drug makers can stay one step ahead of the law. And while our police and politicians play catch up, the men behind these crafty alternatives have become a new breed of drug lord – untouchable, unstoppable and very, very rich. Reporter: Liz Hayes Producer: Stephen Rice Being Brad He’s got the most confident swagger in the business. And who could blame him? Even compared to other Hollywood stars, Brad Pitt’s life is utterly charmed. With looks that make women go weak at the knees, he shares his life with the equally stunning Angelina Jolie. Together they balance their happy brood of children with careers that go from strength to strength. But when Tara Brown spent some time with him in Tokyo this week, the man who has it all, dropped a bombshell. At the peak of his fame, the world’s biggest film star is ready to call it a day. Reporter: Tara Brown Producers: Stephen Taylor, Sandra Cleary Time Bomb Imagine a job where the slip of your finger can mean sudden death. Every day, Australia’s navy clearance divers put their lives on the line, dismantling bombs on battlefields like Afghanistan and Iraq. But lately their steady hands have been needed closer to home. In Papua New Guinea there are areas that hold deadly reminders of World War Two – bombs, mines and mortars left behind by the Japanese occupation. Just watching these guys work is heart-stopping and fascinating. Because our bomb disposal exercise became a mission of discovery. Reporter: Liam Bartlett Producer: Nick Greenaway

Trouble in Paradise It’s Australia’s playground. Tourists from all over the country and around the globe, are drawn by the Gold Coast’s glittering image of surf, sand and sun-drenched beaches. But the sleek high rises and glossy billboards, can no longer hide the fact that our premier holiday strip has also become Australia’s crime capital. Rapid growth and high unemployment have fuelled an underworld culture of drugs and violence and a crime rate spiralling out of control. And no wonder, when you discover, local police are being denied even the most basic crime-fighting resources. The city may be celebrating at the prospect of hosting the 2018 Commonwealth Games, but for many who live there, the Gold Coast has lost its shine. Reporter: Liam Bartlett Producers: Steve Burling, Ali Smith Cyber War Right now, a bitter global war is raging. But you won’t be seeing military hardware or armed troops on the evening news. This is a silent, covert battle, waged in the secrecy of cyberspace for the control of our information and data. And we are not just talking about identity theft or corporate sabotage. By accessing highly sensitive computer files, hostile governments can now cripple power grids, water supplies, even nuclear facilities without firing a single shot. Creating a national catastrophe has never been easier. And the new weapon of choice for the world’s terrorists is the humble laptop. Reporter: Michael Usher Producers: Danny Keens, Hannah Boocock The Guru Busters It’s a land steeped in superstition and for thousands of years Indians have revered the otherworldly and the fantastical. But that’s made them easy targets for self-proclaimed gurus eager to make a quick rupee. Right now, a million or so of these spiritual shysters are peddling their trade across the length and breadth of the subcontinent. They spruik miracle cures and perform seemingly impossible feats of magic, charging extravagantly for their dubious services. They’ve al

Broken Hearts Who could forget that smile? Or the amazing tale of bravery that went with it? Alisa Camplin stole our hearts when she won gold at the 2002 Winter Olympics. Only later did we discover that she did it with two fractured ankles. But Alisa knows that broken bones are nothing. In March, her son Finnan, was born with congenital heart disease. His fight to beat his illness was as inspiring and heroic as any of his mother’s achievements. Reporter: Allison Langdon Producers: Stephen Taylor, Julia Timms Eminem His real name is Marshall Mathers. But you probably know him as Eminem – that firebrand American rap star playing sold out shows in Melbourne and Sydney. Depending on your tastes, he’s either a foul-mouthed gangster wannabe or a song writing genius. But whatever you think of Eminem’s music, you have to admire his fight. Here is the poor white kid who never made it past year nine but somehow managed to claw his way to the top. And that’s not the half of it, as Anderson Cooper of American 60 Minutes discovered when he took the singer on a stroll down memory lane. Reporter: Anderson Cooper, CBS 60 Minutes Producer: Tanya Simon Frozen Fortunes Liam Bartlett wondered what on earth he’d done wrong when we packed him off to the desolate wilds of Siberia. After all, it’s not the kind of place you generally visit willingly. People used to be dragged there in chains and then worked to death. But this gigantic frozen slab of Russia is getting an image makeover. It may never rival New York or Paris as a tourist destination. But, right now, there’s a minerals boom going on that dwarfs anything that’s happening in Australia. And, if you’re an investor right now, icy Siberia is hot, hot, hot. Reporter: Liam Bartlett Producer: Howard Sacre

Death in Paradise It's the ultimate holiday destination - a party paradise for young Aussies looking for adventure on the cheap. But Asia can also be deadly dangerous, especially the latest hot spot - the tiny landlocked country of Laos. Every year, thousands of backpackers head there, completely unaware of the risks. Australian Lee Hudswell was one of them. He just wanted to have a good time with his mates. But like dozens before him, he never made it home. Reporter: Liz Hayes Producer: Steve Burling Toxic Time Bomb Right now, in homes around the country, thousands of Australian women are worried sick. They're living with the terrible possibility that a toxic time bomb is ticking away inside their bodies. For the last ten years, one of the largest manufacturers of breast implants has been involved in a monstrous fraud - filling its products with cheap industrial gels. What makes this scandal so alarming is that no one fully understands the health implications of what's happened. All over the world, governments are rallying to help women at risk. But not here. Reporter: Allison Langdon Producers: Gareth Harvey, Hannah Boocock Golden Girl There's no mistaking THAT voice or the heartbreaking songs that have catapulted her to the top of the music world. But Grammy award winner Adele isn't the bitter, angst-ridden soul you might expect. In fact, she's a very relaxed and funny woman - quick to laugh and swear. As Anderson Cooper of the American 60 Minutes program discovered, in the often phony world of pop, Adele is refreshingly real. Reporter: Anderson Cooper, CBS 60 Minutes Producer: John Hamlin

A Brave Face In this job, we’re constantly surprised and inspired by the strength of the human spirit. But Liz Hayes has never met anyone quite like Charla Nash. Two years ago, Charla was savagely mauled by a friend's pet chimpanzee. She lost her hands, eyelids, nose and lips in the frenzied attack. In fact, by the time help arrived, there was nothing much left of her face at all. It's a wonder she survived. But Charla wanted more than that - she wanted to live. And thanks to an extraordinary face transplant, and her own fierce will, that's just what she's doing. Reporter: Liz Hayes Producer: Phil Goyen The Crystal Cave Michael Usher has just returned from a spectacular and perilous journey to the centre of the earth, to a magical place known as the Crystal Cave. To reach it, Michael descended underground, deep into the deadly heart of a Mexican lead mine. The furnace-like heat and soaring humidity there can kill you in minutes. But when you see what Michael saw, you'll understand why it was worth every suffocating gasp for breath. Reporter: Micheal Usher Producer: Danny Keens Manhunt He's Australia's most wanted man and the most elusive. Malcolm Naden has been on the run for seven years, crisscrossing some of our harshest terrain. It seems every time the police get close, Naden slips back into the scrub and the shadows. He's becoming a legend of sorts - like those bushrangers of old. And just like them, there's a bounty on his head. But Malcolm Naden is no hero. He's a desperate man, armed and dangerous and he needs to be caught. But join this manhunt for a few days, as Charles Wooley did and you soon realise just what the police are up against. Reporter: Charles Wooley Producer: Danny Keens

Deep Trouble From the start, he was branded the Honeymoon Killer. The police were convinced Gabe Watson murdered his wife Tina while diving on the Great Barrier Reef and the media and public agreed. The view was, how could a newly-married man abandon his drowning wife? It just didn't make sense. It's taken almost 9 years for this quietly-spoken businessman to finally clear his name. But, even now, the suspicions linger. On Sunday night, in his only Australian interview, Gabe Watson tells what really happened that day on the Barrier Reef. Reporter: Liz Hayes Producers: Phil Goyen, Hannah Boocock Good Will He's one of the funniest blokes around and Hollywood's power brokers know it. Add Will Ferrell's name to a movie and chances are it will be a box office smash. Think hits like Blades of Glory, Anchor Man and Talladega Nights. Ferrell has made some serious cash playing the fool. He's reportedly worth 80 million dollars. But as Michael Usher discovered when he caught up with him recently, it's not the money or the fame that drives this thoroughly likeable bloke. Reporter: Michael Usher Producer: Phil Goyen

By Design Just imagine it. Seven kids and every one of them a boy. You’d give up trying for a girl wouldn’t you? Well not Andrew and Jody McMahon. They wanted a daughter so badly they decided to have one more go. But this time, there was no rolling the dice. Like thousands of other Australian couples, Andrew and Jody headed overseas where it’s legal to choose the sex of your baby. Gender selection is banned here and often condemned as a first step towards designer babies. But for the McMahons, it’s nothing short of a miracle. Reporter: Tara Brown Producer: Sandra Cleary God’s Angels Get ready to meet some real teenage Hell raisers. Brianna, Savannah and Tess are trainee exorcists – all- American school girls who slay demons in their spare time. Armed with just a bible, holy water and a hand-bag-sized cross, they fearlessly take on the forces of darkness wherever they may lurk. And, nowadays, that seems to be everywhere. The Catholic Church is performing more exorcisms than ever before, while the girls can scarcely keep up with demand. And we’ll give them this much. They do put on one devil of a show. Reporter: Michael Usher Producer: Phil Goyen Chilling Out Liam Bartlett has just returned from a place so piercingly cold, it gives him the shivers just thinking about it. It’s not Antarctica or even the top of Mount Everest. No. It’s actually a tiny village in Central Siberia. In Oymiakon, it’s so cold your eyelashes freeze together and you’re constantly on guard against frostbite. If it’s warmer than minus 55 degrees Celsius, then it’s a good day. So rug up as we venture to the coldest town in the world. Reporter: Liam Bartlett Producer: Howard Sacre

The Big Picture It's the curse of every dieter. Shed a few kilos. Then pile them all back on again. We've always blamed ourselves, we should have kept up with the exercise, shown more self-control. But researchers in Melbourne have come up with another more "palatable" explanation. They're discovered that a person's weight is predestined, that genetically your body will fight to put the weight back on again. All without you even knowing about it. There is some good news though: the new findings are turning the science of weight loss on its head. Reporter: Liam Bartlett Producer: Howard Sacre Ships of Shame They're sold to us as floating pleasure domes - luxury hotels on the sea - where every day is perfect and the party never stops. But scratch the surface of the cruise ship industry and the truth isn't so dazzling. Behind the pina coladas and the smiles lies a murky world of sexual assault, drugs and violence, even murder. Incredibly, one passenger goes missing overboard every two weeks. Now, you'd think the big cruise companies would be desperate to get their industry shipshape. You couldn't be more wrong. Reporter: Allison Langdon Producer: Gareth Harvey Living on the Edge Bands don't get much bigger or louder than Aerosmith. For 40 years, Stephen Tyler and his crew have been rocking stadiums full of adoring fans. Backstage, though, things haven't been quite so harmonious. There's been bitter feuds, battles with drug addiction and major health scares. Yet through it all, they've kept performing. Their live concerts are legendary. But as Lara Logan from the American 60 Minutes program discovered, the real entertainment happens behind the scenes. Reporter: Lara Logan, CBS 60 Minutes Producer: John Hamlin

The Trials of Gordon Wood It was a case that had it all, a flamboyant stockbroker, a beautiful model, murky business dealings and, a deadly mystery. And at the centre of it all was chauffeur Gordon Wood. Everyone believed Gordon Wood had murdered his girlfriend, Caroline Byrne, that he’d thrown her off The Gap, a well-known Sydney suicide spot. He was convicted and given a lengthy prison sentence. But Gordon Wood is now free after winning a sensational appeal. He is an innocent man but it seems public opinion isn’t swayed so easily. On Sunday night, Gordon Wood tells his story. Reporter: Liz Hayes Producer: Steven Burling A Hero’s Journey There are few Australians who can be called a genuine living legend but Ron Barassi is, without doubt, one of them. His achievements are quite incredible, a record 10 AFL premierships, a decorated public life, he’s as revered now as the day he retired. But in recent times, Ron has been quietly facing a burden that is slowly changing his life. It’s inspired an epic pilgrimage through a strife-torn country. Michael Usher was privileged to join Ron on that emotional journey, and tells us, he’s as brave and determined today as he ever was out on the paddock. Reporter: Michael Usher Producer: Jo Townsend Taylor Made Six Grammies, twenty million albums and one of the healthiest bank accounts in the music business. All this and Taylor Swift is barely into her twenties. It’s not just that she’s a gifted songwriter with a super-sweet voice and a girl-next-door image. What makes this country singer so beloved by her legion of teenage fans is the way she taps into their inner lives. As Lesley Stahl from the American 60 Minutes program discovered, Taylor Swift turns everyday high school angst into poetry. And it’s paying off – big time. Reporter: Lesley Stahl, CBS 60 Minutes Producer: Shari Finkelstein

Revenge Lust, sex, betrayal and revenge – this story is as juicy as any soap opera and almost as farfetched. It started out as a love triangle between an international model, her sports star boyfriend, and her unscrupulous and obsessed mother. And it spiralled out of control from there. There was a murder plot, a couple of Nigerian hit men, and a sensational trial. But what makes this tale truly incredible is how a wronged daughter chose to deal with her mother’s treachery. Reporter: Tara Brown Producer: Nick Greenaway The Longest Run You can’t help but be inspired by the young woman you’re about to meet. Quite simply, it’s amazing Turia Pitt is even alive today. Six months ago, she was caught in a bushfire while competing in an ultra-marathon race through the Kimberley. She and another competitor, Kate Sanderson, suffered terrible burns. Doctors warned Turia probably wouldn’t make it. But the dogged, fighting spirit of this long distance runner pulled her back from the brink. That and the love of a remarkable young man. Reporter: Michael Usher Producers: Ali Smith, Stephen Rice The Final Frontier James Cameron thinks big whether directing a movie epic like Titanic or creating the awesome alien world of Avatar. And he loves a challenge when he’s away from Hollywood, as well. His latest adventure is as sweeping in scope as anything he’s conjured for the silver screen. Cameron decided to explore the blackest depths of our oceans, as far as man has ever ventured, piloting a tiny sub eleven kilometres below the water’s surface. It was a treacherous, some might say foolhardy, undertaking. But he did it – with the help of a little Aussie know how. Reporter: Allison Langdon Producer: David Alrich

The Smack To smack or not to smack, it’s an issue that goes right to the heart of parenting. And there doesn’t seem to be any middle ground – you either believe that smacking is good old fashioned discipline or you consider it a form of child abuse. Dozens of countries around the world have banned it. Now there’s a big push to do the same here. That’s despite the fact that most Australians think that an occasional slap is OK. Still, very few will admit to it, let alone smack their kids in public, like one mother you’ll meet on Sunday night. Reporter: Michael Usher Packer’s Punt The Packers know a thing or two about business, so when they talk we tend to listen. Now, James Packer wants to talk about tourism but in typical billionaire style it’s a blunt message; The industry has seen much sunnier days. The big question then is how do we fix it? Packer says by getting Asia, and especially China, to visit us. And forget cuddly koalas and shrimps on the barbie, give them gambling. Of course, Packer would say that, he’s our biggest casino operator but he’s also promising that if we follow his plan, all of Australia will win. Reporter: Karl Stefanovic The Big Bang Theory Have you ever wondered how it all began? Humankind has been pondering that question since the moment we first gazed up at the stars. Now a million or so years later, a team of scientists in Europe is on the verge of unlocking the secret of the big bang, that explosive split-second when our universe was created. The scale of this experiment in a bunker deep beneath the Swiss Alps is, frankly, mind-blowing. It’s the largest engineering project since man went to the moon and, if it works, we may finally get an answer to the most baffling mystery of all. Reporter: Liam Bartlett

The Impossible Choice It’s the toughest choice any woman could make. You’ve tried so hard to get pregnant and suddenly you have an instant family – two, three even more little lives, a multiple pregnancy. It’s either the ultimate gift or a terrible burden. For many women, they have no choice, it would simply be too dangerous to carry all the babies full term. So they turn to a controversial and little known procedure called selective reduction where a doctor decides which foetuses to terminate. In fertility treatment it’s known as the dirty little secret. It’s a heartbreaking decision so it’s surprising then that some women actually choose selective reduction for lifestyle reasons. And a warning, parts of this story are confronting. Reporter: Michael Usher Producer: Phil Goyen The Fall Guys We’ve witnessed plenty of courageous and often crazy feats over the years. But in all of Charles Wooley’s time working on this program, he’s never encountered anything quite so jaw-droppingly insane as extreme kayaking. The guys who love this sport don’t so much live on the edge as throw themselves off it. They paddle their tiny kayaks over massive twenty-storey high waterfalls, reaching speeds of two hundred kilometres an hour as they plummet, nose first into the churning water below. They’ve shattered bones and broken backs. But, in their world, coming face to face with death is the only way to really live. Reporter: Charles Wooley Producer: Danny Keens Absolutely Fabulous Liz Hayes wasn’t quite sure what to expect. After all, it’s hard to separate the real life Joanna Lumley from the chain-smoking, Bollinger-sodden character Patsy she plays so convincingly in “Absolutely Fabulous”. But when Liz caught up with Lumley in London what she found was a witty, self-aware and thoroughly charming woman. Although, like her famous alter ego, she is partial to the occasional glass of champers. Reporter: Liz Hayes Producer: Sandra Clear

The Inside Story Whatever you think of Schapelle Corby’s guilt or innocence, it’s fair to say most Australians think she’s served enough time in prison. It’s been 8 years since she entered the notorious Kerobokan prison – sentenced to 20 years for having 4 kilograms of marijuana stashed in her boogie board bag. And it’s been a very tough eight years. Kerobokan is a hell hole and Schapelle has been diagnosed with mental health problems. But this week – an act of mercy – as the Indonesian President dramaticallycut Schapelle’s sentence by five years, raising hopes that she could be free within months. Liz Hayes has been in Bali for the exclusive inside story on Schapelle, her life in prison and the breakthrough deal to set her free. Reporter: Liz Hayes Producers: Kathryn Bonella, Nick Greenaway The Amazing Hogan Twins Imagine being able to read another person’s mind, to see what they see, to feel what they feel. Well, Michael Usher has just met two amazing little girls who can do just that. Tatiana and Krista Hogan are conjoined twins. Their physical bond is obvious. They’re joined at the head. But it’s what you can’t see that makes these sisters so special. Reporter: Michael Usher Producer: Phil Goyen Forever Young Nothing used to scream mid-life crisis more loudly or more eloquently than a sports car, a toupee and an ill-advised affair. But times are changing, for men and women. Nowadays, we’re more likely to stave off old age with a $12,000 push bike and a wardrobe full of passion-resistant lycra. Ocean swims, iron man events, triathlons, marathons, take your pick. But before you pull on the joggers and sprint out the door, a word of caution, getting fit and healthy later in life can actually kill you. Reporter: Karl Stefanovic Producers: Nick Greenaway, Hannah Boocock

Delta Force Love her or loathe her, there’s no denying Delta Goodrem is hot right now. She’s a coach on the wildly popular Channel Nine show “The Voice”. And she’s got yet another hit in the charts. She’s already had eight number one singles since breaking into the music business at the age of fifteen. No doubt, Delta’s enormously talented but it’s her tumultuous love life that grabs the lion’s share of the attention. There have been the bad boy lovers, the cheats, even the recent teenage boyfriend, all the stuff that’s normally ruled off limits in interviews. But when we sat down together recently, Delta announced “anything goes”. And she actually meant it. Reporter: Karl Stefanovic Producer: Sandra Cleary Deadly Pursuit It can happen in an instant. The police make a split-second decision to give chase – a young driver, high on adrenalin, takes a crazy risk and an unsuspecting motorist strays right into the middle of it all with tragic consequences. A quarter of all those who die in police pursuits aren’t hoons, they’re ordinary people who find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time. Without a doubt, it’s a tough call for the officers involved – do they let suspected criminals speed away or do they chase them down at all costs? For the shattered families left behind, there’s only one answer. No crime is worth the risk to innocent lives. Reporter: Tara Brown Producer: Steven Burling The Reunion On Sunday night you’ll witness a truly amazing display of love and trust – one that’s as moving as it is unique. It’s an unforgettable reunion between a gorilla called Kwibi and the man who raised him and then released him into the wild. Zookeeper Damian Aspinall waited five years before returning to Africa to check up on his old mate. He didn’t really expect Kwibi to remember him. He couldn’t have been more wrong. Reporter: Michael Usher Producer: Danny Keens

In the Name of Evil Milat – just the name is enough to make you shudder. Back in the early nineties, Ivan Milat stalked, tortured and killed seven young backpackers in the Belanglo State Forest just south of Sydney. When he was finally locked up – never to be released – we thought we’d heard the last of that terrible name. But there was another monster lurking in the Milat family. Matthew Milat.Matthew idolised his evil uncle and fantasised about taking a life. Then, in a callous and premeditated crime in the very same forest that uncle Ivan butchered his victims, Matthew Milat committed cold blooded murder. Now a last chilling postscript to this modern-day saga of brutality and horror. Reporter: Tara Brown Producer: David Alrich Sweet Poison For years, we’ve been warned about the evils of fat. We’ve checked what’s in our food, cut out the cheese and sworn off the fries. Well, it turns out we’ve been way off target. Controversial new research suggests that the real enemy is sugar. And this stuff isn’t just making us fat, it’s slowly killing us. Tens of thousands of Australians are already suffering serious health problems due to sugar overload. But, as Allison Langdon discovered, what’s truly alarming is that this sweet poison is as addictive as the hardest of illicit drugs. Reporter: Allison Langdon Producer: Jo Townsend A Fairytale Life There’s nothing quite like a fairytale to deliver a little box office magic. And the big movie right now is “Snow White and the Huntsman”. Charlize Theron is one of the major stars – appropriate perhaps given that her life reads like a Grimm Brothers fable. She was born a poor but beautiful farm girl in South Africa. And despite a troubled childhood and unthinkable personal tragedy, she rose to become a world famous movie star. Now she’s basking in her happily ever after – with a hit film, an Oscar and a gorgeous new addition to the family. Reporter: Charles Wooley Producers:

Fall From Grace He was Australia’s Golden Boy, a superstar in the pool and a much admired role model out if it. Grant Hackett had it all – Olympic medals, world records, a beautiful young family and a stellar career. Then his world came crashing down. On Sunday night, Grant speaks for the first time about his dramatic fall from grace, about the night he trashed his apartment, the collapse of his marriage and the allegations that he physically abused his wife. It’s been an excruciatingly painful few months but now this former champion is ready to own up to his mistakes. Reporter: Tara Brown Producer: Steven Burling Black Beauty She’s the pride of the nation, a big bold Australian mare who’s broken all the records and captured the hearts of millions of fans. Black Caviar has been first past the post in each of her twenty one Australian starts. She’s pretty much achieved it all on home turf. So, like the great Phar Lap before her, Black Caviar headed overseas to take on the best in the world. Liz Hayes has been following her campaign from the start and is lucky enough to be at England’s Royal Ascot track for the most important race of her career this weekend. Reporter: Liz Hayes Producers: David Alrich, Ali Smith The Power of One It takes a lot of guts to stand up against a foreign government and the might of the US military. But Catherine Fisher is one brave and determined Australian. Ten years ago, she was raped in Japan by an American sailor. Neither the local police nor the US navy did anything to help. So Catherine began a long, painful and often frustrating investigation of her own. She discovered that her rapist got away with it because of a secret agreement between the Japanese government and the American military. What’s truly disturbing is that same deal applies here in Australia and U.S. sailors have already taken advantage of it. Reporter: Liam Bartlett Producer: Stephen Rice

The App Revolution A decade ago, we would never have thought it possible. Today, we wonder how we ever managed without them. Apps – those cheap and simple little software programs – have revolutionised our lives turning our phones and our computers into information and entertainment super centres. Nowadays, there’s an app for every occasion. Some are useful, some are plain bizarre, like the program that turns what you say into a song – another one measures how ugly you are. If you come up with the right idea, there’s a fortune to be made. And, as Charles Wooley discovered, you don’t have to be some Silicon Valley geek to get in on the act. Reporter: Charles Wooley Producer: Danny Keens Good Vibrations If summer had a sound, it would be the Beach Boys. Millions have grown up and grown old bopping along to their music. Their songs take us back to a simpler time when all you needed to be happy was the sun on your back and the sand underneath your feet. But behind the scenes, the Beach Boys were going through all kinds of Hell. Drugs, breakdowns, legal spats, and the deaths of key band members, threatened to wipe them out for good. Now, 50 years since they first harmonised, they’re back with a new album and a world tour. And after spending some time with them on the road, Allison Langdon can say they are as carefree and as passionate as their lyrics. Reporter: Allison Langdon Producers: Nick Greenaway, Sandra Cleary The Vanishing Come with us on a breathtaking journey to the very top of the world. In Greenland’s remote Arctic wilderness, every day is a grim struggle to survive. And it’s only becoming harder. You see the world of the Polar Eskimo is disappearing, a casualty of climate change and encroaching civilisation. Their language and their culture might have vanished forever. But then an eccentric professor came to stay. Reporter: Michael Usher Producers: Danny Keens, Nick Greenaway

Mr Grizzly Allison Langdon has never experienced a rush like it, standing her ground as a giant Grizzly Bear threatened to charge. And for a few heart-stopping moments in the Canadian wilderness, Allison didn’t think she’d make it home to tell this story. But thankfully she was with a man who has a way with Grizzlies, even very cranky ones. His name is Doug Seus and he’s worked on some of Hollywood’s biggest films. Doug is a bear trainer and conservationist. He’s so confident around these magnificent creatures that he’ll willingly stick his head inside their jaws. And that’s something you just have to see. Reporter: Allison Langdon Producer: Nick Greenaway The Carbon Cowboy This has to be one of the most brazen and potentially disastrous scams Liam Bartlett has ever come across. David Nilsson was once accused in Parliament of selling non-existent plots of land in Queensland. Now he’s popped up in the Amazon jungle, of all places, where the fledgling carbon trading market has opened up huge opportunities for unscrupulous operators. It’s a multi-billion dollar industry that’s emerged now countries like Australia have introduced a carbon tax. Rainforests are suddenly worth big money. And the natives who own them are sitting on a fortune. Or at least they should be, but that all changes when David Nilsson comes calling. Reporter: Liam Bartlett Producer: Stephen Rice Olympic Pin-ups She’s the glamour girl of the pool, famous for her high profile romances and party girl antics. He’s the cocky freestyle champion who basks in the limelight. Stephanie Rice and James Magnussen are our favourite Olympic pin-ups. They’re rarely out of the news. Now with the Games almost upon us, they intend to make even more headlines – right around the world. Reporter: Tara Brown Producer: David Alrich

Deadly Encounter On Sunday night you will witness an underwater drama that is quite simply mind blowing – a face-to-face encounter with a four-and-a-half metre wild crocodile. There are no cages here, no guns, no tranquilisers, just one brave diver and a giant prehistoric man-eater. Dangerous? You betcha! But this isn’t some kind of extreme sport. This is scientific research in the scariest laboratory on earth. Reporter: Liz Hayes Producers: David Alrich, Stephen Rice My Son, the Monster It was a crime as bewildering as it was monstrous. One year ago, almost to the day, thirty-three-year-old Anders Breivik went on a bloody rampage that became the deadliest massacre in the history of peacetime Europe. Seventy seven people were killed – most of them teenagers on a camping holiday. You have to wonder how a seemingly ordinary man could do something so utterly evil. If anyone can answer that question it’s Breivik’s father. On Sunday night, in a world exclusive interview, Jens Breivik talks about what drove his son to kill and how an intelligent, churchgoing teen turned into Norway’s worst mass murderer. Reporter: Liam Bartlett Producer: Gareth Harvey Wrong Place, Wrong Time Thomas Kelly had his whole life ahead of him. He was just 18 years old – with a promising job, a new girlfriend, some great mates and a close and loving family. Then, last Saturday night, in a single, mindless act of violence… it was all taken away. Thomas was walking along a busy street in Sydney’s Kings Cross, hand in hand with his girlfriend, when he was viciously king-hit in an unprovoked attack. Two days later, his mum and dad made the heartbreaking decision to switch off his life support. On Sunday night, we talk to the people closest to this tragedy – to Thomas’ terrified girlfriend, to the mate who stuck by him during the mad dash to hospital. And to his parents, Ralph and Kathy, who are determined to give their son’s death some meaning. Reporter: Al

On Demand What you will see on Sunday night challenges all conventional notions about parenting. It may offend – perhaps even anger many of you. It’s called “attachment parenting” – a back-to-basics approach to child raising that’s becoming more and more popular with Mums here and around the world. The idea is that mothers agree to every demand a child makes – any time – day or night. They ask their permission to change a nappy, let them sleep in the grown-ups’ bed and even breastfeed them through preschool and beyond. But don’t just dismiss all of this as new age extremism. There is some compelling science behind it. Reporter: Michael Usher Producers: Phil Goyen, Hannah Boocock Bitter Pill It was the greatest medical tragedy of all time – a so-called wonder drug for pregnant women that devastated thousands of lives. Thalidomide was developed by German pharmaceutical giant Grunenthal in the 1950s and sold in millions of doses to an unsuspecting world. No one knows just how many babies died. But those that did survive suffered horrific birth defects. This week brought dramatic developments in a story we’ve been following for months. And on Sunday night, in a special investigation, we reveal chilling details about the origins and creators of this evil drug. Reporter: Allison Langdon Producer: Gareth Harvey At Any Cost They’ve been pushing their bodies to the limit, training like maniacs for their shot at sporting immortality. Now, in just a week’s time, our Olympic athletes will take on the best in the world. We’d like to think they’ll be competing on a level playing field. But the sad fact is, there will always be athletes who are prepared to cheat. Triple gold medallist Marion Jones caused a massive scandal when she admitted using performance enhancing drugs at the Sydney Games. And nowadays those drugs are even more sophisticated and difficult to detect. So when London organisers claim these will be the cleanest ga

Full House Knock on Richard Wallace’s front door and you’ll be shocked – even horrified by what’s waiting for you on the other side. His home is so crammed full of rubbish that you have to crawl just to get from room to room. You see Richard is a hoarder – it’s a bizarre obsession that’s shared by millions around the world. But what’s truly remarkable about Richard is how he faces his demons with a quiet dignity and a firm belief that life will be better one day. Reporter: Liz Hayes Producers: David Alrich, Stephen Rice Baby Jack It’s a tragedy that can strike any one of us – a friend, a neighbor, even an Olympic champion. A little over a year ago, swimmer Brooke Hanson gave birth to her second son – Jack Hanson Clarke. It should have been an event to rival anything Brooke had achieved in the pool. But her little boy arrived in the world far too early. Unimaginably tiny, weighing just 663 grams and about as long as a school ruler, Jack bravely clung onto life for 9 desperate months. On Sunday night, for the first time Brooke and her husband, Jared, talk about their very private loss and share what their dearly loved son taught them about courage and life. Reporter: Tara Brown Producers: Stephen Taylor, Hannah Boocock The Diva Who do you think is the world’s most powerful celebrity? Oprah Winfrey? Tom Cruise? A Kardashian perhaps? Well, apparently, the answer is Jennifer Lopez. J Lo earned a whopping 50 million dollars last year – not bad for a humble Puerto Rican back-up dancer from the wrong end of town. It’s a triumphant return to the top for Jennifer, who reignited her career as a judge on the hugely successful American Idol. She’s now embarked on a massive six-month world tour and Allison Langdon got a taste of what we can expect when she caught up with Jennifer, and her new and much younger man, back stage in California. Reporter: Allison Langdon Producers: Steven Burling, Sandra Cleary

License to Kill It’s monstrously unjust. A husband or boyfriend kills in a fit of rage – then blames his victim to wiggle out of a murder charge. It’s called the Provocation Defence. The man says that his wife or girlfriend drove him to it -that she was a nag or cheat. And that’s all the excuse he needs to get his murder charge reduced to manslaughter and to receive a much lighter sentence. It’s a license to kill. Yet our courts are buying it, letting the meanest and most brutal in our society get away with murder. Reporter: Tara Brown Producer: Stephen Rice The Good Wife It’s a big call but the lady you’re about to meet is convinced other women hate her just because she’s pretty. Anti-feminist crusader Samantha Brick claims her fabulous good looks have been a curse, that they’ve lost her friends and made her life Hell. But perhaps the problem isn’t her beauty but rather her outspoken views on marriage and relationships. She wants to return to the dark ages where the dutiful wife cooks, cleans and obeys. Reporter: Liam Bartlett Producer: Gareth Harvey A Wild Life He’s a living legend – as old as the Queen and to me at least – just as impressive. He’s made seventy documentaries, entertaining half a billion people. And he’s observed more species of animal than anyone else on Earth. We are talking of course about the inimitable Sir David Attenborough. Charles Wooley was privileged enough to be granted his only Australian interview during his recent tour of this country. More than a decade has past since Charles last met Sir David and he’s delighted to say the years have treated Sir David very well, indeed. He only wishes they’d been so kind to the planet. Reporter: Charles Wooley Producer: Sandra Cleary