Canadian actor, christopher plummer, best known for his role as captain von trapp, in The Sound Of Music, has died at the age of 91. We start in the us, where President Biden has said the latest monthlyjobs report, shows the American Economy is still in trouble, as it remains in the teeth of the pandemic. He said a 1. 9 trillion Stimulus Package would help the vaccination effort, and alleviate americans� suffering. Speaking with the treasury secretary, janet yellen, and Vice President Kamala Harris by his side, mr biden appealed to Congressional Republicans to act urgently to turn his Coronavirus Relief measures into law. I see enormous pain in this country. A lot of folks out of work, a lot of folks going hungry, staring at the ceiling at night wondering, what am i going to do tomorrow . A lot of folks trying to figure out how to keep theirjobs and take care of their children. A lot of folks reaching the breaking point. Suicides are up, Mental Health needs are increasing, violence against women and children is increasing. A lot of folks are losing hope. I believe the American People are looking right now to their government for help, to do ourjob, to not let them down. So im going to act, im going to act fast. We can speak to our new York Business correspondent michelle fleury. High, michelle. Just how bad is the economy in . What sort of shape is it in . ~. ~ economy in . What sort of shape is it in . ~. , ~. , economy in . What sort of shape is it in . ~. ,~. ,. , economy in . What sort of shape is it in . ~. ~. ,. , in . We saw weak growth at the end of the last quarter. In . We saw weak growth at the end of the last quarter, perhaps in . We saw weak growth at the end of the last quarter, perhaps not in . We saw weak growth at the end of the last quarter, perhaps not as in . We saw weak growth at the end of the last quarter, perhaps not as bad l the last quarter, perhaps not as bad as people might if anticipated, but certainly not great. You have to remember the pandemic caused in unprecedented shock at the us economy pushing the Employment Rate Up Economy pushing the Employment Rate up above 14 . Its currently down to 6. 3 , but to put that in context, there is close to 10 million americans out ofjobs. And the fear is that given the jobs growth weve seen released today, monthly government figures, it would take 17 years to return to where we were before the pandemic. I think given the scale of the problem, that is why you are seeing the president try to throw the weight of the white house behind this aid proposal they are pushing. fik. House behind this aid proposal they are pushing house behind this aid proposal they are ushin. ,. , are pushing. Ok. So how much support as he likely to are pushing. Ok. So how much support as he likely to get . Are pushing. Ok. So how much support as he likely to get . Well, are pushing. Ok. So how much support as he likely to get . Well, we are pushing. Ok. So how much support as he likely to get . Well, we have as he likely to get . Well, we have seen over the as he likely to get . Well, we have seen over the last as he likely to get . Well, we have seen over the last week as he likely to get . Well, we have seen over the last week or as he likely to get . Well, we have seen over the last week or so, seen over the last week or so, democrats in the house and in the last 2a hours in the senate, they held something known as a vote marathon trying to push through these budget rules that will allow them to essentially get a deal done without the support of republicans, if thats what it comes to. The next step now, ultimately, is that you are going to see congress having to draft the law and the Biden Administration today has made a concerted effort to sort of laid down what they want and the areas in which they are willing to negotiate over. So for example, we now know joe biden isnt willing to compromise on americans receiving 1400 check to get checks. He is willing to compromise on, perhaps, how that is targeted, who should receive that. So these are the negotiations that are going to play out over the next few weeks, and the goal among democrats is to try to get something done by mid march, because thats when an extended Unemployment Benefit expires. Quickly, michelle, you set over the next couple of weeks, when are we likely to know what the decision is . You have to craft a lot from you then have to pass it. We know that because of congress with Kamala Harris casting the final vote, they can do it with or without republicans, i think what we are going to see play out over the next two weeks as the details of what this package will eventually look like. ~ 4 4, ~ this package will eventually look like. ~. , ~ this package will eventually look like. ~ 4 4, ~ y like. 0k, michelle, thank you very much indeed. Thomas gift is Associate Professor of Political Science at University College london butjoins me from washington. Thank you forjoining us. Its a lot of money, isnt it . 1. 9 trillion. What are your thoughts on cross Party Support . What are your thoughts on cross party shaped . What are your thoughts on cross Party Support . Well, 1. 9 trillion is a lot of money. Party support . Well, 1. 9 trillion is a lot of money. I Party Support . Well, 1. 9 trillion is a lot of money. I think Party Support . Well, 1. 9 trillion is a lot of money. I think its is a lot of money. I think its inevitable is a lot of money. I think its inevitable that there is going to be a pushback from republicans. Joe biden, a pushback from republicans. Joe biden, since the outset, has said that he biden, since the outset, has said that he wants to govern from the centre. That he wants to govern from the centre, that he wants to push through centre, that he wants to push through bipartisan legislation, and by starting right out of the gates with a by starting right out of the gates with a measure that is so strictly cut across with a measure that is so strictly cut across party lines, i do think that hes cut across party lines, i do think that hes going to face some opposition and criticism, but with that said. Opposition and criticism, but with that said, democrats have control of both houses and the white house, and its not both houses and the white house, and its not surprising that they are going its not surprising that they are going to its not surprising that they are going to use the numbers to their advantage. Going to use the numbers to their advantaae. 4, going to use the numbers to their advantaae. ,. , going to use the numbers to their advantage going to use the numbers to their advantaae. 4, 4,. ,. , advantage. Scott a full intro at the moment, advantage. Scott a full intro at the moment. How advantage. Scott a full intro at the moment, how does advantage. Scott a full intro at the moment, how does this advantage. Scott a full intro at the moment, how does this fix advantage. Scott a full intro at the moment, how does this fix and. Advantage. Scott a full intro at the i moment, how does this fix and fixing the economy . How does that fit in with his Pandemic Response programme . With his Pandemic Response programme . With his Pandemic Response roaramme . ~ ,. ,. , programme . Well, there is no doubt that keeping programme . Well, there is no doubt that keeping the programme . Well, there is no doubt that keeping the us programme . Well, there is no doubt that keeping the us Economy Programme . Well, there is no doubt that keeping the us economy afloatl that keeping the us economy afloat is at the that keeping the us economy afloat is at the very top of bidens list, and its is at the very top of bidens list, and its of is at the very top of bidens list, and its of course inextricably linked and its of course inextricably linked to and its of course inextricably linked to covid 19. The extent to which linked to covid 19. The extent to which this linked to covid 19. The extent to which this administration is prioritising the commies evidenced by the prioritising the commies evidenced by the fact that biden and democrats have been by the fact that biden and democrats have been so willing to push hard on this 19 have been so willing to push hard on this 1. 9 trillion figure, even despite this 1. 9 trillion figure, even despite a this 1. 9 trillion figure, even despite a lack of bipartisan support despite a lack of bipartisan support. Its not winning the president any points with republican lawmakers and biden is invariably expending scarce Political Capital here that expending scarce Political Capital here that he might otherwise want to keep reserved through other legislative items. However, it really legislative items. However, it really does seem like everything folds really does seem like everything folds from the economy Forjoe Biden Folds from the economy forjoe biden. That has to come first. If he wants biden. That has to come first. If he wants to biden. That has to come first. If he wants to have any success on other bills, wants to have any success on other bills, health wants to have any success on other bills, health care, climate change, infrastructure, so on, that want to be possible infrastructure, so on, that want to be possible if the us economy is stagnating. | be possible if the us economy is stagnating stagnating. I apologise if youve already mentioned stagnating. I apologise if youve already mentioned this stagnating. I apologise if youve already mentioned this come i stagnating. I apologise if youve. Already mentioned this come about what is the republicans alternative plans if they dont agree with us, for those who are saying there is a problem here with national debt. What does their alternative . Imelt. What does their alternative . Well, the dont what does their alternative . Well, they dont have what does their alternative . Well, they dont have much what does their alternative . Well, they dont have much of what does their alternative . Well, they dont have much of an they dont have much of an alternative, essentially, all they are trying alternative, essentially, all they are trying to get through right now is to lower are trying to get through right now is to lower that 1. 9 trillion figure is to lower that 1. 9 trillion figure. 0ne is to lower that 1. 9 trillion figure. One of the interesting figure. 0ne of the interesting things figure. One of the interesting things of figure. One of the interesting things of all of this is you know, republicans were much more supportive of the Stimulus Bill whenever donald trump was in office, but with whenever donald trump was in office, but with the whenever donald trump was in office, but with the democrats in the white house, but with the democrats in the white house, i but with the democrats in the white house, i think a lot of republicans remember house, i think a lot of republicans remember that they are supposed to be fiscal remember that they are supposed to be fiscal can so you conservatives and they be fiscal can so you conservatives and they are really trying to drive home and they are really trying to drive home that and they are really trying to drive home that message. I think there is a fair home that message. I think there is a fair amount home that message. I think there is a fairamount of home that message. I think there is a fair amount of bipartisan support that something needs to be done and republicans are on board with some extent republicans are on board with some extent of republicans are on board with some extent of stimulus. Its reallyjust that large extent of stimulus. Its reallyjust that large number that they are concerned about. That large number that they are concerned about. How do you think President Biden concerned about. How do you think President Biden has concerned about. How do you think President Biden has done concerned about. How do you think President Biden has done so concerned about. How do you think President Biden has done so far, i President Biden has done so far, early days, but. Well, to this point, most of bidens focus well, to this point, most of bidens focus has well, to this point, most of bidens focus has been signing on a slew of executive focus has been signing on a slew of Executive Orders pushing through these Executive Orders pushing through these Cabinet Confirmations and setting these Cabinet Confirmations and setting the groundwork for the covert setting the groundwork for the covert relief package. 0n setting the groundwork for the covert relief package. On all of those covert relief package. On all of those friends, i think so far so good those friends, i think so far so good. There havent been any clear stumbling good. There havent been any clear stumbling blocks out of the gate, but its stumbling blocks out of the gate, but its probably too early to make a very but its probably too early to make a very clear but its probably too early to make a very clear assessment because the real test a very clear assessment because the real test will ultimately be how Biden Real Test will ultimately be how biden is real test will ultimately be how biden is able to navigate the landmines of partisan opposition in congress. Landmines of partisan opposition in congress, here, again, republicans will clearly congress, here, again, republicans will clearly use the stimulus to criticise will clearly use the stimulus to criticise biden to say that hes already criticise biden to say that hes already backing away from governing from the already backing away from governing from the centre. Ultimately, though, governing from the centre. Ultimately, though, governing is from the centre. Ultimately, though, governing is partisan, and biden is facing governing is partisan, and biden is facing pressures from within his own party facing pressures from within his own party to facing pressures from within his own party to usher in this large stimulus. I think its unsurprising that they stimulus. I think its unsurprising that they are driving pretty hard on this issue that they are driving pretty hard on this issue. ,. ,. ,. , this issue. Thomas, thank you very much for your this issue. Thomas, thank you very much for your time. Latest figures in the uk show almost half the uk population 32 Million People should be vaccinated against coronavirus by may. The government says it expects all adults over the age of 50, as well as the clinically vulnerable and those working in health and social care, to have received their firstjab by then. The uks medicines regulator, says the latest Research Shows side effects from all the approved vaccines are minor and dont last long. As cases continue to fall, politicians are divided over how soon restrictions should be lifted. Heres our medical editor, fergus walsh. This is an immunisation production line. At epsom racecourse in surrey, theyre doing 1,000 covid jabs a day. The government is so confident itll reach its target of vaccinating the over 70s and Front Line Health Workers by mid february, it is now looking to the future. My goal is i want us to be able to offer a vaccine to all over 50s thats priority groups one to nine by may there is a lot we have to get right to hit that goal, and obviously supply is the most difficult of all of those, but we are currently on track for that. You might get a sore arm for a couple of days. New Data Confirms that side effects from Covid Vaccines are mostly mild, which should reinforce public confidence. The 70 and 80 somethings in epsom were taking it all in their stride. They said there may be some side effects, but ive never, ever had side effects with any vaccines so im not expecting any. My wife has had hers already, and she just had a 24 hour soreness and thats all, but she is perfectly 0k afterwards, so im not concerned, no. It doesnt hurt, and i feel so secure now. Medical regulators are constantly monitoring Covid Vaccine safety. Theyve analysed 6. 9 million doses given up to the 24th of january. There were 22,820 reports of suspected side effects, which equates to about three per 1,000 doses. The vast majority were mild and included sore arms, headache, tiredness or fever, that generally lasted a couple of days. There were no unexpected serious adverse reactions, so the benefits of the covid 19 vaccines far outweigh the risks, and anyone who gets that invitation to go along for a jab should not hesitate. You can be confident that these are very safe vaccines. All medicines, including vaccines, can cause side effects. So the results of this Safety Monitoring are very reassuring for those who have had their covid jab and for the tens of millions of us yet to get our invite. New Research Shows the Oxford Astrazeneca vaccine protects well against the more contagious kent variant, but new variants are inevitable. So the government has signed up with a german biotech to develop future Covid Vaccines to try to keep pace in the arms race against the virus. Fergus walsh, bbc news. Lets get some of the days other news. And elsewhere in europe, the Spanish Health authorities have limited the use of the Oxford Astrazeneca virus to those under the age of 55. The move echoes earlier decisions by a Growing Number of countries which have restricted the vaccines distribution. Thats despite the European Medicines Agency approving its use late last week for all adults. The International Criminal court has ruled that it has jurisdiction in the palestinian territories. The ruling paves the way for a possible investigation of alleged war crimes by israel, hamas and other armed palestinian groups. The us said its concerned about the move, while the israeli Prime Minister accused the icc of being a political body. Delegates at a un led forum on libya have voted for an interim government of unity, intended to help prepare the war torn country for elections later this year. Its the latest step forward under United Nations sponsored moves to try to bring stability to a country devastated by years of chaos and violence. Russia has announced the expulsion of diplomats from sweden, germany and poland, accusing them of taking part in illegal protests last month, against the jailing of the kremlin critic, alexei navalny. But sweden has denied this. A statement from the Swedish Foreign ministry said. We refute russias claim that the diplomat participated in the demonstration. Mr navalny was jailed for nearly three years this week, for violating his parole conditions, and was back in court today, this time on separate defamation charges. It comes as the eus top diplomat, josep borrel is in moscow, the first visit there by a senior eu envoy since 2017. 0ur moscow correspondent, sarah rainsford, says the timing of the expulsions is not aa coincidence. Quite a message Tojosep Borrel and to the eu more broadly, of course, from russias Foreign Ministry. Apparently, this was announced during the meeting but was only made public afterwards. So, Ifjosep Borrel came here with a strong message for russia telling the Foreign Ministry that the eu condemns the treatment of alexei navalny, calling for his release, even, saying there must be an independent investigation into his poisoning. What he got in response was a big shrub from Sergei Lavrov what he got in response was a big shrug from Sergei Lavrov during that press Conference Following the meeting itself, and then this statement, diplomats from three European Countries being expelled straightaway. Allegedly for attending a Pro Navalny Protest on the 23rd ofjanuary, so the first of a wave of mass rallies across russia calling for mr navalny� s release. Now, of course, the countries involved have said that these are unfounded claims, that there is no truth to them at all, but, you know, it is very strange, very interesting signaling from russia, as i say, at a meeting in which both sides were talking about the difficult relationship but trying to focus, at least to some extent, in the areas in which they could cooperate. Russia is expelling diplomats from germany, poland and sweden. Sarah rainsford there. To stay with us. Stay with us on news, still to come well be speaking to the astronaut, commander chris hadfield, as P0resident Biden announces he plans to continue the trump administrations plans to return to the moon. The government has been defending its plans to quarantine people arriving in the uk, in a scheme due to begin in ten days time. People travelling from countries with high Infection Rates will have to stay in a hotel at their own expense, in an effort to control the spread of new variants of coronavirus. Labour says the scheme should extend to all international travellers, but the Health Secretary says every care will be taken to ensure the right people are being quarantined. We will be vigilant in making sure that the Hotel Quarantine that we are introducing applies to the right countries where we see these new variants. And we have a programme to have surveillance right across the world working with International Partners to make sure we can spot where these new variants pop up, like brazil and south africa, that we have seen so far, and make sure that we can keep people here safe with the new Hotel Quarantine. This is bbc news. The latest headlines. President biden warns that the us economy is still in trouble but promises to act fast on covid relief as americans reach what he calls breaking point. Russia expels diplomats from eu countries after they were accused of taking part in protests last month against the jailing of alexei navalny. Us president , joe biden, has endorsed the effort to return to the moon, that was initiated under his predecessor, donald trump. The artemis programme, plans to land the first woman and next Man On The Moon by 2024. Joining me is chris hadfield, former astronaut and commander of the International Space station 0h, oh, its fantastic to have you on the programme. Thank you very much. Just your reaction initially to this plan, this plan to return to the moon. � , 4, plan, this plan to return to the moon. H. ,. , plan, this plan to return to the moon. H. ,. , ~ moon. Its a oy to be talking with ou. Moon. Its a oy to be talking with you. Thank moon. Its a joy to be talking with you thank you moon. Its a joy to be talking with you. Thank you. Im moon. Its a joy to be talking with you. Thank you. Im delighted moon. Its a joy to be talking with | you. Thank you. Im delighted and relieved. I think it was absolutely the right decision to make. There is support right through us politics for that programme, and there is Huge International support, including canada where im from, crews have been announced already to go to the moon, including two canadian astronauts were slated to go to the moon. So i am really pleased to see this new administration in the United States not drop this particular ball, but support it and really open up a future for a lot of different people all around the world. Zgzq future for a lot of different people all around the world. All around the world. 2024 is the date slated. All around the world. 2024 is the date slated, hopefully, all around the world. 2024 is the date slated, hopefully, for all around the world. 2024 is the i date slated, hopefully, for mission three, artemis three. How long does it take to train . Because you have first hand experience . What is involved . Firsthand experience . What is involved . ~ � , involved . Well, gosh, its huge. The challenaes involved . Well, gosh, its huge. The challenges on involved . Well, gosh, its huge. The challenges on the involved . Well, gosh, its huge. The challenges on the crew involved . Well, gosh, its huge. The challenges on the crew and involved . Well, gosh, its huge. The| challenges on the crew and engineers involved are enormous. Its 2021, when kennedy made his Announcement Number we will be on the moon by the end of the decade come here we are the start of another decade and we are talking about notjust, you know, trying to see if we could get there but using all the latest technology and everything we have learned to actually get there and start to stay. Thats a pretty exciting developments. The number of things the astronauts have to train for come the men and women in their different astronauts course, its huge. But there is time to do that. We have to invent a few things. There are private companies involved. Its a different time, but i think its an exciting time. Thats a little tease there, isnt that . We have to invent a few things. What are you alluding to there . That sounds exciting well, the ability to stay on the surface of the moon, the technology you need in order to be able to extract water that exists. We think this 400 billions of litres of water in the moon. How are we going to extract from super cold places its an . Just all the little problems that we are going to have to solve. It sort of like they have to face backin it sort of like they have to face back in the apollo programme. So any problems to solve but they did it than with much less capability, and now we can do it to stay and use that to go further onto mars, eventually come into me, its a wonderful natural progression, and im really pleased to see recent support for it. I im really pleased to see recent sopport for it support for it. I know you are insired support for it. I know you are inspired by support for it. I know you are inspired by apollo support for it. I know you are inspired by apollo 11. Support for it. I know you are inspired by apollo 11. I support for it. I know you are | inspired by apollo 11. I believe around ten years old. What do you make of the progress from when you saw that to where we are now . Blot saw that to where we are now . Not ust me, saw that to where we are now . Not just me. But saw that to where we are now . Idrrt just me, butjeff pazo send elon musk were hugely inspired by the outcome and they have created these Rockets Companies that are going to be a big part of this. So, to me, that has been a huge continuum of it is how people are inspired to then invent and organise and do something that pushes the very edge of human capability. And we have gotten so much further than when i was a kid watching apollo 11. We could just barely do that. Apollo 13, they barely do that. Apollo 13, they barely limped home and save their lives. We have learned so much. Its almost become normal. We have been living on the Space Station for 20 years as an international coordinated efforts, and to me, that is the real groundwork, how we have been living and cooperating on station for how we will be living and cooperating and working on the moon. So we have come a long way, and we have still got a long way to go. We are in the thick of it. Thea;r go. We are in the thick of it. They understand go. We are in the thick of it. They understand when go. We are in the thick of it. They understand when we go. We are in the thick of it. They understand when we talk about away to go, this is part of the first step to mars. I mean, how exciting is that . We step to mars. I mean, how exciting is that . ~ 4, step to mars. I mean, how exciting is that . 4. , ,. , is that . We have three ships landing or auoin is that . We have three ships landing or going into is that . We have three ships landing or going into orbit is that . We have three ships landing or going into orbit around is that . We have three ships landing or going into orbit around mars is that . We have three ships landing or going into orbit around marsjustl or going into orbit around marsjust in the next couple of weeks from the native Arab Emirates and the United States, the american one will land right away and deploy a helicopter to go in the thin air of mars and go and explore. Mars is the most earthlike other location in our solar system. There is even a reasonable scientific expectation that there is a chance life may have developed on mars as well. That will be a fascinating discovery. When we know for sure, we still dont, we might be the only life were not the only life in the universe. So, yes, its really hard. Its pushing everything. But we need that to push. Weve got Serious Problems to solve on earth. We need that push and excitement that drives people to their limit so that they can solve some of those complex problems and it spreads all around the world. Commander, we have heard a lot of talk about the possibilities of commercialising resources on the moon. Do you think this is our first step to its . Step to its . There are a lot of eole step to its . There are a lot of people working step to its . There are a lot of| people working internationally step to its . There are a lot of people working internationally on just that. There are international courts. Of course theres a fundamental agreement we made in the United Nations back in the late 60s as to how we are going to do that, but i actually work with a foundation that is looking at that issue, what should Property Rights beyond moon . What should the necessity for using resources there as you weigh them against the earth moon economic system. How do you put all of that together . Whose laws do live under on the moon because mike we are working on all of those things. It helps to develop our fundamental structure of society and law itself, which sort of an interesting Side Benefits of Lunar Exploration. Interesting Side Benefits of Lunar Exploration interesting Side Benefits of lunar exloration. ,. ,. Exploration. Thank you very much indeed. Really exploration. Thank you very much indeed. Really excited exploration. Thank you very much indeed. Really excited me. Indeed. Really excited me. Commander, thank you. Thank you the canadian actor christopher plummer, best known for his role as captain von trapp, in the oscar winning musical, The Sound Of Music, has died at home in conneticut, at the age of 91. His manager said he had touched all our hearts through his art and humanity. Daniella relph looks back at his life. These are a few of my favourite things when the dog bites. Christopher plummer, the noble, uptight captain von trapp, whose heart is melted by music and fraulein maria. Hello. Fraulein, did i not tell you that bedtime is to be strictly observed in this house . The singing may have been dubbed, but plummer brought depth and dignity to the love story and von trapps implacable opposition to the nazis. But while The Sound Of Music made him an icon, he struggled with its sentimentality and famously called it the sound of mucus. Yes, i did say that, but so did we all. We alljoked about The Sound Of Music. You have to when you do something very delicate and sentimental and coy. In order to avoid being sentimental and coy, you have to joke about it and see the funny side of it. He was born in canada to a wealthy family, thought of being a concert pianist, but was drawn to the stage. You told me once you never heard the gods laughing. That theatricality worked in big epics. Like the follow the roman empire. The fall of the roman empire. Do you need a drink, Rudyard Kipling . As Rudyard Kipling in the man who would be king, he proved he could play complex characters. Dont you know me . No. In his 80s, he picked up an oscar as a man coming out at the end of his life. Andy, where did you get these . And became the oldest ever nominee playing john paul getty. Everything has a price. The great struggle in life is coming to grips with what that price is. Edelweiss. Christopher plummer, a huge presence on stage and screen for more than 60 years, famous for the one part he hated, but master of so many others. Christopher plummer, whos died at the age of 91. You are watching bbc news. Dont forget you can get in touch with me and some of the team on twitter im lukwesaburak. Dont go away. Plenty more coming up. Good evening. We are in for a spell of increasingly wintry weather as we head through the course of the weekend. Things turning colder for all of us with some disruptive snow in the forecast. Weve got an Amber Warning still in force across the northern half of scotland, 20 30 cm of snow there, perhaps 50 cm over the Higher Ground. We are going to continue to see that rain and hill snow sitting across scotland for the course of saturday morning. Slowly easing away later on on saturday. But as we start today on saturday, could be some mist, fog and icy stretches in the south first thing. Still some heavy showers on saturday across parts of northern and eastern england. Weve got that hill snow pushing across the Higher Ground of Northern England later in the day, starting eventually to ease away from scotland. But overnight, Saturday Night and into sunday, thats where we see persistent heavy snow arriving across the southeast of england and east anglia, blown in on these brisk easterly winds. Temperatures for sunday only a few degrees above freezing, but feeling subzero with the wind chill. And there is an Amber Warning in force for that disruptive snow across parts of east anglia and the southeast. Music. Captain sir tom moore, who raised more than £30 million for Nhs Charities will travel to Windsor Castle today to be knighted by the queen. It will be her first face to face engagement since march. Its the only honour to be ordered since the beginning of lockdown. Tom moore is now sir tom. The 100 year Old World War Ii veteran was knighted by Queen Elizabeth for an extraordinaryjob well done. For me, the queen was more than anyone could expect. I mean, it was. Never, never did i imagine that i should get so close to the queen and have such a kind message from her. That was really outstanding. It really was truly outstanding. Tomorrow will be a good day. Thats the way i think ive always looked at it. If we as a country can show the same spirit of optimism and energy shown by captain tom moore, then we will beat it. Together, we will come through this all the faster. Its wonderful that everyones been inspired by his story and his determination. Hes a one man fundraising machine. God knows what the final total will be. At the darkest of times, captain sir tom moore was the light that shone into our lives