In sport, Sam Allardyce takes charge of a football match, for the First Time Since he was sacked as england manager. His new side Crystal Palace will face watford in the premier league. And matt has the weather. Good morning, stormy boxing day for some in scotland, 90mph gusts in orkney and shetland, frequent wintry showers, but not the same for all. A cracking day for others to walk off that excess christmas pudding. All the details in 15 minutes. First, our main story. One of the biggest pop stars of the 80s and 90s, George Michael, has died. He was 53, and is believed to have suffered from heart failure. He rose to fame as one half of the group, wham and went on to have a successful solo career. He sold 100 million albums worldwide and had 11 uk number ones. Nick quraishi looks back at his life. You put the boom boom into my heart. Suntans, bleached hair and upbeat songs propelled wham to number one around the world. They even conquered china. Last christmas i gave you my heart but the very next day you gave it away. Their most famous song heard every year will now have added poignancy. Have added poignancy. Born Georgios Kyriacos panayiotou in north london, George Michael was 12 years old when he met Andrew Ridgeley. They left school at 16 and set up wham in 1981. And time can never mend a Careless Whisper. His biggest hit, Careless Whisper came in 1984 but was written and produced when he wasjust 17. Three years later, his solo album, faith, marked a shift from teen idol to serious singer songwriter. With the success came brushes with the law. An arrest for lewd behaviour in a Public Toilet in los angeles. A driving ban in the uk. He had a stint in prison after crashing his car into a shop. George michael announced he was gay, later revealing he had been in the closet for years to prevent his mother from worrying about aids. In 2011, he nearly died in vienna after a bout of pneumonia. But more work was in the pipeline. A collaboration with producer Naughty Boy And A Documentary Called Freedom Which was due for release next march. When it came to pop music, George Michael had it all looks, voice and the ability to write a string of hits that will continue to be played for years to come. George michael, whos died at the age of 53. Colin patersonjoins me 110w. Age of 53. Colin patersonjoins me now. When this new came through at 11pm last night, most people sitting around of the christmas day, is asking, whats going on . Everyone can name a George Michael song. Just so sad. If you going to name a song, you would say last christmas, a song that comes back every year, here is my those so tied in with christmas, and now he dies on christmas, and now he dies on christmas day. Wisely made such an impact on the Music Industry . He could turn his hand to high energy pop to soulful ballads. He managed to do what so few boxers do, he converted himself from a boy band to credible solo artist. He was on top of the ports in the choose life t shirts, one of the most ridiculous songs of all time, club tropicana, and then as a solo artist, Aretha Franklin wanted to work with them because of his voice and the songs he wrote. He wrote songs and albums likejesus toa he wrote songs and albums likejesus to a child that was a song about losing the first love of his life to aids. There was someone who can write disco and do ballads like that will stop a song without meaning. A song with such meaning. There were so many people affected by him in a positive way. Eltonjohn did by him in a positive way. Elton john did a by him in a positive way. Eltonjohn did a tribute, they had a number one together with dont let the sun go down on me. Eltonjohn saying, im in deep shock, i have lost a beloved friend and a brilliant artist, my heart goes out to his friends, family and all of his plans. Duran duran who appeared with him on so many bills, the loss of another talented soul. And Andrew Ridgeley, half of wham, paying tribute. People ask why he wasnt a solo artist from the start, George Michael explained Andrew Ridgeley gave him the confidence from the start. He did not have the confidence at that stage. Andrew ridgeley saying, heartbroken at the loss of my friend. The world at large forever locked in, kisses. Thank you very much. In just over five minutes well be speaking to a producer who filmed a documentary about wham and made the music video for the hit song freedom. Russia is holding a day of National Mourning for the 92 people who were killed when a Military Plane crashed in the black sea. Authorities in russia say theyve located the site where the plane came down yesterday, soon after it took off from sochi, heading to syria. Our moscow correspondent, Steve Rosenberg reports. This is one of the final images of the tupolev 154 jet. It was taken by a journalist before he boarded the plane. The flight would end in tragedy. The aircraft crashed into the black sea. The russians scrambled helicopters and ships, but the search became a recovery operation. There were no survivors. The plane had taken off from a military airfield in moscow. It flew south, stopping in sochi to refuel. The Final Destination was syria, and russias airbase, near latakia. But minutes after leaving sochi, it crashed. President putin offered his condolences to the families of the victims, and promised them his full support. On board were more than 60 members of the russian armys famous song and dance ensemble, once known as the red army choir. They had been due to give a concert at the russian airbase in syria. Translation well loved, this ansemble. We valued them. They are our brothers, friends, colleagues. May they rest in peace. Also killed in the crash, the prominent humanitarian activist and medic, elizaveta glinka, known to millions of russians as dr liza. Throughout the day, muscovites brought flowers to the headquarters of the russian army choir. This disaster has left russia stunned and silent. The uk should leave the european Single Market when it exits the eu, the former governor of the Bank Of England has said. Mervyn king told radio 4s today programme that trading under the same conditions as countries on the continent could stop britain from taking full advantage of the opportunities of brexit. I dont think it makes sense for us to pretend that we should remain in a Single Market and i think there are real questions about whether it makes sense to stay in the customs union. Clearly, if we do that, we can not make our own trade deals with other countries. Japans Prime Minister is set to visit pearl harbour, 75 years after the attack that drew the United States into the second world war. Shinzo abe will visit the naval base in hawaii that was targeted by japanese bombers in december 19111. More than 2000 americans were killed in the raids. An adviser to mr abe said he was not planning to offer an apology for the attack. Those are the main stories this morning. Matt will have the weather in around five minutes. He was the pop star that helped define the distinctive sound and look of the 1980s. George michael, who has died at the age of 53, sang, wrote and collaborated with some of the worlds greatest musicians. He first found fame as one half of the duo wham who had huge success, and became the First Western group to tour china in 1985. Martin lewis produced a documentary of that tour and the wham video to the song freedom and joins us on the phone now. Thank you for talking to us this morning. Your memories of George Michael . I have great, affectionate memories of george. Ifirst i have great, affectionate memories of george. I first met him in late 1984 in new york. And wham were just making their first foray into america. And i happened to have discovered his manager was an old friend of mine. I asked george over dinner what they were doing next, and he said, were going to china. I said, thats as like a film. His Immediate Response was, oh, you should make the film. I was astonished he should make a decision that rapidly. Actually, a good one for most of us. I was amazed, at his young age, he was so adept. He was almost like a manager himself. He had an overview of what he wanted to do. You say he went to china, The Grand Scale of his popularity was evidence, even in china, wasnt it . It was like a comfortable revolution there, because they had never had western pop music there, and the impact was considerable. This was a time when china was trying to liberalise. I was struck by George Michael in a couple of ways. First of all, at the edge 21, a pop star going abroad for a big event like that, you think youd just want to be with his buddies. No, he was family oriented, it gives mum, dad and two sisters. I was always very impressed with that. Another thing coming here reminded me, not musically, but here made me of george harrison. He wanted to make music, not really be a star. That was the same conundrum with George Michael. He was passionate about creating music, but hated all the hoopla of having to deal with the media, especially the british tabloid media. And all of that that went that bit. He was good at it, but he didnt like it, hejust wa nted but he didnt like it, hejust wanted to make music. You were also with George Michael at a crucial time when he split up, when wham split up, he and Andrew Ridgeley split up as a group. Yes, when we were working on the film, it involved a lot of time following the year after the visit to china in postproduction. When they were having breakfast, and he told me he was going to leave his present managers and go solo. I was astonished, wham were the biggest p0p group astonished, wham were the biggest pop group in the world at that time and could easily have continued for several more, lucrative years. But he was adamant and explained to me it was about what he wanted to do musically. He was feeling cramped by the type of music that wham fans expected. In that regard, he was quite exceptional. Very few artists start out in a boy band and then become a success with an adult audience. You think of the beatles, they did it. Eltonjohn did it. Very few did it, he did it successfully. He made a real impact on music. So many people wanted to collaborate with him, so many established artists. I remember his excitement when he told me that Aretha Franklin wanted told me that Aretha Franklin wanted to work with him. That was something special. Some people werejust interested in vain, he was a music junkie, he grew up loving music. The fa ct junkie, he grew up loving music. The fact that Aretha Franklin, who was clearly before his time, an iconic star, that she would be interested in working with him, that meant something to him. I saw him at parties where he would issue hanging around with stars, he would stay with his mates. His interest in life where his music and friends. He didnt crave the shallow things. Martin lewis, a pleasure to talk to you, thank you for sharing your memories and experiences of George Michael. That is our top story this hour. George michael, who has died at the age of 53. Madonna and sir eltonjohn have led tributes to the singer. Russia is beginning a day of mourning for the 92 passengers and crew who died when a Military Plane taking them to syria heres matt with a look at this mornings weather. Good at this mornings weather. Morning. It is a bit mixs morning. Good morning. It is a bit mixed this morning. If you have had a bit too much christmas pudding, it is a lovely day for a walk. Crisp and clear skies across much of Southern England and wales. Further north, a different story. This is five a short while ago, snow falling. It is not just snow across scotland. This storm corner, it is buffeting gawky and cheque books. Buffeting gawky and cheque books. Buffeting gawky and ship schedule. Pretty wild and they across scotland. Frequent heavy sleet and snow. These showers and Northern Ireland and northern england. Notice, further south there are blue skies for many. Certainly across scotland, it will be wild. The winds will ease but still see costs in excess of. Further south, shoppers keep going. A good cover of snow over higher ground. Few servers by this afternoon. Head south of thatand. A by this afternoon. Head south of that and. A perfect boxing day. Lots of sunshine around. The wind is a good deal later. It is cooler out of the across the uk. High pressure tonight, the frosts are back. England and wales especially with frost. A bit of frost across Eastern Scotla nd frost. A bit of frost across Eastern Scotland and certainly into Northern Ireland. Tuesday, another good day to get out and about. The winds will ease. Drizzle and the far north of scotland. But most will have a dry day. Plenty of sunshine to come. Temperature is only around six or 7 degrees at best. A cold night will follow. High pressure firmly in charge. A different problem. As well as the frost, we will see some issues with fork. With fork. Away from that, frosty start. Lots of sunshine across the western half of england and wales. Some writers to eastern and Northern Ireland. Some rain later in the day. After a stormy christmas period, the weather will settle down for the rest of the week. It has been a Pleasure Spending boxing day morning with you. Time now for the sport. Heres mike. Its been a pleasure this morning. Crystal palace will be hoping that big sam, back in england after leaving england in controversial circumstances. She helped sunderland survived last season, can he do the same with Crystal Palace . They are just very close to the relegation zone. Sam allardyce will take charge of his First Premier League match as Crystal Palace manager, at watford this afternoon. The former england boss took over at Selhurst Park last friday, just a day after alan pardew was sacked. Hes already got his eye on the January Transfer Window and wants to keep his best players as well as adding to the squad. Rumours that may float around, that people might be interested in our players, is also of great concern when you are a manager, because that is very disruptive and can put a player off his game. We dont want any of that. We are trying to recruit and make the squad a bit bigger, with more strength and depth. That would be a key area for me, but i think the players here are good enough. But also if we can add to that, lets try and do it. Chelsea, who have a six point lead at the top of the premier league, are at home to bournemouth. Theyll set a new club record, if they make it 12 Straight League wins against bournemouth, although theyll have to do it without, ngolo ka nte and diego costa, who are suspended. They are working very well this week to try to find the solution to play good football, to continue to win, to take the two points. We all know that it wont be easy against bournemouth because they are a very good team, with great organisation. Its been nearly five years since arsenal lost three games in a row in the premier league. Theyre faced with that prospect today though. Defeats to everton and Manchester City have seen them slip nine points, behind chelsea at the top, and manager Arsene Wenger is determined to stop the rot at home to west brom this afternoon. We are ready for a fight and we want to respond. I think in 20 games we lost the last two, but our quality has been consistent since the start of the season and we want to respond in a strong way and in a determined way. I think everybody is focused to do that. David moyes will make his first return to old trafford as a manager this afternoon, when his struggling sunderland side take on Manchester United moyes replaced sir Alex Ferguson in 2013. He was proclaimed the chosen one, but lasted only ten months as united struggled under his stewardship. In todays late game, Manchester City are away at hull city, who are currently bottom of the table on goal difference. Pep guardiolas side are still without the suspended Sergio Aguero but travel to east yorkshire, having won their last two games, including a 2 1win over arsenal. I am not expecting the game against hull city to be easy, for example. My feeling here is quite similar. Elsewhere burnley take on middlesbrough, Champions Leicester are at home to everton, relegation threatened swansea are at home to west ham and in the late game Manchester City are away at hull city. You can keep right up to date with the action on final score on the red button, as well as on five live and the bbc sport website. The first day of the second test between australia and pakistan in melbourne has been abandoned due to rain pakistan are 142 4. The half century saw this player moved past the mark for this year. She helped pakistan reach 142 4. To make up to the time, data will get up make up to the time, data will get up on the go earlier than planned. Play will start on day two at 11 00pm ourtime. Australia won the first test. And its one of the highlights of the racing calendar, steeplechasings mid season championship, the King George Vi chase at kempton. Last years winner, cue card, one of the sports long term stars, faces his up and coming stablemate thistlecrack for the first time. I love the way youve built up to that. Oh, yes. Its like this time of year. Thistlecrack. This kind of makes you. There are only five horses in this race. Those are the ones to watch. Enjoy your boxing day. Youre watching breakfast on bbc news. Lets look at the papers. The broadcaster Rob Mccloughlin is here to tell us whats caught his eye. How you doing . Merry christmas. Ive got my credit card soldier. We can got my credit card soldier. We can go after the programme finishes. Second additions these are because the news that George Michael died came from about 11pm last night. She was 53. The front page of the mirror we did with that. A front page of the times also about George Michael. The times also about George Michael. The main story is about froms trader chief saying that they will steal trade from the uk. The front page of the sun is also about George Michael. George michael pop icon pass away yesterday. The front page of the Daily Telegraph carries a picture of prince george. She is leaving the Church Service yesterday. She attended with his pa rents yesterday. She attended with his parents and sister. The main story says that charities and contract is profit from foreign aid and spends taxpayers money on it exorbitant salaries. They will be named and shamed under government plans. The Daily Express is focused on the fact that the queen was forced to cancel her traditional Church Service. That is because she has fallen ill with a cold. Use brexit to steal uk trade. What does this mean . Yes, we going to have to get very, very used to the new cabinet in america. They look like they might be the most wealthy cabinet ever put together by an american president. This man is reportedly worth Something Like £2. 5 billion. He has done a load of financing. He was talking to a group of subdued financiers and he made the point, as you said, that they should take the opportunity of the god given right of the uncertainty in this period of confusion over brexit to steal some business from the city of london. Why is this significant . Apart from people he is about to take up, he will be the man as Commerce Secretary that the brexit years, the people leading brexit years, the people leading brexit in britain, will be negotiating with. She might already be prejudged in terms of his view of brexit. This speech could be a little embarrassing for those involved. This is happening. The period of the inauguration. Im sure youve had your invite. Period of the inauguration. Im sure youve had your invitelj period of the inauguration. Im sure youve had your invite. I havent had my invite. Well, the way that things are going, we will have to sing out of. Stories are coming out still about those that are appearing or having agreed to appear in at the inauguration. Barack obama had beyonce, john legend, bon jovi. Inauguration. Barack obama had beyonce, john legend, bonjovi. At the moment, your ideas radio city rockets, which is also controversial because they some of them dont want to appear. There is also the other singing, was he coming or not . The story in america at the moment is that donald trump rang him up and said, john stuart, its too controversial. Im not available, and every. Today russia is marking a day of mourning. 92 people killed. Terrible tragedy. The stories are, the journalists yesterday were going into the studio. This is what happens in a newsroom. You have to go through who are the people. Terrible stories of those who are died. A free role too has been orphaned. Here is a story that was about somebody who was meant to be on the plane, a soldier, his passport was out of date and he was stopped from getting on the plane. Yet his name appeared on the death list because he was still on the itinerary. So he was very lucky. In these tragedies, she always tend to get a story of that nature. Third page of the times is taking a look ata page of the times is taking a look at a tapestry. This is a seasonal tapestry. This was apparently one of the greatest treasures that henry viii actually commission. 100 years after his death it was valued at Something Like over £5,000. They have gone missing. There is also some other things gone missing. Some crown jewels, etc. This some other things gone missing. Some crownjewels, etc. This tapestry some other things gone missing. Some crown jewels, etc. This tapestry and the other tapestries in this election for auctioned many years ago and have completely disappeared. However, maybe beard seems to have found them. She seems to have found one of them in a rug shop in new york city. I presume she has put a bidding it and has got it. York city. I presume she has put a bidding it and has got itm york city. I presume she has put a bidding it and has got it. It was worth £5,000 in 1649. Well, according to the article in the newspaper, it is only one and not the entire collection. It is valued ata the entire collection. It is valued at a friends 50,000 us dollars. He started off when is that europe and said that you had put your credit card. We were talking about the boxing day sales. This is an article about how to save at least else. Yes, we were talking about this earlier. The Sales Numbers seem to stop. We spent Something Like a £850 million online. Today, lots of newspapers are indicating that prices could go up in 2017 because of the beginning of the pound. This comes way back to what we were saying before about the warning about confusion. Import prices are rising. This means that a lot of goods could increase. Interestingly, one of the big Shopping Centres is reporting a dramatic increase in foreign buyers coming into bright luxury goods. Chinese buyers are by 44 . Luxury goods. Chinese buyers are by 44 . Hong kong buyers are up by 19196. It will be a very busy day on the high street. So what time are we going shopping . No . Its 8 30pm. Hello, this is breakfast on boxing day with naga munchetty. Now, a summary of this mornings mai George Michael, one of the biggest pop stars of the 80s and 90s, has died. He was 53, and is believed to have suffered from heart failure. He rose to fame as one half of the group wham alongside Andrew Ridgeley, who has paid tribute to his co star, saying he would be forever loved