today i'm talking to the bestselling irish writer roddy doyle. name 30 years ago with his debut novel the commitments, which was later turned into a hugely successful film and then a stage show. since then he has gone on to write more than 20 books for adults and children, including paddy clarke ha ha ha, which won the booker prize in 1993. his latest novel is called smile, and in it, he says, he hopes to shock and surprise people. roddy doyle, you have been writing for three decades. so there is a lot to talk about. but i'd like to start bang up—to—date with your latest novel smile, which is about a middle—aged man, victor, looking back on his schooldays as dark and disturbing memories begin to emerge. what was the starting point for the novel? i went to a christian brothers school in dublin, started in 1971, when i was 13. and that is a school run by the catholic church? yes, by the christian brothers, they are called. and a lot... for more than 100 years, a lot of working—class, lower—middle—class boys would have gone to these schools. it was

and at 8.30pm rebecca jones meets booker prize—winning irish author roddy doyle in talking books.ing and welcome to bbc news. the ambassador to haiti has told the bbc he believes oxfam tried to cover up bbc he believes oxfam tried to cover up details of the use of prostitutes by some of its aid workers in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake. 0xfam's chief executive said the charity could have been more open about its investigation, but insisted there was no cover—up. downing street says the government is reviewing its relationship with the charity. angus crawford has the details. it was an earthquake that devastated haiti, killing more than 200,000 people, affecting millions more. aid agencies from around the world stepped into the chaos. 0xfam, with more than 70 years' experience, had hundreds of staff in the field. but an investigation by the times found that in 2011, four staff members were sacked and three others resigned over allegations of misconduct, including paying local the n60 says it launched an investigation and kept the charity commission fully informed, something t

in halfan in half an hour, rebecca jones meets award—winning irish author roddy doyle.oks. a good afternoon, and welcome to bbc news. the government has threatened to cut off all state funding and help for oxfam, and other charities, if they fail to ensure that vulnerable people are properly protected. the international development secretary penny mordaunt has described as ‘horrific‘ the behaviour of some of oxfam's workers in haiti, who were accused of using prostitutes in the aftermath of the earthquake there in 2010. the chair of trustees at the charity says oxfam prides itself on being a transparent organisation working hard to improve the lives of the poor and has apologised unreservedly, saying "i share the anger and shame that behaviour like that highlighted in haiti in 2011 happened in our organisation. it is clear that such behaviour is completely outside our values and should never be tolerated." angus crawford has this report. first haiti, now chad, one of the poorest countries on earth, new allegations that a number of oxfam workers paid local women for sex.