The Untold

Grace Dent follows what happens when 43 year old Sharon embarks on a search for love. With two failed marriages behind her it would be easy to feel disappointed about the possibilities: not Sharon, who is optimistic that the right man is out there somewhere. When nights out at a local club fail to reap rewards Sharon turns to the internet but with mixed success: some of prospective suitors look nothing like their profile photos and whilst one or two prove to be decent, there are others who are not.

Over visits to Sharon's Rotherham flat, Producer Sue Mitchell gets to know more about her and her family. She has three children and helps pitch in to look after her grandchildren and keep an eye on her 23 year old daughter, Jessica, who is single and sometimes accompanies her on nights out. She has a dog, Molly, who gives birth to eleven pups and many friends call in and out on an evening. As well as looking for love, Sharon is also keen to get a job and already has a plan in place when it comes to spending her wages: a trip to Benidorm and perhaps even a holiday romance!

At the start of recordings she is with Serge, who has come from Cameroon and quickly moves into Sharon's flat, where he learns to make Yorkshire puddings and immerses himself in the goings on in Coronation Street. But strains quickly develop and before long they are arguing over his wish to have a child and her worry about what she sees as his controlling behaviour. When the relationship breaks down it is back to the drawing board: how is she going to find Mr Right and exactly what is she looking for in a partner?

Kanan is a 30-year-old software consultant in Bristol, but for years he was a struggling musician.

A few years ago after 15 years of trying to make it in the music industry, he got a day job. His first solid 9-5. To his surprise, he loved the new structure to his life. His life changed completely - he has stability and he's happy.

But his secure life has now been overtaken by unexpected events. Two years ago, he wrote a song in his bedroom about a break-up he was going through. He gave it to some friends, the band Hannah Williams and the Affirmations, to record. At the beginning of 2017 the unthinkable happened - by a twist of fate, Jay-Z heard the track, liked it, and sampled it.

It's become part of the song 4:44 - Jay-Z's public apology to Beyoncé. It's the title track on his platinum selling album, and the first single he released earlier this year, and Kanan is listed as songwriter without ever having spoken to Jay-Z. He had no idea any of this was going to happen until June when the album was released.

In song writing terms, it's like winning the lottery - but what does it really mean for his life?

Produced in Bristol by Polly Weston.

Grace Dent revisits four of the most intriguing Untold stories from recent series to discover what happened next. This includes Rachel Burns, the former care home manager who was sacked after posting a photo of one of her residents on Facebook. Another update is from Deborah, the cancer patient touring the world as a barbershop singer. We also hear the latest from the retired couple establishing their own Marigold Hotel and Nick, the 25 year old determined to get his life back after a brain injury.

Producer: Sam Peach.

My Lost Brother

Paul Mosby was a professional oboist. Now with advanced Alzheimers, he is largely non-verbal, and spends his days walking the corridors of his care home. His wife Yvonne and daughter Helen hope that music therapy might awaken his connexion with music, and with himself. Paul made the decision to stop playing the oboe nearly twenty years ago. He put it away in a box, and has not played since. And the early music sessions don't go well - Paul only stays a few minutes and then again begins his endless walking. Then his daughter brings in an old oboe that he gave her many years before - will it evoke any memories in Paul and re-connect him with his past?

Jonathan's app could be a lifeline for job seekers in the gig economy. Grace Dent follows the Essex entrepreneur as he tries to get his app off the ground before funding runs out.

Jonathan's a former supermarket worker inspired by the poverty he's seen in his local area. He's created an online recruitment app that aims to help those left behind by the gig economy and zero-hour contracts. For a year he struggled to make progress, but now he's finally got his big break. A backer will fund him for 3 months. For the first time he's been able to pay himself and call the business his job. Yet when funding stops, there's no guarantee he'll be able to continue the enterprise.

We're with Jonathan over the course of a make or break 12 weeks. It's a race against time to grow the business and make it succeed. Can he make enough profit to find a living for himself, as well as others?

Producer: Sam Peach.

Nouri is Syrian and Mike is Scottish. It is a new friendship formed around fishing and coffee and leads to Nouri confronting some painful memories.

28 year old Liam Rogerson was crossing the road near his sister's home in Kent when he was knocked over and killed on Christmas Eve last year. The car did not stop. Grace Dent tells the story of a family trying to come to terms with the loss of the eldest son. As the court date approaches for the sentencing of the driver, Liam's family prepare themselves for a result they may not feel is fair.

Producer: Georgia Catt.

This is Rob's story - a man who lost his voice and is trying to get it back.

Rob is a warm and charismatic man who says he's an extrovert. He's a successful business-coach - a people-centred job he loves.

Producer, Karen Gregor, follows Rob for six months as he tries to improve his voice: he gets treatment at the QE hospital in Birmingham with Consultant ENT surgeon, Declan Costello; he seeks out voice coaching with Christina Shewell in Bristol; and he meets a woman with the same very rare condition who might, just might, shed some light on what on earth he should do.

Grace Dent tells the story. Karen Gregor produces.

Grace Dent returns with a new series of untold stories from modern Britain.

The new series opens with the story of former care home manager Rachel Burns who was sacked after posting a photo of one of her residents on Facebook.

Though Rachel Burns admitted she'd made a number of mistakes in her use of social media, she felt that dismissal was too draconian after 21 years working for her employer, the local council. The Untold follows Rachel over a twelve month period as she pursues an unfair dismissal claim.

The odds seem stacked against her in the employment tribunal. While the council is represented by a barrister, she has no formal legal representation.

And as the case drags on, Rachel's debts mount and the experience starts to take a severe emotional toll.

Will the employment tribunal rule in her favour - or dismiss her claim?

Producer: Laurence Grissell.