just one in six female victims of sexual assault tell the police about it — we'll be asking why they're so reluctant. and in rugby union, wales have their sights on a six nations grand slam. coming up on bbc news, four wickets forjofra archer, as england's cricketers chase 186 to seal a t20 series win against india. good evening, and welcome to the bbc news at six. the eu medical regulator has, in the clearest possible terms, backed the oxford—astrazeneca vaccine. it follows a week in which several eu countries suspended their roll—out of the jab citing fears over a link to blood clots in a small number of people. here, the regulator confirmed it's been investigating five cases of a rare blood clot, but confirmed its longstanding view that the oxford jab was safe. there's been some more detail about why there's been a problem with the supply of vaccines to the uk, but the health secretary said no appointments would be cancelled. tonight, borisjohnson said "we remain on track to reclaim our lives". here's our medical editor fergus walsh. every injection, every vaccine given is another person protected. half a million people per day are getting immunised at present. in hull, there was no sign of vaccine hesitancy over the oxford astrazeneca jab, which more than a dozen eu countries have suspended using. i was which more than a dozen eu countries have suspended using.— have suspended using. i was waiting a lona have suspended using. i was waiting a longtime. — have suspended using. i was waiting a longtime. i'm _ have suspended using. i was waiting a long time, i'm in _ have suspended using. i was waiting a long time, i'm in my _ have suspended using. i was waiting a long time, i'm in my 60s - have suspended using. i was waiting a long time, i'm in my 60s and - have suspended using. i was waiting a long time, i'm in my 60s and i'vel a long time, i'm in my 60s and i've onlyjust got mine, so i wasjust happy it's finally done. i onlyjust got mine, so i was 'ust happy it's finally done.�* onlyjust got mine, so i was 'ust happy it's finally done. i 'ust took on board this * happy it's finally done. i 'ust took on board this is h happy it's finally done. i 'ust took on board this is my _ happy it's finally done. i just took on board this is my appointment, this is_ on board this is my appointment, this is what— on board this is my appointment, this is what needs doing, this is keeping — this is what needs doing, this is keeping everyone safe so let's go ahead _ keeping everyone safe so let's go ahead and — keeping everyone safe so let's go ahead and get it done. the keeping everyone safe so let's go ahead and get it done.— ahead and get it done. the uk medicines _ ahead and get it done. the uk medicines regulator _ ahead and get it done. the uk medicines regulator said - ahead and get it done. the uk medicines regulator said after| ahead and get it done. the uk. medicines regulator said after a rigorous review there was no evidence that blood clots were caused by the oxford astrazeneca vaccine. it looked in particular at five cases of rare clots in the brain among 11 million people immunised by the nhs. all were men under 60, one of whom died. it said given the link was unproven, the benefits of the vaccine far outweighed the potential side effects. forthose outweighed the potential side effects. for those in their 405, the risk of dying after covert infection is one in a thousand. —— covert infection. a5 is one in a thousand. —— covert infection. as a precautionary measure, it is advising anyone with a headache that last more than four days after vaccination to seek medical attention.— days after vaccination to seek medical attention. there is no evidence that _ medical attention. there is no evidence that blood _ medical attention. there is no evidence that blood clots - medical attention. there is no evidence that blood clots in i medical attention. there is no - evidence that blood clots in brains are occurring more than would be expected in the absence of vaccination, for either vaccine. the public can have every confidence in the thoroughness of our review. find the thoroughness of our review. and in amsterdam, the european medicines agency has come to the same conclusion about the astrazeneca jab. conclusion about the astrazeneca 'ab. , , ., conclusion about the astrazeneca 'ab. , ., conclusion about the astrazeneca jab. this is a safe and effective vaccine. its _ jab. this is a safe and effective vaccine. its benefits _ jab. this is a safe and effective vaccine. its benefits in - jab. this is a safe and effective i vaccine. its benefits in protecting people _ vaccine. its benefits in protecting people from covid—19 with the associated risks of death and hospitalisation outweigh the possible risks. the committee also concluded — possible risks. the committee also concluded that the vaccine is not associated with an increase in the overaii— associated with an increase in the overall risk— associated with an increase in the overall risk of thromboembolic events— overall risk of thromboembolic events or— overall risk of thromboembolic events or blood clots. the prime minister, who _ events or blood clots. the prime minister, who is _ events or blood clots. the prime minister, who is 56, _ events or blood clots. the prime minister, who is 56, will- events or blood clots. the prime minister, who is 56, will get - events or blood clots. the prime minister, who is 56, will get his| minister, who is 56, will get his first dose of the astrazeneca vaccine tomorrow, and said all adults would be offered a jab by the end ofjuly. tlil" adults would be offered a 'ab by the end ofjul . , ., ,, ., ., end ofjuly. our progress along the road to freedom _ end ofjuly. our progress along the road to freedom continues - end ofjuly. our progress along the . road to freedom continues unchecked. we remain— road to freedom continues unchecked. we remain on— road to freedom continues unchecked. we remain on track— road to freedom continues unchecked. we remain on track to _ road to freedom continues unchecked. we remain on track to reclaim - road to freedom continues unchecked. we remain on track to reclaim the - we remain on track to reclaim the things— we remain on track to reclaim the things we — we remain on track to reclaim the things we love, _ we remain on track to reclaim the things we love, to _ we remain on track to reclaim the things we love, to see _ we remain on track to reclaim the things we love, to see our- we remain on track to reclaim the | things we love, to see our families and friends — things we love, to see our families and friends again, _ things we love, to see our families and friends again, to _ things we love, to see our families and friends again, to return- things we love, to see our families and friends again, to return to - things we love, to see our families and friends again, to return to our| and friends again, to return to our iocai— and friends again, to return to our local pubs, — and friends again, to return to our local pubs, our— and friends again, to return to our local pubs, our gyms _ and friends again, to return to our local pubs, our gyms and - and friends again, to return to our local pubs, our gyms and sports . local pubs, our gyms and sports facilities, — local pubs, our gyms and sports facilities, and _ local pubs, our gyms and sports facilities, and of— local pubs, our gyms and sports facilities, and of course - local pubs, our gyms and sports facilities, and of course our- local pubs, our gyms and sports . facilities, and of course our shops. all, facilities, and of course our shops. ali. of— facilities, and of course our shops. ali. of course, _ facilities, and of course our shops. all, of course, as _ facilities, and of course our shops. all, of course, as long _ facilities, and of course our shops. all, of course, as long as - facilities, and of course our shops. all, of course, as long as the - facilities, and of course our shops. all, of course, as long as the data| all, of course, as long as the data continue _ all, of course, as long as the data continue to— all, of course, as long as the data continue to go _ all, of course, as long as the data continue to go in— all, of course, as long as the data continue to go in the _ all, of course, as long as the data continue to go in the right - continue to go in the right direction, _ continue to go in the right direction, and _ continue to go in the right direction, and we - continue to go in the right direction, and we meet i continue to go in the rightl direction, and we meet our continue to go in the right - direction, and we meet our four tests _ direction, and we meet our four tests. .,, direction, and we meet our four tests. :: , , tests. those in their 40s seem likel to tests. those in their 40s seem likely to have _ tests. those in their 40s seem likely to have to _ tests. those in their 40s seem likely to have to wait _ tests. those in their 40s seem likely to have to wait until- tests. those in their 40s seem likely to have to wait until mayj tests. those in their 40s seem i likely to have to wait until may to get their first vaccine, because older people will be getting their second shot, and there won't be enough extra doses to go around, due to some supply issues. half of all adults in the uk have now had a first dose of vaccine. the head of the nhs in england, sir simon stevens, got the astrazeneca jab at westminster abbey. safe and effective vaccines will answer all our prayers, to be delivered from this pandemic. fergus walsh, bbc news. our correspondentjean mackenzie is outside the european medicines agency in amsterdam now. so the regulator, the eu regulator, has given the green light. is this going to be enough for member countries to restart their vaccination programmes? well, countries always _ vaccination programmes? well, countries always said _ vaccination programmes? well, countries always said that - vaccination programmes? well, countries always said that if - vaccination programmes? well, countries always said that if the j countries always said that if the regulator did give the green light here this afternoon, they would restart u5ing here this afternoon, they would restart using the vaccine quickly, this is as close to a green light as i think they were ever going to get today. italy has already said it will start reusing the astrazeneca jab from tomorrow, as have a couple of the other smaller countries. france's prime minister has come out and said he is now going to get vaccinated with the astrazeneca jab, and i think we're going to see other countries follow. the regulator wa5 countries follow. the regulator was asked this afternoon directly whether european countries should start using the vaccine again, and the answer was crystal clear. we have vaccines that work, they are preventing deaths and they need to be used. it even went on to point out that thousands of people are still dying across europe every single day from covid, and this is something the european leaders are all too aware of. they are struggling to vaccinate people fast enough here, as many battle what appears to be the onset of a new wave of this virus. yes, they know they have been super cautious here. this is the in—depth analysis they asked for. it should do a lot to ease their anxieties.— asked for. it should do a lot to ease their anxieties. thank you very much. the prime minister today said there'd be no changes to the next steps of the road map, and the loosening of restrictions won't be affected by issues with vaccine supply. well, let's talk to laura kuenssberg at westminster. laura, so absolutely determined to meet these vaccination targets, and no compromises?— no compromises? that's right, georue. no compromises? that's right, george- after— no compromises? that's right, george. after a _ no compromises? that's right, george. after a really - no compromises? that's right, george. after a really choppy i no compromises? that's right, i george. after a really choppy few days on the other side of the channel and the news of the squeeze on supply we were talking about last night, i think the prime minister came out today with one goal in mind, to give the country reassurance with the r. number one first of all —— with a capital r. talking about his own plan to roll up talking about his own plan to roll up his sleeve tomorrow for his first job with the astrazeneca vaccine. he was therefore giving his own very personal endorsement on the safety of the vaccine, which was repeated on many occasions by the top medics appearing alongside him. secondly, he wanted to give reassurance on that supply issue. yes, we know for various different reasons that fergus was talking about, there has been a slowdown in the flow of vaccines into the uk, but the prime minister didn't want to get into a row about that, either with the eu or with india, and instead he reiterated that the government is still confident they will be able to stick to their targets, with all over 505 getting a first dose by the middle of april, and all adults getting theirfirst dose middle of april, and all adults getting their first dose by the end ofjuly. and what has happened there really is that ministers were so pleased this time last week that the vaccine had been going superfast, they thought that they might be able to accede the targets, but these plead —— the squeeze in supply meant they have to stick with their plans. but last of all, he said repeatedly, none of this should mean a change in the unlock of the country, that gradual reopening of the economy and the country's doors, and i think the fact the prime minister came out to front out this message today shows just how much the government is eager that the public�*s faith in the vaccine isn't dented. eager that the public's faith in the vaccine isn't dented.— eager that the public's faith in the vaccine isn't dented. thank you very much. the latest coronavirus figures show there were 6,303 new cases recorded in the latest 24—hour period, which means, on average, the number of new cases reported per day in the last week is 5,601. the number of patients in hospital with covid continues to fall, now down to 7,218. there were 95 deaths reported of people who died within 28 days of a positive covid—19 test, which means, on average, 108 deaths were reported every day in the past week from coronavirus, taking the total number of deaths so far to 125,926. on to vaccinations, and 462,246 people had their first dose of a covid vaccine in the latest 24—hour period, which takes the total of people who have now had their firstjab to more than 25.7 million, meaning 49% of the uk adult population have now received their first vaccination. and nearly 1.9 million people have had both doses of the vaccine. the health secretary has announced an additional £6.6 billion of funding for the nhs in england. the money will be spent on continuing to deal with the coronavirus, but there was also a pledge to start tackling the ever—growing backlog of procedures that have been postponed during the pandemic. our health editor hugh pym has been hearing from one hospital boss about the scale of the task ahead. this experience... getting feedback from patients _ this experience. .. getting feedback from patients. marcel— this experience... getting feedback from patients. marcel leavey - this experience... getting feedback. from patients. marcel leavey because we once at university college hospital. he is both consultant and chief executive, and soon will head back to his native holland to become the dutch government's chief scientific adviser. he is full of praise for the work of staff but says the nhs was not well set before the pandemic, with waiting lists growing steadily, so covert cancellations have made an existing album a lot worse.— album a lot worse. covid is actually album a lot worse. covid is actually a magnifying _ album a lot worse. covid is actually a magnifying glass _ album a lot worse. covid is actually a magnifying glass making - album a lot worse. covid is actually a magnifying glass making very - album a lot worse. covid is actually l a magnifying glass making very clear the capacity in the nhs was not sufficient — the capacity in the nhs was not sufficient already four years, and that has — sufficient already four years, and that has now become very, very obvious — that has now become very, very obvious it _ that has now become very, very obvious. it is going to take, i'm afraid, — obvious. it is going to take, i'm afraid, a — obvious. it is going to take, i'm afraid, a very long time to get where — afraid, a very long time to get where we _ afraid, a very long time to get where we want to be.- afraid, a very long time to get where we want to be. does it need more money. _ where we want to be. does it need more money. just— where we want to be. does it need more money, just to _ where we want to be. does it need more money, just to get _ where we want to be. does it need more money, just to get through l more money, just to get through these procedures?— more money, just to get through these procedures? yes, of course it would take — these procedures? yes, of course it would take more _ these procedures? yes, of course it would take more money, _ these procedures? yes, of course it would take more money, and - these procedures? yes, of course it would take more money, and of- these procedures? yes, of course it. would take more money, and of course we will— would take more money, and of course we will try— would take more money, and of course we will try to _ would take more money, and of course we will try to do this as efficiently as possible, but you can only treat — efficiently as possible, but you can only treat all those patients if you introduce — only treat all those patients if you introduce even more weekend working, evening _ introduce even more weekend working, evening working, extra shifts, extra operating _ evening working, extra shifts, extra operating theatre time. an evening working, extra shifts, extra operating theatre time.— operating theatre time. an extra £6.6 operating theatre time. an extra £6-6 billion _ operating theatre time. an extra £6.6 billion has _ operating theatre time. an extra £6.6 billion has now— operating theatre time. an extra £6.6 billion has now been - operating theatre time. an extra i £6.6 billion has now been allocated to the nhs in england, some of which will be used to help cut waiting lists. there will be proportionate increases for scotland, wales and northern ireland. i increases for scotland, wales and northern ireland.— increases for scotland, wales and northern ireland. i have a nice one but when i — northern ireland. i have a nice one but when i come _ northern ireland. i have a nice one but when i come home _ northern ireland. i have a nice one but when i come home from - northern ireland. i have a nice one but when i come home from work. | but when i come home from work. chris— but when i come home from work. chris can _ but when i come home from work. chris can only— but when i come home from work. chris can only hope _ but when i come home from work. chris can only hope it _ but when i come home from work. chris can only hope it will - but when i come home from work. chris can only hope it will make i but when i come home from work. chris can only hope it will make a. chris can only hope it will make a difference. he was keen on sport, but arthritis over the last few years has made that impossible. he has been told he needs a knee replacement, and has been waiting nearly a year. it is replacement, and has been waiting nearly a year-— nearly a year. it is frustration, absolute frustration _ nearly a year. it is frustration, absolute frustration that, - nearly a year. it is frustration, absolute frustration that, you | nearly a year. it is frustration, - absolute frustration that, you know, i lie absolute frustration that, you know, i tie awake _ absolute frustration that, you know, iiie awake at — absolute frustration that, you know, i lie awake at night _ absolute frustration that, you know, i lie awake at night worrying - absolute frustration that, you know, i lie awake at night worrying about l i lie awake at night worrying about getting _ i lie awake at night worrying about getting up— i lie awake at night worrying about getting up to — i lie awake at night worrying about getting up to work _ i lie awake at night worrying about getting up to work the _ i lie awake at night worrying about getting up to work the next - i lie awake at night worrying about getting up to work the next day, l getting up to work the next day, thinking — getting up to work the next day, thinking am _ getting up to work the next day, thinking am i_ getting up to work the next day, thinking am i going _ getting up to work the next day, thinking am i going to _ getting up to work the next day, thinking am i going to be - getting up to work the next day, thinking am i going to be ok, i getting up to work the next day, i thinking am i going to be ok, am i going— thinking am i going to be ok, am i going to— thinking am i going to be ok, am i going to be— thinking am i going to be ok, am i going to be able— thinking am i going to be ok, am i going to be able to— thinking am i going to be ok, am i going to be able to get— thinking am i going to be ok, am i going to be able to get on- thinking am i going to be ok, am i going to be able to get on the - thinking am i going to be ok, am i. going to be able to get on the steps in the _ going to be able to get on the steps in the morning? _ going to be able to get on the steps in the morning? and _ going to be able to get on the steps in the morning? and all— going to be able to get on the steps in the morning? and all that, - going to be able to get on the steps in the morning? and all that, and i going to be able to get on the steps in the morning? and allthat, and ii in the morning? and allthat, and i -et in the morning? and allthat, and i get that, _ in the morning? and allthat, and i get that, it's — in the morning? and allthat, and i get that, it'sjust_ in the morning? and allthat, and i get that, it's just frustration, - in the morning? and allthat, and i get that, it's just frustration, to i get that, it's just frustration, to be honest _ get that, it's 'ust frustration, to be honest._ be honest. the charity, versus arthritis, _ be honest. the charity, versus arthritis, said _ be honest. the charity, versus arthritis, said it _ be honest. the charity, versus arthritis, said it was _ be honest. the charity, versus arthritis, said it was vital - be honest. the charity, versusj arthritis, said it was vital some be honest. the charity, versus i arthritis, said it was vital some of the new money would be focused on cutting waiting times forjoint replacements. marcel leavey believes the nhs is a very strong organisation, itjust needs to build up organisation, itjust needs to build up capacity now to cope with the impact of the next pandemic. hugh pym, bbc news. a los angeles—based private investigator says he was paid by the sun newspaper to investigate meghan markle and herfamily, in the early days of her relationship with prince harry. daniel portley—hanks says he unlawfully obtained detailed private information about her, including her social security number, as part of a dossier. news uk, the publisher of the sun, accept they paid mr hanks, but insist they never asked for, or knew of, any unlawful activity. here's our media editor, amol rajan. it contains some flashing images. we know what the british press can be like, and it was destroying my mental health. i was like, this is toxic. . ., , ., ., ., toxic. prince harry has long had a thou~ht toxic. prince harry has long had a thought relationship _ toxic. prince harry has long had a thought relationship with - toxic. prince harry has long had a| thought relationship with britain's tabloid press, as he told james corden recently. he is suing both former publishers of the sun and the daily mirror over allegations of phone hacking and other illegal activity before 2011. witnesses at the enquiry in 2012 included celebrities, politicians and a former editor of the sun and news of the world. since 2015, rebekah brooks has been the boss of the sun's publisher, rupert murdoch's news uk, and was later cleared on all charges of phone hacking. on page nine of herfirst all charges of phone hacking. on page nine of her first written witness statement to the enquiry, dated 2011, she said private investigators, the industry cracked down on the use of investigators until i believe they use is now virtually extinct. iterate until i believe they use is now virtually extinct.— until i believe they use is now virtually extinct. we are going to look at privacy — virtually extinct. we are going to look at privacy and _ virtually extinct. we are going to look at privacy and harassment l virtually extinct. we are going to i look at privacy and harassment law. four years _ look at privacy and harassment law. four years after _ look at privacy and harassment law. four years after levenson _ look at privacy and harassment law. four years after levenson in - look at privacy and harassment law. four years after levenson in 2016, i four years after levenson in 2016, meghan markle was working as an actor in the legal drama, suits. shortly after her relationship with prince harry was revealed, a private investigator based in california, now retired, was paid by the sun to get detailed personal information about her and herfamily. get detailed personal information about herand herfamily. he believes some of what he then did was unlawful. in accessing a particular one stop database is a licensed private investigator, and giving a full statement about what he was using the data for, he reached federal law.- he was using the data for, he reached federal law. pretty much an hinel reached federal law. pretty much anything i have — reached federal law. pretty much anything i have done _ reached federal law. pretty much anything i have done they - reached federal law. pretty much anything i have done they could l reached federal law. pretty much i anything i have done they could find out themselves, using legal means, with the exception of the social security numbers. when you have that information, it's be key to the kingdom. with a social security number you can contact the bank, you can contact phone companies. it is im ortant can contact phone companies. it is important to _ can contact phone companies. it is important to stress there is no evidence that there were such misuse in this instance. the bbc has seen and corroborated this so—called comprehensive report on meghan and herfamily, for which hanks was paid by the sun, as well as the remittances he received from news uk for this and many other reports. it was in this period in november 2016 that prince harry issued a trenchant statement condemning the media. hanks says the sun wrote to him in 2012, instructing him to act within the law, and he later confirmed this in his invoices, but he feels they could have done more. did anyone from the sun at any point say we have some concerns about how you get this information? ida. have some concerns about how you get this information?— this information? no, they never asked. this information? no, they never asked- they _ this information? no, they never asked. they didn't _ this information? no, they never asked. they didn't care. - this information? no, they never asked. they didn't care. is - this information? no, they neverj asked. they didn't care. is hanks this information? no, they never. asked. they didn't care. is hanks a reliable source? _ asked. they didn't care. is hanks a reliable source? a _ asked. they didn't care. is hanks a reliable source? a sometime - asked. they didn't care. is hanks a reliable source? a sometime actor| reliable source? a sometime actor and vietnam veteran, he was jailed four times, and vietnam veteran, he was jailed fourtimes, including and vietnam veteran, he was jailed four times, including for extortion, and had been a private investigator for the decades. a statement from news group newspapers said... they say he was instructed and undertook in writing to act lawfully and the information provided did not raise any concerns. they also said they did not request her social security number and none of the information was used for any unlawful practice. hanks was initially being approached by a freelance journalist who was previously sentenced for phone hacking and now reports on press ethics. his website is funded by supporters of press reform and spun off from a media group that has received funding from the likes of max mosley and hugh grant. he paid for access to his documents. this story definitely _ for access to his documents. try 3 story definitely sticks out in the post—levenson world because it has taken place five years after we thought these practices had stopped. hanks says watching harry and meghan's interview with oprah winfrey prompted his confession. prince harry and meghan markle might well be listening to you right now. what would you like to say to them directly? i’m what would you like to say to them directl ? �* , , what would you like to say to them directl ? �* _ , ., ., directly? i'm deeply sorry for what i did. if directly? i'm deeply sorry for what idid- if your— directly? i'm deeply sorry for what i did. if your lawyers _ directly? i'm deeply sorry for what i did. if your lawyers need - directly? i'm deeply sorry for what i did. if your lawyers need to - directly? i'm deeply sorry for what i did. if your lawyers need to talk. i did. if your lawyers need to talk to me to help you with these cases, i'm ready to give you what i know. amol rajan, bbc news. fewer than one in six female victims of sexual assault in england and wales reported it to the police, that's according to the office for national statistics. the figures for the year to last march highlight the hundreds of thousands of women who experience sexual violence every year. our special correspondent lucy manning has been talking to two women, one who told the police about an attack, and another who didn't. sarah everard's family still don't know exactly what happened to her. as the inquest into her death opened today, the 33—year—old's relatives heard experts are still unsure how she died. the second postmortem has taken place. the tragedy of one has amplified the experiences of many. data that asks people about their experience of crime has shone a light on the numbers of young women affected by the most serious sexual assaults. latest figures show, over the last three years, around one in 40 women aged between 16 and 24 experienced rape or assault by penetration. fewer than one in six reported it to the police. and overall there were more than three quarters of a million victims last year of sexual assault. those figures have actually gone down from the year before, but four times as many women were affected than men. stephanie is one who didn't report her sexual assaults. she has chosen to waive her anonymity. it doesn't surprise me. i feel like if i was to report someone for shoplifting, they would be dealt with a lot quicker than a woman who says she has been abused or raped or assaulted, and it's quite sad really because a lot of women are ignored and their experiences are brushed under the mat. honey was raped in cambridge. she has also waived her anonymity. i can tell you that most of my friends have some kind of story about being sexually assaulted, either by they don't know or someone they do know. to me, one in 40 probably doesn't seem that much. she did tell police, and her attackers were jailed. i think my advice to people would always be to go and do it and report this crime, because the more it's reported hopefully the more likely we will be to reduce the stigma around it. after pressure from campaigners, the police will now record misogyny as a hate crime. # sisters united, will never be defeated #. it's hoped this will encourage more women to their attacks. women to report their attacks. lucy manning, bbc news. the time is 20 minutes past six. our top story this evening — europe's medical regulator says the astra—zeneca vaccine is safe and effective. coming up, we hear zoe's story of bereavement, and the impact of grief. coming up on sportsday on bbc news... two more wins for rachael blackmore on day four at the cheltenham festival, including victory on board allaho in the ryanair chase. one way or another, all our lives have been touched by the coronavirus. after a year of disruption, how easy will it be for us to get back to the normality we've all craved? in the latest in our series since the first lockdown, reeta chakrabarti has been speaking to three people about what lockdown has meant for them and their communities. spring is always an awakening, but this year, that need for renewal is intense. 12 months of lockdown have forced shutdown on many people, until perhaps now. # stand in front of you and i pour my heart out...# for maria, a teacher and aspiring singer, life in lockdown has turned many certainties upside down. i never used to worry as much about everything, and then i suddenly found myself in a circle where really everything seemed quite, quite uncertain, everything seemed really difficult to plan ahead, and even think about what you're doing next week or the week after. maria and her fiance chris had a wedding planned for last summer, but the stop—start of lockdowns has forced them to cancel it twice. that's what i think really triggered all my worries and anxieties. there has been a little bit of guilt at times, when i've spent sleepless nights, worrying about the wedding, whether it's going to go ahead, and thinking, actually, there are bigger things out there that are happening. lockdown has made some of us more anxious and less confident as people, but there have been gains too. we listen to the birdsong more, we speak to neighbours that we didn't previously know, we are more connected to our surroundings and our communities. for some, the pandemic has meant new roots. sam walker and family moved house for more space. when we were in london, we lived in an upstairs maisonette. we were inside the flat, you know, with no outside space, apart from a really small balcony that we had, so that really was the motivation to get a house with a garden. sam is a make—up artist, who's seen all her work disappear. it's changed her as a person. before, i had a lot more focus on my work and my career, and that has flipped 100%. you know, so now i realise that, you know, where i get my values from, my family and my home. did you feel lonely? a little bit, because i didn't have as many people around me, - because i was used to, _ like, as we were going to school, i was used to having quite a lot of people around me, - and also being in public. for artistjoel "chidi35" sydenham, the changing landscape of lockdown life has led to shifting perspectives of his own. i don't think anybody knew it was going to go on for a year, so i, genuinely, ifelt like it was going to be two or three months, and then everything would be fine. being forced to slow down has forced me to grow up as a human being and as an artist, and as a teacher too. many young people, he says, feel frustrated and even angry about the last year. it is an emergency, it is a pandemic, like, knowing it is unprecedented, and i don't think anybody young feels like they have had a say. they don't feel heard or they don't feel like their opinions have been valued. despite the frustrations, joel is hopeful. i have a strong belief that the world will go back to normal and all those things, they have just been postponed, they haven't really been cancelled. this spring, we are taking tentative steps towards our old lives and our old selves without really knowing if either are entirely retrievable. reeta chakrabarti, bbc news, eltham. the bbc has announced its moving more of its services out of london in order to "better reflect" all parts of the uk. more programmes will be commissioned and made away from the capital. 6 music — for example — is heading to salford. newsnight on bbc2, the today programme and pm on radio will be presented regularly from across the uk. children who lose a close relative within two months of sitting a major school exam in england are entitled to a 5% increase in their grades. that doesn't go far enough, says the new children's commissioner. zoe lost her mother during lockdown and she's been telling us her story through the bbc young reporter scheme. really started to get on top of me throughout lockdown, and it was a really difficult challenge to continue completing schoolwork and then dealing with the emotional aspect of everything. my mum was incredible. she was so positive about everything and she cared about everyone, and she never really put herself before anything. since mum died, ifound out that pupils like me can apply for a 5% increase in their exam grade, but only if a close relative has passed away within two months. one bereavement charity says pupils like me need more support. what i would like to see happen, as you're doing, is people become engaged over a much longer term. please, please carry on asking the questions. the guidance on exam grades is set by thejoint centre for qualifications. they declined an interview, but sent me a statement. "we have a lot of sympathy for students who have lost loved ones. the usual special consideration process will not apply this year, as there are no exams. jcq will provide further guidance about how to take adverse circumstances into account this summer, later this month." i think the statement i received from thejoint centre for qualifications was really quite empty. there was no real information in it at all, and i think... i'm happy that they did mention they are willing to support bereaved children, but really not enough is being done and the statement they provided really lacked a lot of clarity. my mum brought me up to be a positive person. i'd like to be a voice for other pupils going through bereavement, and that means putting more questions to people who represent us. if the time limit of about two months over the grade uplift is still used in some way over the next few years, do you think that that's fair? i would like to see that 5% changed, and i think we need to not put a two—month cap on it and i think it should be a centre—assessed grade by the people who know you best and know what you're capable of. in the future, if nothing's done then i will be willing to try and contact the department for education, speak to the children's commissioner again and really make sure that something is done because it's a really important issue that needs sorting out really quickly. zoe there, ending her report on bereavement. and for more information on dealing with issues you can go to the bbc action line. wales are preparing for the biggest rugby match of the year so far. on saturday evening, they play france, with a chance notjust to win the six nations but to complete a clean sweep of victories, the grand slam. joe wilson reports. what is spring without revival? what is rugby union without wales? they're on the brink of a perfect six nations, just france left to beat, yet 2020 was one of their worst calendar years with seven defeats. and sport always needs to surprise us, doesn't it, jonathan? it wouldn't be sport if it weren't surprising. that's wales. that's wales, joe, you know. that's wales this year. everyone says, "i speak to my irish friends and my english friends, and they go, �*how are wales in this position?�* and we all go, �*we don't actually know!”' but they are there, they've had to do what they've had to do, and they're on the top of the table and they're going for the grand slam. wales began the six nations by beating ireland, here in cardiff. over the tournament they have evolved. there's a new coach — new zealander wayne pivac, some new players — the exciting louis—rees zammit — uncatchable. and yet wales have retained their traditional heart and soul. . .and voice. alun wynjones will equal a world record this weekend — the most rugby matches played for one country. now, imagine he was your captain. alun wyn's just that true professional really, and it's a great achievement for him to equal richard mccaw this weekend and get 148 test caps for his country, and obviously added with his nine lions caps as well. he'sjust a phenomenal professional and he deserves every accolade he gets. in the six nations, wales have done the grand slam more often than anyone — four times so far. but this spring, who thought wales would be this close to perfection? joe wilson, bbc news. time for a look at the weather. here's tomas schafernaker. good evening. the weather is fairly quiet out there at the moment and thatis quiet out there at the moment and that is how it's going to stay over the next few days. for most of us fairly chilly. having said that, today in scotland it was the warmest day of the year so far in edinburgh with temperatures reaching 19 celsius. thanks to this high pressure which sent the clouds from the north, they went over the mountains, they dry out and we had sunshine across the lowlands, whereas the vast majority of the rest of the country were underneath the cloud. there has been some rain around too, that will continue this evening and overnight, particularly across eastern areas, quite damp here, whereas in central and western