On Tuesday’s episode of BBC Breakfast, which recently saw one host detail some sad news, presenters Ben Thompson and Nina Warhurst were on hand to deliver the latest headlines.

This included speaking about some of the people mentioned in the King’s New Year Honours List 2026.

After playing a pre-recorded clip of Betty Brown, who was recognised for her tireless campaigning for justice against wrongful prosecutions over the Post Office scandal, the hosts spoke to Ellen Roome.

Ellen has been made an MBE for her work surrounding children’s online safety following the death of her 14-year-old son Jools Sweeney, who died three years ago.

BBC’s Ben explained that Ellen has been calling for a reform to allow parents to gain access to their children’s social media accounts after their deaths.

Ben Thompson and Nina Warhurst spoke to Ellen on BBC Breakfast (Image: BBC)

Speaking to her online via a videolink about receiving the honour, it wasn’t long before Ellen was overcome with emotion.

Explaining that it was a ‘massive honour’ to receive, Nina added: “You’ve described it as a bittersweet moment, which is understandable, and I’m sure your mind then went to your son. Just talk us through that.”

Ellen replied: “I never started any of my campaigning for any kind of recognition, it started with wanting answers for my son, and then I met all these other bereaved parents-“

As her voice started to break, the guest added: “I’m going to get emotional, I knew I would. All of those parents want answers as well, and it became a bigger issue.

Ellen has been campaigning to change for children’s online safety (Image: BBC)

“Then, it became learning about how harmful online social media data can be for children. I just couldn’t stop, I’ve been shouting, and I guess someone has listened. It’s been emotional.”

Ben questioned what the hardest part throughout all of this has been for her, as she confessed it’s been all the times she felt as though she’d failed.

Ellen continued: “I’ve been in parliament when my change didn’t go through with the data use and access bill, and then I thought, ‘I can’t get moving’. I think that’s been hard.

“We haven’t got there yet. In the House of Lords in January, it’s being discussed to add to the crime and policing bill that when a child dies, their data is preserved.

“That’s my ultimate goal, I really think it forms so much part of the evidence when a child does, potentially, that it should be there.

Ellen’s son Jools Sweeney died at the age of 14 (Image: BBC)

“I really want it automatic, so that when a child dies, that data is preserved. If you don’t need it, they don’t need it. But, if a parent does, they can hopefully not be in my position now.”

When asked what it is Ellen is trying to achieve overall, she explained that she’s calling for social media companies to preserve data on accounts of those who have die, as opposed to it being deleted, removed or lost.

Ellen told the BBC stars she’s not been able to properly grieve her son as she doesn’t know why her son died.

She added: “I know how he died, but as a parent, to try to understand what on earth happened is so important. I really hope we’re successful going through the House of Lords and changing the law.”