the vaccine roll—out and the development of world leading treatments. we'll be live with our health editor and at westminster. also this lunchtime... the prime minister is expected to give his blessing to financial support for firms struggling with the soaring cost of energy. the number of vacancies in the uk hits a record high, as the jobs market continues to recoverfrom the pandemic. 100 years of the royal british legion — the queen attends a service of thanksgiving. and is it a bird, is it a plane or is it an example of social change? superman's son will be bisexual in the next edition of his comic adventures. and coming up on the bbc news channel... as england chase automatic qualification to next year's world cup, does england manager gareth southgate believe his team are getting the credit they deserve? good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. rob oliver good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. "one of the most important public health failures in the history of the united kingdom" — that's the damning verdict of mps on the uk government's early response to the pandemic. a joint report by two commons committees says both ministers and scientists waited too long to lock down last year, costing many lives. and it says there were avoidable deaths in care homes because of government policy. the report calls the test, trace and isolate system slow, uncertain, and often chaotic, but there is praise for the vaccine roll—out. our health correspondent jim reed reports. it is completely unimaginable, and we are not at the peak yet. the report says the government was working in a fog of uncertainty in the spring of 2020. i working in a fog of uncertainty in the spring of 2020.— the spring of 2020. i am shaking hands because _ the spring of 2020. i am shaking hands because i _ the spring of 2020. i am shaking hands because i was _ the spring of 2020. i am shaking hands because i was in _ the spring of 2020. i am shaking hands because i was in a - the spring of 2020. i am shaking| hands because i was in a hospital the other— hands because i was in a hospital the other night where i think there were a _ the other night where i think there were a few— the other night where i think there were a few coronavirus patients, and i shook_ were a few coronavirus patients, and i shook hands with everybody. scientists did not know how fast the virus was spreading. health staff were already struggling to cope. i just wanted to get some stuff in for the next 48 hours, there is no fruit, there is no vegetables. when we brought — fruit, there is no vegetables. when we brought back _ fruit, there is no vegetables. when we brought back people _ fruit, there is no vegetables. when we brought back people in - fruit, there is no vegetables. when we brought back people injanuary from janet, we brought back people injanuary fromjanet, i we brought back people injanuary from janet, i was... we brought back people injanuary fromjanet, iwas... for we brought back people in january from janet, i was. . ._ from janet, i was... for months, teams of— from janet, i was... for months, teams of mps — from janet, i was... for months, teams of mps have _ from janet, i was... for months, teams of mps have been - from janet, i was... for months, teams of mps have been taking i teams of mps have been taking evidence on the handling of the pandemic in england from people involved in key decisions at the time. now, in thisjoint report, they criticised that early response, instead of looking down quickly like some other countries, they say the government's of scientific advisers felt there was no choice but to bring in social distancing rules gradually, letting sporting events go ahead and keeping borders open, and they say ministers did not do enough to challenge that advice. what we conclude in this report is that the national response to covid was a bit like a football game with two very different hearts, and in the first half, we had some serious errors, we could have avoided a lockdown, but we then got into a position where we had to have one, we should have lockdown earlier, but in the second half, we had the vaccine rollout, which we describe as the most effective initiative in the history of uk science and public at ministration.— at ministration. some of the relatives _ at ministration. some of the relatives of _ at ministration. some of the relatives of those _ at ministration. some of the relatives of those who - at ministration. some of the relatives of those who have | at ministration. some of the - relatives of those who have died responding angrily to that comparison.— responding angrily to that comarison. , , �* ., ., g comparison. this isn't a game. my mother didn't _ comparison. this isn't a game. my mother didn't lose _ comparison. this isn't a game. my mother didn't lose her _ comparison. this isn't a game. my mother didn't lose her life - comparison. this isn't a game. my mother didn't lose her life in - comparison. this isn't a game. my mother didn't lose her life in a - mother didn't lose her life in a game — mother didn't lose her life in a game i— mother didn't lose her life in a game. i think she lost her life because — game. i think she lost her life because of mistakes that were made. the final_ because of mistakes that were made. the final report goes on to describe the rollout of the test and praised programme in england as slow and chaotic. it claims that the uk did not impose rigourous border controls quickly, letting in high numbers of infections from overseas, and it says the risk to care homes was not recognised soon enough, leading to devastating and preventable repercussions. the devastating and preventable repercussions.— devastating and preventable reercussions. ., ., ., repercussions. the mantra about -rotectin~ repercussions. the mantra about protecting the — repercussions. the mantra about protecting the nhs _ repercussions. the mantra about protecting the nhs is _ repercussions. the mantra about protecting the nhs is certainly i protecting the nhs is certainly solidified in this report, that that was what was happening. social care was what was happening. social care was very much an afterthought. the re ort, was very much an afterthought. the report, though, that also prays parts of the national response. the vaccine programme was picked out as a success, as were new treatments like dexamethasone, first developed for covid use in this country. the government says it has not shied away from taking quick action when needed. we away from taking quick action when needed. ~ ., ., ,. . needed. we followed the scientific advice throughout, _ needed. we followed the scientific advice throughout, we _ needed. we followed the scientific advice throughout, we protected l needed. we followed the scientific l advice throughout, we protected the nhs from _ advice throughout, we protected the nhs from the surge and the pressure that we _ nhs from the surge and the pressure that we saw in other countries such as ltaty~ _ that we saw in other countries such as ltaty~ as— that we saw in other countries such as italy. as you say, we got the vaccine — as italy. as you say, we got the vaccine deployed extremely quickly. but also, _ vaccine deployed extremely quickly. but also, what we know about the pandemic — but also, what we know about the pandemic now is very different to what _ pandemic now is very different to what the — pandemic now is very different to what the level of knowledge was at the start _ what the level of knowledge was at the start. ., ,., ,., the start. labour said the report showed monumental— the start. labour said the report showed monumental errors - the start. labour said the report showed monumental errors had | the start. labour said the report - showed monumental errors had been made. , . , showed monumental errors had been made. , ., , ., showed monumental errors had been made. , ., ., ., , made. this was one of the worst ublic made. this was one of the worst public health _ made. this was one of the worst public health failures _ made. this was one of the worst public health failures in - made. this was one of the worst public health failures in the - made. this was one of the worst public health failures in the uk. | public health failures in the uk. that is a damning indictment. and my thoughts are with the families who have lost people because of these failures by the government. the last ear has failures by the government. the last year has seen _ failures by the government. the last year has seen the _ failures by the government. the last year has seen the country _ failures by the government. the last year has seen the country come - year has seen the country come together in support of the nhs. this report isjust the together in support of the nhs. this report is just the first study of its kind to look back at what mps call the biggest health crisis of the last century. next spring, a full, it inquiry will examine in detail what lessons should be learned from the pandemic. our health editor, hugh pym, is here. the report talks about big mistakes and big achievements — what have we learned from this report? well, i think the significance is, this is the first comprehensive analysis, report, of what happened, having taken evidence in parliament, these two committees, from most of these two committees, from most of the key experts in government and around the medical world, to really try and analyse now, after we've had these successive waves of covid, what actually happened. and the thing that really strikes me is, going back to these early weeks, the criticisms of ministers over looking down to late, that has already been well aired, down to late, that has already been wellaired, but down to late, that has already been well aired, but this report says the scientific advice was partly to blame for mistakes made, and they do say that the uk followed the wrong policy in those early months, and that scientific advisers had persisted too long with this idea that you could let covid spread through the community, push it back into the summer and deal with it that way, rather than looking down vigourously earlier. they do also say, the mps, that ministers should have challenged scientists more. they talk about groupthink in whitehall and that there were failings in the government machinery. i think all of that, yes, other countries had serious problems with covid, but the uk's failings highlighted in this report will continue to be a big talking point, not least in the public inquiry, when that begins next year. our political correspondent peter saull is in westminster. politically, how damaging do you think this report is from the government?— think this report is from the government? think this report is from the covernment? ~ , ., government? well, there is not much in there that — government? well, there is not much in there that we _ government? well, there is not much in there that we haven't _ government? well, there is not much in there that we haven't actually - in there that we haven't actually heard _ in there that we haven't actually heard before. the government's political— heard before. the government's political opponents already had plenty — political opponents already had plenty of ammunition from the various— plenty of ammunition from the various different public evidence sessions. — various different public evidence sessions, most notably that extraordinary appearance of the prime _ extraordinary appearance of the prime minister's former top adviser dominic— prime minister's former top adviser dominic cummings, who launched a series— dominic cummings, who launched a series of— dominic cummings, who launched a series of personal attacks when he appeared — series of personal attacks when he appeared before the mp5. but this appeared before the mps. but this report— appeared before the mp5. but this report doesn't really names, it talks— report doesn't really names, it talks about a mindset at the top of government. but i think it is quite something — government. but i think it is quite something to see laid bare those catalogue of mistakes across 150 pages, _ catalogue of mistakes across 150 pages, with two former conservative cabinet _ pages, with two former conservative cabinet ministers putting their names— cabinet ministers putting their names to _ cabinet ministers putting their names to it. it talks about the early— names to it. it talks about the early decision to delay the lockdown, the problems in care homes, — lockdown, the problems in care homes, with border controls, i could io homes, with border controls, i could go on _ homes, with border controls, i could go on it— homes, with border controls, i could go on it is— homes, with border controls, i could go on. it is important to say that there _ go on. it is important to say that there is— go on. it is important to say that there is plenty of praise in there too most — there is plenty of praise in there too most notably on the vaccine rollout — too most notably on the vaccine rollout. ministers will say it is all well— rollout. ministers will say it is all well and good to talk about all of this— all well and good to talk about all of this in— all well and good to talk about all of this in hindsight, but the committee says, even early on in the pandemic, _ committee says, even early on in the pandemic, the government was not paying _ pandemic, the government was not paying close enough attention to countries — paying close enough attention to countries that seem to be handling the pandemic better at that early stage _ the pandemic better at that early stage. what i think will worry ministers _ stage. what i think will worry ministers the most is the response of bereaved families, they clearly feel that — of bereaved families, they clearly feel that they've not yet got any semblance ofjustice or closure semblance of justice or closure here~ _ semblance of justice or closure here they _ semblance ofjustice or closure here. they will hope that they will -et here. they will hope that they will get that _ here. they will hope that they will get that through the full covid—19, it inquiry. — get that through the full covid—19, it inquiry, but that is not due to -et it inquiry, but that is not due to get underway until the spring, at the earliest, and it could last years — the earliest, and it could last ears. . ~' the earliest, and it could last ears. ., ~ , ., the earliest, and it could last ears. . ~ , ., y the earliest, and it could last ears. ., ~ i. , . years. thank you very much indeed not pete's years. thank you very much indeed got pete's all. _ years. thank you very much indeed got pete's all, our _ years. thank you very much indeed got pete's all, our political - got pete's all, our political correspondent. the prime minister is expected to back a financial package to support industries struggling with soaring gas prices. business ministers made a formal request for help to the treasury yesterday. the plans could involve giving affected sectors hundreds of millions of pounds�* worth of loans. our business correspondent ben king reports. making paper requires a lot of energy. we spend £60,000 a week on energy. we spend £60,000 a week on energy at this cumbria mill, where they have been rolling out sheets of paper since 1825. they have been rolling out sheets of papersince 1825. recent they have been rolling out sheets of paper since 1825. recent surges in energy costs are making life difficult for companies like this up and down the country. ii difficult for companies like this up and down the country.— difficult for companies like this up and down the country. if the prices continue to — and down the country. if the prices continue to go _ and down the country. if the prices continue to go up _ and down the country. if the prices continue to go up and _ and down the country. if the prices continue to go up and up, - and down the country. if the prices continue to go up and up, it - continue to go up and up, it means that you don't have the money to spendin that you don't have the money to spend in other areas. we are continuing to spend in those areas here, but some of those industries are just going to have to stop recruiting and investing and hopefully they might not have to go the other way, but perhaps they do as well. . . . . the other way, but perhaps they do aswell. , .,, .,., , ., as well. this graphic shows how ra - idl as well. this graphic shows how rapidly prices — as well. this graphic shows how rapidly prices have _ as well. this graphic shows how rapidly prices have risen. - as well. this graphic shows how rapidly prices have risen. gas i as well. this graphic shows how i rapidly prices have risen. gas costs more than double what it cost as recently as july. and more than double what it cost as recently asjuly. and it looks like help is on the way. the chancellor is considering a package of measures worth hundreds of millions of pounds for businesses struggling to keep factories open. it is likely to cover glass, steel and ceramics. businesses which spend huge amounts on energy, even in normal times. and it is expected to come in the form of loans, not grants. government will want to be paid back when there was factories are profitable again. it is a difficult time, with people worried about energy costs, but of course we continue to engage with industry, we continue to be in talks to support the sector. but industry, we continue to be in talks to support the sector.— to support the sector. but are loans the riaht to support the sector. but are loans the right answer, _ to support the sector. but are loans the right answer, but _ to support the sector. but are loans the right answer, but is _ to support the sector. but are loans the right answer, but is which - to support the sector. but are loans the right answer, but is which have | the right answer, but is which have already borrowed billions to make it through the pandemic?— already borrowed billions to make it through the pandemic? obviously, any su ort is through the pandemic? obviously, any support is helpful- _ through the pandemic? obviously, any support is helpful. but _ through the pandemic? obviously, any support is helpful. but we _ through the pandemic? obviously, any support is helpful. but we are - through the pandemic? obviously, any support is helpful. but we are at - through the pandemic? obviously, any support is helpful. but we are at a - support is helpful. but we are at a point _ support is helpful. but we are at a point where businesses are starting to pay— point where businesses are starting to pay back covid loans, they have -ot to pay back covid loans, they have got really — to pay back covid loans, they have got really depleted resources, and loans— got really depleted resources, and loans really are not the right way to go. _ loans really are not the right way to go. they— loans really are not the right way to go, they absolutely need grant support— to go, they absolutely need grant support and measures like reducing vat and _ support and measures like reducing vat and green levies on fuel. labour sa s the vat and green levies on fuel. labour says the government _ vat and green levies on fuel. labour says the government should - vat and green levies on fuel. labour says the government should have . vat and green levies on fuel. labour. says the government should have seen this crisis coming. this says the government should have seen this crisis coming.— this crisis coming. this problem has been a long — this crisis coming. this problem has been a long time _ this crisis coming. this problem has been a long time coming. _ this crisis coming. this problem has been a long time coming. for- this crisis coming. this problem has| been a long time coming. for years, the government has been warned about this energy crisis. they have a plan, they have not got a plan now to respond. gm; plan, they have not got a plan now to respond-— to respond. any relief will be welcome _ to respond. any relief will be welcome for _ to respond. any relief will be welcome for businesses - to respond. any relief will be welcome for businesses in i to respond. any relief will be i welcome for businesses in this to respond. any relief will be - welcome for businesses in this acute phase of the crisis. but if energy costs don't come down soon, there is only one way they will be able to live with it, and that is bypassing those costs onto the customers, and ultimately that means us. king, bbc news. there are more signs the jobs market is recovering in the wake of the pandemic. the number ofjob vacancies in the uk has hit a record high of1.1 million, the most since records began 20 years ago. the figures from the office for national statistics cover the three months to september. but there are some concerns that if companies offer pay rises as they compete to attract more workers, it could lead to inflation and higher interest rates. our economics corresponent andy verity reports. in this post—pandemic world, if you have this skill, you won't have to compete for work. employers will compete for you. since brexit, there is no longer the same flow of skilled workers from eastern europe and construction companies are having to pay more and more for the right staff. recognising they are in high demand, bricklayers in particular are going back to their contractors, asking for higher and higher pay. we are paying people what we need to pay them to attract them to come to work for us because the labour market is so hot at the moment. but what we are not seeing is the productivity of those people adding value to our business on all levels and at all times, and that is what businesses need to. in order for businesses to be sustainable and to grow, particularly as a small business, we need our productivity to be reflected in the increase in wages that we are paying. construction workers' pay has jumped by 9.7% this year. in the finance and business services sector, pay is rising even faster, up 11.1%. overall, stripping out distortions, the official estimate is that average earnings are up somewhere between 4.1 and 5.6%. the negative affect of labour shortages is most obvious in specialised jobs, from tanker drivers to hospital workers. but economists warn that in spite of record vacancies of 1.1 million, there are still large parts of the economy where it is hard to find work. i think it is quite a complicated picture. if you are skilled and you're looking to work as a lorry driver, then, yes, there's lots of vacancies out there, but if you are, for example, doing the types of roles that many older workers do, if, for example, you're looking for work in london, actually the vacancy rates are really not very high at all and competition in the labour market is really quite fierce. with the recovery from the pandemic slowing down in recent months, the bank of england governor andrew bailey recently recognised that inflation might not be as temporary as he thought, meaning earlier rises in interest rates are now likely to try and prevent the economy overheating, pushing up inflation even higher. until a few weeks ago, few economists would have put money on an interest rate rise any time before the end of next year or the year after. now in the city they are giving 50—50 odds that we will get one in december, up to 0.25%, and then another one by may, up to 0.5%. post—pandemic and post—brexit, one old economic ailment — wages that don't keep up with prices — appears for now to have been cured, at least in the private sector. living standards on average are now rising, but the surge in the cost of living no longer looks as temporary as it once did. andy verity, bbc news. meanwhile, the institute for fiscal studies has warned there's no room for big spending announcements in this month's budget. the think—tank said that chancellor rishi sunak will be short on money due to growing spending on the nhs and an economy that's smaller than projected pre—pandemic. this is despite plans for the biggest rise in taxes for more than 25 years. g20 leaders are holding a virtual summit today to discuss afghanistan after the taliban's takeover there. leaders, including us presidentjoe biden, will be exploring ways to stop afghanistan again becoming a base for international terrorism, and how they can prevent a humanitarian crisis there with food prices and unemployment sprialling. yogita limaye is in kabulfor us. two months after the taliban takeover, what is life like for people that? it takeover, what is life like for people that?— takeover, what is life like for --eole that? .,, , . people that? it was difficult even before august — people that? it was difficult even before august the _ people that? it was difficult even before august the 15th, - people that? it was difficult even before august the 15th, we - people that? it was difficult even before august the 15th, we have | people that? it was difficult even - before august the 15th, we have seen ourselves tens of thousands of people displaced because of the fighting, who had lost theirjobs, homes, members of theirfamily, staying in open places with just a bamboo stickjoke into the ground, pieces of cloth strung between them is shelter, no access to basic food, medicines, sanitation. the un says 18 million people are in urgent need of life—saving support, that was prior to august the 15th. it has become even worse now because lots of the foreign funds flowing into afghanistan, through the government here, have been frozen since august the 15th. a short while ago we heard to the european commission president pledging 1 billion euros in aid to this country but specifically saying this country but specifically saying this is humanitarian assistance that will be sent through international agencies like the un and other humanitarian agencies operating on the ground, it is separate to development aid which was being given to the government of afghanistan prior to the 15th of august. it is a difficult situation in front of the global community because there are in people —— there are people in diabetes but at the same time this government has seized control of the country and it is not a government that other countries recognise at the moment, so the question for the global community is how to continue to support the people of afghanistan without giving funds to the hands of the government you do not recognise, without giving funds away without being sure about where they are going to be used. the other about holding the taliban to a callum johnson of the commitments made during thejoe hart agreement with the us in 2020 —— holding the taliban to account about some of the commitments made during the doha agreement. they said they were not against women working on skills going to school, but at the moment most women and girls cannot do those things. most women and girls cannot do those thins. . ~' ,, most women and girls cannot do those thins. . ~ ,, ., ., ._ our top story this lunchtime: a damning report from mps who call the government's early handling of the pandemic one of the worst public health failures in uk history, costing many lives. thousands of lights. still to come, it is unusual! history, costing many lives. we go behind the scenes of a new musical featuring not one but two famous tom joneses. coming up on the bbc news channel, scotland chase a place in the play—offs in their bid to qualify for the 2022 world cup. can they get one of the two wins that they need with victory over the princess royal and there was no sense of any lightening of the loads on her six months since the death of her husband the duke of edinburgh. she spent the summer at balmoral but is back to a busy programme of alternate engagements, this a service, as you said, to mark the centenary of the royal british legion, set up in the years after the first world war to support the service community returning from the western front, a century of service to the armed forces. with me is the national president of the royal british legion. mercifully no more —— no wars at the moment, so what is the principal role of the royal british legion? it the principal role of the royal british legion?— the principal role of the royal british legion? it is still dealing with the aftermath _ british legion? it is still dealing with the aftermath of _ british legion? it is still dealing with the aftermath of the - british legion? it is still dealing | with the aftermath of the second world _ with the aftermath of the second world war, the korean war, northern lreland _ world war, the korean war, northern lreland and _ world war, the korean war, northern ireland and the falklands to name but a _ ireland and the falklands to name but a view— ireland and the falklands to name but a view and many of our beneficiaries are getting old and requiring — beneficiaries are getting old and requiring increasingly expensive treatment and care to allow them to continue _ treatment and care to allow them to continue to— treatment and care to allow them to continue to live their lives, that is a huge — continue to live their lives, that is a huge demand on us. and lots more _ is a huge demand on us. and lots more people come to us now with mental— more people come to us now with mental injuries, certainly from recent— mental injuries, certainly from recent campaigns. in 2019 we raised more _ recent campaigns. in 2019 we raised more money and gave more to our beneficiaries than any other previous— beneficiaries than any other previous year.— beneficiaries than any other revious ear. . ., . ., previous year. and a critical moment in the ear previous year. and a critical moment in the year for _ previous year. and a critical moment in the year for you _ previous year. and a critical moment in the year for you within _ previous year. and a critical moment in the year for you within the - previous year. and a critical moment in the year for you within the next i in the year for you within the next few weeks as we approach remembrance?— few weeks as we approach remembrance? ., , ., ., ~' , remembrance? that is one of the key asects of remembrance? that is one of the key aspects of our — remembrance? that is one of the key aspects of our charter, _ remembrance? that is one of the key aspects of our charter, we _ remembrance? that is one of the key aspects of our charter, we have - aspects of our charter, we have the festival— aspects of our charter, we have the festival of— aspects of our charter, we have the festival of remembrance which i hope will go _ festival of remembrance which i hope will go ahead as normal, as we used to do— will go ahead as normal, as we used to do it. _ will go ahead as normal, as we used to do it. that— will go ahead as normal, as we used to do it, that we have the big event on the _ to do it, that we have the big event on the cenotaph on the sunday and we have a _ on the cenotaph on the sunday and we have a huge _ on the cenotaph on the sunday and we have a huge march past of veterans planned _ have a huge march past of veterans planned so — have a huge march past of veterans lanned. ., .,, have a huge march past of veterans lanned. ., ., , ., planned. so the legion as relevant toda as planned. so the legion as relevant today as over _ planned. so the legion as relevant today as over the _ planned. so the legion as relevant today as over the past _ planned. so the legion as relevant today as over the past century? i today as over the past century? absolutely, we will continue to be here and — absolutely, we will continue to be here and continue to raise money and support— here and continue to raise money and support our— here and continue to raise money and support our veteran community. genemi— support our veteran community. generaljames bashall, thank you very much indeed, congratulations to the royal british legion on 100 years of service. the royal british legion on100 years of service.— the royal british legion on 100 years of service. nick witchell, our ro al years of service. nick witchell, our royal correspondence, _ years of service. nick witchell, our royal correspondence, thank - years of service. nick witchell, our royal correspondence, thank you. | two people were injured when a train crashed through buffers at a station in north london. around 50 people were evacuated after the incident involving a london overground train at enfield town station during rush hour this morning. safety inspectors from the rail regulator are investigating what happened. the creators of superman have announced that the superhero will come out as bisexual in the next edition of his adventures. jonathan kent, the son of clark kent and lois lane, will share a kiss with a budding journalist. dc comics made the announcement on national coming out day, an annual lgbt awareness day started in the us. courtney bembridge has more. a superman as we've never seen him before. dc comics say the son of clark kent and lois lane, jon kent, is coming out as bisexual. the creators say the man of steel has always stood for hope, truth and justice, and now represents something more. when i was offered this job, i thought, well, if we're going to have a new superman for the dc universe, it feels like a missed opportunity to have another straight, white saviour. dc comics publisherjim lee said in a statement... we have seen a lot of lgbt superheroes in the past couple of decades, and some of them are not quite household names, but when you can attach something like this to the name superman, who is known around the world, people will pay attention. the comic isn't due to be released until november, but there's been plenty of reaction online already. the reactions have been... honestly, they have been overwhelmingly positive, which i wasn't quite expecting. yes, there's a lot of trolling online, but there are so many people reaching out in so many different languages saying what this means to them. i'm seeing tweets from people saying that they burst into tears when they read the news, that they wished that superman was this when they were growing up, that they could see themselves. and people are saying for the first time ever, they are seeing themselves in superman, something they never thought was possible. his sexuality isn't the only way the character has been updated. in recent editions, he has been advocating for refugees and fighting the climate crisis. is it a bird? is it a plane? or is it social change? courtney bembridge, bbc news. now, how about this for a holiday with a difference? champing — that's camping in a church — has become one of the surprise if unorthodox travel trends of recent months. so why is it proving so popular? john maguire has been to find out. there's been a church on the site in the somerset town of langport for more than 1,000 years. but, with a decreasing congregation, all saints hasn't held weekly services since the 1990s. there was a huge amount of upset. it may not have been there was a regular congregation that suddenly were thrown out because the numbers were quite small. people who really didn't come to the church still saw it as something that was a precious part of their community. so to save it, in common with 350 others, it's looked after by the churches conservation trust. one way the charity raises money is through church camping — or champing, as it's known. mirren and her two young sons are the guests tonight. first priority is to explore the unique accommodation. i've seen the pillars, the golden eagle, the stained glass. it certainly makes a change from their usual holidays. we normally go to cornwall and stay in a bed—and—breakfast. that's been our idea of a getaway for the last two or three years. so this is different because we've never gone to sleep in a church before and this is amazing, it's everything i expected. staying here — i really shouldn't be saying this — is like staying inside a ghost story! ghost stories may attract some, but one of the volunteers here, annie, says there's no need to be scared. i've been here with a group of young people, there were about 12 of us. you would think it's scary, but it's not. it's got a really nice atmosphere. you wake up in the morning and the light is coming through the windows. it just feels really calm and relaxing. you've got this glorious space all to yourself and it's really good for hide and seek, really good. and her husband bill believes bringing young people into churches is one of champing's great advantages. if i went to church as a youngster, you were dressed in your sunday best. a freer and more easy way to enjoy the space is very much the whole experience of champing for people. like all charities and indeed tourist accommodation, the pandemic has has meant a severe loss in revenue. so there's a determination to bounce back and to breathe new life into history. john maguire, bbc news, somerset. a new musical based on not one but two famous tom joneses, is making its world premiere at the birmingham rep theatre. what's new pussycat combines music from the welsh hitmaker sir tom with the plot of an 18th century novel, also starring tom jones. our entertainment correspondent colin paterson has been finding out more. # na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na...# tom jones — not that one — singing the hits of tom jones. 18th century literary creation and 20th century welsh pop sensation merged together for a new musical, what's new pussycat? tom jones was much, much, much worse. henry fielding's tom jones was published in 1749. it told the tale of a young handsome man sleeping his way through society. the 1963 film version won best picture at the oscars... # my, my, my, delilah...# ..prompting a young welsh singer who at the time was performing under the name tommy scott, to start using tom jones. # it's not unusual to be loved by anyone.# now, almost 60 years later, the two toms have finally collided for this show. how much do you channel the tom jones singer on stage, and how much tom jones from the novel? i'd say it's about 60% tom jones from the novel, 40% tom jones, the singer. love tom jones, the singer, but it's not an imitation. but obviously you've got to channel a bit of tom jones, otherwise you're not going to get through those amazing numbers. # i wanna die...# five, six... pony! and helping to recreate swinging london, the choreographer arlene phillips. don't you change it. how would you rate the real tom jones' dancing over the years? very interesting. i would call tom jones a great mover. and he has his own moves, his own style. he doesn't exactly do dance steps, but i could watch him all the time. and as for sir tom jones, well, he,s given the show his blessing, and next tuesday, he will attend the premiere. how much pressure will that be, singing the hits of tom jones in front of the man himself? i don't know. for me, i kind of get a kick out of it. i think it's going to be really fun. i'm just going to shout them at him and hope he enjoys. until you hear cries of, "you're doing it wrong!" from the audience. yeah — "it's wrong, it's wrong, dom!" let's go! colin paterson, bbc news, birmingham. from tom jones to our own tomasz schafernaker. not known as tom, but anyway. you have the northern lights in scotland? it was spectacular, we had a light spectacle. this is an example from... i can't remember, here it is, highland scotland, and the next is, highland scotland, and the next is from shetland, a bit more subdued but still the most beautiful spectacle. there is a chance of the northern lights in the next three nights, but for most of us, nowhere nearas nights, but for most of us, nowhere near as exciting, just overcast, settled, but settled weather does not necessarily mean sunshine. it is all to do with how the wind flows

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