love it or hate it, the annual shopping extravaganza black friday is underway. it's no longerjust a day — some retailers have been offering deals since the start of the month. this weekend, shoppers here in the uk are expected to spend over £9 billion. but it's the first big test for retailers as they prepare for the christmas rush. our correspondent emma simpson reports. it wouldn't be black friday without big tvs, gadgets, and appliances flying off the shelves. this vast distribution hub in newark is home to britain's biggest electrical retailer. it's their most important time of the year, and the pressure�*s really on. it truly has been a perfect storm of shortages across the board. so we've taken on more warehousing space, we've got more stock than ever in our stores, and we've recruited over 3,200 colleagues across our business. so we've got the drivers, the warehouse staff, we've got everything we need to deliver this peak. how many playstation 5s do you have, then? laughs. never enough of the ps5s, but we've got some and we're getting more. black friday deals started even earlier this year to help spread the demand. even so, they're still processing an order every second here. this shopping bonanza is going to test many retailers to the limits, but it's the ones with the deepest pockets and the biggest clout with suppliers who'll likely cope the best. they sell a bit of magic at this small shop in york — potions and drinks. they don't do black friday, but they do need to conjure up more stock. the huge headache right now is not having the products we want on the shelves to sell. stock being stuck all over the place, from here in the uk where we can't get manufacturers to make what we need, to as far as stuck in a port in china somewhere, our giftware not being able to get onto boats because the boats aren't there. it's frustrating and it's sad. there are fewer deals this year, and some aren't all they're cracked up to be, but shoppers are spending. i always love a good deal. and especially on black friday, yeah. we didn't plan on spending as much money as we have, but we've got some. we saved a lot of money. this could turn out to be the biggest black friday yet if retailers can deliver the goods. emma simpson, bbc news, newark. now on bbc news, it's time for our world. for nearly 400 years, the british royal family has reigned over barbados. but next week, the islands will replace queen elizabeth with a president. iii queen elizabeth with a president.— my family is british and barbadian. 50 my family is british and barbadian.— my family is british and barbadian. , ., barbadian. so they have some big questions _ barbadian. so they have some big questions about _ barbadian. so they have some big questions about it - barbadian. so they have some big questions about it all. - big questions about it all. change is good. you can't say the same all the time. i change is good. you can't say the same all the time.- the same all the time. i don't acce -t the same all the time. i don't accept it- _ the same all the time. i don't accept it- a — the same all the time. i don't accept it. a history _ the same all the time. i don't accept it. a history of - the same all the time. i don't accept it. a history of slavery | accept it. a history of slavery in colonial — accept it. a history of slavery in colonial rule _ accept it. a history of slavery in colonial rule mean - accept it. a history of slavery in colonial rule mean some i accept it. a history of slavery i in colonial rule mean some are keen to move on from the past. it was a feudal system. daniel, you must compose yourself. you look as if you are ready to cry. have had their say, i am here to ask barbadian is what it means, and why now. some people would say. — means, and why now. some people would say. why _ means, and why now. some people would say, why should _ means, and why now. some people would say, why should we - means, and why now. some people would say, why should we have - would say, why should we have an allegiance to the uk when in our hour of need, they are not there for us?— there for us? barbados. a tiny paradise island _ there for us? barbados. a tiny paradise island in _ there for us? barbados. a tiny paradise island in the - paradise island in the blue—green waters of the caribbean. 0n blue—green waters of the caribbean. on 30 november, this commonwealth mason will remove the queen as its head of state and become the world's newest republic. the decision was made without a referendum. barbados declared independence from britain in 1966, but now the government has said it is time for barbados to finally leave its colonial past behind. current governor general sandra mason will become its first president. mason will become its first president-— president. the mantle of leadership _ president. the mantle of leadership falls - president. the mantle of leadership falls fully - president. the mantle of leadership falls fully to l president. the mantle of l leadership falls fully to the postindependence generations of barbadians. it is those generations who must now define how our country and citizens will dominate the world stage, create a new vision, and build barbados' future.— create a new vision, and build barbados' future. barbados to me is where _ barbados' future. barbados to me is where my _ barbados' future. barbados to me is where my story - barbados' future. barbados to me is where my story begins. | barbados' future. barbados to | me is where my story begins. i was born in britain, my grandparents are from here, it is happy memories, it is the rum shops, it is the people, but everything that my grandparents showed me when i was growing up, seems to be changing. my grandad's story is typical of many barbadians, or badians, as we are known. he moved to england as a young man, hoping to better himself. but what i didn't know is before he did, he worked on a sugar plantation. so this lane might not look like much, but it is special, because we are walking in my grandad's footsteps. and just around the corner is something that ties together the queen, britain, and my family. this is the bell plantation. at its peak, nearly 300 slaves were forced to live and work here, after slavery was abolished, it was ought by a family who were close families of the —— close friend of the queen. she came to visit this place on her last trip 55 years ago. this place on her last trip 55 years ago-— this place on her last trip 55 years ago. hi! good to see you! years ago. h i good to see you! good to see you my brother, give me an elbow bump. so this is the itell— give me an elbow bump. so this is the bell plantation. _ give me an elbow bump. so this is the bell plantation. sad - give me an elbow bump. so this is the bell plantation. sad to - is the bell plantation. sad to sa , but is the bell plantation. sad to say. but it — is the bell plantation. sad to say. but it is _ is the bell plantation. sad to say, but it is faded _ is the bell plantation. sad to say, but it is faded glory. - say, but it is faded glory. trevor marshall is a historian and a leading pro— republic campaigner. daniel, this is where the bookkeeper, as it was called, this is where he or the manager paid the workers on fridays. manager paid the workers on frida s. ., ~' ., manager paid the workers on frida s. ., ~ ., ., fridays. you know, at the desk. the people _ fridays. you know, at the desk. the people lined _ fridays. you know, at the desk. the people lined up— fridays. you know, at the desk. the people lined up out - fridays. you know, at the desk. the people lined up out here. . the people lined up out here. they lined up out here like... laughs, like if they come for the dole. they filed in, and got there and bowed... they had to bow before _ got there and bowed... they had to bow before they _ got there and bowed... they had to bow before they got _ got there and bowed... they had to bow before they got paid? - to bow before they got paid? yeah, they bowed and scraped. it was a feudal system. i yeah, they bowed and scraped. it was a feudal system.- it was a feudal system. i know my grandad — it was a feudal system. i know my grandad worked _ it was a feudal system. i know my grandad worked here - it was a feudal system. i know my grandad worked here at. it was a feudal system. i know| my grandad worked here at the sugar factory at the belle plantation. you are saying he would have had to come here and bow his head before collecting? not everybody was so deferential, but the average person, it was ingrained in new from the time of slavery. in hand, like the typical english labourer, yes governor, and you know, you are doing your favour, you are paying me. daniel, you must compose yourself, you look as though yourself, you look as though you are ready to cry. careful of the holes here. and you, not only careful of this but the ceiling, the ceiling is disintegrating. can you imagine this in its period of glory? all of this, i mean, look at how many rooms. this was magnificent, so to see it degenerate to this point... it may sound strange, it may sound as though i am seized with that same kind of feudal deference, but we looked on the plantation great houses, as symbols of the importance of barbados. do great houses, as symbols of the importance of barbados.- importance of barbados. do you think that those _ importance of barbados. do you think that those mixed - importance of barbados. do you think that those mixed feelings | think that those mixed feelings are do you think that we are seeing them as barbados approaches becoming a republic? if we were to have a referendum now, 66% of barbadians would not want the republic. [30 now, 66% of barbadians would not want the republic.- not want the republic. do you think? its _ not want the republic. do you think? as higher _ not want the republic. do you think? as higher is _ not want the republic. do you think? as higher is that? - not want the republic. do you think? as higher is that? i- not want the republic. do you j think? as higher is that? i can tell you. _ think? as higher is that? i can tell you. they _ think? as higher is that? i can tell you, they don't _ think? as higher is that? i can tell you, they don't know - think? as higher is that? i canj tell you, they don't know what it is. as a historian i am called upon a daily, nightly basis to explain to people, and to calm their fears. will the currency be devalued, will we be able to travel to england again, are we going to stop the queen from coming here, the queen from coming here, the queen and prince harry, what about meghan, are we going to become a banana republic, will we be like venezuela or cuba? it is such a gap from the man that trevor would have been talking about, who would have been working here as my grandad was, to the man that i knew, who made a family in britain, and then came back to barbados and then came back to barbados and made his life. the fact that that is part of his story means that it is part of mine, and being in this building, i am finding that really... difficult to comprehend, really. after he returned from london in 1984, he opened the rum shop. it used to be busy and full of life. this picture here, i think really captures the essence. you have got nan on one side, arm around me, protective. you have grandad on the left, chest out, back straight, and then me in the middle, of course. he was never shy of an opinion, he knew what he thought, he liked to have a talk, he likes to debate, with all of these changes in barbados, i know he would have had something to say about it. and you know, it is just, just sad that i can't talk to him now. my grandad passed away 14 years ago, i still have family here who knew him well. so we are just around the corner from my auntie marjorie and uncle noel my auntie marjorie and uncle noel. they were really close with my grandad, and my nan, so if anyone is going to know anything about what they would have made of this, it is them. so it is a good place to start, i think. ., so it is a good place to start, i think.- uncle! - so it is a good place to start, i think.- uncle! good i so it is a good place to start, | i think.- uncle! good to ithink. hello! uncle! good to see you- _ ithink. hello! uncle! good to see you. flowers _ ithink. hello! uncle! good to see you. flowers for- ithink. hello! uncle! good to see you. flowers for you - i think. hello! uncle! good to l see you. flowers for you there. thank you! i see you. flowers for you there. thank you!— thank you! i will give you a kiss. it. _ thank you! i will give you a kiss, it, even _ thank you! i will give you a kiss, it, even though - thank you! i will give you a kiss, it, even though i - thank you! i will give you a| kiss, it, even though i have the mask, i am double jabbed, they tested me, i am fine. they were supposed to come to my wedding this summer, but the pandemic mean they couldn't make it. �* , pandemic mean they couldn't make it._ got - pandemic mean they couldn't make it._ got some l make it. it's true. got some pictures _ make it. it's true. got some pictures for— make it. it's true. got some pictures for you. _ make it. it's true. got some pictures for you. i _ make it. it's true. got some pictures for you. i will - make it. it's true. got some pictures for you. i will show| pictures for you. i will show you these. this is the closer one of grandad there. it is funny, because grandad always had something to say. i would what he would have thought about it all. what all these changes... about it all. what all these changes- - -_ about it all. what all these chances... . ., changes... changes good. you can't stay _ changes... changes good. you can't stay the _ changes... changes good. you can't stay the same _ changes... changes good. you can't stay the same all - changes... changes good. you can't stay the same all the - can't stay the same all the time. you've got to move on, you can't say the same all the time. i you can't say the same all the time. ., �* you can't say the same all the time. .,�* . .. , time. idon't accept it. i don't time. i don't accept it. i don't accept _ time. idon't accept it. i don't accept it. - all of my money is in england still. all the pictures and everything are in england. i have ensure —— i have assurances, the pension will still be the same. but things don't say the same, changes bring success sometimes. generations of british influence have left quite a mark here. road signs, and institutions mimic their counterparts across the atlantic. the national sport is cricket, played at the familiar sounding kensington 0val in the capital bridgetown. roland butcher was born in barbados and moved to england when he was 13. he became the country's first ever black test cricketer.— first ever black test cricketer. ., ., ., , ., cricketer. fellow wrote a poem to me, cricketer. fellow wrote a poem to me. really _ cricketer. fellow wrote a poem to me, really outlining - cricketer. fellow wrote a poem to me, really outlining what. cricketer. fellow wrote a poem to me, really outlining what a l to me, really outlining what a shame it was to have picked a black man to england and so forth and so forth. and the other one was from the west indian fellow, who saw this selection as going back to the days of slavery. exploitation all over again. days of slavery. exploitation all overagain. he days of slavery. exploitation all over again.— days of slavery. exploitation all over again. he has invited me for a _ all over again. he has invited me for a knockabout - all over again. he has invited me for a knockabout on - all over again. he has invited me for a knockabout on the l me for a knockabout on the beach. roland's debut was against the west indies, right here in bridgetown in 1981. he played most of his career to middlesex, and even met the duke of edinburgh on more than one occasion. what do you think about the republic?— about the republic? what the benefits of — about the republic? what the benefits of being _ about the republic? what the benefits of being a _ about the republic? what the benefits of being a republic, | about the republic? what the | benefits of being a republic, i don't know. but what i would say is that i think england as a country, the question is, how they really done enough to stay in the game? is they really done enough to stay in the game?— in the game? is it a sense for ou in the game? is it a sense for you that _ in the game? is it a sense for you that england, _ in the game? is it a sense for you that england, because i in the game? is it a sense for you that england, because of| you that england, because of its... more than 300 years in control of barbados, ended up taking it for granted? i control of barbados, ended up taking it for granted?- taking it for granted? i think what really _ taking it for granted? i think what really was _ taking it for granted? i think what really was needed - taking it for granted? i think what really was needed was| taking it for granted? i think i what really was needed was for england to accept the atlantic slave trade, except that is something else happened. also accept that institutions and individuals in england benefit from it, and i believe in a call for reparations. for me, reparations would be, forgiveness of any debts that barbados has, also the building of some schools, we have suffered in the last two years, and we have been suffering in this region for quite a while. but england really did do a great deal, so other people came along and offered their help, and obviously barbados needed it. ithink help, and obviously barbados needed it. i think countries like china has been a lot more friendly to barbados. lots of investment and loans, et cetera. so some people would say that why should we have an allegiance to the uk, when in our hour of need, they are not there for us? the government says nothing much will be different after next week. however, work on a new constitution is under way. some of the island bosnar public services like the police will also be renamed. 0ne public services like the police will also be renamed. one big physical change here is at the parliament, is having the biggest renovation in its 130 year history. the timing is a coincidence.— year history. the timing is a coincidence. we are not living any stones — coincidence. we are not living any stones unturned - coincidence. we are not living any stones unturned and - coincidence. we are not living| any stones unturned and we're making sure that this refurbishment is one of the comprehensive that this building will get. to comprehensive that this building will get.- comprehensive that this building will get. to rail is in charge _ building will get. to rail is in charge of— building will get. to rail is in charge of the _ building will get. to rail is in charge of the work. - building will get. to rail is in charge of the work. is l building will get. to rail is l in charge of the work. is the biggest project of his career. it has been created to such a point that standing around, you could not see it, we have a severe termite infestation, some water damage,. the very bones of this _ some water damage,. the very bones of this building - some water damage,. the very bones of this building affect - bones of this building affect the way the whole main chamber is laid out. we the way the whole main chamber is laid out-— is laid out. we are in the lower house, _ is laid out. we are in the lower house, and - is laid out. we are in the lower house, and right i is laid out. we are in the - lower house, and right now, obviously everything is gone, but what the prime minister would sit on this side of the aisle and the opposition would sit on the other side. the speaker usually sits directly in the middle, and this is where all the great debate and stuff like that happen.- stuff like that happen. almost identical really _ stuff like that happen. almost identical really to _ stuff like that happen. almost identical really to the - stuff like that happen. almost identical really to the uk - identical really to the uk parliament, in the way that it is set up. it's really incredible, walking around and seeing so many parts of the building that still look and feel british. , given the republic and this restoration, but, at the same time, what i think is quite exciting, if you are from barbados is that this time it is by choice. inside of the senate is the highest profile chain so far. last year, to great fanfare, the statue of lord nelson was removed. it stood here for 200 years in the area that used to be called trafalgar square. do you think that anything of material will change on december one? to material will change on december one? material will change on decemberone? ., ., ., december one? to mean nothing will change _ december one? to mean nothing will change for _ december one? to mean nothing will change for the _ december one? to mean nothing will change for the average - will change for the average barbadian, we will still be who we are. in terms of material stuff, we will know that everything is here we own, everything is here we own, everything that is there is ours, everything that we look forward to, we have put in place for ourselves. there is no more dependency, no more of this looking to someone else. just going to be us.— just going to be us. there are some people _ just going to be us. there are some people who _ just going to be us. there are some people who say - just going to be us. there are some people who say well, i some people who say well, republic means should be — we should tear down all remnants of the british and start from scratch. what you think about that? ~ , ., scratch. what you think about that? ~ _, ., scratch. what you think about that? ~ ., ., ., that? when you leave home, do ou that? when you leave home, do you discard _ that? when you leave home, do you discard your _ that? when you leave home, do you discard your parents? - that? when you leave home, do you discard your parents? you i you discard your parents? you don't, what you do is you set “p don't, what you do is you set up in the new house, but you still keep your parents, you understand your role and responsibilities, you understand where you came from. your whole bloodline is important, history is important.— important, history is imortant. . , ., , important. in recent years there has— important. in recent years there has been _ important. in recent years there has been increasedl there has been increased awareness of the civil rights of black people after a series of black people after a series of events made headlines around the world. in britain, there was the windrush scandal in 2018, when people who illegally migrated there in the 1940s found they and their descendants being threatened with deportation. some families, after a lifetime in the uk suddenly felt unwelcome. thanks for the left!— thanks for the left! welcome to barbados man! _ thanks for the left! welcome to barbados man! good _ thanks for the left! welcome to barbados man! good to - thanks for the left! welcome to barbados man! good to see - thanks for the left! welcome to j barbados man! good to see you denise. barbados man! good to see you denise- the _ barbados man! good to see you denise. the knees _ barbados man! good to see you denise. the knees and - barbados man! good to see you denise. the knees and husband| denise. the knees and husband paul decided to leave london three years ago and just bought a house here in fortescue. you see all these _ a house here in fortescue. you see all these dead _ a house here in fortescue. gm. see all these dead and rolls, the cul—de—sac that will eventually have the housing. we are driving up to the cliff edge, it's quite bumpy, but worth it when you get there. look at the potential and the mystery _ look at the potential and the mystery of it, it is beautiful and — mystery of it, it is beautiful and awesome, and we will talk about, — and awesome, and we will talk about, that is nature, natural, and _ about, that is nature, natural, and then— about, that is nature, natural, and then you look across here to fortescue, it's a very spedal— to fortescue, it's a very special spot, and it put things into perspective in terms of life. — into perspective in terms of life. you _ into perspective in terms of life, you get a sense of belonging when you are here. the knee _ belonging when you are here. the knee set up her own nail bar. have you got any bagian specialities? wow, that is very patriotic! denise's mother spent most of my life in britain. her parents are part of the windrush generation who went over with the promise of work, but in 2001 she decided to return to the caribbean. barbados is about to make a change, removing the queen as head of state, what you think about this decision? i don't have anything against the queen and the royalfamily, i believe they are lovely people, but i do believe it is the right time. a sense of identity, a true sense of belonging. there are a lot of _ true sense of belonging. there are a lot of things _ true sense of belonging. there are a lot of things that - true sense of belonging. there are a lot of things that went i are a lot of things that went on that— are a lot of things that went on that i_ are a lot of things that went on that i think myself, why is it still— on that i think myself, why is it still an _ on that i think myself, why is it still an issue, because you have — it still an issue, because you have a — it still an issue, because you have a certain background or culture — have a certain background or culture that you are left to feel— culture that you are left to feel unwelcome? obviously in london. — feel unwelcome? obviously in london, it's great, it's a cosmopolitan city, but there is still an— cosmopolitan city, but there is still an element of you are not quite — still an element of you are not quite welcome, and with brexit, that was— quite welcome, and with brexit, that was the straw that broke the camel's back for me. it was almost — the camel's back for me. it was almost like _ the camel's back for me. it was almost like yeah, if brexit happens we will get ourjobs hack, — happens we will get ourjobs back, if— happens we will get ourjobs back, if brexit happens immigration and foreigners are out, _ immigration and foreigners are out, it— immigration and foreigners are out, it was— immigration and foreigners are out, it was like that. ijust think— out, it was like that. ijust think this _ out, it was like that. ijust think this is probably, i am hoping _ think this is probably, i am hoping it— think this is probably, i am hoping it will be a good move. before — hoping it will be a good move. before i— hoping it will be a good move. before i leave barbados, i have been invited to the friday fish fry at the busy market. i am eating some of my new friends here, roland butcherfrom here, roland butcher from alias. here, roland butcherfrom alias. what's going on fellas? time for food? any favourites? we have been here a few days, and it's not often i've come across people who hire as excited about it as you, you two. it does feel like it could be a difference in generation, in terms of perspective and who is excited about this and who is excited about this and who is not. you're absolutely right. in terms of the older generation, they may be pretty well set in their ways, the way they came up, they came up with they came up, they came up with the queen and everything, i think the younger people like the guys here, they are the ones that need to be excited because it's their future, whether it is a good or bad future, it is their future. whether it is a good or bad future, it is theirfuture. can ijust get a future, it is theirfuture. can i just get a show of future, it is theirfuture. can ijust get a show of hands as to how many of you are thinking about leaving barbados to work somewhere else? that all of you... with the republic coming up, does that change those ambitions at all? if it does, put your hand up, if it doesn't then leave it down. they may be excited about the change, but not enough to keep them living and working in barbados. what the guys had to say really challenge my perspective on this whole republic thing. i mean, who is it really for? who was going to benefit? will it stop young people wanting to leave the country in search of opportunities like my grandad had to do 50 odd years ago? i set up to discover what the birth of the new republic means for bajans, and ifound a genuine desire here. if they had confidence in the country's future, then who knows what barbados can achieve...? storm arwen has been buffeting the uk over recent hours. so far, the strongest wind gusts that i've seen have been across coastal regions of aberdeenshire. inverbervie picking up a top gust of 78mph. not too far behind, northumberland — a 74mph gust of wind here. those wind gusts strong enough to bring down some trees, no doubt some transport disruption out and about as we head into saturday. the peak red weather warning lapses, though, during the early hours of saturday and, as our low pressure moves southwards, we'll be left with two regions of strong winds — one affecting eastern areas of scotland and north east england, and anotherfor wales and south west england. both of these areas will see gusts of wind around about 60—70 mph, so still strong enough to bring down some trees. we could see some further disruption and as well as that, we've got some rain, some heavy snow over high ground, particularly the southern uplands into the highlands and over the high parts of the pennines, the cheviots as well could see some disruptive falls of snow high up. even low down, you might see a little bit of snowjust for a time as we head into the first part of saturday morning — and, of course, it will be a very blustery and cold start to the day on saturday as well with those gusts well up, even inland very blustery, indeed. now, through the rest of saturday, we'll have this zone of rain, still a bit of sleet and snow mixed in with that, although anything accumulating — well, that's not really likely to happen — anything that falls is just going to melt back to rain, really, as the day goes by. but we'll keep those strong winds all day and it will feel very, very cold — temperatures around 3—4 degrees celsius quite widely, but factor in those winds, it will feel bitter. now, for the second half of the weekend, arwen continues to work away from the uk, it's filling, it's dying, but we've still got these fairly strong northerly winds and those northerly winds won't be feeling any warmer at all. sunday will be a day, really, of sunshine and showers. these showers ok, most frequent across northern and eastern areas, but i think there'll be a whole raft of showers working into the north—west as well, so nowhere's immune from seeing an odd downpour. and those showers still having a wintry flavour — bit of hail, bit of sleet mixed in with some of those. temperatures around 2 degrees celsius or so in newcastle, maybe a 4 in london, but again, feeling cold. now, into next week, we'll see a sharpjump upwards in temperatures. turns much, much milder by tuesday, but rain and some strong winds in the week ahead. that's your latest weather. our hour of need, they are not there for us? this is bbc world news, i'm simon pusey. our top stories: a new covid strain found in southern africa is classed a "variant of concern" by the world health organisation over fears it may be more infectious and more resistant to vaccines. this variant has a large number of mutations, and some of these mutations have some worrying characteristics. the us is the latest country to impose travel restrictions to affected southern african countries to slow the spread — but south africa says it's the wrong approach. stopping travel from one country or even a small group of countries very soon becomes superfluous. it's really not the solution. french president emmanuel macron accuses the uk of not being serious about dealing with the migrant crisis, as the diplomatic row deepens.