we'll be answering your questions on how to manage covid risks over the christmas period. you can get in touch with us using the #bbcyourquestions, or email at yourquestions@bbc.co.uk. uk tourists are to be banned from france — from saturday, only french citizens or britons who live there will be allowed to enter the country. but this time hauliers are exempt. the bank of england increases interest rates for the first time in more than three years, from 0.1% to 0.25%. good luck, rose. and there has been an increase in the number of people signing up to learn sign language since the deaf actress rose ayling ellis appeared on this year's series of strictly come dancing. the uk's chief medical adviser has warned that the previous daily record for the number of people admitted to hospital with coronavirus could be exceeded. that was 4,500 seen injanuary. speaking to mps, professor chris whitty said that the present wave of the omicron variant was likely to peak quite quickly, but that it could also reduce faster than previous peaks. health officials have warned that nhs services may be badly affected by staff illness as omicron spreads rapidly, and that they are trying to keep routine hospital services going as much as possible. here's our health correspondent, dominic hughes. with the number of new covid—19 infection is surging, how will the nhs and social care cope? with a highly infectious new variant, one of the biggest concerns is what will happen when — as seems inevitable — large numbers of staff fall ill, while at the same time hospital admissions are climbing. we will keep as much of our routine services going as possible, that's what we did last january during the last big wave. but inevitably, if we get many more admissions over the coming weeks, we will see some disruption. from today, we have new drugs available that we can give to the highest risk people in the community, which will also prevent hospital admissions. there's also the question of what we can do to protect ourselves in the run—up to christmas. officials are stressing they don't want to tell people how to live their lives but to think about what matters most. people want to protect the time that is most important to them, and that therefore means in practice it is sensible for people to cut down on work or other interactions with people, including social ones, which are less important to them so that they reduce their chances of catching covid—19 and reduce the chances of passing it on. getting boosterjabs into as many arms as possible remains the government's main tactic for tackling the new wave. this vaccination centre in kent has seen the number ofjabs being delivered increased fourfold. the prime minister denied there was any confusion between the message from health experts and ministers. there is a lot of omicron around, be careful, exercise caution if you want to avoid isolation, getting unwell over christmas. implement plan b, but get boosted now as the fastest route back to normality, because the booster does give you an excellent level of protection. in scotland, it expected that omicron will be the dominant strain of coronavirus by tomorrow. nicola sturgeon has confirmed restrictions designed to curb the spread of coronavirus, which will affect shops and hospitality venues in scotland, will come into force tomorrow. rules on physical distancing and the management of queueing in shops will be reintroduced. infections climbing fast, warnings that too much socialising now could ruin the festive break. it's beginning to feel a lot last christmas. dominic hughes, bbc news. and the bbc has launched an nhs tracker to allow you to find out how your local services are coping in england, wales and scotland. it'll run through the winter. you can find out more at bbc.co.uk/nhstracker. pressure is building on the government from business groups to help firms — and particularly hospitality — deal with the financial fallout from this latest covid wave. many hotels, pubs and restaurants are facing cancellations over the normally busy christmas period. our business correspondent, theo leggett, has this report. the run—up to christmas in manchester's northern quarter. despite the surge in covid—i9 cases, lesley and her daughter seem to be determined to get into the festive spirit. i think it's important to not be scared by things and carry on but i think it's good to test before you go out. i'll be testing before i go everywhere but i won't be changing my plans will be scared by some of the messaging being put out. i'm not going to change my plans. i'm going to be more cautious and test and things and i will be a little bit nervy but i'm not going to let that scare me. i feel sorry for hospitality, so i've got a few things planned but i'm still going to go, i'm not cancelling. not everyone is so upbeat. this bournemouth restaurant owner is picking up the pieces because too many customers have cancelled. three weeks ago, we were looking at pretty much a full christmas. something that would basically keep us going for the next three or four months into the spring. we are now looking at a disaster. i mean, cancellations are all over the place. the problem pubs and restaurants are facing is simple. they haven't been forced to close but people have been advised to think twice before going out, and many are choosing to stay at home. that meant an awful lot of cancelled bookings. during lockdowns, hospitality businesses could call on government support. that's not the case now, and the industry says help is badly needed. firstly, we need local authorities to distribute the cash they are currently sitting on that's available to them to give grants to businesses to maintain employment. secondly, we need extended business rates relief so these businesses don't face big bills injanuary. finally, extend a lower rate of vat, keep it at 12.5% through the summer. pressure on the government is growing but this morning ministers weren't making any promises. the chancellor throughout this pandemic has been deeply engaged with business representatives throughout and he will continue to do so. he was on a long—planned business trip to the us, conducting government business, and he will continue to engage today with other ministers. the run—up to christmas is one of the most important times of the year for hospitality businesses and their suppliers. those running them insist if they don't get help many pubs and restaurants will not survive long into the new year. theo leggett, bbc news. most travellers from the uk will soon be banned from entering france — as the government there tries to control the spread of the omicron covid variant. tourism and work trips to the country will no longer be permitted. french citizens and their immediate families won't be affected, but they'll face stricter rules on testing and isolation. joining me now is sean tipton, from the association of british travel agents. thank you forjoining us this afternoon. is this the right move, given the circumstances? if you look at the experiences of the uk placing at the experiences of the uk placing a number of african countries on the travel based as it —— and then removing them as it became evident that the list was not effective in restricting the spread of omicron? public health must come first, but the world health organization said if you want to control the spread of the virus, you should stick to things like social distancing and wearing face must, so travel bans do not stop it from spreading. we surveyed our members, saying what level of business you are out at the moment, and they said they were only at the fifth of their level before the pandemic. we are hearing how badly affected the hospitality industry is, but we are in an even worse place and have been for a longer period of time as well. the? longer period of time as well. they will add a fifth — longer period of time as well. they will add a fifth of _ longer period of time as well. they will add a fifth of their— longer period of time as well. they will add a fifth of their normal level of business, even before deb won came into play?— won came into play? yeah, even before this- _ won came into play? yeah, even before this. -- _ won came into play? yeah, even before this. -- even _ won came into play? yeah, even before this. -- even before - won came into play? yeah, even before this. -- even before i - before this. —— even before i omicron came into play? the ski and snow sector will be most affected by this french ban. there are enquiries from people who are desperate to go, and that did improve once the government said he did not have to do tests before returning to the country. the ski and snow sector are in a bad lace already. france are not the country, but they will be looking for alternatives and they will civilly have to refund them which will mean they will take a massive financial hit over this when they are in tough times already. the government needs to step up to the plate, say that they recognise the french decision is not paid by them but they have made decisions which have really impacted on the travel industry. if you are going to do this, give us some money, provide grants to key companies, otherwise there will be huge failures. we know there will be huge failures. we know the chancellor _ there will be huge failures. we know the chancellor has _ there will be huge failures. we know the chancellor has said _ there will be huge failures. we know the chancellor has said he _ there will be huge failures. we know the chancellor has said he will- there will be huge failures. we know the chancellor has said he will be - the chancellor has said he will be talking to representatives from the hospitality sector soon. precisely what help do you want from the government? we are waiting to find out the data to understand how serious omicron is. even if it is milder, the sheer number of people getting it will cause a problem. are you looking for some targeted limited support here? we you looking for some targeted limited support here?- limited support here? we are definitely asking _ limited support here? we are definitely asking for - limited support here? we are definitely asking for financial| definitely asking for financial assistance. the government said they had given money to the aviation sector, but the tour operators and similar have had very little assistance. some money would be great, but also we need to look at when they make these decisions, about the rationale behind them. they took those countries in africa of the red list because omicron is already here. in many of the destinations we travel to, their infection rates are considerably lower than here. they said they would review that, the rationale behind people taking tests. could they not do it sooner than that? once the variant is here, it doesn't make much difference. again, that is from the world health organization. thank you. the queen has cancelled her traditional pre—christmas family lunch at windsor castle next week as a precautionary measure, following the uk's surge in omicron cases. a source said it was felt the annual event could put too many people's christmas plans at risk. and we'll be putting all your questions on the omicron variant and any changes people are planning to make before christmas to experts in your questions answered. you can get in touch on twitter using the #bbcyourquestions, or email at yourquestions@bbc.co.uk. that will be at 2:30pm this afternoon. the bank of england has raised interest rates from 0.1% to 0.25%. with inflation soaring to its highest level in a decade, it had been widely expected to raise rates from their historic low. the move came despite fears that the omicron variant of covid could slow the uk economy by causing people to spend less. our economics correspondent, andy verity, spoke to the governor of the bank of england and asked him how far he thought inflation could increase. in the short run, the next three or four months, it could get to around six. we are seeing further upward pressure on wholesale gas prices. it went up a lot after august, they are going up again. it is directly related to some of the tensions we are seeing on the border between russia and ukraine, where a lot of europe's gas supply comes through. that will feed through when the next price cap is set for all of us as domestic customers. that will feed through to the next price cap. the ci did through to the next price cap. the city did not _ through to the next price cap. the city did not expect a rise now, you would expect for you to wait to see how the omicron variant is hitting the economy. truth? how the omicron variant is hitting the economy-— how the omicron variant is hitting the economy. why now? there is a tiuht the economy. why now? there is a tight labour — the economy. why now? there is a tight labour market _ the economy. why now? there is a tight labour market and _ the economy. why now? there is a tight labour market and we - the economy. why now? there is a tight labour market and we are - tight labour market and we are seeing more persistent inflation pressures, which is what we have to act on. we are concerned about inflation in the medium—term. we have to act now. we have thought a lot about omicron. we don't know a lot about omicron. we don't know a lot about omicron. we don't know a lot about it at the moment, but i would say this, it certainly does have an effect on activity in the economy. we are seeing impacts on mobility, footfall in retail outlets, restaurant bookings and so on. it is not clear whether it will cause inflation pressure to come down or even go up, and that is a very important factor for us. with me now is yael selfin, chief economist at kpmg uk. thank you forjoining us. we said in the introduction that the bank of england had been widely expected to raise interest rates following those inflation figures yesterday, but that rice was not expected to come, most thought, until the new year. why have they done it now? to most thought, until the new year. why have they done it now?- why have they done it now? to be honest, i think _ why have they done it now? to be honest, i think this _ why have they done it now? to be honest, i think this is _ why have they done it now? to be honest, i think this is probably - why have they done it now? trr ye: honest, i think this is probably the right move because ultimately interest rates take time to influence inflation. they really have a more medium—term horizon. the omicron setback is more of a short—term development. we are expecting relatively week december and weak qi, but for the economy to recover afterwards. therefore these are two separate decisions. given the inflationary pressures we are seeing at the moment, and that inflation will become more permanently high, that was probably the right call. but unexpected because i think, to be fair, the signals we had from the embassy members in the run—up to the decisions were quite different to what we heard today. so decisions were quite different to what we heard today.— decisions were quite different to what we heard today. so how much do ou think what we heard today. so how much do you think this — what we heard today. so how much do you think this will _ what we heard today. so how much do you think this will make _ what we heard today. so how much do you think this will make a _ you think this will make a difference if the aim is to stop prices going up? the inflation figure we saw yesterday, the rate of the rise in the cost of living. if the rise in the cost of living. if the bank of england's aim is to stop prices going up, will this work, given globalfactors? lots prices going up, will this work, given global factors? lots of economists are saying there are factors the bank of and cannot control that will force them to keep rising? it control that will force them to keep risin: ? , . , control that will force them to keep risinu? , ., , ., control that will force them to keep risinu? , ., i.” ., ., control that will force them to keep risin? , ., i.” ., ., ., rising? it is really a signal to all of us that _ rising? it is really a signal to all of us that the _ rising? it is really a signal to all of us that the bank _ rising? it is really a signal to all of us that the bank is _ rising? it is really a signal to all of us that the bank is serious i rising? it is really a signal to all. of us that the bank is serious about inflation, and it is hoped that it bought influence our expectations of inflation. when we about increasing prices, and demanding higher wages, we will probably know that interest rates will start going up. inflation will moderate back to the target at a timely manner. so savers have suffered for a long time now, because of the low interest rates. well this have any impact, this modest increase for savers? , , , ~ savers? this is the beginning. we are exoecting _ savers? this is the beginning. we are exoecting in _ savers? this is the beginning. we are expecting in further— savers? this is the beginning. we are expecting in further increases| are expecting in further increases next year. we could see interest rates going up to i%, potentially, by the end of the year, or early next year. they would continue rising from then. we have just started a new cycle of interest rate hikes with this announcement today, essentially. ok. hikes with this announcement today, essentiall . . ~ hikes with this announcement today, essentiall . ., ~' , ., hikes with this announcement today, essentiall . ., ~ , ., ., , ., essentially. ok, thank you for your anal sis essentially. ok, thank you for your analysis of— essentially. ok, thank you for your analysis of that. _ some breaking news about schools. the education secretary has to school and college leaders to say the government will try to boost the numbers of supply teachers by encouraging recently retired staff to consider a return to work. teacher shortages due to coronavirus are emerging as perhaps the biggest problem as schools plan to reopen after the christmas break. in his letter, the education secretary said that in areas with high absence, the issue could be the availability of supply staff. we want to make sure as many as possible are available to schools and colleges. we are looking at what steps and measures we can put in place to boost supply capacity. he says we will work with supply leaders to provide advice to x teachers who want to supply schools and colleges. we will bring you more on that throughout the afternoon. parents should talk to their children about pornography and online sexual harassment and from a young age. that's according to the children's commissioner for england. dame rachel de souza says young people want their parents to broach these topics. she's written a new guide with the help of teenagers and young adults. the "overriding" message from the group of 16— to 21—year—olds consulted was to "talk early, talk often". parents are advised to keep the conversation going to ensure there is no "awkwardness" or "taboo" subjects. it also suggests that parents should talk about the risks of sharing pictures when they first give their child a phone — and explain early on that they might be sent naked pictures. well, earlier, dame rachel de souza explained how the guide came about. these i6—21—year—olds are really, really serious about this. they put their time in to write a brilliant guide. and not only have they outlined the harms that children and young people face online, there are brilliant things about the online world, but there are some real harms too and they are outlined in here. but their most powerful advice was set boundaries, you know, don't let your underage child go on social media accounts. set some time boundaries. they also really wanted to talk to their parents. and it's quite funny because they all talked about that embarrassing conversation, you know, oh, don'tjust come all at once, mum and dad, and have that big conversation. talk to us often. talk to us in an age—appropriate way. joining me now is donna jones, who is the the association of police and crime commissioners joint victims lead, as well as holding the post of police and crime commissioner for hampshire & the isle of wight. thank you very much for your time this afternoon. i was reading in the last few days, i'm sure lots of people have seen the reports from billy eilish talking about seeing pornography at the age of ii and the impact that had on her, the nightmares she experienced afterwards. but it is a difficult judgment, isn't it? you want to preserve children's innocence was long as possible. how do you do that but also forewarned them about what they might encounter when they start using social media and get their own phones, for example? it is using social media and get their own phones, for example?— phones, for example? it is a fantastic _ phones, for example? it is a fantastic question, - phones, for example? it is a fantastic question, an - phones, for example? it is a - fantastic question, an important one. i welcome dame to susan's reported a as it has been formulated in that intro with teenagers, with young people. we know that most most children get a smartphone between ten and i2, children get a smartphone between ten and 12, when they start secondary school. on a smartphone, within three clicks, you could be accessing free and sometimes quite brutalised pornography. it is normalising quite unusual behaviour. for example, strangulation during sex. it is a real concern and this is probably one of the things we think now is leading towards this violence against women and girls agenda. it starts very young, with normalising behaviours which we, you and died, would think are completely unusual. i do welcome the report's recommendations, there are ten of them. they focus on speaking to your children. if you don't tell them about the harm on the mobile phone from pornography, from people sending them indecent images, from people trying to pretend to be other teenagers on chat rooms or social media, they won't know that if people approach them. speak to your children before you give them a smartphone, that is crucial. we know the online safety _ smartphone, that is crucial. we know the online safety bill— smartphone, that is crucial. we know the online safety bill is _ smartphone, that is crucial. we know the online safety bill is attempting i the online safety bill is attempting to place greater restrictions on social media companies, including criminal offences for bosses of social media companies, to encourage them to take all measures to stop this happening in the first place. but it is interesting, as you pointed out in your first answer, that a lot of the ideas are coming from children and young people themselves is how best to approach this. i know you have been involved in the young ambassadors programme. tell me more about that.— tell me more about that. through my office, tell me more about that. through my office. they — tell me more about that. through my office. they set _ tell me more about that. through my office. they set no — tell me more about that. through my office, they set up one _ tell me more about that. through my office, they set up one of— tell me more about that. through my office, they set up one of the - office, they set up one of the first, before i was elected, cyber ambassador schemes. we run this for years for and five upwards, we have had a recognition from massive delivery companies in the uk. we are now working with the private sector to work this out and scale it up to schools across the whole of the uk. it is about saying to young people from primary age, right up to university and college age children, that there is harm out there. i have two teenage sons, one is 16 and one is 18. when i gave them their smartphone, i said, is 18. when i gave them their smartphone, isaid, when is 18. when i gave them their smartphone, i said, when i allowed you to go to the park on your own or the shop, i warned you about not talking to strangers, that there are lots and lots of really good people that live where we live but also some not so great people. so you just need to be aware. i made the exact same correlation to social media. isaid, most exact same correlation to social media. i said, most people on social media. i said, most people on social media will be teenagers or whatever social media function you are on. if someone starts asking you to send pictures of yourself or asking for your address or more personal details, question who they are, and wonder if they are a grown—up who might want to do something bad to you. we don't want to frighten children, but they do need to be aware of the potential out there. so this report is incredibly important, and particularly because it has been formulated by young people themselves. i formulated by young people themselves.— formulated by young people themselves. ., , ., ., ., , ., themselves. i was going to ask you, what would — themselves. i was going to ask you, what would your _ themselves. i was going to ask you, what would your advice _ themselves. i was going to ask you, what would your advice be _ themselves. i was going to ask you, what would your advice be to - themselves. i was going to ask you, | what would your advice be to parents who say, how do i begin this conversation? you explain how you have had that conversation with your sons. so what would you say to parents who may feel awkward, who may feel nervous about having these conversations with their kids? it is better to be having a pre—emptied conversation than dealing with a heartbroken child whose images have been shared around school, or they have been exploited by someone who was pretending to be a teenager but was a paedophile. we have seen many harms to children, as we have seen recently. it is better to have those conversations, it doesn't have to be gratuitous, you don't have to go into detail, but for me it has always been about making my children, and talking to my friends about making their children aware of the homes online. you are aware when you are going to the shop or to the park or on public transport. while social media is amazing, it is right and proper that we do have additional protections. the new police, courts and crime sentencing bill introduces new legislation for up skirt in and teenagers can have action taken against them for sharing indecent images of each other without probation. the government are taking steps, more needs to be done, more raising awareness is so important. if you have that conversation and you have a teenager living in your home with you that has access to a smartphone, perhaps a five minute conversation over dinner every couple of months, could really prevent some quite serious harm. very good advice. thank you for your time. now it's time for a look at the weather with stav danaos. hello there. we are keeping hold of this benign weather for the foreseen future. all down to this large blocking area of high pressure which will dominate the weather. there will dominate the weather. there will be a lot of gloomy, cloudy skies but also some sunshine. most places will be dry. we have had that weather front bringing further light and patchy rain to scotland and the northern ireland. the best of the sunshine has been eastern scotland and eastern england. it has been mild with captures into double figures. this evening and overnight, most places stay rather cloudy with some mist and merkin places. release the rain in the far north of the country. eastern scotland and eastern england will see some clear spells. they could be some mist an fog developing under the clear skies. lows of four to 7 degrees. a big area of high pressure will be sitting on top of the uk this weekend, then drifting towards iceland by sunday and into the start of next week. that will allow some cool air to move in from the north sea. on friday, a similar story, dry, light winds, a lot of cloud. the best of any brightness and eastern scotland and north—east england. temperature wise, may a notch down on today's values, seven to 11 degrees. the weekend, very little change, largely cloudy and grey, and dry, and turning cooler. you can see a lot of cloud around on saturday, may be some brightness in the far south—west. again, high ground avoiding the cloud. temperatures five to 8 degrees in the north and east, double figures in the south—west. but that cooler air begins to move southwards, giving many single figure values across—the—board. that cooling trend continues in the run—up to christmas. we could even see some wintry showers across northern and eastern areas, with that onshore north—easterly breeze. some models want to favour some warm air moving in from the south—west to bring some rain. it could become a battleground of air masses towards the end of the week, so stay tuned. hello, this is bbc news. iam i am annita mcveigh. the headlines: the country's chief medical officer says the uk could surpass previous records of people admitted to hospital with covid—19 and warns of major challenges in the days ahead. the chancellor will hold talks with representatives of the hospitality sector, who are asking for further government support to cope with the challenges of the omicron variant. uk tourists are to be banned from france. from saturday only french citizens or britons who live there will be allowed to enter the country. but this time hauliers are exempt. and the bank of england increases interest rates for the first time in more than three years, from 0.1% to 0.25%. sport now and for a full round—up from the bbc sport centre, here'sjohn watson. lovely to see you, i am very well. good afternoon. leicester's match with tottenanham in the premier league tonight has been postponed as the grip of the covid outbreak worsens. it is the fourth match to be called off, with at least half of all clubs in the top flight affected by positive cases. brentford, who were due to play manchester united on tuesday, have at least 13 players missing with the virus. their manager, thomas frank, has called for a suspension of all fixtures in the premier league this weekend. we think we should postpone the full round of premier league games this weekend coming up. the covid—19 cases are going through the roof in all the premier league clubs, everyone is dealing with it and everyone has a problem at this moment in time. to postpone this round and also the kowbowka round, we want to carry on, we think it's important that football keeps going, but this way, we can have the boxing day going without problems, 100% sure of that. so in that aspect, we think that would be very sensible to do that. it's been a frustrating first day for england in the second ashes test in adelaide. it sounds familiar, doesn't it? australia closed on 221—2 after winning the toss. england recalled veteran fast bowlers, james anderson and stuart broad, and although they helped keep australia's run rate down, the tourists will rue several missed chances with wicket keeper jos buttler dropping two catches. patrick gearey reports. in adelaide, before the first ball came the phone call. australia captain pat cummins isolating, steve smith back in thejob he once captain pat cummins isolating, steve smith back in the job he once left in tears and a cheating scandal. his first choice was to bat, so the recalled stuart broad took the ball and so somehow did jos buttler. filth. and so somehow did jos buttler. oh, that was and so somehow did jos buttler. on that was brilliant! and so somehow did jos buttler. oh, that was brilliant! marcus _ and so somehow did jos buttler. oh, that was brilliant! marcus harris - that was brilliant! marcus harris one, that was brilliant! marcus harris gone. just _ that was brilliant! marcus harris gone. just the _ that was brilliant! marcus harris gone, just the start _ that was brilliant! marcus harris gone, just the start england - that was brilliant! marcus harris i gone, just the start england were reaching for. but the spring recoiled, the scene reset, australia rebuilt. england needed a moment... was that it? oh!— was that it? oh! shane had scored 'ust 21, was that it? oh! shane had scored just 21. paul— was that it? oh! shane had scored just 21, paul butler _ was that it? oh! shane had scored just 21, paul butler had _ was that it? oh! shane had scored just 21, paul butler had front - was that it? oh! shane had scored just 21, paul butler had front row. just 21, paul butler had front row seats to watch him and david warner bat on. both past 50. perhaps england were waiting for to search to conditions to change, but these are not the faces of optimistic men. so few imagined that one, a pantomime villain five runs from his 100... would do that. his heart sank, there is lifted. but the polls did not quicken the game for some time, shame scoring carefully and sparingly, perhaps remembering this was his second chance. and yet, against the new ball he would get a third. he against the new ball he would get a third. , ., �* ., , , third. he is gone! butler dropped one! reprieved _ third. he is gone! butler dropped one! reprieved again _ third. he is gone! butler dropped one! reprieved again on - third. he is gone! butler dropped one! reprieved again on 95. - third. he is gone! butler dropped one! reprieved again on 95. forl one! reprieved again on 95. for butler, one! reprieved again on 95. for butler. jos _ one! reprieved again on 95. for butler, jos buttler, _ one! reprieved again on 95. for butler, jos buttler, and - one! reprieved again on 95. for butler, jos buttler, and for - butler, jos buttler, and for england, this was a day that went slowly downhill. patrick gearey, bbc news. against the result of last weekend's abu dhabi grand prix as lewis hamilton missed out on a record eight title to max verstappen. mercedes lodged two protests at the end of the race over the way it was restarted before a final lap in which verstappen overtook hamilton. their decision to drop the appeal coincides with the fia's decsion to launch a commision to establish what happened at the race, learn from it and to maintain fair competition. robbing him in the last lap of the race is unacceptable and it is up to the fia to decide, going forward, how these decisions and these situations can be avoided. i would have been totally ok with max and red bull winning the championship on sunday and the situation is nothing to do with max. toto wolff, the principal of mercedes, clearly still frustrated with the fallout of the end of the formula 1 season. that happen on sunday evening. that's all the sport for now. thank you very much. some details to bring you in the last few moments, figures from the uk's for health agencies which are that i record 475,183 agencies which are that i record 105,183 booster and third doses of covid—19 vaccines were given yesterday. that is up almost 100,000 on the previous day, with nearly 3.8 million vaccinations in the past seven days. now in bbc news, it is time for your questions answered. welcome to your questions answered, where we try to answer your questions on the omicron variant and the booster campaign. with me is our health correspondent, anna collinson, and also i'm joined by dr sarah pitt, virologist at the university of brighton and fellow of the institute of biomedical science. thank you both, dr sarah pitt and anna forjoining us for this. lots of question, so let's crack on with them. anna, this verse one for you from graham, who says, if the scientists are saying the omicron variant will only cause mild symptoms, why would infection will be buried put people in hospital? yes, really important question, something that was addressed yesterday the downing street briefing by professor chris whitty. there have been reports from south africa that the omicron variant may be more mild, but england's chief medical officer, professor chris whitty, says this has been overstated. he pointed out that south africa has recently overcome an anti—bodybuilding wave, as he described it, with delta, so it is better prepared for a fresh wave and he also said it is difficult to translate the data we are seeing in south africa compared to the uk for various reasons. we are indoors more, we have a different population, different vaccine rates and natural immunity rates, so there is a lot to contend with. having said that, some scientists say that if you have been previously exposed to covid infection or you have had a vaccine, it is logical to assume that your body may be able to respond better this time around because it has already seen the virus previously, and that it may potentially cause mild symptoms. but the key thing is that it is still so uncertain. wejust the key thing is that it is still so uncertain. we just don't know for sure and what the big challenge at the moment is, is we can't really take that risk, you know? even if hospitalisations increase even slightly, that could cause so much pressure on the nhs and on the care of all of us received.— of all of us received. yes, all of that care _ of all of us received. yes, all of that care the _ of all of us received. yes, all of that care the nhs _ of all of us received. yes, all of that care the nhs provides, - of all of us received. yes, all of- that care the nhs provides, nothing to do with covid there, as well. thank you, and lots more to be said there's more data is collected. this one from deborah for dr sarah pitt. she says, my mother is in her 70s and has an underlying heart condition, but she has received her boosterjab. she is due to attend a large—scale carol concert this weekend. given the spread and uncertainty around the omicron variant, should she still attend? i would consider not going, particularly if there is not going to be _ particularly if there is not going to be social distancing in the venue of the _ to be social distancing in the venue of the cawl— to be social distancing in the venue of the carol concert because even if people _ of the carol concert because even if pecule are — of the carol concert because even if people are wearing masks, if they are sitting — people are wearing masks, if they are sitting quite close to each other— are sitting quite close to each other for— are sitting quite close to each other for a length of time, that is a potential— other for a length of time, that is a potential risk for spreading the virus _ a potential risk for spreading the virus and — a potential risk for spreading the virus and we know that with very high _ virus and we know that with very high numbers of new cases, the booster— high numbers of new cases, the booster gives you a 75% protection, so you _ booster gives you a 75% protection, so you actually have a one in four chance _ so you actually have a one in four chance of— so you actually have a one in four chance of bumping into the virus, picking _ chance of bumping into the virus, picking it — chance of bumping into the virus, picking it up and getting sick yourself— picking it up and getting sick yourself and passing it on to other people _ yourself and passing it on to other people. that 25%, that one in four risk, _ people. that 25%, that one in four risk, is _ people. that 25%, that one in four risk, is quite — people. that 25%, that one in four risk, is quite high when the number of new_ risk, is quite high when the number of new cases — risk, is quite high when the number of new cases is quite high around you, _ of new cases is quite high around you. so— of new cases is quite high around you. so the — of new cases is quite high around you, so the thing would be, i suppose. _ you, so the thing would be, i suppose, if you are going to sit in a certain— suppose, if you are going to sit in a certain place with people you knew at the _ a certain place with people you knew at the venue and if everybody around you had _ at the venue and if everybody around you had taken a lateral flow test before _ you had taken a lateral flow test before they went to the concert, it might— before they went to the concert, it might be _ before they went to the concert, it might be safe, but i think the viewer's— might be safe, but i think the viewer's mother should just consider the rislc _ viewer's mother should just consider the rislc if_ viewer's mother should just consider the rislc if it— viewer's mother should just consider the risk. if it was me, i probably would _ the risk. if it was me, i probably would not — the risk. if it was me, i probably would not be going. gk, the risk. if it was me, i probably would not be going.— the risk. if it was me, i probably would not be going. ok, and we have heard with delta _ would not be going. ok, and we have heard with delta that _ would not be going. ok, and we have heard with delta that singing, - would not be going. ok, and we have heard with delta that singing, just - heard with delta that singing, just like shouting, for example, is one of those activities that where of course the virus, if someone has the virus, that can cause them to spread that virus in a more forceful way and is a greater area, so i guess thatis and is a greater area, so i guess that is a factor to consider as well, isn't it?— that is a factor to consider as well, isn't it? yes, it is. i am in a choir and _ well, isn't it? yes, it is. i am in a choir and i— well, isn't it? yes, it is. i am in a choir and i have _ well, isn't it? yes, it is. i am in a choir and i have been - well, isn't it? yes, it is. i am in a choir and i have been doing . well, isn't it? yes, it is. i am in- a choir and i have been doing some singing _ a choir and i have been doing some singing and — a choir and i have been doing some singing and we wear masks, but we are also— singing and we wear masks, but we are also doing very, very wide social— are also doing very, very wide social distancing as well and it is only a _ social distancing as well and it is only a small group. so all those things— only a small group. so all those things are — only a small group. so all those things are things to consider and, as you _ things are things to consider and, as you say, — things are things to consider and, as you say, anything which produces more _ as you say, anything which produces more virus _ as you say, anything which produces more virus into the atmosphere is going _ more virus into the atmosphere is going to _ more virus into the atmosphere is going to be — more virus into the atmosphere is going to be a risk to the people around — going to be a risk to the people around in — going to be a risk to the people around in that room. gk. going to be a risk to the people around in that room. ok. deborah, i hoe around in that room. ok. deborah, i ho -e that around in that room. ok. deborah, i hope that helps _ around in that room. ok. deborah, i hope that helps you _ around in that room. ok. deborah, i hope that helps you and _ around in that room. ok. deborah, i hope that helps you and indeed - around in that room. ok. deborah, i hope that helps you and indeed your mum with her decision. i guess it is that point that we heard in the news conference yesterday, anna, about people prioritising what they want to go to and what they don't need to go to. anna, this one is from nancy, who says, i have a confirmed infection with covid. nancy, i hope you not feeling too unwell. but she says, i am not sure if it is omicron. my isolation will end soon, but it is possible i still have some symptoms, it is impossible as you need to act selflessly at over ten days and cannot see family for christmas?— days and cannot see family for christmas? , ., , ., christmas? yes, really important time, this window _ christmas? yes, really important time, this window where - christmas? yes, really important time, this window where we - christmas? yes, really important time, this window where we are l christmas? yes, really important. time, this window where we are at christmas? yes, really important - time, this window where we are at is a such an important time for people where we want to see a loved one is the most. nancy is doing the right thing by isolating at home for ten days after a confirmed covid infection. the advice from the uk health agency is you can return to your normal routine if your symptoms have gone or if the only symptoms you have left are a cough or a loss of smell, which can take several weeks to disappear. however, if you still have a high temperature after ten days or are otherwise unwell, they advised you should stay at home or seek medical advice, so that would be the advice to nancy from them. then, as i say, the second part of this question is about seeing someone who is vulnerable over christmas. it is this idea about prioritising who you see and if this is an important event, if she passes the advice from the uk health security agency, there are things nancy can do to protect herself, so she can take to the morning of, wearing face covering, they could meet outside and go for a walk or sit in a very ventilated area, they could keep the meeting short, clean surfaces regularly, or if she is unable to see them, i know we are so sick of zoom, but she could see them via zoom, so that will be my advice. ok. could see them via zoom, so that will be my advice.— will be my advice. ok, dr sarah pitt, will be my advice. ok, dr sarah pitt. james _ will be my advice. ok, dr sarah pitt, james says _ will be my advice. ok, dr sarah pitt, james says via _ will be my advice. ok, dr sarah pitt, james says via e-mail, - will be my advice. ok, dr sarah pitt, james says via e-mail, if. will be my advice. ok, dr sarah i pitt, james says via e-mail, if you pitt, james says via e—mail, if you have had the jabs are you just as likely to pass on covid as much as a non—jab to person? likely to pass on covid as much as a non-jab to person?— non-“ab to person? yes. the risk of ou non-jab to person? yes. the risk of you picking — non-jab to person? yes. the risk of you picking up _ non-jab to person? yes. the risk of you picking up the _ non-jab to person? yes. the risk of you picking up the virus _ non-jab to person? yes. the risk of you picking up the virus is - non-jab to person? yes. the risk of you picking up the virus is much, i you picking up the virus is much, much _ you picking up the virus is much, much reduced. if you have had the booster— much reduced. if you have had the booster it — much reduced. if you have had the booster it is — much reduced. if you have had the booster it is 75%, even against omicron, _ booster it is 75%, even against omicron, but if you do pick up the virus _ omicron, but if you do pick up the virus you — omicron, but if you do pick up the virus you are _ omicron, but if you do pick up the virus you are just as infectious as anybody— virus you are just as infectious as anybody else who has had one dose or no doses, _ anybody else who has had one dose or no doses, so— anybody else who has had one dose or no doses, so once you have got covid then you _ no doses, so once you have got covid then you are — no doses, so once you have got covid then you are just as infectious as everybody. — then you are just as infectious as everybody, everybody is equally infectious. but everybody, everybody is equally infectious. �* ., , . infectious. but it does reduce, if ou are infectious. but it does reduce, if you are vaccinated _ infectious. but it does reduce, if you are vaccinated it _ infectious. but it does reduce, if you are vaccinated it reduces i infectious. but it does reduce, if. you are vaccinated it reduces your chance of getting it in the first place? chance of getting it in the first lace? , , chance of getting it in the first lace? ., , ., , place? that is right, that is right. anna, place? that is right, that is right. anna. from _ place? that is right, that is right. anna, from tom, _ place? that is right, that is right. anna, from tom, from _ place? that is right, that is right. anna, from tom, from the i place? that is right, that is right. anna, from tom, from the first i place? that is right, that is right. l anna, from tom, from the first two doses of vaccine we were told it would take two to three weeks for your body to build up immunity. does that remain the case with the booster or that window of time shorter was that window of time shorter was that window of time short of this was asked at the downing street press conference yesterday, but is definitely worth talking about.— talking about. tom has sort of answered _ talking about. tom has sort of answered his _ talking about. tom has sort of answered his own _ talking about. tom has sort of answered his own question i talking about. tom has sort of i answered his own question there, really, yes, the booster, i had a site is talking about it and they said it is faster with the booster, so previously, tom is right, we would start seeing a response after about two weeks, but now it looks like it is between one and two weeks of the booster. various studies are showing that, a recent trial by pfizer suggests seven days after a pfizer suggests seven days after a pfizer booster it is extremely effective at preventing illness, was the first uk world study found the protections were very high after 1a days. so yes, he has answered his own question, there is a quicker response to the ban to the first and second doses. response to the ban to the first and second doses-— response to the ban to the first and second doses. andrew asks, dr sarah pitt, by shortening — second doses. andrew asks, dr sarah pitt, by shortening the _ second doses. andrew asks, dr sarah pitt, by shortening the time - second doses. andrew asks, dr sarah pitt, by shortening the time between| pitt, by shortening the time between the second vaccine at the booster, can you be over vaccinated, no, i don't think there is any real risk of that. ~ , don't think there is any real risk of that. ~ ., ., �* ~ ., don't think there is any real risk ofthat. ., ., �* ~ ., , don't think there is any real risk ofthat. ., ~ ., , ., of that. what we don't know is how lona that, of that. what we don't know is how long that. that _ of that. what we don't know is how long that, that immunity _ of that. what we don't know is how long that, that immunity cover- of that. what we don't know is how long that, that immunity cover the | long that, that immunity cover the vaccine _ long that, that immunity cover the vaccine gives you lasts for. it might— vaccine gives you lasts for. it might be _ vaccine gives you lasts for. it might be that it only lasts for three — might be that it only lasts for three months or six months, whereas perhaps— three months or six months, whereas perhaps if— three months or six months, whereas perhaps if you had had longer intervals— perhaps if you had had longer intervals between the doses it might have lasted eight months or something like that. we don't know for sure _ something like that. we don't know for sure and — something like that. we don't know for sure and because they are all new vaccines and these are all new vaccination — new vaccines and these are all new vaccination schedules, if you like, but the _ vaccination schedules, if you like, but the reason they have decided to bring _ but the reason they have decided to bring the _ but the reason they have decided to bring the booster doses forward for people _ bring the booster doses forward for people in_ bring the booster doses forward for people in the uk is precisely because _ people in the uk is precisely because we know that it will give you cover — because we know that it will give you cover against the omicron variant— you cover against the omicron variant in— you cover against the omicron variant in the next couple of months and that— variant in the next couple of months and that is— variant in the next couple of months and that is the most important thing — and that is the most important thing it— and that is the most important thing it is— and that is the most important thing. it is possible that people might— thing. it is possible that people might need another dose, another booster, _ might need another dose, another booster, perhaps into the middle of next year. — booster, perhaps into the middle of next year, but for the moment what we are _ next year, but for the moment what we are worrying about is trying to stop people getting the omicron variant— stop people getting the omicron variant and covid right now. yes, the one that _ variant and covid right now. yes, the one that is _ variant and covid right now. yes, the one that is spreading - variant and covid right now. leis, the one that is spreading so rapidly. this question, anna, is from joanne. she says she is clinically extremely vulnerable and she is taking immunosuppressants. she was invited for a third vaccination, a third primary vaccination, a third primary vaccination, not a booster, in octoberand vaccination, not a booster, in october and was told she could have a booster six months later, but the waiting time has now been reduced for adults to three months. does this apply tojoanne west because she is clinically extremely vulnerable, orshould she is clinically extremely vulnerable, or should she wait for the full six months, so my understanding on this and dr sarah pitt, please feel free to chip in if you disagree, but my understanding is yes, it would be a three—month wait and she would then get the booster if wait and she would then get the booste , ., , wait and she would then get the booste , ., ., ., booster if you fall into the clinically _ booster if you fall into the clinically extremely i booster if you fall into the i clinically extremely vulnerable category you are one of those people who are at risk of covid. infections are at a record high at the moment and we are in winter, so yes, my understanding is it would be a three—month window. dr understanding is it would be a three-month window. dr sarah pitt, is that your — three-month window. dr sarah pitt, is that your understanding _ three-month window. dr sarah pitt, is that your understanding as - three-month window. dr sarah pitt, is that your understanding as well? | is that your understanding as well? is the waiting time reduced to everyone, both those who are clinically extremely vulnerable and those who are not?— clinically extremely vulnerable and those who are not? yes, as far as i understand — those who are not? yes, as far as i understand it _ those who are not? yes, as far as i understand it and _ those who are not? yes, as far as i understand it and for _ those who are not? yes, as far as i understand it and for the _ those who are not? yes, as far as i understand it and for the is - those who are not? yes, as far as i understand it and for the is that i understand it and for the is that anna _ understand it and for the is that anna just — understand it and for the is that anna just outlined, yes. gk, understand it and for the is that anna just outlined, yes. anna 'ust outlined, yes. ok, joanne, i annajust outlined, yes. ok, joanne, i hoe annajust outlined, yes. ok, joanne, i hope that— annajust outlined, yes. ok, joanne, i hope that helps _ annajust outlined, yes. ok, joanne, i hope that helps with _ annajust outlined, yes. ok, joanne, i hope that helps with your— annajust outlined, yes. ok, joanne, i hope that helps with your query. i i hope that helps with your query. the next one, dr sarah pitt, for you, from sarah, who says, i am not double so when my partner tested positive for covid i self isolated and took lateral flows every day, which has always been negative, but i took a pcr test, which has now come back positive. if i was double jabbed i could have been going outside and spreading like an election potentially to others. why is the government relying on lateral flow tests if they are not accurate and what is the most effective test? there is a lot to get into in this question. 50 there is a lot to get into in this cuestion. there is a lot to get into in this question-— there is a lot to get into in this cuestion. ., ., ., , , question. so the lateral flow tests, are not very _ question. so the lateral flow tests, are not very good _ question. so the lateral flow tests, are not very good at _ question. so the lateral flow tests, are not very good at picking - question. so the lateral flow tests, are not very good at picking up i question. so the lateral flow tests, are not very good at picking up the| are not very good at picking up the virus _ are not very good at picking up the virus it— are not very good at picking up the virus it it— are not very good at picking up the virus it it is— are not very good at picking up the virus if it is there at quite low levels — virus if it is there at quite low levels. they are actually designed as a sort— levels. they are actually designed as a sort of— levels. they are actually designed as a sort of quick triage or if you have _ as a sort of quick triage or if you have symptoms, is it covid or is it not covid? — have symptoms, is it covid or is it not covid? that is what they are designed — not covid? that is what they are designed for. so pcr is always preferable to absolutely confirm that you — preferable to absolutely confirm that you have covid. but of course the lateral— that you have covid. but of course the lateral flow tests are kind of quite _ the lateral flow tests are kind of quite useful, if we are taking them regularly, — quite useful, if we are taking them regularly, as your viewer has done, to check— regularly, as your viewer has done, to check to — regularly, as your viewer has done, to check to make sure that they don't _ to check to make sure that they don't have — to check to make sure that they don't have it and sometimes they do test negative stop the point about lateral— test negative stop the point about lateral flow tests is if you do get a negative result, but you think you have been_ a negative result, but you think you have been very close contact with someone — have been very close contact with someone who has got covid all you have covid — someone who has got covid all you have covid like symptoms, just don't say, well, _ have covid like symptoms, just don't say, well, it— have covid like symptoms, just don't say, well, it is definitely not covid — say, well, it is definitely not covid. assume that it still might be covid _ covid. assume that it still might be covid and _ covid. assume that it still might be covid and get it confirmed with a pcr test— covid and get it confirmed with a pcr test if— covid and get it confirmed with a pcr test if you possibly can and in the meantime take all the precautions that we are asking everybody to take, wear a mask, perhaps — everybody to take, wear a mask, perhaps consider not going to visit people _ perhaps consider not going to visit people outside of your normal social bubble _ people outside of your normal social bubble or— people outside of your normal social bubble or your normal household that you are _ bubble or your normal household that you are thinking about doing while you are thinking about doing while you are _ you are thinking about doing while you are unsure whether your symptoms may or _ you are unsure whether your symptoms may or may— you are unsure whether your symptoms may or may not be covid, regardless of what _ may or may not be covid, regardless of what the — may or may not be covid, regardless of what the lateral flow test is telling — of what the lateral flow test is telling you. of what the lateral flow test is telling you-— of what the lateral flow test is tellin: ou. ., ., ., telling you. ok, so the lateralflow tests essentially _ telling you. ok, so the lateralflow tests essentially have _ telling you. ok, so the lateralflow tests essentially have a _ telling you. ok, so the lateralflow tests essentially have a different l tests essentially have a different level of sensitivity to the pcr? this one from guider, who says, with so many people queueing up to get booster is a great pcr test, what is the risk of people passing on covid in this scenario? it is the risk of people passing on covid in this scenario?— in this scenario? it is a really important — in this scenario? it is a really important question _ in this scenario? it is a really important question and i in this scenario? it is a really i important question and basically whenever a large group of people gather there is an increased risk of catching covid, particularly when you are thinking about people queueing for a pcr test. some of those people will either have covid symptoms themselves or will have potentially tested positive using a lateral flow and had then gone to get a pcr confirm test. so those people are high—risk. then also with the booster roll—out, we havejust heard there were these record numbers of people getting boosted this week this weekend we are going to see vaccine roll—outs at large venues like stamford bridge, so a lot is really down to those venues making sure that they have adequate crowd control, that there is spacing. we have seen lots of people, i myself had to queue in the rain on monday for my booster, which at the time is not fun, but it is definitely safer if you're going to be outside and you are spaced. then if you are moved inside again you want well ventilated spaces and lots of room between people. yes, and then i think the other thing is to be thinking about, particularly when you are going to both, really, is wearing a face covering, all the other things we have talked about, hygiene, that kind of thing. yes. other things we have talked about, hygiene, that kind of thing. yes, so if ou are hygiene, that kind of thing. yes, so if you are outside _ hygiene, that kind of thing. yes, so if you are outside the _ hygiene, that kind of thing. yes, so if you are outside the premises, i hygiene, that kind of thing. yes, so | if you are outside the premises, use a bit of common sense and try to create a bit of space between yourself and the people who are standing next to it. sean has this question for dr sarah pitt. why hasn't the government brought back social distance and? speaking of the subject we were just talking about, i work with people in close contact and i am worried about the risk of catching covid. what do you think of well, i can't really answer for government policy, but i always try to practice social distancing as far as i possibly can in the situation where we have some kind of control over that where we have some kind of control over tha - ., where we have some kind of control over tha ., ., , , . ., ., , over that and i appreciate that is not possible _ over that and i appreciate that is not possible for— over that and i appreciate that is not possible for everybody, i over that and i appreciate that is not possible for everybody, but. over that and i appreciate that is not possible for everybody, but i think— not possible for everybody, but i think i_ not possible for everybody, but i think i would try and be really cautious— think i would try and be really cautious around people that you're not normally, you don't live with or is not _ not normally, you don't live with or is not your— not normally, you don't live with or is not your normal social contact and if _ is not your normal social contact and if you — is not your normal social contact and if you can't do social distancing then make sure everybody is wearing _ distancing then make sure everybody is wearing masks, that the space you are in— is wearing masks, that the space you are in is— is wearing masks, that the space you are in is well— is wearing masks, that the space you are in is well ventilated and all the other— are in is well ventilated and all the other measures that we have had to get— the other measures that we have had to get used _ the other measures that we have had to get used to doing over the last two years — to get used to doing over the last two years. keep doing those and try and have _ two years. keep doing those and try and have as — two years. keep doing those and try and have as much space between individual— and have as much space between individual people as you can possibly— individual people as you can possibly manage any space you are working _ possibly manage any space you are working on — possibly manage any space you are working on. that is my best advice, i working on. that is my best advice, i am _ working on. that is my best advice, i am afraid — working on. that is my best advice, i am afraid-— i am afraid. ok, i am 'ust going to add in — i am afraid. ok, i am 'ust going to add in one more i i am afraid. ok, i amjust going to add in one more question, - i am afraid. ok, i amjust going to add in one more question, which l add in one more question, which quite a few people have mentioned to me recently and this is around, if you have had your booster, your primary vaccines and your booster, and yes had probably been dealt a variant of covid, does that give you added protection against omicron? yes, it should give you some added protection — yes, it should give you some added protection. it is not going to be 100% _ protection. it is not going to be 100% full— protection. it is not going to be 100% full proof, it is still possible that you might get, pick up the virus. _ possible that you might get, pick up the virus, but you probably will have _ the virus, but you probably will have quite _ the virus, but you probably will have quite mild symptoms and i think that is— have quite mild symptoms and i think that is what— have quite mild symptoms and i think that is what a lot of people have been _ that is what a lot of people have been experiencing recently, for various— been experiencing recently, for various reasons. because a lot of people _ various reasons. because a lot of people have had certainly the two doses _ people have had certainly the two doses and — people have had certainly the two doses and now the booster, and a lot of people _ doses and now the booster, and a lot of people have actually come into contact _ of people have actually come into contact with the virus one way or the other~ — contact with the virus one way or the other. they may have known they had covid _ the other. they may have known they had covid because they had symptoms, but they— had covid because they had symptoms, but they might have actually come into contact with the virus and if the vaccine _ into contact with the virus and if the vaccine has worked it will actually — the vaccine has worked it will actually give them an additional match— actually give them an additional match with the booster, so that should — match with the booster, so that should protect you from the worst consequences of any version of covid — consequences of any version of covid. let's not forget that although there were 78,000 new cases of the _ although there were 78,000 new cases of the covid _ although there were 78,000 new cases of the covid virus posted yesterday, the majority of those were actually dealt _ the majority of those were actually dealt a _ the majority of those were actually dealt a variant, so we delta variant is still— dealt a variant, so we delta variant is still around as well as the omicron _ is still around as well as the omicron variant.— is still around as well as the omicron variant. ~ , ., omicron variant. ok. well, dr sarah pitt, a virologist _ omicron variant. ok. well, dr sarah pitt, a virologist at _ omicron variant. ok. well, dr sarah pitt, a virologist at the _ omicron variant. ok. well, dr sarah pitt, a virologist at the university i pitt, a virologist at the university of brighton, thank you so much for your expertise today answering our viewers' questions and of course anna collinson, our health correspondent, thank you to you as well. thank you very much for sending in those questions, i hope that information has all been really useful for you. some breaking news to bring you. manchester united, they are suffering from a covid—19 outbreak and that is forcing saturday's match against brighton and hove albion to be postponed. it is a statementjust in from the premier league saying that there is a covid—19 outbreak amongst the football club, manchester united. no more details on that about how many people are affected by this outbreak, but it is forcing the cancellation of saturday's match against brighton and hove albion, says the premier league. migrants who cross the channel in small boats are facing very poor conditions at home office facilities in dover. a report by the prisons watchdog says there are "significant safeguarding concerns" for children and vulnerable adults, despite government assurances that conditions would improve. our home editor, mark easton, reports. inspectors visited the tug haven arrival centre in dover on a quiet day in mid—october. what they discovered has prompted a call for urgent government action. 400 people, including babies and small children, held overnight in cold tents without sleeping facilities. some accommodated in unheated double decker buses. inadequate care for two women who said they'd been raped by smugglers, and another woman who claimed to have been sold into domestic servitude. unaccompanied children placed with unrelated adults, prompting significant safeguarding concerns. and migrants' injuries left untreated. inspectors were told how a 16—year—old girl — picked up after a perilous channel crossing — remained in wet clothes for two days with undetected fuel burns on her legs and was now likely to be scarred for life. a previous inspection in september last year also revealed poor conditions at tug haven. at the time, the home office assured inspectors improvements would be made, with ministers blaming coordination problems with partner agencies. i think it's very obvious from our reports that we are frustrated, that we are independent monitors and inspectors of detention and we have been saying to the home office these conditions are not acceptable, and particularly not acceptable for the most vulnerable people and those who are in the greatest need. and there is a great deal of frustration that nothing has yet been done, and we hope that this will stimulate action. the home office said... that refers to controversial plans to use part of a ministry of defence base at manston in kent as a processing site for what they call illegal migrants from next month. ministers say it will be part of a system that is fair on those who play by the rules and firm on those who do not. mark easton, bbc news. the education secretary for england — nadhim zahawi — has written to school and college leaders to say the government will try to boost the numbers of supply teachers by encouraging recently retired staff to consider a return to work. teacher shortages due to coronavirus are emerging as the biggest problem in the plans for schools to reopen injanuary. our education editor, branwen jeffreys, is with me now. would you agree with that assessment? that is the biggest problem was schools we are opening, the number of teaching staff who might be ill? that are opening, the number of teaching staff who might be ill?— staff who might be ill? that is effectively _ staff who might be ill? that is effectively what _ staff who might be ill? that is effectively what nadhim i staff who might be ill? that is. effectively what nadhim zahawi staff who might be ill? that is i effectively what nadhim zahawi is recognising is the biggest challenge in england, comejanuary. a lot of parents will be very anxious to avoid a repeat of this year, when school opened, then closed. no one wants to see that happen, but if you don't have enough staff to put a teacher in front of the class then it is down to the discretion of the head teacher whether or not to send, for example, part of a gay group or a geargroup for example, part of a gay group or a gear group home to study remotely and to have the school partially closed. so what they are going to try to do is persuade retired teachers to work with supply agencies, —— part of the year group. to persuade retired teachers work with supply agencies, but we probably won't get until next week. lots of supply teachers already being used? igate lots of supply teachers already being used?— lots of supply teachers already bein: used? ~ ~' ., ., ., , ., being used? we know that lots of su -l being used? we know that lots of supply agencies _ being used? we know that lots of supply agencies don't _ being used? we know that lots of supply agencies don't have i being used? we know that lots of supply agencies don't have their. supply agencies don't have their normal complement of supply teachers. some people don't want to go from school to school working in different classrooms and evidence today shows that if you work in education you are more likely to get infected because of the high number of cases amongst children was also, some have switched to the national tutoring programme in england, so there is a real problem, not everywhere, but in some areas in covering the teachers when they go off sick or when they are isolating for their statutory ten days. ok. off sick or when they are isolating for their statutory ten days. ok, so in theory a — for their statutory ten days. ok, so in theory a good — for their statutory ten days. ok, so in theory a good idea, _ for their statutory ten days. ok, so in theory a good idea, but - for their statutory ten days. ok, so in theory a good idea, but in i in theory a good idea, but in practice it might be difficult to find the numbers required in certain areas. just briefly, what is happening in regards to the issue of c02 happening in regards to the issue of co2 monitors and ventilation in schools? because that of course is very important as well.— very important as well. well, the government _ very important as well. well, the government has _ very important as well. well, the government has met _ very important as well. well, the government has met its - very important as well. well, the government has met its target, . very important as well. well, the . government has met its target, in fact, slightly exceeded it, of 300,000 c02 fact, slightly exceeded it, of 300,000 co2 monitors in england going out to schools, but if you decide that between early years schools and colleges, you might be talking about a handful for a secondary school, so some schools are moving them around from one classroom to another. if they go over the certain level, the only solution is to open the windows and of course we are in the middle of winter, it is freezing and also energy bills for schools are also going up. energy bills for schools are also auoin u. energy bills for schools are also auoin u -. ., ~ energy bills for schools are also moinu_ ., energy bills for schools are also uu-oinu. ., , . going up. ok, thank you very much for that, branwen _ going up. ok, thank you very much for that, branwen jeffreys, - going up. ok, thank you very much for that, branwen jeffreys, our i forthat, branwenjeffreys, our education editor. the time is almost 3pm. let's ta ke take a look at the weather stabbed in a house. a lot of missed and merck, as we head for this evening a touch of frost here, perhaps some mist and fog, elsewhere temperatures for 7 degrees. through the weekend drifting up towards iceland through sunday and that will allow some cold air to move down from the north—east. friday a similar story, a lot of grey and misty and murky weather around, the best of any of the brightness around the north—east of the uk, temperatures in single digits, but for most, particularly in the south and west, we are looking at ten and 11 degrees. at the weekend it will be drier, but cloudy for most entertaining caller as well. this is bbc news. the headlines: the country's chief medical officer says the uk could surpass previous records of people admitted to hospital with covid—19 and warns of major challenges in the days ahead. a lot of people simultaneously fall ill and be unwell, isolating or caring for others at the same time across the whole economy. so that side of things, i also do think we need to take quite seriously. the education secretary says the government will try to encourage recently retired staff to consider returning to work, following issues with teacher shortages due to coronavirus. we'll get reaction from headteachers. the chancellor will hold talks with representatives of the hospitality sector, who are asking for further government support to cope with the challenges of the omicron variant. the queen has cancelled her traditional pre—christmas family party next week. sources suggest it could have put too many people's christmas arrangements at risk. the bank of england increases interest rates for the first time in more than three years, from 0.1% to 0.25% good luck, rose. and there has been an increase in the number of people signing up to learn sign language since the deaf actress rose ayling ellis appeared on this year's series of strictly come dancing. the uk's chief medical adviser has warned that the previous daily record for the number of people admitted to hospital with coronavirus could be exceeded. that was lt,500 seen injanuary. speaking to mps, professor chris whitty said that the present wave of the omicron variant was likely to peak quite quickly, but that it could also reduce faster than previous peaks. health officials have warned that nhs services may be badly affected by staff illness as omicron spreads rapidly, and that they are trying to keep routine hospital services going as much as possible. here's our health correspondent, dominic hughes. with the number of new covid—19 infections surging, how will the nhs and social care cope? with a highly infectious new variant, one of the biggest concerns is what will happen when — as seems inevitable — large numbers of staff fall ill, while at the same time hospital admissions linked to the virus are climbing. we will keep as much of our routine services going as possible, that's what we did last january during the last big wave. but inevitably, if we get many, many more admissions over the coming weeks, we will see some disruption. from today, we have new drugs available that we can give to the highest—risk people in the community, which will also prevent hospital admissions. there's also the question of what we can do to protect ourselves in the run—up to christmas. health officials are stressing they don't want to tell people how to live their lives, but to think about what matters the most. people want to protect the time that is most important to them, and that therefore means in practice it is sensible for people to cut down on work or other interactions with people including potentially social ones which are less important to them so that they reduce their chances of catching covid and indeed reduce the chance of passing it on. getting boosterjabs into as many arms as possible remains the government's main tactic for tackling the new wave. this vaccination centre in kent has seen the number being delivered increased fourfold. the prime minister denied there was any confusion between the message from health experts and ministers. there's a lot of omicron around — be careful, exercise caution if you want to avoid isolation, getting unwell over christmas. implement plan b but get boosted now is the fastest route back to normality because the booster does give you an excellent level of protection. in scotland, it's expected that omicron will be the dominant strain of coronavirus by tomorrow. nicola sturgeon has confirmed that restrictions designed to curb the spread of coronavirus, which will affect shops and hospitality venues in scotland, will come into force tomorrow. rules on physical distancing and the management of queueing in shops will be reintroduced. infections climbing fast, warnings that too much socialising now could ruin the festive break... it's beginning to feel a lot like last christmas. dominic hughes, bbc news. and the bbc has launched an nhs tracker to allow you to find out how your local services are coping in england, wales and scotland. it'll run through the winter. you can find out more at bbc.co.uk/nhstracker. pressure is building on the government from business groups to help firms — and particularly hospitality — deal with the financial fallout from this latest covid wave. many hotels, pubs and restaurants are facing cancellations over the normally busy christmas period. our business correspondent, theo leggett, has this report. the run—up to christmas in manchester's northern quarter. despite the surge in covid cases, lesley and her daughter lauren seem determined to get into the festive spirit. i think it's important to not be scared by things and carry on, but i think it's good to test before you go out. i'll be testing before i go everywhere but i definitely won't be changing my plans or be scared by some of the messaging being put out. i'm not going to change my plans. i'm going to be more cautious and test and things, and i will be a little bit nervy but i'm not going to let that scare me. i just feel sorry for hospitality, so i've got a few things planned but i'm still going to go, i'm not cancelling them. but not everyone is so upbeat. this bournemouth restaurant owner, andy lennox, is picking up the pieces because too many customers have cancelled bookings. three weeks ago we were looking at pretty much a full christmas, something that would basically keep us going for the next three or four months into the spring. we are now looking at a disaster. i mean, cancellations are all over the place. the problem pubs and restaurants are facing is simple. they haven't been forced to close but people have been advised to think twice before going out, and many are choosing to stay at home. that's meant an awful lot of cancelled bookings. during the lockdowns, hospitality businesses could call on government support. that's not the case now and the industry says help is badly needed. firstly, we need local authorities to distribute the cash that they are currently sitting on that's available to them to give grants to businesses to maintain employment. secondly, we need extended business rates relief so that these businesses don't face big bills injanuary. finally, extend the lower rate of vat, keep it at 12.5% through the summer. pressure on the government is growing, but this morning ministers weren't making any promises. the chancellor throughout this pandemic has been deeply engaged with business representatives throughout, and he will continue to do so. he was on a long—planned business trip to the us, conducting government business, and he will continue to engage today with other ministers. the run—up to christmas is one of the most important times of the year for hospitality businesses and their suppliers. those running them insist if they don't get help, many pubs and restaurants will not survive long into the new year. theo leggett, bbc news. joining me now is guido gessaroli, owner of the coffee run, which has three take away coffee kiosks inside train stations in zones one and two in london. thank you forjoining us today. how much of a drop—off in business have you had in the last few weeks, especially since the advice for more people to work from home if they can? , ., . , people to work from home if they can? , , , can? yes, exactly. the problems started when _ can? yes, exactly. the problems started when the _ can? yes, exactly. the problems started when the new _ can? yes, exactly. the problems started when the new guidance l can? yes, exactly. the problems- started when the new guidance came out. within a few days, we had a handful of customers. we expected that would be so, because if people are advised to work from home, so we would have fewer customers. we are close to being a trouble. i am worried. losing almost half your customers, then,in losing almost half your customers, then, in the space of a few days. really dramatic and noticeable drop—off, then. what will you do to try and keep going in these circumstances? obviously, the chancellor has said he will be talking to representatives from the hospitality sector. in the meantime, you are trying to make your business viable. you have eight employees. are any of theirjobs under threat at the moment? are any of their “obs under threat at the moment?— are any of theirjobs under threat at the moment? .,. , , at the moment? exactly. keep in mind that we were — at the moment? exactly. keep in mind that we were running _ at the moment? exactly. keep in mind that we were running at _ at the moment? exactly. keep in mind that we were running at low _ at the moment? exactly. keep in mind that we were running at low levels i that we were running at low levels impaired to before covid. half of our customers can bet you to —— compared to two weeks ago is an even smallerfraction than compared to two weeks ago is an even smaller fraction than before covid. my smaller fraction than before covid. my question is, what do you think we should do without any support at the moment? i think the fellow scheme should be reduced any way that employers can contribute to the cost so it won't be of use. it will only be used by businesses that really need it. that is the first thing. to be honest, i am worried about my team. i don't want to dismantle my team. i don't want to dismantle my team. they are very good and i want to be in a position in a few months to be in a position in a few months to rebuild my team again. at the moment, i don't know. i really hope that there will be a focus on the support needed as a consequence of the new variant. i support needed as a consequence of the new variant.— support needed as a consequence of the new variant. i spoke to someone earlier talking _ the new variant. i spoke to someone earlier talking about _ the new variant. i spoke to someone earlier talking about appeals - the new variant. i spoke to someone earlier talking about appeals for i earlier talking about appeals for the government to lend some targeted support to the travel industry as well. the government is saying there is help available for businesses, for example, the extension of loan schemes and so on. but what you don't have is things like furlough that was there in previous lockdowns. what would you like to see from the government? would it be furlough or something else?— furlough or something else? furlough for sure. furlough or something else? furlough for sure- also — furlough or something else? furlough for sure. also an _ furlough or something else? furlough for sure. also an extension _ furlough or something else? furlough for sure. also an extension of- furlough or something else? furlough for sure. also an extension of the i for sure. also an extension of the discounts, or coming back to 5% like it was in october. now it is 12.5%. something needs to be done. that was important to keep many businesses like mine afloat over the last 18 months. also the business rates as well. ~ , , ., months. also the business rates as well. ~ , i. months. also the business rates as well. ~ , well. we wish you good luck. obviously — well. we wish you good luck. obviously a _ well. we wish you good luck. obviously a difficult - well. we wish you good luck. obviously a difficult situation j well. we wish you good luck. i obviously a difficult situation to find yourself in. we will be watching closely to find out whether chancellor says when he talks to hospitality representatives. for the moment, good luck and thank you for talking to us. moment, good luck and thank you for talking to us— most travellers from the uk will soon be banned from entering france, as the government there tries to control the spread of the omicron covid variant. tourism and work trips to the country will no longer be permitted. french citizens and their immediate families won't be affected, but they'll face stricter rules on testing and isolation. earlier, i spoke to sean tipton from the association of travel agents and tour operators, abta. obviously, public health must come first, but no better authority than the world health organization said that, if you want to control the spread of a variant, travel bans are not the right way to do it. you should concentrate on vaccination programmes, which we are quite rightly doing in the uk, and france is as well, and also stick to things like social distancing and wearing facemasks. so travel bans simply do not work. they do not stop variants from spreading. what they do do, though, is cause immense damage to the outbound travel industry. i mean, we surveyed our members not so long ago, saying, what level of business are you at at the moment? they said they were only at a fifth of their level before the pandemic. so we are hearing quite rightly how badly affected the hospitality industry is, but we are in an even worse place, and have been for a longer period of time as well. so they were at a fifth of their normal level of business even before omicron came into play? yeah, even before this. exactly. the problem with these kind of situations is it incredibly damaging to public confidence as much as anything else. people are really desperate to get away. i have been speaking particular to the ski and snow sector, it will be most badly affected by this french ban, and they said they keep on getting enquiries from people desperate to go. that did improve, to be fair, once the government said you no longer have to do a predeparture test to come back into the country. but that changed again — you now do. so once again that confidence fell away. the ski and snow sector are in a very bad position already. so what will happen now... france is not the only country that they send people to, but it is probably the most important, particularly at christmas and new year. that is what they're talking about. they will be rushing around, trying to find alternatives for customers. in many cases, they also have to refund them, which means they will take a massive financial hit over christmas, when they have been through really tough times already. so the government really needs to step up to the plate and say, look, we recognise... obviously the french decision has not been made by them, but they have already made decisions in terms of testing, which has really impacted on the travel industry. if you are going to do this, give us some money, find grants for key companies, otherwise there will be large—scale failures. that is just inevitable. talk to me in about that in more detail, because we know the chancellor has said he will be having talks with representatives from the hospitality sector very soon. precisely what help do you want from the government? we are waiting to find out the data to understand exactly how serious omicron is. even if it is milder, as we hope, the sheer numbers of people getting it will cause a problem. are you looking for some very targeted, limited support here? we are definitely asking for targeted financial assistance. throughout the pandemic, the government kept saying they are giving £7 billion to the aviation sector, to the airlines. but our members, travel agents and tour operators, have had very little financial assistance. they have been, in some ways, even worse affected. so some money would be great. secondly we also need to look at how they make these decisions, about the rationale behind them, really. they quite really took those countries in africa off the red list because of the fact that omicron is here already, so it didn't make much difference. is there a rationale then for people taking tests to know whether they have omicron or not, when actually it is already in the country? for many of the destinations we travel to, their rates of infection are considerably lower than they are here. they said they would review that in the new year, the whole rationale behind getting people to take tests, but could they not do it sooner than that? because once the variant is here, it doesn't make much difference, and again that is from the world health organization, rather than abta. the queen has cancelled her traditional pre—christmas family lunch at windsor castle next week, as a precautionary measure, following the uk's surge in omicron cases. a source said it was felt the annual event could put too many people's christmas plans at risk. the education secretary for england, nadhim zahawi, has written to school and college leaders to say the government will try to boost the numbers of supply teachers by encouraging recently retired staff to consider a return to work. he also wrote a tribute on twitter, praising teachers and support staff for the "incredible job" they were doing in their response to the pandemic. and explained that he was looking for ways to increase capacity. well, earlier, ispoke to our education editor, branwenjeffries, who says the government recognises that teacher shortages due to coronavirus are emerging as the biggest problem in the plans for schools to reopen injanuary. a lot of parents will be very anxious to avoid a repeat of this year, where schools opened and then closed. nobody was to see that happen. but if you don't have enough staff to put a teacher in front of the class, it is down to the discretion of the head teacher whether or not to send part of a year group ora year group whether or not to send part of a year group or a year group home to study remotely, or to have the school partially closed. what they will try to do is persuade retired teachers to work with supply agencies. the details of how they will persuade them back into the classroom we probably won't get until next week.— classroom we probably won't get until next week. anecdotally, a lot of su- -l until next week. anecdotally, a lot of supply teachers _ until next week. anecdotally, a lot of supply teachers are _ until next week. anecdotally, a lot of supply teachers are already i until next week. anecdotally, a lot . of supply teachers are already being used? igate of supply teachers are already being used? ~ ~' ., of supply teachers are already being used? ~ ~ ., ., ., , of supply teachers are already being used? ~ ., ., ., i, used? we know that many supply aaencies used? we know that many supply agencies don't — used? we know that many supply agencies don't have _ used? we know that many supply agencies don't have the _ used? we know that many supply agencies don't have the normal. used? we know that many supply i agencies don't have the normal full complement of supply teachers. some people don't want to go from school to school and working in different classrooms. evidence shows that if you work in education, you are more likely to get infected because of the high number of cases among children. also, some have switched to the national tutoring programme in england, so there is a real problem, not everywhere, but in some areas in covering for teachers when they go off sick or they are isolating for their statutory ten days. in isolating for their statutory ten da s. ., , ., ., , days. in theory, a good idea, but in ractice it days. in theory, a good idea, but in practice it might — days. in theory, a good idea, but in practice it might be _ days. in theory, a good idea, but in practice it might be difficult - days. in theory, a good idea, but in practice it might be difficult to i practice it might be difficult to find the numbers required in certain areas. what is what happening with regard to the issue of co2 monitors and ventilation in schools? that is important as well. the government has met its — important as well. the government has met its target, _ important as well. the government has met its target, and _ important as well. the government has met its target, and slightly i has met its target, and slightly exceeded it, 300,000 co2 monitors in england going out to schools. if you divide that between early years schools and colleges, you might be talking about a handful for a secondary school. some schools are moving them from one to another. if they go over a certain level, the only solution is to open the windows and we're in the middle of winter, it is and energy bills for schools are also going up. and in a few minutes we'll be speaking to geoff barton, the general secretary of the association of school and college leaders to get his reaction to that letter. borisjohnson and his wife, carrie, have named their new baby daughter romy iris charlottejohnson. posting this image on instagram, mrsjohnson explained romy was picked after her aunt rosemary, iris for the greek word for rainbow, and charlotte after mrjohnson's late mother. the couple announced the birth of their daughter last thursday. the bank of england has raised interest rates from 0.1% to 0.25%. with inflation soaring to its highest level in a decade, it had been widely expected to raise rates from their historic low. the move came came despite fears that the omicron variant of covid could slow the uk economy by causing people to spend less, as our economics correspondent, andy verity, explains. the city and economists generally had been expected the bank of england to raise interest rates soon, but not this time around. the reason being we don't really know how the omicron variant has hit the economy. it was already slowing down before the variant came along, and there is a risk you have an economic contraction at the same time as we have the highest inflation we have had in more than ten years. nevertheless, what the bank of england has been saying is that it is raising interest rates only for the third time in more than 13 years, because it is worried that the inflation pressure is going through into wages. all around the country, employers are telling them they cannot get the staff they need. that creates inflation pressure because if they want those staff, they have to pay more for them, which means they have to recover those costs through higher prices. the risk is it starts to feed itself. higher prices are covered by higher wages and higher wages are covered by higher prices, and then you get further in inflation embedding. the bank of england have raised from 0.1% to 0.25%. we can expect further rises in the new year. well, andy spoke to the governor of the bank of england, andrew bailey, and asked him how far he thought inflation could increase. in the short run, the next three or four months, we think it could get around six. we are seeing further upward pressure on wholesale gas prices. they went up a lot after august stop they came off a bit, but now they are going up again. it is directly related to some of the tensions we are seeing on the border between russia and ukraine, where a lot of your�*s gas supply comes through. that will feed through when the next price cap is set for all of us as domestic customers. iatrui’hat the next price cap is set for all of us as domestic customers. what about the timin: ? us as domestic customers. what about the timing? the _ us as domestic customers. what about the timing? the city _ us as domestic customers. what about the timing? the city did _ us as domestic customers. what about the timing? the city did not _ us as domestic customers. what about the timing? the city did not expect i the timing? the city did not expect an announcement, so why now? igate the timing? the city did not expect an announcement, so why now? we have seen evidence — an announcement, so why now? we have seen evidence of— an announcement, so why now? we have seen evidence of a _ an announcement, so why now? we have seen evidence of a very _ an announcement, so why now? we have seen evidence of a very tight _ an announcement, so why now? we have seen evidence of a very tight labour i seen evidence of a very tight labour market, and we are seeing more persistent inflation pressures. that is what we have to act on. we are seeing things now that confirm that. we have thought a lot about omicron, it is an important development, we don't know a lot about it at the moment. it certainly can have quite an effect on activity in the economy, we're already seeing it in some of the faster indicators, mobility, footfall in retail outlets, restaurant bookings and so on. it is not clear if it will cause inflation pressure to go down or up, and that is an important factor for us. a garage worker has accepted responsibility for the killing of primary school teacher sabina nessa. koci selamaj travelled to london from his home in eastbourne to carry out what the prosecution alleges was a "pre—meditated and predatory" attack. our home affairs correspondent, june kelly, is at the old bailey. this was a plea hearing for koci selamaj, the accused man in this case. his lawyers said he was admitting responsibility for the death sabina nessa. there was an interpreter in the dock to help them with proceedings. a few feet away set members of sabina nessa's family members, who came to the old bailey for this socially distanced hearing. they were obviously following proceedings in what was a full court, but we were all socially distanced. sabina nessa was a primary school teacher. in september, she was on her way to meet a friend for a night out. she left her home in south—east london, but she never arrived at that meeting. her body was found the next day in a park near her home. since her death, there have been a number of vigils in her memory, including a video in october on what would have been her 29th birthday. the family released balloons marking her birthday. in terms of the legal process, what will happen next is there will be a hearing in february, and then a trial date has been set forjune next year. migrants who cross the channel in small boats are facing very poor conditions at home office facilities in dover. a report by the prisons watchdog says there are "significant safeguarding concerns" for children and vulnerable adults, despite government assurances that conditions would improve. our home editor, mark easton, reports. inspectors visited the tug haven arrival centre in dover on a quiet day in mid—october. what they discovered has prompted a call for urgent government action. 400 people, including babies and small children, held overnight in cold tents without sleeping facilities. some accommodated in unheated double decker buses. inadequate care for two women who said they'd been raped by smugglers, and another woman who claimed to have been sold into domestic servitude. unaccompanied children placed with unrelated adults, prompting significant safeguarding concerns. and migrants' injuries left untreated. inspectors were told how a 16—year—old girl — picked up after a perilous channel crossing — remained in wet clothes for two days with undetected fuel burns on her legs and was now likely to be scarred for life. a previous inspection in september last year also revealed poor conditions at tug haven. at the time, the home office assured inspectors improvements would be made, with ministers blaming coordination problems with partner agencies. i think it's very obvious from our reports that we are frustrated, that we are independent monitors and inspectors of detention and we have been saying to the home office these conditions are not acceptable, and particularly not acceptable for the most vulnerable people and those who are in the greatest need. and there is a great deal of frustration that nothing has yet been done, and we hope that this will stimulate action. the home office said... that refers to controversial plans to use part of a ministry of defence base at manston in kent as a processing site for what they call illegal migrants from next month. ministers say it will be part of a system that is fair on those who play by the rules and firm on those who do not. mark easton, bbc news. five children have been killed in australia after a bouncy castle was swept into the air by a gust of wind. four other children are being treated in hospital after the fall. three of them are in a critical condition. our sydney correspondent, shaimaa khalil, sent this report an event to mark the last day of school turned into a devastating scene. the accident happened when a strong gust of wind blew the inflatable castle in the air. police say the pupils fell from a height of more than 30 feet. several children are in critical condition. it appears a wind gust has caused a jumping castle to lift into the air. several children fell from thejumping castle and it appears they may have fallen from a height of approximately ten metres. this is a very tragic event and our thoughts are with the families and the wider school community, and also ourfirst responders. there is no doubt that this has been a very confronting and distressing scene. police have confirmed that another child died in hospital, taking the death toll to five. the authorities did not give their ages, but said all were in grades five or six — typically for children aged 10 to 12. the australian prime minister, scott morrison, called the accident unthinkably heartbreaking. the events that have occurred today in devonport in tasmania are just shattering. they are just unthinkably heartbreaking. and young children on a fun day out together with their families, and it turns to such horrific tragedy...at this time of year, itjust breaks your heart. witnesses described chaotic scenes as parents rushed to the school. an investigation is now under way to find out how this happened and why families are mourning the loss of their children on a day when they were celebrating the end of the school year. shaimaa khalil, bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather with stav danaos. hello there. for many of us, today has been rather grey and gloomy once again, but rather the drive thank to this blocking area of high pressure. many places holding onto the cloud, mist and murk. through this evening, it is eastern scotland and eastern england that have the clearest skies, with the lowest average overnight. a touch of mist and fog here. can produce no lower than 47 degrees elsewhere. —— for 7 degrees. friday, a similar story, a lot of grey, misty and murky weather around. the best of any brightness will be across the north—east of the uk. temperatures here in single figures, but for most, we are looking at ten or 11. over the weekend, similar, cloudy foremost and turning cold as well. hello, this is bbc news with me, annita mcveigh. the headlines: the country's chief medical officer says the uk could surpass previous records of people admitted to hospital with covid—19 and warns of major challenges in the days ahead. the education secretary says the government will try to encourage recently retired staff to consider returning to work, following issues with teacher shortages due to coronavirus — we'll get reaction from headteachers. the chancellor will hold talks with representatives of the hospitality sector, who are asking for further government support to cope with the challenges of the omicron variant the queen has cancelled her traditional pre—christmas family party next week. sources suggest it could have put too many people's christmas arrangements at risk. the bank of england increases interest rates from 0.1% to 0.25% as inflation hits its highest level in a decade. let's return to the bbc sport centre for some more news from john watson. hello. good afternoon, and good afternoon to everyone. news first on two more postponements in the premier league — manchester united's game with brighton on saturday is off, following the covid outbreak at the club. it's their second match called off his week. leicester's match with tottenham tonight was postponed earlier today as the grip of the covid outbreak worsens. this brings the total number of postponed matches to five at the moment. at least half of all clubs in the top flight have been affected by positive cases. brentford, who were due to play manchester united on tuesday, have at least 13 players missing with the virus. their manager, thomas frank, has called for a suspension of all fixtures in the premier league this weekend. we think we should postpone the full round of premier league games this weekend coming up. the covid—19 cases are going through the roof in all the premier league clubs, everyone is dealing with it and everyone has a problem at this moment in time. to postpone this round and also the other round, we want to carry on, we think it's important that football keeps going, but this way, we can have the boxing day going without problems, 100% sure of that. so in that aspect, we think that would be very sensible to do that. the brentford manager there. and in the last hour the english football league have implemented enhanced training ground protocols, increased testing and extra guidance on the minimum number of available players that are required to fulfil a fixture. the efl have also revealed that covid vaccine data collated for november shows that 25% of players do not intend to get a vaccine. now to the cricket... it's been a frustrating first day for england in the second ashes test in adelaide. australia closed on 221—2 after winning the toss. england recalled veteran fast bowlers, james anderson and stuart broad, and although they helped keep australia's run rate down, the tourists will rue several missed chances, with wicket keeper jos buttler dropping two catches. patrick gearey reports. in adelaide, before the first ball came the phone call. australia captain pat cummins isolating, steve smith back in the job he once left in tears and a cheating scandal. his first choice was to bat, so the recalled stuart broad took the ball and so somehow did jos buttler. oh, that was brilliant! marcus harris gone, just the start england were reaching for. but the spring recoiled, the scene reset, australia rebuilt. england needed a moment... was that it? 0h! shane had scored just 21. poor buttler had front row seats to watch him and david warner bat on. both past 50. perhaps england were waiting for a sunset and conditions to change, but these are not the faces of optimistic men. so few imagined that one david warner, a pantomime villain five runs from his 100... would do that. his heart sank, theirs lifted. but the polls did not quicken the game for some time, shane scoring carefully and sparingly, perhaps remembering this was his second chance. and yet, against the new ball he would get a third. he is gone! buttler dropped one! reprieved again on 95. forjos buttler, and for england, this was a day that went slowly downhill. patrick gearey, bbc news. so a tough day for england wicketkeeper, jos buttler. here are the thoughts of assistant coach, graham thorpe. everyone knows who has played this game that drops a catch, you know, is always disappointed. but, you know, he is a human being and it is a bit like being a goalkeeper, a wicketkeeper. you can keep magnificently throughout the day, but if you drop a catch it gets highlighted. but we will get round him and tried to be philosophical about it as well because i think you have to be. at the end of the day, we are playing a game of cricket. yes, england will be hoping for improved fortunes tomorrow. finally... mercedes say they're dropping their appeal against the result of last weekend's abu dhabi grand prix as lewis hamilton missed out on a record eight title to max verstappen. mercedes lodged two protests at the end of the race over the way it was restarted before a final lap in which verstappen overtook hamilton. their decision to drop the appeal coincides with the fia's decsion to launch a commission to establish what happened at the race, learn from it and to maintain fair competition. that's all the sport for now. i'll have more for you in the next hour. john, see you then, thank you very much. the education secretary for england, nadhim zahawi, has written to school and college leaders to say the government will try to boost the numbers of supply teachers by encouraging recently retired staff to consider a return to work. teacher shortages due to coronavirus are emerging as the biggest problem in the plans for schools to reopen injanuary. in his letter, he said he is working with sector leaders and supply agencies over the coming days to offer advice to ex—teachers who want to provide support to schools and colleges and will help them to register with supply agencies as the best way to boost the temporary workforce available to the sector. joining me now is geoff barton, general secretary of the association of school and college leaders. geoff barton, you are very welcome, thanks for your time this afternoon. first, can i establish with you, do you believe that is the biggest threat to schools being able to reopen injanuary, the possibility of serious teacher shortages? to be honest, it of serious teacher shortages? to be honest. it is — of serious teacher shortages? to be honest, it is the _ of serious teacher shortages? to be honest, it is the biggest _ of serious teacher shortages? to be honest, it is the biggest issue i honest, it is the biggest issue right now. i was talking to a school in surrey today where 40 members of staff in a staff of 80 are off at the moment and what we have heard from the chair of the education select committee and what we heard from the children's commissioner, dame rachel d'souza, over the past weeks is that school should be treated like part of the national infrastructure, they should not be allowed to close. but of course distinctively you have got to have teachers in front of those classes and therefore anything but make sure we have qualified teachers there in january in a way that we are struggling in some schools to be able to do this week has to help, so we applaud the secretary of state for having a real dose of realism. we need to do everything we can to make sure qualified teachers are there for those young people in their schools.— there for those young people in their schools. based on what you have said. _ their schools. based on what you have said. it _ their schools. based on what you have said, it is _ their schools. based on what you have said, it is likely _ their schools. based on what you have said, it is likely a _ their schools. based on what you have said, it is likely a lot - their schools. based on what you have said, it is likely a lot of- have said, it is likely a lot of supply teachers are already being used in schools, so are they going to be sufficient numbers of teachers coming from agencies, ex teachers, retired teachers who might be willing to sign up again to help cope with this? . i willing to sign up again to help cope with this?— cope with this? , i think the question — cope with this? , i think the question is _ cope with this? , i think the question is based _ cope with this? , i think the question is based on - cope with this? , i think the question is based on a i cope with this? , i think the i question is based on a number of assumptions. first of all, we don't know what january might look like and let's keep everything crossed that what happens is we get a natural circuit breaker with people being responsible, not mixing so much, so that actually we have more young people's regular teachers and schools, but we question about supply teachers is a really important one and there has been a bit of a sense that what has happened over the past few weeks is some people who would have traditionally been supply teachers, thatis traditionally been supply teachers, that is substitute teachers who code to stand in for the missing primary or secondary teacher, some of those have simply not been doing it and one reason they have not been doing it is they have been tempted by the government's tutoring programme where essentially you can be paid as a tutor to work one—to—one or in small groups, rather than being in a school. we need to get those people to see that as time of a national emergency, if that is what it is going to feel like injanuary, the priority should be to come back and work at primary school, secondary school or college, and how many people there are who will be willing to do that or want to do that, we don't know, but i think it is right to make that call today.- don't know, but i think it is right to make that call today. yes, as you sa , the to make that call today. yes, as you say, the christmas _ to make that call today. yes, as you say, the christmas holidays - to make that call today. yes, as you say, the christmas holidays may - to make that call today. yes, as you say, the christmas holidays may act| say, the christmas holidays may act as a circuit breaker. something i put to our education editor a short while ago was where was the government on the issue of c02 monitors for schools, to try to detect when there was not enough good air circulation going on and therefore increase the risk of the transmission of the virus. now, she was explaining that the government has met and slightly exceeded its target of 300,000 c02 monitors, but in practice when those are divided out amongst all the educational establishments there are very few per school, answer? so it seems like over the space of a christmas holidays, it seems too short a period to do anything about that? i think so. bleakly, i agree with you and it is the fact that those monitors do what they say. they monitor. what they don't do is increase the ventilation, so essentially those are stage i in ten grew kind of school are used to run, in a 1930s building, is the ventilation in here good enough? and if those monitors are saying no, what do you do about that? so far the government wasn't responsible largely has been, well, there is a marketplace out there, go and spend money and find something that improves ventilation. that really is not good enough. i had a head teacher contact me today who just in terms of the supply costs they have spent in the last year they have spent in the last year they have spent more than £150,000. we are not awash with money here, so it does seem to me that getting the kit to improve ventilation and reimbursing schools if they have to spend money on that should be a higher priority now. 50 on that should be a higher priority now. ., ., on that should be a higher priority now, ., ., ., ., “ now. so in the meantime and looking ahead to january _ now. so in the meantime and looking ahead to january beyond _ now. so in the meantime and looking ahead to january beyond the - ahead to january beyond the christmas break, it is continuing with the programme of children testing, whether that is in school or a couple of times a week at home, to try to keep everything running in as normal a fashion as possible, i suppose? i as normal a fashion as possible, i su ose? ~ as normal a fashion as possible, i suuose? ~' as normal a fashion as possible, i su ose? ~' ,., ~' suppose? i think so. i think the three key _ suppose? i think so. i think the three key messages _ suppose? i think so. i think the three key messages are - suppose? i think so. i think the three key messages are that i suppose? i think so. i think the | three key messages are that the 12-15 three key messages are that the 12—15 year old children, you can as a parent to take your child and get them a second vaccine when that is appropriate. that would be part one. that regular testing becoming part of a regular family routine, whether we like it or not, is one where you are looking after yourself and the people around you, and i guess the third thing is we are alljust going to have to make sure we are doing the responsible thing of the holiday, even if that changes some of the normal behaviour. let's do that because we owe it to young people to make sure when they come backin people to make sure when they come back injanuary it is the best kind of normality we can get that. qm. of normality we can get that. 0k, geoff barton. _ of normality we can get that. 0k, geoff barton, general secretary of the association of school and couege the association of school and college leaders, thank you very much. the only british woman convicted for travelling to syria to join the islamic state group says she's now ashamed of her actions. tareena shakil says she hopes her case serves as a warning about the consequences and dangers of extremism. she is one of around a50 britons who've returned to the uk from areas controlled by is. poonam taneja from the bbc�*s asian network reports. british mother tareena shakil in syria back in 2014. she had secretly travelled to the heartland of islamic state group with her one—year—old son. here she lived in a house with dozens of other women as they prepared to marry foreign fighters. conversations were often listened to and, you know, you were just generally expected to behave in a certain way. you know, don't cause any trouble. she says the brutal reality of life under is soon became apparent. there were, like, two girls who didn't act that way, who would just act up and... i can't really give an example... they were just unruly, really. and, you know, a van came, men came off the van and took them girls away and we never seen them again. less than three months after arriving in syria, tareena shakil escaped back to the uk. police arrested her at the airport. so how did this bright student with ambitions of becoming a doctor end up embracing a group which murdered, raped and tortured thousands? during her trial, the court was told that after her abusive marriage ended, she was radicalised online. she posted the black flag of is on social media and exchanged messages with prominent is members, even urging others to take up arms. jailed for six years, she has now served her sentence and has gone through a de—radicalisation programme. i regret every last thing in terms of my decision to run away to syria with my child. you know, i live with them consequences every day. tareena shakil now looks very different. 0nline selfies have replaced is flags, but rehabilitating is propaganda, but rehabilitating convicted terrorists is complex. so how do we know she has really changed and is no longer a threat? it has been a long journey and along the way, i've had a lot of different conversations with a lot of different people. you know, imams in prison, mentors outside. but she says she remains bitter towards is and its online recruiters. you know, i rememberfeeling really sad, really bitter, really taken advantage of and duped, as it were, but i rememberfeeling really like... ..ashamed of myself to some degree that i had allowed it to happen. tareena shakil says she has turned her back on islamic state group and its ideology. she says she hopes her story will act as a warning to other girls and women vulnerable to online radicalisation. bbc news. super typhoon rai has made landfall in the philippines. it comes with winds of more than 165 kilometres per hour and heavy rain. thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes, and schools in the storm's expected path have been closed. 0ur correspondent, howard johnson, reports. power and communication lines remain down on siargao island, a tropical idyll popular with backpackers and surfers. normally abuzz with updates from social media influencers, the area has fallen eerily quiet. it is hoped the philippine air force will land on siargao island tomorrow to assess the extent of the damage. philippines�* state meteorologists say typhoon rai is now moving towards two other islands, bringing with it winds of up to 165 kilometres per hour and inundating the central philippines with heavy rain. videos posted on social media show the philippine coast guard helping to move families from flooded coastal and riverside communities. thousands of people had evacuated their homes before the typhoon hit, but the united nations has warned that more than 13 million people live in areas likely to be affected by the storm. the international federation of the red cross has described typhoon rai as "a monster storm" and said that climate change was making typhoons more ferocious and unpredictable. howard johnson, bbc news, manila. the headlines on bbc news... it is 3zli7pm exactly. the country's chief medical officer says the uk could surpass previous records of people admitted to hospital with covid—19 and warns of major challenges in the days ahead. the education secretary says the government will try to encourage recently retired staff to consider returning to work, following issues with teacher shortages due to coronavirus — following issues with teacher shortages due to coronavirus.we'll the bank of england increases interest rates from 0.1% to 0.25% as inflation hits its highest level in a decade. the newspaper, the sun, has been urging its readers to sign up to the sun's jabs army to become volunteers to help deliver covid vaccination boosters in time for christmas. yesterday it was announced by prime minister borisjohnson that over 30,000 have volunteered. joining me now is victoria newton who is the editor of the sun. a who is the editor of the sun. good afternoon to yol have a good afternoon to you. i know you have had some pretty high profile support in this campaign, but they have you been surprised by the numbers, an incredible response! yes, phenomenal. the numbers never cease to amaze me. this week we had the duchess of cornwall backing our campaign on the front page, which was fabulous, and the prime minister, of course. we first started this campaign when the first wave of vaccinations when needed. in that it was new year's day when we first launched it and we got 50,000 people who were needed in 18 days. this time round we only launched the campaign on monday and within three days we had got to the target of over 30,000 volunteers needed, but they will still be more, so we will still need more volunteers to come forward. , . , still need more volunteers to come forward. , ., , , .,, . forward. yes, a hugely enthusiastic and a phenomenal— forward. yes, a hugely enthusiastic and a phenomenal response. - forward. yes, a hugely enthusiastic and a phenomenal response. i- forward. yes, a hugely enthusiastic - and a phenomenal response. i wonder, then, what sense do you have of what your readers feel about the pandemic? we are what most two years into this situation. we have this latest variant to deal with. what are they saying about how the government is handling this, especially this new variant? well, eo - le especially this new variant? well, peeple are _ especially this new variant? well, people are obviously _ especially this new variant? well, people are obviously worried - especially this new variant? -ii people are obviously worried about this variant. they are very pro—vaccination, which is good. i don't get many letters at all from antivaxers, but we have been carrying a strong message constantly to make sure that think news does not get out there. obviously governments have a lot of praise for the vaccination roll—out first time around and i think they have still got some of that halo there, but obviously recent events have cast a bit of a cloud on that.— bit of a cloud on that. yes, i mean, there are reports _ bit of a cloud on that. yes, i mean, there are reports that _ bit of a cloud on that. yes, i mean, there are reports that the - bit of a cloud on that. yes, i mean, there are reports that the sun - bit of a cloud on that. yes, i mean, there are reports that the sun had | bit of a cloud on that. yes, i mean, | there are reports that the sun had a christmas party around about the same time as events at downing street that are under investigation. are you able to confirm that it has there been an investigation or indeed any consequences as a resulthave had no big christmas party here whatsoever.- resulthave had no big christmas party here whatsoever. there are no arties party here whatsoever. there are no parties going — party here whatsoever. there are no parties going on _ party here whatsoever. there are no parties going on this _ party here whatsoever. there are no parties going on this year, _ party here whatsoever. there are no parties going on this year, we - parties going on this year, we haven't had any departmental parties. everyone is being extremely sensible. but parties. everyone is being extremely sensible. �* ., ., ~ ., sensible. but i am talking about last christmas. _ sensible. but i am talking about last christmas. there _ sensible. but i am talking about last christmas. there are - sensible. but i am talking about| last christmas. there are reports that on the same date as events at downing street are under investigation, there was some party taking place at the sun. are you able to confirm that?— taking place at the sun. are you able to confirm that? there was an investigation _ able to confirm that? there was an investigation taking _ able to confirm that? there was an investigation taking place - able to confirm that? there was an investigation taking place on - able to confirm that? there was an investigation taking place on that l investigation taking place on that at the time, that is all i am prepared to say.— at the time, that is all i am prepared to say. ok, are you prepared — prepared to say. ok, are you prepared to _ prepared to say. ok, are you prepared to say _ prepared to say. ok, are you prepared to say if _ prepared to say. ok, are you prepared to say if anyone - prepared to say. ok, are you prepared to say if anyone is i prepared to say if anyone is disciplined as a result of that? i am not going to get into that. disciplined as a result of that? i i am not going to get into that. 0k, am not going to get into that. ok, so this year— am not going to get into that. ok, so this year no _ am not going to get into that. ok, so this year no christmas parties, you are following that message of prioritising not doing what is inessential so people can focus on what is essential?— inessential so people can focus on what is essential? that's right and we have limited _ what is essential? that's right and we have limited members- what is essential? that's right and we have limited members of- what is essential? that's right and we have limited members of staff| what is essential? that's right and i we have limited members of staff in the office at the moment because we have the luxury of being able to work remotely. we still have many important messages to get out there, as you say, the pro—jab campaign and making sure people get the vaccinations and volunteers come forward to help that happen as much as possible. fiifi forward to help that happen as much as ossible. i. ., �* as possible. ok, so you haven't wanted to _ as possible. ok, so you haven't wanted to talk _ as possible. ok, so you haven't wanted to talk about _ as possible. ok, so you haven't wanted to talk about those - as possible. ok, so you haven't i wanted to talk about those reports on parties last year, but do you think it has made it awkward in any way for you to report on allegations around what was happening in downing street last christmas?— street last christmas? absolutely not. obviously _ street last christmas? absolutely not. obviously there _ street last christmas? absolutely not. obviously there is _ street last christmas? absolutely not. obviously there is an - not. obviously there is an investigation going on there by the cabinet secretary, simon case, and once he reports back we will be reporting that very clearly, as we did on ourfront page more recently. so you feel that people are more focused, then, at the moment we're getting on with the booster campaign to get people boosted and to try to fight off this variant as best they can? �* , ,., , fight off this variant as best they can? �* , , ., , ., fight off this variant as best they can? �* , ,., , ., , fight off this variant as best they can? absolutely. that is what we are totally focused _ can? absolutely. that is what we are totally focused on _ can? absolutely. that is what we are totally focused on here _ can? absolutely. that is what we are totally focused on here and - can? absolutely. that is what we are totally focused on here and i - can? absolutely. that is what we are totally focused on here and i think i totally focused on here and i think the readers are as well and i am just so proud of them for their magnificent support of this campaign. magnificent support of this campaign-— magnificent support of this camaiun. �* ., ., , , campaign. and do get a sense that --eole are campaign. and do get a sense that people are limiting _ campaign. and do get a sense that people are limiting what _ campaign. and do get a sense that people are limiting what are - campaign. and do get a sense that people are limiting what are doing| people are limiting what are doing in the run—up to the main festivities for christmas, in order to be able to celebrate that with close family?— to be able to celebrate that with close family? to be able to celebrate that with close famil ? ~ ,,., , .. , close family? absolutely, we can see it out on the — close family? absolutely, we can see it out on the streets. _ close family? absolutely, we can see it out on the streets. many _ close family? absolutely, we can see it out on the streets. many streets i it out on the streets. many streets are empty, buses, trains, tubes are less busy. i think there are still a fair few less busy. i think there are still a fairfew shoppers less busy. i think there are still a fair few shoppers out there, but certainly not many people going to work and you have seen today that the queen herself has sent a message by cancelling, well, not the actual christmas lunch, but her pre—christmas lunch to make sure she can preserve christmas. everybody wants to be able to have a good christmas after last year. ok. christmas after last year. ok, victoria newton, _ christmas after last year. 0k, victoria newton, editor of the sun. thank you very much for your time this afternoon.— now, she's been one of the leading stars of strictly this year and this weekend the eastenders actress rose ayling—ellis is in the final. whether or not she walks away with the glitterball trophy, rose — who is profoundly deaf — has already had a huge impact. yvonne cobb is the presenter of the bbc�*s programme for the deaf community, see hear, and she looks now at how rose's participation has raised awareness. saturday night is a big night in for maddie and her best friend molly. good luck, rose. applause dancing the waltz, _ rose ayling—ellis and giovanni... rose ayling—ellis, better known as frankie lewis on eastenders, made history by becoming strictly come dancing's first deaf competitor. i was watching rose and ijust thought it was so... it was the first show that they included sign language on the television and i thought, "oh, i'd love to learn "sign language." molly wasn't alone. there's a saturday night bump on internet searches on learning sign language. one british sign language website said enrolments in some courses were 20 times higher last month compared with august. so you both felt inspired to learn sign language. so what signs would you like to know? if you tell me, i can give you the signs. what do you want to learn? we'd love to learn, "keep dancing". that's obviously the classic strictly catchphrase, so if you could teach us that, that'd be awesome. so hands like this, and it's the same sign that means "carry on"... and dancing. well done. oh, here's one. what about the recent dance? so this is the argentine tango. in the uk, around 150,000 people use british sign language, most of them are deaf. that makes it our fourth indigenous language. paula garfield is the co—founder of deafinitely theatre, a stage school for the deaf community. well, rose actuallyjoined deafinitely youth theatre when she was 17 years old, so probably going back to 2012. she's such a lovely young girl, and she engaged so well with everybody. she was a really quick learner and it was easy to see her natural talent. so i actually feel really privileged to see the changes that have been made in the last 20 years. the number of deaf actors has grown year upon year, and the majority of them have really started from deafinitely theatre and their careers are now soaring. so with rose being in strictly come dancing, what do you feel the impact of that will be? to see rose doing so well and gaining brilliant results is amazing. it gave me goose bumps and it shows the hearing community that deaf people can be included. rose has definitely made a positive impact for me. she's inspired me so much. she's done so many things. the fact that she's part of deafinitely theatre just shows us that we can do anything no matter what is in our way. do you think rose will win strictly? deafinitely! good luck, rose. yvonne cobb — from see hear — with that report. now it's time for a look at the weather with stav danaos. hello there. we are keeping hold of this very benign weather for the foreseeable future, all down to this large blocking area of high pressure, which is going to dominate the weather scene. there's going to be a lot of gloomy, cloudy skies, but also some sunshine around, like we have seen through today and most places will be dry. we have had that weather front bringing further lying patchy rain today across the north of scotland and the northern isles. the best of the sunshine is in eastern scotland and also in eastern england. a few glimmers elsewhere, and it has been mild as well. temperatures for most in double figures. now, as you move through this evening and overnight, most places stay rather cloudy, a bit misty and murky in places. we lose the rain across the far north of the country and it's eastern scotland and eastern england which will continue to see some clear spells, so here temperatures dipping close to freezing, could see some mist and fog developing under the clear skies. for most, where the cloud holds on, for most 4—7 degrees. so here it is, this big strong area of high pressure, which will be sitting on top of the uk this weekend and then tending to drift across towards iceland by sunday and into the start of next week. that will allow cooler air to move down from the north sea. so for friday, a similar story, most places dry, light winds, a lot of cloud, rather gloomy in southern and central areas, probably the best of any brightness in eastern scotland and north—east england. temperature—wise maybe a notch down on today's values, 7—11 degrees. the weekend, then, very little change, it stays largely cloudy and grey and dry for most and it will be turning cooler from the north and east. this is the picture for saturday, then. you can see a lot of cloud around, perhaps a bit of brightness across the far south—west and again across scotland mainly over higher ground poking out of the lower clouds, so the grampians and the highlands seeing some sunshine. temperatures 5—8 in the north and east, double figures in the south—west, but that cooler air begins to filter southwards across all areas on sunday, another grey day for many. single figure values, as you can see, right across the board. that cooling trend continues right up to christmas and we could even see some wintry showers appearing across northern and eastern areas with that onshore north—easterly breeze, but some of the computer models want to favour some milder air moving in from the south—west to bring some rain, so we could become a bit of a battleground of the air masses towards the end of the week, so stay tuned. this is bbc news. i'm annita mcveigh. the headlines. england's chief medical officer says the uk could surpass previous records of people admitted to hospital with covid—19 and warns of major challenges in the days ahead. a lot of people will simultaneously fall ill and be unwell, isolating or caring for others at the same time across the whole economy, so that side of things i also do think we need to take quite seriously. the education secretary says the government will try to encourage recently retired staff to consider returning to work, following issues with teacher shortages due to coronavirus. the chancellor will hold talks with representatives of the hospitality sector, who are asking for further government support to cope with the challenges of the omicron variant. the bank of england increases interest rates from 0.1% to 0.25% as inflation hits its highest level in a decade. we are seeing more persistent inflation pressures now and that's what we have to act on. we are concerned about inflation in the medium term and we are seeing things now that can threaten that, so that's why we have to act. the queen has cancelled her traditional pre—christmas family party next week. sources suggest it could have put too many people's christmas arrangements at risk. hello under very warm welcome to bbc this afternoon. the uk's chief medical adviser has warned that the previous daily record for the number of people admitted to hospital with coronavirus could be exceeded. that was four and a half thousand seen injanuary. speaking to mps, professor chris whitty said that the present wave of the omicron variant was likely to peak quite quickly but that it could also reduce faster than previous peaks. health officials have warned that nhs services may be badly affected by staff illness as omicron spreads rapidly and that they are trying to keep routine hospital services going as much as possible. here's our health correspondent dominic hughes. with the number of new covid—19 infections surging, how will the nhs and social care cope? with a highly infectious new variant, one of the biggest concerns is what will happen when — as seems inevitable — large numbers of staff fall ill, while at the same time hospital admissions linked to the virus are climbing. we will keep as much of our routine services going as possible, that's what we did last january during the last big wave. but inevitably, if we get many, many more admissions over the coming weeks, we will see some disruption. from today, we have new drugs available that we can give to the highest—risk people in the community, which will also prevent hospital admissions. there's also the question of what we can do to protect ourselves in the run—up to christmas. health officials are stressing they don't want to tell people how to live their lives, but to think about what matters the most. people want to protect the time that is most important to them, and that therefore means in practice it is sensible for people to cut down on work or other interactions with people including potentially social ones which are less important to them so that they reduce their chances of catching covid and indeed reduce the chance of passing it on. getting boosterjabs into as many arms as possible remains the government's main tactic for tackling the new wave. this vaccination centre in kent has seen the number being delivered increased fourfold. the prime minister denied there was any confusion between the message from health experts and ministers. there's a lot of omicron around — be careful, exercise caution if you want to avoid isolation, getting unwell over christmas. implement plan b but get boosted now is the fastest route back to normality because the booster does give you an excellent level of protection. in scotland it's expected that omicron will be the dominant strain of coronavirus by tomorrow. nicola sturgeon has confirmed that restrictions designed to curb the spread of coronavirus, which will affect shops and hospitality venues in scotland, will come into force tomorrow. rules on physical distancing and the management of queueing in shops will be reintroduced. infections climbing fast, warnings that too much socialising now could ruin the festive break... ..it�*s beginning to feel a lot like last christmas. dominic hughes, bbc news. and the bbc has launched an nhs tracker to allow you to find out how your local services are coping in england, wales and scotland. it'll run through the winter. you can find out more at bbc.co.uk/nhstracker. joining me now is saffron cordery, who is the deputy chief executive of nhs providers. thank you very much forjoining us this afternoon. let's talk about the boosters first of all. i was reading for our viewers the latest figures that we have, record 7a5,183 boosters and third primary doses of covid—19 vaccine is delivered in the uk yesterday. up by almost 100,000 on the previous day. i mean, it's really phenomenal. obviously the ambition, though, is to deliver a million doses a day. how difficult is that going to be? it’s million doses a day. how difficult is that going to be?— is that going to be? it's still auoin to is that going to be? it's still going to be _ is that going to be? it's still going to be incredibly - is that going to be? it's still- going to be incredibly challenging. it does demonstrate the ability of the nhs to really stand up those emergency services that we need to stand up when it's needed, and i think that we are building towards that 1 think that we are building towards that1 million a day figure. obviously it's a balance of factors. we need people to come forward for the boosters, we need good central public health messaging to encourage people and of course we need the infrastructure in place to do it and that's what the nhs has been doing, making sure that real level of national and local organisation is there so made as made as easy as possible for people to do it. i had my booster yesterday and it was a very slick affair and took me 20 minutes in total including a bit of waiting time to make sure i was ok afterwards, some it's a really slick procedure, so i think people need to book and they need to get their booster because it's the first line of defence. booster because it's the first line of defence-— booster because it's the first line of defence. �* , ., , . of defence. and they need to be a little bit patient _ of defence. and they need to be a little bit patient of _ of defence. and they need to be a little bit patient of course. - of defence. and they need to be a little bit patient of course. i - little bit patient of course. i think most people are. they realise the huge effort is going on. i think most people are patient, but obviously it's a message you want to get out there as well.— get out there as well. totally, eo - le get out there as well. totally, people do _ get out there as well. totally, people do need _ get out there as well. totally, people do need to _ get out there as well. totally, people do need to be - get out there as well. totally, people do need to be patient. j get out there as well. totally, | people do need to be patient. i think what we have to remember is this is a combination of really experienced nhs staff supported by volunteers, supported by the armed forces in some cases, and they are doing everything they can to get as many boosters in arms as quickly as possible but of course, there are going to be delays. there are particularly going to be delays where people are going to walk in clinics, but if they want to do that and put that time a that's absolutely fantastic that they can and they won't just absolutely fantastic that they can and they won'tjust be able to turn up and they won'tjust be able to turn up and get theirjob straightaway. what can you say at the moment about the impact of the booster programme and the focus and diversion of resources if you like into the booster programme, what impact is having on other nhs services? we have to having on other nhs services? - have to remember that the nhs, like an eve service, is made up of finite resources. there is a finite workforce, so if we are putting staff in one place on the booster programme then they won't be available to work elsewhere particularly when we are talking about clinical staff and in many cases we do need clinical staff as well as other staff to work on the boosters, so what that means is that it's possible that people will see further delays to routine treatment. sadly they may see operations cancelled or diagnostic tests delayed and it also could mean when they turn up at an a&e department, they turn up at an a&e department, they face a longer wait and we know that there was have been building up but that is the fact of privatisation and making sure we invest in the boosters now so that we don't regret that further down the line when we may have seen many, many more infections come into hospital which would have caused additional, even more difficult pressure on the nhs. ilirui’ith additional, even more difficult pressure on the nhs. with this rapid doubfinu pressure on the nhs. with this rapid doubling rate. _ pressure on the nhs. with this rapid doubling rate, with _ pressure on the nhs. with this rapid doubling rate, with this _ pressure on the nhs. with this rapid doubling rate, with this particular. doubling rate, with this particular variant, omicron, saffron, how concerned are you about the impact on nhs staff with they are ill or have caring responsibilities for somebody else who has picked up this variant? how difficult might that be to contend with as you try to run as many other services as you can alongside delivering the booster programme?— alongside delivering the booster rorramme? ., ., , , programme? yeah, our members, interests up _ programme? yeah, our members, interests up and _ programme? yeah, our members, interests up and down _ programme? yeah, our members, interests up and down the - programme? yeah, our members, | interests up and down the country, chief executives are telling us that omicron is already creating staff shortages by people being unwell themselves or having members of their family who are unwell. once we have got it rapidly increasing in the community of course we are going to the levels shoot up in terms of nhs staff automate what happened last time and will happen this time and yesterday we saw nearly 79,000 cases confirmed in the community, proportion of those will be working in the nhs, so it's really important to remember that, alongside increasing demand from people with omicron, we're also going to get increasing absences from nhs staff with omicron, so that's going to be a real crunch point. i think we don't know yet is how many people we are going to see admitted to hospital. we haven't got to that point yet. we know there are a few in hospital, admission rates are going up, but the spread of omicron is such that we won't know yet for probably another ten days to two weeks what level of impact that will have on hospital capacity and also capacity across the whole of the nhs and, critically, social care, because remember, in order to keep hospitals going, we really need to see social care operating at its peak and come at the moment, we know that they are suffering staff shortages. they are in really difficult times as well, and fewer than half of patients who are medically fit to do so can actually be discharged from hospital at the moment, so some really challenging pictures out there, but i think what we have to know is that there are things of the public can do. there are things that nhs staff can do. there are things the government can do in order to help stop the spread. omicron in particular. thank you very much for your time today and good luck over the coming days and weeks. she was referring to the almost 79,000 new covid cases reported in the uk yesterday. well, we have the latest figures and another record number surpassing that of yesterday. new daily covid cases today, they stand at, let me just cut the number for you... stand at, let me just cut the number foryou... 88,376 stand at, let me just cut the number for you... 88,376 new cases of covid. those are the latest figures that we have for you. a new daily record across the uk. 88,376 new cases. the uk has also recorded 146 new deaths within 28 days of a positive covid result, so those numbers of new covid cases rising, as we have been told. the majority of cases still delta, but omicron is increasing rapidly. the doubling rate of omicron is incredibly rapid, much faster than with delta, so one more time for you, those latest numbers on the new cases of covid—19 in the uk, 88,376. one other piece of breaking news to bring you and thatis of breaking news to bring you and that is that the chancellor rishi sunak is to return to the uk earlier than planned from a trip to the united states to talk to business leaders. you may well have been with us earlier, we have been reporting on how the business sector, the hospitality sector, is calling on the government to offer more support in dealing with the challenges of the omicron variant. we have heard from a small business owner who has eight employees about how difficult it is and he says he wants failing to return because there has been a huge drop—off, 50% drop—off, and the number of people using his coffee kiosks. we will talk to tom kerridge as well, about the challenges of people deciding to cancel bookings because people have been told to prioritise their activities they are involved in over the christmas period, so the chancellor returning to the uk earlier than planned from the usa to get involved and resume discussions with business leaders tomorrow. on that subject, let's hear from a business, tomorrow. on that subject, let's hearfrom a business, respondent theo leggett, who has this report. the run—up to christmas in manchester's northern quarter. despite the surge in covid cases, lesley and her daughter lauren seem determined to get into the festive spirit. i think it's important to not be scared by things and carry on, but i think it's good to test before you go out. i'll be testing before i go everywhere but i definitely won't be changing my plans or be scared by some of the messaging being put out. i'm not going to change my plans. i'm going to be more cautious and test and things, and i will be a little bit nervy but i'm not going to let that scare me. i just feel sorry for hospitality, so i've got a few things planned but i'm still going to go, i'm not cancelling them. but not everyone is so upbeat. this bournemouth restaurant owner, andy lennox, is picking up the pieces because too many customers have cancelled bookings. three weeks ago we were looking at pretty much a full christmas, something that would basically keep us going for the next three or four months into the spring. we are now looking at a disaster. i mean, cancellations are all over the place. the problem pubs and restaurants are facing is simple. they haven't been forced to close but people have been advised to think twice before going out, and many are choosing to stay at home. that's meant an awful lot of cancelled bookings. during the lockdowns, hospitality businesses could call on government support. that's not the case now and the industry says help is badly needed. firstly, we need local authorities to distribute the cash _ that they are currently sitting - on that's available to them to give grants to businesses - to maintain employment. secondly, we need extended business rates relief so that these _ businesses don't face big bills injanuary. - finally, extend the lower rate of vat, keep it- at 12.5% through the summer. pressure on the government is growing, but this morning ministers weren't making any promises. the chancellor throughout this pandemic has been deeply engaged with business representatives throughout, and he will continue to do so. he was on a long—planned business trip to the us, conducting government business, and he will continue to engage today with other ministers. the run—up to christmas is one of the most important times of the year for hospitality businesses and their suppliers. those running them insist if they don't get help, many pubs and restaurants will not survive long into the new year. theo leggett, bbc news. around the world, many countries have introduced rapid antigen or lateral flow tests, which people can use to find out if they are covid positive within 15 to 30 minutes. but we don't know as yetjust how effective they are against the new omicron variant. i'm joined now by professor irene petersen from the university college london institute of epidemiology and health care. professor, thank you forjoining us today. so we know that this omicron variant of covid has lots of mutations, compared to the delta variant, so how effective are lateral flow tests at picking this up? do we know yet?— lateral flow tests at picking this up? do we know yet? yes, all the investigation _ up? do we know yet? yes, all the investigation done _ up? do we know yet? yes, all the investigation done so _ up? do we know yet? yes, all the investigation done so far- up? do we know yet? yes, all the| investigation done so far suggests that the lateral flow test is still effective in terms of picking up the omicron variant and that is because it is primarily the focus of other parts of the virus where most of the mutations are, so, yes, the lateral flow tester does pick up people infected with omicron. so absolutely then, a infected with omicron. so absolutely then. a useful— infected with omicron. so absolutely then, a usefultool_ infected with omicron. so absolutely then, a usefultool in _ infected with omicron. so absolutely then, a useful tool in trying - infected with omicron. so absolutely then, a useful tool in trying to - then, a useful tool in trying to deal with the spread or contain the spread of the virus? yes. lateral flow tests _ spread of the virus? yes. lateral flow tests are _ spread of the virus? yes. lateral flow tests are not _ spread of the virus? yes. lateral flow tests are not as _ spread of the virus? jazz lateral flow tests are not as sensitive as pcr tests. one guest i spoke to earlier described them as a bit like triage for coronavirus, so at what point in the infection will lateral flow test show up? do you have to be almost at your most infectious point for the lateral show to show you have coverage? —— covid? ida. for the lateral show to show you have coverage? -- covid? no, when ou are have coverage? -- covid? no, when you are infectious _ have coverage? -- covid? no, when you are infectious you _ have coverage? -- covid? no, when you are infectious you have - have coverage? -- covid? no, when you are infectious you have millions| you are infectious you have millions of copies of the virus in your body so the lateral flow test will identify you when you have quite a few copies of the virus in your body and that's when you are infectious. on the other hand, it won't detect if you have very few copies or in contrast to the pcr tests which will pick up very few copies of the virus, and will continue to test positive for a very long time also when you are no longer infectious. so that's why it may look like the testis so that's why it may look like the test is less sensitive than the pcr test is less sensitive than the pcr test but the crucial point is it identifies when you are most infectious. identifies when you are most infectious-— identifies when you are most infectious. �* ., , infectious. ok. and therefore, it is wh we infectious. ok. and therefore, it is why we should _ infectious. ok. and therefore, it is why we should use _ infectious. ok. and therefore, it is why we should use it _ infectious. ok. and therefore, it is why we should use it if _ infectious. ok. and therefore, it is why we should use it if we - infectious. ok. and therefore, it is why we should use it if we are - why we should use it if we are going to be at an event with other people. everybody has been told to prioritise what they really want to do over christmas, but if you are getting together with people, that's why we are being advised to use a lateral flow test as a measure of whether it's safe to do so?- lateral flow test as a measure of whether it's safe to do so? yes, but also what's — whether it's safe to do so? yes, but also what's important _ whether it's safe to do so? yes, but also what's important is _ whether it's safe to do so? yes, but also what's important is with - whether it's safe to do so? yes, but also what's important is with the i also what's important is with the omicron, it replicates much, much faster than any of the previous variants so if you are going to use a lateral flow test, you should do it at the doorstep of the venue you're going to. it doesn't help that you did a lateral flow test two days ago because you may have become infectious in between. 50 days ago because you may have become infectious in between.— infectious in between. so would it be advisable _ infectious in between. so would it be advisable for _ infectious in between. so would it be advisable for example - infectious in between. so would it be advisable for example if - infectious in between. so would it be advisable for example if you i infectious in between. so would it| be advisable for example if you are going to an event in the evening to do one that morning or are you saying you should literally wait until the evening just before the event to test? until the evening 'ust before the event to test?— until the evening 'ust before the event to test? , ., .. , ., event to test? yes. you can still do it in the morning, _ event to test? yes. you can still do it in the morning, but _ event to test? yes. you can still do it in the morning, but you - event to test? yes. you can still do it in the morning, but you could i it in the morning, but you could become infectious during the day with the omicron. the become infectious during the day with the omicron.— become infectious during the day with the omicron. the lateral flow ma not with the omicron. the lateral flow may not pick _ with the omicron. the lateral flow may not pick it up _ with the omicron. the lateral flow may not pick it up in _ with the omicron. the lateral flow may not pick it up in the - with the omicron. the lateral flow may not pick it up in the morning| may not pick it up in the morning but may pick it up in the evening? yes. , ., , ., , , but may pick it up in the evening? yes. ., , , , but may pick it up in the evening? yes. , ., , , , ., yes. ok, people are pretty used now to doinu yes. ok, people are pretty used now to doing these _ yes. ok, people are pretty used now to doing these tests, _ yes. ok, people are pretty used now to doing these tests, by _ yes. ok, people are pretty used now to doing these tests, by and - yes. ok, people are pretty used now to doing these tests, by and large, i to doing these tests, by and large, are people doing them properly? i think, by and large, people are doing them properly. we have had some experience now doing them, many of us have been doing them several times a week over the last couple of months so i think most people will know how to do it. ok. months so i think most people will know how to do it.— know how to do it. ok, professor, thank you — know how to do it. ok, professor, thank you very _ know how to do it. ok, professor, thank you very much _ know how to do it. ok, professor, thank you very much for _ know how to do it. ok, professor, thank you very much for your time this afternoon. the education secretary for england nadhim zahawi has written to school and college leaders to say the government will try to boost the numbers of supply teachers by encouraging recently retired staff to consider a return to work. he also wrote a tribute on twitter, praising teachers and support staff for the 'incredible job�* they were doing in their reponse to the pandemic. and explained that he was looking for ways to increase capacity. well, earlier, i spoke to our education editor branwenjeffries who says the government recognises that teacher shortages due to coronavirus are emerging as the biggest problem in the plans for schools to reopen injanuary. a lot of parents will be very anxious to avoid a repeat of this year, where schools opened and then closed. nobody wants to see that happen. but if you don't have enough staff to put a teacher in front of the class, it is down to the discretion of the head teacher whether or not to send part of a year group or a year group home to study remotely, or to have the school partially closed. what they will try to do is persuade retired teachers to work with supply agencies. the details of how they will persuade them back into the classroom we probably won't get until next week. anecdotally, a lot of supply teachers are already being used? we know that many supply agencies don't have the normal full complement of supply teachers. some people don't want to go from school to school, working in different classrooms. evidence shows that if you work in education, you are more likely to get infected because of the high number of cases among children. also, some have switched to the national tutoring programme in england, so there is a real problem, not everywhere, but in some areas in covering for teachers when they go off sick or they are isolating for their statutory ten days. in theory, a good idea, but in practice it might be difficult to find the numbers required in certain areas. what is what happening with regard to the issue of co2 monitors and ventilation in schools? that is important as well. the government has met its target, and slightly exceeded it, of 300,000 co2 monitors in england going out to schools. if you divide that between early years schools and colleges, you might be talking about a handful for a secondary school. some schools are moving them from one room to another. if they go over a certain level, the only solution is to open the windows and we're in the middle of winter, it is freezing, and energy bills for schools are also going up. the bank of england has raised interest rates from 0.1% to 0.25%. the move came despite fears that the omicron variant of covid could slow the uk economy by causing people to spend less. the bank's governor, andrew bailey, told the bbc�*s andy verity how high, he thought, inflation would go. in the short run, the next three orfour months, we think it could get around six. we are seeing further upward pressure on wholesale gas prices. they went up a lot after august. they came off a bit, but now they are going up again. it is directly related to some of the tensions we are seeing on the border between russia and ukraine, where a lot of europe's gas supply comes through. that will feed through when the next price cap is set for all of us as domestic customers. what about the timing? the city did not expect an announcement, so why now? we have seen evidence of a very tight labour market, and we are seeing more persistent inflation pressures. that is what we have to act on. we are seeing things now that confirm that. we have thought a lot about omicron, it is an important development, we don't know a lot about it at the moment. it certainly can have quite an effect on activity in the economy, we're already seeing it in some of the faster indicators — mobility, footfall in retail outlets, restaurant bookings and so on. it is not clear if it will cause inflation pressure to go down or up, and that is an important factor for us. that is andrew bailey, the governor of the bank of england. most travellers from the uk will soon be banned from entering france — as the government there tries to control the spread of the omicron covid variant. tourism and work trips to the country will no longer be permitted. french citizens and their immediate families won't be affected, but they'll face stricter rules on testing and isolation. joining me now is paul clifton, our transport correspondent is there a rash as people tried to get to france ahead of these new rules coming in? aha, get to france ahead of these new rules coming in?— get to france ahead of these new rules coming in? a few people are t in: to rules coming in? a few people are trying to do _ rules coming in? a few people are trying to do that. _ rules coming in? a few people are trying to do that, yes, _ rules coming in? a few people are trying to do that, yes, there's - rules coming in? a few people are l trying to do that, yes, there's been an increase in bookings today, people trying to get out of the last moment. christmas is a peak period for the travel industry and france is now halting all travel from britain without what it calls a compelling reason. from 11 tomorrow night. so visiting family will be allowed, but going skiing, shopping, seeing friends and in most cases going for work will no longer be permitted and those who do need to travel will have to have shown evidence of a covid test within 24 hours and then have to isolate for a week or 48 hours if they take another test on arrival. with me as nigel wonnacott from brittany ferries. what impact does this have on your business?— ferries. what impact does this have on your business? would have a huge imact on your business? would have a huge im act on on your business? would have a huge impact on everyone _ on your business? would have a huge impact on everyone looking _ on your business? would have a huge impact on everyone looking to - on your business? would have a huge impact on everyone looking to get i impact on everyone looking to get away _ impact on everyone looking to get away to _ impact on everyone looking to get away to france for the christmas break _ away to france for the christmas break we — away to france for the christmas break. we have something like 22,000 passengers _ break. we have something like 22,000 passengers booked with us, looking forward _ passengers booked with us, looking forward to— passengers booked with us, looking forward to getting away, and then suddenly— forward to getting away, and then suddenly this announcement through the french_ suddenly this announcement through the french media yesterday to say that the _ the french media yesterday to say that the borders will be closed, so it's going — that the borders will be closed, so it's going to have a huge impact on our business and the customers that use our— our business and the customers that use our services. both our business and the customers that use our services.— use our services. both you and your customers — use our services. both you and your customers need _ use our services. both you and your customers need this _ use our services. both you and your customers need this like _ use our services. both you and your customers need this like a - use our services. both you and your customers need this like a hole - use our services. both you and your customers need this like a hole in l customers need this like a hole in the head. it's been a terribly difficult year already. it’s the head. it's been a terribly difficult year already. it's been an awfully difficult _ difficult year already. it's been an awfully difficult year, _ difficult year already. it's been an awfully difficult year, yes. - difficult year already. it's been an awfully difficult year, yes. we i difficult year already. it's been an| awfully difficult year, yes. we had something like a third of the usual volume _ something like a third of the usual volume of— something like a third of the usual volume of passengers for the last two years. — volume of passengers for the last two years, we really needed the boost _ two years, we really needed the boost of — two years, we really needed the boost of a — two years, we really needed the boost of a good christmas season to carry us _ boost of a good christmas season to carry us through into 2022, which has to— carry us through into 2022, which has to he — carry us through into 2022, which has to be our comeback year, so this is a big _ has to be our comeback year, so this is a big hammer blow for us as a business — is a big hammer blow for us as a business. ., , ., , , ., business. for people trying to get to france. — business. for people trying to get to france. the _ business. for people trying to get to france, the deadline _ business. for people trying to get to france, the deadline is - business. for people trying to get to france, the deadline is 11 - to france, the deadline is 11 o'clock tomorrow night, midnight french time, are you seeing a last—minute rush in bookings? yes. last-minute rush in bookings? yes, there's been _ last-minute rush in bookings? yes, there's been a _ last-minute rush in bookings? yes, there's been a rash _ last-minute rush in bookings? yes, there's been a rash and _ last—minute rush in bookings? yes, there's been a rash and our phones are swamped, notjust the people desperately trying to get on the last ferry— desperately trying to get on the last ferry to france, but also of course — last ferry to france, but also of course from people trying to find out what — course from people trying to find out what on earth is going on because _ out what on earth is going on because the rules haven't been clean — because the rules haven't been clean the _ because the rules haven't been clear. the french authorities haven't— clear. the french authorities haven't been quite as open as perhaps— haven't been quite as open as perhaps they could have been and people _ perhaps they could have been and people are confused, so lots of concern — people are confused, so lots of concern. do people are confused, so lots of concern. y ., people are confused, so lots of concern. , ., ., . people are confused, so lots of concern. ., . concern. do if you are french you can no concern. do if you are french you can go in — concern. do if you are french you can go in and _ concern. do if you are french you can go in and if— concern. do if you are french you can go in and if you _ concern. do if you are french you can go in and if you are _ concern. do if you are french you can go in and if you are with - concern. do if you are french you can go in and if you are with a i can go in and if you are with a french family can go in but hauliers are still separate from this impact on tourists?— on tourists? absolutely hauliers have been _ on tourists? absolutely hauliers have been the _ on tourists? absolutely hauliers| have been the bread-and-butter on tourists? absolutely hauliers - have been the bread-and-butter four have been the bread—and—butter four brittany— have been the bread—and—butter four brittany ferry services over the last two — brittany ferry services over the last two years, so no problem for hauliers. — last two years, so no problem for hauliers, but reallyjust for those who are — hauliers, but reallyjust for those who are desperately looking to get for that— who are desperately looking to get for that christmas break that they'd been looking forward to after two difficulty— been looking forward to after two difficulty is, i'm afraid christmas is off— difficulty is, i'm afraid christmas is off again. difficulty is, i'm afraid christmas is off again-— is off again. ok, thank you very much indeed. _ is off again. ok, thank you very much indeed. the _ is off again. ok, thank you very much indeed. the french - is off again. ok, thank you very - much indeed. the french government spokesman says britain faces a tidal wave of the variant in the coming days and the impact of that is now starting to become clear.- days and the impact of that is now starting to become clear. thank you very much. — starting to become clear. thank you very much. paul _ starting to become clear. thank you very much, paul clifton _ starting to become clear. thank you very much, paul clifton in _ very much, paul clifton in portsmouth for us. the queen has cancelled her traditional pre—christmas family lunch at windsor castle next week as a precautionary measure following the uk's surge in omicron cases. a source said it was felt the annual event could put too many people's christmas plans at risk. two teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a 16—year—old boy was stabbed to death in gloucester. ramarni crosby was fatally stabbed on wednesday evening in the tredworth area. gloucestershire police said he died at the scene from his injuries. the arrested teenagers aged 16 and 17 were detained in connection with his death. a garage worker has accepted responsibility for the killing of primary school teacher sabina nessa in september. the old bailey has heard how 36 year—old kotchee selamy, travelled to london from his home in eastbourne to carry out what the prosecution alleges was a "pre—meditated and predatory" attack. it is claimed he struck the 28—year—old as she walked through a park in south—east, london, on her way to meet a friend. now it's time for a look at the weather. a rather gloomy day across many central and southern areas. night—time things look a bit prettier particularly when we have all the lights but we are going to have some issues with mist and fog across parts of eastern england through the course of tonight. tomorrow and indeed into the weekend it's going to be much the same, high—pressure, light winds, and a lot of cloud and sunshine. fog could be an issue across the yorkshire dales into lincolnshire and the wash, perhaps the northern parts of east anglia as well. stubborn to clear and it will be quite dense in places. it will be cold because we had clear skies but elsewhere cloudy, misty and murky and less cold. high pressure with us friday and the weekend, sitting pretty much right on top of the uk. friday, the wind will be light, most places dry and grey and gloomy with limited sunshine across western fringes of england and wales and also north—east scotland, perhaps north east england. temperatures are lower across the north than today, double figure values across southern and western areas but for the weekend, it stays pretty much the same, a lot of cloud around. limited sunshine. you will notice things will turn colder particularly through the course of sunday. see you later. hello, this is bbc news. the headlines — another 88,376 new cases of covid—19 have been recorded in the uk today. it is the highest daily total recorded since the pandemic began, and almost 10,000 more than yesterday. england's chief medical officer says the uk could surpass previous records of people admitted to hospital with covid—19, and warns of major challenges in the days ahead. the chancellor is returning to the uk early to resume talks with representatives of the hospitality sector, who are asking for further government support. the education secretary says the government will try to encourage recently retired staff to consider returning to work, following issues with teacher shortages due to coronavirus. we'll get reaction from headteachers. and the bank of england increases interest rates from 0.1% to 0.25%, as inflation hits its highest level in a decade. let's return to pressure building on the government from business groups to help firms — and particularly hospitality — deal with the financial fallout from this latest covid wave. many hotels, pubs and restaurants are facing cancellations over the normally busy christmas period. chef tom kerridge shared his cancellations list online, showing 654 guests that had called ahead to ccall off festive bookings. i will let you tell our viewers, thank you forjoining us, how many cancellations you have had. the post i ut on cancellations you have had. the post i put on social— cancellations you have had. the post i put on social media, _ cancellations you have had. the post i put on social media, at _ cancellations you have had. the post i put on social media, at that - cancellations you have had. the post i put on social media, at that point i i put on social media, at that point there were 650 cancellations in one particular restaurant over a six—day period, so it's a huge amount of covers, and it wasjust period, so it's a huge amount of covers, and it was just a reflection, to be honest, what was happening up and down the country and all hospitality venues, whether they are hotels, top end restaurants, whether they are local neighbourhood spaces, whether it is your nearby local pub. hospitality right now is beginning to close down around us. find right now is beginning to close down around us. �* ., ,., ., , right now is beginning to close down around us. �* ., ., , , around us. and how important is this christmas period _ around us. and how important is this christmas period for— around us. and how important is this christmas period for your _ around us. and how important is this christmas period for your annual- christmas period for your annual revenue? it christmas period for your annual revenue? ., ~ , christmas period for your annual revenue? . ~ , ., , . revenue? it makes a huge difference. it's massive- — revenue? it makes a huge difference. it's massive. many, _ revenue? it makes a huge difference. it's massive. many, many— revenue? it makes a huge difference. it's massive. many, many places - revenue? it makes a huge difference. it's massive. many, many places in i it's massive. many, many places in hospitality rely on that christmas period. it generates some times between 20 and 25% of an annual revenue in that period between december and january one. so it is a colossal amount of turnover to start disappearing. many bookings are down by at least 50%, so it makes a big difference to an industry that is already hugely debt—laden. if you think of those support systems and the scaffolding and the safety nets that were there with the furlough scheme, the reduction in vat, the business rates relief, everything that was put in place that is now not there. it puts a massive amount of pressure. the bounce back loans that many businesses would have taken to ensure that they can exist to get to this point, hoping for a bumper christmas to be able to start paying back everything, those loans now have to be paid back and they are being paid back, but without that turnover and that revenue, it will be very difficult for many operators to keep going. find will be very difficult for many operators to keep going. and i know, lookin: at operators to keep going. and i know, looking at the — operators to keep going. and i know, looking at the situation, _ operators to keep going. and i know, looking at the situation, and - operators to keep going. and i know, looking at the situation, and what i looking at the situation, and what you have written about it, that you are really frustrated about the messaging, aren't you? you don't think that the same rules are being applied across the board. talk is through your thoughts on that. again, it feels very chaotic and mixed messaging, very similar to last year. you know, there is no decency and any foresight and understanding of what is happening with this government telling or speaking to the industry about is there a rescue package, is there some sort of planning, is there some sort of thinking about it? for example, you could walk into a shop, and you've got to wear a mask to buy and you've got to wear a mask to buy a t—shirt but you can go right next door to the pub and hang out there with your mates, watch the football and not have to wear a mask. the messaging last night from chris whitty again was very different, almost to the point where boris johnson was kind of slightly wincing and didn't reiterate chris whitty�*s message of saying prioritise or de—prioritise where you are actually going to do your socialising over the christmas period. and the government seem to be very quiet at the minute about how they are going to help hospitality. they are not going to back that message, it is very different, it is not being mandated by government, they are not saying don't go out but at the same point the chief medical advisor bear is saying please be very careful, choose your meetings wisely. and thatis choose your meetings wisely. and that is complete mixed messaging, and it leaves an industry out there hung out to dry. find and it leaves an industry out there hung out to dry-— and it leaves an industry out there hung out to dry. and the government is sa inc hung out to dry. and the government is saying there _ hung out to dry. and the government is saying there is _ hung out to dry. and the government is saying there is still _ hung out to dry. and the government is saying there is still help _ is saying there is still help available and it is citing for example the extension to the bounce back loans, the extension on repayments of those bounce back loans, but i guess from what you are saying, from talking to somebody else earlier today who has three coffee kiosks in central london, it is the level of indebtedness now thatis is the level of indebtedness now that is the real concern, whether the business can actually survive, in some cases. you know, you are clearly a very well—known chef, you probably can work your way through this better than some can, but the chancellor is coming back early from a trip to the us tomorrow to talk to business representatives. what is your message for him, what specifically do you want to see? do you want to see fellow brought back in for example?— in for example? what we need straightaway — in for example? what we need straightaway is _ in for example? what we need straightaway is clear, - in for example? what we need straightaway is clear, decisive | straightaway is clear, decisive leadership and an understanding of taking a grip and control of the situation, stop the mixed messaging. and then you need to look completely at the packages that were in place, the vat, yes, it has been held for, not at 20% any more, it was a 12%, but it was a 5%, which was helpful to businesses. bounce back loans have been very helpful but they are being repaid, just extending the repayments doesn't mean they don't have to be repaid, and perhaps holding them, may be right enough completely depending on the tenor of the business on the sides of the loan. the business rates relief is there, the furlough scheme being brought back would be fantastic for many businesses, that was a great help from a starting point of view, for the staff payment. if restrictions in any way are brought in, i mean, it is restricted right now even though it is by stealth, it is not government enforced, more people are cancelling. so 50% of your bookings commuting 50% less than you normally would, that is a restriction. so all of these kind of little bits and bobs that help cover the chancellor needs to put together as a complete package and iron it out, and demonstrate that message in a coherent and straight manner so that everybody could understand it, and stop the mixed messaging. tam and stop the mixed messaging. tom kerridue, and stop the mixed messaging. tom kerridge. thank— and stop the mixed messaging. tom kerridge, thank you so much for your time, good luck with what is clearly going to be a very difficult period for everybody in hospitality but we do appreciate you talking to us this afternoon. . ~ do appreciate you talking to us this afternoon. ., ~ , ., do appreciate you talking to us this afternoon. . ~ , ., ., do appreciate you talking to us this afternoon. ., ~ y., ., , afternoon. thank you. time for sport now, a afternoon. thank you. time for sport now. a little — afternoon. thank you. time for sport now, a little later _ afternoon. thank you. time for sport now, a little later than _ afternoon. thank you. time for sport now, a little later than expected, i now, a little later than expected, we go to the bbc sport centre and john watson. as you were mentioning last hour, news of more fixtures that are now being postponed of covid. that's right. the premier league very much in the grip of the covid outbreak at the moment. two more postponments in the top flight today. manchester united's game with brighton on saturday is off. it's their second match to be called off this week, as is leicester's game with tottenham tonight, as the outbreak worsenes. it brings the total number of postponments in the premier league to five. at least half of all clubs in the top flight have been affected by positive cases. brentford, who were due to play manchester united on tuesday, have at least 13 players missing with the virus, their manager thomas frank has called for a suspension of all fixtures in the premier league this weekend. in the premier league this weekend. we think that we should postpone the full round of premier league games this weekend coming up. the covid cases are going through the roof and all the premier league clubs, everyone are dealing with it, everyone are dealing with it, everyone has a problem at this moment in time. to postpone this round and also the carabao cup. we want to carry on, it is important we think that football keeps going, but, this way, we can have boxing day going, no problems, sure of that, so in that aspect, we think that, so in that aspect, we think that will be very sensible to do that. ., that will be very sensible to do that. . ., that. the premier league have increased _ that. the premier league have increased protocols. _ that. the premier league have increased protocols. the - that. the premier league have i increased protocols. the english properly can enhance there theirs as well. —— the english football league. that includes increased testing and extra guidance on the minimum number of available players that are required to fulfil a fixture. the efl have revealed that covid vaccine data shows that 25% of players do not intend to get a vaccine. that news comes on a day when uefa president aleksander ceferin has urged players across europe to get vaccinated as soon as possible. we should promote the vaccination, and we _ we should promote the vaccination, and we with — we should promote the vaccination, and we will. we already started to do it, _ and we will. we already started to do it. but — and we will. we already started to do it, but we of course don't have power _ do it, but we of course don't have power to — do it, but we of course don't have power to force anyone to be vaccinated. but the promotion goes today, _ vaccinated. but the promotion goes today, and — vaccinated. but the promotion goes today, and the video is, by my modest — today, and the video is, by my modest opinion, very good, because there _ modest opinion, very good, because there are _ modest opinion, very good, because there are only doctors speaking in there are only doctors speaking in the video. — there are only doctors speaking in the video, and they explain, from their— the video, and they explain, from their point— the video, and they explain, from their point of view, why vaccination is so _ their point of view, why vaccination is so important. their point of view, why vaccination is so important-— is so important. yes, vaccine hesitancy _ is so important. yes, vaccine hesitancy has _ is so important. yes, vaccine hesitancy has been _ is so important. yes, vaccine hesitancy has been an - is so important. yes, vaccine hesitancy has been an issue | is so important. yes, vaccine l hesitancy has been an issue in is so important. yes, vaccine - hesitancy has been an issue in the top flight in the past. it's been a frustrating first day for in england in the second ashes test in adelaide. australia closed on 221—2 after winning the toss. england recalled veteran fast bowlers james anderson and stuart broad, and although they helped keep australia's run rate down, the tourists will rue several missed chances with wicket keeper jos buttler dropping two catches. patrick gearey reports. in adelaide, before the first ball came the phone call. australia captain pat cummins isolating, steve smith back in the job he once left in tears and a cheating scandal. his first choice was to bat, so the recalled stuart broad took the ball and so somehow did jos buttler. oh, that was brilliant! marcus harris gone, just the start england were reaching for. but the spring recoiled, the scene reset, australia rebuilt. england needed a moment. was that it? 0h! shane had scored just 21, paul butler had front row seats to watch him and david warner baton. both past 50. perhaps england were waiting for sunset for conditions to change, but these are not the faces of optimistic men. so few imagined that one, a pantomime villain five runs from his 100... would do that. his heart sank, theirs lifted. but the polls did not quicken the game for some time, shame scoring carefully and sparingly, perhaps remembering this was his second chance. and yet, against the new ball he would get a third. he is gone! butler dropped one! reprieved again on 95. for buttler, and for england, this was a day that went slowly downhill. patrick gearey, bbc news. yes, a frustrating day for england, they will hope their fortunes in crude —— improved tomorrow. there's plenty more on the bbc sport website, including all the reaction to mercedes decision not to appeal against the result of the title—deciding abu dhabi grand prix last sunday. that's all the sport for now. let's get more on the news that the education secretary nadhim zahawi has written to school and college leaders to say the government will try to boost the numbers of supply teachers, by encouraging recently retired staff to consider a return to work. geoff barton, general secretary of the association of school and college leaders told me schools were struggling. i was talking to a school in surrey today where 40 members of staff in a staff of 80 are off at the moment and what we have heard from the chair of the education select committee and what we heard from the children's commissioner, dame rachel d'souza, over the past weeks is that school should be treated like part of the national infrastructure, they should not be allowed to close. but of course distinctively you have got to have teachers in front of those classes and therefore anything which makes sure we have qualified teachers there injanuary in a way that we are struggling in some schools to be able to do this week has to help, so we applaud the secretary of state for having a real dose of realism. we need to do everything we can to make sure qualified teachers are there for those young people in their schools. based on what you have said, it is likely a lot of supply teachers are already being used in schools, so are they going to be so are there going to be sufficient numbers of teachers coming from agencies, ex—teachers, retired teachers who might be willing to sign up again to help cope with this? i think the question is based on a number of assumptions. first of all, we don't know what january might look like, and let's keep everything crossed that what happens is we get a natural circuit breaker, with people being responsible, not mixing so much, so that actually we have more young people's regular teachers and schools, but your question about supply teachers is a really important one and there has been a bit of a sense that what has happened over the past few weeks is some people who would have traditionally have been supply teachers, that is substitute teachers who stand in for the missing primary or secondary teacher, some of those have simply not been doing it and one reason they have not been doing it is they have been tempted by the government's tutoring programme, where essentially you can be paid as a tutor to work one—to—one or in small groups, rather than being in a school. we need to get those people to see that, at time of national emergency, if that is what it is going to feel like injanuary, the priority should be to come back and work at primary school, secondary school or college, and how many people there are who will be willing to do that or want to do that, we don't know, but i think it is right to make that call today. the headlines on bbc news... another 88,376 new cases of covid—19 have been recorded in the uk today. it is the highest daily total recorded since the pandemic began, and almost 10,000 more than yesterday. england's chief medical officer says the uk could surpass previous records of people admitted to hospital with covid—19, and warns of major challenges in the days ahead. the chancellor is returning to the uk early to resume talks with representatives of the hospitality sector, who are asking for further government support. the only british woman convicted for travelling to syria to join islamic state group says she's now ashamed of her actions. tareena shakil says she hopes her case serves as a warning about the consequences and dangers of extremism. she is one of around 450 britons who've returned to the uk from areas controlled by is. poonam taneja, from the bbc�*s asian network, reports. british mother tareena shakil in syria, back in 2014. she had secretly travelled to the heartland of islamic state group with her one—year—old son. here she lived in a house with dozens of other women as they prepared to marry foreign fighters. conversations were often listened to and, you know, you were just generally expected to behave in a certain way. you know, don't cause any trouble. she says the brutal reality of life under is soon became apparent. there were, like, two girls who didn't act that way, who would just act open. i can't really give an example. they were just unruly, really. and, you know, a van came, men came off the van and took them girls away and we never seen them again. less than three months after arriving in syria, tareena shakil escaped back to the uk. police arrested her at the airport. so how did this bright student with ambitions of becoming a doctor end up embracing a group which murdered, raped and tortured thousands? during her trial, the court was told that after her abusive marriage ended, she was radicalised online. she posted the black flag of is on social media and exchanged messages with prominent is members, even urging others to take up arms. jailed for six years, she has now served her sentence and has gone through a de—radicalisation programme. i regret every last thing, in terms of my decision to run away to syria with my child. you know, i live with them consequences every day. tareena shakil now looks very different. online selfies have replaced is flags, but rehabilitating convicted terrorists is complex. so how do we know she has really changed and is no longer a threat? it has been a long journey and along the way, i've had a lot of different conversations with a lot of different people. you know, imams in prison, mentors outside. but she says she remains bitter towards is and its online recruiters. you know, i rememberfeeling really sad, really bitter, really taken advantage of and duped, as it were, but i rememberfeeling really, like, ashamed of myself to some degree that i had allowed it to happen. tareena shakil says she has turned her back on islamic state group and its ideology. she says she hopes her story will act as a warning to other girls and women vulnerable to online radicalisation. super typhoon rai has made landfall in the philippines. it comes with winds of more than 165 kph and heavy rain. thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes, and schools in the storm's expected path have been closed. our correspondent howard johnson reports. power and communication lines remain down on siargao island, a tropical idyll, popular with backpackers and surfers. normally abuzz with updates from social media influencers, the area has fallen eerily quiet. it is hoped the philippine air force will land on siargao island tomorrow to assess the extent of the damage. philippines�* state meteorologists say typhoon rai is now moving towards two other islands, bringing with it winds of up to 165 kph and inundating the central philippines with heavy rain. videos posted on social media show the philippine coast guard helping to move families from flooded coastal and riverside communities. thousands of people had evacuated their homes before the typhoon hit, but the united nations has warned that more than 13 million people live in areas likely to be affected by the storm. the international federation of the red cross has described typhoon rai as "a monster storm", and said that climate change was making typhoons more ferocious and unpredictable. howard johnson, bbc news, manila. now, she's been one of the leading stars of strictly this year, and this weekend, the eastenders actress rose ayling—ellis is in the final. whether or not she walks away with the glitterball trophy, rose, who is profoundly deaf, has already had a huge impact. yvonne cobb is the presenter of the bbc�*s programme for the deaf community, see hear, and she looks now at how rose's participation has raised awareness. saturday night is a big night in for maddie and her best friend molly. applause dancing the waltz, _ rose ayling—ellis and giovanni. rose ayling—ellis, better known as frankie lewis on eastenders, made history by becoming strictly come dancing's first deaf competitor. i was watching rose and i just thought it was so... it was the first show that they included sign language on the television and i thought, "oh, i'd love to learn sign language". molly wasn't alone. there's a saturday night bump on internet searches on learning sign language. one british sign language website said enrolments in some courses were 20 times higher last month compared with august. so you both felt inspired to learn sign language. so what signs would you like to know? if you tell me, i can give you the signs. what do you want to learn? we'd love to learn, "keep dancing". that's obviously the classic strictly catchphrase, so if you could teach us that, that'd be awesome. so hands like this, and it's the same sign that means "carry on"... and dancing. well done. oh, here's one. what about the recent dance? so this is the argentine tango. in the uk, around 150,000 people use british sign language, most of them are deaf. that makes it our fourth indigenous language. paula garfield is the co—founder of deafinitely theatre, a stage school for the deaf community. well, rose actuallyjoined deafinitely youth theatre when she was 17 years old, so probably going back to 2012. she's such a lovely young girl, and she engaged so well with everybody. she was a really quick learner and it was easy to see her natural talent. so i actually feel really privileged to see the changes that have been made in the last 20 years. the number of deaf actors has grown year upon year, and the majority of them have really started from deafinitely theatre and their careers are now soaring. so with rose being in strictly come dancing, what do you feel the impact of that will be? to see rose doing so well and gaining brilliant results is amazing. it gave me goose bumps and it shows the hearing community that deaf people can be included. rose has definitely made a positive impact for me. j she's inspired me so much. she's done so many things. the fact that she's part _ of deafinitely theatre just shows us that we can do anything no matter what is in our way. _ do you think rose will win strictly? deafinitely! good luck, rose. yvonne cobb from see hear with that report. it's little more than a week until christmas, and the usual excitement is mounting. covid has obviously had an impact, but there is one place where the festive spirit can never be extinguished, as the bbc�*s tim allman explains. # it's beginning to look a lot like christmas # everywhere you go...# in this part of finland, it really is christmas every day. this place in lapland calls itself the official home town of santa claus, and he really is honestly, truly the real thing. notjust a man in a fake beard. father christmas, hoping this year of all years, he can bring some joy to the world. i have been hearing worrying news around the globe about the well—being and coping of children and young people. now it's time to turn these worries into plenty of goodwill. visitor numbers obviously took a big hit in the last two years as the pandemic took hold, santa's business representative says people are coming back but they have to take precautions. translation: the guests are required to have corona passports _ when they arrive in finland. we ask all our guests to show their corona passport at the reception desk, and after that, they are free to take part in all the activities. but, of course, the most important people here are the children. do you like santa? te gusta santa claus? si! in a few days' time, after the dry run, father christmas will be back on his travels, and a much bigger sleigh. his ambition, he says, to make this christmas a happy and unforgettable one. tim allman, bbc news. yes, here's hoping. now it's time for a look at the weather with stav danaos. we are keeping hold of this very benign weatherfor we are keeping hold of this very benign weather for the foreseeable future, all down to this large blocking area of high pressure, which is going to dominate the weather scene. which is going to dominate the weatherscene. it which is going to dominate the weather scene. it is going to be a lot of gloomy, cloudy skies, but also some sunshine, like we have seen today, and most places will be dry. we have had that weather front bringing further light, patchy rain across the north of scotland, the northern isles, the best of the sunshine has been eased in scotland and eastern england. a few glimmers elsewhere and it has been mild too, temperatures for most in double figures. as you move through this evening and overnight, most places stay rather cloudy, bit of misty murk in places. we lose the rain across the far north of the country, and eastern scotland and eastern england will continue to see some clear spells will stop here temperatures dipping close to freezing, bit of mist and fog developing under the clear skies, for most, where the cloud holds on, lows of 47 degrees. here it is, this big strong area of high pressure that will be sitting across the uk this weekend and tending to drift across into iceland by sunday, and into the start of next week. that will allow some cool air to move down from the north sea. so for friday then, a similar story. most places dry, light winds, a lot of cloud, rather gloomy in central and southern areas, probably the best of any brightness is in scotland, north—east england. temperature—wise may be a notch down on today, seven to 11 degrees. the weekend then, very little change, says largely cloudy and grey and dry for most, and it will be turning cooler from the north and the east. so this is the north and the east. so this is the picture for saturday, you can see a lot of cloud around, perhaps a little bit of brightness across the far south—west, again across scotland, mainly the higher ground, poking out of the low cloud, so the highland seeing some sunshine. temperatures five to 8 degrees in the north and east, double figures in the south—west. but that cooler air begins to filter southwards to all areas on sunday, another grey day for many, single off —— single figure values as you can see. that cooling trend continues in the run—up to christmas. we can even see some wintry showers appearing across northern and eastern areas without onshore north—easterly breeze but some of the computer models want to favour some milder air moving in from the south—west to bring some rain, so it could become a bit of a battleground of the air masses towards the end of the week, so stay tuned. this is bbc news. i'm reeta chakrabarti. the headlines... the number of confirmed covid cases in the uk reaches 88,376 — a new record — as england's chief medical officer warns of major challenges in the days ahead. a lot of people will simultaneously fall ill and be unwell, isolating or caring for others at the same time across the whole economy, so that side of things i also do think we need to take quite seriously. the record number of cases raise real concerns for the nhs — and the impact on hospital admissions. the chancellor is cutting his us trip short to resume talks with business leaders here about the solution for hospitality and other sectors affected.

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