the philippines on friday is now known to have killed 33 people. hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. the french prime minister, jean castex, has likened the spread of the omicron variant of coronavirus to lightning, as he announced new measures to slow its advance. mr castex said major public parties and firework displays on new year's eve would be banned. the rapid spread of omicron has seen a raft of new restrictions brought in across europe. lucy grey has this report. as countries across europe brace themselves for a sharp rise in cases due to the omicron variant, hospitality and travel are the main targets for the new restrictions. the omicron variant of the covid—19 virus is exploding throughout europe. it is here, it is in our country. and we are going to see a massive rise in infections. in ireland, all restaurants, bars, cinemas and theatres will have to close at 8pm from sunday, although weddings for up to 100 people will be allowed until midnight. the government is promising new financial support for companies after warnings that the new rules could cause up to 70,000 job losses. this was the scene at london's eurostar late on friday as britons rushed to try to get over to france before it closed its borders to uk passport holders. the french government has banned major public parties and fireworks displays on new year's eve and the army has been brought in to help with the boosterjabs and ministers have approved the use of vaccinations for children from the age of five. record numbers of new cases in denmark have brought restrictions on restaurant opening hours, too, and cinemas, theatres and concert halls are closing. in switzerland, from monday, you will have to show proof of vaccination or recovery from covid to be allowed into restaurants or a negative test result to get into bars or nightclubs. the german government is warning that the next wave will be a massive challenge for its hospitals and society as a whole and has banned unvaccinated people from restaurants and nonessential commerce. french and danish travellers who have not been vaccinated will now have to quarantine on arrival in germany. with health care systems across europe under strain, the head of the european commission says that vaccination is key. we know that our health care systems are overstretched right now and this is partly linked to the large number of unvaccinated patients, so in conclusion, the answer can only be to increase vaccination to include children over five years of age, boosting and protective measures, that has to be the answer that we give to this new variant. and in the netherlands, is the health care system deals with an influx of covid patients, routing care and all but urgent operations have been postponed. dutch ministers are meeting health advisers on saturday after they recommended that the country go into a strict lockdown. lucy grey, bbc news. covid case numbers are also rising sharply across large parts of the united states, with new york reporting its highest daily number of new infections. there've been long queues at testing centres in the city, and some broadway shows have been cancelled. unveiling a raft of new measures to try and control the spread— the outgoing mayor of new york bill de blasio explained the situation now facing new yorkers. it is clear that the omicron variant is here, in new york city, in full force and we are announcing a series of measures to address the situation. obviously we knew omicron was here and we knew it was going to be more of a presence in our city. it is now quite clear that it is. scientists advising the uk government on coronavirus say more stringent restrictions will need to be implemented "very soon" in england if ministers want to prevent hospital admissions reaching three—thousand per day. the comments are included in leaked minutes from a meeting of the scientific advisory group for emergencies, or sage. the government's cobra committee will meet this weekend, to discuss the spread of the omicron variant. professor neil ferguson — who sits on the group — told bbc radio 4 that the situation looks precarious. the epidemic of omicron is in london, very obviously now, but it is not obvious in every region, so we think omicron is doubling in case numbers every three days or so at the moment and that will become more apparent across the entire country in the coming week. the thing we are most anxiously looking at and analysing is what is happening to hospitalisation numbers, because that is really the key indicator in terms of how well we are coping with this epidemic. and we see quite a significant surge of hospitalisations in london, the region which is most ahead, but less of an indication in other regions. one bit of good news is that the booster programme really has accelerated this week. we were up to nearly 900,000 boosters given yesterday and that has almost doubled in the matter of the few days and everything we can do to boost immunity in the population is going to be good news going forward. 0k. but as far as hospitals are concerned, we can see from the leaked minutes of sage that they say without extra restrictions, the number could peak at 3000 a day or more and that in england, in the last winter, at the height of the last winter wave, it was 4000 people admitted to hospital in england every day with covid. are you saying that with the infection picture at the moment and with the doubling rate, that we might well be heading for a very serious position with hospitals in the next few weeks? yes, and i think everybody, i mean chris whitty is said exactly the same in his last press conference, that is the major concern and we will be able to be more certain of that scenario, exactly what we are heading into, in the next few days and i think with the increasing amounts of data coming in, there is a real concern we will be heading into something which has the risk of overwhelming the health service. the nhs in england says that mrjobs will be available in nearly 3000 locations. let us go back to what is happening in france because the prime minister there said the spread of omicron is going at lightning speed through europe. let's talk to epidemiologist catherine hill, who's based in paris. welcome. thank you forjoining us. can you give us the latest picture of the spread in france and the impact it is having?— impact it is having? well, the situation is _ impact it is having? well, the situation is really _ impact it is having? well, the situation is really bad. - impact it is having? well, the situation is really bad. we - impact it is having? well, the i situation is really bad. we have little omicron from the time being, but a lot of delta and we are in the middle of a fifth wave with 50,000 cases diagnosed every day, increasing numbers arriving in hospital every day, an increasing number arriving in intensive care and we have begun transferring patients from marseille to brittany, thatis patients from marseille to brittany, that is a long travel for people in intensive care. the hospitals are already submerged in some parts of france and the situation is really not good. france and the situation is really not aood. ., , france and the situation is really not nood. . , . . . not good. that pain is quite a clear icture not good. that pain is quite a clear picture with _ not good. that pain is quite a clear picture with patients _ not good. that pain is quite a clear picture with patients having - not good. that pain is quite a clear picture with patients having to - picture with patients having to travel long distances for treatment. in terms of the measures to try to control the spread, obviously the borders with england have been close now, what impact do you think that will make? , . ., will make? pretty much zero. the omicron is _ will make? pretty much zero. the omicron is already _ will make? pretty much zero. the omicron is already in _ will make? pretty much zero. the omicron is already in france - will make? pretty much zero. the omicron is already in france and i will make? pretty much zero. the | omicron is already in france and a lot of people travel before yesterday and so, you know, closing borders simply does not work. it makes no difference. ok. borders simply does not work. it makes no difference.— borders simply does not work. it makes no difference. ok, so what measures do _ makes no difference. ok, so what measures do you _ makes no difference. ok, so what measures do you think— makes no difference. ok, so what measures do you think should - makes no difference. ok, so what measures do you think should be | makes no difference. ok, so what. measures do you think should be in place, what would make a difference in what is being done? what place, what would make a difference in what is being done?— place, what would make a difference in what is being done? what is being done is pretty _ in what is being done? what is being done is pretty much _ in what is being done? what is being done is pretty much as _ in what is being done? what is being done is pretty much as many - in what is being done? what is being j done is pretty much as many booster doses per day as the uk, ijust heard 900,000 yesterday in the uk and that was pretty much the same number in france, so we are doing a lot of boosterjabs, but we are not very good at vaccinating the different primary vaccinations to older people, there are still more than 5 million people aged over 12 who could be vaccinated and have not been vaccinated at all, including 13% of been vaccinated at all, including i3% of the people aged over 80. these are people at very high risk and a lot of them have not been vaccinated and that is really a problem. vaccinated and that is really a roblem. ~ , ., vaccinated and that is really a roblem. ~ ,, ., ., ~' vaccinated and that is really a roblem. ~ ,, ., ., ~ ., vaccinated and that is really a roblem. ~ ., ,, ., problem. when you look at the spread of omicron in — problem. when you look at the spread of omicron in france _ problem. when you look at the spread of omicron in france and _ problem. when you look at the spread of omicron in france and say - problem. when you look at the spread of omicron in france and say it - problem. when you look at the spread of omicron in france and say it is - of omicron in france and say it is delta currently that is causing the problems and hospitalisations are increasing, what is your reading of the impact of omicron? we know how quickly it is spreading, we are increasingly getting data after it first emerged at the end of november, it was officially identified in south africa at that point, but what is your sense on the date has so far as to how serious omicron is going to be?- date has so far as to how serious omicron is going to be? there is not much sequencing. — omicron is going to be? there is not much sequencing, the _ omicron is going to be? there is not much sequencing, the number- omicron is going to be? there is not much sequencing, the number of. much sequencing, the number of sequences with omicron found so far is something like in the order of a few hundred. i think you probably have to multiply that by four, because one test in four is not being sequenced, but tested with a pcr test that lead to suspicion of omicron. we have not very good estimations but it is increasing fast and it is going to be dominant in a few weeks, i think.— in a few weeks, i think. catherine hill, epidemiologist _ in a few weeks, i think. catherine hill, epidemiologist list, - in a few weeks, i think. catherine hill, epidemiologist list, thank i in a few weeks, i think. catherine | hill, epidemiologist list, thank you forjoining us. the nhs in england says booster jabs will be available at nearly three—thousand locations across the country this weekend, in response to the spread of the omicron variant. our reporter, ben boulos, is at a vaccination centre in north london which is staying open for 2h hours. here at this vaccination centre in north london, they have been going throughout the night, running what they call a 24—hour jabathon. they started at six o'clock yesterday evening and they are going right through until six o'clock this evening. already they have delivered 2500 vaccinations, they are aiming to deliver 5000 by the time they finish this tent. as you can see, here people arrive, they check in, register for the vaccination and then they go through where the vaccination volunteers and the medical practitioners are giving out the doses. there are first doses, second doses and the boosters and it is particularly important here in london, where omicron is hitting hard and case numbers are rising. we will speak to the gp who has overseen all of this and it is doctor russell hearn. russell, the idea of a 24—hour jabathon, it sounds great, but it takes a bit of organising, how easy was it to get this off the ground? yeah, we have got a big team already, we have been vaccinating for a year, we just went past our one—year anniversary of giving the first vaccination, one of the first in north london. 150,000 just about we have given now. so, we were well established, we have been running almost seven days a week, so it was pretty easy to get going for tonight. we had lots of enthusiasm from the team and as well as vaccinating overnight last night and up until six o'clock today, we will be going every day this week up until christmas. it is all very well having a facility available in the middle of the night for people to come and get vaccinations, where people actually turning up in the dead of night? yeah, we have had a surprising number of people come for their first vaccination, who found it convenient, second vaccinations and boosters and in particular some shift workers, people finishing theirjobs in restaurants coming during the night, police men, ambulance drivers, policewomen, all sorts of service industries and our colleagues in the 999 services. how many are you hoping to get done here by the time you finish? yes, at the moment we are pretty much on track to get to about 5000. we have got another 1200 book patients coming between now and 6am and probably another 800 or 1000 walkins, so we could even reach that 5000 mark. ok, doctor russell hearn a thank you very much indeed. it is worth saying, we were hearing about long queues at vaccination centres earlier this week, three or four hours in some cases. here, the average waiting time for walkins is between ten or 15 minutes and it is possible to get it done. it is worth saying also that this is one ofjust many sites, just one of the many sites around the uk that is supplying vaccinations this weekend. 3000 in all, including sports stadiums, racecourses and even christmas markets. plenty of opportunity to get boosted this weekend. the uk's top civil servant has stepped down from leading an inquiry into downing street lockdown parties, after it emerged an event was held in his own office last year. simon case's investigation was supposed to clear up whether rules had been broken — but instead it's another damaging step for the prime minister after a bruising couple of weeks. our political correspondent nick eardley reports. westminster is packed up for christmas, but it is events from this time last year that are continuing to cause controversy. simon case is the man the prime minister asked to look at allegations of rule breaking at parties, but yesterday it emerged that there had been an event at his own private office. e—mails had invited people to a christmas party, which it emerged yesterday, was a quiz. the cabinet secretary did not attend, but he did speak to staff as he left. last night, it was announced that he would stand back from the enquiry and another top civil servant, sue gray, would complete the probe. it is incredibly hard to believe that no one in government knew that these parties were happening and there is a huge amount of evidence now and i do believe that the investigation that sue gray is going to be leading up, if the evidence is there, they need to carry that investigation out very swiftly to restore the public trust and then hand over that evidence to the police because no one is above the law. it is another damaging episode after a damaging few weeks for the government. from accusations of not taking sleaze seriously, to big rebellions in parliament, to this. cheering and applause. the remarkable result in north shropshire, with the liberal democrats overturning a 26,000 majority for the conservatives and they think they burst the prime minister's bubble in the process. that is always the signal sent by the public when they feel that things have gone wrong and that the answer to that is very simple, it is not more of the same, it is the reality that if we want to get the vote back, then we have to be able to show that we deserve that support. the past few weeks have led to questions over borisjohnson's authority and his politicalfuture. many conservatives think things need to change in here if he is going to steady the ship. nick eardley, bbc news, westminster. our political correspondent jonathan blake is here. jonathan, what is known about this latest event? it jonathan, what is known about this latest event?— latest event? it happened on the 17th of december _ latest event? it happened on the 17th of december last _ latest event? it happened on the 17th of december last year - latest event? it happened on the 17th of december last year when | 17th of december last year when london was under tier 3 restrictions, invitations went out from simon case for a christmas party, as it was described, to 15 people or so, not everyone turned up. the official version of events from the cabinet office was that this was a virtual quiz for the most part among staff in his private office. there were a small number of those people working in the office throughout the pandemic who took part at their desks, others joined in remotely and simon case played no part in it although he was working in an adjacent office and did walk through and speak to staff on his way out that night. it went on for about an hour way out that night. it went on for aboutan hourand way out that night. it went on for about an hour and snacks and drinks were served. those are the details, but the question of course is whether this would fall under the remit and scope of the investigation that simon case is leading into alleged parties in downing street at that time of year. now that these details have come to light, it is clear that it really is not workable or feasible for him to continue, given the potential conflict of interest and that is why we had a statement from downing street yesterday saying he was stepping back to ensure that public confidence was kept in this investigation as it continues. 50. investigation as it continues. so, someone else — investigation as it continues. so, someone else has stepped up, sue gray, what happens now? she someone else has stepped up, sue gray, what happens now?— gray, what happens now? she has another senior _ gray, what happens now? she has another senior civil _ gray, what happens now? she has another senior civil servant - gray, what happens now? she has| another senior civil servant working at the department for levelling up as it is now called under michael gove and she will take on the work that simon case was doing, attempting to establish the facts and we assume to get it all out there in public at some point, although that is not necessarily a given. there is no strict timetable for this enquiry to publish and downing street wanted to happen as soon as possible and i can imagine the prime minister wants to get it out there and draw a line under things if he can, potentially before christmas, but i think the chances of that now have got a bit slimmer with someone new coming in and taking over. over and above that, why did not anyone see this coming and why did it take so long for these details to come out and render these details to come out and render the investigation as it was set up on workable? some people within the conservative party and beyond will be looking on saying this is another self—inflicted wound for the government at a very difficult time. thank you, jonathan. the british socialite, ghislaine maxwell who's facing sex trafficking charges in the united states — has told the court she won't be giving evidence. ms maxwell said there was no need to testify because the prosecution had failed to prove her guilt beyond reasonable doubt. she denies grooming girls for the late convicted paedophile, jeffrey epstein. our correspondent nada tawfik has been outside the courthouse in new york. the defence has rested its case today and it comes after ghislane maxwell decided not to take the stand in her own defence as she stood up and address thejudge, she said that there was no need for her to testify because the prosecution had not proved their case beyond reasonable doubt. so, a very defiant response there from ghislane maxwell, who has been very involved throughout this whole trial, passing notes to her lawyers during the cross—examination of the accusers and others who have testified and her stating there that she will not tell her side of the story on the stand. of course, that would have been a very risky strategy, opening her up to intense cross—examination by prosecutors, but really this trial is moving incredibly fast. we are now said to have closing statements from both sides on monday. the defence's case after initially saying they might call 35 witnesses, they rested after calling nine witnesses and none really revealing too much more to help their case. it seems that the defence is really relying on their cross—examination that happened during the prosecution case of the key four accusers, hoping that they have sown enough doubt in the minds ofjurors to avoid a conviction for their client, ghislane maxwell. at least 33 people have died and many remain missing in the philippines after typhoon rai hit the country on thursday. the storm, which affected the country's southern provinces, packed sustained winds of 195 kilometres per hour and dumped heavy rain triggering flash flooding and landslides. the typhoon has now left the philippines, moving westwards over the south china sea. an american man has been sentenced to five years in prison for attacking police during the storming of the us congress by donald trump's supporters. the jail term handed to robert palmer is the longest given so far to anyone involved in january's riot. here's our north america correspondent david willis. robert palmer was the first person involved in the insurrection on the 6th of january to be prosecuted in connection with assaulting a police officer and as you say, he received the longest sentence so far, 63 months or five years and three months in prison. previously, 43 months, 41 months, sorry, had been the longest sentence handed down, but none of those defendants had faced such serious charges and the judge was told that mr palmer attacked police with a wooden pole with a stick and with a fire hydrant as well. they concluded that these were very serious charges that merited this sort of sentence that he received. now, of the 700 people who are facing charges in connection with that insurrection on the capitol building on the 6th ofjanuary, most face, are facing more minor charges, but there are some serious charges of assaulting police and possession of a deadly weapon and so on, which could lead to charges similar to those levelled at robert palmer today. going to a uk beach in your swimming costume — in the middle of december — may not fill everyone with excitement — but when it's for a good cause — it all seems worth it as edward sault explains. one, two, three... bananas! baring all, almost all for charity.— all, almost all for charity. one, two, all, almost all for charity. one, two. three! _ two, three! cheering and applause. the idea came about after christine lost her husband to cancer during lockdown. he was taken to southampton where he would _ he was taken to southampton where he would stay _ he was taken to southampton where he would stay for five weeks. we were not allowed to visit him once. they told him _ not allowed to visit him once. they told him that he was going to die and we _ told him that he was going to die and we could not even comfort him. towards _ and we could not even comfort him. towards the — and we could not even comfort him. towards the end of roy's life he was cared for by the hospice in sussex. they took his fear away from dying, we were _ they took his fear away from dying, we were all — they took his fear away from dying, we were all really frightened. christine _ we were all really frightened. christine wanted to raise money for the hospice and had a word with janet after they came out for a swim. i janet after they came out for a swim. ., ., .., ., ., , swim. i thought a calendar would be a treat swim. i thought a calendar would be a great idea — swim. i thought a calendar would be a great idea and _ swim. i thought a calendar would be a great idea and it _ swim. i thought a calendar would be a great idea and it was _ swim. i thought a calendar would be a great idea and it was very - a great idea and it was very impromptu _ a great idea and it was very impromptu and— a great idea and it was very impromptu and we - a great idea and it was very impromptu and we only. a great idea and it was very- impromptu and we only decided in 0ctoher~ _ impromptu and we only decided in 0ctoher~ we — impromptu and we only decided in october. we had _ impromptu and we only decided in october. we had a _ impromptu and we only decided in october. we had a few spectatorsl impromptu and we only decided in - october. we had a few spectators who were a _ october. we had a few spectators who were a hit— october. we had a few spectators who were a bit shocked _ october. we had a few spectators who were a bit shocked when _ october. we had a few spectators who were a bit shocked when they- october. we had a few spectators who were a bit shocked when they came i were a bit shocked when they came across— were a bit shocked when they came across half— were a bit shocked when they came across half naked _ were a bit shocked when they came across half naked women _ were a bit shocked when they came across half naked women on - were a bit shocked when they came across half naked women on the . were a bit shocked when they came i across half naked women on the beach in novemhen — across half naked women on the beach in november. find _ across half naked women on the beach in november-— in november. and this is set. with all proceeds _ in november. and this is set. with all proceeds going _ in november. and this is set. with all proceeds going to _ in november. and this is set. with all proceeds going to help - in november. and this is set. with all proceeds going to help cancer. all proceeds going to help cancer patients in west sussex. it all proceeds going to help cancer patients in west sussex.- patients in west sussex. it cost about £600 — patients in west sussex. it cost about £600 a _ patients in west sussex. it cost about £600 a day _ patients in west sussex. it cost about £600 a day to _ patients in west sussex. it cost about £600 a day to look i patients in west sussex. it cost about £600 a day to look after| about £600 a day to look after someone if they come into the hospice, but it could support our hospice, but it could support our hospice at home care as well, our community work, 90% of our care at the moment is in homes, where we look after people and provide wraparound care. for look after people and provide wraparound care. for kristen, it is helinu wraparound care. for kristen, it is helping keep _ wraparound care. for kristen, it is helping keep the _ wraparound care. for kristen, it is helping keep the memory - wraparound care. for kristen, it is helping keep the memory of i wraparound care. for kristen, it is helping keep the memory of roy . helping keep the memory of roy alive. it helping keep the memory of roy alive. . , , helping keep the memory of roy alive. .,, , alive. it has been the most incredible _ alive. it has been the most incredible story. _ alive. it has been the most incredible story. how- alive. it has been the mostj incredible story. how much alive. it has been the most i incredible story. how much fun alive. it has been the most - incredible story. how much fun did ou incredible story. how much fun did you have? — incredible story. how much fun did you have? loads, _ incredible story. how much fun did you have? loads, it— incredible story. how much fun did you have? loads, it has— incredible story. how much fun did you have? loads, it has been i you have? loads, it has been amazing- _ you have? loads, it has been amazing. lots _ you have? loads, it has been amazing. lots of— you have? loads, it has been amazing. lots of screens! i you have? loads, it has been i amazing. lots of screens! amazing. you have? loads, it has been - amazing. lots of screens! amazing. i think we have — amazing. lots of screens! amazing. i think we have all _ amazing. lots of screens! amazing. i think we have all lost _ amazing. lots of screens! amazing. i think we have all lost someone i amazing. lots of screens! amazing. i think we have all lost someone to i think we have all lost someone to cancer, we all know what end—of—life care means and we are all passionate about supporting it. i care means and we are all passionate about supporting it.— about supporting it. i cannot take m e es about supporting it. i cannot take my eyes off _ about supporting it. i cannot take my eyes off your— about supporting it. i cannot take my eyes off your baubles! - about supporting it. i cannot take my eyes off your baubles! i i about supporting it. i cannot take my eyes off your baubles! i am i about supporting it. i cannot take i my eyes off your baubles! i am glad ou said my eyes off your baubles! i am glad you said baubles! _ my eyes off your baubles! i am glad you said baubles! you _ my eyes off your baubles! i am glad you said baubles! you have - my eyes off your baubles! i am glad you said baubles! you have had i my eyes off your baubles! i am glad| you said baubles! you have had your photographs — you said baubles! you have had your photographs taken, _ you said baubles! you have had your photographs taken, time _ you said baubles! you have had your photographs taken, time for - you said baubles! you have had your photographs taken, time for a i you said baubles! you have had your photographs taken, time for a cup . you said baubles! you have had your| photographs taken, time for a cup of tea? ladle photographs taken, time for a cup of tea? ~ . . photographs taken, time for a cup of tea? . ., ., ., photographs taken, time for a cup of tea? ~ ., ., ., , ., ., tea? we are heading into the sea and ou're tea? we are heading into the sea and you're going — tea? we are heading into the sea and you're going to _ tea? we are heading into the sea and you're going to come _ tea? we are heading into the sea and you're going to come with _ tea? we are heading into the sea and you're going to come with us. - you're going to come with us. cheering and applause. in for a penny... cheering and applause. the ladies have made half of their £6,000 target but it has also seen the start of an unbreakable bond between new friends. edward salt, bbc news. in colombia, an ngo is using pedal power to tackle exclusion in society. the campaign called "we take you" ensures that people with disabilities, and the elderly, can enjoy a bike ride round envigado, near the city of medellin. the ngo custom—makes the bikes to accomodate wheelchairs and walkers, and volunteers accompany the cyclists round the bicycle lanes on a sunday evening. you're watching bbc news. this week gps were told to cancel appointments to dedicate resources to offering vaccines to every uk adult by the end of december. so what's it like for staff on the frontline delivering the booster jabs? dr nathalie dukes is a gp in grimsby, and she's been keeping a video diary over the last few weeks. back into the full swing of things, we are two years into this pandemic and things are still evolving. hello? it is doctor dukes speaking. hi. omicron is creating problems and we are expecting it to create a lot of problems for a lot of people over the next few weeks as the infection seems to spread really fast, so it is important to realise what we can do ourselves to protect ourselves, our loved ones and others and that is to get your vaccinations and to get your boosters done. whatever happens, happens, we will deal with it. we have got enough ppe at the moment, at least we do not have that issue that we had two years ago, so certainly from that perspective, things have improved and at the moment we are having extraordinary meetings to try and free up staff from surgeries that are not vaccinating to go and help in the vaccination clinics, so that will be our priority. i want to set out our plan for managing covid this autumn and winter. this year one of the frustrations has been that the government made it sound as if there were locums we could just hire, that means doctors who do sessions in different surgeries, and yet these locums are not available because there are not enough doctors around the nhs, so it is no use giving us money and making it sound like we can just hire additional staff when those additional staff are not available. it was an example of how we are being hung out to dry, where it is presented to the general public as if there is a solution out there that we just need to grab. walking back into work again in a rather snowy day. it is very frustrating to hear another government minister on the radio today saying that the work for vaccinations needs to take priority over the work that we do in general practice. we cannot ask gps to stop caring in their usual way, because that leads to a backlog that people and the nhs cannot afford. one of the things that has improved is that we get very few patients now being unreasonable, shouting and swearing. our receptionists feel that definitely there has been a massive improvement. into my office. several patients have been complaining about the vagueness of advice that they are given now regarding what to do and what not to do with the new variant. so, i really think that the messages need to be given by health leaders. by clinicians, because they have been trained in how to give clear messages and how to convey a clear message. we are really grateful for the patience of people, hopefully we will get through a peaceful christmas, working towards a happier and healthier new year. a government spokesman said "primary care services, responsible for gps, have been asked to prioritise vaccinations and emergency care, which will mean some non—urgent appointments will need to be postponed. we urge people to be considerate of the enormous effort we are asking them to put in." it's the strictly come dancing final tonight but it's sad news for aj odudu and her partner kai widdrington, who have pulled out of the show. the tv presenter has torn a ligament in her right ankle which means only two couples will compete for the glitterball as david sillito reports. last week, it was a full house of tens for aj and kai's quickstep. the tv presenter aj odudo was on her way to the final. i am really happy, thank you so much for all of your votes. i am buzzing! just days later, she posted this picture of herself sitting with crutches and a bandaged foot. an injury picked up during the hours of training. she has now had to admit defeat. she could barely stand, let alone dance, a ligament had been torn. my ankle has given way and my ligaments ruptured and it was just not going to happen. i am really gutted, because we were ready to smash it.