hello and welcome to our look ahead to what the the papers will be bringing us tomorrow. with me are aubrey allegretti political correspondent at the guardian and giles kenningham political commentator and former conservative party press chief. tomorrow's front pages...starting with. the daily mail leads on our main story tonight the new data about the strength of the omicron variant. health experts have said two vaccine doses are not enough to stop people from catching the new strain — but a third boosterjab will give at least 70% protection against it. the is front page says the immunity given by the astra zeneca vaccine against the variant �*wanes to near zero after six months�*. the sun reports on predictions that omicron cases could reach up to a million next year. whilst the guardian leads on a warning from health officials that "stringent national measures" are needed to combat the variant — or else the nhs faces being overwhelmed with up to 5,000 hospital admissions a day. the times says some of those measures ministers are considering include extending vaccine passports, compulsary check in at venues and mandating facemasks in secondary school classrooms. the telegraph reports that the prime minister is being urged by three former education ministers to keep schools open even if cases rise — in order to minimise disruption to school children. but a poll by the mirror suggests that nearly 4 in 5 people would be less likely to listen to any covid rules set by borisjohnson — in the wake of the controversy over the downing street christmas parties scandal. and the financial times highlights further pressure on the prime minister — as the adviser on standards is now demanding new information after discrepencies over the payment of the downing street flat refurbishment. so let's begin... do you want to kick us off on this one? were starting this time with the daily mail. proof as it says we all need a boost.— all need a boost. yet, saying the boosterjabs _ all need a boost. yet, saying the boosterjabs will _ all need a boost. yet, saying the boosterjabs will be _ all need a boost. yet, saying the boosterjabs will be up _ all need a boost. yet, saying the boosterjabs will be up to - all need a boost. yet, saying the boosterjabs will be up to 70% i all need a boost. yet, saying the boosterjabs will be up to 70% of effective against this new omicron strand which is come out. a ticket she was saying earlier really important government pushes this message around the booster vaccine. i think they are really in a struggle in terms of getting huge behavioural change from people. they are talking about working from home where possible next week. my sense a lot of people is kicking back against us. the situation is been made a lot harder from them from all the stories leaking out at number ten about them floating covid rules, having parties last year of the country should say lockdown. the uptake is not where they want at the moment given thejob, uptake is not where they want at the moment given the job, quite alarming predictions we are seeing coming out, we could have 8,000,000 people hit by this new strand comejanuary hit by this new strand come january foot of nhs won't be able to cope with the we need encourage people to go out and get these boosterjab asap. of course the biggest success of thejohnson regime was really asap. of course the biggest success of the johnson regime was really the bactine roll—out last year. of the johnson regime was really the bactine roll-out last year.— bactine roll-out last year. yeah, are ou bactine roll-out last year. yeah, are you at _ bactine roll-out last year. yeah, are you at all — bactine roll-out last year. yeah, are you at all clear— bactine roll-out last year. yeah, are you at all clear why - bactine roll-out last year. yeah, i are you at all clear why something that was achieved with the actual roll—out of first and second jab has proved so much harder with boosters? whatever the language are basically third jab's i think it's a sense of fatigue. i third jab's i think it's a sense of fatiaue. ~ , .,, ., fatigue. i think people thought these first two, _ fatigue. i think people thought these first two, that _ fatigue. i think people thought these first two, that was - fatigue. i think people thought these first two, that was it - fatigue. i think people thought| these first two, that was it that would protect them for a long time. i suspect it's bad. also, i suppose if people had them and get on their lives without they will need to be a big health advertising blitz on thursday really get into peoples consciousness about why it's so important they do get them quickly. aubrey, i was asking giles in the last hour about the difficulty of this message of two not so good, three brilliant. it's still quite confusing. i've spent the last between your news trying to get my head around it. as a journalist it's hard to explain. as i was trying to do it as convincing people it's quite a challenge. it do it as convincing people it's quite a challenge.— do it as convincing people it's quite a challenge. it is. and it's uuite quite a challenge. it is. and it's quite difficult _ quite a challenge. it is. and it's quite difficult particularly - quite a challenge. it is. and it's i quite difficult particularly because the government spent a lot of this summer_ the government spent a lot of this summer after the july 19 reopening in england — summer after the july 19 reopening in england proclaiming this message from the _ in england proclaiming this message from the rooftops that the pandemic was if_ from the rooftops that the pandemic was if not _ from the rooftops that the pandemic was if not over them very much on a downward _ was if not over them very much on a downward trajectory. i think they didn't— downward trajectory. i think they didn't really prepare people enough of the _ didn't really prepare people enough of the path that we are now finding ourselves_ of the path that we are now finding ourselves on. obviously the booster 'ab ourselves on. obviously the booster jab roll-out — ourselves on. obviously the booster jab roll—out was slightly hindered because — jab roll—out was slightly hindered because there was some chewing and flowing _ because there was some chewing and flowing with the] cbi. the authority that grants licenses and gives— authority that grants licenses and gives its — authority that grants licenses and gives its authority to say yes, lel's— gives its authority to say yes, let's proceed with these roll—outs ofiab's _ let's proceed with these roll—outs ofiab's i— let's proceed with these roll—outs ofjab's. i think the government has found _ ofjab's. i think the government has found itself— ofjab's. i think the government has found itself in a little bit of a difficult position were trying to explain — difficult position were trying to explain to people that this is quite serious _ explain to people that this is quite serious again. although we said before that broke the net vaccines is broken — before that broke the net vaccines is broken link between cases and hospitalisations and death and serious — hospitalisations and death and serious illness actually, cases are lrack— serious illness actually, cases are back up— serious illness actually, cases are back up to — serious illness actually, cases are back up to the highest level since last january and that is something to be _ last january and that is something to be worried about. the league governments message here will have to be very— governments message here will have to be very much get your boosterjab because _ to be very much get your boosterjab because omicron presents a very different— because omicron presents a very different problem, it might mess with the — different problem, it might mess with the equation, it might mean that actually, the link between cases— that actually, the link between cases and hospitalisation isn't quite — cases and hospitalisation isn't quite as— cases and hospitalisation isn't quite as severed as it was before. i really— quite as severed as it was before. i really think— quite as severed as it was before. i really think it laid the ground for potential— really think it laid the ground for potential new variants coming up as much _ potential new variants coming up as much as— potential new variants coming up as much as they did. although to the governments credit, we've had several— governments credit, we've had several new variant sense delta and they haven't actually been quite as dangerous as this one might appear to be _ dangerous as this one might appear to be they— dangerous as this one might appear to be. they couldn't quite 2nd—guess, about how i'm a girl be. ido 2nd—guess, about how i'm a girl be. ido have— 2nd—guess, about how i'm a girl be. i do have some sympathy with the ministers — i do have some sympathy with the ministers it's almost damned if you do, ministers it's almost damned if you do. damned — ministers it's almost damned if you do, damned if you don't. you ministers it's almost damned if you do, damned if you don't.— do, damned if you don't. you get accused of _ do, damned if you don't. you get accused of being _ do, damned if you don't. you get accused of being an _ do, damned if you don't. you get accused of being an alarmist - do, damned if you don't. you get| accused of being an alarmist view you overplay it and if you underplayed people say you didn't prepare us. what's the point of what we've been through if we feel like you're back to square one? giles mentioned the last hour all the volunteers who have done tremendous work and encouraging people to have theirjab's work and encouraging people to have their jab's to work and encouraging people to have theirjab's to and supporting them. i should mention our own director to hear david this evening has returned posthaste from the hospital in gloucestershire where he was doing that these morning to come back and directorate night. thank you david. the work you and the other volunteers do is something that we all depend on for that were always grateful for the all depend on for that were always gratefulfor the medical grateful for the medical professionals but gratefulfor the medical professionals but we should also say a word for the volunteers to. let's move on to the times without new curbs to slow virus.— move on to the times without new curbs to slow virus. here really we are looking — curbs to slow virus. here really we are looking at _ curbs to slow virus. here really we are looking at how— curbs to slow virus. here really we are looking at how quickly - curbs to slow virus. here really we | are looking at how quickly omicron is taking _ are looking at how quickly omicron is taking hold so the daily mail says— is taking hold so the daily mail says that — is taking hold so the daily mail says that actually is going to happen— says that actually is going to happen within days that omicron could _ happen within days that omicron could start to outpace delta office of the _ could start to outpace delta office of the time say it's a slightly longer— of the time say it's a slightly longer period, more like a few weeks — longer period, more like a few weeks. really they are quite writing more _ weeks. really they are quite writing more about the astrazeneca job and this my— more about the astrazeneca job and this my last efficacy that that will have again it's on a conflict of the booster— have again it's on a conflict of the boosterjab— have again it's on a conflict of the boosterjab is what's needed here. i think— boosterjab is what's needed here. i think really— boosterjab is what's needed here. i think really administers as i was saying _ think really administers as i was saying before, they created this plan b _ saying before, they created this plan b before omicron it really came onto peoples radar. and they are now realising _ onto peoples radar. and they are now realising actually it's not terribly fit for _ realising actually it's not terribly fit for purpose. nicola sturgeon in scotland _ fit for purpose. nicola sturgeon in scotland on a bit further with some restrictions— scotland on a bit further with some restrictions being introduced up there — restrictions being introduced up there. ministers in england are probably— there. ministers in england are probably looking at things right now it and _ probably looking at things right now it and going, really the measures we already— it and going, really the measures we already announced which aren't coming — already announced which aren't coming into force probably until next _ coming into force probably until next week enough, might we need some more things— next week enough, might we need some more things to make sure on the ground _ more things to make sure on the ground spreading before christmas was even _ ground spreading before christmas was even less? squash that sombrero. that phrase _ was even less? squash that sombrero. that phrase that borisjohnson use, now hearing again making sure that some _ now hearing again making sure that some of— now hearing again making sure that some of those places, and inevitable people _ some of those places, and inevitable people i_ some of those places, and inevitable people i can catch coronavirus but maybe _ people i can catch coronavirus but maybe they will get it after christmas, before they've done is much _ christmas, before they've done is much mingling and socialising and passing _ much mingling and socialising and passing potential viruses between older— passing potential viruses between older family members passing potential viruses between olderfamily members and passing potential viruses between older family members and younger family— older family members and younger family members. that's really what the government is hoping for. the times the government is hoping for. tie: times describes michael the government is hoping for. ti9: times describes michael gove the government is hoping for. ti9 times describes michael gove is one of those on the forefront pushing for tougher measures you mentioned seven javid last for tougher measures you mentioned sevenjavid last hour. somebody said there was slightly surprised when yourseven there was slightly surprised when your seven javid speaking there was slightly surprised when your sevenjavid speaking saying confidently sl secretary don't worry we don't expect her to any curbs on travel over christmas. you look at the stuff now you think, i'm a bit confused, is not a medical message or is that a political message aimed at the conservative backbenchers at at the conservative backbenchers at a time we know they are pretty temporary due at grumpy about having to vote again on further restrictions next week. yeah, it seems there — restrictions next week. yeah, it seems there could _ restrictions next week. yeah, it seems there could be _ restrictions next week. yeah, it seems there could be a - restrictions next week. yeah, it - seems there could be a reasonable, sizeable rebellion against some of these measures was up a lot of tory mps have been kicking back about some of the mooted things that have surfaced we know yes, michael gove it's been pretty robust on this as one of the people in cabinet who has pushed for more stringent measures was up i think the other issue is that you talked about javid here, deafness. i think to some extent not wise to try and offer any definitive. things change at breakneck speed. i remember speaking to a cabinet minister last year said you know, do you think it's fine to do it or are we unit head and other lockdown? and they said no you're fine. then within 2a hours or something like that, theyjust don't know. something like that, they 'ust don't know. : :, v ' : something like that, they 'ust don't know. w w something like that, they 'ust don't know. : :, v m , �* know. and that's difficult isn't it? this one thing — know. and that's difficult isn't it? this one thing we _ know. and that's difficult isn't it? this one thing we expected - know. and that's difficult isn't it? this one thing we expected a - know. and that's difficult isn't it? l this one thing we expected a public house crisis is we can be reassured that the people in charge no. to be fair to them, were asking them to know, the unknown unknowns and all of that. you just think it's a heck job, it's a tough position to be in. it is. ., , �* job, it's a tough position to be in. itis. ., , �* , it is. the only thing i'd say is what they — it is. the only thing i'd say is what they need _ it is. the only thing i'd say is what they need to _ it is. the only thing i'd say is what they need to ensure - it is. the only thing i'd say is what they need to ensure it | it is. the only thing i'd say is | what they need to ensure it is during the first lockdown use are a lot of on attributed briefings i thought really helpful for that when it comes to public health crisis needs to be on their record and the frequency of briefings need to be more and more. they got a habit of doing this daily press conference which is good for the actually i think you need to do something in the morning as well is with the sciences are not politicians. you have these eight hours where his wild speculation.— have these eight hours where his wild speculation. you're right. it's not until wild speculation. you're right. it's rrot until late _ wild speculation. you're right. it's not until late afternoon _ wild speculation. you're right. it's not until late afternoon that - not until late afternoon that somebody actually brings it to an end to actually know, there was a cute misunderstanding that happened in the papers this morning, these are the facts. edi in the papers this morning, these are the facts-— are the facts. of course we don't aet are the facts. of course we don't net the are the facts. of course we don't get the situation _ are the facts. of course we don't get the situation if _ are the facts. of course we don't get the situation if we do - are the facts. of course we don't get the situation if we do get - are the facts. of course we don't get the situation if we do get a l get the situation if we do get a lockdown again to daily televised briefing. lockdown again to daily televised briefinu. ., . lockdown again to daily televised briefinu. . . �* , ., ., briefing. free advice. he's a that was often _ briefing. free advice. he's a that was often free, _ briefing. free advice. he's a that was often free, good _ briefing. free advice. he's a that was often free, good public- briefing. free advice. he's a that i was often free, good public service statement there. interesting in the scottish daily mail which quite appropriately for his audiences is concentrating on what the first minister is saying whether it than what the prime minister is saying. it's a good delight is it? rather appropriate in some way the fight before christmas. it appropriate in some way the fight before christmas.— before christmas. it is. ithink nicola sturgeon _ before christmas. it is. ithink nicola sturgeon is _ before christmas. it is. ithink nicola sturgeon is talked - before christmas. it is. i thinkl nicola sturgeon is talked about being hit by this tsunami is quite apocalyptic language that's being used was up once again we come back to how do you manage... i suspect the reason is to try and block or push people into taking more precautions to try and get behaviour in mind. you see the welsh and scottish governments have been, the language is been very emotive that they've used also what you see coming out of there number ten. = coming out of there number ten. — more so. it's interesting, that difference was up again people don't understand after all talk about the uk health security agency which replaced public health england uk wide release in terms of offering information freely to the three devolved governments and the uk government. we have basically the same scientists offering advice and all of the device is channelled centrally. yet you get messages that have not explicitly been different in tone, can be really like dramatically different. yes, absolutely. _ dramatically different. yes, absolutely. one _ dramatically different. yes, absolutely. one of - dramatically different. yes, absolutely. one of the - dramatically different. yes, | absolutely. one of the main dramatically different. yes, absolutely. one of the main things discussed — absolutely. one of the main things discussed is christmas parties. which — discussed is christmas parties. which in — discussed is christmas parties. which in england borisjohnson is very much— which in england borisjohnson is very much saying carry on with and some _ very much saying carry on with and some people have thought that was a bit strange. on the money and he was a work— bit strange. on the money and he was a work from _ bit strange. on the money and he was a work from home if you can but you can still— a work from home if you can but you can still go— a work from home if you can but you can still go see your office christmas parties with the words in scotland _ christmas parties with the words in scotland nicola sturgeon and has been _ scotland nicola sturgeon and has been quite more explicit in recommending that people don't attend _ recommending that people don't attend those was quite interesting is until— attend those was quite interesting is until very recently when the rules— is until very recently when the rules change in england around the arm of— rules change in england around the arm of grandparent, people were being _ arm of grandparent, people were being forced to isolate if they were identified _ being forced to isolate if they were identified as a close contact of somebody who is suspected of having him that— somebody who is suspected of having him that meant that really into three _ him that meant that really into three weeks before christmas people would _ three weeks before christmas people would potentially be told to isolate at home _ would potentially be told to isolate at home for 14 days just for being in close _ at home for 14 days just for being in close contact. even they were double _ in close contact. even they were double jeff. that was obviously incredibly difficult to the economy but it _ incredibly difficult to the economy but it also — incredibly difficult to the economy but it also meant that people started — but it also meant that people started to adjust their behaviour themselves. even though the government wasn't explicitly saying be a bit _ government wasn't explicitly saying be a bit more careful and don't go to these _ be a bit more careful and don't go to these events or don't go to the office _ to these events or don't go to the office until— to these events or don't go to the office until it changed its message guite _ office until it changed its message quite late — office until it changed its message quite late last week, actually i think— quite late last week, actually i think people had already started to adapt _ think people had already started to adapt their behaviour because they thought. _ adapt their behaviour because they thought. i— adapt their behaviour because they thought, i don't want to be caught up thought, i don't want to be caught up in _ thought, i don't want to be caught up in this — thought, i don't want to be caught up in this. and maybe i'm speaking from _ up in this. and maybe i'm speaking from personal experience but i'm planning — from personal experience but i'm planning to leave the uk next week to find _ planning to leave the uk next week to find see — planning to leave the uk next week to find see my father who lives abroad — to find see my father who lives abroad and spend christmas there. in the week— abroad and spend christmas there. in the week before that, the two weeks i've the week before that, the two weeks i've been— the week before that, the two weeks i've been going... you been living like a _ i've been going... you been living like a hermit. yes exactly. it's a self—inflicted lockdown. making sure that i self—inflicted lockdown. making sure that i can _ self—inflicted lockdown. making sure that i can get that flight. yesl that i can get that flight. yes i have to say. — that i can get that flight. yes i have to say. i _ that i can get that flight. yes i have to say, i don't _ that i can get that flight. yes i | have to say, i don't blame you. that i can get that flight. yes i i have to say, i don't blame you. i hope for your sake and your dads you are successful in getting safely out of this country without being stuck indoors somewhere any more than you are now. interesting story on the front of your paper, aubrey. tough covid comes needed by next week. it suggested we might be on plan b but on to plan c. suggested we might be on plan b but on to plan c— on to plan c. yes. i think the government realises - on to plan c. yes. i think the government realises that - on to plan c. yes. i think the j government realises that the on to plan c. yes. i think the - government realises that the extent of dale's _ government realises that the extent of dale's face the criticism of the conservative backbenchers really makes _ conservative backbenchers really makes it — conservative backbenchers really makes it look like it's responding to quite — makes it look like it's responding to quite a — makes it look like it's responding to quite a serious public health crisis — to quite a serious public health crisis it's_ to quite a serious public health crisis. it's obviously laying out a lot of— crisis. it's obviously laying out a lot of the — crisis. it's obviously laying out a lot of the data we seen today in terms of — lot of the data we seen today in terms of the existing protection offered — terms of the existing protection offered by two jab's. the government saying _ offered by two jab's. the government saying it's _ offered by two jab's. the government saying it's not really an hour. given — saying it's not really an hour. given we _ saying it's not really an hour. given we talked about 36% have had the third _ given we talked about 36% have had the third jab. that's suggests a lot of the _ the third jab. that's suggests a lot of the population artfully protected. take the main thing is that the — protected. take the main thing is that the government is cut quite a significant — that the government is cut quite a significant backlash on its hands. they— significant backlash on its hands. they could — significant backlash on its hands. they could be up to 100 conservative mps a _ they could be up to 100 conservative mps a vote _ they could be up to 100 conservative mps a vote against measures was up all the _ mps a vote against measures was up all the stock of plan c will really ramp _ all the stock of plan c will really ramp up— all the stock of plan c will really ramp up the cautionary tale that the peas state _ ramp up the cautionary tale that the peas state we really need to do this without _ peas state we really need to do this without the tory rebellion that boris — without the tory rebellion that borisjohnson face was without the tory rebellion that boris johnson face was about 53 conservative mps in december last year was _ conservative mps in december last year was up if the government can convince _ year was up if the government can convince the conservative mps that more _ convince the conservative mps that more measures are needed and specifically that's because the 0micron — specifically that's because the omicron variant has wreaked havoc with the _ omicron variant has wreaked havoc with the two jab protection that really— with the two jab protection that really has a stronger argument to say actually we need a plan c that is more _ say actually we need a plan c that is more tailored to omicron. giles, would ou is more tailored to omicron. giles, would you make — is more tailored to omicron. giles, would you make of _ is more tailored to omicron. giles, would you make of theguardian - is more tailored to omicron. (1: t9: would you make of theguardian story? i think the governments got another massive headache next week. as aubrey was saying, there is a rebellion brewing and the tory party can be unruly. it can be unruly at the best of times. i think they've got a massive headache and i think there's going to be a real push from a lot of them and influential ones who are just a lot of them and influential ones who arejust in a lot of them and influential ones who are just in essay we are not in abydos. enough is enough. it's interesting, even teresa mae is quite moderate and has come out and said we can't go into another lockdown. it said we can't go into another lockdown-— said we can't go into another lockdown. ., , ., , lockdown. if the i love the story. but then lockdown. if the i love the story. lout then i— lockdown. if the i love the story. but then i would, _ lockdown. if the i love the story. but then i would, would - lockdown. if the i love the story. but then i would, would not? - lockdown. if the i love the story. | but then i would, would not? i'm not a dog owner. it's in front of the telegraph do you have a dog, gilles? i literally have just got a dog. telegraph do you have a dog, gilles? i literally havejust got a dog. and this story is saying that owners need to be trained about how they handle their dogs and the bad behaviour comes from the owners not from the breeze. and they are looking at — breeds. they're looking at whether there will be legislation around us. ijust sent my dog off to dog training school. but i got a labrador so they are known to have a pretty good temperament. absolutely. they're not a nuisance when it comes to dogs at home, anyway. pare they're not a nuisance when it comes to dogs at home, anyway.— to dogs at home, anyway. are we come u . to dogs at home, anyway. are we come up presuming — to dogs at home, anyway. are we come up presuming you _ to dogs at home, anyway. are we come up presuming you have _ to dogs at home, anyway. are we come up presuming you have a _ to dogs at home, anyway. are we come up presuming you have a got _ to dogs at home, anyway. are we come up presuming you have a got a - to dogs at home, anyway. are we come up presuming you have a got a dog - to dogs at home, anyway. are we come up presuming you have a got a dog at l up presuming you have a got a dog at the moment if you're about to go off to italy. the moment if you're about to go off to ital . .. , the moment if you're about to go off toital. , , to italy. exactly right. of course this is quite _ to italy. exactly right. of course this is quite good _ to italy. exactly right. of course this is quite good that _ to italy. exactly right. of course this is quite good that i'm - to italy. exactly right. of course - this is quite good that i'm at home, dogs _ this is quite good that i'm at home, dogs are _ this is quite good that i'm at home, dogs are just for christmas. i think the most _ dogs are just for christmas. i think the most interesting detail i saw in the most interesting detail i saw in the little _ the most interesting detail i saw in the little snippet on the front was some _ the little snippet on the front was some of— the little snippet on the front was some of the legislation changes mean that peoples will be able to again. that would be quite interesting because — that would be quite interesting because it means that peoples — people _ because it means that peoples — people will have different breeds of do-s people will have different breeds of dogs was _ people will have different breeds of dogs was that there's a lot of people — dogs was that there's a lot of people who are dog owners who... thank— people who are dog owners who... thank you — people who are dog owners who... thank you very much. lovely to talk to you both. i have to say, aubrey was making the point about legislation. i mentioned lloyd baker, i think lloyd bakerfor all the good things we said about him — the lord baker. that was not his finest legislative hour. good luck to the government if they planning to the government if they planning to tackle that particular bone of contention. thank you both very much. happy landings, aubrey. if we don't speak to you giles, i'll be off on with your labrador over christmas. thank you both for being with us. the papers will be back again tomorrow. we been warned by giles to expect interesting stuff. the papers will be back again tomorrow evening withjoe mayes from bloomberg and former pensions minister ros altmanndo join us then if you can but for now, goodnight. will be very interesting to see what they make of the papers. goodnight and my colleague nancy will be here after the sport and weathered with the midnight news. good evening... brentford came from behind to beat watford 2—1 in the premier league. it was watford, attempting to avoid relegation, who took the lead through emmanuel denis in the first half. but two quick very late goals, the first came from pontus jannson who was able to head home and then deep into injury time brentford had a penalty when william ekong was ajudged to have tripped saman ghoddos. bryan mbeumo stepped up and made it 2—1. brentford climb to ninth. watford remain just outside the relegation zone. brentford were missing ivan toney and ethan pinnock for tonight's match — both tested positive for covid, and the virus is once again having an impact. the premier league reintroduced anti—coronavirus measures after a large outbreak in the tottenham squad caused sunday's game against brighton to be called off and today norwich's manager dean smith says the club are anxiously awaiting results of tests ahead of their game against manchester united tomorrow. there's a couple of players who we were worried about, so we've tested and will wait for the pcr results. just feeling a little bit unwell. not likely to relate to the game last week with tottenham. just a general, with the whole nation at the moment holding our breath. steven gerrard is obviously a liverpool legend playing more than 710 games, scoring 186 goals in a 17—year career at anfield. but when he takes his new aston villa side there in the premier league tomorrow he realises he may not be very popular if villa win. they're 10th in the table compared with liverpool's second place and flying form. i really respect and understand all the noise around the game for obvious reasons. i spent many years there. it brings a smile on me face because i've got her good relationship with a lot of people at the club. i'm a local boy. i always will support that team. but at the same time, it brings a smile to me face because of the opportunities to go there and compete against group c. that's my only main focus. now to rugby union and it was a nightmare start to the new european champions cup for northampton saints. they were thrashed by 45 points to 14 by racing 92 at franklins gardens. the french side scored five tries in the game. the pick of them created by scotland stand—off finn russell a brilliant, trademark run from him, before that lovely off—load to wenceslas lauret for the score. it's the climax to the formula one season this weekend. and who win the title is anyone's guess. max verstappen and lewis hamilton are level on points, verstappen only top by virtue of winning nine races to the reigning champions eight. it's the briton who topped the time sheets in friday's second practice. he was more than half a second quicker than his title rival, which is a huge margin in formula one. although the dutchman was fastest in the morning session. our reporterjennie gow is in abu dhabi. when it comes to the way this track has been re— profile from last year to this, they've got rid of a lot of the bits that red bull would've excelled at. actually, they've met it a lot of fast, flowing corridors which typically has on the way of mercedes. so you have to say that lewis hamilton came into this weekend as favourite but as we seen already, the rule book this year has been thrown out. they are so good, these two drivers, i don't think you can split them. and that's the great thing about this, it's also the difficult thing because it makes its challenging for us commentating. they have said that if you interfere with the championship being won the way it should be one you can get penalised for that whether it you are one of the title can tenders or a team—mate. that was issued to all the teams, issued to us as media and the fans added this weekend. they are rules that are always there, theyjust had highlighted them. but i think today they were speaking in the press conferences and both team bosses were saying we want this done cleanly, done the right way. and i think there is a genuine intention from the teams that it is done on track and not in the stewart's office afterward or in the international court of appeals sometime later. everybody wants this to be a spectacular race and finale. michael schumacher manage seven world titles, this would be one more. and he's had to fight this year harder than he is maybe ever bought before. max verstappen is a truly inspired driver has pushed him ever that is been pushed before. driver has pushed him ever andy murray has split with long—time coach jamie delgado. murray brought him into his team during the 2016 season when he won a second wimbledon title and finished the year as the world number one. former british davis cup player delgado took over as full—time coach in late 2017. murray has decided to give a trial to germanjan de witt, who has previously coached gael monfils, gilles simon and nikoloz basilashvili. ronnie o'sullivan is through to the semifinals of snookers scottish open. as in his previous match, the rocket wasn't at his best, but he just had too much for china's li hang. a fantastic double here in frame seven was the highlight of his 5—4 win. full details of all the quarterfinals matches on the bbc sport website. that's just about it. don't forget coverage of day four of the first ashes test continues through the night with commentary on test match special, plus full coverage on the bbc website, including in —play clips. that's bbc dot c0 dot uk slash sport, but that's all the sport for now. hello. a big change in the feel of the weather through this weekend with some milder air spreading from the west. but with that, a fair amount of cloud, some mist, and murk and hill fog and some outbreaks of rain at times. on the earlier satellite picture, a slice of clear sky, and where that clear sky remains, quite a cold start to saturday morning. the coldest weather of the whole weekend, in fact. out west, more cloud, and with that some milder weather, which is slowly but surely going to crawl its way eastwards through the day. so, temperatures in eastern parts starting the day below freezing, western areas well above. belfast at six, plymouth at eight degrees, and as we go through the day, the milder but cloudier and wetter conditions will work eastwards. so early sunshine in eastern scotland, eastern england, that won't last long, things will tend to cloud over. briefly, a bit of sleet and snow over high ground in scotland. but as you can see, it will turn back to rain because as this wet weather continues to track eastwards, it will introduce ever milder conditions. so 12 degrees for belfast, for cardiff, for plymouth, just six in aberdeen, seven in norwich. but actually, as we go through saturday night, we will bring that milder weather further eastwards. whereas we normally expect temperatures to drop through the night, they won't across some eastern parts of england, for example, ending the night at 10 degrees in norwich and hull, five there in aberdeen, very mild out towards the west. all the while some cloud, some outbreaks of rain, some clear spells across the northern half of the country. then through sunday, again, there's going to be quite a lot of cloud. that cloud producing some outbreaks of rain at times, especially through northwest england, northern ireland, up into southwest scotland. some brighter glimpses here and there and a very, very mild afternoon, eight to 14 degrres. now, we have to keep a close eye on developments during sunday night, because this small but potent weather feature is expected to pass close to the far northwest, a deepening area of low pressure. that is set to bring some very strong winds across parts of northern ireland, but perhaps most especially in exposed parts of western and northern scotland, particularly for the western and northern isles, there could be some really quite stormy weather for a time. we will keep you posted on that one throughout the weekend. into next week, it stays relatively mild. a bit of rain around for a time, perhaps settling down later in the week. this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. i'm nancy kacungira. the uk government has warned that the omicron variant could be the dominant strain in britain within a week — with a senior minister saying situation is seriously worrying the us supreme court leaves a controversial texas law banning most abortions in place — president biden says he's "very concerned". britain's foreign secretary warns russia of severe economic consequences if it invades ukraine — ahead of a g7 meeting this weekend. the wikileaks founder julian assange can be extradited to stand trial in the us, according to the latest legal ruling in britain. and mike nesmith — singer and guitarist