Transcripts For BBCNEWS Breakfast 20201224

Semi finals. Two goals in the closing minutes take them past everton including an absolute cracker from cavani. After revealing his battle with loneliness on breakfast, more than 7,000 Christmas Cards have been sent to world war ii veteran john lister. Well bring you his reaction. Numerous Flood Warnings across england and wales after yesterdays heavy rain but the good news is todayit heavy rain but the good news is today it looks drier, brighter but much colder. I will have all of your christmas forecast details coming up on breakfast. Its thursday 24th december. Our top story. After months of talks a brexit trade deal between the uk and the eu is expected to be confirmed over the next few hours. The deal document is thought to be around 2,000 pages long, with both sides having until 31 december when the uk leaves eu trading rules to get it approved. The uk and eu have locked horns over a number of issues during negotiations. But there were three Sticking Points that proved difficult to navigate over the past few weeks. First, fishing. The uk said it voted to take back control of its own waters and wanted maximum access for its boats. The eu still wanted its vessels to be able to fish here. Both sides needed to agree on rules that would stop the other side from having an unfair advantage in areas like workers rights and whether theyre allowed to provide subsidies to some industries. Thirdly, if a deal is reached, who will be in charge of making sure rules are followed . The eu wanted the European Court ofjustice to do it, but the uk didnt. Were joined now by our Political Correspondent iain watson joins us from westminster. We are on the brink of something really significant. Iain, we were meant to speak to the foreign secretary, dominic raab, after 7 30 but he cancelled late last night. That must give you some sense of the signficance of what is happening . Absolutely. It is potentially an historic day. How many brexit deadlines have been missed in the talks and the Brexit Process itself . The deadline was moved twice. It looks as though finally we are trying to get a brexit deal and we are told there will be a call in the next hour or so between Boris Johnson and the Eu Commission president and that will effectively sign off the future relationship deal which includes trade and a whole range of other issues including security and data sharing so including security and data sharing so its hugely significant because we are precisely one week away from leaving the eu rules behind permanently and there has been a huge tussle about what would happen next. The reason we are still talking about a potential deal this morning rather than an actual deal is that they have to translate a range of compromises into legal text in the british delegation are going through that with a fine tooth comb over night and there is still a tussle over how much of each type of species of fish can be caught in british waters after the end of this year but it looks as though the compromises have been done and we will get confirmation of that this morning. We are likely to hear from the Prime Minister himself at some point this morning declaring a deal has been done but that deal will then come and a great deal of scrutiny, not least from mps in his own party who are very sceptical about whether he has delivered his promise on uk sovereignty and then it has to go through to more hurdles as the British Parliament has to ratify it next week and subsequently into the new year the European Parliament will then be taking a look at this as well and the deal will be provisional until they have given it the thumbs up. Wont be the last we see of you this morning. Yes, you will earn your money this Christmas Eve, thinking it was going to bea Christmas Eve, thinking it was going to be a nice quiet shift before the big day. Well bring you all the details as this story develops throughout the morning, and well be live with our correpondent in brussels in the next few minutes. Sometimes its hard to work out what the talks mean to our real that that is what we will try to explain. But there are other big stories this morning. Thousands of drivers faced another night in their lorries at the port of dover as they wait to cross the channel. The drivers will only be able to get on ferries after a negative covid test. 0ur reporter simonjones in manston, near dover, where thousands of lorries are parked up. Simon how much disruption is there at the moment . Absolutely. We are just across the road from the manston lorry park and everywhere you look on the side roads you have lorries parked up, driving in today along the lay by boys and lorries everywhere and you can see as far as the eye can see. The transport secretary yesterday said clearing this is going to be a mammoth task and he wasnt lying because although we had the start yesterday of this testing that allows drivers to leave the uk if they get a negative test, the number of lorries caught up in all this has actually increased as hauliers have continued to head towards kent so at the moment in manston at the official lorry park we have around 4000 lorries parked up and also on the m 20 there are another 2000 so it gives you a sense of the scale of theissue it gives you a sense of the scale of the issue and another fly in the ointment is that as it stands, the port of dover shots on Christmas Day so there wont be any services and that could further delay people trying to get home and it means in reality that a lot of drivers like this are unlikely to get home in time for christmas. There are discussions taking place behind the scenes to save extra Ferry Services could be brought in to help with the backlog and eurotunnel will remain open on Christmas Day. I think the hope today is that the testing can be ramped up. It was a pretty slow start involving getting logistics in place but now the military have been brought in, 107 three military personnel sent into kent to try to get to grips with this but this morning we understand that dover remains gridlocked so highways england have ta ken remains gridlocked so highways england have taken the extraordinary step of saying notjust england have taken the extraordinary step of saying not just to england have taken the extraordinary step of saying notjust to hauliers but to any drivers, do not come to kent because it is pretty much chaos here. Simon, thank you very much. Another 6 Million People will be facing tougher restrictions from boxing day, as a large chunk of the south and east of england moves to tier 4 restrictions. The Health Secretary, matt hancock said it was because the current tier 3 wasnt enough to contain a faster spreading variant of the virus. Aruna iyengar has this report. Remember this . Boxing day 2019 and shoppers flocked to the sales. Its a very different picture this year. 24 Million People will be living under the toughest tier 4 coronavirus restrictions. The shoppers in huntingdon, cambridgeshire are taking the new measures in their stride. If its going to keep us safe in the end, thats really good and im quite happy. I think its a good thing if we had gone into a higher tier happy. I think its a good thing if we had gone into a highertierand i think we should go into another lockdown because it worked last night. Matt hancock said the former tiering sister was not Strong Enough to control the new variant of the virus and revealed that another variant from south africa had been revealed in the uk. This new variant is highly concerning because it is yet more transmissible and appears to have mutated further than the new variant discovered in the uk. All flights arriving in the uk from south africa are banned from this morning. Also, anyone who has been in south africa or who has been in close contact with someone who has been there in the past fortnight is asked to quarantine immediately. Across the uk, people will be celebrating christmas in limited ways. In scotland, christmas bubbles will be allowed on Christmas Day with a maximum of eight people from three households. In Northern Ireland, a six week lockdown starts on boxing day, the first week will have stricter restrictions although people can form a christmas bubble for one day between the 23rd and 27th of december. And wales is in a new National Lockdown after a large spike in cases. The Health Secretary had this christmas message. We mustnt give up now. We know that we can control this virus. We know we can control this virus. We know we can get through this together. We are going to get through it by suppressing the virus until a vaccine can make a save. All hopes 110w vaccine can make a save. All hopes now rest with the vaccine roll out. Make us safer. One of those areas affected is 0xford, which will be moving from tier 2 into tier 4 and breakfasts tim muffett is there for us this morning with the latest. What is the mood there . Big changes for 6 Million People from boxing day. 0xfordshire currently in tier 2, going into tier4 day. 0xfordshire currently in tier 2, going into tier 4 and day. 0xfordshire currently in tier 2, going into tier4and many day. 0xfordshire currently in tier 2, going into tier 4 and many other places moving into the higher tiers as well. Cambridgeshire, norfolk, suffolk, most of hampshire, west sussex, parts of the sussex and essex not already in tier 4 as well as waverleyjoining the rest of surrey in tier 4. Matt hancock saying that the three tiered system just isnt enough to deal with the new strains which have currently been identified. In 0xfordshire, cases have risen by 86 in the week leading up to december the 18th, so real concern and an acknowledgement that something needs to be done. 0bviously that something needs to be done. Obviously we are on the high street this morning and this probably will be relatively busy today as some people go to the shops which are allowed to open undue tier 2 restrictions but from midnight Christmas Day into boxing day that will change, tougher restrictions on the tier 4 and people advised to stay at home unless they are carrying out something essential. President trump has issued another round of controversial pardons as his term in office draws to a close. His former campaign manager, paul manafort, and his long time adviser, roger stone, are among the latest 26 people to benefit. Paul manford was convicted in 2018 in an investigation into russian meddling in the us election in rogerstone was convicted of lying to congress. Heavy rain has flooded homes and disrupted travel in parts of wales. Trains between cardiff and newport have been cancelled while roads in both cities have been closed. There are now nine Flood Warnings in effect between pembrokeshire and monmouthshire. The duke and duchess of sussex have shared their family Christmas Card. The illustration shows meghan and harry, their son archie, along with their two dogs guy and pula at home in california. The image was tweeted by an Animal Charity supported by the duchess. I think they are just flexing about the fact it is reasonably nice weather. We would be there if we could. A grey windsor would not be the same. We can check out where matt is as that wont be on his Christmas Card next year. You mention flooding in wales and these were the scenes in northamptonshire yesterday and its across other parts of england as we have over 90 Flood Warnings in force across the midlands, east anglia, the southwest and all of the latest Flood Warning details on the weather website and we will keep you updated that the good news is the rain is easing away and a different sort of day to come today in the last dregs of the rain from yesterday and we have clutches of showers and the white tea is an indication of snow showers and icy conditions as well. Showers affect the far west of wales and cornwall throughout and we will see showers of rain but some sleet and snow mixed in but that will be about it for most of you as it will bea dry about it for most of you as it will be a dry and bright day but with strong winds which are easing down from the ones we saw through the night but coming through the north they could touch gale force and that will have a big impact on the way things feel and already on the thermometers temperatures above average for the time of year but out on the effect of the wind and it will feel sub 0 for most as we go through this afternoon. A chilly end to Christmas Eve and the cold night to Christmas Eve and the cold night to come and some showers and eastern counties of england and the odd fla ke counties of england and the odd flake of snow with cloud increasing in scotland and Northern Ireland but for most a sparkle of frost to start your Christmas Morning, widespread and cold and much of england and wales will have sunshine and a few showers on the eastern coast and clouding over in scotland and Northern Ireland but a chilly Christmas Day. Thank you, matt and we will see you later. Lets take a look at todays papers. Almost all the Christmas Eve front pages lead on those reports that the uk and eu are edging close to signing a brexit trade deal. Its almost over, says the daily mirror. While the daily mail leads with hallelujah. Its a merry brexmas. According to the times, the agreement was delayed because lawyers and negotiators attempted to translate the final compromises particularly on fishing into a Binding Legal text. We still dont know the detail of the deal, if there is a deal, which we think will be announced later, and when will you get the detail . We might hear there is a deal but when we will see the detail . The guardian says both sides battled deep into the night to gain a last minute advantage, with the deal now within touching distance. 0ur europe correspondent gavin lee is in brussels. You are facing a busy day, gavin. Gavin, whats the mood like in the eu camp this morning . It seems the groundhog weeks of the same issues being fought over and discussed could be coming to an end. We, you and i, and i will be able to update with substantial information about this deal rather than say it is wait and see, because things changed about 24 hours ago, and every day we tend to get in touch with the eu officials about what is going on and it was always could be now, could be later but now it is probably going to be tonight and there was a real confidence that they were so close that they had to go through species by species and work out how close they could be that the compromise was there. It was the night before the brexit deal is agreed and in the next couple of hours there will be to press conferences, one from borisjohnson and one from ursula von der leyen on both sides of the water and they will have to speak before then and this will essentially be the gloss, their view on how the brexit deal is agreed before we get to read it and the only thing we actually got to see, and here is an action replay of what we could see outside the building, it was pizzas being delivered late at night, ten pizza boxes going up to the 13th floor as they burned the midnight oil. Fingers crossed we will have some news in the next hour or so. Those Pizza Restaurants that do take a ways in brussels will see their margins cut in the next few weeks if there is a deal as they have done very Good Business in recent months. We will get a lot of rhetoric today from leaders in london and in brussels, both inevitably claiming, if we got it, is a good dealfor each of them but when will we get to see this deal . When will mps, politicians, the public get to see the actual numbers, the figures on what they have agreed to . L brilliant question and i wish i had the answer. We are hoping it will come in the next few hours after the announcement from both leaders. This is something that is happening and all other eu capitals because this isa all other eu capitals because this is a process and nobody expected that the deal would be done today on what we expect it will be agreed today and has to be signed off by the Uk Parliament and technically by the Uk Parliament and technically by the Eu Parliament but they say there isnt time so all of the eu capitals will have to see this document in english as it hasnt had time to be translated into 23 other languages, send it back if they agree provisionally and ursula von der leyen will give a written agreement to sign off a provisional trade deal done and in the new year, retroactively, the European Parliament should sign it off officially. That is interesting, because it will be hard for potential critics of any deal to criticise it until they can see what is written in black and white. Thank you very much and we will check in with you soon. 0n on what could be an historic day with a brexit or potentially announced very shortly. Lets not forget it is Christmas Eve as well. We have other stuff to talk about. You may remember that last week we met 101 year old, john lister it was hard not to be incredibly moved after hearing him say how lonely hed felt since his wife of 70 years died, earlier this year. Johns care home were so worried about his decline that they asked people to send him cards. They thought they might get a few. Went a bit further than that. Every day for a week now a royal mail delivery van has been arriving at thorpe house care home in norfolk full of cards, letters and parcels for one man. John lister is 101. When we first metjohn on this programme last week he told us about his wife, ella. She died of covid at the beginning of the pandemic in february. We were married 70 years. What has lockdown been like here . Its amazing. I cant believe it. From such a small village. The care home asked the Great British public to send john a Christmas Card. They have been arriving by the sack load. I would say we are reaching about 6000 cards now. Absolutely staggering. Can you believe all of this, john . Look. All for you. Dear can you believe all of this, john . Look. All foryou. Dearjohn, we can you believe all of this, john . Look. All for you. Dearjohn, we saw you on breakfast tv and we thought we would send you a card to cheer you up. Christmas is a very difficult time for lots of people. Sending hugs. To john, difficult time for lots of people. Sending hugs. Tojohn, love from ewan, aged nine. He has drawn you some pictures, john. I live in the west coast of scotland in a little town called 0bertan. Ive been there. Youve been there . Take care of yourself. You deserve to be looked after now, john, you are one of our heroes. Cards have arrived from all over the uk and all around the world. I was very touched by the story and then i decided that i would have my students make cards forjohn. These eight and nine year olds in florida saw forjohn. These eight and nine year olds in florida sanohns story online. Dearjohn, i hope you have a good christmas. I am very sorry for your loss and i wish you a good christmas. I hope you have a Merry Christmas. Dont forget you are not alone. Have a good christmas, john. The outpouring of love that is apparent in all of these letters and presents just shows you what positivity there is in the world. Really nice. Lovely. John was a soldier in the Second World War and was in the 72nd median regiment of the Royal Artillery and was part of the d day landings. Thank you for your service, from one ex soldier to another. So proud of what you have achieved, so touched by your story. Coldstream guards, john. There was a point thatjohn was getting very, very down and this has motivated him to get up and find the strength to get up again. Which is lovely. What do you think to all of the card you have had, john . Yes, and thats enough, john, just to see you smiling again, thats enough. As it made you feel a bit less lonely . Good. I know, in april, when she . I hope nobody sends you birthday cards like this. Marcia told us john had been going downhill since his wife passed away, but the cards, letters and gives had, in her words, saved him. There really is power in the kindness of strangers. That is just gorgeous. To think we dont send Christmas Cards any more. Brilliant. Merry christmas, everybody, everybody, thanks for that. As we saw there, we can all do our bit to help someone who maybe alone this christmas breakfastsjohn maguire is bristol finding out how. Good morning, rachel. If you are watching this very programme four yea rs watching this very programme four years ago on Christmas Eve you will have seen this in a pub celebrating Christmas Eve with a brilliant charity called the Marmalade Trust to look after Lonely People and the ideas they go round and pick them up and bring them together for a christmas lunch. Very different this year and they are taking out hampers and larry is one of the volunteers and larry is one of the volunteers and amy is here, tell us what is a normal Christmas Day like for you with your volunteers and the people you help . Normally we would be planning 15 or 20 events and collecting people using lots of volunteers driving to pubs and restaurants and having big events and really spoiling people. What have you managed to do this year . 0ne have you managed to do this year . One thing that this year has shown us one thing that this year has shown us is that we need to show friendship and connection to those experiencing loneliness so we pulled out all the stops and decided we would give lots of Different Things so we would give lots of Different Things so we have been doing a connections Advent Calendar and also giving hampers out. Lets have a look at the hamper. Tell us what are in the hampers and what we are giving out. Weve had a few things donated from a lot of people, lots of volunteers who have been involved, home made decorations and quizzes and things to be involved with to keep people occupied over Christmas Day. Marriott larry, good morning to you. 0ne marriott larry, good morning to you. One of the volunteers, you have been helping out and you are an offshore worker so you spend how long offshore . Three weeks at a time. Tell us how you got involved in what youve been doing . Frequently working at christmas but a couple of years ago i had christmas of and my family were not really available to go and visit because they were the other side of the world and i found the Marmalade Trust and applied to bea the Marmalade Trust and applied to be a christmas cheer volunteer and did the christmas meal two years ago and this year slightly different so taking ona and this year slightly different so taking on a longer roll over a couple of months and maintaining telephone contact, weekly calls and getting to know the volunteers better with the phone calls what is the idea . Literally just better with the phone calls what is the idea . Literallyjust chat, get givena name the idea . Literallyjust chat, get given a name and a phone number to get you started. Im just trying to make the security like go back on. I was doing my first calls from the oil rig from the little broom cupboard and its been a good talking point as well, so something a bit different for me to get to know the people ive been partnered up know the people ive been partnered up with. And it has helped them, obviously, the people youve been talking to. Has it helped you . Yes, ive been living on my own this year and weve all noticed that loneliness is more of an issue this year than loneliness is more of an issue this yearthan any loneliness is more of an issue this year than any other loneliness is more of an issue this yearthan any othertime, loneliness is more of an issue this year than any other time, so there is definitely a two way street and it keeps me occupied and stops me getting bored at home. Good stuff. Larry and amy, thank you so much. Join us later in the programme because we are going to deliver the hamper as because we are going to deliver the hamperasa because we are going to deliver the hamper as a surprise to one lucky recipient. You wont want to miss that. Should be fun. John, thats great. Like santa with a mask this morning. I think he needs to at least get a santa hat on or something, john, a little more in the spirit. As well as brexit, we can definitely promise you plenty of Christmas Joy on the programme tomorrow. Louise will be here all morning live with a proper breakfast. Well catch up with former Rugby League Player rob burrow after he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease. One year on, he has a special message of thanks to those who have supported him, and hes enlisted some expert help. Im looking forward to seeing the kids open their presents on Christmas Day and the smiles on theirfaces. Christmas day and the smiles on their faces. I may have lost my voice but technology now helps me to speak. I can still talk to my family in my broad yorkshire accent and wish them a very Merry Christmas. We would just like to thank you for all of your support over the last 12 months since my dad was diagnosed with mnd. We wish you a very, very happy new year and hopefully you have a wonderful, great christmas. Gosh, those children. They are brilliant. Well have the rest of that on tomorrows programme. Big news potentially later with the news of a brexit trade deal imminent. We will have the latest on what you can expect in the next half hour and throughout the programme. Time now to get the news, travel and weather where you are. Good morning from bbc london, im tolu adeoye. The London Ambulance service is urging the public to use its 999 service wisely over the festive period, as they continue to manage the demands of pandemic and ensure they reach the sickest patients first. The service had over 400 calls every minute yesterday. Bosses say if you illness is not life threatening call the nhs111 number instead. For the second night in a row, a charity based in slough has organised hundreds of free meals for lorry drivers stranded on the m20. Volunteers from khalsa aid, more used to working in disaster zones across the world, distributed a thousand free pizzas to those still stuck in their lorries. A baby boy who was born three months early and contracted sepsis and covid 19, is one of the youngest survivors of the virus. Bbc london has been to meet his mother to see how they are getting on now. I would say it was stressful in the beginning, but in the end its worth it. Hes doing absolutely fine. So, we arejust looking forward to him having his first christmas with us. Yeah, we are happy. And if youve got a story you want to share with us about how the pandemic is affecting you, please do get in touch with us. Details for you on the screen now. Email yourlondon bbc. Co. Uk or we are bbclondonnews on twitter. Lets take a look at the travel situation now. 0n the tubes, there lots of part closures affecting the bakerloo, district, northern and piccadilly lines, as well as tfl rail, due to engineering works. You can check the tfl website for more details on those. As you might expect, traffic is looking lighter that usual this morning. The is the picture approaching the blackwall tunnel. Theres a lane blocked on the m25 heading anti clockwise towards j27 for the m11, following a collision. In beckton the emergency repairs continue on both the underpass and at the flyover, so there may be delays around there. Now the weather with kate kinsella. Good morning. After the mild conditions weve had for the past few days, this Christmas Eve the weather is set to change. High pressures been building in from the west overnight, squeezing the cloud and any remnants of rain away. So its clearing this morning. Weve got a brisk northerly wind making things feel very cold. We could just get one or two showers from the north sea. And one or two of those, you mightjust get something a little sleety over higher ground. But temperatures today between three and seven celsius. Factor in that northerly wind, its going to feel colder. So, a cold day. Christmas eve, of course, overnight tonight. That breeze will start to fall a little bit lighter. Still the risk of an isolated shower, but largely dry. The temperature dropping down potentially to minus three. So, waking up on Christmas Morning to some sparkles of frost. This blue area, the cold air, is going to stay with us through Christmas Day, so its looking cold, crisp and largely dry. The wind a bit lighter than today as well. Its all change again for boxing day, however, and turning progressively more unsettled as we head into the first part of next week. Im back with the latest from bbc london in half an hour. Now though its back to jon and rachel. Bye for now. Hello, this is breakfast, withjon kay and rachel burden. Coming up on breakfast this morning. Its the question parents up and down the land will be getting asked is santa going to deliver our presents . Well have the answer in the next half an hour. And as the classic twas the night before christmas gets the royal treatment, well be joined by acting royalty, Joanna Lumley, who has taken part in a special recording of the poem. Its also been denied potentially before a brexit deal. After all those months of negotiations we understand the uk and the European Union are at this very moment on the brink of announcing a post brexit trade deal. Talks between the two sides continued into the night, but an announcement is expected this morning. The uk would then have until the end of the month to get the deal approved by mps. If there is a deal to be announced we understand there will be a press conference, or a speech of some kind, right there outside number 10. You can see reporting teams lining up. The media are there. That builds up up. The media are there. That builds up that expectation. We will bring you all the latest as it happens throughout the morning. Laura kuenssberg, our political editor, has been tweeting on this. Yes, she is probably the person to listen to most closely at the moment. Just three minutes ago she said, we understand there were four calls between the pm and i vaughan der leyen this morning. 0ne between the pm and i vaughan der leyen this morning. One final one in half an hour. Expected to sign and seal after late night wrangles over individual fish species. Seal after late night wrangles over individualfish species. Still seal after late night wrangles over individual fish species. Still that Sticking Point over eu fishing rights, which we havent talked about through this whole process. Which we have been talking about. That is one of the final bits of this deal to be absolutely signed off. And it is all to do with what qualities are going to be allowed and how much the uk will give at first and over subsequent years. We wont necessarily know the detail of all of that, as we have been saying, today. But if the announcement comes, presumably that will come out in time. We willjust now there has been a deal that they have agreed to something. What we do know for sure is that late last night there were several deliveries of pizza again. Very late night pizza deliveries, which leads them to assume the talks continued may be right through the night. Maybe they were talking about what sort of fish to have on the pizza. Marinara . No . 0k. Lets move on. An extra six Million People will be placed into englands toughest level of coronavirus restrictions from boxing day. The Health Secretary, matt hancock, said that cases were rising at a dangerous rate and tier 3 restrictions werent enough to contain a faster spreading variant of the virus. The affected areas include sussex, 0xfordshire, suffolk, norfolk, cambridgeshire, hampshire, and the rest of essex and surrey that are not already in tier four. Thousands of drivers are stranded in their lorries at the port of dover, despite france reopening its border with the uk. Transport secretary grant shapps says the government is using every tool they can to clear the backlog. It comes after travel restrictions were lifted by the french government on condition of a negative covid test. There are 103 Flood Warnings across england and wales. Heavy rain has flooded homes and disrupted travel in the south west, midlands and east anglia. In wales the warnings are between pembrokeshire and monmouthshire. Take care if you are out and about. Matt will have all the weather and those Flood Warnings in about ten minutes. Stay tuned for that. Now lets get some support. We are heading into what is traditionally a busy period of sport, jane. That will continue, wont it . Yes, there isa will continue, wont it . Yes, there is a full fixture list on boxing day. It was league cup last night. A derby against city awaits Manchester United in the League Cup Semi finals, after they put on a late, late show to beat everton. Penalties were looming when Edison Cavani broke the hearts of the 2,000 home supporters in the stadium. That was just two minutes from time. What a strike. And united werent finished, Anthony Martial with their second, deep in stoppage time. And tottenham are also through to the semis after beating stoke. Gareth bale opened the scoring before the championship side equalised. Goals from ben davies and that man harry kane sealed a 3 1win. Theyll play another second tier side, brentford, in the last four. When the new tier restrictions come in on boxing day, liverpool and everton will be the only premier league clubs that can let fans in. Southampton and brighton had been allowed supporters into st marys and the amex, but theyll now be in the highest level, tier 4, so matches there will be back behind closed doors. Arsenal are in a relegation dogfight, according to sam allardyce, whos back in the premier league. A run of poor form has left Mikel Artetas side in 15th place and just four points above the bottom three. Allardyces west brom are second from bottom. If theyre in the bottom eight at the moment, yes, absolutely, because i believe they havent won a premier league game for, almost double figures. Theyll be wondering whats hit them, theyll be wondering why theyre down there. And theyll be wondering what its going to take to get out of that position. England defender Kieran Trippier will miss 12 matches for his side atletico madrid, after he was sanctioned for breaking the fas betting rules before he moved to spain. He denied seven charges, but four were proven and hes been banned for ten weeks and fined £70,000. One of the games hell have to sit out is atleticos Champions League tie at home to chelsea. Rangers remain 16 points clear at the top of the scottish premiership, after an 11th Straight League victory. They won 3 0 at stjohnstone. Man of the match glen kamara had a hand in theirfirst and scored their second. Rangers are now unbeaten in 19 games this season. Celtic made sure the gap didnt get any wider, with a 2 0 win over ross county. Theyre still second, and they do have three games in hand on their old firm rivals. A group of former footballers has sent a letter to the government calling for an urgent review into the link between heading the ball and brain damage. Players are three and a half times more likely to die from dementia than the general population. Former Chelsea Player Mickey Ambrose says the Football Association and Players Union the pfa have been slow to act. These are people in a position of trust and authority. I mean, you cant continue tojust sidestep and sweep under the carpet. But this is a 157 Year Organisation formed in 1863, yet its taken 20 years to get to this stage. I mean, we just want action. Well, the fa gave us a statement they say theyve helped lead the way in Ground Breaking research into the links with football, and have a clear and unwavering commitment, both financially and with resource, to support objective, robust and thorough Research Going forward. There are no matches at the world darts championship today, as the tournament begins its regular three day break, before resuming on the 27th. One man who can enjoy the christmas break is gary anderson. The two time champion is safely into round three, after beating latvias madars razma 3 1 at Alexandra Palace. He said he was going home to his family before heading back to Alexandra Palace on boxing day. Gary anderson will get his full christmas dinner. He will be all right before it goes back on boxing day. It is essential to get yourself up and running for the darts thank you, jane. Lets look at the situation in downing street. He is a live picture of number 10. Who knows what is happening behind that front door . The lights are on upstairs. Borisjohnson, we door . The lights are on upstairs. Boris johnson, we understand, door . The lights are on upstairs. Borisjohnson, we understand, had four conversations last night with the president of the Eu Commission as they tried to nail the final details of a post brexit micro trade deal between the uk and the eu. All the indications are that that is going to be announced kind of imminently, we think, even as soon as seven oclock. It is a bit unsure. It could still fall flat. But all sides seem increasingly confident that a deal is about to be done or has been done. We mentioned this earlier but it is worth bringing to you again. Laura kuenssberg, our political editor, has been tweeting about this. She has been tweeting about this. She has said there will be another phone call between, if you can see in the top tweet, between the Prime Minister and Ursula Vaughan der leyen at about seven oclock this morning. We were thinking we might hear some kind of statement, or receive some kind of statement at seven. Its all a bit uncertain. Seemingly there does need to be some final conversation to absolutely sign and seal this. And the fine detail, which our next guest may be able to give us information on, is still around fishing rights, a Sticking Point through this whole negotiation. Fishing rights and that so called level playing field. Real hurdles within the agreement. Lets speak now tojill rutter from independent think tank, uk in a changing europe. Hi,jill. Hi, jill. Thank you forjoining us. You are very well connected. Are you thinking this deal has been done . M looks pretty much. The way they have done the build up, the press headlines today, it would be an amazing let down if it somehow because they cant agree on one species of fish, that we probably dont particularly like eating here, if we couldnt do a deal. So i think everything is pointing towards a deal. Quite why, we dont know. With these extra phone calls and haggling going on. I would have thought sometime today. 2000 pages is what we think this trade deal will comprise ultimately. There will be time, i guess, for lawyers to pore over that, for mps to pore over it. For the rest of us, who probably wont read 2000 pages, what do we really need to know about this deal . It depends critically who you are. Quite a lot of things in terms of people travelling. Its not going to make a whole bunch of difference, because we will not have our Free Movement rights any more. We will not be eu citizens. None of that probably will be in thatideal. This deal. Businesses will need to look at it. Because there are only eight days left in quite a bit of thatis eight days left in quite a bit of that is christmas, the government will urgently need to sell businesses what they need to do as a result of this deal and how quickly they need to comply with the new rules. 0ne they need to comply with the new rules. One of the interesting things will be, has the government managed to secure any sort of phasing in on the eu side to any of these things . We pretty much assume it is going to bea no we pretty much assume it is going to be a no tariff, no quota at deal, but you have to produce documents to prove your goods are british enough to qualify for a no tariffs, no quotas. Are businesses ready to do that . That is why you have seen business groups in recent days calling for it, dare i say it, if it ofa calling for it, dare i say it, if it of a transition period. Businesses will have to look at this very closely. Mps will have to look at it very closely. They will have to pass it into law. I wonder how that is going to work . They are not sitting at the moment. It is the christmas recess. There is a pandemic. London is interiorfor. How on earth recess. There is a pandemic. London is interior for. How on earth does this get through Parliament Given the timings . We are expecting parliament to be recalled at some point next week, maybe wednesday, thursday, to pass not of the deal itself, but legislation implementing the deal. The government could just adopt the treaty itself but it needs to make sure it has got the legislation in place to implement the deal. We know there is a draft bill knocking around in whitehall, sort of ready to have those final twea ks sort of ready to have those final tweaks put into it. So government lawyers would be dealing with that today. We know thatjacob rees mogg has said, will actually, given that london is interiorfor, we will have to go back to the Virtual Parliament that was running at the height of lockdown in the summer. I think they need to have some mps physically there to pass the motion saying they would go virtual. But then we wont expect to see very many mps coming down to westminster. I think they will allow mps notjust to be able to participate in the debates, but frankly, parliament doesnt have much option but to pass this thing, because, and the government knows, that its almost holding a gun to parliament was my cat. If parliament doesnt pass this next week, the uk cant ratify it, then it is no deal on the 31st of december. I dont think anybody wants to take responsibility for that. We have got a keir starmer already saying, does labour vote for it, or does it abstain . Mps may be very frustrated that this is a massive deal setting the uks long term course, far more expansive than the withdrawal agreement, setting the long term course across a range of subjects. We talk about trade but it is aviation, it is transport, it is security, lots and lots of things in it. And frankly, they were going to have virtually no time to look at it. That is a really key point. Especially because the real point of brexit for many people was parliamentary sovereignty and having control over the uks own destiny. Getting back to that key question that you are addressing there, jill, if we have a deal that means we avoid a no deal. Again, for most people, there will be some who dont like the trade deal because they didnt want brexit. There will be some who dont like this deal because they feel it doesnt give the uk and of control. But fundamentally, it avoids tariffs, which, if you could just explain for our audience, would have had a profound impact on businesses and then potentially, our economy . Yeah yes, if you look at the governments official forecast, the office for national responsibility, no deal would knock 2 off uk growth next year. The uk is having a tough time of it already. The forecasts are already looking optimistic because since that forecast the government has had to impose new restrictions because of this new variant of coronavirus. So they basically said, that would impose an immediate cost. It will also impose a long term cost on the uk economy. While we can expect the economy to bounce back from coronavirus when we get the vaccine properly rolled out, when i get the pandemic back under control, then the longer term effects of having tariffs and real, real friction, would be, you know, not that 2 of, notjust next year but longer term. We would have lost a yea rs longer term. We would have lost a years growth. That would not be great. Some sectors will be really badly hit. The sectors that will be really badly hit by tariffs are agriculture, because the tariffs are very high, the eu is or was taken a protectionist approach to agriculture. And the car industry, which is a major employer in the uk. Jill, thank you so much. Can we come back to you as the morning goes on . You can indeed. As long as i can get a copy somewhere coffee and brea kfast a copy somewhere coffee and breakfast right there. Thank you. It is so bizarre. It is this this is not how some people would be spending their Christmas Eve, typically. No need to move. She can sit there and talk to us. We will bring you the latest from the ports and the latest on tier for restrictions with a new variant of coronavirus causing some alarm, which originated in south africa. We will bring you up to speed in the next half an hour. We have also got a good article across the weather. There has been rain and storms in some places. Flooding as well. Matt has the latest. Thank you. Good morning. This was worcester racecourse yesterday. 0ver morning. This was worcester racecourse yesterday. Over 100 morning. This was worcester racecourse yesterday. 0ver100 Flood Warnings in force at the moment because across part of england and wales. More heavy rain to come this weekend. At a quieter day today for many after yesterdays wet and windy conditions. But we do have something of bit different in the forecast today. This is a coating of snow in aberdeenshire a short time ago. The air has turned that much colder. There is some snow around. This is the radar chart. We have some snow showers across northern and eastern scotland. We could see wintry flurries in eastern counties of england. Rain in western wales and cornwall. They will come and go. It could be icy in places anywhere from northern england. Through the day some snow flurries in scotland. Some rain and sleet and hail snow showers across eastern counties of england. Most will have a dry day. A much brighter day for england and wales compared to yesterday. It will be told. Three to yesterday. It will be told. Three to7 to yesterday. It will be told. Three to 7 degrees. Factor in strong two and a timescale force winds down the eastern coast and it will feel sub zero. Certainly a day to wrap up. A cold night. Showers in the eastern counties of england. Cloud increases to scotland and Northern Ireland later on. For most of us as we go into Christmas Morning it will be the sparkle of a christmas frost to greet the morning rather than snow. A lovely crisp start across much of england and wales. Still some showers close to eastern counties of england. Cloud increasing in the north and west. Scotland and Northern Ireland will see outbreaks of rain. Showers in cumbria and gwynedd. Most of you will have a crisp and cold Christmas Day. Temperatures around 47 degrees. A cold night will follow and wales. As we going to saturday a change in wind direction. A blustery day. Some showers in england and wales. A lot of dry and bright weather. Increasingly wet and windy toward scotla nd increasingly wet and windy toward scotland and Northern Ireland later. Still across the grampians. 0n boxing day temperatures left. As we go through sunday night into sunday the wind strength increases. 50 to 70 mph. The strongest winds on the coast and in the hills. Low price heading from the north. Wet weather through the country on saturday night. Another inch for england and wales. Flooding on sunday. Turning drier and brighter with sunshine and increasingly wintry showers. Matt, thank you. Its time now for our regular gp appointment and this morning its dr rachel ward, who joins us from newbury. Good morning. How are you . Morning. Im really good, thank you. Happy Christmas Eve to you. Less happy news for us to be talking about today as we are very much focused on the rising levels of Coronavirus Infections in this country, and the move to tier 4 from many millions of people as well. What would you say . What would your message be, particularly to those peoplejumping message be, particularly to those people jumping from tier 2 to tier 4, who may not have grasped the seriousness of this particular new variant . Yeah, i can relate to that because i found myself at the end of last week moving from tier 2 to tier 4 within a 48 hour period. We are in berkshire. Somebody described as quite perfectly. They said they felt like the rug had been pulled from beneath them. I felt similar. Like the rug had been pulled from beneath them. Ifelt similar. It like the rug had been pulled from beneath them. I felt similar. It is a real shock. Suddenly what you can do changes very quickly. 0f a real shock. Suddenly what you can do changes very quickly. Of course, that has been complicated by everything going on with christmas at the moment. But what i would say is this. All of us, how we behave in the coming days and weeks, is going to hugely impact everybody and how our lives will look injanuary, february, march and onwards. However we behave, sticking to the rules, it will affect the pressure on the nhs and it will affect how many people get ill. It is looking like it is going to affect whether there is disruption in our children going back to school. And it will affect businesses Going Forward. So i fully appreciate how difficult it is because i am in the situation myself. We really need to pull together with this one. We need to follow the rules and we have got to get those numbers down. The basic message if you are in it tier 4 is to stay at home. You only leave the house for exercise, for essential travel like work or education. But other than that, it is almost back to the lockdown that we saw in the spring. It is worth checking on the government website to get clarity. How will this affect your work as a gp, rachel . We know that there is real concern that patients with other conditions were not neglected, but suffered as a consequence of previous lockdowns. How are you going to operate now into year four . Yeah, so what happened back in march is that a lot of services were put on hold. Gps were open throughout. But Certain Services were put on hold. Things like screening, elective surgery. And we want to avoid that this time. We want to be able to keep the nhs going. But that relies on all of us working together to still have the capacity. But i cannot stress enough, and we say this every time, if you are ill, please do not think you mustnt see yourgp. Please do not think you mustnt see your gp. Please come and see us. We are open. You will need to speak to yourgp are open. You will need to speak to your gp before being seen. Yes. That continues, but we are open and we wa nt to continues, but we are open and we want to see you. Please get in touch. Really important message. We have been getting our heads around this particular variant that has affected london and the south east but moved through the rest of the uk, coming to terms with that, and now we hear about another variant from south africa, which is causing real concern. The reports from south africa are that badly affects young, seemingly Healthy People as well. Can you tell us anything about that particular strain . Well, that is the concerning news, it seems there have been some cases of young people becoming very unwell. It is very early on. We dont have that much information about it. I think the most important thing to note at the moment is that if you have returned from south africa in the last couple of weeks, you need to go into quarantine. And if you have had contact with somebody who has returned from south africa you must go into quarantine. It is absolutely crucial. We will get more information Going Forward but i think the same remains. We need to follow the rules. We need to get the numbers down and stop spreading the variance. Happy christmas to you, rachel. Enjoy it however you can with whoever you can. Glad to see you managed some sparkle for us. Thank you. Thank you. Merry christmas. Rachel ward. Fully across the latest on coronavirus and the impact on the next few days. Also watching events very closely in downing street and in brussels, because there is a lot of talk a lot of speculation right now, that we could be on the brink of hearing that a brexit trade deal has been struck between the uk and the eu. We could get that get that confirmed in the next four units. Stay tuned. We will bring you the latest. Time now to get the news, travel and weather where you are. Good morning from bbc london. Im tolu adeoye. The London Ambulance service is urging the public to use its 999 service wisely over the festive period as they continue to manage the demands of the pandemic and ensure they reach the sickest patients first. The service had over 400 calls every minute yesterday. Bosses say if your illness is not life threatening call the nhs111 number instead. For the second night in a row, a charity based in slough has organised hundreds of free meals for lorry drivers stranded on the m20 in kent. Volunteers from khalsa aid more used to working in disaster zones across the world distributed 1,000 free pizzas to those still stuck in their lorries. A baby boy who was born three months early, contracted sepsis and covid 19, is one of the youngest survivors of the virus. Bbc london has been to meet emmanuel and his mother to see how they are getting on now. I would say it was stressful in the beginning, but in the end its worth it. Hes doing absolutely fine. So, we arejust looking forward to him having his first christmas with us. Yeah, we are happy. And if youve got a story you want to share with us about how the pandemic is affecting you, please do get in touch with us. Details for you on the screen now. Email yourlondon bbc. Co. Uk or we are bbclondonnews on twitter. Lets take a look at the travel situation now. 0n the tubes there are some part closures affecting the ba kerloo, district, northern and piccadily lines as well as tfl rail due to engineering works. You can check the tfl website for more details on those. As you might expect, traffic is looking lighter that usual this morning. This is the picture approaching the blackwall tunnel elsewhere, theres a lane blocked on the m25 heading anticlockwise towards j27 thats following a collision. Finally, in beckton, emergency repairs continue on both the underpass and at the flyover so there may be delays. Now the weather with kate kinsella. Good morning. After the mild conditions weve had for the past few days, this Christmas Eve the weather is set to change. High pressures been building in from the west overnight, squeezing the cloud and any remnants of rain away. So its clearing this morning. Weve got a brisk northerly wind making things feel very cold. We could just get one or two showers from the north sea. And one or two of those, you mightjust get something a little sleety over higher ground. But temperatures today between three and seven celsius. Factor in that northerly wind, its going to feel colder. So, a cold day. Christmas eve, of course, overnight tonight. That breeze will start to fall a little bit lighter. Still the risk of an isolated shower, but largely dry. The temperature dropping down potentially to minus three. So, waking up on Christmas Morning to some sparkles of frost. This blue area, the cold air, is going to stay with us through Christmas Day, so its looking cold, crisp and largely dry. The wind a bit lighter than today as well. Its all change again for boxing day, however, and turning progressively more unsettled as we head into the first part of next week. Im back with the latest from bbc london in half an hour. Have a lovely Christmas Eve. Now though its back to jon and rachel. Bye for now. Good morning and welcome to breakfast with withjon kay and rachel burden. 0ur headlines today. 0n the brink of a brexit deal. After months of talks an agreement between the uk and the eu is expected this morning, with Boris Johnson preparing to address the nation. This is the scene at downing street. All quiet at the moment. Well bring you all the developments and what it all means throughout the morning. Stay at home from boxing day. The message to another 6 Million People in england as more tier 4 restrictions are brought in. A plea for calm at the port of dover. Lorry drivers stranded in kent are urged to be patient as they wait to cross the channel. A crackerfrom cavani helps Manchester United to victory. They put on a late, late show to beat everton and set up a derby against city in the League Cup Semi finals. It was the night before christmas and all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. Well speak toJoanna Lumley as she joins forces with Prince Charles to help actors whove been forced out of work. After revealing his battle with loneliness on breakfast, more than 7000 Christmas Cards have been sent to world war ii veteran john lister. Well bring you his reaction. Plus, there are over 100 Flood Warnings in force across england and wales after the heavy rain yesterday but today looks drier, brighter but a good deal colder. I have the full christmas forecast on breakfast. Its thursday 24th december. Our top story. This could be an historic day. After months of talks a brexit trade deal between the uk and the eu is expected to be confirmed over the next few hours. Its understood there were four calls between borisjohnson and osler von der leyen yesterday to get the deal over the line and another call is due to take place in the next hour. If an agreement is reached then a press conference is likely to be held later this morning. Finally, because this has taken a long time to get here. The uk and eu have locked horns over a number of key issues in the negotiations but there were three Sticking Points that really proved difficult to navigate. First, fishing. The uk said it voted to take back control of its own waters and wanted maximum access for its boats. The eu still wanted its vessels to be able to fish here. Both sides needed to agree on rules that would stop the other side from having an unfair advantage in areas like workers rights and whether theyre allowed to provide subsidies to some industries. Thirdly, if a deal is reached, who will be in charge of making sure rules are followed . The eu wanted the European Court ofjustice to do it, but the uk didnt. In a moment well speak to our europe correspondent gavin lee, in brussels. But first, our Political Correspondent iain watson joins us from westminster. Iain, we were meant to speak to the foreign secretary, dominic raab, after 7 30 but he cancelled late last night. That must give you some sense of the signficance of what is happening . And this is potentially a very significant moment. It is a very significant moment. It is a very significant moment, four and a half yea rs significant moment, four and a half years since the brexit referendum when there was the 52 against 48 majority to leave the European Union. Since then a couple of brexit deadlines have slipped and now we area deadlines have slipped and now we are a week away from leaving the eu rules and regulations behind but there is still the huge uncertainty over what would happen next in the future relationship with the eu taking and not just future relationship with the eu taking and notjust trade but security issues, data sharing and it now looks like these contentious issues means a deal is about to be done. A call between borisjohnson and ursula von der leyen is scheduled to happen around now and that call would effectively seal the deal. We have been told there are still discussions going on over night and there had been some technical issues that needed to be ironed out and apparently there was a debate over how many fish could be caught in uk waters and whether car components would attract tariffs or taxes as part of a new trade deal if they were sourced from abroad, so its that level of detail that has held up the big picture of the deal between the uk and eu and we expect to hear from the between the uk and eu and we expect to hearfrom the Prime Minister this morning once a deal is done and a press co nfe re nce morning once a deal is done and a press conference as well. The prize for the uk quite simply is what is called tariff and quota free trade and in other words we would not be charged taxes on goods going from the uk into the eu and there would be no limits on the number of goods that could be sold in that way but it looks as though there have been compromises along the line including on fishing in the European Research group have been very keen to see this deal delivered in what they call sovereignty and they will be going through the steel with a fine tooth comb because next week the British Parliament will have to ratify it and i think it will go through quite easily even if there isa through quite easily even if there is a great deal of dissent and then the European Parliament will have to retrospectively agree it sometime in the new year so a couple of stumbling blocks but if the two sides, the commission and downing street can sign this off today than we could have more certainty about the future relationship between the uk and eu from the start of next year. Laura kuenssberg has tweeted again. We were thinking we might get some sort of announcement around now and she has said brexit watches, you will be shocked to know that the timings this morning may slip a bit. How many times have we heard that over the last four and a half years . So when exactly is unclear but we will be across this all day long. It might be christmassy but we have correspondence and cruise all over the place trying to bring it all over the to you. 0ur europe correspondent gavin lee is in brussels. Gavin, whats the mood like in the eu camp this morning . Ican hear i can hear the collective shout from anybody watching the tv thinking, get on with it. Give us some news on the deal and on the side of the water, socially distance last night there were a number ofjournalists looking up at the high flaws of the Eu Commission building, the only one with the lights on and that was about as close as we got. Some of the diplomats in the bit of action we had was watching the pizza delivery man coming in late at night with ten pizza boxes to keep the midnight oil burning for the negotiators and we are told that on the british side they have been talking through the night and not had much chance of a break. I think the senses that it will be put back a bitand the senses that it will be put back a bit and the timings have been moved a couple of hours away and they are still hoping that there is another phone call between ursula and boris, and at some point we will have a press conference from ursula von der leyen and she will give the gloss on the optics to say this is the deal as we see it in the same with boris in the uk and then perhaps we will get to see the finer detail and as for the other european capitals because ian was saying that the Uk Parliament wants to see this but they will seek 2000 or so pages in english and the idea was to get it in all 23 official languages but thatis it in all 23 official languages but that is not going to happen now so lets see what happens in the hours to come. Gavin, thank you and at least for you it is in english today. It is a big relief. It is still 2000 pages. Happy christmas. See you later. There is downing street this morning and we keep showing you that shot because we we re showing you that shot because we were expecting some sort of statement to emerge from there, possibly even round about now but as john mentioned, Laura Kuenssberg has said that timings are slipping a little bit. It looks like that might happen a bit later on. Hang on. Whos that . There was action. No, a fox. A Christmas Eve fox. People will be reading all kinds of symbolism into that and headline writers coming up with a title stop fox is live in downing street. May be something a bit later. They are known for their cunning. If we find anything out, we will let you know, dont worry about that. There are other important stories to bring you up to date on. Not least this. Thousands of drivers faced another night in their lorries at the port of dover as they wait to cross the channel. The drivers will only be able to get on ferries after a negative covid test. 0ur reporter simonjones in manston, near dover, where thousands of lorries are parked up. Simon, testing has started, but clearly not enough yet to get them home. Testing has started but the number of lorries caught up in all of this has actually increased. The manston airport site is just across the road from here but in all of these side roads there are lorries pretty much everywhere parked up, driving here and in all the lay by is, they are full of lorries as well. Grant shapps, the transport secretary said last night that they are clearing this but it is a mammoth operation and perhaps that is an underestimation because currently on the manston airport site there are almost 4000 lorries and adding to that another 2300 parked up on the m25 saul of the lorries in places like this. It is an absolutely huge number. Testing is under way and although lorries are now leaving manston airport, testing does take some time and the reality is many drivers will spend Christmas Day in their cabs although manston is a lovely place, perhaps not know where they would have chosen to do that. Another 6 Million People will be facing tougher restrictions from boxing day, as a large chunk of the south and east of england moves to tier 4 restrictions. The Health Secretary, matt hancock said it was because the current tier 3 wasnt enough to contain a faster spreading variant of the virus. Aruna iyengar has this report. Remember this . Boxing day 2019 and shoppers flocked to the sales. Its a very different picture this year. 24 Million People will be living under the toughest tier 4 coronavirus restrictions. These shoppers in huntingdon, cambridgeshire are taking the new measures in their stride. If its going to keep us safe in the end, thats really good and im quite happy. I think its a good thing that we have gone into a higher tier and i think we should go into another lockdown because it worked last night. Matt hancock said the former tiering system was not Strong Enough to control the new variant of the virus and revealed that another variant from south africa had been revealed in the uk. This new variant is highly concerning because it is yet more transmissible and appears to have mutated further than the new variant discovered in the uk. All flights arriving in the uk from south africa are banned from this morning. Also, anyone who has been in south africa or who has been in close contact with someone who has been there who has been there in the past fortnight is asked to quarantine immediately. Across the uk, people will be celebrating christmas in limited ways. In scotland, christmas bubbles will be allowed on Christmas Day with a maximum of eight people from three households. In Northern Ireland, a six week lockdown starts on boxing day the first week will have stricter restrictions although people can form a christmas bubble for one day between the 23rd and 27th of december. And wales is in a new National Lockdown after a large spike in cases. The Health Secretary had this christmas message. We mustnt give up now. We know that we can control this virus. We know we can get through this together. We are going to get through it by suppressing the virus until a vaccine can make us safe. All hopes now rest with the vaccine roll out. One of those areas affected is 0xford, which will be moving from tier 2 into tier 4 and breakfasts tim muffett is there for us this morning with the latest. What is happening . Good morning. Big changes ahead here in 0xfordshire. Cases rose by 86 in the week up to december the 18th so there was acknowledgement that something had to be done. 0xfordshire along with cambridgeshire, norfolk, suffolk, most of hampshire and west sussex and pass of east sussex not already in tier4 and pass of east sussex not already in tier 4 will be moved into tier 4 from midnight, Christmas Day into boxing day. This is currently tier 2 so the high street will be relatively crowded because many businesses can open and that is all going to change. There will be a huge impact on many peoples lives, around 6 Million People moving into tier 4. Tier 3, also people moving into that. Bristol, gloucestershire, somerset, swindon, isle of wight, northamptonshire, cheshire and warrington, so slightly less restrictions there but big changes for many people, some 40 of the population in england about to move into tier 4. Thank you, tim, in 0xford, one of the places affected by the new tier restrictions. If there wasnt enough to think about this morning a lot of people are thinking seriously about the weather. There are 103 Flood Warnings across england and wales. Emergency services have been inundated with requests for help after heavy rain has flooded homes and disrupted travel in the south west, midlands and east anglia. In wales, the warnings are between pembrokeshire and monmouthshire. Do take care. I know some properties have been evacuated in some places. It doesnt bear thinking about having to be chucked out of your home. As if some people wont having a bad enough christmas. What prospect of any improvements . More heavy rain to come this weekend. Good morning to you and the Flood Warnings, the details are on the bbc weather website and there is some good news today with things looking drier and brighter but also colder across the country. Some ice around this morning and here is the latest radar chart showing snow showers and a good covering for some in the north and east of scotland and there could be snow mixed in with rain showers as they push across eastern counties. Snow mainly on the hills. A few rain showers in the west of wales and across parts of cornwall but for most of us after the grim day across england and wales a drier, brighter day and it will still be breezy as the wind is coming from the north, touching gale force on the eastern coast, so get ready for three to six celsius on the thermometer per ad on the effect of the wind and it will feel sub 0 out there and a big turnaround across and wales where it has been relatively mild in the last few days. A cold night to come tonight and there will be a few showers down eastern counties but not too much on the way of Severe Weather to hamper father christmass journey across the uk. There will be a sparkle of sa nta the uk. There will be a sparkle of santa sparkle in the morning but otherwise a widespread frost as we start Christmas Day and a few rain showers across the eastern coast. Turning wetter towards the north east of scotland later but for most, Christmas Day will be dry and bright and a welcome relief for some of you after yesterdays rain. Wont it just of you after yesterdays rain. Wont itjust be. Of you after yesterdays rain. Wont it just be. Speak of you after yesterdays rain. Wont itjust be. Speak to you later. We are waiting for news of a possible, can we say probable, brexit deal between the uk and eu and we understand it is imminent and we expect an announcement from the government may be very soon. With just a week until the end of the transition period, is there enough time to get the deal approved . Labour mp hilary benn who is also the chair of the Commons Brexit committee joins us now. Is it with some sense of relief that you hear that we might get the deal over the line today . The alternative is no deal and that doesnt bear contemplation at all because of the damage it would do to the economy. What any deal is going to do is make the consequences of brexit for business less bad than they otherwise would have been. Remember, this is the first trade deal in history where one party has gone in knowing it will come out with worse arrangements than it went in with. But look, if there is a deal, no tariffs, then farmers and Car Manufacturers will breathe a big sigh of relief. If it is 2000 pages long there will be quite a lot of reading to take place but i think there is no doubt that parliament, if we are recalled next week to approve legislation to put the deal into effect will agree it. In which case scrutiny is really important in this document, but as you suggest, it will be voted through anyway, so how can we be sure, as voters, that we are going to be well served by this particular deal . A very good question indeed, precisely because it is so long and i think notjust over the next week but over the next few months, as brexit actually happens we have a legally left the eu and that happened at the end of january but because of the transition period we have remained in the Single Market and Customs Union so there will be big changes a nyway union so there will be big changes anyway from the 1st of january whether there is agreement or not and regardless of what is in the agreement, for example, people exporting to europe will have to fill in customs forms for the first time and that will mean red tape and over time we will become more aware of what we cant now do because we have taken it for granted, and then as the 1st of january comes and goes to debate in british politics will be, right, if there is an agreement, thatis be, right, if there is an agreement, that is the starting point but these are still our nearest and most important neighbours and trading partners and security alloys, so what kind of relationship do we want in the future . And i hope it will be as close a one as possible. People may not want to hear this but i suspect this will not be the end of negotiations with the eu and there will be plenty of things to talk about in the months and years ahead. The Christmas Gifts keep on coming, dont they . This week we have seen in dover the fragility of what can happen with the whole infrastructure around our borders. The government has been piling loads of money in and we know that, to try and boost those systems and make sure they are ready because whatever the deal, there will be extra layers of bureaucracy that businesses will have to contend with. Are you confident that we are now in as good a place as we can be for the new arrangements when they come into place from the 1st of january . The honest answer is, that remains to be seen, because the big worry is what happens if lorries turn up at dover that dont have the right paperwork that dont have the right paperwork that will be required from the 1st of january, because it that will be required from the 1st ofjanuary, because it doesnt that will be required from the 1st of january, because it doesnt take many of those to start clogging up the system. Everybody hopes we wont see the scenes we have seen over the last few days and we all feel for those lorry drivers who it looks as though they will be spending christmas stock on manston airfield but it will depend on the paperwork and the flow and for those businesses who have never filled and the flow and for those businesses who have neverfilled in a customs declaration they will need to work with new systems. The it has been delivered very late and not all of the infrastructure is in place and there is a shortage of customs agents to give expert advice on what you need to do, so a lot of concerns have been expressed, above all by those who move goods for a living. They know what they are talking about, about the potentialfor disruption but we will have to see what happens from the 1st of january but it is going to be a big change, whether there is a deal or not and in the end there has to be a deal because how could either side in these negotiations contemplate adding the cost of no deal, which would be really damaging, above all to the british economy, on top of the economic effects of the worst recession in 300 years because of covid. It looks like if we get this deal that it will hand back a considerable amount of autonomy to the uk, which is what certainly a lot of people who voted for brexit wanted, so how much credit do you give borisjohnson personally for getting the country through this phenomenally complex, fraught process with the eu . Im afraid i dont give borisjohnson any credit at all because i campaigned to remain and at all because i campaigned to remain and i still think brexit is a bad idea for the country economically and in terms of our influence in the world, and this will be a thin deal, no doubt about it whatsoever. And in time, people will see the consequences. The point about sovereignty is really quite simple. You can be sovereign and shot yourself in a room and be sovereign, but the question is, especially in the modern world, is what you do with your sovereignty and every deal involves taking on obligations in return for benefits. That is what a negotiation is about, so theres no such thing as absolute sovereignty. If you want to continue to have the benefits of tariff and quota free access to our biggest market because after all these other countries to which we send about 43 of our exports, and when he talked endlessly about no deal being file and we will prosper mightily, that was never true and in the end Boris Johnson has had to realise if reports of the deal are correct that we cannot do this to the country because it would be disastrous and finally he has learned that. Hilary benn, thank you very much. We know someone is home, and there is larry the cat on guard outside the front door and maybe larry knows. I bet that fox doesnt mess with larry the cat. No, the fox will know whos in on that street. And larry the cat might know what is going on with brexit because we know the Prime Minister has had four conversations last night with the president of the Eu Commission and they have been talking about the detail and the strategy and the coordination of the announcement of a deal. What we dont know yet is whether they have actually agreed the final bits and pieces, but we think its going to happen. All the talk in westminster is that they have agreed a deal and we should get an announcement very soon. What they are lacking there is the Christmas Tree lights being on stock may be that will be like the white smoke with the announcement of a new pope. When the tree lights come on, the deal is done. Larry has had enough. You are watching bbc breakfast brexit special in conjunction with autumn watch. We have had wildlife. Do you think larry the cat must think, not again, cant they leave me alone for christmas . Its probably what Boris Johnson is thinking but he has a big day ahead. David has been in touch on twitter and is not convinced that this is going to happen imminently. He said, im so fed up with all the delays weve had in the last five years and i reckon jools weve had in the last five years and i reckonjools holland will still be rolling on live coverage of this new years eve itself, which is when the transition period comes to an end. It feels like it will be a bit sooner than that, david, it feels like it will be a bit soonerthan that, david, but it feels like it will be a bit sooner than that, david, but we will wait and see and keep your cross developments. We certainly will. To ta ke developments. We certainly will. To take you away from that for a moment. It is Christmas Eve. I keep forgetting that. There is a huge amount of christmas goodwill at the moment, even in these tough times. You may remember that last week we met 101 year old, john lister it was hard not to be incredibly moved after hearing him say how lonely hed felt since his wife of 70 years died, earlier this year. Johns care home were so worried about his decline that they asked people to send him cards and you really have delivered as Graham Satchell reports. Every day for a week now a royal mail delivery van has been arriving at thorpe house care home in norfolk full of cards, letters and parcels for one man. John lister is 101. When we first metjohn on this programme last week he told us about his wife, ella. She died of covid at the beginning of the pandemic in february. What has lockdown been like here . Its amazing. I cant believe it. From such a small village. The care home asked the Great British public to send john a Christmas Card. They have been arriving by the sack load. I would say we are reaching about 6,000 cards now. Absolutely staggering. Can you believe all of this, john . Look. All for you. Dearjohn, we saw you on breakfast tv and we thought we would send you a card to cheer you up. Christmas is a very difficult time for lots of people. Sending hugs. Tojohn, love from ewan, aged nine. He has drawn you some pictures, john. I live in the west coast of scotland in a little town called 0ban. Ive been there. Youve been there . Take care of yourself. You deserve to be looked after now, john, you are one of our heroes. Cards have arrived from all over the uk and all around the world. I was very touched by the story and then i decided that i would have my students make cards forjohn. These eight and nine year olds in florida sanohns story online. Dearjohn, i hope you have a good christmas. I am very sorry for your loss and i wish you a good christmas. I hope you have a Merry Christmas. Dont forget you are not alone. Have a good christmas, john. The outpouring of love that is apparent in all of these letters and presents just shows you what positivity there is in the world. Really nice. Lovely. John was a soldier in the Second World War and was in the 72nd median regiment of the Royal Artillery and was part of the d day landings. Thank you for your service, from one ex soldier to another. So proud of what you have achieved, so touched by your story. Coldstream guards, john. There was a point thatjohn was getting very, very down and this has motivated him to get up and find the strength to get up again. Which is lovely. What do you think to all of the card you have had, john . Yes, and thats enough, john, just to see you smiling again, thats enough. Has it made you feel a bit less lonely . Good. I know, in april, wont you. I hope nobody sends you birthday cards like this. Marcia told usjohn had been going downhill since his wife passed away, but the cards, letters and gives had, in her words, saved him. Gifts. There really is power in the kindness of strangers. Well done to everyone who wrote into john and contributed those cards. Amazing effort. There is one thing you learn this sitting on the sofa, the bbc breakfast micra viewers act in the most extraordinarily generous ways every time. Its quite amazing. Weve met some really Extraordinary People this year on breakfast, and tomorrow on the programme well be re visiting some of them. 80 year old paul harvey, who has dementia, became an internet sensation after composing a piece of music from only four notes. Hes back with an exclusive performance with the bbc philharmonic. Heres a glimpse. Music. 0h, oh, wow. That is going to be brilliant, isnt it . A fantastic performance. Louise will be here tomorrow morning to wish you a Christmas Day and start off your day, especially if you are at home on your own this year. She will keep you company and bring you somejoy as well, of course. As the impact of any brexit deal, which we think may be about to be announced imminently, we have been saying that for an hour and a half, but as the clock ticks. We have been saying it for four and ticks. We have been saying it for fourand a ticks. We have been saying it for four and a half years, to be frank. We think a brick brexit deal is going to be announced this morning. If that is the case it is really important day, not just if that is the case it is really important day, notjust in terms of a deal, but in terms of what it says, what has britain conceded, what is britain from. Now the news, travel and weather where you good morning from bbc london, im tolu adeoye. The London Ambulance service is urging the public to use its 999 service wisely over the festive period, as they manage the demands of the pandemic to ensure the sickest patients are reached first. The service had over 400 calls every minute yesterday. Bosses say if your illness is not life threatening call the nhs111 number instead. For the second night in a row, a charity based in slough has organised hundreds of free meals for lorry drivers stranded on the m20 in kent. Volunteers from khalsa aid, who are more used to working in disaster zones across the world, distributed a thousand free pizzas to those still stuck in their lorries. A baby boy who was born three months early, contracted sepsis and covid19, is one of the youngest survivors of the virus. Bbc london has been to meet emmanuel and his mother to see how they are getting on now. I would say it was stressful from the beginning, but in the end its worth it. Hes doing absolutely fine. So, we arejust looking forward to him having his first christmas with us. Yeah, we are happy. And if youve got a story you want to share with us about how the pandemic is affecting you, please do get in touch with us. Details for you on the screen now. Email yourlondon bbc. Co. Uk or we are bbclondonnews on twitter. Lets take a look at the travel situation now. 0n the tubes, there some part closures affecting the bakerloo, and piccadilly lines as well as tfl rail, due to engineering works. You can check the tfl website for more details on those. As you might expect, traffic is looking lighter that usual this morning. This is the picture approaching the blackwall tunnel. Elsewhere, theres a lane blocked on the m25 heading anticlockwise towards j27 following a collision. Finally, in beckton, emergency repairs continue on both the underpass and at the flyover, so there may be delays. Now the weather with kate kinsella. Good morning. After the mild conditions weve had for the past few days, this Christmas Eve the weather is set to change. High pressures been building in from the west overnight, squeezing the cloud and any remnants of rain away. So its clearing this morning. Weve got a brisk northerly wind making things feel very cold. We could just get one or two showers from the north sea. And one or two of those, you mightjust get something a little sleety over higher ground. But temperatures today between three and seven celsius. Factor in that northerly wind, its going to feel colder. So, a cold day. Christmas eve, of course, overnight tonight. That breeze will start to fall a little bit lighter. Still the risk of an isolated shower, but largely dry. The temperature dropping down potentially to minus three. So, waking up on Christmas Morning to some sparkles of frost. This blue area, the cold air, is going to stay with us through Christmas Day, so its looking cold, crisp and largely dry. The wind a bit lighter than today as well. Its all change again for boxing day, however, and turning progressively more unsettled as we head into the first part of next week. Im back with the latest from bbc london in half an hour. Plenty more on our website at the usual address. Have a lovely Christmas Eve. Bye for now. Hello, this is breakfast withjon kay and rachel burden. Happy Christmas Eve. Thank you for being with us. We know it is probably a busy day for lots of people, getting ready for christmas, regardless of the fact it is all going to be different this year. It is very easy in use wise as well. We are all eyes on downing street to work out what is happening as far as a possible brexit deal. We understand there is something imminent. Maybe not yet signed off. 0ur political editor, Laura Kuenssberg, has been tweeting to say it might be slipping yet again. A deal is likely to be announced on Christmas Eve by borisjohnson in downing street and on the other side of the channel as well. That is not the only story. Not at all. We are also reminding you of the fact that millions more people will go into tier 4 restrictions from boxing day, which is in effect a lockdown for many people. A stay at home message because of the increasing Coronavirus Infections. Significantly in part due to this new variant of the virus. And the weather has been terrible in parts of the country. Floods around that we need to warn you about. We will bring you details later. Matt will have all the weather shortly. At first, a big weekend of sport. Always at christmas time. Jane has the latest. What can we expect . It is going to be exciting. Boxing day will be the best. A full fixture list. A lot of clubs have moved into tier 4. Not as many fans watching in person. They were last night at goodison park. Manchester united set up a derby against city in the League Cup Semi finals, after they beat everton with two very late goals. The game was goalless and heading for penalties when Edison Cavani, who was lucky not to have been sent off earlier, produced a stunning strike that was just two minutes from time. And for good measure, Anthony Martial made it 2 0 deep in stoppage time. Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho gave dele alli a chance to prove himself, in their match against stoke, but he was left feeling let down. After gareth bale opened the scoring for spurs, alli gave the ball away and that led to stokes equaliser. Tottenham did go on to win 3 1, harry kane making sure of their place in the semi finals, where theyll play brentford. But it was allis part in that stoke goal that got to mourinho. For me, a player that plays in that position is a player that has to link and has to create, not to create problems for his own team. They are in counterattack and they transformed the result of the game. That was totally in our hands. Yes, i was upset. Rangers remain 16 points clear at the top of the scottish premiership after an 11th Straight League victory. They won 3 0 at stjohnstone. Man of the match glen kamara had a hand in theirfirst and scored their second. Rangers are now unbeaten in 19 games this season. Celtic made sure the gap didnt get any wider, with a 2 0 win over ross county. Theyre still second, and they do have three games in hand on their old firm rivals. The former tottenham and hull midfielder ryan mason has been talking about the research into the link between heading the ball and dementia. Mason was forced to retire from the game after fracturing his skull in 2017. This the cases that are happening now, as x professionals and old repairs that have gone through it, its not nice to see. It really isnt. It really wouldnt surprise me in ten to 15 yea rs if wouldnt surprise me in ten to 15 years if heading pretty much is involved in the game, to be honest. The research, the money behind it, the momentum it is getting, i think the momentum it is getting, i think the research we are probably going to find is it will probably open up a lot more stuff that is quite shocking, to be honest. Such an important issue. That is your sport. Thank you very much. See you later. Boxing day will mean even tougher restrictions for another six Million People, as a large chunk of the south and east of england moves to tier 4. The Health Secretary, matt hancock, said it was because the current tier 3 wasnt enough to contain a faster spreading variant of the virus. This is how people in those areas reacted to the news. Lets speak now to victoria johnson, who runs an interior design shop in essex. And salon owner emma jarvis, who is in norfolk. Hi, both of you. I really appreciate your time because i know it is a busy time of the year at home and at work and you have to deal with all of this Tier Business as well. Emma, what does this mean, tier 4 . How will it affect you . Yell or we have jumped from tier 2 to tier 4. Will it affect you . Yell or we have jumped from tier 2 to tier 4m will it affect you . Yell or we have jumped from tier 2 to tier 4. It is heartbreaking. We are having to shut again for heartbreaking. We are having to shut againfora heartbreaking. We are having to shut again for a third time. We have only been open for three weeks. And from opening i want every single day to try to fit the backlog of appointments in. Building a business for 21 years. I know people have got to be safe, i get that. But it is an emotional roller coaster as well as a financial one. Did you see it coming . Yeah. To be honest, the week before you see it happening and avicii have got a lot of friends in other parts of the country that have got a salons. I knew it was coming. It is just an emotional roller coaster as well. Just absolutely unbelievable, to be fair. Victoria, i guess it is the same for you. The constant changing of restrictions, how do you plan for the future . How do you plan for what you are going to be doing in the next week or the next day . It is really difficult as a business owner, isnt it . It is very hard at the moment. The uncertainty, to be honest, the shop is probably healthier than we are, we still have rent, we still have bills to pay. And weve missed our busiest trading period, november. We were closed in november. December is nowhere near what it normally is. People are worried. You are cautious. It is a very difficult year. It really is. 0ne very difficult year. It really is. One thing ive noticed being out and about in towns, in different parts of the uk over the last week, is that there is a real sort of lack of christmas atmosphere. The bustle that you would normally see and feel ona high that you would normally see and feel on a high streetjust is not there at the moment, is it . No, definitely not. People are worried. People are very worried. There is a lack of patience, i think. Very worried. There is a lack of patience, ithink. Everybody, like us as business owners, it is the uncertainty. Nobody knows what happens next. We are all unsure about what the rules are. Many people. They are so complicated, many people dont know what they are and what to do. That is causing issues as well. Emma, what is the reality . What do you have to do on a practical level in terms of the business, in terms of staff, letting people know . Thinking about all of that on Christmas Eve . Yeah. We shut today at 5pm. All of my team are then put back on furlough. Then it is just shutting the whole business up is just shutting the whole business up again, contacting everyone. In november we did get an end date. Here we havent got no end date. It is just contacting everyone. Here we havent got no end date. It isjust contacting everyone. The logistics of it as well is dramatic. Really time consuming. The government is insisting it has put in this major package of financial support. £3000 a month if youre closed as a business. 0ver £2000 a month if you are open. There is a Business Rates relief holiday. All sorts of measures. Will that be enough, victoria, to see you through this period . We are very lucky in that we have an online business. So we have survived. So far. That is amazing. The financial package, whilst it is helpful, it doesnt in any way compensated. We couldnt survive with just that package. Any way compensated. We couldnt survive withjust that package. I understand the government, funds are limited and they are doing the best they can, so how we will recover, i dont know. It will take years to re cover dont know. It will take years to recover from this. Im so sorry. Its so sad to be talking to you quys its so sad to be talking to you guys and the businesses that you have on Christmas Eve, which should bea time have on Christmas Eve, which should be a time of business and a time of iy be a time of business and a time of joy for you and your customers to be seeing you so downbeat. Hopefully youll have a good family christmas and geta youll have a good family christmas and get a chance to spend time with your loved ones and fingers crossed for a much happier, healthier and prosperous new year for both of you. Thank you. Another area affected is 0xfordshire, which is in tier 2 at the moment. Ian hudspeth is the conservative leader of 0xfordshire county council and joins us now. We are hearing those sad personal stories of individual businesses. Which you must be hearing these many fold . Good morning. It is very disappointing. I used to be a small businessman. I fully understand exactly what must be going through Small Businesses, particularly in the hospitality industry. Its really distressing. I will work hard to make sure we get as much support for businesses, to make sure we can work through this pandemic. It is difficult. It is a real major blockage for everybody. However, if you look at the data, look at the figures, it is evident that this variant is spreading and is very transmissible. We have got to clamp down on it. My heart goes out to all business, Small Businesses and Large Businesses as well. And employees facing uncertainty. As you say it should be a time we are all relaxing and looking forward to christmas. Closing the doors is an awful thing to do for any business. You are interior tier 2 at the moment. To jump interior tier 2 at the moment. To jump all the way up to no. Were you surprised it was that much of a leap . I think looking at the evidence and the data coming through, it was clear that we were virtually surrounded in 0xfordshire. And of course the virus doesnt have no boundaries. That is the key thing. We put a boundary there but the virus spreads over. We travel to work. I think it would have been surprising if we are going to tier 3 before going to no because it was inevitable, i think, before going to no because it was inevitable, ithink, looking before going to no because it was inevitable, i think, looking at the data. Iam not inevitable, i think, looking at the data. I am not a scientist or epidemiologist. But talking to the men and women who understand this, it was quite clear that the virus is spreading and we need to clamp down on it to make sure that we have a more successful 2021 in the long run. We have talked a lot on brea kfast run. We have talked a lot on breakfast in recent days about what this is going to mean for schools and possible delays in school kids going back. You are in oxford. A Big University city, globally famous. Two huge universities. Thousands of students. What is the knock on going to be for them returning for a new term in january . To be for them returning for a new term injanuary . What are you expecting . What do you want as a council . First of all we have worked very ha rd council . First of all we have worked very hard with both universities over the autumn term to actually make sure that theyre looking at compliance and the staggering return of stu d e nts compliance and the staggering return of students back to oxford when the term restarts. That is important. We need to Work Together to make sure we understand what is happening and testing. That is going to be absolutely key. Its important we test as much as possible. So if there is an outbreak we can clamp down straightaway and clamp down on the virus. But were working with our partners at the universities, the nhs, district councils, to make sure that we are covering as much about such as possible, and clamp down on the virus. Do you want those stu d e nts to down on the virus. Do you want those students to come back injanuary . Down on the virus. Do you want those students to come back in january . think it is important that those stu d e nts think it is important that those students that have to come back for laboratory exercises do come back. It is absolutely vital for them to continue their education, because of course, in the longer term we do need those students coming out to have got the experience. I am immensely proud of the Oxford Astrazeneca vaccine coming forward. We need to make sure those students out there for future generations providing important innovation in 0xfordshire and the uk. Ian, thank you very much indeed. Tell us how your Christmas Eve is going this morning. So much to contend with. New tier restrictions, poor weather and part of the country causing flooding. We shall get the latest on that now. And news of the brexit trade deal being imminent as well. How are you doing at the moment in your own home, Christmas Eve . Do let us know. Lets get a look at the forecast. That is a slightly more encouraging picture, matt, that we are seeing there. Although evidence of floods. Are seeing there. Although evidence of floods. Good news. We have blue sky. If you stay in front of the overspill it looks much more positive we do need the blue skies. We need a dry weather. It has been an horrendous 36 hours and part of the uk. 0ver100 Flood Warnings in place. Latest details on the bbc weather website. More rain on saturday night. For the time being a dry a few days. Notjust com pletely being a dry a few days. Notjust completely dry. We have got a covering of snow. This is in aberdeen. There is a covering of snow in the city centre. Lovely festive start to Christmas Eve. There are snow flurries in northern and eastern parts of scotland. We could even see the odd snow flurry mixed in with the rain and sleet showers in eastern counties of england, particularly over higher ground. Rain showers in west wales and cornwall. I see start where we have wet ground for northern england, northwards. Just be wary of that. A better day than yesterday for england and wales. Showers feeding into eastern counties of england. Again, they could be the odd flurry or flake of snow mixed in. Brighter this afternoon across much of scotland. Most of you will have a dry and bright day with sunny spells. It is going to be cold. Three to seven celsius and the thermometer this afternoon. A Gale Force Wind on eastern coasts. It will feel cold. 1 to finest 1 to minus three degrees in some places. Showers might become fewer in number in eastern counties of england. Still the odd flake of snow. Note Severe Weather but instead of snow on the ground there will be a covering of sand at sparkle. A frosty start to Christmas Day. Lovely start for the vast majority of the country. A few isolated rain showers towards the east living and, where we will have have a bit of a breeze. More wet weather develop across the highlands and islands of scotland. Some isolated showers. Christmas day should be dry. Another cold one. As you going to boxing day, a change to westerly winds, that will lift the temperature a little bit. Bright start with sunny spells but a few showers in england and wales. Through the day scotland, Northern Ireland said to determine whether and windier. Temperatures will lift, it is 10 celsius on boxing day. As we go through saturday night into sunday, just be warned they will be strong to Gale Force Winds across much of england and wales and some heavy rain. We will keep you updated. Back to you. Never rains, hey matt . Thank you. We are keeping across the situation in downing street. We have got a live shot. We have seen a fox, we have seen larry the cat. We have not seen the Prime Minister. All of the hints are that borisjohnson will announce that he has struck a deal with the European Union, a trade deal that would kick in on the 1st of january. We are trade deal that would kick in on the 1st ofjanuary. We are going to bring that news to you when it is officially confirmed. There are phone calls going between downing street and brussels right now. All the expectations are it is going to happen. For now we are going to focus on the british christmas number one. The spice girls will be last band to have three consecutive christmas number ones. That could be much this week. Matched. Matched. The vlogger, ladbaby could be on his way to his third christmas number one, three years in a row. This year he and his wife, ladbabymum have also recruited Ronan Keating to do a version, with the proceeds going to the Trussell Trust charity. We can speak to all three of them shortly but first lets take a look at ladybabys christmas crackers. We we built this city on sausage rolls. I love sausage rolls, so put another one in the oven, baby. She smiled at me as she took hold of my snack. Im on lockdown tonight. Im on lockdown tonight. Just a im on lockdown tonight. Just a sausage roll in a year thats out of control. Are feeding the nation is our christmas call. That is Just Christmas call. That isjust genius. Christmas call. That is just genius. Did christmas call. That isjust genius. Did he look christmas call. That is just genius. Did he look a little reluctant there . I dont think so. I think it was done with feeling. Theres not long left in the race for the christmas top spot. We are joined now by mark hoyle, his wife roxanne and Ronan Keating now. Mark and roxanne, the outfits just to get better and better every year. Iamso to get better and better every year. I am so impressed with you. Dont stop me eating is this years single. Did you ever think you could do ita single. Did you ever think you could do it a third time . No. We hoped we would put a smile on everyones face this christmas. That was the aim. We thought it was important to try. But no. I still dont know if we can. Keeping everything crossed until the big day. It is looking quite good though. The sales and three streams, it is looking like you could well clinch it. How did you decide what to do this year . I am imagining this, sitting at the breakfast table, how do we improve or change last year . Yeah. Its not easy. 0bviously last year we were at the famous abbey road studios. The only way to top that was to film in the worlds fastest shed. It got feet people feeling happy, dont stop believing. It was featured and karaoke list. Then we had to weave some sausage roll magic into the lyrics. It was all for charity, so that was even better. The Trussell Trust is where the funds are going. Roxanne, just tell us how special was it, the opportunity to duet with Ronan Keating . Was it, the opportunity to duet with Ronan Keating . How much did that mean to you . Well, if you seen the video i did it shout quite a lot and scream. It was one of the most amazing moments. Being a massive fan of boyzone growing up. Two metre distancing saved Ronan Keating just as well for you, mark distancing saved Ronan Keating just as well for you, mark i know ronan, what was it like for you to sync with roxanne . Fantastic. What a lovely bunch of people. A gorgeous couple. They work theyve done for everybody is phenomenal. So selfless. Im just delighted and honoured and proud after the year weve had to spread a little bit of ivy weve had to spread a little bit of joy and a little bit of love, and a virtual hug with this tune. Its been an honour to be part of the whole thing. When you sang sausage roll just then we whole thing. When you sang sausage rolljust then we all laughed, in the studio, in our gallery, the intensity. You are feeling it, man . look, ive always wanted to sing about sausage rolls. My dream has come true. What a legend. Thank you, mike. I dont know if this tra nslates mike. I dont know if this translates across the globe. Does it go across the irish sea . Everybody has heard it. Everybody loves it. Honestly, the reaction has been incredible. Across social media, everywhere. Its been brilliant. So many people coming out of the woodwork saying, well done, you guys. Its so refreshing. Its really important to be able to take the mickey out of yourself, we all know that. And to do Something Like this but for such a great reason and grey charity, that is much needed right now, that is what it is all about, a bit of christmas cheer. Ronan, i dont believe for a moment you eat sausage rolls . 0h, ronan, i dont believe for a moment you eat sausage rolls . Oh, yes i do 0h, you eat sausage rolls . Oh, yes i do oh, my god. My wife has got one in the oven right now. Absolutely. I hope they will be ready at the end of this. Its Christmas Eve, come on what i also love is that we have seen your kids grow up through this process. Are they much more aware now of what is actually going on and the force that is generated by their mum and dads exploit every year . Yeah, our eldest is for now. He gets it. He has seen the video. Are you singing and dancing. He fully get involved. Its lovely to watch them grow up and to be part of it. And to teach them that you can give back. We try to teach them about what we have been doing and why we do the silly videos. You are legends. The two of you. They should be very proud. The best of luck. It is you against mariah carey, as ever. Who . who is mariah carey . it finishes tonight at 12pm. So please, everybody, if you can afford it, download it. 100 will go to food banks in the uk. Thank you. Can you do it . I would love to ask your views on a pole straight post brexit trade deal, because we are waiting for an impact on sausage roll sales, but sadly we have run out of time. So we will wish you well. Have a great christmas. Merry christmas. Merry christmas. Merry christmas. Merry christmas. Merry Christmas Everybody and god bless. The official christmas number one will be announced exclusively on bbc radio 1s the official chart with katie thistleton, 2 4pm on Christmas Day, friday december 25. I mentioned the brexit deal because we think of the announcement of what is imminent. We will have all the very latest for you next. Good morning and welcome to breakfast with withjon kay and rachel burden. 0ur headlines today. 0n the brink of a brexit deal. After months of talks an agreement between the uk and the eu is expected this morning, with Boris Johnson preparing to address the nation. This is the scene at downing street. Well bring you all the developments and what it all means throughout the morning. We dont really know what is going on behind the door. Stay at home from boxing day. The message to another 6 Million People in england as more tier 4 restrictions are brought in. A plea for calm at the port of dover. Lorry drivers stranded in kent are urged to be patient as they wait to cross the channel. Manchester united strike late to reach the League Cup Semi finals. They beat everton with two goals in the closing minutes including an absolute cracker from cavani. It was the night before christmas and all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. Well speak to Joanna Lumley as shejoins forces with Prince Charles to help actors whove been forced out of work. And there are over 100 Flood Warnings in place across england and wales after yesterdays heavy rain but good news, things looking drier and brighter through today and Christmas Day but it will feel colder and for some, bit of snow. I have all the on breakfast. All the details. Its thursday 24th december. Our top story. After months of talks a brexit trade deal between the uk and the eu is expected to be confirmed over the next few hours. Its understood there were four calls between Boris Johnson and and the president of the European Commission, ursula von der leyen yesterday to get the deal over the line, and another call is due to take place in the next hour. This is the scene at downing street this morning. If a deal is agreed the prime miniser is expected to hold a press conference here later. I think that is one of the officials going home after a late night talks. We will probably get the rhetoric today. We will get the announcement ofa today. We will get the announcement of a deal, we assume, but we dont necessarily get the details until later and it is the details which will decide how happy or unhappy the various parties and this will be, what has been conceded and what has been one. In a moment well speak to our europe correspondent gavin lee, in brussels. But first, our Political Correspondent iain watson joins us from westminster. We have been rapidly trying to keep up we have been rapidly trying to keep up with events and suggestions suggestions. Iain, we were meant to speak to the foreign secretary, dominic raab, after 7 30 but he cancelled late last night. That must give you some sense of the significance of what is happening . Do we have a clear idea on timings now . If you look at the choreography of this, what we expect first is a call between borisjohnson and ursula von der leyen which effectively, verbally, would sign at this Historic Deal between the eu and the uk. That would happen first and the uk. That would happen first and then we would get press conferences from both borisjohnson and ursula von der leyen separately later this morning and it looks as though the press conference with borisjohnson will though the press conference with Boris Johnson will happen though the press conference with borisjohnson will happen later this morning, so we expect a deal will be announced. After that a couple of other things have to happen as long as the Member States agree and give it the go ahead there will be a delayed ratification in the European Parliament which wont happen until the new year and next Week Parliament will be recalled to sign off on any deal and early on this programme, hilary benn, the labour mp who chairs the cross party Brexit Committee suggested there would be an awful lot of detail for mps to go through, perhaps 2000 pages, but he was also confident that a deal would be agreed. If there is a deal, if there are no tariffs then farmers and Car Manufacturers will breathe a big sigh of relief. If it is 2000 pages long there will be quite a lot of reading to take place, but there is no doubt at all that parliament, if we are recalled next week to approve legislation to put the deal into effect will agree it. approve legislation to put the deal into effect will agree it. I was told there were some technical detail still being discussed overnight. Maybe this is why we are seeing perhaps the press conference happening later than we might have anticipated but it looks as though the deal is still very much on track and could be an historic day because four and and could be an historic day because fourand a and could be an historic day because four and a half years since the brexit referendum but also just one week before the uk was due to leave the eus rules and regulations behind and if we have greater certainty now for businesses on trading terms in the new year, that would be a massive sigh of relief and a great Christmas Present for them but what we dont know yet is them but what we dont know yet is the details, the angel or devil will certainly be there to be taken out and scrutinised and examined in parliament and during the course of the day. There will be lots of people with highlighter pens and binders at the ready for this one. Thank you very much. Looking at the numbers and quotas agreed on the maps being drawn, all of that. Specific fish species is what a p pa re ntly specific fish species is what apparently a lot of it came down to. There were apparently high level phone discussions overnight between 10 downing street and brussels about fish species. Gavin lee is in brussels. The negotiators were talking face to face in through the night. This Phase Transition period for the eu getting access to uk waters and we think that there might be a maximum of five and a half years for eu vessels to have phased out access before the uk gets a sense of working out how the ownership of those fish stocks and the boat will go. We will see. This is about to come out. Frankly the speculation after a ll come out. Frankly the speculation after all of this time, the groundhog weeks coming to an end and talking to eu officials on the side they are certain that it is just a matter of time before this ursula von der leyen press conference. The most exciting thing for the journalists stood outside with masks on looking at the top floor of the European Commission where the talks we re European Commission where the talks were taking place through the night is that the pizza man arrived with about ten pizza boxes to keep the midnight oil burning. We are not sure if they will go back in and we are still waiting for a decision. The lights are off at the moment. And then you have these two press conferences and from this site, each eu capital has to see the details. 2000 pages in english, not 23 other languages, there simply isnt time and its not certain, and they could veto it, but they would be a provisional agreement and it gets signed off by ursula von der leyen and then the European Parliament retroactively signs it off if its going to do that. It could decide not to. In the new year. Those seem to be the fact if we get there in the next couple of hours. We thought we might get an announcement at seven oclock, and then eight oclock, and now nothing at ten past eight. Did they discuss the species of red herring . It is quite extraordinary that they have gone to that level of detail and when you think about the market as well, we are talking about comparatively a few million compared to a deal which is hundreds of billions and politically massively important, not just for the fishing industry in the uk but also for eight of the 27 countries, particularly the danish and french who had been fighting fin and french who had been fighting fin and fish to thaw every bit of Stock Available and its on heard of, and it has been months of talks like this that did not come to anything and for phone calls later with ursula von der leyen and Boris Johnson we seem to be there. Thanks for bringing this up to date and we will catch up with you again should we get any news in the next 50 minutes or so and full coverage throughout the day on bbc news. Expect lots of fish and christmas references in headlines throughout the next 48 hours. Thousands of drivers faced another night in their lorries at the port of dover as they wait to cross the channel. The drivers will only be able to get on ferries after a negative covid test. 0ur reporter simonjones in manston, near dover, where thousands of lorries are parked up. Is it isita is it a little clearer this morning . Have some moved off . We have seen lorries leaving that there is still a huge backlog and even though testing started in earnest on this site behind me yesterday the numbers caught up in the chaos have actually increased because hauliers are still heading towards kent. To give you an idea of the scale, lorry after lorry as far as the eye can see and on this site alone there were almost 4000 lorries and we have another 2200 lorries parked up on the ember 20 and on top of that a huge amount of lorries in lay by buys and side roads, pretty much everywhere you look, driving around this area m20. When the transport secretary said it was a mammoth operation he was telling the truth and perhaps underestimating the scale of it. This morning we have heard that france has sent over 26 Fire Fighters armed with 10,000 covid testing kits which will operate in dover but one fly in the ointment is that tomorrow at the port of dover is actually due to be shot, so anybody wanting to get on a ferry wont be able to do that. For many of the hauliers here, the sad reality is that they are probably likely to spend Christmas Day in their cabs sitting on the runway of a former airport site. Simon jones, thank you. Another 6 Million People will be facing tougher restrictions from boxing day, as a large chunk of the south and east of england moves to tier 4 restrictions. The Health Secretary, matt hancock said it was because the current tier 3 wasnt enough to contain a faster spreading variant of the virus. One of those areas affected is 0xford, which will be moving from tier 2 into tier 4 and breakfasts tim muffett is there for us this morning with the latest. How are businesses preparing there . Good morning. Getting a little busier in oxford. It is currently in tier 2 so people today will be allowed to visit those shops which can open but things are going to change dramatically from boxing day onwards as it moves to tier 4 along with 0xfordshire, cambridgeshire, norfolk, suffolk, most of hampshire, west sussex and parts of east sussex and essex not already into tier 4 willjoin the higher tier, so there is already a stay at home order, only go out for essential reasons and that will mean an extra 6 Million People going into tier 4, 24 Million People going into tier 4, 24 million in total, around 40 of the population in england. Here there was an 86 increase in cases in the week up to december the 18th and the leader of 0xfordshire county council speaking earlier said that he accepts that this is going to have to happen because bordering on 0xfordshire they are already in tier 4, so big changes from midnight on Christmas Day Going Forward and people getting some last minute shopping and for now but shopping is not going to be possible in most places from boxing day. Thank you, tim. A huge number of stories going on, the brexit deal, covid, but also a lot of people waking up this morning worrying about the weather. There are 103 Flood Warnings across england and wales. Emergency services have been inundated with requests for help after heavy rain has flooded homes and disrupted travel in the south west, midlands and east anglia. Look at these pictures from overnight in parts of the south west, in the midlands and east anglia. In wales, the warnings are between pembrokeshire and monmouthshire. Its a really lousy way to start christmas and you start thinking about how people who are having to leave their homes are going to be accommodated in the middle of a pandemic with social distancing on the normal sleeping on the floor in the normal sleeping on the floor in the village hall is not really so possible in the current climate, so our heart goes out to you if you are in that position. I was thinking about the lorry drivers in kent. In ordinary circumstances there would be families offering to take them in but its just not possible at the moment. Some charities have been delivering food in a covid secure way but yesterday there were warnings to local people to not approach and hand out food because it might not be so. Still some amazing efforts from people offering support in that area. What about the weather . Clearly a lot of standing water around the place at the moment. What are the prospects for the next day or two . Some rivers still running very high and over 100 Flood Warnings in place. There is good news and behind me you can see blue skies overhead and things are turning drier but more rain on the way this weekend and you can keep across the latest Flood Warnings and whether on the weather website. Much brighter day, a drier day but we do have some showers around and these are snow showers around and these are snow showers across parts of scotland, icy conditions as well and a bit dicey in places and we will see the showers across Eastern England not just the rain and sleet but some snow at times, particular on the hills and mainly for Eastern England with one or two showers in west wales and cornwall but much of the country will spend the bulk of the day drive with some sunshine and a keen breeze from the north, touching gale force on the eastern coast so on the thermometers it will read between three and 7 degrees, a bit lower than we would expect in december and a big turnaround from the last few days. Factor in the wind, this is what it will feel like, closer to 3 in some parts of eastern scotland. Into the evening and overnight, the showers and eastern areas become fewer in number, clear skies for many and there will be a clear night and a cold night to come. No Severe Weather for the arrival of father christmas but it will be a widespread frost in the morning but for Christmas Day it looks dry and bright for many and the best of the sunshine in the morning is clouding over from the west with the rain in western scotland. That is how it is looking. It is Christmas Eve and people are trying to do christmassy things. Coffee and panettone followed by a long walk then wine, cheese antennae, which sounds like an Excellent Way to spend Christmas Eve. 0ne Excellent Way to spend Christmas Eve. One thing that might disrupt the schedules today, it looks like today could be very significant after a ll today could be very significant after all of the year since the Eu Referendum and all of that talk about whether there would be a deal, it seems like a uk and eu trade deal could be about to be announced. We have been expecting it all morning and it could happen any second, but it looks like todays the day. We keep looking down at the screens to see if there is breaking news. And we will keep you up to date with anything coming through. Lets remind you that there were three key Sticking Points that prove navigate hard to navigate over the last few weeks. First, fishing. The uk said it voted to take back control of its own waters and wanted maximum access for its boats. The eu still wanted its vessels to be able to fish here. They were talking fish until late in the night. The next issue, the so called level playing field. What does it mean . Both sides needed to agree on rules that would stop the other side from having an unfair advantage in areas like workers rights and whether theyre allowed to provide subsidies to some industries. Again, that has been a real Sticking Point. Thirdly, if a deal is reached, who will be in charge of making sure rules are followed . The eu wanted the European Court ofjustice to do it, but the uk didnt. Brexit, has divided notjust politicians and the country, but families have found themselves on opposite sides of the debate. Last year it got pretty heated as we told the story of some of those families on breakfast. Since the referendum in 2016, weve been following brothers, ian and nigel baxter. Ian baxter voted to remain, while nigel, voted to leave. They join us now. Good morning to you both. Good to see you again, if we can. Are they there . Here we go. Good morning. Good morning. Nigel, ithink there . Here we go. Good morning. Good morning. Nigel, i think we can see you, nigel. How are you doing . Very well, thanks. How are you . Not bad at all. With news of a deal a p pa re ntly bad at all. With news of a deal apparently in a moment, how are you feeling this morning and hello to you, ian, ican feeling this morning and hello to you, ian, i can see you there now. Lets get your reaction, nigel, first of all to the prospect of a deal being reached today. First of all to the prospect of a deal being reached todaym first of all to the prospect of a deal being reached today. It looks like its going to be an historic and monumental day and one i always felt sure would come and in typical eu starlet has been dragged out and we have had to endure a number of issues on fishing with our favourite president macron, but im very happy that we can celebrate at 11pm on the sist, that we can celebrate at 11pm on the 31st, the end of the transition period and delighted we can start 2021 very positively for the uk. Nigel, you say you are happy but we dont know what the deal contains and when it is handed out, be at the press and politicians, there will be 2000 pages of it to try and digester. How will you really know that this is going to benefit you and your business and community . am banking on the fact that we have got a strong trade deal from the uk perspective. The Prime Minister i think has done an excellentjob of holding out for that as has lord frost but its imperative for the uk that we have this Free Trade Agreement and of course it would be ridiculous not to give in the history of britains involvement with the eu. Lets speak to your brother, ian. Good morning. You voted to remain. How are you feeling about the fact that a deal has been reached . Im sad to be leaving the European Union because i think its an historic mistake but on the other hand im glad that there is a deal because no deal would be a disaster for British Companies and the british people, so im very happy that we have got a deal, but the key is what is in the deal. What is in the box . We need to see the detail. What sort of detail will you be looking for . I dont think you will spend Christmas Day going through 2000 pages of legal text, but what are the headline paragraphs you are looking for . I want a deal on Financial Services and a deal on mutual recognition of standards and the deal on what it means to be made in britain, which is really important for our car industry. I wa nt important for our car industry. I want a deal that protects some of the rights we have enjoyed to live and work and travel and study in the European Union and businesses would really like some kind of implementation period. Dont forget, we are being given a new 2000 page rule book apparently and we are supposed to implement it from the 1st of january. That supposed to implement it from the 1st ofjanuary. That will be a very tough ask for british businesses. So some easing of those rules would be helpful. Nigel, if ian gets all of that in a deal, some people will be asking today, it is this brexit . Is this what you voted for. What will you be looking for . Youjust this what you voted for. What will you be looking for . You just made this what you voted for. What will you be looking for . Youjust made me smile because it sounded like he wa nted smile because it sounded like he wanted to stay in the eu. What am i looking for . Im looking for a collaborative trade deal and the return of british sovereignty and the return of the control of our money, borders and laws. That is what we set out to do when we started on the leave campaign and providing those honoured, we have no quotas and tariffs, i will be a happy man. I dont know if the two of you would normally spend christmas together, but have you given up arguing over the issue . Ian, have you got a particular christmas message you would like to give to nigel live here . Do we want to hear it . There is a family what subgroup and the arguments are always there. Whatsapp group. The arguments are still raging on that. But it is christmas and i think our message to family members and others. I can hear you. Nigel, what about you . Others. I can hear you. Nigel, what about you . Is nigel still there . I am still here. What is your message to your brother . My messages enjoy christmas. Lets be thankful that the deal looks to have been done and the devil is in the detail, four and done and the devil is in the detail, fourand a done and the devil is in the detail, four and a half years since we sat on the sofa in banbury if you remember. Lets move on now. Brexit is done. The transition period is over and lets look forward to a fantastic future for the united kingdom. Gents, thank you very much indeed. I remember that day, the morning after the vote and we will live on the sofa in banbury and we spoke to for the first time and i think we might come back to you again once the deal is published. It will be fascinating to hear what you think of it, so if you could spend the next days reading those 2000 pages then Merry Christmas. Happy christmas to both of you. Weve talked a lot about loneliness and the big impact it has had on our lives this year. But, despite us all facing christmas restrictions, being alone at this time of year doesnt have to be an option, asjohn maguire is finding out this morning. Explain all. We are here with the Marmalade Trust, an Amazing Charity that make sure people are not alone at christmas and of course it is different this year and we will find out what they are doing to the people they look after in a second. We wa nt people they look after in a second. We want to say good morning to jenner and lucy who are making a wonderful noise here this morning. Margaret lives in this house and we have a little surprise for margaret. Larry, ready when you are. We met larry, ready when you are. We met larry earlier in the programme, he isa larry earlier in the programme, he is a volunteer with the trust and works offshore on oil and gas platforms and he will deliver a christmas hamper to margaret. Margaret has volunteered with the Marmalade Trust in recent years but has no idea that she is getting this covid secure parcel from larry this morning. We will see what her face says. Good morning. I am larry, one of the volunteers and a hamper here for you to say thank you for all of your hard work and to make up for the fact that you cant attend the event as normal tomorrow. Thank you so much. Thank you, larry. To let you know what normally happens is that the volunteers will pick people up that the volunteers will pick people up and take them round to enjoy christmas lunch together but that wont happen this year. Margaret, a bit of a surprise for you this morning. I am absolutely stunned and i love it. Marmalade again. Theyve done a brilliantjob. The other things they have been doing these advent boxes because they have not been able to see people face to face and we have not opened todays yet. Shall we do that . Lets open todays and below. We have hundred and 47 volu nteers and below. We have hundred and 47 volunteers out and about tomorrow delivering more than 200 hampers and what they would normally do is pick people up and get them together for a lovely christmas lunch, sing a few carols, view quizzes. A bar of chocolate. What else have we got . An invite to the cathedral. 0ver chocolate. What else have we got . An invite to the cathedral. Over the telephone, theyve arranged, a carol concert. Lovely. You have been a volunteer and now you are a recipient of the services of the charity. Tell me, what does it do for people . What have you helped people recent years . Ive been a volunteer since it began about six years ago and i took people around to the venues for Christmas Day lunch and of course they were nervous and wondering what it is like. They are living on their own and everything and when we got there, within minutes, they are all chatting together because all barriers are broken because they are all the same. I live alone, so we are all the same, so we can help each otherjust talking. Margaret, lovely to see this morning and Merry Christmas. Have a great day. Try not to eat all of the chocolate in one go. Save some for the new year. Nice to see you. Folks, we will leave you at home with the beautiful sounds of lucy and jenna. Merry christmas to you guys in the studio and a Merry Christmas to everyone watching at home. Perfect timing. Brilliant. Hgppy home. Perfect timing. Brilliant. Happy christmas to margaret and enjoy your box of tricks. We will keep the christmas by going as long as we can. Time now to get the news, travel and weather where you are. Good morning from bbc london, im tolu adeoye. The London Ambulance service is urging the public to use its 999 service wisely over the festive period, as they manage the demands of the pandemic to ensure the sickest patients are reached first. The service had over 400 calls every minute yesterday. Bosses say if your illness is not life threatening, call the nhs111 number instead. For the second night in a row, a charity based in slough has organised hundreds of free meals for lorry drivers stranded on the m20 in kent. Volunteers from khalsa aid, who are more used to working in disaster zones across the world, distributed a thousand free pizzas to those still stuck in their lorries. A baby boy who was born three months early, contracted sepsis and covid19, is one of the youngest survivors of the virus. Bbc london has been to meet emmanuel and his mother to see how they are getting on now. I would say it was stressful from the beginning, but in the end its worth it. Hes doing absolutely fine. So, we arejust looking forward to him having his first christmas with us. Yeah, we are happy. And if youve got a story you want to share with us about how the pandemic is affecting you, please do get in touch. Email yourlondon bbc. Co. Uk or we are bbclondonnews on twitter. Lets take a look at the travel situation now. 0n the tubes lots of issues. There are minor delays on the bakerloo line. The District Line is part suspended. Minor delays on the 0verground and partial closures on the piccadilly line, as well as on tfl rail. You can check the tfl website for more details on those. As you might expect, traffic is looking lighter that usual this morning. This is the picture approaching the blackwall tunnel. Elsewhere, theres a lane blocked on the m25 heading anticlockwise towards j27 following a collision. Finally in harrow, the traffic lights have failed on watford road at the kenton road roundabout, with local delays possible near the hospital. Now the weather with kate kinsella. Good morning. After the mild conditions weve had for the past few days, this Christmas Eve the weather is set to change. High pressures been building in from the west overnight, squeezing the cloud and any remnants of rain away. So its clearing this morning. Weve got a brisk northerly wind making things feel very cold. We could just get one or two showers from the north sea. And one or two of those, you mightjust get something a little sleety over higher ground. But temperatures today between three and seven celsius. Factor in that northerly wind, its going to feel colder. So, a cold day. Christmas eve, of course, overnight tonight. That breeze will start to fall a little bit lighter. Still the risk of an isolated shower, but largely dry. The temperature dropping down potentially to minus three. So, waking up on Christmas Morning to some sparkles of frost. This blue area, the cold air, is going to stay with us through Christmas Day, so its looking cold, crisp and largely dry. The wind a bit lighter than today as well. Its all change again for boxing day, however, and turning progressively more unsettled as we head into the first part of next week. Im back with the latest from bbc london in half an hour. Now though its back to jon and rachel. Have a lovely Christmas Eve. Hello, this is breakfast withjon kay and rachel burden. Good morning. Just after half past eight. Christmas eve. Sometimes doing a job like this it is quite quiet at this time of the year and we struggle to fill our bullets ands. Not today. There is a huge amount going on. Flooding in some parts of the country. Matt will have the latest weather. We have got the covid statistics and the impending tier changes. There is also very dramatic moving use on brexit. Moving news. After months of talks the uk and the European Union are on the brink of a post brexit trade deal. Its understood there were four calls between borisjohnson and and the president of the European Commission, ursula von der leyen, yesterday to get the deal over the line, and another call is due to take place in the next hour. We think it hasnt happened yet. Does that mean there is a hitch . Lets speak to Laura Kuenssberg. Laura, it looks as if there could be some Sticking Point around fish. What can you tell us . Well, good morning everybody. It would not be brexit if we were not talking about things taking a little bit longer then we have had originally expected. It wouldnt be the last closing moments the finale of these trade negotiations, if somewhere, somebody, some official on either side, wasnt having a last minute haggle about, you guessed it, face. Asi haggle about, you guessed it, face. As i understand it, through the night officials on both sides have been going through more than 100 species of fish that swim around the waters of the uk and the European Union. Trying to work out how much specifically of each kind of species should be allowed to be caught by each side in the years to come. That might sound completely crazy. Lots of people watching and listening this morning. It is an example of how much this deal actually matters. Because what we expect to be about 2000 pages, will set all important rules and regulations for it so many different bits of the economy that really will make a difference to how people are expected to do business. Notjust in the next few weeks and months but in decades to come. That is why there still is last minute haggling. But the big picture of this, the deal has basically been done. While it is slipping, we are not expecting there to be any big upset. And if there were suddenly a suggestion that if it was all off, my goodness, that would be extremely dramatic news, not what anybody is expecting though. You know well enough they wouldnt have gone through all of this yesterday with pre briefing to round off the record stuff with the headlines this morning saying the deal has been done, we are over the line, if they werent really quite confident this was going to happen . Yeah. In the last few weeks there have been quite a few moments when my phone has been going crazy, we are nearly there, we are nearly there. It might be tonight, it might be tomorrow morning. Then it has slipped away. It doesnt feel like we are in that situation now. Both sides last night may be from about six oclock became really pretty confident that the deal was pretty much in the back. And lets just remember, deal was pretty much in the back. And letsjust remember, lets remember what that is about. We did leave the eu injanuary, yes, but we stayed in the departure lounge. The rules and regulations stayed the same as the status quo. But that disappears, whatever happens, the 3ist disappears, whatever happens, the 31st of december. In order to prevent their being a huge step into the unknown, both sides have been racing to get these this deal in place which will affect at trade, security, business, important things like how the police on both sides of the channel arent on the continent share information and Work Together in the years to come. Both sides have really been pushing hard in the last few weeks to get this done. It is now pretty much there. And i think from number 10s point of view they will have made compromises. A talking to senior people in government, they are pretty convinced they have got what they set out to achieve at the beginning of it, which was a zero quota, zero tariff deal, which basically means the uk will have access to the huge trading bloc of the European Union and wont have to be determined by the eu plus or eus rules. Crucially, in the agreement the uk. The European Court wont have a say over what happens. Both sides will have had to make compromises but it will not be the next five minutes we will get those 2000 pages. But if any breakfast viewers are looking for ways of filling festive season, there will, very soon i hope, be dense legal text go through. Im sure you cant wait to get your hands on it, laura. Im sad enough for that to be true, rachel. Wrapped up in a red ribbon. It is probably worth saying this deal will not cover services. Lets put that to one side for the moment. As you say, 2000 pages. When do mps, when do lawyers, wendy business groups get their hands on this document to actually scrutinise it . There is a process to be followed within the Uk Parliament and within the european structures as well . Yeah, youre totally right. You are right to mention that this does not cover services, which is, i think, mention that this does not cover services, which is, ithink, 80 mention that this does not cover services, which is, i think, 80 of the uk economy for. Forgive me if i have got that slightly inaccurate. I have got that slightly inaccurate. I have been up for a long time this morning. This agreement does not cover most of our economy. Vital people have that in their heads. We will see that formal announcement sometime this morning. By the end of today we will have the whole text. We expect parliament on this side of the channel do have a vote on the deal on the 30th of december. Just buy all the agonies in parliament on the endless debates of the last few yea rs, the endless debates of the last few years, and real agony for Political Parties over every tiny detail, actually, the scrutiny of the thing is going to happen at breakneck speed. And i dont really think it is going to be a problem getting it through. The europeans have to do the same thing and the European Parliament well, because time is so short, have to do something called a provisional application before having a proper good luck. Basically, they will say, yet, its there. But we will have a good vote on it later. Business groups, so many different lobby groups, campaigners, environmental campaigners, environmental campaigners, people rushing to look at the black and white of the text because it really does matter what has been agreed here. Certainly some things will have been a compromise, maybe even a bit of a fudge for both sides to get this done. But this isnt some kind of obscure legal document that is only going to apply to all of this in theory. This is a big, big, big piece of work, a huge achievement for both sides if it is not. It has happened in record time, even though it feels like it has been going on for years and years. A kind of phonebook style trade agreement might take seven to ten yea rs. Agreement might take seven to ten years. But it appears they have done it in years. But it appears they have done it in 11 months time. What they have managed to get over the line really will make a difference to all of us. And how businesses operate and how we live our lives for many yea rs and how we live our lives for many years to come. Some special breaks at christmas fudge for everyone to enjoy. Laura, thank you. Pleasure. Laura, before you go, do you want to check your phone and make sure you havent missed anything . 0h, check your phone and make sure you havent missed anything . Oh, i do actually have a text. 0h, havent missed anything . Oh, i do actually have a text. Oh, dear here we go. This is what happens when you come on breakfast news. So many people are watching and paying attention. Former cabinet ministers texted me to say that 80 of gdp on services. I was right. 82 of employment. There we go. Its nice to know they are watching in. Absolutely. Id love to see a co nsta nt absolutely. Id love to see a constant feed of lauras phone. You really dont want to go there thought you were going to say that you had a message saying pick up the turkey. I did have a message from someone on the eu side saying there are 8 30am meeting had been postponed until further notice. Are 8 30am meeting had been postponed untilfurther notice. 0k. Yeah. I dont think we will have breaking news before the end of your programme today. I dont think you would be able to send your viewers off with a brexit deal. 0k. Would be able to send your viewers off with a brexit deal. Ok. You were busy all day across the bbc. I should just say, laura will be busy throughout the day, but if you havent heard it yet, the bbcs newscast is doing a special breaks at kat slater this evening, which is at kat slater this evening, which is a podcast. It is a brilliant summary of the events of the day. Special brea ks of the events of the day. Special breaks it cast. If you want to catch up breaks it cast. If you want to catch up later this evening, with a glass of sherry, that is a good way to do it. Gather the family around the tree, switch off Michael Buble and switch it on. How else would you want to spend Christmas Eve . What a Christmas Eve this is. Boxing day, told teens for millions of people. The message will be stay at home if you can. Yesterday afternoon, the Health Secretary, matt hancock, announced that six million more people in england will now be moving into tier 4 covid restrictions from boxing day. The restrictions will be extended to sussex, 0xfordshire, suffolk, norfolk and cambridgeshire, the rest of essex, waverley in surrey and hampshire, with the exception of the new forest. In tier 4 you have to stay at home, unless youre travelling to work orfor education. You can meet one other person in an open public space. Non essential shops will close, along with personal services such as gyms, beauty salons and hairdressers. No one should enter or leave a tier 4area. Other areas are also moving up a tier from saturday. Bristol, gloucestershire, somerset, swindon, the isle of wight, the new forest and northamptonshire as well as cheshire and warrington will be moved to tier 3. Cornwall and herefordshire will move into tier 2. There were no changes to christmas restrictions for areas in tiers1 to 3 in england. So called christmas bubbles are only allowed on Christmas Day. The advice is to remain local. Were joined now by epidemiologist professor sian griffiths, and dr mike tildsley, who sits on one of the governments advisory committe, sage. Thank you both for the Brilliant Service you have given us throughout the year and for being here once again on Christmas Eve looking through the kind of Key Headlines around this virus at the moment. Lets start with the move to tier 4. Was there any doubt in your mind this was necessary for those parts of the country . If you look at the increasing rates, there is no doubt in my mind we needed stricter restrictions. I live in 0xfordshire. We could see this coming. 0ur restrictions. I live in 0xfordshire. We could see this coming. Our rates more than doubled last week. So i think wejust have more than doubled last week. So i think we just have to recognise that the rates are going up again and we all need to stay at home and take note of all the Public Health m essa g es note of all the Public Health messages until we get the Vaccine Programme up and running. Actually, on that one, can i ask a quick question from Chaim Goodman on twitter . My home county in northamptonshire is now in tier 3. My northamptonshire is now in tier 3. My place of work in 0xfordshire is going in to tier 4. Can i still go to work . Yes, she can still come into 0xfordshire to work. You can still travel out of tier 4 to work but you should try to work from home as much as you possibly can. And obviously, when you travel think about wearing a mask in the workplace, think about actually protecting yourself and others at all times, keep your hands clean, keep your social distance. Micah, a question from adam. He says, we have heard of the vaccine should still protect against this new variant. Will there be any impact on the a ccu ra cy of will there be any impact on the accuracy of testing for that . Yeah, this is a great question. There is still some uncertainty. We do believe that they shouldnt be a huge impact. The standard test that we used to detect current infection isa we used to detect current infection is a pcr test. Part of that does target this spike protein that is round the outside of the virus. Because that has changed slightly, that might not be quite as effective at detecting the virus. At the pcr test does also look to detect viral dna and other parts of the virus. We believe that should be a factor. It is something we have to monitor. Currently we believe the tests we use should be effective. And on the new variant ofs, we have had a worrying news about this particular mutation from south africa. There is real concern about how quickly it is spreading and having impacted is having on young and seemingly Healthy People there, much more severe than, if you like, the old coronavirus that we have come to know. Can you tell us anything more about these new in south africa and how much, or how concerned we should be about it . Yeah, i will say it is really early days. Its important to actually state that we get several new variants of the virus a month. Most of those are very unchanged from what we have seen before. And its really important that we do monitor new variants. The south africa one we do know not that much about in terms of how it circulates in this country right now. We only have evidence of a couple of cases that have been detected, like the new variant that is circulating in the south east, it does appear to be more infectious. Again, its not clear that we are getting more severe clear that we are getting more severe symptoms and higher risk of hospitalisation, but it is certainly something we need to keep monitoring. Every time a new variant emerges it is really important we monitor that. In terms of the vaccine, which is also important, we believe that the current vaccines that we have will be protective against these new variants, so there is no worry there. It is something we do need to monitor as the weeks progress. Sian, ive got a question from sandy. Would there be a benefit in making wise mask wearing mandatory . Sandy says she has seen some new people and high streets, town centres, without them on, even though it looks pretty busy and you never quite know where the crowds are going to come from. Would making it law help . I dont think making it mandatory really helps. I think Everybody Knows what the advices. What we need to see is greater compliance with the advice. And you should try to remember to carry your mask at all times. Wear it whenever you are in a crowded place. Wear it more often than you might have tried might have thought you needed it. Research has shown that if two people are wearing masks, that cuts the risk of transmission between them. I think we need to remember that mask wearing is part of what we should be doing, along with social distancing and along with keeping our hands clear, as well as reporting if we feel sick, going into isolation, getting a test, and do everything that we can to reduce the rate of transmission of the disease. I dont think making rules will necessarily help. I think we need to internalise the message to protect ourselves and other people, particularly when we have got this new virus, new variant, spreading so quickly. Lets be optimistic. We have the vaccines now. There is help the oxford one might be approved any day soon. So although things look bleak, there are reasons to be cautiously optimistic as we head into the new year. Thank you both so much for all you have done for bbc brea kfast much for all you have done for bbc breakfast over the past ten months. Appreciated. We will speak again very appreciated. We will speak again very soon appreciated. We will speak again very soon in the new year. Thank you very much indeed. Things have looked pretty leak with the weather in some places. But look at this. How is that . That looks very christmassy but i suspect a lot of people i just got water, christmassy but i suspect a lot of people ijust got water, liquid water everywhere. They have ended. A number of Flood Warnings across england and wales. Good morning. They should drop in the next few days. Much drier weather. A return to colder conditions. I had to bring you a festive flavour. This is how it is looking in aberdeenshire. Through this mornings rush hour we start to see snowfall across parts of north east england to the forest southin north east england to the forest south in durham. Flurries of snow showing on the radar chart. Scattered across, the white colours pushing south. Rain showers along the coast. Rain showers to the west of wales. They will continue through the day. Icy conditions and temperatures have dropped through the night. Those showers will become fewer in number across scotland, they will continue in Eastern England. More of you will spend the day dry and a good deal brighter than yesterday. Some showers in the afternoon but they will be quite pushed along by a keen wind. It will feel much colder. 3, 4 in some parts of eastern scotland and Eastern England through this afternoon. Into this evening and overnight showers will continue, eastern half of things in particular. Clear skies dominate elsewhere. A few flurries of snow. It will be the sparkle of frost, the sparkle of white on the ground in the morning, with a widespread frost to ta ke the morning, with a widespread frost to take us into Christmas Day. Here is Christmas Day. We need is employed weather. Weve got it. Isolated showers in these living then. Clouding over to north and west later. A few spots of rain across the highlands and islands of scotland. Most of you will spend Christmas Day dry, good day to get out for a walk because it will be a crisp and reasonably bright one. Some staying with blue skies throughout. Call to take us through into the start of boxing day. A mixture of cloud, a few showers, sunny spells in england and wales to begin with. Windy in scotland and Northern Ireland. Eventually spreading into and later. Temperatures left with a shift in wind direction. It is a wind which could be an issue as we head through saturday and into sunday. Particularly across england and wales. Widespread gales, if not severe gales for some. That will be accompanied by more in the way of rain. After a brief respite from the rain, we could see river levels on sunday. Rain spreading south and east. That will then clear away with the strongest of the winds as we go into sunday. It is back to sunshine and showers then as we see that the weekend out. Some of those showers turning increasingly winter. Wintry. That is how your weather is looking. Take it easy today and enjoy your christmas. Thank you very much indeed. Its arguably one of the most famous christmas poems, and now twas the night before christmas has had a touch of royalty. Prince charles and the duchess of cornwall have recorded a special version featuring some very famous people. Its all to highlight how the arts industry has struggled during the pandemic. Lets take a look. Twas the night before christmas went all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care. In hopes that Saint Nicholas soon will be there. The children were nestled in their beds while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads. And mum are had just settled our brains for a long winters napa. When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, i sprang from the bed is to see what was the matter. A way to the window i flew like a flash to open the shutters and threw up the size. The moon gave the lustre of midday to objects below. When what in my wondering eyes should appear but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer . What a cast. You saw sleigh and eight tiny reindeer . What a cast. You sanoanna lumley. Delighted to say on Christmas Eve, live in breakfast, Joanna Lumley. Good morning. Isaw live in breakfast, Joanna Lumley. Good morning. I saw you out of the corner of my eye my thing every word. I know. I pretty much know it. It was just so unbelievably exciting to do it. It was so charming. We all did it separately. So it wasnt as though we were in a passing the battle, one to the other. We all had to do the whole poem. We didnt even know which couplets would be selected for the final cut. It was such a privilege. It was so kind and sweet of his royal highness, the prince of wales, to have thought, particularly of actors. He has a lwa ys particularly of actors. He has always supported actors and the performing arts and music and culture. He has always been a great patron. And for him, off his own back, to think about how he could best help the acting profession and all the backstage and everything that goes on, which hasjust all the backstage and everything that goes on, which has just hit a brick wall and been completely practically vanquished in this terrible year. To be honest, joanna, you had me with tom hardy and this poem. But i would also watch all those wonderful actors happily any day of the week. But it is not for the likes of you with your amazing career and profile behind you that this really is for. Its for those working in regional theatre, behind the scenes, doing some bar work, part time acting work, they are the ones really suffering . It is not widely known but apart from the people who are very highly paid in our business acting. Acting is one of the lowest pa id acting. Acting is one of the lowest paid jobs you can get. People do it because they adore it and i wa nt to do it because they adore it and i want to do it and they always have hopes of doing better. They managed to live off damn all. But once you knock that out, because most of them are freelancers and there is no further system, there is literally no support at all. They have been doing anything they possibly can. They are brave people. They are not a moaners, people in our industry. We are used to not bikes. This u has pushed people into the most dreadful situations. The Actors Benevolent Fund is where usually it was old and frail and ancient actors who used to go after the koreas had finished, but now suddenly it is their opening its arms and doors to support people of all ages throughout the industry, both in front of the audience and behind the scenes. Who have hit these terribly hard times. How have you found this year, joanna . Not necessarily workwise, butjust personally, how have you dealt with it . It has been terrible because the first lockdown was in that beautiful spring, it was like a bizarre dream, like an endless holiday with blossoming flowers and blue skies. And the sense that we didnt quite know what was going to happen. Then as it dragged on and the difficulties note into us a little bit, we longed for a little bit of freedom. When freedom came wed grab it. Now this last lockdown i think has made extra tents by the feeling of brexit and the sense that there is no normality. Human beings are just creatures of the earth, we love a pattern. What has been destroyed as the pattern of our lives. That has made it so very difficult. But we have got to be brave and realise it is going to come to an end. The vaccine will get out there. We will develop some kind of immunity and get back to some sort of normality. You talk about the pattern of our lives. This poem beautifully sums it up. It is Christmas Eve tradition to sit down as a family with the children and to read that, which is what we will be doing in our home tonight. This hits the spot perfectly. You need to find those markers to rebalance you, almost, during times of such turbulence . Do you know, you are absolutely right. I think Christmas Day tomorrow is going to be, just as ede was, just as the rally was, it is going to be massively different. Diwali. It isa massively different. Diwali. It is a huge festival. It will be com pletely is a huge festival. It will be completely different. Instead of a crowded day full of jostling completely different. Instead of a crowded day full ofjostling and hogging and kissing and present giving, it will be quiet and different. But please dont worry, you dont even have to call a Christmas Day. This canjust you dont even have to call a Christmas Day. This can just be a day. When the time comes when you are together, call that Christmas Day. What are your plans on Christmas Day . You are in tier 4. Much restricted. Much restricted. Cant be with my beloved son and his wife and my granddaughters. But stephen and i will be here. And we will eat everything in sight and watch the Beautiful Television and listen to the wireless and radio. 0ld person just generally love it and be grateful. Grateful we are alive, think of those who have gone and be determined not to be got down by it somehow. Whats for christmas lunch in your house then . Well, im a vegetarian, so my lunch, my favourite lunch would be cheese on toast, so to be slightly advanced from that tomorrow it will be Brussel Sprouts with walnuts. Pretty unambitious. It will be gorgeous, whatever it is. I like all the bits around the edge. That is divine. During this whole period lockdown has given us an opportunity to go back and watch box sets. 0ne has given us an opportunity to go back and watch box sets. One thing we have done in ourfamily is show the kids abfab from the beginning. It has been a totaljoy. Thank you for that the arts has provided so much entertainment and welcome distraction. What would we have done without it . We have been watching everything. We have been glued. We have watch series straight through full stop four episodes on the trot. We couldnt have been more grateful. Although it looks as though it is a life of complete luxury, it is very ha rd life of complete luxury, it is very hard work and a great slack and a lot of the people who do it work amazingly hard for very little money. It is only the fat, rich people at the top who are lucky, like me, who started off scratching a living and spent years scrabbling around the bottom. But if you are lucky like me, you are lucky. At most of the people are not so lucky. That is why i love the idea that this sweet poem might make people think, we could maybe put a penny in the old man pass my cat. Joanna, im afraid we have to leave it there. Have a fabulously have an absolutely fabulous christmas. They say. And the same to you. Louise will be here with your Christmas Day breakfast from six tomorrow. And full coverage of that still imminent brexit deal, we think, coming from downing street on the bbc news channel and on all bbc outlets throughout the day. Bye bye. Have a good day. This is bbc news, im geeta guru murthy, the headlines. A brexit announcement is expected shortly, as the signs from london and brussels point to an agreement on the table. The remaining differences between the two camps have been narrow but deep in particular over fishing rights. More than 6000 lorries spend another night stranded outside the port of dover, with drivers waiting to be tested for covid 19 before theyre allowed into france. Stay at home from boxing day. The message to another 6 Million People in england as the toughest level of covid restrictions are widened. President trump has issued another round of pardons among them two key allies who were convicted over