as scotland joins wales in keeping fans away from grounds from boxing day, fears grow over the financial impact for clubs in scotland, with calls for the planned winter break to be brought forward. sausage rolls for everyone. ladbaby teams up with eltonjohn and ed sheeran, as they aim for a record four christmas number ones in a row. ijust said to them, if i just said to them, if you ijust said to them, if you are up for it, me and out and would like to join in with your one and help in any way we can. details coming up. temperatures last night failed to -10 temperatures last night failed to —10 in the highlands. rain from the west the company by strengthening winds. details throughout the programme. good morning. it's wednesday, the 22nd of december. our main story. people with covid in england can now stop self—isolating after a week, following two negative lateral flow tests. the health secretary says it's to ease disruption to people's lives, and comes after the prime minister ruled out imposing further covid restrictions in england before christmas. our political correspondent jonathan blake has the details. struggling under the strain. staff absences due to surging cases of the omicron variant are putting public services and parts of the economy under pressure. in an attempt to ease the burden, a change to self—isolation guidance. the period is being reduced from ten to seven days for people in england, providing they receive two negative lateral flow test results at least 2a hours apart. this is a very sensible, balanced and proportionate step to take. of course, this new variant is spreading very rapidly, it is disrupting many people's lives. it's great that when people do get infected that they are properly isolating. i think that clearly helps to stop, to prevent infection. but it is important also to look at how we can, you know, have policies, that will help to minimise that. and this step, again informed by our clinicians, i think is a very sensible step way forward. meanwhile, christmas can go ahead as planned in england. the prime minister confirmed last night there will be no new restrictions before then. uncertainty over the severity of omicron meant further measures could not yet be justified, he said. but he warned they couldn't be ruled out later on. labour have accused boris johnson of weakness. beyond christmas, families need to be able to plan their own activities, and crucially, business needs to be able to plan for their trading. and the problem with the dither and delay that we're seeing from borisjohnson, entirely as a result of wranglings within his own political party, is that that lack of grip is costing hogmanay celebrations are off in edinburgh this year, as scotland braces for more restrictions from boxing day. yesterday, limits on big events in hospitality venues were announced, with a return to table service for those serving alcohol. in wales, new restrictions to take effect after christmas will be set out later today. and the senedd reconvened for a virtual session. similar decisions are looming in northern ireland, where ministers will also meet to discuss further measures. so there's more clarity some about christmas now, but uncertainty still about how much disruption lies ahead. jonathan blake, bbc news. we'rejoined now by our chief political correspondent, adam fleming. adam, there is still uncertainty about what will happen just after christmas. do we need to be prepared for more restrictions coming our way to potentially, because the government is leaving the door open to changes to the covid rules in england after christmas. mil to changes to the covid rules in england after christmas. all the prime minister _ england after christmas. all the prime minister said _ england after christmas. all the prime minister said in _ england after christmas. all the prime minister said in his - england after christmas. all the prime minister said in his video | prime minister said in his video yesterday— prime minister said in his video yesterday was that they would be no changes _ yesterday was that they would be no changes before christmas or on christmas — changes before christmas or on christmas day. that also politically allowed _ christmas day. that also politically allowed him to look a bit more decisive — allowed him to look a bit more decisive when, after that long cabinet — decisive when, after that long cabinet meeting at the start of the week, _ cabinet meeting at the start of the week, when no decisions were made, he could _ week, when no decisions were made, he could have been accused of looking — he could have been accused of looking a — he could have been accused of looking a bit indecisive. we are all still waiting for more data to get a sense _ still waiting for more data to get a sense of— still waiting for more data to get a sense of whether there is a reaiisiic— sense of whether there is a realistic possibility of more restrictions in england after christmas. mps had an update last night _ christmas. mps had an update last night from — christmas. mps had an update last night from chris whitty, and patrick vaiiahce _ night from chris whitty, and patrick vallance. mps on that briefing say there _ vallance. mps on that briefing say there was— vallance. mps on that briefing say there was not really any significant new data _ there was not really any significant new data and definitely nothing on the key— new data and definitely nothing on the key stuff we want to know about, do people _ the key stuff we want to know about, do people with omicron ended up in hospital— do people with omicron ended up in hospital with in the same numbers they did? — hospital with in the same numbers they did? how long do they end up in hospital— they did? how long do they end up in hospital for. — they did? how long do they end up in hospital for, and how seriously ill do they— hospital for, and how seriously ill do they get? that will be key to making — do they get? that will be key to making the decision. we may get clues— making the decision. we may get clues about that today. the modellers, the scientist to protect -- project— modellers, the scientist to protect —— project what might happen with the omicron variant, they are meeting _ the omicron variant, they are meeting on a wednesday, as they always— meeting on a wednesday, as they always do — meeting on a wednesday, as they always do. and i am told ministers -et always do. and i am told ministers get a _ always do. and i am told ministers get a preview of the latest infection numbers from the office of nationat— infection numbers from the office of national statistics on wednesday afternoon too. the rest of us will not get _ afternoon too. the rest of us will not get to — afternoon too. the rest of us will not get to see them until the end of the week _ not get to see them until the end of the week. maybe, just maybe some clues— the week. maybe, just maybe some clues wiii— the week. maybe, just maybe some clues will start to emerge. also, we will maybe — clues will start to emerge. also, we will maybe get a sense of whether people _ will maybe get a sense of whether people are just making their own decisions — people are just making their own decisions. you can see it yourself with empty— decisions. you can see it yourself with empty pubs, empty buses, much quieter— with empty pubs, empty buses, much quieter trains, with empty pubs, empty buses, much quietertrains, lots with empty pubs, empty buses, much quieter trains, lots of people reducing _ quieter trains, lots of people reducing their contacts. will that have _ reducing their contacts. will that have naturally reduced the spread of omicron? _ have naturally reduced the spread of omicron? . ~ have naturally reduced the spread of omicron? ., ,, , ., , have naturally reduced the spread of omicron? ., ,, y., , . have naturally reduced the spread of omicron? ., ,, , . ~ ., we'll be speaking to care minister gillian keegan at 7.30am today. meanwhile, further restrictions are expected to be announced in wales later today. the welsh government has already re—introduced social distancing in some settings, and closed nightclubs from the 27th of december. we can speak now to our correspondent tomos morgan. tomos, what further measures are expected? when i spoke to the first minister on friday. — when i spoke to the first minister on friday, he was talking about hospitality. and i think that is the bil hospitality. and i think that is the irig thing — hospitality. and i think that is the big thing we are waiting for today. what _ big thing we are waiting for today. what implications will be put on that industry today? imagine things possibly— that industry today? imagine things possibly like a table service and rules _ possibly like a table service and rules of— possibly like a table service and rules of six could be brought back. he wanted — rules of six could be brought back. he wanted to reopen the hospitality sector— he wanted to reopen the hospitality sector after christmas, but he wanted — sector after christmas, but he wanted to _ sector after christmas, but he wanted to do so safely. last night as well— wanted to do so safely. last night as well vaughan gething, the economy minister. _ as well vaughan gething, the economy minister, said at the very least when _ minister, said at the very least when it— minister, said at the very least when it comes to households there will be _ when it comes to households there will be guidance on household bubbles — will be guidance on household bubbles. what is interesting there is the _ bubbles. what is interesting there is the difference between guidance and low _ is the difference between guidance and low i— is the difference between guidance and low. i think we could potentially see in hospitality sectors _ potentially see in hospitality sectors and in businesses that maybe there will— sectors and in businesses that maybe there will be law, certain restrictions, but when it comes to household — restrictions, but when it comes to household mixing, that might be strong _ household mixing, that might be strong advice, guidance, which is different— strong advice, guidance, which is different to what we had before. certainty — different to what we had before. certainly nowhere near lockdown measures — certainly nowhere near lockdown measures. none of these will come into force _ measures. none of these will come into force until after christmas. we are waiting — into force until after christmas. we are waiting to hear today what date, what exactly they are. unfortunately we will _ what exactly they are. unfortunately we will not _ what exactly they are. unfortunately we will not know today how long they will go _ we will not know today how long they will go on _ we will not know today how long they will go on for. i am told they will io will go on for. i am told they will go on _ will go on for. i am told they will go on for— will go on for. i am told they will go on for at _ will go on for. i am told they will go on for at least three weeks until the end _ go on for at least three weeks until the end of— go on for at least three weeks until the end ofjanuary, so probably a bit further— the end ofjanuary, so probably a bit further after that as well in wales — wales. tomos, thank wares. — tomos, thank you. elsewhere in the uk, the northern ireland executive will meet today to consider a range of new covid measures, as cases of omicron increase in the country. people are already limited to indoor gatherings of 30 people, face coverings are mandatory on public transport and indoor settings and a covid pass or negative test result is required to gain access to some hospitality premises. we are trying to get a sense through the programme this morning of how the programme this morning of how the different rules, potential new rules, affect all the different nations of the uk. we will go into some depth on all of that. staff shortages due to the rise in covid cases has forced some rail operators to cancel or reduce services, ahead of the annual christmas getaway. long distance lines are among the worst affected, with transport for london saying about 500 of its frontline staff were currently off work. our reporter geeta pendse is at manchester piccadilly station this morning. geeta, how much disruption is this causing there? manchester piccadilly is just one of a number— manchester piccadilly is just one of a number of uk stations that have seen _ a number of uk stations that have seen some — a number of uk stations that have seen some disruption this week, some cancellations. that is due to certain— cancellations. that is due to certain operators struggling to cope with staff _ certain operators struggling to cope with staff shortages because of coronavirus and people having to self—isolate. in manchester this week— self—isolate. in manchester this week alone cross—country services, particular— week alone cross—country services, particular ones, have been cancelled entireiy~ _ particular ones, have been cancelled entirely. they have included certain journeys— entirely. they have included certain journeys to — entirely. they have included certain journeys to places like birmingham, southampton, bournemouth. this is not the _ southampton, bournemouth. this is not the only— southampton, bournemouth. this is not the only operator. the rail delivery — not the only operator. the rail delivery group, who represent uk operators, — delivery group, who represent uk operators, they say that 5.2% of trains— operators, they say that 5.2% of trains were _ operators, they say that 5.2% of trains were cancelled in the past week _ trains were cancelled in the past week. that compares to an annual average _ week. that compares to an annual average of— week. that compares to an annual average of 2.9%. and when it comes to staff— average of 2.9%. and when it comes to staff absence during that time, 8~7%_ to staff absence during that time, 87% of— to staff absence during that time, 8.7% of rail staff were absent. when you think— 8.7% of rail staff were absent. when you think about our dailyjourneys in that— you think about our dailyjourneys in that week, we are down 53% compared _ in that week, we are down 53% compared to pre—covert levels. that does suggest fewer of us are travelling. but for those who are, the rail— travelling. but for those who are, the rail delivery group to say that operators— the rail delivery group to say that operators are trying to minimise disruption — operators are trying to minimise disruption. they do have some key advice~ _ disruption. they do have some key advice if— disruption. they do have some key advice. if you are planning to travel— advice. if you are planning to travel over christmas, if you could try to _ travel over christmas, if you could try to plan — travel over christmas, if you could try to plan in— travel over christmas, if you could try to plan in advance as best you can _ try to plan in advance as best you can there — try to plan in advance as best you can. there might be on the day cancellations. check on the day. if you find _ cancellations. check on the day. if you find your service is delayed or cancelled. — you find your service is delayed or cancelled, you may be eligible for some _ cancelled, you may be eligible for some compensation. this is something that is— some compensation. this is something that is affecting cross—country services _ that is affecting cross—country services. we have also seen avante west _ services. we have also seen avante west coast — services. we have also seen avante west coast and scott rail. the advice — west coast and scott rail. the advice is — west coast and scott rail. the advice is to try and plan as much as you can _ advice is to try and plan as much as ou can. . ~' advice is to try and plan as much as ou can. ., ~ ,., advice is to try and plan as much as ou can. ., ~ i. ., ., . you can. thank you for now. we will catch u- you can. thank you for now. we will catch up iater- _ rescue efforts are continuing in the philippines, following a powerful storm which has killed hundreds of people and left many more missing. rescue efforts are continuing in the , , , super typhoon rai hit the country last thursday, with winds of around 120 miles an hour. it caused widespread damage and has left many communities cut off, with little water. our correspondent howard johnson has been visiting the island of siargao, one of the areas hardest hit by the storm, and sent back this report. this is a scene repeated across this island. you can see this tree here has fallen down across the road. people just squeezing underneath it here. but you can see it's also impacted the power lines. they have come down here. and that is really causing big problems on this island. we are seeing that the electricity here will be down for at least three months, according to the provincial governor. he is calling for people to come and help set up the grid, because without electricity there will be no internet, you can't pump water from the wells and you can't clean water either. so there is a big issue with water supplies. now, let's have a look here. this is a family planning centre. mind the cables down here. you can see a lot of debris on the floor, but this is a scene that we have seen many times. the roof has been ripped off like a can of sardines, the metal has been torn back, glass has a smashed up and so many people are without shelter at any moment. and people here are calling for more support. they need more aid, they need more water, more food, and at the moment the supplies are coming through, but they are not getting through quickly enough. howard johnson. police say they are increasingly concerned about a missing 20—year—old student, who hasn't been seen since leaving a central london nightclub last week. harvey parker, from south london, was last seen leaving heaven near charing cross station in westminster at about midnight on friday. the metropolitan police say there was "nothing to indicate any reason for him to go missing". they are urging anyone with information to get in touch. lottery ticket sellers in spain are on strike today in protest at their low rates of commission. the famous christmas draw, el gordo, or the fat one, has become an established part of the festive calendar, with nearly three billion dollars in prize money. but many ticket sellers are planning to demonstrate later outside madrid's opera house where the prize draw takes place. the strike could prevent winners of smaller prizes from cashing their tickets. a seal pup found trapped in a hole in norfolk has been rescued and released back onto the beach. 0h, oh, look! after three hours, a team was able to gently winch the animal to safety. the rspca expects a rise in the number of stranded seals over the winter months, but says if you come across one don't approach it, always call for help. let's just see that moment. oh, my goodness, what his little head! it’s goodness, what his little head! it's uuite goodness, what his little head! it�*s quite brutal but i suppose they have to give it a good old pole. he is out, he is fine, he is free. he is wriggling forjoy. good news. he is wriggling for 'oy. good news. he is auoin to wriggling for 'oy. good news. he is going to be — wriggling forjoy. good news. he is going to be fine. _ wriggling forjoy. good news. he is going to be fine. that's _ wriggling forjoy. good news. he is going to be fine. that's good. - wriggling forjoy. good news. he isj going to be fine. that's good. let's check in with _ going to be fine. that's good. let's check in with carol. _ going to be fine. that's good. let's check in with carol. those - going to be fine. that's good. let's check in with carol. those days - check in with carol. those days getting longer again. you can feel it already, can't you? not! maybe by a couple of seconds, yes! good morning everybody. it is a cold start to the day wherever you are this morning. the exception to thatis are this morning. the exception to that is northern ireland, western scotland and south—west england, where the temperatures are a little bit higher. a chilly start, a frosty one. last night temperatures in braemar and balmoralfell to —9, —10 degrees, making it of the coldest night of the winter is over. we have also got some rain in northern ireland. it would be pushing steadily northwards and eastwards through the day. after a bright start we will see the cloud encroach and the wind is going to strengthen behind this weather front. it is coming from a mild direction, from the south, so note the temps —— temperatures in cardiff, plymouth compared to the rest of the uk. overnight at the rain pushes northwards and eastwards. now for a time across parts of northern scotland. a lot of cloud. some mark around. another cold night for many. a touch of frost likely in north—east england, parts of scotland as well. back towards the west we are in milder conditions. a murky start to the day tomorrow. rain crossing is. the heaviest will be in northern ireland, northern england and parts of southern and south—western scotland. but tomorrow, it is going to be unseasonably mild. look at these temperatures. ten to 13 degrees. i'd still rather cold. that's north of scotland. thank you, carol. hospitality businesses that have been impacted by the rising numbers of covid cases will now be able to apply for a cash grant under new financial support plans. our correspondent katy austin is in a pub in central london this morning. a bed early, and a bit empty? yeah, it does feel a little bit early— yeah, it does feel a little bit early to— yeah, it does feel a little bit early to be in a pub, even in the run-up— early to be in a pub, even in the run-upto— early to be in a pub, even in the run—up to christmas. christmas is usually— run—up to christmas. christmas is usually a — run—up to christmas. christmas is usually a really important time of the year— usually a really important time of the year for pubs and restaurants and the _ the year for pubs and restaurants and the rest of the hospitality sector— and the rest of the hospitality sector because they hope to make a lot of— sector because they hope to make a lot of the _ sector because they hope to make a lot of the money that will see them through— lot of the money that will see them through the lean times in january and in _ through the lean times in january and in february. places like this one say— and in february. places like this one say that bookings have been all i’ilht one say that bookings have been all right at— one say that bookings have been all right at the — one say that bookings have been all right at the start of the month, but as fears _ right at the start of the month, but as fears around the omicron variant spread _ as fears around the omicron variant spread and — as fears around the omicron variant spread and as plan b was introduced in engtand _ spread and as plan b was introduced in england people were starting to stay at _ in england people were starting to stay at home, parties were cancelled, and that is bad news for business _ cancelled, and that is bad news for business that is hoping to make a lot of— business that is hoping to make a lot of its— business that is hoping to make a lot of its trade at this time of the year _ lot of its trade at this time of the year no— lot of its trade at this time of the year. no new restrictions have been announced — year. no new restrictions have been announced in england this week, but in scotland _ announced in england this week, but in scotland yesterday the first minister— in scotland yesterday the first minister confirmed they would be a return— minister confirmed they would be a return to _ minister confirmed they would be a return to table service and social distancing — return to table service and social distancing from december the 27th. and for— distancing from december the 27th. and for a _ distancing from december the 27th. and for a while now there have been calls from _ and for a while now there have been calls from businesses in the hospitality sector for more help to -et hospitality sector for more help to get through this time. yesterday the chanceiior— get through this time. yesterday the chancellor did announce a package of new measures. the key —based —— points— new measures. the key —based —— points of— new measures. the key —based —— points of that _ new measures. the key —based —— points of that are... hospitality firms can apply for grants of up to £6,000 per premises. the government will help with cost of covid—related sick pay for businesses with fewer than 250 employees. £30m of extra funding will be made available to theatres and museums — some of which have already had to close or cancel performances because of covid. this is part of a chain of 12 pubs and restaurants. let's talk now to rupert clevely, the managing director of hippo inns. good morning. welcome to the duke of sussex— good morning. welcome to the duke of sussex on— good morning. welcome to the duke of sussex on this — good morning. welcome to the duke of sussex on this cold _ good morning. welcome to the duke of sussex on this cold and _ good morning. welcome to the duke of sussex on this cold and frosty - sussex on this cold and frosty morning _ sussex on this cold and frosty morninu. ., ., ,., sussex on this cold and frosty morninu. ., . ,. . sussex on this cold and frosty morninu. ., ., . , , morning. you have your mince pies read as morning. you have your mince pies ready as well- _ morning. you have your mince pies ready as well. i _ morning. you have your mince pies ready as well. i have, _ morning. you have your mince pies ready as well. i have, you - morning. you have your mince pies ready as well. i have, you are - ready as well. i have, you are riuht. ready as well. i have, you are right- what — ready as well. i have, you are right. what has _ ready as well. i have, you are right. what has december- ready as well. i have, you are l right. what has december been ready as well. i have, you are - right. what has december been like for ou? it right. what has december been like for you? it was— right. what has december been like for you? it was brilliant _ right. what has december been like for you? it was brilliant until - right. what has december been like for you? it was brilliant until the - for you? it was brilliant until the summer the _ for you? it was brilliant until the summer the 11th. _ for you? it was brilliant until the summer the 11th. ahmad - for you? it was brilliant until the l summer the 11th. ahmad bookings for you? it was brilliant until the - summer the 11th. ahmad bookings were up summer the 11th. ahmad bookings were up dramaticaiiv — summer the 11th. ahmad bookings were up dramatically. there _ summer the 11th. ahmad bookings were up dramatically. there are _ summer the 11th. ahmad bookings were up dramatically. there are so _ summer the 11th. ahmad bookings were up dramatically. there are so good. - up dramatically. there are so good. like against — up dramatically. there are so good. like against 2019. _ up dramatically. there are so good. like against 2019. since _ up dramatically. there are so good. like against 2019. since the - up dramatically. there are so good. like against 2019. since the 11th - up dramatically. there are so good. like against 2019. since the 11th ofl like against 2019. since the 11th of december, — like against 2019. since the 11th of december, when— like against 2019. since the 11th of december, when we _ like against 2019. since the 11th of december, when we were - like against 2019. since the 11th of december, when we were asked i like against 2019. since the 11th of| december, when we were asked to further— december, when we were asked to further sociai — december, when we were asked to further social distance, _ december, when we were asked to further social distance, work - december, when we were asked to further social distance, work from i further social distance, work from home, _ further social distance, work from home, literally— further social distance, work from home, literally the _ further social distance, work from home, literally the numbers - further social distance, work from home, literally the numbers have| home, literally the numbers have fallen— home, literally the numbers have fallen off— home, literally the numbers have fallen off the _ home, literally the numbers have fallen off the charts. _ home, literally the numbers have fallen off the charts. and - home, literally the numbers have fallen off the charts. and i- home, literally the numbers have fallen off the charts. and i wouldl fallen off the charts. and i would say that — fallen off the charts. and i would say that we — fallen off the charts. and i would say that we are _ fallen off the charts. and i would say that we are down _ fallen off the charts. and i would say that we are down 50%, - fallen off the charts. and i wouldj say that we are down 50%, 60%, fallen off the charts. and i would - say that we are down 50%, 60%, from where _ say that we are down 50%, 60%, from where we _ say that we are down 50%, 60%, from where we expected _ say that we are down 50%, 60%, from where we expected to _ say that we are down 50%, 60%, from where we expected to be. _ say that we are down 50%, 60%, from where we expected to be. so- say that we are down 50%, 60%, from where we expected to be. so we - say that we are down 50%, 60%, from where we expected to be. so we were | where we expected to be. so we were looking _ where we expected to be. so we were looking at _ where we expected to be. so we were looking at a _ where we expected to be. so we were looking at a really— where we expected to be. so we were looking at a really bumper— where we expected to be. so we were looking at a really bumper christmas. looking at a really bumper christmas and it— looking at a really bumper christmas and it has— looking at a really bumper christmas and it has catastrophically_ looking at a really bumper christmas and it has catastrophically sort - looking at a really bumper christmas and it has catastrophically sort of. and it has catastrophically sort of changed — and it has catastrophically sort of changed the _ and it has catastrophically sort of changed the irig _ and it has catastrophically sort of changed. the big issues, - and it has catastrophically sort of changed. the big issues, take i and it has catastrophically sort of| changed. the big issues, take for exampie — changed. the big issues, take for exampie on— changed. the big issues, take for example on friday— changed. the big issues, take for example on friday last— changed. the big issues, take for example on friday last week, - changed. the big issues, take for example on friday last week, we| changed. the big issues, take for- example on friday last week, we had a booking _ example on friday last week, we had a booking of— example on friday last week, we had a booking of 150 _ example on friday last week, we had a booking of 150 expected _ example on friday last week, we had a booking of 150 expected at- example on friday last week, we had a booking of 150 expected at one - example on friday last week, we had a booking of 150 expected at one of. a booking of 150 expected at one of our pubs _ a booking of 150 expected at one of our pubs in — a booking of 150 expected at one of our pubs in twickenham _ a booking of 150 expected at one of our pubs in twickenham and - a booking of 150 expected at one of our pubs in twickenham and they. our pubs in twickenham and they literally— our pubs in twickenham and they literally cancelled _ our pubs in twickenham and they literally cancelled at _ our pubs in twickenham and they literally cancelled at four - our pubs in twickenham and they literally cancelled at four o'clockl literally cancelled at four o'clock for a _ literally cancelled at four o'clock for a friday— literally cancelled at four o'clock for a friday evening _ literally cancelled at four o'clock for a friday evening function. i literally cancelled at four o'clockl for a friday evening function. we had already— for a friday evening function. we had already bought _ for a friday evening function. we had already bought the - for a friday evening function. we had already bought the food - for a friday evening function. we had already bought the food and | had already bought the food and join, _ had already bought the food and join, we — had already bought the food and join, we had _ had already bought the food and join, we had got _ had already bought the food and join, we had got the _ had already bought the food and join, we had got the stock, - had already bought the food and join, we had got the stock, we l had already bought the food and . join, we had got the stock, we had -ot join, we had got the stock, we had got everything _ join, we had got the stock, we had got everything we _ join, we had got the stock, we had got everything. we literally - join, we had got the stock, we had got everything. we literally had i join, we had got the stock, we had got everything. we literally had to| got everything. we literally had to throw— got everything. we literally had to throw that — got everything. we literally had to throw that away. _ got everything. we literally had to throw that away. the _ got everything. we literally had to throw that away. the cost - got everything. we literally had to throw that away. the cost to - got everything. we literally had to throw that away. the cost to the l throw that away. the cost to the business — throw that away. the cost to the business is — throw that away. the cost to the business is very— throw that away. the cost to the business is very high. _ throw that away. the cost to the business is very high.— throw that away. the cost to the business is very high. yesterday we heard about — business is very high. yesterday we heard about the _ business is very high. yesterday we heard about the new _ business is very high. yesterday we heard about the new support - business is very high. yesterday we heard about the new support from | business is very high. yesterday we i heard about the new support from the uk chancellor. how much difference will that _ uk chancellor. how much difference will that make to you?— will that make to you? obviously it is areat. will that make to you? obviously it is great- and _ will that make to you? obviously it is great. and thank _ will that make to you? obviously it is great. and thank you _ will that make to you? obviously it is great. and thank you rishi - will that make to you? obviously it| is great. and thank you rishi sunak for all— is great. and thank you rishi sunak for all your— is great. and thank you rishi sunak for all your help _ is great. and thank you rishi sunak for all your help and _ is great. and thank you rishi sunak for all your help and everything - is great. and thank you rishi sunak for all your help and everything you have done — for all your help and everything you have done so— for all your help and everything you have done so far, _ for all your help and everything you have done so far, you _ for all your help and everything you have done so far, you have - for all your help and everything you have done so far, you have been i have done so far, you have been terrific— have done so far, you have been terrific for — have done so far, you have been terrific for the _ have done so far, you have been terrific for the industry _ have done so far, you have been terrific for the industry and - have done so far, you have been terrific for the industry and veryl terrific for the industry and very supportive _ terrific for the industry and very supportive. but— terrific for the industry and very supportive. but obviously- terrific for the industry and very supportive. but obviously a - terrific for the industry and very- supportive. but obviously a £6,000 is only— supportive. but obviously a £6,000 is onty a _ supportive. but obviously a £6,000 is only a drop — supportive. but obviously a £6,000 is onlya drop in— supportive. but obviously a £6,000 is only a drop in the _ supportive. but obviously a £6,000 is only a drop in the ocean- supportive. but obviously a £6,000 is only a drop in the ocean and - supportive. but obviously a £6,000 is only a drop in the ocean and it. is only a drop in the ocean and it depends— is only a drop in the ocean and it depends when— is only a drop in the ocean and it depends when we _ is only a drop in the ocean and it depends when we are _ is only a drop in the ocean and it depends when we are going - is only a drop in the ocean and it depends when we are going to l is only a drop in the ocean and it i depends when we are going to get is only a drop in the ocean and it - depends when we are going to get it. how quickly— depends when we are going to get it. how quickly will — depends when we are going to get it. how quickly will get _ depends when we are going to get it. how quickly will get it? _ depends when we are going to get it. how quickly will get it? the - depends when we are going to get it. how quickly will get it? the issue - how quickly will get it? the issue we have — how quickly will get it? the issue we have come _ how quickly will get it? the issue we have come up— how quickly will get it? the issue we have come up at— how quickly will get it? the issue we have come up at the - how quickly will get it? the issue we have come up at the khalifa . we have come up at the khalifa operators, _ we have come up at the khalifa operators, it _ we have come up at the khalifa operators, it wasn't _ we have come up at the khalifa operators, it wasn't going - we have come up at the khalifa operators, it wasn't going to i we have come up at the khalifa - operators, it wasn't going to happen at the _ operators, it wasn't going to happen at the end _ operators, it wasn't going to happen at the end of— operators, it wasn't going to happen at the end of the _ operators, it wasn't going to happen at the end of the vat— operators, it wasn't going to happen at the end of the vat quarter - operators, it wasn't going to happen at the end of the vat quarter at - operators, it wasn't going to happen at the end of the vat quarter at the | at the end of the vat quarter at the end of— at the end of the vat quarter at the end of april? — at the end of the vat quarter at the end oprril? do— at the end of the vat quarter at the end of april? do we _ at the end of the vat quarter at the end of april? do we have _ at the end of the vat quarter at the end of april? do we have to - at the end of the vat quarter at the end of april? do we have to swell. end of april? do we have to swell the coffers — end of april? do we have to swell the coffers to _ end of april? do we have to swell the coffers to pay _ end of april? do we have to swell the coffers to pay the _ end of april? do we have to swell the coffers to pay the bills - end of april? do we have to swell the coffers to pay the bills and i the coffers to pay the bills and look _ the coffers to pay the bills and look after _ the coffers to pay the bills and look after our _ the coffers to pay the bills and look after our staff. _ the coffers to pay the bills and look after our staff. they - the coffers to pay the bills and look after our staff. they were expecting _ look after our staff. they were expecting a _ look after our staff. they were expecting a bumper— look after our staff. they were expecting a bumper christmasj look after our staff. they were . expecting a bumper christmas in terms _ expecting a bumper christmas in terms of— expecting a bumper christmas in terms of tips _ expecting a bumper christmas in terms of tips and _ expecting a bumper christmas in terms of tips and those - expecting a bumper christmas in terms of tips and those sorts - expecting a bumper christmas in terms of tips and those sorts ofl terms of tips and those sorts of things — terms of tips and those sorts of things it — terms of tips and those sorts of things it is— terms of tips and those sorts of things it is a _ terms of tips and those sorts of things. it is a big _ terms of tips and those sorts of things. it is a big change - terms of tips and those sorts of things. it is a big change for. terms of tips and those sorts of| things. it is a big change for us. thank— things. it is a big change for us. thank you — things. it is a big change for us. thank you very _ things. it is a big change for us. thank you very much, _ things. it is a big change for us. thank you very much, but - things. it is a big change for us. thank you very much, but it's . thank you very much, but it's probably— thank you very much, but it's probably not _ thank you very much, but it's probably not enough - thank you very much, but it's probably not enough to - thank you very much, but it's probably not enough to help. thank you very much, but it's i probably not enough to help see thank you very much, but it's - probably not enough to help see us through _ probably not enough to help see us throu~h. . ~ probably not enough to help see us throu~h. ., ,, ,., probably not enough to help see us throu~h. . ~ ,. , through. thank you, rupert. the messaue through. thank you, rupert. the message from — through. thank you, rupert. the message from places _ through. thank you, rupert. the message from places like - through. thank you, rupert. the message from places like this i through. thank you, rupert. the message from places like this is| message from places like this is that every— message from places like this is that every little helps, really, but there _ that every little helps, really, but there is— that every little helps, really, but there is still a lot of nervousness about— there is still a lot of nervousness about whether businesses like pubs and restaurant will be able to get through— and restaurant will be able to get through this winter. katie, _ through this winter. katie, thank you. we will check in with you later. and talk about other industries. we will talk about the transport as well. let's take a look at today's papers. news that christmas can go ahead dominates the papers this morning. "glad tidings for christmas, but perhaps not new year", is how the daily telegraph puts it. the paper says that mrjohnson has given christmas gatherings the "green light", as there was not enough evidence on the risks from omicron to justify tougher measures — but that could change before the end of 2021. "xmas cheer & fear", is the daily mirror's headline, as it reports that while christmas plans can go ahead. pub and restaurant owners say that £1 billion of financial support announced by rishi sunak is "too late". the times says that mrjohnson has urged people to test themselves before meeting relatives for christmas. "sturgeon slams the breaks on hogmany", reports the scottish daily mail, after scotland's first minister announced large—scale hogmanay celebrations will not go ahead. we are going to keep you up to date on all of those stories. try to get some clarity about what changes might mean in terms of if you have to quarantine, that has come down to seven days, what that means when you have to test. we are going to make it all wonderfully clear, we hope. we hope! as the saying goes, laughter is the best medicine. but for some comedians, so—called cancel culture has left them fearful of losing their career, by telling a joke that some may find unacceptable. now, a yougov survey suggests the feeling is felt more widely in society, with more than 50% of people saying they stop themselves from expressing their political and social views. our culture editor, katie razzall, has been looking at the issue. as you may expect in a piece of this nature, some of you may — or may not — find parts of this report offensive. i'm depressed and suicidal, and guess where i'm working? who decides what's funny and what's offensive? i was working at manchester airport in aviation security. a depressed, suicidal muslim. as comedians at the frog and bucket comedy club in manchester grapple with that very question, is it a reflection of what's happening in wider society too? the club owner says she has noticed these days stand—up acts are more nervous that audiences in the club and online will take offence at a certain subject. anything to do with religion. trans is a big one at the moment. anything to do with someone's colour. comedians are very paranoid that they might word something the wrong way, and then that's out there forever and they're cancelled and they will never gig again. is this your idea of a joke then? maureen lipman, who is starring in coronation street at the moment, and knows a thing or two about a punchline, says being scared to offend is killing comedy. i think it's a revolution. and i think at the moment it's in the balance, whether we're ever going to be funny again. something has to be forbidden to make you really laugh, to make you really belly laugh. it's when you shouldn't be laughing. and so therefore all the things that are being cancelled out by being correct, are, i'm afraid, the things that have always made people laugh. 0h, congratulations on your exam results. grandma, ifailed. you failed? what do you mean? famously, maureen lipman starred in the 19805 bt advert. but is the doting jewish grandmotherjoke too much of a stereotype for our times? i failed. you didn't pass anything? they were specifically, clearly, about a jewish family. it didn't matter. they went. we didn't have the word viral, but they went it. and that was because mothers are universal. and sociology. an ology? he gets an ology and he says he's failed! you get an ology, you're a scientist! do you think that could be, would be made now? the bt commercials? i shouldn't think so, no. everyone identified with the ology commercial. everyone. — it didn't matter that it was ethnic. this guy does the best ali g impersonation. a�*ight? you do it. go on. . don-t. — i think it's someone else. oh, sorry, it's not you. it's the other one. is the office less acceptable now? ricky gervais says his show tackled difficult subjects like race. he claims these days comedians fear being cancelled if they try. abfab'sjennifer saunders has also said her sitcom could not be remade now, because people are so sensitive and politically correct. i don't know why it went wrong with justin. i mean, you know, because wejust adored each other, you know. he's gay. my mum didn't say anything because we don't let her talk. audience laughs. so what's going on? the jokes at the frog and bucket still feel edgy, potentially even offensive to some. it's not a cultural thing, she just doesn't have much to add, you racists. if society can't take a joke any more, you either adapt to your audience or you die, basically. it's darwinian. the strongest don't survive, it's the ones that are most adaptable to change. so, at the end of the day, you either adapt to your audience, or you don't do your comedy any more. is this about different generations having different values, or does it tell us something much wider about people being more cautious about speaking their minds? according to a poll, in normal life people are checking what they say, not to get a laugh, but for fear of being laughed at. they told the pollsters they stop themselves from expressing what they really think on some social and political topics, because they are worried about being judged. 57% of those asked said they self—censor on topics like immigration and transgender rights, particularly if their opinions are seen as less politically correct. perhaps it's obvious that they don't speak openly with people they've just met — nearly half said they don't. but 40% keep views quiet at work, and nearly one third don't tell friends their real views on the subject either. so, do punters at the frog and bucket stop themselves from saying what they think? i'm reasonably confident in my own views and opinions that i would say what i think. but equally, i'm sensitive to people's feelings. i'm not worried about being judged. i'd ratherjust not say something because i don't think it's right. i suppose too being judged, yeah. i think that might be people trapped a bit in the past. is that an answer — that society is changing and outdated views are being weeded out, on the comedy stage and in real life? yes, says the night's compare. no one is being censored, i don't think. i think that had i done this gig tonight dressed as an ss officer, and thrown around racial slurs, i'd still been booked to do tonight, but i wouldn't be booked in the future. everyone can say what they want, no one is being stopped. if you are going to come out and be hate filled or transphobic or homophobic, or racist, it's also the right of the person booking you do not want you any more. that's not being cancelled, that's being unemployed. 0k, mr brooke, can you tell me last time you were weighed, what was your weight? eight pound, four ounces. culture so often leads the way on the big issues of our time. what happens in the comedy world matters and is being mirrored in this audience's daily life too, as we all navigate what we want to or i can say, and what it's best not to. katie razzall, bbc news, manchester. still making people laugh. some of them. others have walked out. i noticed this in the paper this morning. this is the times. it is kind of connected about sensitivities. this is talking about a film classifications. how some classic films like joe's and a film classifications. how some classic films likejoe's and the empire strikes back, which was the lowest possible rating when it came out, but because now they think it might upset people, darth vader fighting with luke skywalker and his hand coming off, it is being upgraded. it is now becoming a pg. it is thought that over time people had become more willing to watch stuff. joe's was terrifying though. yeah, it's interesting how our view of what is acceptable and terrifying has changed. we of what is acceptable and terrifying has changed-— has changed. we are a bit more sensitive- _ has changed. we are a bit more sensitive. do _ has changed. we are a bit more sensitive. do let _ has changed. we are a bit more sensitive. do let us _ has changed. we are a bit more sensitive. do let us know- has changed. we are a bit more sensitive. do let us know what. has changed. we are a bit more i sensitive. do let us know what you think. time now to get the news, travel and weather where you are. good morning. bbc london and bbc south east today are joining forces at breakfast to keep you up to date with the latest on coronavirus in our area. the medical director of nhs london said he's confident that everyone eligible for a booster will be offered one by new year's eve. it's after the prime minister announced that anyone aged 18 or over would be able to get their third covid vaccine dose by december 31st, a month earlier than the previous target. anyone who is eligible for a vaccine will get it commitment get a chance to get it by the 31st of december. you have got walk—in centres, pharmacies, pop—ups, large—scale vaccination centres. also you can book. if you want a guaranteed slot, the easiest way on to the national booking service, ring 119 and make a call but we will have enough capacity to give everyone who needs one vaccine. meanwhile, the kent and medway resilience forum says it's responding to the growing number of omicron cases in the county. the support group has been increasing vaccinations and boosters, saying it's doubled its capacity across kent in just one week. new sites are being set up in walderslade, tunbridge wells and sheppey, with more staff and extended opening hours. rail passengers are being warned of reduced services and cancellations across the south east in the run—up to christmas because of high numbers of staff off sick with covid and other illnesses. govia thameslink, which operates services on the southern franchise, also said staff were taking time off to get their boosterjabs. four iranian men, who crossed the english channel in small boats, have had their convictions for immigration offences quashed. the court of appeal said it had not been proven the men intended to enter the uk illegally. they were intercepted by border force in 2019 and 2020 after piloting inflatable boats organised by smugglers. think of christmas, and you may picture a man in a red suit with a white beard. well, one mum is on a mission to change perceptions about the festive season. charlotte lewis is the founder of noir kringle — a grotto in east london — where father christmas and all his elves are black. she says the aim is to make the experience more inclusive. the weather with kate kinsella. good morning. a cold start this morning. temperatures below zero. one or two spots down below minus four. a widespread frost, a sunny start. then the cloud increases. turning hazy at first, the sunshine. temperatures with a maximum of six celsius. overnight tonight, the cloud will continue to edge from the west and thicken in the cannon then our band of rain moves across. not a huge amount of rain but it will clear as we head through the early hours. the minimum temperature not quite as cold as last night but still chilly, above zero though to celsius. you can see the low pressure edging in from the west over the next few days. of course we are getting very close to christmas and it will turn largely unsettled. also the low pressure is producing some milder air. the temperature rising, getting up into double figures with outbreaks of rain through to christmas day. that's it. goodbye. hello, this is breakfast withjon kay and sally nugent. coming up on breakfast this morning. we speak to the family and friends of alex flynn, who died last month while training to be the first man with parkinson's disease to climb mount everest. they're now taking on a number of challenges in his memory. as 'ladbaby�* go for a record—breaking fourth christmas number one, they've teamed up with music royalty ed sheeran and sir eltonjohn. we'll hearfrom them later in the programme. and we'll be joined by broadcaster gyles brandeth, who's one of a number of celebrities performing some of the most iconic musical theatre tunes for a special boxing day programme. the isolation period for people who've tested positive for covid has been reduced to seven days following two negative lateral flow results. let's speak now to one of our regular gps — dr rachel ward. lovely to see this morning. thank you for talking to us. let's talk about the reduction from ten days down to seven days. how positive the is that you? i down to seven days. how positive the is that ou? ~ down to seven days. how positive the is that you?— is that you? i think this is a ositive is that you? i think this is a positive move _ is that you? i think this is a positive move because - is that you? i think this is a positive move because we. is that you? i think this is a i positive move because we are is that you? i think this is a - positive move because we are using science, that means that we had to minimise the impact that covid is having on us on a day—to—day scale. we know across all sectors, particularly worrying in health care, that huge numbers of people having covid is really impacting the services we are able to offer. part of that rob them of course, whoever you are, whateverjob you do, you need to isolate for ten days. what the new guidance is saying if you have a negative lateral flow test on days six and day seven and your symptoms had settled, though we do not have full details of that at the moment, you are able to come out of isolation. a couple of things i would say about this, this want not apply to everybody because some people will certainly have positive lateral flow test. when i people will certainly have positive lateralflow test. when i had covid i had positive tests on day six one seventh is that the other thing i would be slightly concerned about, i wonder whether this would give some employers are kind of reason to push people to come back to work may be a little too soon. in my experience, many people do need ten days off to recover because it can be really quite nasty. is recover because it can be really quite nasty-— quite nasty. is there the possibility _ quite nasty. is there the possibility that - quite nasty. is there the possibility that some - quite nasty. is there the - possibility that some people, quite nasty. is there the _ possibility that some people, after five to seven days might actually feel ok? , , ., ._ feel ok? definitely. iwould say children in— feel ok? definitely. iwould say children in particular. _ feel ok? definitely. iwould say children in particular. children, | feel ok? definitely. iwould say. children in particular. children, in my experience, they tend to feel a little off colour for a day or two and it is incredibly frustrating when they have tippy off school for ten days. this really positive for our children, getting them back to school more quickly if they had had covid and are showing negative lateral flows.— covid and are showing negative lateralflows. . ., ., , lateral flows. what are you advising our lateral flows. what are you advising your patients. _ lateral flows. what are you advising your patients. in — lateral flows. what are you advising your patients, in particular- lateral flows. what are you advising your patients, in particular the - your patients, in particular the more vulnerable ones, about the next few days? how should they be behaving? should they be going out in crowded areas? what should they be doing? you in crowded areas? what should they be doinu ? ., ., ., be doing? you have to feel comfortable _ be doing? you have to feel comfortable with _ be doing? you have to feel comfortable with your - be doing? you have to feel comfortable with your own | be doing? you have to feel - comfortable with your own decisions. if you feel daunted, it is ok to feel like that. it is ok to say i am going to palau and not to this one. if you feel you want to get together with friends and family like many others do, there are some simple steps that are really keyed to make christmas safer. my most important tip is to get your booster. if you have not hit, but kill boosterjab. that will be a big defence going forward. —— book your booster. i would highly recommend anyone getting together with friends and family does and lateral flow test. they are great at picking up the early infectious stage of covid when you do not know you had it coming. if you get before seeing people and he had covid brewing, it will tell you. everything we have got really good at, keeping windows open, ventilating your house and washing hands frequently. if you are feeling unwelcome if you are not sure what it is, do not mix with people, follow the guidance may get tested and be a bit cautious this year. he mentioned that booster programme. you and your colleagues have been incredibly busy making sure as many people needing an injection get it. —— you mentioned. it is people needing an in'ection get it. -- you mentioned._ -- you mentioned. it is affecting our workload _ -- you mentioned. it is affecting our workload because _ -- you mentioned. it is affecting our workload because we - -- you mentioned. it is affecting our workload because we had . -- you mentioned. it is affectingl our workload because we had this huge pressure to deliver as many boosters as possible. in my practice we are rolling out big clinics, vaccinating thousands of people this week. we have got in as many volunteers who are not regular staff as possible. we need some of our regular doctors and nurses to be running, coordinating these clinics and our amazing running, coordinating these clinics and ouramazing admin running, coordinating these clinics and our amazing admin staff. we need so many of those to run a covid clinic. this is impacting on the work we are offering back in the practice. we knew this was the case, this was what was advised, we should push forward with the booster programme. the prime minister said initially you may get appointments delayed or cancelled. the header primary care also warned that services would not be the same in the run—up to christmas. —— the head of primary care. we really are doing our best to run as much as we can. we are running urgent services and we want people to come forward if they are unwell. please just think about those minor ailments, things you have had for a long time but are not necessarily worrying you too much. —— that are not. we are lucky to have a 111 service and brilliant community pharmacists. llrrul’ise to have a 111 service and brilliant community pharmacists. wise words. thank ou. community pharmacists. wise words. thank you- l — community pharmacists. wise words. thank you- lam _ community pharmacists. wise words. thank you. i am delighted _ community pharmacists. wise words. thank you. i am delighted in - community pharmacists. wise words. thank you. i am delighted in these i thank you. i am delighted in these tricky times he had done the one thing i had done this morning which is to wear something sparkly. —— you have done. we appreciate your effort and your clock. our clock in the studio is broken today and i'm relying on yours. if he could just day the... what are you doing till quarter past nine? i am sure you have nothing else to do. now for the sport. we are talking about the impact on covid on everything, including the fixtures over the next few weeks. limiting fans in scotland to a very low number. there will be a growing feeling that after boxing day, our premier league clubs going to be facing similar restrictions? that is a similar thought. real concern over the possible financial impact, with clubs warning of huge losses as games are essentially moved behind closed doors. in scotland and wales. from boxing day, crowds will be capped at 500 with the restrictions lasting three weeks. in football's premiership, second—placed celtic have called on the league to bring forward the scheduled two week winter break due to start on the lath january, to boxing day. that would allow games to be resheduled for when fans can attend when restrictions are lifted. a decision is expected in the next 24—48 hours with most clubs said to be in favour. and in wales, one of the hardest hit is chepstow racecourse which, for a second year in a row, will host the welsh grand national on december 27th, behind closed doors. 6,000 fans had bought tickets, but now the venue says it's not rescheduling the race as they fear restrictions could still be in place. there were so many people looking forward to it. last year we didn't have spectators. it is really frustrating, deflating, disappointing, tough on the staff, a lot of work has gone into preparing it. we've been working on preparing the site for at least a month, six weeks. notjust big events affected. once again, it's grass roots sport who will be hit hardest by the restrictions. wrexham were hoping to have close to ten thousand fans in for their boxing day non league match with solihull — they could get that in england but now not in wales. and in the welsh premier league, it's a shut out for supporters too. the hard thing for us is that it is the drastic measure, i suppose, or the blanket call off. we've proven we are able to socially distance in the stadium is available and restricting those sort of crowds on boxing day, new year's day and at the foreseeable future is obviously frustrating. well, it all comes as football clubs in england and scotland struggle to field enough players to get games on. st mirren say they'll have to play their scottish premiership match against celtic tonight with only ten fit players, and as liverpool prepare for their efl cup match this evening, their assistant manager said it's time to listen to the advice of the experts. for me, the experts are not the managers. are the scientists and the doctors, and we should follow their guidelines. the premier league should ask them, not the ceos, not the managers, they should ask them because health always comes from position number one, above everything. if there's one common behaviour in this pandemic over the last years, it's we always acted too late, always. we went from one health crisis into the other. it feels like at the moment if you get a chance to play, make the most of it and arsenal and striker eddie nkiteah did exactly that. he grabbed a hat trick as they beat sunderland 5—1 as they reached the efl cup semi finals. three more games tonight, all still on as things stand. some great goals last night. no signs of any covid anxiety from sunderland's fans, who brought 5,000 to north london. that is the interesting point. when you consider the number of fans who will be travelling to watch matches on boxing day, in full the stadiums are full to capacity, that is 400,000 spectators who will be inside the grounds on boxing day. really interesting to see what happens. so many big talking points around it. do you remember back in 2018 when life was normal? we first met youtuber mark hoyle — known as ladbaby — who had released a christmas song about sausage rolls. unexpectedly, he ended up as the christmas number one. and then he did it again the next year. and again. now the husband and wife duo are hoping to make it four years in a run. they've teamed up with ed sheeran and sir eltonjohn for their latest charity single. all proceeds will go the trussell trust, as our entertainment correspondent colin paterson has been finding out. we have set you up a box on the end of the tables. ed sheeran and ladbaby — and unlikely christmas collaboration. laundry detergent, some macaroni. the waveney food bank in suffolk distributed almost 12,000 emergency food parcels last year. so some extra help from the christmas number one contenders was very much appreciated. perfect. so what is it that you don't get a lot of? our experience with food banks in the past has been things like tinned fruit and long—life milk. is that still the case? long—life milk, definitely. we're always short of that. here we go. for three years in a row, ladbaby�*s sausage roll—themed songs have topped the charts at christmas, raising money for food banks. this year, there is all—star support. ed sheeran and sir eltonjohn. no pressure. the two musical heavyweights helped give their current number one single, merry christmas, a pastry snack makeover. # it's christmas time, sausage rolls and wine. # we'll have a good night and a merry christmas.# it came about when ed messaged us last year on instagram. what i love about christmas is the christmas songs and stuff having a little bit of humour in it. i feel like with the x factor, that was lost. i feel like every year it was just the x factor winner. when streaming came in, it started to be people who streamed a lot at christmas. what mark and rox brought back was basically, like, a feel—good factor to christmas songs but also massively important light being shone on a great charity and a great cause. i messaged them last year to say i love it and keep doing what you do and mark messaged me injune and said, "do you want to team up?" he told us he had written one with elton and we got to hear it very early on. we got to feel festive in summer and listen to it quite early on, which was exciting. the pressure... how do you take a song that has got sir eltonjohn and ed sheeran on it and try to rewrite it? i never, ever, ever wanted to be neck and neck, competition, like, who is going to be christmas number one? ijust said to them, if you are up for it, like me and elton would love tojoin in with your one and help in any way we can. elton was super up for it. he again loves the whole concept... he basically got his companion of honour from buckingham palace the morning that he recorded his sausage roll bits and he rung me afterwards, just being like, "life as a funny way of reminding you sometimes." # i love sausage rolls. # put another one in the oven, baby.# ed holds no animosity that in 2019 he was pipped to christmas number one by ladbaby. i think i had a song with stormzy out that year. this is awkward, isn't it? my favourite song. i had this song with stormzy that was out and it was going to go number one. then i saw, like, this song came in but it was like... sausage rolls are coming. it was like six times the sales. where did this come from? that was when it first came on. i remember watching the video that yearand being like, "thank god that fun is back in christmas." also, the stormzy song is not a christmas song. it's like, it's just not. it is incredible, i did download it the day after... the day after christmas we downloaded it. - # i need some love like i never needed love before. # want to make love to you, baby# — and history could be made. the spice girls and the beatles managed three christmas number ones in a row. this would be ladbaby�*s fourth. who was your favourite spice girl? who was your favourite beatle? i mean, i'll go for my favourite spice girl. definitely. definitely scary. that's why i married a scary spice. i always thought i was posh but i think i'm more sort of geri, to be fair. i was always a geri. green beans, fruit cocktail. one person who has benefited from the food donated here is louise clarke, a supervising assistant at a primary school in diss. two years ago, she used the food bank at hope church to help her get her feet back on the ground. it was a case of paying a bill for the roof over my head and not being able to sleep because i'd been so hungry, or coming up to the food bank, engaging, getting food and support and being able to keep that roof over my head and not be going into massive rent arrears. back at the distribution centre, before he left, ed sheeran had a gift for everyone. merry christmas. colin patterson, bbc news, suffolk. couldn't be anything else really. i love that it was ed sheeran who came up love that it was ed sheeran who came up with it. i love that story, very christmassy. here's carol with a look at this morning's weather. this morning it is a cold start to the day really wherever you are with one or two exceptions. we have had the coldest night of the winter so far. the temperature fell to —10.2 in braemar. these are the current temperatures. we are looking at a cold and frosty start. further west it is not as cold. we are starting to see milder air coming in and rain coming in across northern ireland. courtesy of this weather front. not particularly breezy ahead of it. it will be windy as we go through the course of the day behind the weather front may noticeably more colder than of late. the cloud in the west continuing to build. as the rain comes in and pushes north—eastward. the window strengthening behind it. in plymouth, cardiff and belfast, thatis in plymouth, cardiff and belfast, that is reflected in their temperatures. another cold day. this evening and overnight, as the rain hits the cold air, we are likely to see ice on untreated surfaces and snow in the north of scotland for a time. overnight there will be some clear skies with a fair bit of cloud around. we could well see a touch of frost across parts of north—east england and is in scotland in sheltered areas. not out towards the west where we are looking at overnight lows of 11, 12. they will be pretty healthy daytime temperatures at this time of year. a murky start, a lot of cloud around. some of that rain. the rain will be heaviest in the day across northern ireland and northern england moving into southern and western scotland. a cold front ahead of it still producing rain. not the temperatures. this is really mild for the time of year. normally north to south we would look at 68 degrees was still an easterly flow across the north—east of scotland. —— six to 8 degrees. friday is christmas eve. there will be low cloud, mist and fog early on if you are travelling. the rain comes in from the west. a header that still dry and mild around the rain. told in the far north—east. on christmas day we have a battleground going on between the cold air and the milder and whether or not we are likely to see any snow. the scenario is we might do. most of us will not have a white christmas. we could see snow in the hills of northern ireland and england and also north england and wales. all it takes is for this to nudge further north and south and that will change. carol said it, didn't she? not for everyone. most of us will not. we were looking at germany, they have a nice amount of snow coming. as we've been hearing this morning, no further covid restrictions will be imposed before christmas — a decision that has been welcomed by the hospitality and leisure sector. but the labour party has accused the prime minister of not acting quickly enough to try to curb the spread of the omicron variant. we can speak now to the shadow work and pensions secretary — jonathan ashworth. good morning. keep orjoining us. can we check—in to start with on the main story this morning? —— thank you forjoining us. the main story is people will become a self isolation after seven days if they had had two days of lateral flow tests being negative. do you welcome that change? if it tests being negative. do you welcome that change?— that change? if it has the endorsement _ that change? if it has the endorsement of - that change? if it has the i endorsement of government that change? if it has the _ endorsement of government medical and scientific advisers then of course. we will always be guided by science on these matters. if people feel well and have had two negative tests two days in a row and are not infectious, i can understand the logic of that. i have seen today one of the government's scientific advisers endorsing the approach. as long as the initiatives have that stamp of approval then we would always go along with what the medical advices. always go along with what the medicaladvices. for always go along with what the medical advices.— always go along with what the medical advices. for the last few da s he medical advices. for the last few days he had _ medical advices. for the last few days he had been _ medical advices. for the last few days he had been calling - medical advices. for the last few days he had been calling on - medical advices. for the last few| days he had been calling on boris johnson to be clear about restrictions. last night he was a he was clear. he said nothing before christmas, christmas is safe. iclear christmas, christmas is safe. clear enou~h? christmas, christmas is safe. clear enough? none _ christmas, christmas is safe. clear enough? none of— christmas, christmas is safe. clear enough? none of us _ christmas, christmas is safe. (l- enough? none of us wanted to see restrictions over christmas. i think the british people have been doing the british people have been doing the right to safeguard their own christmases, to avoid catching the virus and sounds of passing it on to their loved ones. we have seen people limiting social interactions, people limiting social interactions, people queueing up for boosters. i think if we had banned christmas but if you like, at the last minute but that would have caused huge problems for people who have already made extensive plans. i think the issue is that there is a sense, and anticipation that restrictions are on the way, possibly the day or in the run—up to new year. businesses need to know where they stand where people need to know where they stand. we would urge the government to explain with clarity what they anticipate happens next, so people can plan. that is what has happened in scotland and wales. the welsh government has said we think restrictions will come in after christmas. we must give people certainty. it has been a torrid time for businesses in the hospitality sector. they had to decide what stock to order in the period with the run—up to new year's eve. we are asking boris do not get there, we do not want more chaos. give people certainty said they know what to do next. if certainty said they know what to do next. ., ,., ,., certainty said they know what to do next. ., ., next. if labour were in power would ou sa next. if labour were in power would you say yes — next. if labour were in power would you say yes to _ next. if labour were in power would you say yes to restrictions - next. if labour were in power would you say yes to restrictions straight i you say yes to restrictions straight after christmas? we you say yes to restrictions straight after christmas?— after christmas? we are watching their data like _ after christmas? we are watching their data like a _ after christmas? we are watching their data like a hawk. _ after christmas? we are watching their data like a hawk. as - after christmas? we are watching their data like a hawk. as it - their data like a hawk. as it happens, infection rates appear to have plateaued in recent days. it is still a high level infection, let's not be complacent. let's see where we get to in terms of infection rates and hospitalisations. that is what the government _ rates and hospitalisations. that is what the government is _ rates and hospitalisations. that is what the government is saying, l what the government is saying, almost word for word what boris johnson said in his statement. do you think he should say now there should be restrictions after christmas or not? he should be restrictions after christmas or not? , ., ., christmas or not? he should outline what his thinking _ christmas or not? he should outline what his thinking is _ christmas or not? he should outline what his thinking is for _ christmas or not? he should outline what his thinking is for after - what his thinking is for after christmas. he could say, here are a series of measures we think we may need to take that they are dependent on the data. that would just allow people to plan, give people certainty. at the moment, if you read the newspapers, there is lots of briefings about there will be restrictions... the government spin doctors... borisjohnson should say this is what post—christmas looks like. if the data improves at least that gives people a sense of what will happen. that is crucial for the hospitality sector. i will happen. that is crucial for the hospitality sector.— will happen. that is crucial for the hospitality sector. i must apologise and 'ust hospitality sector. i must apologise and just explain _ hospitality sector. i must apologise and just explain to _ hospitality sector. i must apologise and just explain to viewers - hospitality sector. i must apologise and just explain to viewers we - hospitality sector. i must apologise and just explain to viewers we are i and just explain to viewers we are restricted at the moment in hearing you because you are cutting in and out. i will ask one more question. we have a slight glitch on the sound. you say you are following data and the government should set out possibilities. they may argue that would create more uncertainty, more confusion in the period between christmas and new year. what they are doing at the moment is warning things might change but leaving it at that. , , ., things might change but leaving it atthat. ,, ., , , at that. they set out possibilities with the initial _ at that. they set out possibilities with the initial winter _ at that. they set out possibilities with the initial winter plan. - at that. they set out possibilities j with the initial winter plan. when they had a plan a and a plan b. they said if things were certain we would need to plan b. you can see what the stages a planned beware. we do not know what next —— the next stage is or could be. businesses need proper support and we need more support for the business community shed other restrictions come in. bothjohnson should outline what the plan looks like now to give people that certainty. —— showed other restrictions. certainty. -- showed other restrictions.— certainty. -- showed other restrictions. got there in the end. i was worried. _ time now to get the news, travel and weather where you are. good morning. bbc london and bbc south east today are joining forces at breakfast to keep you up to date with the latest on coronavirus in our area. the medical director of nhs london said he's confident that everyone eligible for a booster will be offered one by new year's eve. it's after the prime minister announced that anyone aged 18 or over would be able to get their third covid vaccine dose by december 31st, a month earlier than the previous target. nhs london says it's on course to achieve this. meanwhile, the kent and medway resilience forum says it's responding to the growing number of omicron cases in the county. the support group has been increasing vaccinations and boosters, saying it's doubled its capacity across kent in just one week. new sites are being set up in walderslade, tunbridge wells and sheppey, with more staff and extended opening hours. if you need to have a booster, anybody over the age of 18 can have a booster vaccination once they've already had two doses. and we'd like you to use the national booking system to book a slot. if you do book a slot, please show up for your appointment, or cancel it in good time so that we can give your appointment to somebody else. rail passengers are being warned of reduced services and cancellations across the south east in the run—up to christmas, because of high numbers of staff off sick with covid and other illnesses. govia thameslink, which operates services on the southern franchise, also said staff were taking time off to get their boosterjabs. think of christmas, and you may picture a man in a red suit with a white beard. well, one mum is on a mission to change perceptions about the festive season. charlotte lewis is the founder of noir kringle, a grotto in east london where father christmas and all his elves are black. she came up with the idea after having her daughter, and says the aim is to make the experience more inclusive. ifeel like this is really important, because i think the formative years are when your imagination really plays a part in how you feel about yourself. and, for me, representation was so important to my own children. i absolutely loved christmas, and it kind ofjust, i felt like it was a real gap in the market. now the weather with kate kinsella. good morning. a cold start this morning. temperatures below zero. one or two spots down below minus four. a widespread frost, a sunny start. one or two places turning hazy at first, the sunshine. temperatures with a maximum of six celsius. overnight tonight, the cloud will continue to edge from the west and thicken in the cannon then our band of rain moves across. not a huge amount of rain but it will clear as we head through the early hours. the minimum temperature not quite as cold as last night but still chilly, above zero though to celsius. you can see the low pressure edging in from the west over the next few days. of course we are getting very close to christmas and it will turn largely unsettled. also the low pressure is producing some milder air. the temperature rising, getting up into double figures with outbreaks of rain through to christmas day. i'm back in half an hour. bye for now. good morning, welcome to breakfast, with sally nugent and jon kay. our headlines today. two negative tests and people in england can come out of isolation early, as christmas celebrations get the go—ahead. despite confirming no new restrictions before saturday, the prime minister has refused to rule out further measures by new year. covid cancellations — rail companies blame staff sickness for widespread disruption to train services. good morning. we have just had the coldest night of the winter so far, temperatures last night fell to minus 10.2 celsius in braemar. cold and frosty start. milder in parts of the west. rain moving northwards and eastwards through the day. details later in the programme. good morning. it's wednesday, the 22nd of december. our main story. people with covid in england can now stop self—isolating after a week, following two negative lateral flow tests. the health secretary says it's to ease disruption to people's lives, and comes after the prime minister ruled out imposing further covid restrictions in england before christmas. our political correspondent jonathan blake has the details. struggling under the strain. staff absences due to surging cases of the omicron variant are putting public services and parts of the economy under pressure. in an attempt to ease the burden, a change to self—isolation guidance. the period is being reduced from ten to seven days for people in england, providing they receive two negative lateral flow test results at least 24 hours apart. this is a very sensible, balanced and proportionate step to take. of course, this new variant is spreading very rapidly, it is disrupting many people's lives. it's great that when people do get infected that they are properly isolating. i think that clearly helps to stop, to prevent infection. but it is important also to look at how we can, you know, have policies, that will help to minimise that. and this step, again informed by our clinicians, i think is a very sensible step way forward. meanwhile, christmas can go ahead as planned in england. the prime minister confirmed last night there will be no new restrictions before then. uncertainty over the severity of omicron meant further measures could not yet be justified, he said. but he warned they couldn't be ruled out later on. labour have accused boris johnson of weakness. beyond christmas, families need to be able to plan their own activities, and crucially, business needs to be able to plan for their trading. and the problem with the dither and delay that we're seeing from borisjohnson, entirely as a result of wranglings within his own political party, is that that lack of grip is costing the country dear. hogmanay celebrations are off in edinburgh this year, as scotland braces for more restrictions from boxing day. yesterday, limits on big events in hospitality venues were announced, with a return to table service for those serving alcohol. in wales, new restrictions to take effect after christmas will be set out later today. and the senedd reconvened for a virtual session. similar decisions are looming in northern ireland, where ministers will also meet to discuss further measures. so there's more clarity some about christmas now, but uncertainty still about how much disruption lies ahead. jonathan blake, bbc news. we'rejoined now by our chief political correspondent, adam fleming. borisjohnson has spelt out that christmas is safe, but i guess, then what? ., ., ,~ ., what? yeah, he was ready clear in his video message _ what? yeah, he was ready clear in his video message yesterday - what? yeah, he was ready clear in his video message yesterday that l his video message yesterday that they will— his video message yesterday that they will be no changes in england in the _ they will be no changes in england in the build—up to christmas, but after— in the build—up to christmas, but after that— in the build—up to christmas, but after that it — in the build—up to christmas, but after that it was still an open question— after that it was still an open question about whether new restrictions would be required. he kept his— restrictions would be required. he kept his options open. and ministers will be _ kept his options open. and ministers will be waiting for more data to justify— will be waiting for more data to justify introducing new restrictions, or continuing with what _ restrictions, or continuing with what we — restrictions, or continuing with what we have got now. and we could -et what we have got now. and we could get some _ what we have got now. and we could get some extra data, or at least ministers — get some extra data, or at least ministers could get some extra data today, _ ministers could get some extra data today, because the modellers, who make _ today, because the modellers, who make those important projections and predictions, they meet every wednesday. i'm told ministers get a preview— wednesday. i'm told ministers get a preview of— wednesday. i'm told ministers get a preview of the data from the office of national statistics that the rest of national statistics that the rest of us _ of national statistics that the rest of us see — of national statistics that the rest of us see on friday, by the spread of us see on friday, by the spread of the _ of us see on friday, by the spread of the virus — of us see on friday, by the spread of the virus in the community. so maybe _ of the virus in the community. so maybe there will be some clues there that will— maybe there will be some clues there that will give ministers something to go— that will give ministers something to go on — that will give ministers something to go on. certainly mps didn't get anything — to go on. certainly mps didn't get anything to go and when they had a briefing _ anything to go and when they had a briefing last night from the chief medical— briefing last night from the chief medical officer and the chief scientific adviser. mps were saying there _ scientific adviser. mps were saying there was _ scientific adviser. mps were saying there was no new significant data. and certainly, none of the crucial stuff that — and certainly, none of the crucial stuff that we want to know, like how many _ stuff that we want to know, like how many people who get omicron ended up in hospital. _ many people who get omicron ended up in hospital, how it do they get and how long — in hospital, how it do they get and how long do they stay in hospital, because _ how long do they stay in hospital, because that would be a crucial thing — because that would be a crucial thing but— because that would be a crucial thing. but there is a big change today, — thing. but there is a big change today, as — thing. but there is a big change today, as we have just been hearing, delice _ today, as we have just been hearing, delice of— today, as we have just been hearing, delice of isolation rules, which will be — delice of isolation rules, which will be great news if you started your self — will be great news if you started your self isolation at the end of last week. if it is seven days rather — last week. if it is seven days rather than time, you will be able to get— rather than time, you will be able to get out— rather than time, you will be able to get out of your bedroom in time for christmas. if— for christmas. if you have had those two negative tests. we'll be speaking to care minister, gillian keegan, at 7.30 this morning. interesting. we spoke to are my gp earlier on who said some people feel quite ill after seven days. it is different for everybody. —— our. meanwhile, in scotland, there will be tighter restrictions on large scale events and hospitality venues, from boxing day. the first minister, nicola sturgeon, has also urged people to stay at home as much as possible until at least the first week of january. we can speak now to our reporter katie hunter. katie, how have these restrictions been received? a mixed reaction depending on who you speak— a mixed reaction depending on who you speak to. we have known for some time that— you speak to. we have known for some time that the _ you speak to. we have known for some time that the scottish government has been _ time that the scottish government has been urging us to minimise socialising _ has been urging us to minimise socialising in the run—up to christmas. we now know what the period _ christmas. we now know what the period after christmas will look like _ period after christmas will look like as— period after christmas will look like. as you mentioned, big restrictions coming in from boxing day, _ restrictions coming in from boxing day, limiting the size of big public gatherings. so a maximum of 500 people _ gatherings. so a maximum of 500 people can — gatherings. so a maximum of 500 people can gather outside. that means— people can gather outside. that means edinburgh's world—famous hogmanay celebrations, new year's eve party, _ hogmanay celebrations, new year's eve party, is off. they will also be limits— eve party, is off. they will also be limits on— eve party, is off. they will also be limits on indoor gatherings. 200 people _ limits on indoor gatherings. 200 people from seated events, 100 people — people from seated events, 100 people from seated events, 100 people from standing events. big implications for sporting fixtures, indoors _ implications for sporting fixtures, indoors and outdoors, most notably the old _ indoors and outdoors, most notably the old firm — indoors and outdoors, most notably the old firm fixture between celtic and rangers, which is due to be played — and rangers, which is due to be played on — and rangers, which is due to be played on the 2nd ofjanuary. also, restrictions— played on the 2nd ofjanuary. also, restrictions for hospitality coming into force — restrictions for hospitality coming into force on the 27th of december. they will— into force on the 27th of december. they will have to return to one metre — they will have to return to one metre social distancing. and alcohol will be _ metre social distancing. and alcohol will be sold by a table service. there — will be sold by a table service. there has— will be sold by a table service. there has been a mixed reaction. many— there has been a mixed reaction. many public health experts welcome these measures. covid cases have been _ these measures. covid cases have been rising — these measures. covid cases have been rising in scotland across the past week — been rising in scotland across the past week. but for people whose livelihoods depend on the hospitality sector, there is disappointment. the night time industries association in scotland has said — industries association in scotland has said that of financial help available from the scottish and uk governments is woefully short. i example — governments is woefully short. i example of that i was speaking to a restaurant — example of that i was speaking to a restaurant owner yesterday who is expecting — restaurant owner yesterday who is expecting around £6,000 worth of help. _ expecting around £6,000 worth of help. but— expecting around £6,000 worth of help, but his monthly wage bill alone _ help, but his monthly wage bill alone is— help, but his monthly wage bill alone is around £25,000. so he will be facing _ alone is around £25,000. so he will be facing a — alone is around £25,000. so he will be facing a big shortfall. there are many— be facing a big shortfall. there are many businesses across scotland are now calling _ many businesses across scotland are now calling for the uk government to brin- now calling for the uk government to bring back— now calling for the uk government to bring back furlough and to bring back— bring back furlough and to bring back fast~ — bring back furlough and to bring back fast. . ., ~ bring back furlough and to bring back fast. . . ~' , ., rescue efforts are continuing in the philippines, following a powerful storm which has killed hundreds of people and left many more missing. super typhoon rai hit the country last thursday with winds of around 120 miles an hour. it caused widespread damage and has left many communities cut off, with little water. our philippines correspondent howard johnson has been visiting the island of siargao, one of the areas hardest hit by the storm, and sent this report. this is a scene repeated across this island. you can see this tree here has fallen down across the road. people just squeezing underneath it here. but you can see it's also impacted the power lines. they have come down here. and that is really causing big problems on this island. we are seeing that the electricity here will be down for at least three months, according to the provincial governor. he is calling for people to come and help set up the grid, because without electricity there will be no internet, you can't pump water from the wells and you can't clean water either. so there is a big issue with water supplies. now, let's have a look here. this is a family planning centre. mind the cables down here. you can see a lot of debris on the floor, but this is a scene that we have seen many times. the roof has been ripped off like a can of sardines, the metal has been torn back, glass has smashed up there and you can see the roof in tatters down here. and so many people are without shelter at any moment. and people here are calling for more support. they need more aid, they need more water, more food, and at the moment the supplies are coming through, but they are not getting through quickly enough. howard johnson. a seal pup found trapped in a hole in norfolk, has been rescued and released back onto the beach. this is the news we need this morning. after three hours, a team was able to gently winch the animal to safety. it all went well. here he comes. he is out. the rspca expects a rise in the number of stranded seals over the winter months, but says if you come across one don't approach it — always call for help. help will come like it did here. he is out, he is safe. he help will come like it did here. he is out, he is safe.— is out, he is safe. he is complaining. _ is out, he is safe. he is complaining. leave - is out, he is safe. he is complaining. leave mej is out, he is safe. he is - complaining. leave me alone! i is out, he is safe. he is _ complaining. leave me alone! i was a slee. he complaining. leave me alone! i was a sleep- he speaks _ complaining. leave me alone! i was a sleep. he speaks for _ complaining. leave me alone! i was a sleep. he speaks for a _ complaining. leave me alone! i was a sleep. he speaks for a nation! -- - sleep. he speaks for a nation! -- aslee. sleep. he speaks for a nation! -- asleep- carol _ sleep. he speaks for a nation! -- asleep. carol has _ sleep. he speaks for a nation! -- asleep. carol has the _ sleep. he speaks for a nation! -- asleep. carol has the weather. i sleep. he speaks for a nation! -- i asleep. carol has the weather. not much chance of snow. are we going to get some nice dry walks outside of a christmas? some of us will, jon. yes. the weather will turn more unsubtle from today. it is a cold start. a frosty one for many. temperatures last night fell to —10.2 in braemar. towards the west of the temperatures are not as low. that is because we have more cloud and rain coming in across parts of northern ireland. some of us starting off on a bright note with some sunshine. the cloud building all the time out of this band of rain, moving into northern ireland, western and southern scotland, northern england and wales. windy behind it. that went is salient because it is coming from a southerly direction. note the temperatures in the west. higher than across central and eastern areas. still pretty cold in the far north of scotland. as we head through the evening and overnight at this rate might marches north—east was. we could see some snow for a time in northern scotland. behind it a lot of dry weather. some clear skies. the next system then comes in from the west. western areas not as cold. in sheltered lines in scotland perhaps, gross sheltered parts of northern and then, we could see the odd pocket of frost. tomorrow is a murky start. a fair bit of clout. the rain crossing is. moving again northwards and also eastwards. behind that, something drier. they will still be a legacy of cloud but they will be some sunshine later in they will be some sunshine later in the day across wales and south—west england. note those temperatures. mild for the time of the about cool across the north—east. thank you. i'm not sure if that is your work right now but it looks good. your work right now but it looks aood. ., . ., . good. you are normally out in the cold with your _ good. you are normally out in the cold with your big _ good. you are normally out in the cold with your big coats _ good. you are normally out in the cold with your big coats on. - good. you are normally out in the i cold with your big coats on. waders. haven't been _ cold with your big coats on. waders. haven't been out _ cold with your big coats on. waders. haven't been out this _ cold with your big coats on. waders. haven't been out this year. - cold with your big coats on. waders. haven't been out this year. so - cold with your big coats on. waders. haven't been out this year. so far. i haven't been out this year. so far. fingers crossed. the uncertainty over the severity of the omicron variant, the hospitalisation rate and the impact of the boosterjab, has led the prime minister to rule out bringing in tougher covid restrictions before christmas, in england. what happens after christmas? that is what we are asking this morning. this is in stark contrast to both scotland and wales, who've already imposed stricter measures. let's check in with two of our regular experts now — virologist dr chris smith, and professor sian griffiths, an emeritus professor at the chinese university of hong kong. thanks both for joining thanks both forjoining us. i think there is an awful lot to get our heads around. shall we start with this change where people can end their self isolation a couple of days earlier, chris, if they get to lateral flow results negative on day six and seven. —— two. as a virologist who understands this covid, does that make sense to you, that people can be clear of it, can be safe after a shorter time than we originally thought?— originally thought? morning. one of the big risks — originally thought? morning. one of the big risks with _ originally thought? morning. one of the big risks with this _ originally thought? morning. one of the big risks with this particular- the big risks with this particular surge _ the big risks with this particular surge in — the big risks with this particular surge in virus is that if lots of cases— surge in virus is that if lots of cases crop— surge in virus is that if lots of cases crop up at the same time, and you've _ cases crop up at the same time, and you've got _ cases crop up at the same time, and you've got lots of relatively healthy _ you've got lots of relatively healthy people who are isolating because — healthy people who are isolating because they've caught it, they are going _ because they've caught it, they are going to _ because they've caught it, they are going to recover uneventfully but they are — going to recover uneventfully but they are being robbed away from the workplace, _ they are being robbed away from the workplace, this could affect certain key industries as well as other industries. and it really benefit conferred — industries. and it really benefit conferred by staying in isolation for that— conferred by staying in isolation for that bit longer is very small, then— for that bit longer is very small, then it's — for that bit longer is very small, then it's possible to make a judgment call and say, what fraction of cases— judgment call and say, what fraction of cases would be attributable to allowing — of cases would be attributable to allowing people out of it sooner? and if— allowing people out of it sooner? and if the — allowing people out of it sooner? and if the answer to that question is such— and if the answer to that question is such a _ and if the answer to that question is such a tiny fraction that it really— is such a tiny fraction that it really doesn'tjustify, in is such a tiny fraction that it really doesn't justify, in the grand scheme _ really doesn't justify, in the grand scheme of— really doesn't justify, in the grand scheme of things, asking people to stay isolated, that is really behind this. stay isolated, that is really behind this and — stay isolated, that is really behind this and it — stay isolated, that is really behind this. and it is supported by the facts — this. and it is supported by the facts if— this. and it is supported by the facts. if we look at when people are most _ facts. if we look at when people are most infectious with this variant, as well— most infectious with this variant, as well as — most infectious with this variant, as well as the other two, it is a skewed — as well as the other two, it is a skewed curve. you don't switch on your— skewed curve. you don't switch on your infectivity as soon as you are infected. — your infectivity as soon as you are infected, stay infectious for ten days— infected, stay infectious for ten days and — infected, stay infectious for ten days and then switch off your infectivity. it is very skewed towards _ infectivity. it is very skewed towards the beginning of your infectious period. so you catch the infection. — infectious period. so you catch the infection, you incubated for a few days, _ infection, you incubated for a few days, then — infection, you incubated for a few days, then your level of infectivity, the amount of virus leaving — infectivity, the amount of virus leaving your body, goes flying up to a near— leaving your body, goes flying up to a near maximum and then it very quickly, — a near maximum and then it very quickly, just _ a near maximum and then it very quickly, just usually if you're going — quickly, just usually if you're going to _ quickly, just usually if you're going to get symptoms as the symptoms kick in, then tails off, drops _ symptoms kick in, then tails off, drops to— symptoms kick in, then tails off, drops to low levels and stays at really _ drops to low levels and stays at really low — drops to low levels and stays at really low levels after that. so most — really low levels after that. so most of — really low levels after that. so most of the transmissions occur right— most of the transmissions occur right at— most of the transmissions occur right at the beginning of the incubation period, even before people — incubation period, even before people have symptoms. so shortening that isn't— people have symptoms. so shortening that isn't such a bad idea. shortening it and adding the added security— shortening it and adding the added security of, we will do a couple of tests _ security of, we will do a couple of tests that — security of, we will do a couple of tests that are actually quite good at detecting whether somebody is infectious or not, that is what the lateral— infectious or not, that is what the lateral flow tests do, this seems reasonable to me and a good compromise under the circumstances to keep _ compromise under the circumstances to keep people safe, but also keep key industries operating. i key industries operating. i know— key industries operating. i know there is a delay on the data thatis i know there is a delay on the data that is released. and we are waiting for a new data to come through at the moment. what is the current information that we have tell us about omicron and how concerned we should be? ,., ., about omicron and how concerned we should be? ., , should be? good morning. yes, we exist at the — should be? good morning. yes, we exist at the moment _ should be? good morning. yes, we exist at the moment in _ should be? good morning. yes, we exist at the moment in a _ should be? good morning. yes, we exist at the moment in a state - should be? good morning. yes, we exist at the moment in a state of l exist at the moment in a state of uncertainty _ exist at the moment in a state of uncertainty. there _ exist at the moment in a state of uncertainty. there are _ exist at the moment in a state of uncertainty. there are so - exist at the moment in a state of uncertainty. there are so many. uncertainty. there are so many unknowns _ uncertainty. there are so many unknowns about _ uncertainty. there are so many unknowns about omicron. - uncertainty. there are so many unknowns about omicron. butl uncertainty. there are so many- unknowns about omicron. but from the data that _ unknowns about omicron. but from the data that exists — unknowns about omicron. but from the data that exists at _ unknowns about omicron. but from the data that exists at the _ unknowns about omicron. but from the data that exists at the moment, - unknowns about omicron. but from the data that exists at the moment, and i data that exists at the moment, and don't _ data that exists at the moment, and don't forget — data that exists at the moment, and don't forget data _ data that exists at the moment, and don't forget data always _ data that exists at the moment, and don't forget data always comes - data that exists at the moment, and don't forget data always comes out. don't forget data always comes out with a _ don't forget data always comes out with a lag — don't forget data always comes out with a lag because _ don't forget data always comes out with a lag because it _ don't forget data always comes out with a lag because it takes - don't forget data always comes out with a lag because it takes you, - don't forget data always comes out with a lag because it takes you, as| with a lag because it takes you, as chris— with a lag because it takes you, as chris was— with a lag because it takes you, as chris was saying. _ with a lag because it takes you, as chris was saying, you _ with a lag because it takes you, as chris was saying, you get - with a lag because it takes you, as chris was saying, you get the - chris was saying, you get the infection. _ chris was saying, you get the infection, then _ chris was saying, you get the infection, then you _ chris was saying, you get the infection, then you get - chris was saying, you get the infection, then you get the i infection, then you get the symptoms. _ infection, then you get the symptoms, and _ infection, then you get the symptoms, and some - infection, then you get the i symptoms, and some people infection, then you get the - symptoms, and some people need infection, then you get the _ symptoms, and some people need to go to hospital _ symptoms, and some people need to go to hospital that — symptoms, and some people need to go to hospital. that may— symptoms, and some people need to go to hospital. that may be _ symptoms, and some people need to go to hospital. that may be about - symptoms, and some people need to go to hospital. that may be about a - to hospital. that may be about a two-week — to hospital. that may be about a two—week period. _ to hospital. that may be about a two—week period. there - to hospital. that may be about a two—week period. there is- to hospital. that may be about a i two—week period. there is always a la- two—week period. there is always a lag there _ two—week period. there is always a lag there is — two—week period. there is always a lag there is always _ two—week period. there is always a lag there is always a _ two—week period. there is always a lag there is always a lag _ two—week period. there is always a lag there is always a lag in - lag there is always a lag in collecting _ lag there is always a lag in collecting data. _ lag there is always a lag in collecting data. when- lag there is always a lag in collecting data. when we i lag there is always a lag in i collecting data. when we get lag there is always a lag in - collecting data. when we get so we are looking — collecting data. when we get so we are looking at — collecting data. when we get so we are looking at what _ collecting data. when we get so we are looking at what has _ collecting data. when we get so we are looking at what has been - are looking at what has been happening. _ are looking at what has been happening. not— are looking at what has been happening, not what - are looking at what has been happening, not what is - are looking at what has beenj happening, not what is going are looking at what has been i happening, not what is going to happen — happening, not what is going to happen. the _ happening, not what is going to happen. the date _ happening, not what is going to happen. the date is _ happening, not what is going to happen. the date is going - happening, not what is going to happen. the date is going to i happening, not what is going to - happen. the date is going to happen. the data _ happen. the date is going to happen. the data so— happen. the date is going to happen. the data so far— happen. the date is going to happen. the data so far shows _ happen. the date is going to happen. the data so far shows a _ happen. the date is going to happen. the data so far shows a huge - happen. the date is going to happen. the data so far shows a huge rise - happen. the date is going to happen. the data so far shows a huge rise in i the data so far shows a huge rise in cases _ the data so far shows a huge rise in cases that— the data so far shows a huge rise in cases that is— the data so far shows a huge rise in cases. that is indisputable. - the data so far shows a huge rise in cases. that is indisputable. and - the data so far shows a huge rise in cases. that is indisputable. and it. cases. that is indisputable. and it is probably— cases. that is indisputable. and it is probably a _ cases. that is indisputable. and it is probably a total _ cases. that is indisputable. and it| is probably a total underestimate, the other— is probably a total underestimate, the other -- — is probably a total underestimate, the other —— the _ is probably a total underestimate, the other —— the number- is probably a total underestimate, the other —— the number of- is probably a total underestimate, the other —— the number of cases. but as— the other —— the number of cases. but as of— the other —— the number of cases. but as of yet— the other —— the number of cases. but as of yet the _ the other —— the number of cases. but as of yet the office _ the other —— the number of cases. but as of yet the office of - the other —— the number of cases. | but as of yet the office of national statistics— but as of yet the office of national statistics data _ but as of yet the office of national statistics data shows _ but as of yet the office of national statistics data shows that - but as of yet the office of national statistics data shows that the - statistics data shows that the hospital— statistics data shows that the hospital rates _ statistics data shows that the hospital rates still— statistics data shows that the hospital rates still remain - hospital rates still remain uncoupled _ hospital rates still remain uncoupled from _ hospital rates still remain uncoupled from the - hospital rates still remain uncoupled from the rise. i hospital rates still remain - uncoupled from the rise. that hospital rates still remain _ uncoupled from the rise. that means i uncoupled from the rise. that means i have _ uncoupled from the rise. that means i have not— uncoupled from the rise. that means i have not risen— uncoupled from the rise. that means i have not risen at— uncoupled from the rise. that means i have not risen at the _ uncoupled from the rise. that means i have not risen at the same - uncoupled from the rise. that means i have not risen at the same rate. - i have not risen at the same rate. and so— i have not risen at the same rate. and so we — i have not risen at the same rate. and so we wait— i have not risen at the same rate. and so we wait to _ i have not risen at the same rate. and so we wait to see _ i have not risen at the same rate. and so we wait to see whether i i have not risen at the same rate. i and so we wait to see whether there has been _ and so we wait to see whether there has been an— and so we wait to see whether there has been an uptake _ and so we wait to see whether there has been an uptake in _ has been an uptake in hospitalisation - has been an uptake in i hospitalisation because, unfortunately, - hospitalisation because, unfortunately, if - hospitalisation because, unfortunately, if there l hospitalisation because, i unfortunately, if there has hospitalisation because, - unfortunately, if there has been hospitalisation because, _ unfortunately, if there has been an uptake _ unfortunately, if there has been an uptake in— unfortunately, if there has been an uptake in hospitalisation, - unfortunately, if there has been an uptake in hospitalisation, we - unfortunately, if there has been an uptake in hospitalisation, we will. uptake in hospitalisation, we will inevitably— uptake in hospitalisation, we will inevitably see _ uptake in hospitalisation, we will inevitably see an _ uptake in hospitalisation, we will inevitably see an increasing - uptake in hospitalisation, we will. inevitably see an increasing number of deaths _ inevitably see an increasing number of deaths what _ inevitably see an increasing number of deaths. what we _ inevitably see an increasing number of deaths. what we do _ inevitably see an increasing number of deaths. what we do know - inevitably see an increasing number of deaths. what we do know is - inevitably see an increasing number of deaths. what we do know is that| of deaths. what we do know is that people _ of deaths. what we do know is that people who — of deaths. what we do know is that people who are _ of deaths. what we do know is that people who are vaccinated - of deaths. what we do know is that people who are vaccinated are - of deaths. what we do know is thati people who are vaccinated are more likely— people who are vaccinated are more likely to _ people who are vaccinated are more likely to be — people who are vaccinated are more likely to be in— people who are vaccinated are more likely to be in that _ people who are vaccinated are more likely to be in that group _ people who are vaccinated are more likely to be in that group in- likely to be in that group in hospital _ likely to be in that group in hospital -- _ likely to be in that group in hospital. —— unvaccinated. | likely to be in that group in- hospital. —— unvaccinated. that is another— hospital. —— unvaccinated. that is another prompt _ hospital. —— unvaccinated. that is another prompt for— hospital. —— unvaccinated. that is another prompt for people - hospital. —— unvaccinated. that is another prompt for people to - hospital. —— unvaccinated. that is another prompt for people to get| another prompt for people to get vaccinated. — another prompt for people to get vaccinated. get— another prompt for people to get vaccinated, get their— another prompt for people to get vaccinated, get their boosters. i another prompt for people to get. vaccinated, get their boosters. we also know — vaccinated, get their boosters. we also know that _ vaccinated, get their boosters. we also know that older— vaccinated, get their boosters. we also know that older people - vaccinated, get their boosters. we also know that older people and i also know that older people and vulnerable — also know that older people and vulnerable people _ also know that older people and vulnerable people are _ also know that older people and vulnerable people are more - also know that older people and i vulnerable people are more likely also know that older people and - vulnerable people are more likely to -et vulnerable people are more likely to get affected — vulnerable people are more likely to get affected so _ vulnerable people are more likely to get affected. so far— vulnerable people are more likely to get affected. so far there _ vulnerable people are more likely to get affected. so far there are - vulnerable people are more likely to get affected. so far there are manyi get affected. so far there are many unknowns — get affected. so far there are many unknowns. what _ get affected. so far there are many unknowns. what that _ get affected. so far there are many unknowns. what that means - get affected. so far there are many unknowns. what that means is - get affected. so far there are many unknowns. what that means is we i get affected. so far there are many- unknowns. what that means is we have to take _ unknowns. what that means is we have to take this. _ unknowns. what that means is we have to take this, continue _ unknowns. what that means is we have to take this, continue to _ unknowns. what that means is we have to take this, continue to take _ unknowns. what that means is we have to take this, continue to take this - to take this, continue to take this seriously— to take this, continue to take this seriously at — to take this, continue to take this seriously at a _ to take this, continue to take this seriously at a personal _ to take this, continue to take this seriously at a personal level, - to take this, continue to take this seriously at a personal level, as i seriously at a personal level, as well— seriously at a personal level, as well as— seriously at a personal level, as well as look— seriously at a personal level, as well as look at _ seriously at a personal level, as well as look at the _ seriously at a personal level, as well as look at the social - seriously at a personal level, as i well as look at the social controls that are _ well as look at the social controls that are put — well as look at the social controls that are put upon _ well as look at the social controls that are put upon us. _ well as look at the social controls that are put upon us. we- well as look at the social controls that are put upon us.— well as look at the social controls that are put upon us. we are hearing about the possibility _ that are put upon us. we are hearing about the possibility of _ that are put upon us. we are hearing about the possibility of an _ about the possibility of an announcement it may be new restrictions coming in in england next week. what would you suggest those restrictions look like? for example, should we be limiting travel? it example, should we be limiting travel? . , ' . example, should we be limiting travel? , , , . ., travel? it is very difficult to tell without looking _ travel? it is very difficult to tell without looking at _ travel? it is very difficult to tell without looking at the - travel? it is very difficult to tell without looking at the data - travel? it is very difficult to tell without looking at the data andj without looking at the data and thinking — without looking at the data and thinking about _ without looking at the data and thinking about all— without looking at the data and thinking about all the - without looking at the data and thinking about all the different| thinking about all the different factors — thinking about all the different factors so _ thinking about all the different factors. so in _ thinking about all the different factors. so in a _ thinking about all the different factors. so in a way _ thinking about all the different factors. so in a way what - thinking about all the different - factors. so in a way what modellers can do— factors. so in a way what modellers can do is— factors. so in a way what modellers can do is they— factors. so in a way what modellers can do is they can _ factors. so in a way what modellers can do is they can produce - factors. so in a way what modellers can do is they can produce a - factors. so in a way what modellers can do is they can produce a rangei can do is they can produce a range of scenarios. — can do is they can produce a range of scenarios. a _ can do is they can produce a range of scenarios, a range _ can do is they can produce a range of scenarios, a range of— can do is they can produce a range of scenarios, a range of what - can do is they can produce a rangei of scenarios, a range of what would happen— of scenarios, a range of what would happen if. — of scenarios, a range of what would happen if. but— of scenarios, a range of what would happen if. but it _ of scenarios, a range of what would happen if, but it is _ of scenarios, a range of what would happen if, but it is the _ of scenarios, a range of what would happen if, but it is the if, _ of scenarios, a range of what would happen if, but it is the if, it- of scenarios, a range of what would happen if, but it is the if, it is- happen if, but it is the if, it is modelling _ happen if, but it is the if, it is modelling it— happen if, but it is the if, it is modelling. it is— happen if, but it is the if, it is modelling. it is up— happen if, but it is the if, it is modelling. it is up to - happen if, but it is the if, it is modelling. it is up to the - modelling. it is up to the politicians— modelling. it is up to the politicians to _ modelling. it is up to the politicians to make - modelling. it is up to the politicians to make the i modelling. it is up to the - politicians to make the balance between — politicians to make the balance between all _ politicians to make the balance between all the _ politicians to make the balance between all the issues, - politicians to make the balance between all the issues, it's - politicians to make the balance between all the issues, it's notj between all the issues, it's not 'ust between all the issues, it's not just infection _ between all the issues, it's not just infection with _ between all the issues, it's not just infection with omicron - between all the issues, it's not just infection with omicron you between all the issues, it's not- just infection with omicron you need to consider. — just infection with omicron you need to consider. it — just infection with omicron you need to consider, it is _ just infection with omicron you need to consider, it is the _ just infection with omicron you need to consider, it is the impact - just infection with omicron you need to consider, it is the impact on - to consider, it is the impact on society, — to consider, it is the impact on society. and _ to consider, it is the impact on society, and people's - to consider, it is the impact on society, and people's mental. to consider, it is the impact on - society, and people's mental health, and the _ society, and people's mental health, and the rest — society, and people's mental health, and the rest of— society, and people's mental health, and the rest of the _ society, and people's mental health, and the rest of the national- society, and people's mental health, and the rest of the national health l and the rest of the national health service _ and the rest of the national health service on — and the rest of the national health service. on businesses _ and the rest of the national health service. on businesses and - service. on businesses and livelihoods. _ service. on businesses and livelihoods. so _ service. on businesses and livelihoods. so it— service. on businesses and livelihoods. so it is- service. on businesses and livelihoods. so it is a - service. on businesses and l livelihoods. so it is a matter service. on businesses and - livelihoods. so it is a matter of continually _ livelihoods. so it is a matter of continually adjusting _ livelihoods. so it is a matter of| continually adjusting decisions. livelihoods. so it is a matter of. continually adjusting decisions. so we see. _ continually adjusting decisions. so we see. for— continually adjusting decisions. so we see, for example, _ continually adjusting decisions. so we see, for example, different- we see, for example, different decisions — we see, for example, different decisions in _ we see, for example, different decisions in scotland _ we see, for example, different decisions in scotland and - we see, for example, different| decisions in scotland and wales we see, for example, different- decisions in scotland and wales from an england _ decisions in scotland and wales from an england at— decisions in scotland and wales from an england at the _ decisions in scotland and wales from an england at the moment. - decisions in scotland and wales from an england at the moment. and - decisions in scotland and wales from an england at the moment. and i- an england at the moment. and i think— an england at the moment. and i think it's — an england at the moment. and i think it's important _ an england at the moment. and i think it's important that - an england at the moment. and i think it's important that we - think it's important that we emphasise _ think it's important that we emphasise the _ think it's important that we emphasise the seven - think it's important that we emphasise the seven day l think it's important that we - emphasise the seven day lateral flow is only— emphasise the seven day lateral flow is only in— emphasise the seven day lateral flow is only in england _ emphasise the seven day lateral flow is only in england at _ emphasise the seven day lateral flow is only in england at the _ emphasise the seven day lateral flow is only in england at the moment. i is only in england at the moment. so, is only in england at the moment. so. there — is only in england at the moment. so. there is— is only in england at the moment. so. there is a— is only in england at the moment. so, there is a sense _ is only in england at the moment. so, there is a sense here- is only in england at the moment. so, there is a sense here of- is only in england at the moment. i so, there is a sense here of needing to see _ so, there is a sense here of needing to see what — so, there is a sense here of needing to see what will _ so, there is a sense here of needing to see what will happen. _ so, there is a sense here of needing to see what will happen. but - so, there is a sense here of needing to see what will happen. but what i to see what will happen. but what you need — to see what will happen. but what you need to — to see what will happen. but what you need to do _ to see what will happen. but what you need to do is _ to see what will happen. but what you need to do is decrease - to see what will happen. but what you need to do is decrease the - you need to do is decrease the social— you need to do is decrease the social contact— you need to do is decrease the social contact because - you need to do is decrease the social contact because the - you need to do is decrease the| social contact because the virus passes — social contact because the virus passes on— social contact because the virus passes on due _ social contact because the virus passes on due to— social contact because the virus passes on due to getting - social contact because the virus i passes on due to getting together social contact because the virus - passes on due to getting together in crowds _ passes on due to getting together in crowds so. — passes on due to getting together in crowds so. cut— passes on due to getting together in crowds. so, cut back. _ passes on due to getting together in crowds. so, cut back. maybe - passes on due to getting together in crowds. so, cut back. maybe limit i crowds. so, cut back. maybe limit the number— crowds. so, cut back. maybe limit the number of— crowds. so, cut back. maybe limit the number of people _ crowds. so, cut back. maybe limit the number of people in— crowds. so, cut back. maybe limit i the number of people in households who can _ the number of people in households who can read — the number of people in households who can read. there _ the number of people in households who can read. there may— the number of people in households who can read. there may be - the number of people in households who can read. there may be a - the number of people in households i who can read. there may be a closure of some _ who can read. there may be a closure of some nonessential _ who can read. there may be a closure of some nonessential retail _ who can read. there may be a closure of some nonessential retail sectors. l of some nonessential retail sectors. it is of some nonessential retail sectors. it is impossible _ of some nonessential retail sectors. it is impossible to— of some nonessential retail sectors. it is impossible to say— of some nonessential retail sectors. it is impossible to say because - of some nonessential retail sectors. it is impossible to say because it- it is impossible to say because it is a balancing _ it is impossible to say because it is a balancing act _ it is impossible to say because it is a balancing act at _ it is impossible to say because it is a balancing act at all- it is impossible to say because it is a balancing act at all points i it is impossible to say because it. is a balancing act at all points and it does— is a balancing act at all points and it does depend _ is a balancing act at all points and it does depend on— is a balancing act at all points and it does depend on what _ is a balancing act at all points and it does depend on what the - is a balancing act at all points and it does depend on what the data i it does depend on what the data continues— it does depend on what the data continues to _ it does depend on what the data continues to show. _ it does depend on what the data continues to show.— it does depend on what the data continues to show. chris, that data, we are still— continues to show. chris, that data, we are still trying _ continues to show. chris, that data, we are still trying to _ continues to show. chris, that data, we are still trying to analyse - continues to show. chris, that data, we are still trying to analyse it. - we are still trying to analyse it. you are looking at the science of it. i know you have talked to us in the past about how viruses can sort of weaken over time and become less of weaken over time and become less of a threat. there is a possibility this might happen with covid. can it also go the other way? can a virus we can and then get stronger, become more of a threat again, or is it always that it becomes weaker and weaker and weaker?— always that it becomes weaker and weaker and weaker? there are two rules i learned _ weaker and weaker? there are two rules i learned at _ weaker and weaker? there are two rules i learned at medical - weaker and weaker? there are two rules i learned at medical school i weaker and weaker? there are two rules i learned at medical school in this regard — rules i learned at medical school in this regard. one of them is never say never. — this regard. one of them is never say never. or— this regard. one of them is never say never, or never say always in medicine. — say never, or never say always in medicine, because you can never be right _ medicine, because you can never be right it _ medicine, because you can never be right. it really comes down to evolution~ _ right. it really comes down to evolution. what benefits the virus to spread — evolution. what benefits the virus to spread the best? and whatever changes— to spread the best? and whatever changes it — to spread the best? and whatever changes it can endow itself with to enable _ changes it can endow itself with to enable it— changes it can endow itself with to enable it to spread better, is really— enable it to spread better, is really the path of least resistance for that _ really the path of least resistance for that virus because it will lead to there — for that virus because it will lead to there being more cases. and if there _ to there being more cases. and if there are — to there being more cases. and if there are more cases of that particular— there are more cases of that particular form of the virus, it passes— particular form of the virus, it passes on— particular form of the virus, it passes on the genetic make—up that makes _ passes on the genetic make—up that makes that— passes on the genetic make—up that makes that form of the virus. so really. _ makes that form of the virus. so really. it— makes that form of the virus. so really, it will be whatever endows the virus — really, it will be whatever endows the virus with the greatest transmissibility, leading to the greater— transmissibility, leading to the greater number of hosts. it is not a given— greater number of hosts. it is not a given that — greater number of hosts. it is not a given that it — greater number of hosts. it is not a given that it will be —— weaken over time _ given that it will be —— weaken over time but _ given that it will be —— weaken over time but it— given that it will be —— weaken over time but it is— given that it will be —— weaken over time but it is a tempting hypothesis and one _ time but it is a tempting hypothesis and one that may be borne out by history _ and one that may be borne out by history. back in the 1890s, there was what — history. back in the 1890s, there was what we thought was a flu pandemic which god called the russian — pandemic which god called the russian flu. it caused very severe illness _ russian flu. it caused very severe illness to — russian flu. it caused very severe illness to spread around the world. it illness to spread around the world. it caused _ illness to spread around the world. it caused a — illness to spread around the world. it caused a dramatic loss of life, including — it caused a dramatic loss of life, including the british aristocracy, one member of queen victoria because my close _ one member of queen victoria because my close family lost their life because _ my close family lost their life because of it. we now think for various— because of it. we now think for various reasons there is quite good evidence _ various reasons there is quite good evidence linking that particular outbreak— evidence linking that particular outbreak to a virus called 0c 43, which _ outbreak to a virus called 0c 43, which is. — outbreak to a virus called 0c 43, which is, guess what? a common human coronavirus _ which is, guess what? a common human coronavirus that is now circulating and causing — coronavirus that is now circulating and causing the common cold. it causes _ and causing the common cold. it causes a — and causing the common cold. it causes a few percent of the common cold we _ causes a few percent of the common cold we see — causes a few percent of the common cold we see every single winter. and it occurred _ cold we see every single winter. and it occurred -- — cold we see every single winter. and it occurred —— comes in surges. we counted _ it occurred —— comes in surges. we counted many— it occurred —— comes in surges. we counted many times in a maglite. we think this _ counted many times in a maglite. we think this was a coronavirus that jumped — think this was a coronavirus that jumped into people because of people keeping _ jumped into people because of people keeping cows in close proximity to people _ keeping cows in close proximity to people it — keeping cows in close proximity to people. it caused a pandemic and it has adapted to us in the 100 plus years— has adapted to us in the 100 plus years since. we have also adapted to it, years since. we have also adapted to it. and _ years since. we have also adapted to it. and we _ years since. we have also adapted to it, and we ended up with a virus that— it, and we ended up with a virus that is— it, and we ended up with a virus that is a — it, and we ended up with a virus that is a better bedfellow for us, we will— that is a better bedfellow for us, we will tolerate it because it causes — we will tolerate it because it causes less disease. it is tempting to think— causes less disease. it is tempting to think that is the direction of travel— to think that is the direction of travel covid will take in the long run _ travel covid will take in the long run~ 50— travel covid will take in the long run. . ., travel covid will take in the long run, '11 i1 travel covid will take in the long run. ':::: , ., , ., , run. so in 100 years it will all be fine? and _ run. so in 100 years it will all be fine? and hopefully _ run. so in 100 years it will all be fine? and hopefully not - run. so in 100 years it will all be fine? and hopefully not in - run. so in 100 years it will all be fine? and hopefully not in 100 i fine? and hopefully not in 100 ears. fine? and hopefully not in 100 years- the _ fine? and hopefully not in 100 years. the great _ fine? and hopefully not in 100 years. the great virtue - fine? and hopefully not in 100 years. the great virtue of - fine? and hopefully not in 100 l years. the great virtue of having modern — years. the great virtue of having modern medicine and science is that actually— modern medicine and science is that actually we — modern medicine and science is that actually we can throw vaccines at this problem. we can throw drugs at this problem. we can throw drugs at this problem. we can throw drugs at this problem and we can basically fool our— this problem and we can basically fool our body's immune system into thinking _ fool our body's immune system into thinking that when you are on your eighth. _ thinking that when you are on your eighth, ninth decade, you have been seen this— eighth, ninth decade, you have been seen this virus across your entire life. _ seen this virus across your entire life. so— seen this virus across your entire life, so therefore have a crude immunity— life, so therefore have a crude immunity to it, like so has been catching — immunity to it, like so has been catching up _ immunity to it, like so has been catching up their entire life for whom — catching up their entire life for whom it — catching up their entire life for whom it is _ catching up their entire life for whom it is now is no threat. remember, children have virtually no problem _ remember, children have virtually no problem with coronavirus, covid infection~ — infection. really interesting. thank you infection. — really interesting. thank you both so much. i am really struck by grossing never say meit —— never in medicine. the same applies in journalism and politics. life medicine. the same applies in journalism and politics.- journalism and politics. life in ueneral. with staff illness and falling passenger numbers, the surge in covid cases has led many train operators to cancel services in the run up to christmas. long—distance lines are among the worst affected. transport for london say about 500 of its front line staff are currently off work. our reporter geeta pendse is at manchester piccadilly station this morning. how much disruption is there there? good morning. there has been disruption _ good morning. there has been disruption to services at manchester piccadilly— disruption to services at manchester piccadilly in this week. this is not the only— piccadilly in this week. this is not the only station in the uk to experience this. it is because, as you say. — experience this. it is because, as you say, many operators are struggling with staff shortages caused — struggling with staff shortages caused by coronavirus. and the rail delivery— caused by coronavirus. and the rail delivery group, which represents operators — delivery group, which represents operators across the uk, they say that in— operators across the uk, they say that in the — operators across the uk, they say that in the past week there has been a drop, _ that in the past week there has been a drop, 5.2% — that in the past week there has been a drop, 5.2% of trains have been cancelled — a drop, 5.2% of trains have been cancelled. that compares with an annual— cancelled. that compares with an annual average of 2.9%. when it comes— annual average of 2.9%. when it comes to — annual average of 2.9%. when it comes to staff absence, 8.7% of rail staff were _ comes to staff absence, 8.7% of rail staff were absent in the past week. when _ staff were absent in the past week. when it— staff were absent in the past week. when it comes to our dailyjourneys, that has— when it comes to our dailyjourneys, that has dropped down to 53%, pre-covid — that has dropped down to 53%, pre—covid levels. a few of us are travelling — pre—covid levels. a few of us are travelling i_ pre—covid levels. a few of us are travelling. i spoke to some people travelling — travelling. i spoke to some people travelling today at manchester piccadilly, to get a sense of how they are — piccadilly, to get a sense of how they are feeling. i've _ they are feeling. i've had a couple in the evening that have — i've had a couple in the evening that have been _ i've had a couple in the evening that have been totally - i've had a couple in the eveningj that have been totally cancelled where _ that have been totally cancelled where the — that have been totally cancelled where the board _ that have been totally cancelled where the board said _ that have been totally cancelled where the board said they- that have been totally cancelled where the board said they were | where the board said they were running — where the board said they were running on _ where the board said they were running on time _ where the board said they were running on time and _ where the board said they were running on time and then- where the board said they were running on time and then ten. where the board said they were - running on time and then ten minutes before _ running on time and then ten minutes before they— running on time and then ten minutes before they were _ running on time and then ten minutes before they were due _ running on time and then ten minutes before they were due to _ running on time and then ten minutes before they were due to turn - running on time and then ten minutes before they were due to turn up, - before they were due to turn up, they announced _ before they were due to turn up, they announced it _ before they were due to turn up, they announced it has _ before they were due to turn up, they announced it has been- they announced it has been cancelled _ they announced it has been cancelled. and _ they announced it has been cancelled. and going - they announced it has been cancelled. and going homej they announced it has been. cancelled. and going home in they announced it has been- cancelled. and going home in the morning. — cancelled. and going home in the morning. which— cancelled. and going home in the morning, which is— cancelled. and going home in the morning, which is even— cancelled. and going home in the morning, which is even more - morning, which is even more annoying. _ morning, which is even more annoying, because _ morning, which is even more annoying, because i- morning, which is even more annoying, because i work- morning, which is even more i annoying, because i work nights morning, which is even more - annoying, because i work nights and all i annoying, because i work nights and all i want _ annoying, because i work nights and all i want to— annoying, because i work nights and all i want to do— annoying, because i work nights and all i want to do is— annoying, because i work nights and all i want to do is get— annoying, because i work nights and all i want to do is get home. - all i want to do is get home. we go — all i want to do is get home. we go out _ all i want to do is get home. we go out all— all i want to do is get home. we go out all the _ all i want to do is get home. we go out all the time - all i want to do is get home. we go out all the time to. all i want to do is get home. - we go out all the time to blackpool, my mum lives in wales. sometimes we can't go and see. because of the trains. it is annoying. trains. it is anno inc. �* ., ., it is annoying. i'm worried about over the new — it is annoying. i'm worried about over the new year. _ it is annoying. i'm worried about over the new year. i _ it is annoying. i'm worried about over the new year. i live - it is annoying. i'm worried about over the new year. i live in - over the new year. i live in yorkshire. _ over the new year. i live in yorkshire, you _ over the new year. i live in yorkshire, you see. - over the new year. i live in yorkshire, you see. they. over the new year. i live in. yorkshire, you see. they are over the new year. i live in- yorkshire, you see. they are every hour _ yorkshire, you see. they are every hour if— yorkshire, you see. they are every hour if they — yorkshire, you see. they are every hour if they get _ yorkshire, you see. they are every hour. if they get cancelled, - yorkshire, you see. they are every hour. if they get cancelled, i'm - hour. if they get cancelled, i'm doomed — doomed. so. - doomed. so, a - doomed. i so, a sense doomed. - so, a sense of doomed. — so, a sense of frustration there, but also — so, a sense of frustration there, but also a — so, a sense of frustration there, but also a bit of resignation. train operators— but also a bit of resignation. train operators are trying to do everything they can to minimise disruption. if you do, and your train _ disruption. if you do, and your train is — disruption. if you do, and your train is delayed or cancelled, you might— train is delayed or cancelled, you might be — train is delayed or cancelled, you might be eligible for compensation. but the _ might be eligible for compensation. but the advice is to plan ahead as much _ but the advice is to plan ahead as much as— but the advice is to plan ahead as much as you can. thank— much as you can. thank you very much. lets speak now to seb gordon from the rail delivery group, which represents train operators across the country. so many people are going to be watching this this morning thinking, i've got a train to catch, i'm planning to go home and see my family for christmas. what is the latest you can give us? share family for christmas. what is the latest you can give us? are things lookin: to latest you can give us? are things looking to my _ latest you can give us? are things looking to my advice _ latest you can give us? are things looking to my advice to _ latest you can give us? are things looking to my advice to any - latest you can give us? are things looking to my advice to any of - latest you can give us? are things| looking to my advice to any of your viewers _ looking to my advice to any of your viewers thinking about getting away for the _ viewers thinking about getting away for the christmas break is to check before _ for the christmas break is to check before they travel. the of 20 trains in the past week have been running as planned. clearly, it is a very— been running as planned. clearly, it is a very fast—moving situation. the virus _ is a very fast—moving situation. the virus is _ is a very fast—moving situation. the virus is spreading fast and it is affecting — virus is spreading fast and it is affecting our staff. it is changing all the _ affecting our staff. it is changing all the time. the advice to people is, all the time. the advice to people is. go _ all the time. the advice to people is, go online before you set off on your— is, go online before you set off on yourjourney, check the latest information on the apps and the websites. — information on the apps and the websites, you can even sign up for alerts _ websites, you can even sign up for alerts on _ websites, you can even sign up for alerts on facebook messenger, type in your— alerts on facebook messenger, type in yourjourney details and it will pin- in yourjourney details and it will ping you — in yourjourney details and it will ping you information of the train is busy— ping you information of the train is busy or— ping you information of the train is busy or disrupted. utilise that information. look before you set off. information. look before you set off~ if— information. look before you set off if you — information. look before you set off. if you can travel at quieter times. — off. if you can travel at quieter times, earlier in the week, all the better _ times, earlier in the week, all the better. leave some extra time for yourjourney as better. leave some extra time for your journey as well. better. leave some extra time for yourjourney as well. we are always sorry— yourjourney as well. we are always sorry when — yourjourney as well. we are always sorry when people pass myjourneys are disrupted. we never want that to happen _ are disrupted. we never want that to happen if— are disrupted. we never want that to happen. if you are going away for a nice christmas break, we want you to have a _ nice christmas break, we want you to have a good — nice christmas break, we want you to have a good journeys. that is not always _ have a good journeys. that is not always going to be possible. there will be _ always going to be possible. there will be some short notice cancellations because of the staffing issues. the situation we have _ staffing issues. the situation we have to — staffing issues. the situation we have to deal with, we have to strike a balance _ have to deal with, we have to strike a balance between running as many trains— a balance between running as many trains as _ a balance between running as many trains as we — a balance between running as many trains as we can, but that will mean there _ trains as we can, but that will mean there might — trains as we can, but that will mean there might be more short notice cancellations, and running a reliable _ cancellations, and running a reliable service. that could mean deciding — reliable service. that could mean deciding early and up front, sometimes a few days in advance, to put in _ sometimes a few days in advance, to put in a _ sometimes a few days in advance, to put in a reduced timetable. some operators— put in a reduced timetable. some operators have made that decision because _ operators have made that decision because their staffing levels as such _ because their staffing levels as such they know they will not be able to run _ such they know they will not be able to run trains. they have put the timetabling at a reduced level so that people have that confidence. elsewhere, people are prioritising, given— elsewhere, people are prioritising, given its— elsewhere, people are prioritising, given its christmas week and we know lots of _ given its christmas week and we know lots of people want to travel, they are prioritising running as many trains— are prioritising running as many trains as — are prioritising running as many trains as they can. i am confident we will— trains as they can. i am confident we will this— trains as they can. i am confident we will this we get people back for the christmas holidays. it is we will this we get people back for the christmas holidays.— the christmas holidays. it is by bein: the christmas holidays. it is by being flexible. _ the christmas holidays. it is by being flexible. i— the christmas holidays. it is by being flexible. i wonder - the christmas holidays. it is by i being flexible. i wonder whether the christmas holidays. it is by - being flexible. i wonder whether the changes the government have announced this morning, that people in england who test negative after six and seven days, can enter their self isolation earlier, does that potentially help you in terms of staffing? do you think you will be able to get people back working on those trains and sustain services a bit better? . , ., , ,., , bit better? that is absolutely the ho e. bit better? that is absolutely the hoe. i bit better? that is absolutely the hope- i think _ bit better? that is absolutely the hope. i think that _ bit better? that is absolutely the hope. i think that is _ bit better? that is absolutely the hope. i think that is one - bit better? that is absolutely the hope. i think that is one of - bit better? that is absolutely the hope. i think that is one of the i hope. i think that is one of the reasons— hope. i think that is one of the reasons why they got my cousin on it, reasons why they got my cousin on it. so— reasons why they got my cousin on it. so we _ reasons why they got my cousin on it. so we can — reasons why they got my cousin on it, so we can get those people back into circulation. as quickly as possible _ into circulation. as quickly as possible when it is safe to do so. just two — possible when it is safe to do so. just two sort of describe the challenge we face, a train driver, for example, might drive up to ten trains— for example, might drive up to ten trains on— for example, might drive up to ten trains on a — for example, might drive up to ten trains on a particular shift. it might— trains on a particular shift. it might sound like a few staff going off sick. _ might sound like a few staff going off sick, why does it have such impact? — off sick, why does it have such impact? you can tell from that it really— impact? you can tell from that it really does — impact? you can tell from that it really does make it challenging for us to— really does make it challenging for us to run— really does make it challenging for us to run a — really does make it challenging for us to run a reliable service. but as i us to run a reliable service. but as i say, _ us to run a reliable service. but as i say, we — us to run a reliable service. but as i say. we are — us to run a reliable service. but as i say, we are doing everything we can. _ i say, we are doing everything we can. we _ i say, we are doing everything we can. we are — i say, we are doing everything we can, we are putting on longer trains were _ can, we are putting on longer trains were possible, counselling staff training — were possible, counselling staff training where it is not safety critical — training where it is not safety critical to _ training where it is not safety critical to get our front line staff onto _ critical to get our front line staff onto the — critical to get our front line staff onto the trains. we are doing everything we can to put on as many trains— everything we can to put on as many trains as _ everything we can to put on as many trains as possible, to make as much space _ trains as possible, to make as much space for— trains as possible, to make as much space for people as possible, because _ space for people as possible, because that is important. but my plea for— because that is important. but my plea for people is please do not turn up — plea for people is please do not turn up at — plea for people is please do not turn up at the station and hopefully best. _ turn up at the station and hopefully best. do— turn up at the station and hopefully best, do check before you set off on yourjourney. said best, do check before you set off on yourjourney-— your 'ourney. said gordon, from the rail yourjourney. said gordon, from the rail delivery — yourjourney. said gordon, from the rail delivery group, _ yourjourney. said gordon, from the rail delivery group, thank _ yourjourney. said gordon, from the rail delivery group, thank you. - yourjourney. said gordon, from the rail delivery group, thank you. i - rail delivery group, thank you. i suspect we may speak in the coming days. take care. suspect we may speak in the coming days- take care-— days. take care. gillian keegan cominu days. take care. gillian keegan coming op _ days. take care. gillian keegan coming pp in — days. take care. gillian keegan coming up in the _ days. take care. gillian keegan coming up in the next - days. take care. gillian keegan coming up in the next five - days. take care. gillian keegan i coming up in the next five minutes or so. we hope to get clarity on the changes in the rules this morning, self isolation going down from ten days to seven days if you have tested positive.— days to seven days if you have tested positive. questions about what ou tested positive. questions about what you can _ tested positive. questions about what you can do _ tested positive. questions about what you can do if _ tested positive. questions about what you can do if you _ tested positive. questions about what you can do if you do - tested positive. questions about what you can do if you do test i what you can do if you do test negative. can you back to work? can you going into a pub? are there certain situations where it doesn't work? that is still to come. time now to get the news, travel and weather where you are. good morning. bbc london and bbc south east today are joining forces at breakfast to keep you up to date with the latest on coronavirus in our area. the medical director of nhs london said he's confident that everyone eligible for a booster will be offered one by new year's eve. it's after the prime minister announced that anyone aged 18 or over would be able to get their third covid vaccine dose by december 31st, a month earlier than the previous target. nhs london says it's on course to achieve this. anyone who is eligible for a vaccine will get it — get a chance to get it by the 31st of december. you have got walk—in centres, pharmacies, pop—ups, large—scale vaccination centres. also you can book. if you want a guaranteed slot, the easiest way to do it is to go on to the national booking service, ring 119 and make a call but we will have enough capacity to give everyone who needs one vaccine. meanwhile, the kent and medway resilience forum says it's responding to the growing number of omicron cases in the county. the support group has been increasing vaccinations and boosters, saying it's doubled its capacity across kent in just one week. new sites are being set up in walderslade, tunbridge wells and sheppey, with more staff and extended opening hours. rail passengers are being warned of reduced services and cancellations across the south east in the run—up to christmas because of high numbers of staff off sick with covid and other illnesses. govia thameslink, which operates services on the southern franchise, also said staff were taking time off to get their boosterjabs. think of christmas, and you may picture a man in a red suit with a white beard. well, one mum is on a mission to change perceptions about the festive season. charlotte lewis is the founder of noir kringle — a grotto in east london where father christmas and all his elves are black. she came up with the idea after having her daughter and says the aim is to make the experience more inclusive. ifeel like this is really important, because i think the formative years are when your imagination really plays a part in how you feel about yourself. and, for me, representation was so important to my own children. i absolutely loved christmas, and it kind ofjust, i felt like it was a real gap in the market. and it's a chilly start. kate kinsella has the forecast. good morning. a cold start this morning. temperatures below zero. one or two spots down below minus four. a widespread frost, a sunny start. one or two places turning hazy at first, the sunshine. temperatures with a maximum of six celsius. overnight tonight, the cloud will continue to edge from the west and thicken in the cannon then our band of rain moves across. —— and thicken and then our band of rain moves across. not a huge amount of rain but it will clear as we head through the early hours. the minimum temperature not quite as cold as last night but still chilly, above zero to 2 celsius. you can see the low pressure edging in from the west over the next few days. of course we are getting very close to christmas and it will turn largely unsettled. also the low pressure is producing some milder air. the temperature rising, getting up into double figures with outbreaks of rain through to christmas day. that's it. goodbye. hello, this is breakfast with sally nugent and jon kay. let's talk more about the latest covid developments this morning. the care minister gillian keeganjoins us. thank you for talking to us this morning. let's start about the rule change. lots of people at home will be really interested in the latest developments. if you had tested positive for covid you do not have to isolate for ten days any more, it has come down to seven days. this is just england we are talking about at the moment. what is the science behind the question they have looked at the difference between ten days of isolation and doing a lateral flow test on day six, day seven. if they are negative, you can then leave isolation. we are still saying to everybody, be cautious. they looked and said it is an equivalent risk to staying another few days in your bedroom. we are using testing as a tool, to enable people to limit the disruption and be able to get on with their lives and theirjobs. when you explain to us what the sciences behind this? if when you explain to us what the sciences behind this?— sciences behind this? if you do serial testing _ sciences behind this? if you do serial testing on _ sciences behind this? if you do serial testing on day _ sciences behind this? if you do serial testing on day six - sciences behind this? if you do serial testing on day six on - sciences behind this? if you doj serial testing on day six on day seven you have more information than if you just effectively make an assumption that by ten days he will be gone. the uk security agency has looked at that and said serial testing is an equivalent risk to ten days. they have looked at that and have been analysing that for a while. that is the science and that is why they have come up with it. this will be really welcome, certainly the people who now may be able to enjoy their christmas lunch. it could make a significant difference to christmas. in terms of tests on day six and day seven, that will be lateral flow testing. how is it purported? is it will be lateralflow testing. how is it purported?— it purported? is it made official? da six, it purported? is it made official? day six. day _ it purported? is it made official? day six, day seven, _ it purported? is it made official? day six, day seven, lateral - it purported? is it made official? day six, day seven, lateral flowi day six, day seven, lateral flow tests negative. we urge everyone to go on to the government website and upload your lateralflow upload your lateral flow testing information because that really helps us as well in terms of data. really important to do that. you are ura in: really important to do that. you are urging people _ really important to do that. you are urging people to _ really important to do that. you are urging people to do _ really important to do that. you are urging people to do that _ really important to do that. you are urging people to do that but - really important to do that. you are urging people to do that but it - really important to do that. you are urging people to do that but it is - urging people to do that but it is not mandatory. there is an element of trust. you will have to rely on people telling the truth about their test and to take the trust. == people telling the truth about their test and to take the trust.- test and to take the trust. -- the tests. test and to take the trust. -- the tests- you _ test and to take the trust. -- the tests. you trust _ test and to take the trust. -- the tests. you trust people _ test and to take the trust. -- the tests. you trust people to - test and to take the trust. -- the tests. you trust people to come i tests. you trust people to come forward for a pcr and isolate while waiting for results. you trust people to use lateral flow tests. a huge element of trust. this is a national mission and we are all dependent on each other doing the right thing. whilst on that thanks to the nearly 30 million people who have come forward for boosterjabs because that is the right thing to do. anyone who has not, please come forward. abs. do. anyone who has not, please come forward. �* ., ., do. anyone who has not, please come forward. . ., ., , .,~ forward. a lot of people will wake u . forward. a lot of people will wake u- to the forward. a lot of people will wake up to the news — forward. a lot of people will wake up to the news this _ forward. a lot of people will wake up to the news this morning, - up to the news this morning, thinking about plans for christmas and potentially new year. i want to be clear what it means to people who might be isolating at the moment. how does it work? does it mean if you have tested positive today you had to wait or if he had tested positive last week it comes in from now. —— you had tested positive. if he tested positive on friday and you are part way through your isolation, day six and day seven, take lateral flow test and if they are negative then leave isolation and continue to be cautious. we asked people to continue to take lateral flow tests. —— we ask people. use the tests to be a useful tool to enable you to socialise sensibly this christmas. they will be able to go out earlier. what difference does it make if you are vaccinated or not vaccinated or are vaccinated or not vaccinated or are double vaccinated without a booster? it are double vaccinated without a booster? . are double vaccinated without a booster? , ,., ., ., are double vaccinated without a booster? , ., ., , booster? it is the same, ewood still had to take — booster? it is the same, ewood still had to take the _ booster? it is the same, ewood still had to take the test. _ booster? it is the same, ewood still had to take the test. where - booster? it is the same, ewood still had to take the test. where the - had to take the test. where the vaccination is useful is for the contacts of people. —— as you would still have to take the test. if you are already vaccinated you can continue to take a lateral flow test every day if you are a contact. if you had tested positive, it is the same if you are vaccinated or unvaccinated.— same if you are vaccinated or unvaccinated. you use the same tools. unvaccinated. you use the same tools- what _ unvaccinated. you use the same tools. what is _ unvaccinated. you use the same tools. what is the _ unvaccinated. you use the same tools. what is the thinking - unvaccinated. you use the same i tools. what is the thinking behind this change? is it to help keep people in key roles? it is this change? is it to help keep people in key roles? it is both. -- key people- _ people in key roles? it is both. -- key people- we — people in key roles? it is both. -- key people. we are _ people in key roles? it is both. -- key people. we are concerned - people in key roles? it is both. -- i key people. we are concerned about that. we have heard about disruptions to various services will stop also it is because now we have testing and the quantity of testing we need to introduce there. you need a lot of tested that the systems into place, a lot of tests to replace what we had previously, everybody isolating as opposed to contacts and daily testing. what has changed is the availability of tests, the fact we ordered a lot in advance and we are using them as a tool. the fact that uk hsa is testing all of these various systems and put sensible approaches in place. and put sensible approaches in lace. . . and put sensible approaches in lace. ., , ., , ., place. that is really what has changed- _ place. that is really what has changed- l — place. that is really what has changed. i know— place. that is really what has changed. i know everything i place. that is really what has| changed. i know everything is changing day by day. we checked this morning on the government website in the current advice for people in a care home setting is this. if you have tested positive for covid—19 don't test again within 90 days. is that advice valid? does the new advice coming into day amenities no longer valid and the website needs updating? __ my —— my parents had covid ammo given the same information. we are saying to take the tests. —— and they were given. the tests are 80% to 90% accurate. use those to see if you can come out of isolation.- can come out of isolation. boris johnson confirmed _ can come out of isolation. boris johnson confirmed christmas i johnson confirmed christmas celebrations could go ahead with the new announcement. what will happen next week? every front page of every newspaper suggests new year is cancelled. we already know scotland has the restrictions and they had cancelled hogmanay. what will happen in england next week? we cancelled hogmanay. what will happen in england next week?— in england next week? we will be workin: in england next week? we will be working all— in england next week? we will be working all over _ in england next week? we will be working all over christmas - in england next week? we will be| working all over christmas looking at the data. the unknown... there is at the data. the unknown... there is a lot of uncertainty still in the data. one thing that is uncertain is less severity and hospitalisations and deaths from omicron. we are still getting a lot of data and it really will depend on the data. that is why we have not come forward and said we anticipate it and what it will be. we have said to keep it under review. have your christmas, enjoy your christmas. the cases are quite high. we have seen they are doubling every couple of days. the cases are high. we still do not have that link with the severity. there is still uncertainty in the data. what we want is to be balanced and proportionate and not anticipate the data. we will wait to get that data. in the meantime, the politico website appears to have the data. they are saying they had information from the uk health security agency due to publish its dated very soon. they are suggesting omicron coronaviruses causing minor disease than delta. britons who form six other less likely to become severely ill. it is not necessarily mild enough to avoid large numbers of hospitalisations and in the coming weeks they could potentially be problems if infection is rocket and large numbers end up in hospital, essentially negating the reduction in severity. is that something you are hearing already? interesting website has information that you do not have it. figs website has information that you do not have it. �* . website has information that you do not have it. ~ , y., website has information that you do rrot have it— website has information that you do not have it. as you said it was some leaked information. _ not have it. as you said it was some leaked information. i— not have it. as you said it was some leaked information. i don't- not have it. as you said it was some leaked information. i don't have - leaked information. i don't have that information. i think it is speculation that also effectively, thatis speculation that also effectively, that is what we have been worried about all along. when you have large case numbers, depending on severity and vaccination status. what we know, and while we put our focus on the booster programme which is being rolled out amazingly. what we know is if you get a booster, and more people come forward to get a booster, which is the unknown as well, the more we will be building back the wall of protection. it is the leading members we are keeping an ion. a number of times a day. please come forward to get your vista because that is a very important step in being able to combat the new variant. == important step in being able to combat the new variant. -- get your booster. combat the new variant. -- get your booster- what _ combat the new variant. -- get your booster. what is _ combat the new variant. -- get your booster. what is your _ combat the new variant. -- get your booster. what is your advice - combat the new variant. -- get your booster. what is your advice to - booster. what is your advice to people watching this, running a pub, restaurant, a barker who have organised to have new year's eve parties next week? —— is a bar. we know we will not hear anything till after christmas. what would you say to those people today about the financial outlay are planning a new year's eve party that might not happen? year's eve party that might not ha--en? . , year's eve party that might not hauen? . , . ., , happen? clearly, the uncertainty, one of the — happen? clearly, the uncertainty, one of the hardest _ happen? clearly, the uncertainty, one of the hardest things - happen? clearly, the uncertainty, one of the hardest things for - one of the hardest things for businesses all the way through the pandemic has been dealing with this uncertainty. they will have to look at their bookings. some people are already cancelling. we have kept up our reservations but some people are because they are taking a more cautious approach. it is really difficult, there is uncertainty. they will have to make a balanced decision based on their own analysis of the situation. there is risk that we could get after christmas, we could look at some of the data we have been talking about. we could see a rise in hospitalisations and we may need to act. we don't have all that data yet. it is difficult to deal with uncertainty but we are trying to take a balanced and proportionate risk will stop you could say everything closed, etc. we are trying not to do that is hopefully your viewers would appreciate. hopefully your viewers would appreciate-— hopefully your viewers would aureciate. ., . ,, , appreciate. you say you are keeping our appreciate. you say you are keeping your reservations. _ appreciate. you say you are keeping your reservations. what _ appreciate. you say you are keeping your reservations. what are - appreciate. you say you are keeping your reservations. what are your i your reservations. what are your plans for new year's eve? i your reservations. what are your plans for new year's eve? i don't actually have _ plans for new year's eve? i don't actually have plans _ plans for new year's eve? i don't actually have plans because - plans for new year's eve? i don't actually have plans because i - plans for new year's eve? i don'tj actually have plans because i find new year's eve expensive, actually. usually we don't go out for new year's eve. we have a family meal out in a restaurant syllabus will be together tonight in a restaurant. the reservations he mentioned were not for new year's eve. i did the reservations he mentioned were not for new year's eve.— not for new year's eve. i did not have one — not for new year's eve. i did not have one for _ not for new year's eve. i did not have one for new— not for new year's eve. i did not have one for new year's - not for new year's eve. i did not have one for new year's eve - not for new year's eve. i did notj have one for new year's eve and not for new year's eve. i did not. have one for new year's eve and do not normally have one for new year's eve. different people will go out on different days. eve. different people will go out on different days-— eve. different people will go out on different days. thank you very much indeed. watching _ different days. thank you very much indeed. watching some _ different days. thank you very much indeed. watching some of— different days. thank you very much indeed. watching some of your - indeed. watching some of your messages coming through, a lot of people talking about lateral flow tests and not being able to get them. . . . tests and not being able to get i them.— gillian them. that is interesting. gillian keenan them. that is interesting. gillian keegan said _ them. that is interesting. gillian keegan said they _ them. that is interesting. gillian keegan said they are _ them. that is interesting. gillian keegan said they are available . keegan said they are available everywhere. it is 20 years since the matrix first hit our screens. it was described as futuristic, cutting—edge and a cultural phenomenon. it's been 18 years since the last installment in the series, but today the fourth film is released — with keanu reeves returning as the central character. let's take a look. thomas, you seem particularly triggered right now, can you tell me what happened? i have had dreams that weren'tjust dreams. am i crazy? we don't use that word in here. hi. have we met? if you want the truth, neo, - you are going to have to follow me. the only thing that matters to you is still here. i know that's why you're still fighting and why you will never give up. you don't know me. no. after all these years, to be going back to where it all started, but to the matrix. bbc radio 1 film critic ali plumbjoins us now. you have seen it, what is it like? it is a head trip, as she would expect. i can't still believe that first film came out in another century, 1999 and this, the fourth film is trying to solve the puzzle of when you have killed off your lead characters in the previous navy, get your head round that. the director behind or has found a way. it is knowing and pays her march —— homage to the original movie. it gives an extra boost of your favourite movie which with modern technology, cgi and a bigger budget. the character of keanu rees is the linchpin of all these films. did he need persuading to come back and play this part? i need persuading to come back and play this part?— need persuading to come back and play this part? i think these merely chanced play this part? i think these merely changed his — play this part? i think these merely changed his life. _ play this part? i think these merely changed his life. i— play this part? i think these merely changed his life. i conically, - play this part? i think these merely changed his life. i conically, this. changed his life. i conically, this was a cultural moment when it first came out. —— these movies. remember backin came out. —— these movies. remember back in early 2000 square this movie was everywhere. the trench coat, the glasses, the music. let's always remember how popular all of those kung fu slow motion moves were. they were in shrek in kids movies, referenced everywhere. that is why chianti did not say no. is he referenced everywhere. that is why chianti did not say no.— chianti did not say no. is he still flexible enough _ chianti did not say no. is he still flexible enough to _ chianti did not say no. is he still flexible enough to do _ chianti did not say no. is he still flexible enough to do it? -- - chianti did not say no. is he still. flexible enough to do it? -- keanu. flexible enough to do it? —— keanu. are they —— they are going to be flexible for ever. are they -- they are going to be flexible for ever.— are they -- they are going to be flexible for ever. they have been in the john flexible for ever. they have been in the john weeks _ flexible for ever. they have been in the john weeks them. _ flexible for ever. they have been in the john weeks them. he _ flexible for ever. they have been in the john weeks them. he seems i flexible for ever. they have been in the john weeks them. he seems to i flexible for ever. they have been in i the john weeks them. he seems to be thejohn weeks them. he seems to be doing it like he is still 30. —— john wicks films. doing it like he is still 30. -- john wicks films.— doing it like he is still 30. -- john wicks films. you have been s-ueakin john wicks films. you have been speaking to _ john wicks films. you have been speaking to him. _ john wicks films. you have been speaking to him. let's _ john wicks films. you have been speaking to him. let's see - john wicks films. you have been speaking to him. let's see what| john wicks films. you have been i speaking to him. let's see what he had to say. to speaking to him. let's see what he had to say-— speaking to him. let's see what he hadtosa. ., , had to say. to believe in something so funn , had to say. to believe in something so funny. to — had to say. to believe in something so funny. to be _ had to say. to believe in something so funny, to be working _ had to say. to believe in something so funny, to be working with - had to say. to believe in something so funny, to be working with such i so funny, to be working with such incredible artists and such a wonderful role, the synthesis of all of that is really special and continues to be very special experience. the idea of what the matrix, the idea of, i always talk about the films as being a kind of tool, a prism of the way to look at our lives and who we are and what is going on. i our lives and who we are and what is auoin on. . our lives and who we are and what is hoin on. ., ., ,, our lives and who we are and what is hoinon. ., our lives and who we are and what is hoin on. . . ,, . ., going on. i am assuming you have to be uo-to-date _ going on. i am assuming you have to be up-to-date with _ going on. i am assuming you have to be up-to-date with the _ going on. i am assuming you have to be up-to-date with the previous - be up—to—date with the previous films. you had to see them and understand them because they are complicated enough. them because they are complicated enou:h. ., . ~' them because they are complicated enou:h. ., . ~ ., , enough. you are kind of right. it is ve well enough. you are kind of right. it is very well scripted, _ enough. you are kind of right. it is very well scripted, particularly - very well scripted, particularly early on in terms of telling you exactly what you need to know. you don't have to rewatch the last one, revelations, but it might help. it is still a head trip. are we in the matrix? is this really real? we are living in a world on our phones where we are constantly online so it is less prophetic and more reality. who would have thought 20 years ago we would be talking to you over a computer from your bedroom? are you in the matrix, are you real? this computer from your bedroom? are you in the matrix, are you real?— in the matrix, are you real? this is m tv in the matrix, are you real? this is my tv room. _ in the matrix, are you real? this is my tv room. i _ in the matrix, are you real? this is my tv room, i will— in the matrix, are you real? this is my tv room, i will have _ in the matrix, are you real? this is my tv room, i will have you - in the matrix, are you real? this is my tv room, i will have you know. 'the matrix resurrections' is in cinemas from today. if that is not your style, we have another film if that is not your style, we have anotherfilm released in a couple of minutes which is probably more your style. it may be a bit more fun. yesterday was the shortest day of the year, known as the winter solstice, meaning we can soon look forward to mornings and evenings gradually becoming lighter again. hooray! spring is coming. this is a live shot of the sunrise at stonehenge this morning. no special effects required, no filter. traditionally, thousands of people gather there to mark the summer and winter solstice. not so many this time because of restrictions but it looks absolutely gorgeous, doesn't it? look at the sky! it is so pretty. i had been there as a reporter sometimes. sometimes it does not work out because it is cloudy. that is dutiful. spring is coming, guys, honest. here's carol with a look at this morning's weather. spring is coming but not today. a cold start to the day. these are the kind of temperatures that will greet you. bow moral —8, the coldest night of the winter so far. —— bau moral. drift further west and the temperatures are higher. we have a weather front coming in already bringing rain across northern ireland. behind it the wind will come from the south, a much milder direction. there is mist and fog around but most of it should lift. the cloud will continue to build. note the temperatures. nine and nine in plymouth and also belfast. still nippy if you are going out and doing last—minute christmas shopping you will need to wrap up warm. overnight rain continues to move north and east across scotland, falling as snow on higher ground. there is a risk of ice on untreated surfaces. for the rest of the country a fair better cloud around, still spots of rain. where the cloud remains broken in parts of northern england and scotland it'll be cold enough for a touch of frost. not so at towards the west, 11 and 12. as you go into tomorrow, the weather front overnight continues to journey north and east. we will all start off on a cloudy note. we will see rain at some stage during the day. the heaviest will be in northern ireland, northern england, southern and south—western scotland. behind it there will still be a legacy of plaid with one or two spots of rain. it should brighten up across wales and the south—west. note the temperatures, 11, 12 and 13. normally at this stage of the year we would look at six in the north and eight in the south. our time to bring you the christmas forecast. we promise to an alternative to the matrix and we have got one. it's been six years since shaun the sheep last had a proper festive outing but now he's back, for a brand 'ewe' adventure. you read that out loud! in the half an hour special, 'flight before christmas,�* shaun and his farmyard friends are on the hunt for a bigger christmas stocking. but as you can imagine, things don't quite go to plan. let's take a look. cheering. hey! ha—ha! ah! mm hm? ah. ah! giggling. 0h. ah! that is more like it, isn't it? we're joined now by the programme's director, steve cox and actor laura aikman. this is your character, wejust this is your character, we just saw her in the clip. she this is your character, we 'ust saw her in the clip.�* her in the clip. she takes timmy home for christmas _ her in the clip. she takes timmy home for christmas by _ her in the clip. she takes timmy home for christmas by mistake l her in the clip. she takes timmy | home for christmas by mistake in her in the clip. she takes timmy - home for christmas by mistake in the episode is about the adventure that begins. tell]! episode is about the adventure that be . ins. , episode is about the adventure that beains. , ., ., ., episode is about the adventure that beains. , ., ,., ., ., , begins. tell us about ella, what is she like? she _ begins. tell us about ella, what is she like? she is _ begins. tell us about ella, what is she like? she is five _ begins. tell us about ella, what is she like? she is five or _ begins. tell us about ella, what is she like? she is five or six - begins. tell us about ella, what is she like? she is five or six years l she like? she is five or six years old, we think. _ she like? she is five or six years old, we think. she _ she like? she is five or six years old, we think. she is _ she like? she is five or six years old, we think. she is a - she like? she is five or six years l old, we think. she is a mysterious little thing. i'm desperately trying not to damage her in anyway. i am terrified. i am sure this model is worth a lot of money. she is basically adorable. she cannot speak because none of the characters in shaun the sheep can speak. making the noises to express what is going on. ., the noises to express what is going on, ., ., , ., ., " the noises to express what is going on. ., ., , ., ., ~ ., the noises to express what is going on. ., ., , ., .,~ ., the noises to express what is going on. ., ., .,~ ., the noises to express what is going on. ., .,, ., .,~ ., on. how does that work for you as an actor? i did — on. how does that work for you as an actor? i did another _ on. how does that work for you as an actor? i did another cartoon - on. how does that work for you as an actor? i did another cartoon where i l actor? i did another cartoon where i -la ed a b actor? i did another cartoon where i played a b and _ actor? i did another cartoon where i played a b and that _ actor? i did another cartoon where i played a b and that they _ actor? i did another cartoon where i played a b and that they had - actor? i did another cartoon where i played a b and that they had a - actor? i did another cartoon where i played a b and that they had a pet l played a b and that they had a pet aphid. you kind of offer up different sounds for the first audition. i had texted what was happening in the scenes. you had a text of yourself making noises and hope for the best. mina; text of yourself making noises and hope for the best.— text of yourself making noises and hope for the best. why is shaun the shee- hope for the best. why is shaun the shee so hope for the best. why is shaun the sheep so adored? _ hope for the best. why is shaun the sheep so adored? here's _ hope for the best. why is shaun the sheep so adored? here's a - hope for the best. why is shaun the sheep so adored? here's a cheeky l sheep so adored? here's a cheeky character. — sheep so adored? here's a cheeky character. a _ sheep so adored? here's a cheeky character, a cheeky _ sheep so adored? here's a cheeky character, a cheeky chappie. - sheep so adored? here's a cheeky character, a cheeky chappie. he . sheep so adored? here's a cheeky i character, a cheeky chappie. he gets into all_ character, a cheeky chappie. he gets into all sorts — character, a cheeky chappie. he gets into all sorts of adventures. he has been _ into all sorts of adventures. he has been around for a good amount of lime _ been around for a good amount of lime and — been around for a good amount of time and has been taken into the hearts_ time and has been taken into the hearts of— time and has been taken into the hearts of so many around the world. they are _ hearts of so many around the world. they are always on at christmas. you 'ust they are always on at christmas. you just associate hard with christmas. it is time _ just associate hard with christmas. it is time to— just associate hard with christmas. it is time to make a shaun the sheep christmas _ it is time to make a shaun the sheep christmas special. how it is time to make a shaun the sheep christmas special.— christmas special. how do you make it durin: christmas special. how do you make it during the — christmas special. how do you make it during the pandemic? _ christmas special. how do you make it during the pandemic? we - christmas special. how do you make it during the pandemic? we have - christmas special. how do you make | it during the pandemic? we have had various movie—makers talking to us about social distancing. not quite such an issue when dealing with modelling clay but still consideration. in modelling clay but still consideration.- modelling clay but still consideration. , ., consideration. in the first part of locked and _ consideration. in the first part of locked and we _ consideration. in the first part of locked and we were _ consideration. in the first part of locked and we were able - consideration. in the first part of locked and we were able to - consideration. in the first part of locked and we were able to do . consideration. in the first part of locked and we were able to do a| consideration. in the first part of. locked and we were able to do a lot of stuff _ locked and we were able to do a lot of stuff from home. —— lockdown. in the studio— of stuff from home. —— lockdown. in the studio we — of stuff from home. —— lockdown. in the studio we spread out and make sure it _ the studio we spread out and make sure it was — the studio we spread out and make sure it was socially distanced. we made _ sure it was socially distanced. we made the — sure it was socially distanced. we made the settlor stopped it was really _ made the settlor stopped it was really careful. —— the set a lot higgen — really careful. —— the set a lot higgen we _ really careful. —— the set a lot bigger. we did all of our staff on zoom _ bigger. we did all of our staff on zoom. in — bigger. we did all of our staff on zoom. , , ., ., ~ zoom. in my basement at home. we were staring — zoom. in my basement at home. we were staring at _ zoom. in my basement at home. we were staring at each _ zoom. in my basement at home. we were staring at each other. - zoom. in my basement at home. we were staring at each other. how- zoom. in my basement at home. we were staring at each other. how did l were staring at each other. how did ou make were staring at each other. how did you make it — were staring at each other. how did you make it work _ were staring at each other. how did you make it work technically? - were staring at each other. how did | you make it work technically? when it first happened _ you make it work technically? when it first happened only _ you make it work technically? when it first happened only to _ you make it work technically? when it first happened only to this - you make it work technically? hisuazsi it first happened only to this very temporary, i made a delayed dungeon in my basement. hate temporary, i made a delayed dungeon in my basement-— in my basement. we have all done that. it is horrendous _ in my basement. we have all done that. it is horrendous down - in my basement. we have all done that. it is horrendous down there. | that. it is horrendous down there. you keep telling _ that. it is horrendous down there. you keep telling yourself- that. it is horrendous down there. you keep telling yourself it - that. it is horrendous down there. you keep telling yourself it will i you keep telling yourself it will end soon, no point investing in anything. eventually we bought a chair but that is as far as it has gone. i had to crab walk on the floor. that is where i recorded from. it floor. that is where i recorded from. , . , ., ., from. it is incredible how we have all adapted- _ from. it is incredible how we have all adapted- l _ from. it is incredible how we have all adapted. i bet _ from. it is incredible how we have all adapted. i bet you _ from. it is incredible how we have all adapted. i bet you never i from. it is incredible how we have l all adapted. i bet you never thought you would make a movie like this. it does not show. in the finished film it looks _ does not show. in the finished film it looks fantastic, it sounds fantastic. it is down to all the skills— fantastic. it is down to all the skills and _ fantastic. it is down to all the skills and craft for everybody. how has technology _ skills and craft for everybody. hm“ has technology moved on? we are so used to seeing the beautiful creations from years ago. as it changed article? we creations from years ago. as it changed article?— creations from years ago. as it changed article? creations from years ago. as it chanced article? ~ . . . . . changed article? we have advanced a bit. still a lot — changed article? we have advanced a bit. still a lot of — changed article? we have advanced a bit. still a lot of plasticine _ bit. still a lot of plasticine involved. ella's face, her mouth, her expression several plasticine. the develop of effects stopped a snowstorm comes in at the end of this episode, which is all cg. we embrace — this episode, which is all cg. we embrace new technologies but the core is _ embrace new technologies but the core is the — embrace new technologies but the core is the same. i embrace new technologies but the core is the same.— core is the same. i love how the shee- core is the same. i love how the shee is core is the same. i love how the sheep is wobble. _ core is the same. i love how the sheep is wobble. it _ core is the same. i love how the sheep is wobble. it is _ core is the same. i love how the sheep is wobble. it is all- core is the same. i love how the sheep is wobble. it is all the i sheep is wobble. it is all the details. how— sheep is wobble. it is all the details. how long _ sheep is wobble. it is all the details. how long does i sheep is wobble. it is all the details. how long does it i sheep is wobble. it is all the i details. how long does it take to bend and photograph _ details. how long does it take to bend and photograph frame i details. how long does it take to bend and photograph frame by l details. how long does it take to i bend and photograph frame by frame enough footage to make a half—hour film? hate enough footage to make a half-hour film? ~ ., y enough footage to make a half-hour film? ~ ., , , ., ., film? we only started filming at the bearinnin film? we only started filming at the beginning of— film? we only started filming at the beginning of this _ film? we only started filming at the beginning of this year. _ film? we only started filming at the beginning of this year. in _ film? we only started filming at the beginning of this year. in january i beginning of this year. in january we started — beginning of this year. in january we started filming and finished in june. _ we started filming and finished in june, like — we started filming and finished in june, like 22 weeks something like that _ june, like 22 weeks something like that it _ june, like 22 weeks something like that it is _ june, like 22 weeks something like that it is 12— june, like 22 weeks something like that. it is 12 seconds per week per animator~ — that. it is 12 seconds per week per animator~ i2— that. it is 12 seconds per week per animator. ' , , ., ,, that. it is 12 seconds per week per animator-_ a i that. it is 12 seconds per week per l animator-_ a very animator. 12 seconds a week! a very slow process — animator. 12 seconds a week! a very slow process as _ animator. 12 seconds a week! a very slow process as you _ animator. 12 seconds a week! a very slow process as you may _ animator. 12 seconds a week! a very slow process as you may know. i animator. 12 seconds a week! a very slow process as you may know. he l slow process as you may know. he must be slow process as you may know. must be a slow process as you may know. he: must be a very patient person to do this. be must be a very patient person to do this. �* ., , this. be determined as well, determined _ this. be determined as well, determined to _ this. be determined as well, determined to make - this. be determined as well, determined to make sure i this. be determined as well, | determined to make sure the this. be determined as well, i determined to make sure the shot this. be determined as well, - determined to make sure the shot is as good _ determined to make sure the shot is as good as _ determined to make sure the shot is as good as it can be. knuckled down and try— as good as it can be. knuckled down and try and — as good as it can be. knuckled down and try and do some great stuff. do ou and try and do some great stuff. you ever and try and do some great stuff. dir? you ever longed to do something quicker? are you ever get to the end and say, i had done 12 seconds, i want to do more?— and say, i had done 12 seconds, i want to do more? no, i am quite a chill au . want to do more? no, i am quite a chill guy. perfectly _ want to do more? no, i am quite a chill guy. perfectly suited - want to do more? no, i am quite a chill guy. perfectly suited to i want to do more? no, i am quite a chill guy. perfectly suited to this i chill guy. perfectly suited to this kind of thing- — chill guy. perfectly suited to this kind of thing. do _ chill guy. perfectly suited to this kind of thing. do you _ chill guy. perfectly suited to this kind of thing. do you think i chill guy. perfectly suited to this kind of thing. do you think he i chill guy. perfectly suited to this. kind of thing. do you think he will do more of this kind of thing or do you think your next role might have words in it?— words in it? ideally a bit of both. i do speak _ words in it? ideally a bit of both. i do speak as _ words in it? ideally a bit of both. i do speak as well _ words in it? ideally a bit of both. i do speak as well and _ words in it? ideally a bit of both. i i do speak as well and occasionally people see my face. i was such a fan of wallace and gromit growing up that this was a dream come true. you have a great — that this was a dream come true. you have a great slot _ that this was a dream come true. you have a great slot in terms of their schedules. one can people watch? six. schedules. one can people watch? six pn schedules. one can people watch? six pm on christmas eve. it _ schedules. one can people watch? six pm on christmas eve. it is _ schedules. one can people watch? six pm on christmas eve. it is repeated i pm on christmas eve. it is repeated on christmas _ pm on christmas eve. it is repeated on christmas day _ pm on christmas eve. it is repeated on christmas day as _ pn on christmas eve. it is repeated on christmas day as well— pm on christmas eve. it is repeated on christmas day as well at - pm on christmas eve. it is repeated on christmas day as well at 1125 i pm on christmas eve. it is repeated on christmas day as well at 1125 in l on christmas day as well at 1125 in the morning. —— 11:25am. on christmas day as well at 1125 in the morning. ——11:25am. did on christmas day as well at 1125 in the morning. --11:25am.- the morning. --11:25am. did you brina the morning. --11:25am. did you bring them _ the morning. --11:25am. did you bring them on — the morning. --11:25am. did you bring them on the _ the morning. --11:25am. did you bring them on the train? - the morning. --11:25am. did you bring them on the train? a i bring them on the train? a bullet—proof box. bring them on the train? a bullet- proof box. literally| bullet-proof box. literally bullet-proof? _ bullet-proof box. literally bullet-proof? i— bullet-proof box. literally bullet-proof? i hope i bullet-proof box. literally bullet-proof? i hope so. i bullet- proof box. literally i bullet-proof? i hope so. make bullet- proof box. literally - bullet-proof? i hope so. make sure it is not too — bullet-proof? i hope so. make sure it is not too hot _ bullet-proof? i hope so. make sure it is not too hot and _ bullet-proof? i hope so. make sure it is not too hot and does _ bullet-proof? i hope so. make sure it is not too hot and does not i bullet-proof? i hope so. make sure it is not too hot and does not melt. | "shaun the sheep: the flight before christmas" willair on bbc one on christmas eve at 6pm and will also be on the iplayer. stay with us, headlines coming up. good morning, welcome to breakfast with sally nugent and jon kay. our headlines today. two negative tests and people in england can come out of isolation early, as christmas celebrations get the go—ahead. despite confirming no new restrictions before saturday, the prime minister has refused to rule out further measures by new year. covid cancellations — eail companies blame staff sickness for widespread disruption to train services. fears around the omicron variant have hit many businesses — including pubs and restaurants, which have seen bookings cancelled. i'll be getting reaction to a new fund that's been announced to help them. has my christmas time, sausage rolls and wind out has my christmas time, sausage rolls and wind out sausage rolls for everyone! ladbaby teams up with eltonjohn and ed sheeran, aiming for a record fourth christmas number one in a row. ijust said to them, if i just said to them, if you ijust said to them, if you are up for it, we would love to join ijust said to them, if you are up for it, we would love tojoin in with your one and help in any way we can. good morning. we have had the coldest night of the winter so far. many waking up to a frost. milder in the west because we have cloud and rain coming in. it will spread northwards and eastwards through the day. details later in the programme. good morning. it's wednesday, the 22nd of december. our main story. people with covid in england can now stop self—isolating after a week, following two negative lateral flow tests. it comes after the prime minister ruled out imposing further covid restrictions in england before christmas. let's run you through some of the changes to quarantine rules. the period of isolation after a positive test is being reduced from ten to seven days. but that's only following two negative lateral flow test results, and those tests must be taken at least 2a hours apart on day six and seven. the health secretary said the change was to ease the disruption in people's lives. i think this is a very sensible, balanced and proportionate step to take. of course, this new variant is spreading very rapidly, it is disrupting many people's lives. it's great that when people do get infected that they are properly isolating. i think that clearly helps to stop, to prevent infection. but it is important also to look at how we can, you know, have policies, that will help to minimise that. and this step, again informed by our clinicians, i think is a very sensible step way forward. we'rejoined now by our chief political correspondent, adam fleming. morning. still uncertainty though, isn't there? lots of the front pages suggesting we need to be prepared for more restrictions next week. what is happening?— for more restrictions next week. what is happening? yeah, after the cabinet meeting _ what is happening? yeah, after the cabinet meeting on _ what is happening? yeah, after the cabinet meeting on monday - what is happening? yeah, after the cabinet meeting on monday where l what is happening? yeah, after the i cabinet meeting on monday where the government decided not to do anything — government decided not to do anything despite pressure from scientists, the prime minister was accused _ scientists, the prime minister was accused by— scientists, the prime minister was accused by some people of looking a bit indecisive. yesterday we got a decision— bit indecisive. yesterday we got a decision from him. they will be no new restrictions in england between now and _ new restrictions in england between now and christmas day. so your christmas — now and christmas day. so your christmas plans can stay as they were _ christmas plans can stay as they were. however, he is very much leaving — were. however, he is very much leaving himself the option of introducing new restrictions after that if— introducing new restrictions after that if the — introducing new restrictions after that if the covid data demands it. and it _ that if the covid data demands it. and it means you get messages like this from _ and it means you get messages like this from the health and social care committee gillian keegan to people like restaurant tours and owners of pubs _ it is really difficult, there is uncertainty. obviously mag they will have to make a balanced decision based on, you know, their own analysis of the situation, but there is risk that we could get to, you know, after christmas we could look some —— at some of this data we have been talking about, we could see a rise in hospitalisations and we may need to act. rise in hospitalisations and we may need to act-— need to act. that is why you get labour saying — need to act. that is why you get labour saying the _ need to act. that is why you get labour saying the government i need to act. that is why you get i labour saying the government needs to give _ labour saying the government needs to give more clarity to what the options — to give more clarity to what the options might be, to give a plan or at least _ options might be, to give a plan or at least plenty of warning if there are going — at least plenty of warning if there are going to be any restrictions in england — are going to be any restrictions in england it — are going to be any restrictions in england. it is worth remembering there _ england. it is worth remembering there are — england. it is worth remembering there are restrictions elsewhere in there are restrictions elsewhere in the uk _ there are restrictions elsewhere in the uk after christmas which we will hear about— the uk after christmas which we will hear about in the uk after christmas which we will hearabout in a the uk after christmas which we will hear about in a second. some good news _ hear about in a second. some good news if_ hear about in a second. some good news if you — hear about in a second. some good news. if you started your isolation on thursday or friday of last week, and you _ on thursday or friday of last week, and you are — on thursday or friday of last week, and you are going to miss christmas day, in _ and you are going to miss christmas day, in england if you test negative you will— day, in england if you test negative you will be — day, in england if you test negative you will be able to get out on day seven, _ you will be able to get out on day seven, which means you will be able to have _ seven, which means you will be able to have christmas dinner, even if you were — to have christmas dinner, even if you were expecting to be locked up in your— you were expecting to be locked up in your bedroom! good _ in your bedroom! good news for some people. thank you. good news for some people. thank ou. . ., , good news for some people. thank ou. . . , , you. the change with the testing is in england- — you. the change with the testing is in england- all— you. the change with the testing is in england. all of— you. the change with the testing is in england. all of the _ you. the change with the testing is in england. all of the different i in england. all of the different nations seem to have adopted different strategies with covid restrictions in the coming weeks. in a moment we'll be finding out the situation in scotland and northern ireland. but first, let's go to wales, where further measures will be announced today. our correspondent tomos morgan has the latest. tomos, what's expected later? the first minister mark drakeford will hold a press conference at midday. it is expected he will make some announcements on restrictions, probably on hospitality, which will come into force after christmas, boxing day or the 27th, we think. they could be rules of six, potential table service. we know spectator sports will be banned on boxing day and night clubs will shut on the 27th, in addition to these measures. one interesting thing the economy minister said yesterday is that he is expecting today, and mentioned that there would be guidance about household mixing. interesting hesat guidance and not regulation. so potentially, we will be in a situation where household mixing, there will be strong advice for a limit on those. we are expecting other restrictions as well but we will have to wait until midday to hear what exactly they may be. that is the situation in wales. we will hear more at lunchtime. let's cross to northern ireland and chris page. ministers in the devolved government here at— ministers in the devolved government here at stormont are meeting today to decide _ here at stormont are meeting today to decide which restrictions to reimpose. the spread of the omicron variant— reimpose. the spread of the omicron variant here — reimpose. the spread of the omicron variant here is a few days behind the rest — variant here is a few days behind the rest of— variant here is a few days behind the rest of the uk. the number of covid _ the rest of the uk. the number of covid patients in hospital has actually — covid patients in hospital has actually dropped to its lowest level since july. — actually dropped to its lowest level sincejuly. but actually dropped to its lowest level since july. but ministers have been clear— since july. but ministers have been clear they— since july. but ministers have been clear they are going to have to take some _ clear they are going to have to take some action to get northern ireland through— some action to get northern ireland through the peak of this coming wave of the _ through the peak of this coming wave of the virus. — through the peak of this coming wave of the virus, which is expected to come _ of the virus, which is expected to come here — of the virus, which is expected to come here injanuary. so, among the measures— come here injanuary. so, among the measures understood to be on the agenda, _ measures understood to be on the agenda, potentially the closure of night _ agenda, potentially the closure of night clubs, so more regulations for the nightclubs, so more regulations for the wider_ night clubs, so more regulations for the wider hospitality industry, perhaps— the wider hospitality industry, perhaps bringing back table service in bars _ perhaps bringing back table service in bars and — perhaps bringing back table service in bars and restaurants, heavy also looking _ in bars and restaurants, heavy also looking at — in bars and restaurants, heavy also looking at social distancing again in some — looking at social distancing again in some other workplaces. the main message _ in some other workplaces. the main message from political leaders, scientists and doctors over the past few days _ scientists and doctors over the past few days is — scientists and doctors over the past few days is that the more people get their boosterjab, well, the less severe — their boosterjab, well, the less severe the _ their boosterjab, well, the less severe the restrictions on the next month— severe the restrictions on the next month or— severe the restrictions on the next month or so — severe the restrictions on the next month or so are likely to be. ministers— month or so are likely to be. ministers will also be deciding about— ministers will also be deciding about financial assistance to businesses, who could be hit hardest by whatever is decided. it's thought they have _ by whatever is decided. it's thought they have about £200 million to play with in _ they have about £200 million to play with in terms of coming up with some sort of— with in terms of coming up with some sort of support package. that is the picture _ sort of support package. that is the picture in _ sort of support package. that is the picture in northern ireland. let's io picture in northern ireland. let's go to— picture in northern ireland. let's go to katie — picture in northern ireland. let's go to katie hunter in scotland. there — go to katie hunter in scotland. there will— go to katie hunter in scotland. there will be limits on big public gatherings— there will be limits on big public gatherings coming _ there will be limits on big public gatherings coming into - there will be limits on big public gatherings coming into force i there will be limits on big public. gatherings coming into force from boxing _ gatherings coming into force from boxing day— gatherings coming into force from boxing day in— gatherings coming into force from boxing day in scotland. _ gatherings coming into force from boxing day in scotland. that i gatherings coming into force from i boxing day in scotland. that means edinburgh's — boxing day in scotland. that means edinburgh's world—famous - boxing day in scotland. that means i edinburgh's world—famous hogmanay celebrations, — edinburgh's world—famous hogmanay celebrations, new— edinburgh's world—famous hogmanay celebrations, new year's _ edinburgh's world—famous hogmanay celebrations, new year's eve - edinburgh's world—famous hogmanay celebrations, new year's eve street. celebrations, new year's eve street party, _ celebrations, new year's eve street party. is _ celebrations, new year's eve street party. is off. — celebrations, new year's eve street party. is off. a_ celebrations, new year's eve street party, is off. a maximum _ celebrations, new year's eve street party, is off. a maximum of- celebrations, new year's eve street party, is off. a maximum of 500 i party, is off. a maximum of 500 people _ party, is off. a maximum of 500 people will— party, is off. a maximum of 500 people will be _ party, is off. a maximum of 500 people will be allowed _ party, is off. a maximum of 500 people will be allowed to - party, is off. a maximum of 500 people will be allowed to gather| people will be allowed to gather outside — people will be allowed to gather outside. there _ people will be allowed to gather outside. there will— people will be allowed to gather outside. there will be _ people will be allowed to gather outside. there will be limits i people will be allowed to gather outside. there will be limits oni outside. there will be limits on indoor— outside. there will be limits on indoor gatherings. _ outside. there will be limits on indoor gatherings. that - outside. there will be limits on indoor gatherings. that will i outside. there will be limits on i indoor gatherings. that will have bil indoor gatherings. that will have big applications _ indoor gatherings. that will have big applications for— indoor gatherings. that will have big applications for sporting i big applications for sporting events, _ big applications for sporting events, perhaps _ big applications for sporting events, perhaps most i big applications for sporting i events, perhaps most notably the big applications for sporting - events, perhaps most notably the old firm fixture _ events, perhaps most notably the old firm fixture between _ events, perhaps most notably the old firm fixture between celtic _ events, perhaps most notably the old firm fixture between celtic and i firm fixture between celtic and rangers, — firm fixture between celtic and rangers, which— firm fixture between celtic and rangers, which is— firm fixture between celtic and rangers, which is due - firm fixture between celtic and rangers, which is due to- firm fixture between celtic and rangers, which is due to take i firm fixture between celtic and - rangers, which is due to take place onjanuary— rangers, which is due to take place onjanuary the _ rangers, which is due to take place onjanuary the 2nd. _ rangers, which is due to take place on january the 2nd. they— rangers, which is due to take place on january the 2nd. they will- rangers, which is due to take place on january the 2nd. they will also l on january the 2nd. they will also be new_ on january the 2nd. they will also be new rules _ on january the 2nd. they will also be new rules for _ on january the 2nd. they will also be new rules for hospitality- on january the 2nd. they will also be new rules for hospitality to - be new rules for hospitality to follow — be new rules for hospitality to follow from _ be new rules for hospitality to follow from the _ be new rules for hospitality to follow from the 27th - be new rules for hospitality to follow from the 27th of - be new rules for hospitality to - follow from the 27th of december. a return _ follow from the 27th of december. a return to _ follow from the 27th of december. a return to one — follow from the 27th of december. a return to one metre _ follow from the 27th of december. a return to one metre social _ return to one metre social distancing _ return to one metre social distancing and _ return to one metre social distancing and alcohol - return to one metre social l distancing and alcohol being return to one metre social - distancing and alcohol being served at tables _ distancing and alcohol being served at tables. there _ distancing and alcohol being served at tables. there are _ distancing and alcohol being served at tables. there are plenty - distancing and alcohol being served at tables. there are plenty of - at tables. there are plenty of scientists _ at tables. there are plenty of scientists and _ at tables. there are plenty of scientists and public- at tables. there are plenty of scientists and public health . at tables. there are plenty of - scientists and public health experts in scotland — scientists and public health experts in scotland who _ scientists and public health experts in scotland who welcome _ scientists and public health experts in scotland who welcome these - in scotland who welcome these measures _ in scotland who welcome these measures. but _ in scotland who welcome these measures. but for— in scotland who welcome these measures. but for people - in scotland who welcome these i measures. but for people working in scotland who welcome these - measures. but for people working in hospitality— measures. but for people working in hospitality and — measures. but for people working in hospitality and other— measures. but for people working in hospitality and other affected - hospitality and other affected sectors, _ hospitality and other affected sectors, well, _ hospitality and other affected sectors, well, there - hospitality and other affected sectors, well, there is- hospitality and other affected sectors, well, there is a - hospitality and other affected sectors, well, there is a reali sectors, well, there is a real disappointment. _ sectors, well, there is a real disappointment. there - sectors, well, there is a real disappointment. there is - sectors, well, there is a real. disappointment. there is also a sectors, well, there is a real- disappointment. there is also a call for greater— disappointment. there is also a call for greater financial _ disappointment. there is also a call for greater financial support. - thank you all very much indeed. really struck watching the three of you there how it is so much brighter this morning in cardiff than in belfast. katie is doing the right thing and staying in, staying dry, staying one. the thing and staying in, staying dry, staying one-— thing and staying in, staying dry, staying one. the right idea. it was lovel at staying one. the right idea. it was lovely at stonehenge _ staying one. the right idea. it was lovely at stonehenge earlier. - staff shortages due to the rise in covid cases has forced some rail operators to cancel or reduce services, ahead of the annual christmas getaway. long distance lines are among the worst affected, with transport for london saying about 500 of its frontline staff are currently off work. our reporter geeta pendse is at manchester piccadilly station this morning. morning. geeta, how much disruption is this causing there? good morning. yes, we are seeing disruption — good morning. yes, we are seeing disruption to some services at manchester piccadilly and we have seen operators including crosscountry, vanity west coast, transport _ crosscountry, vanity west coast, transport for wales, citing one of the reasons is being shortages because — the reasons is being shortages because of coronavirus. this picture we are _ because of coronavirus. this picture we are seeing is replicated across the uk _ we are seeing is replicated across the uk. the rail delivery group, who represent _ the uk. the rail delivery group, who represent train operators, have issued — represent train operators, have issued some data that shows that in the past _ issued some data that shows that in the past week 5.2% of trains were cancelled — the past week 5.2% of trains were cancelled. that compares to an annual— cancelled. that compares to an annual average of 2.9%. when it comes— annual average of 2.9%. when it comes to — annual average of 2.9%. when it comes to staff not being able to work, _ comes to staff not being able to work. we — comes to staff not being able to work, we are seeing 8.7% in that time _ work, we are seeing 8.7% in that time of— work, we are seeing 8.7% in that time of absent rail staff. when it comes— time of absent rail staff. when it comes to — time of absent rail staff. when it comes to journeys, time of absent rail staff. when it comes tojourneys, they time of absent rail staff. when it comes to journeys, they have time of absent rail staff. when it comes tojourneys, they have dropped ity comes tojourneys, they have dropped by 53% _ comes tojourneys, they have dropped by 53% compared to pre—covid levels. if by 53% compared to pre—covid levels. if are _ by 53% compared to pre—covid levels. if are travelling. but for those who are, it's _ if are travelling. but for those who are, it's an— if are travelling. but for those who are, it's an incredibly difficult time — time. i- time. i spoke to a time. — i spoke to a few people this time. i spoke to a few people this mornin- i spoke to a few people this morning to see _ i spoke to a few people this morning to see how— i spoke to a few people this morning to see how they are feeling. i've — to see how they are feeling. i've had _ to see how they are feeling. i've had a _ to see how they are feeling. i've had a couple in the evening that have just been totally cancelled, where the board says they are running on time and then like ten minutes before it is due to turn up, they announce it has been cancelled. and going home in the morning, which is even more annoying because i work nights and all i want to do is get home. i go because i work nights and all i want to do is get home.— to do is get home. i go out all the time. to do is get home. i go out all the time- the — to do is get home. i go out all the time. the black _ to do is get home. i go out all the time. the black bull, _ to do is get home. i go out all the time. the black bull, my - to do is get home. i go out all the time. the black bull, my mum i to do is get home. i go out all the l time. the black bull, my mum lives in wales _ time. the black bull, my mum lives in wales i've— time. the black bull, my mum lives in wales. i've got to go and see her and sometimes we can't. because of the trains _ and sometimes we can't. because of the trains |t— and sometimes we can't. because of the trains. , . . the trains. it is annoying. i am worried about _ the trains. it is annoying. i am worried about over— the trains. it is annoying. i am worried about over the - the trains. it is annoying. i am worried about over the new i the trains. it is annoying. i am i worried about over the new year the trains. it is annoying. i am - worried about over the new year that trains— worried about over the new year that trains couid _ worried about over the new year that trains could be — worried about over the new year that trains could be cancelled _ worried about over the new year that trains could be cancelled because - worried about over the new year that trains could be cancelled because i. trains could be cancelled because i live in— trains could be cancelled because i live in yorkshire. _ trains could be cancelled because i live in yorkshire. they _ trains could be cancelled because i live in yorkshire. they are - trains could be cancelled because i live in yorkshire. they are every. live in yorkshire. they are every hour _ live in yorkshire. they are every hour if— live in yorkshire. they are every hour if they _ live in yorkshire. they are every hour if they get _ live in yorkshire. they are every hour. if they get cancelled - live in yorkshire. they are every hour. if they get cancelled i - live in yorkshire. they are every hour. if they get cancelled i am | hour. if they get cancelled i am doomed — doomed. so. - doomed. so, reali doomed. - so, real frustration doomed. — so, real frustration there. operators say they are doing everything they can to minimise disruption — everything they can to minimise disruption and the advice is to check— disruption and the advice is to check ahead before you travel and if your train— check ahead before you travel and if your train is— check ahead before you travel and if your train is delayed or cancelled, it is iikeiy— your train is delayed or cancelled, it is likely you will be eligible for compensation. thank— for compensation. thank you very much. for compensation. thank ou ve much. ~ . ., thank you very much. we are told the cominu thank you very much. we are told the coming weeks — thank you very much. we are told the coming weeks paint _ thank you very much. we are told the coming weeks paint a _ thank you very much. we are told the coming weeks paint a very _ thank you very much. we are told the coming weeks paint a very bleak - coming weeks paint a very bleak picture for health services that are expected to be under increased pressure as cases of the omicron variant continue to rise. that's according to the royal college of nursing, who say frontline staff are "physically and emotionally exhausted". our reporter tm muffett has been hearing how nhs staff across england are coping. so tell me, so you have had three days of fevers? yeah? fine. and have you checked your temperature at home? francesco has covid. he is on a video call with amen. usually she works in the accident and emergency department of the royal london hospital. but now she is working with a team, trying to treat people away from hospital if possible. we have to be very honest about it. hospitals at the moment are places where there is a new risk because there are so many patients with covid. this hospital is part of the barts nhs trust, one of the uk's largest. as well as a rising number of covid admissions, many staff are off sick. so the whole of the urgent and emergency care system is under a huge amount of pressure. the number of calls to the ambulance service and the numbers of patients attending our emergency departments is very high. that builds on pre—existing pressures we were already dealing with. but with covid, and particularly with the omicron variant, we're seeing a real surge in activity. the pressure on hospitals is growing across the uk. four—year—old alannah had tonsillitis, conjunctivitis and an ear infection. but rather than being monitored in hospital, she is being checked on her sofa. we checked that you've been having wee—wees. that she's been alert, awake. and we go through the red flag signs, signs of deterioration that she needs to seek urgent medical help. hospital at home is a trial being run by north lincolnshire and goule nhs trust. remote consultations are also taking place to keep young patients out of overstretched hospitals as much as possible. this is proving to be the worst winter that i have seen in the 30 years i've worked in the national health service. the challenge of covid—19, on top of gastrointestinal flu, people are much sicker coming into hospital. some of that, of course, will be because people have waited. they have tried to avoid contacting their own doctor, or they have avoided coming to hospital until they are really unwell. getting patients who are well enough to leave hospital to do so is a priority. but with many care homes and community services hit by covid—related staff shortages, in some places it is proving hard. exasperated, basically. there's nothing really wrong with me except i can't do anything. james is well enough to leave royal bournemouth hospital but can't access the therapeutic community care he now needs. i keep debating whether to just check myself out and go home, and whatever, but my wife doesn't want me to. of my 28 patients that i've got here currently, approximately 20 of them would be able to leave hospital today if we could get the right support in place. we have to prepare. we have to prepare in hospital, we have to prepare in the community and we have to depend on all of us, ourfamily included, to take their loved ones back to a safe environment to help us make the bed space for our sicker patients coming in. hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst — a familiar feeling for many in the nhs. tim muffett, bbc news. we'rejoined now by chris hopson from nhs providers, the organisation that represents healthcare workers. good morning. we havejust seen the reality of what is happening. what can you tell us about the latest numbers that you are seeing across the country in terms of hospitalisations, how is it looking? good morning. in terms of hospitalisations, we are obviously very focused on london, which is the epicentre _ very focused on london, which is the epicentre of— very focused on london, which is the epicentre of where the omicron variant— epicentre of where the omicron variant is— epicentre of where the omicron variant is really progressing, and hospitalisation numbers are increasing there, but the rate of increase — increasing there, but the rate of increase slightly ameliorated yesterday. to make a really important point, which i thought your package really showed, which is, iet's_ your package really showed, which is, let's not— your package really showed, which is, let's notjust measure the pressure _ is, let's notjust measure the pressure on the nhs by looking at the number of hospitalisations in london — the number of hospitalisations in london. because staff absences are iikeiy— london. because staff absences are likely to _ london. because staff absences are likely to be — london. because staff absences are likely to be just as great, if not and even — likely to be just as great, if not and even more important indicator of how much— and even more important indicator of how much pressure the nhs is under. at the _ how much pressure the nhs is under. at the other— how much pressure the nhs is under. at the other thing i thought your package — at the other thing i thought your package it really, really well, is, look. _ package it really, really well, is, look. it— package it really, really well, is, look. it is— package it really, really well, is, look, it is notjust about covered my care, — look, it is notjust about covered my care, it— look, it is notjust about covered my care, it is— look, it is notjust about covered my care, it is about long covid care as weii~ _ my care, it is about long covid care as weii~ -- — my care, it is about long covid care as well. —— non—covid. it is the busiest — as well. —— non—covid. it is the busiest we _ as well. —— non—covid. it is the busiest we have ever been in terms of non—covid—mac care. we try to get the booster— of non—covid—mac care. we try to get the booster vaccination programme going _ the booster vaccination programme going as _ the booster vaccination programme going as fast as we can. we have done _ going as fast as we can. we have done a _ going as fast as we can. we have done a greatjob. but wherever you look everywhere in health and social care levy— look everywhere in health and social care levy is— look everywhere in health and social care levy is huge pressure. it is notjust— care levy is huge pressure. it is notiust a — care levy is huge pressure. it is notjust a question care levy is huge pressure. it is not just a question of saying how many— not just a question of saying how many covid patients have got coming at a hospital? we need to look at the whole — at a hospital? we need to look at the whole picture. i at a hospital? we need to look at the whole picture.— at a hospital? we need to look at the whole picture. i get you. i want to talk to you _ the whole picture. i get you. i want to talk to you by — the whole picture. i get you. i want to talk to you by the _ the whole picture. i get you. i want to talk to you by the staffing - the whole picture. i get you. i want to talk to you by the staffing and i to talk to you by the staffing and the testing regime. before we do, and hospitalisations, the latest figures we have got is about 130 people across the country in hospital with omicron. sadly, 1a people have died. we are told to look at the data. when some people see that data at the moment they might struggle to see this as being a big —— as big a crisis for the nhs as we feared? 50. a big -- as big a crisis for the nhs as we feared?— a big -- as big a crisis for the nhs as we feared? so, there is no doubt that if ou as we feared? so, there is no doubt that if you look _ as we feared? so, there is no doubt that if you look at _ as we feared? so, there is no doubt that if you look at the _ as we feared? so, there is no doubt that if you look at the total - as we feared? so, there is no doubt that if you look at the total number| that if you look at the total number of people _ that if you look at the total number of people who are in hospital with covid, _ of people who are in hospital with covid, then it's around 8000. that kind of— covid, then it's around 8000. that kind of prepares —— compares to the 40.000 _ kind of prepares —— compares to the 40,000 peak we had across the uk in january— 40,000 peak we had across the uk in january 2021. there are fewer patients — january 2021. there are fewer patients with covid in hospital compared to previous peaks. but as i absences, and what else are we trying _ absences, and what else are we trying to— absences, and what else are we trying to do? if you compare it to the january— trying to do? if you compare it to the january 20 21p, the emergency care pathway, ambulances, they are a lot busier~ _ care pathway, ambulances, they are a lot busier. the really important it is we _ lot busier. the really important it is we have — lot busier. the really important it is we have also got, as well as the booster— is we have also got, as well as the booster vaccination campaign, we have _ booster vaccination campaign, we have also— booster vaccination campaign, we have also got very large numbers of people _ have also got very large numbers of people who need a planned care, who simply— people who need a planned care, who simply can't _ people who need a planned care, who simply can't wait any longer. i was talking _ simply can't wait any longer. i was talking to — simply can't wait any longer. i was talking to a — simply can't wait any longer. i was talking to a chief executive last week— talking to a chief executive last week you — talking to a chief executive last week you are saying that of the patient — week you are saying that of the patient who came through the accident — patient who came through the accident and emergency department are needed emergency surgery last week, _ are needed emergency surgery last week, 12 _ are needed emergency surgery last week, 12 of them had been on their waiting _ week, 12 of them had been on their waiting list — week, 12 of them had been on their waiting list. in other words, people we could _ waiting list. in other words, people we could and should have got to go. not good, _ we could and should have got to go. not good, should, but weren't unable to because _ not good, should, but weren't unable to because of pressure on the service — to because of pressure on the service. you need to look at the whole _ service. you need to look at the whole picture. don'tjust look at the covid — whole picture. don'tjust look at the covid data. actually look at the combination of everything that needs to be done _ combination of everything that needs to be done and the level of staff absences — to be done and the level of staff absences that we've got. gn to be done and the level of staff absences that we've got. on staff absences. — absences that we've got. on staff absences. they — absences that we've got. on staff absences, they government - absences that we've got. on staff - absences, they government announced this morning that in england if people test negative for covid on day six and seven, they can then come out of isolation. so, a couple of days earlier than they have been able to until now. what difference could that make in terms of nhs staff potentially, some of them being able to get back to work? that could be really. _ being able to get back to work? that could be really, really important. i was really— could be really, really important. i was really struck. i had a whole bunch _ was really struck. i had a whole bunch of — was really struck. i had a whole bunch of conversations with chief executive — bunch of conversations with chief executive yesterday, all of whom were _ executive yesterday, all of whom were basically saying to me that their— were basically saying to me that their biggest single problem at the moment— their biggest single problem at the moment is the level of staff absences they are experiencing. so, if we are _ absences they are experiencing. so, if we are able to get staff back guicker, — if we are able to get staff back quicker, crucially, and safer, as safety— quicker, crucially, and safer, as safety as— quicker, crucially, and safer, as safely as we were before, then that has got _ safely as we were before, then that has got to— safely as we were before, then that has got to be a good thing. the bit that i_ has got to be a good thing. the bit that i find — has got to be a good thing. the bit that i find reassuring is that the uk health security agency is advice that actually, if you do the 24—hour separated _ that actually, if you do the 24—hour separated lateral flow tests and they're — separated lateral flow tests and they're negative, coming back on day seven— they're negative, coming back on day seven is— they're negative, coming back on day seven is as _ they're negative, coming back on day seven is as safe as coming back on day ten _ seven is as safe as coming back on day ten if— seven is as safe as coming back on day ten if you have done those iaterai— day ten if you have done those lateral flow tests. because, as you know, _ lateral flow tests. because, as you know. the — lateral flow tests. because, as you know, the really important thing is we have _ know, the really important thing is we have got lots of vulnerable people — we have got lots of vulnerable people in hospital and we really must _ people in hospital and we really must take very great care about not spreading _ must take very great care about not spreading covid infections in health care settings. particularly because this variant — care settings. particularly because this variant is so infectious. so, this variant is so infectious. so, this could — this variant is so infectious. so, this could make a very significant difference — this could make a very significant difference in terms of having numbers _ difference in terms of having numbers of staff back working. but overall. _ numbers of staff back working. but overall. i_ numbers of staff back working. but overall, ijust really want to make the point, — overall, ijust really want to make the point, if— overall, ijust really want to make the point, if you just step back and you ask— the point, if you just step back and you ask your— the point, if you just step back and you ask your chief executives, as i've you ask your chief executives, as i've been— you ask your chief executives, as i've been doing over the past few days, _ i've been doing over the past few days, many of whom have been doing the job, _ days, many of whom have been doing thejob, been in days, many of whom have been doing the job, been in the days, many of whom have been doing thejob, been in the nhs days, many of whom have been doing the job, been in the nhs 20, days, many of whom have been doing thejob, been in the nhs 20,30, days, many of whom have been doing thejob, been in the nhs 20, 30, 40 and years. _ thejob, been in the nhs 20, 30, 40 and years. i— thejob, been in the nhs 20, 30, 40 and years, i say to them, what does it feel— and years, i say to them, what does it feel like? — and years, i say to them, what does it feel like? what if they say is, this is— it feel like? what if they say is, this is the — it feel like? what if they say is, this is the busiest and the most extended — this is the busiest and the most extended period of pressure we have had in _ extended period of pressure we have had in aaron mcintyre career. we need _ had in aaron mcintyre career. we need to— had in aaron mcintyre career. we need to recognise the nhs is beyond full stretch at the moment. as are coiieagues — full stretch at the moment. as are colleagues and social care. chris— colleagues and social care. chris hobson from nhs providers, thank you. we wish you well. thank you. it thank you. we wish you well. thank ou. , i: thank you. we wish you well. thank ou. , ,': , thank you. we wish you well. thank ou. , ,': , ,., , you. it is 23 minutes past eight. you are watching _ you. it is 23 minutes past eight. you are watching bbc _ you. it is 23 minutes past eight. | you are watching bbc breakfast. you. it is 23 minutes past eight. - you are watching bbc breakfast. we could do with a smile, couldn't we? oh, yes! we really could. as the saying goes — laughter is the best medicine. but for some comedians, so called 'cancel culture' has left them fearful of losing their career, by telling a joke that some may find unacceptable. now, a you gov survey suggests the feeling is felt more widely in society — with more than 50 percent of people saying they stop themselves from expressing their political and social views. (pres)0ur culture editor katie razzall has been looking at the issue and as you may expect in a piece and social views. our culture editor katie razzall has been looking at the issue and as you may expect in a piece of this nature — some of you may — or may not be offended. i'm depressed and suicidal, and guess where i'm working? who decides what's funny and what's offensive? i was working at manchester airport in aviation security. a depressed, suicidal muslim. as comedians at the frog and bucket comedy club in manchester grapple with that very question, is it a reflection of what's happening in wider society too? the club owner says she has noticed these days stand—up acts are more nervous that audiences in the club and online will take offence on certain subjects. anything to do with religion. trans is a big one at the moment. anything to do with someone's colour. comedians are very paranoid that they might word something the wrong way, and then that's out there forever and they're cancelled and they will never gig again. is this your idea of a joke then? maureen lipman, who is starring in coronation street at the moment, and knows a thing or two about a punchline, says being scared to offend is killing comedy. i think it's a revolution. and i think at the moment it's in the balance, whether we're ever going to be funny again. something has to be forbidden to make you really laugh, to make you really belly laugh. it's when you shouldn't be laughing. and so therefore all the things that are being cancelled out by being correct, are, i'm afraid, the things that have always made people laugh. oh, congratulations on your exam results. grandma, ifailed. you failed? what do you mean? famously, maureen lipman starred in the 19805 bt advert. but is the doting jewish grandmotherjoke too much of a stereotype for our times? ifailed. you didn't pass anything? they were specifically, clearly, about a jewish family. it didn't matter. they went — we didn't have the word viral, but they went it, and that was because mothers are universal. and sociology. an ology? he gets an ology and he says he's failed! you get an ology, you're a scientist! do you think that could be, would be made now? the bt commercials? i shouldn't think so, no. everyone identified with the ology commercial. everyone. — it didn't matter that it was ethnic. this guy does the best ali g impersonation. a�*ight? you do it. go on. . don-t. — i think it's someone else. oh, sorry, it's not you. it's the other one. is the office less acceptable now? ricky gervais says his show tackled difficult subjects like race. he claims these days comedians fear being cancelled if they try. abfab'sjennifer saunders has also said her sitcom could not be remade now, because people are so sensitive and politically correct. i don't know why it went wrong with justin. i mean, you know, because wejust adored each other, you know. he's gay. my mum didn't say anything because we don't let her talk. audience laughs. so what's going on? the jokes at the frog and bucket still feel edgy, potentially even offensive to some. it's not a cultural thing, she just doesn't have much to add, you racists. if society can't take a joke any more, you either adapt to your audience or you die, basically. it's darwinian. the strongest survive, it's the ones that are most adaptable to change. so, at the end of the day, you either adapt to your audience, or you don't do your comedy any more. is this about different generations having different values, or does it tell us something much wider about people being more cautious about speaking their minds? according to a poll, in normal life people are checking what they say, not to get a laugh, but for fear of being laughed at. they told the pollsters they stop themselves from expressing what they really think on some social and political topics, because they are worried about being judged. 57% of those asked said they self—censor on topics like immigration and transgender rights, particularly if their opinions are seen as less politically correct. perhaps it's obvious that they don't speak openly with people they've just met — nearly half said they don't. but 40% keep views quiet at work, and nearly one third don't tell friends their real views on these subjects either. so, do punters at the frog and bucket stop themselves from saying what they think? i'm reasonably confident in my own views and opinions that i would say what i think. but equally, i'm sensitive to people's feelings. i'm not worried about being judged. i'd ratherjust not say something because i don't think it's right. i suppose too being judged, yeah. i think that might be people trapped a bit in the past. is that an answer — that society is changing and outdated views are being weeded out, on the comedy stage and in real life? yes, says the night's compare. no one is being censored, i don't think. i think that had i done this gig tonight dressed as an ss officer, and thrown around racial slurs, i'd still been booked to do tonight, but i wouldn't be booked in the future. everyone can say what they want, no one is being stopped. if you are going to come out and be hate filled or transphobic or homophobic, or racist, it's also the right of the person booking you to not want you any more. that's not being cancelled, that's being unemployed. ok, mr brooke, can you tell me last time you were weighed, what was your weight? eight pound, four ounces. culture so often leads the way on the big issues of our time. what happens in the comedy world matters and is being mirrored in this audience's daily life too, as we all navigate what we want to or i can say, and what it's best not to. katie razzall, bbc news, manchester. really interesting. patty and abfab, would she even be allowed to smoke any more? would she even be allowed to smoke an more? ., , , would she even be allowed to smoke an more? ., , , , . would she even be allowed to smoke an more? ,,._ i, . any more? probably, yes. that was art of any more? probably, yes. that was part of her — any more? probably, yes. that was part of her caricature. _ any more? probably, yes. that was part of her caricature. it _ any more? probably, yes. that was part of her caricature. it is - any more? probably, yes. that was part of her caricature. it is all- part of her caricature. it is all changing- _ time now to get the news, travel and weather where you are. good morning. bbc london and bbc south east today are joining forces at breakfast to keep you up to date with the latest on coronavirus in our area. the medical director of nhs london said he's confident that everyone eligible for a booster will be offered one by new year's eve. it's after the prime minister announced that anyone aged 18 or over would be able to get their third covid vaccine dose by december 31st, a month earlier than the previous target. meanwhile, the kent and medway resilience forum says it's responding to the growing number of omicron cases in the county. the support group has been increasing vaccinations and boosters, saying its doubled its capacity across kent in just one week. new sites are being set up in walderslade, tunbridge wells and sheppey, with more staff and extended opening hours. if you need to have a blister, anyone over the age of 18 can have one once they have already had two doses. and we would like you to use the national booking system to book a slot. if you book a slot, please show up for your appointment or cancel it in good time so that we cancel it in good time so that we can give your appointment to somebody else. a £20,000 reward is being offered for information about the murder of a man in south croydon. crimestoppers have offered the reward in connection with the fatal shooting of 35—year—old leroy mitchell in a car park around 5am on the 2nd of october. it's as his family released an open letter to those responsible, describing the father—of—three as a central part of their family, remembered by everyone as having a smile on his face. rail passengers are being warned of reduced services and cancellations across the south east in the run—up to christmas because of high numbers of staff off sick with covid and other illnesses. govia thameslink, which operates services on the southern franchise, also said staff were taking time off to get their boosterjabs. think of christmas, and you may picture a man in a red suit with a white beard. well, one mum is on a mission to change perceptions about the festive season. charlotte lewis is the founder of noir kringle — a grotto in east london where father christmas and all his elves are black. she came up with the idea after having her daughter and says the aim is to make the experience more inclusive. kate kinsella has the forecast. good morning. a cold start this morning. temperatures below zero. one or two spots down below minus four. a widespread frost, a sunny start. one or two places turning hazy at first, the sunshine. temperatures with a maximum of six celsius. overnight tonight, the cloud will continue to edge from the west and thicken and then our band of rain moves across. not a huge amount of rain but it will clear as we head through the early hours. the minimum temperature not quite as cold as last night but still chilly, above zero to 2 celsius. you can see the low pressure edging in from the west over the next few days. of course we are getting very close to christmas and it will turn largely unsettled. also the low pressure is producing some milder air. the temperature rising, getting up into double figures with outbreaks of rain through to christmas day. that's it. goodbye. hello, this is breakfast with sally nugent and jon kay. 'morning live' follows us on bbc one this morning. let's find out what's in store with rav and sara. coming up on today's morning live... there's been a huge number of covid cases around the uk with thousands suffering with the omicron variant. and yet, 6 million brits still remain completely unvaccinated. dr xand takes a look at which groups are most hesitant and why. yes, from young people to pregnant women, there's still a lot of nervousness out there. but i'm here to tell you why you shouldn't feel worried about getting the jab. plus, if you're wondering about whether it's safe to see friends and family this weekend i'll be doing my best to reassure you. also on the show... they're bringing joy to the children stuck in hospital over the holidays gethin and kimberley meet the frontline heroes making sure every child still gets a bedtime story and they create their very own festive tale. and forget wasting a fortune on a fancy new year's eve grazing platter, our chef anna haugh's showing you how to to impress your guests and she'll explain why sweets should never be sat next to cured meats! plus, if you've got people coming to stay, it's time to make a start on those 'to—do' tasks. from fixing a wobbly chair to sorting the springs on the sofa, don't miss wayne perrey's top tips for preparing your home for visitors. and he's back on our screens for a 'death in paradise' special, we're catching up with ralf little who tells us which famous face will be returning to the show. see you at 9:15am! from racing through the sahara desert, to trekking in the swedish arctic, alex flynn took on some of the world's toughest challenges, despite being diagnosed with parkinson's disease. this year, he planned to take on his hardest feat yet — to become the first person with the condition to scale mount everest. but, last month, he tragically died during training. now, his family and friends want to continue to raise awareness of parkinson's disease, by taking on fundraising challenges in his memory, as breakfast�*s john maguire reports. my parkinson's is at an all—time high. this is good. you've got to face your fears. alex flynn lived life to the full. and some. he was just this force of nature, really. he was then able to focus all of that drive and all of that commitment into raising awareness of parkinson's, raising money for the charity, trying to promote research. he was diagnosed with neurological disease parkinson's 30 years ago. —— 13 years ago. he was 36 years old. but in spite of the condition, he set out on a series of adventures around the world all to prove to himself and everyone else that the disease would not define him. two years ago, ahead of running five ultramarathons across deserts, he came to the breakfast studio and was asked by charlie what motivated him. motivation? my kids. i want to prove to them that dad not give up. what did they make of what you are trying to do? they think that is superman but i am not. i am just like anyone else, i'm determined to get the bit between my teeth and keep going. alex died last month while training in the himalayas for an attempt on mount everest. he wanted to be the first person to stand on the roof of the world with parkinson's. it was not the disease that killed him, it was altitude sickness. now some of his friends are taking on challenges to continue his mission and to raise money for the charity parkinsons.me. alex and billy taylor, an old school mate, had always planned an ocean row. now billy will take on the atlantic in his friend's name. we don't want all the work he's done to lose momentum because it is really important the stuff he has put out that any inspiration he has given to so many. it would have been so easy to just sit back and lament on all the stuff you can't do. that is never what he was about. it was always about focusing on stuff you still could do and how you could then use that to give hope to other people. quintin bevan, who coached and trained with alex will run the london marathon next year. since alex's passing, everyone been really focused on lifting our charity efforts and we had this place and i am really determined to make a lot of money for parkinsons.me. he would have been holding my hand on that one, that is for sure, he would have dragged me round the 26 miles, that is a definite. alex's mission had two main aims — to inspire others with the disease to remain active and to raise awareness and money to find a cure. after his death, his family said he had finally crossed his last finish line. so it is up to others to now take up the baton in the race to see an end to this cruel and debilitating disease. john maguire, bbc news. we're joined now by alex's partner, justine nunn. thank you so much for talking to us this morning. i know this is all very recent. our condolences to you and your family. very recent. our condolences to you and yourfamily. start very recent. our condolences to you and your family. start off festival by telling us what kind of man he was. . , by telling us what kind of man he was. ., , ., by telling us what kind of man he was. . , . .. . , was. he was a machine, he was unstoppable- — was. he was a machine, he was unstoppable- i— was. he was a machine, he was unstoppable. i have _ was. he was a machine, he was unstoppable. i have never- was. he was a machine, he was. unstoppable. i have never known anyone with such drive and determination. although he had been living with parkinson's, he understood everybody had their own individualjourney and he individual journey and he appreciated individualjourney and he appreciated that and took that into consideration. we appreciated that and took that into consideration.— consideration. we have 'ust seen some of the h consideration. we have 'ust seen some of the amazing _ consideration. we have just seen some of the amazing things - consideration. we have just seen some of the amazing things he . consideration. we have just seen i some of the amazing things he has done. . . ., g , done. that determination. just boundless- _ done. that determination. just boundless. yes. _ done. that determination. just boundless. yes. he _ done. that determination. just boundless. yes. he was - done. that determination. just boundless. yes. he was like i done. that determination. just l boundless. yes. he was like that done. that determination. just i boundless. yes. he was like that and everything he did. he said he was a man of his word and he honoured that. he almost sacrificed himself to help others. so, yes, he was never going to stop. the assumed everest would probably be the last big challenge for him but then he started talking about going up to space. he wasjust started talking about going up to space. he was just nonstop above. how tough was that for you? —— unstoppable. did you everfeel like saying to him, just a home? absolutely not. i come from a different side of the story. i was the one at home, i was with him all the one at home, i was with him all the time. isil what parkinson's disease was actually really about. people who saw him doing what he was doing, only a few completely healthy people could do what he was doing. the real parkinson's can be tough. we had good days, we had bad days. that was never a question. we supported each other through everything we did together. in supported each other through everything we did together. in the end, i everything we did together. in the end. i know _ everything we did together. in the end. i know you — everything we did together. in the end, i know you are _ everything we did together. in the end, i know you are keen - everything we did together. in the end, i know you are keen to i everything we did together. in the end, i know you are keen to makej end, i know you are keen to make clear that it wasn't because of parkinson's that he died, this was a separate call. it is parkinson's that he died, this was a separate call-— separate call. it is really, really important _ separate call. it is really, really important because _ separate call. it is really, really important because obviously i separate call. it is really, really i important because obviously there are a lot of people who have parkinson's disease and we would go to places and people would come up and alex would introduce himself and say, you know, i have got parkinson's. then you get a touch on the arm and they would say, my grandad died of parkinson's. hagar the arm and they would say, my grandad died of parkinson's. how old were the ? grandad died of parkinson's. how old were they? in — grandad died of parkinson's. how old were they? in their _ grandad died of parkinson's. how old were they? in their late _ grandad died of parkinson's. how old were they? in their late 80s. - grandad died of parkinson's. how old were they? in their late 80s. it i grandad died of parkinson's. how old were they? in their late 80s. it is i were they? in their late 80s. it is understanding — were they? in their late 80s. it is understanding of _ were they? in their late 80s. it is understanding of what _ were they? in their late 80s. it is understanding of what the - were they? in their late 80s. it is| understanding of what the disease is. it is not an old person's disease. a child of two years old got diagnosed with parkinson's. age does not discriminate with this. i'll hold drive is to support families. —— are hold drive. there are 140,000 people living with this disease. if you drop a pebble into the water and you get ripples, those ripples include family, employment, all the economic side behind living and so from our perspective, it is the family. family matters to him 100%. his family was everything to him. �* ,., 100%. his family was everything to him. �* , ., 100%. his family was everything to him. �* .,. 100%. his family was everything to him. . ., . ., 100%. his family was everything to him. also you touched on it, about employment _ him. also you touched on it, about employment is — him. also you touched on it, about employment. is it _ him. also you touched on it, about employment. is it right _ him. also you touched on it, about employment. is it right that i him. also you touched on it, about employment. is it right that after. employment. is it right that after he was diagnosed he could not work any more and that was a huge frustration to him?— any more and that was a huge frustration to him? yes. people see the disease. — frustration to him? yes. people see the disease, not _ frustration to him? yes. people see the disease, not the _ frustration to him? yes. people see the disease, not the person. - frustration to him? yes. people seej the disease, not the person. having talked to a lot of people in the situation, people think, are they drunk? are they on drugs? why are they staring at me? it is wrong, absolutely wrong. people lose their jobs and their homes and potentially lose their family. that is what happened. alex had to find a way to work and so this was his mission. how comforting is it to you? we could see from that film alex's friends carrying on that work. the eo - le friends carrying on that work. the people that _ friends carrying on that work. tie: people that have friends carrying on that work. tte: people that have come friends carrying on that work. tie; people that have come out, he want to go forward and do stuff for him has been absolutely incredible, absolutely. i have listed companies, individuals who want to help us because it is important. we are the ones left behind. this guy sacrificed himself and he has left behind his family. we have got to pick up that button and we have got to run with it. it is not right, it has to stop. there will be other people like alex, he will not either first. to stand in a funeral women give a speech at 49 to the person you wanted to spend the rest of your life with is wrong.— life with is wrong. what can you ho -e ou life with is wrong. what can you hope you can — life with is wrong. what can you hope you can achieve _ life with is wrong. what can you hope you can achieve now? i life with is wrong. what can you | hope you can achieve now? what life with is wrong. what can you i hope you can achieve now? what we want to achieve _ hope you can achieve now? what we want to achieve is _ hope you can achieve now? what we want to achieve is to _ hope you can achieve now? what we want to achieve is to support - want to achieve is to support families. there are lots of charities out there but we want to support their families because, charities out there but we want to support theirfamilies because, some days are tough. you had to adapt with this, be creative with it, to get through it, as such. we want to raise some money to be able to help people. obviously, the most important is to raise awareness and understanding. to go into big corporations, to go into companies and say, look, this is what it is. one in 15 people could get this and they are not going to get it over they are not going to get it over the age of 60. people are going to get it earlier. have an understanding of what it is about. you have done a good thing this morning and making us all more aware. thank you. bridging your message. good luck with your challenges. i hope the next few days over christmas are good for you and your family. over christmas are good for you and yourfamily. take care. yesterday was the shortest day of the year, known as the winter solstice, meaning we can soon look forward to mornings and evenings gradually becoming lighter again. we still beautiful sunrise at stonehenge earlier. this is the scene right now. that is from a drone shot. it looks frosty on the grounds in wiltshire. a few people hanging around after the sunrise. it has been spectacular. you have been sending in pictures of sunrises where you are. we can have a look at some of those right now. what have we got? take us around the uk. that is somerset. richard sent us that from wells. this is the view in epping this morning. thanks to brenda. alison has captured this beautiful image for us in north london. thank you for this. isn't that beautiful?! that isjulia's garden. thank you to everyone sharing their gorgeous pink skies this morning. we will put those images on social media later. red sky in the morning... do not want to finish the sentence. good morning, everybody. the cold start to the day, you are not wrong. quite a widespread frost. the coldest night of the winter so far with the temperature falling to minus 10.2 celsius in braemar. southampton —3. generally a cold start to the day. in the west, temperatures are that little bit higher. that is because we have a weather front coming in already bringing rain across northern ireland. behind it, look at the isobars. the breeze will pick up but it is coming from a southerly direction. behind the rain it will turn milder. some of us getting up to a bright start with beautiful sunrises. the cloud will fill in during nicholson the day as the rain pushes north and east. 9 degrees in plymouth and belfast. if you are going out to do last minute christmas shopping, wrap up warm because it will feel cold everywhere else. this evening and overnight the rain continues to push north and east. we could see transient snow in the north of scotland and the risk of ice on untreated surfaces. the next front coming in from the west. hence the higher temperatures. tomorrow the weather front will continue its journey, tomorrow the weather front will continue itsjourney, pushing northwards and eastwards. we will start off on thursday on a murky note. a lot of cloud around and also some rain. the lightest range crossing the south. the heaviest rain in northern ireland, northern england and western scotland. behind this, look at the temperatures. it will brighten up a little bit stop still a good legacy of cloud. in the easterly flow across the north—east of scotland it will still feel cold. as we head on into friday, which is christmas eve, you can see a fair bit of cloud around. also the rain coming in from the south—west pushing north—east. staying largely dry across north—east scotland where we will see a little bit of sunshine. still mild on western and southern sides of the country. in the north—east it will feel colder. then we have this battle going on between the cold air in the north and the milder in the south. exactly where we see sleet or snow depends on who wins this battle. the milder could push further north. on saturday, christmas day, we have a weather front bringing rain across southern areas with a lot of cloud ahead of it. it will also be windy, particularly across the south—western quarter. further north we are looking at drier conditions with sunshine. if we see sleet or snow, it is more likely on the hills were sleet at low levels. at the moment we think it could be across northern ireland, north wales, parts of northern england and the north west midlands. that could all change. keep tuned to the weather forecast. just before i go, on christmas day in perth, australia, not perth in scotland, the temperature is expected to reach 41 degrees. almost 106 fahrenheit. if it reaches 42 it will be a record in perth, australia on christmas day. someone will be dropping their breakfast cereal all over them in perth, scotland! thank you for keeping us up—to—date. that is a little warm, even for me. broadcaster gyles brandreth says he fell in love with musical theatre after watching 'my fair lady�* as a young child — now he's taking to the stage to sing one of its most well known tunes. he's one of a number of famous faces who'll be performing some of the most iconic musical numbers for a special boxing day programme. let's take a look at him in rehearsals with his mentor — elaine paige. # be there in the morning. # spruced up... hang on, hang on there. i'm a bit concerned about the timing. have you tried doing that while you're singing? would that help? step to step. # i've got to be there in the morning. # spruced up and looking in my prime. i've been marching ever since, which is fantastic, because i've lost half a stone. yes! yes, yes! the marching transformed it. gyles joins us now. good morning. ithought good morning. i thought you were going to be professor higgins. i did not realise you are going to be eliza's father. t not realise you are going to be eliza's father.— not realise you are going to be eliza's father. i thought, i am a naturalfor— eliza's father. i thought, i am a natural for this. _ eliza's father. i thought, i am a natural for this. when - eliza's father. i thought, i am a natural for this. when i - eliza's father. i thought, i am a natural for this. when i was i eliza's father. i thought, i am a natural for this. when i was a l eliza's father. i thought, i am a i natural for this. when i was a boy naturalfor this. when i was a boy in the 19505, i went to the theatre royal in drury lane and saw this amazing musical with rex harrison a5 amazing musical with rex harrison as professor henry higgins, julie andrews a5 eliza doolittle. then the company dad, i thought i was a natural to be there rex harrison park. the idea of this is to go out of your comfort is energy something different, to sing, dance and speak company. i can't do any of these things, certainly not altogether. the challenge for me was literally piecing the bits together. elaine was a wonderful mental. she got me moving in rhythm to almost sing in time. when i met a choreographer, he said, what are you doing this marching about for? this is a show, you have got to dance. i then got the dancing sort of right and then the dancing sort of right and then the singing went. then i tried to get the cockney accent right and the whole thing collapsed. if you are into disaster movies and a few laughs, you might enjoy this on boxing day. we laughs, you might en'oy this on boxing day-* boxing day. we had 'ust seen ictures boxing day. we had 'ust seen pictures from i boxing day. we had 'ust seen pictures from the i boxing day. we had just seen pictures from the programme j boxing day. we had just seen i pictures from the programme you recorded. we have seen the pictures but we are not allowed to use the sound. there are very strict rules because they are keeping as a surprise for the big day. t can surprise for the big day. i can believe that, _ surprise for the big day. i can believe that, they _ surprise for the big day. i can believe that, they do - surprise for the big day. i can believe that, they do not i surprise for the big day. i can| believe that, they do not want surprise for the big day. t can believe that, they do not want to put people off. they think, if they let people hear what i sound like, my wife will be watching with the sound turned down anyway. i will tell you, it has been the most wonderful experience being in this musical. they are doing a full—scale production. it is dave arce and his orchestra. exactly. a chorus of the most fantastic young dancers who are so fit it is frightening. we are on a live stage, a real audience. truly terrifying. at the same time it is incredibly exhilarating. i loved something doing it. the people who give us musical theatre are possibly doing more good for the country and all the politicians put together. you go to a show escaped the world and forget the horrors of omicron and forget the horrors of omicron and the rest of it and somehow you are in a magical world of make—believe. there is an adrenaline rush on stage, excitement in the audience and it is huge fun. doing something they have never done before is exhilarating, i had to tell you. last year i wrote a biography, a kind of childhood memoir. because i am getting older, i know that time is coming out. i have been making a bucket list of all the things i have not done. two of the things i have been able to cross off, one was to milk a cow. i never milked a cow. i managed to do that in the summer. this winter, i have been able to sing a song in a musical and it has been a dream come true. , , ., _ musical and it has been a dream come true. , . true. interesting you say you are terrified. we _ true. interesting you say you are terrified. we watched _ true. interesting you say you are terrified. we watched it, - true. interesting you say you are terrified. we watched it, could i true. interesting you say you are i terrified. we watched it, could not hear it but we watched it. you looked very comfortable on stage doing that. you are used to audiences. you look like you took to it like a duck to water. tn audiences. you look like you took to it like a duck to water. th e audiences. you look like you took to it like a duck to water.— it like a duck to water. in a sense it like a duck to water. in a sense it is a confidence _ it like a duck to water. in a sense it is a confidence trick. _ it like a duck to water. in a sense it is a confidence trick. i - it like a duck to water. in a sense it is a confidence trick. i stood i it like a duck to water. in a sense it is a confidence trick. i stood in| it is a confidence trick. i stood in the wings with elaine paige. she said she will feel sick, you will literally feel like throwing up. then just put your shoulders back and down, breathe in, go out there and down, breathe in, go out there and be the character. she was very into that. she reminded me, talk cockney full weeks. i said, what on earth are you doing? you are worse than dick van dyke, you cannot get this battle. it was supposed to be method acting. this was the idea of elaine to get it into your memory muscle. we rehearsed, and months of rehearsal has gone into this with really top—notch people training as. the idea was to get it into memory muscle, go out there and do it. i wanted to do it well. i thought, if we are going to give this a go, really go for it. there is something in the air, a kind of magic in musical theatre that is so exhilarating. that is why the world is full of musical theatre. this christmas i'm going to as many shows as i possibly can. on boxing day i have a grandson. i had three children, seven grandchildren. one of my grandsons is appearing at the rose theatre in kingston, young amateur performer in beauty and the beast. they are going to see him on boxing day. that is fantastic. i have been to see the local pantomime with anton to back as buttons. there is something wonderful about live theatre. —— anton —du —— anton du beke. i am theatre. —— anton —du —— anton du beke. lam pretty theatre. —— anton —du —— anton du beke. i am pretty fit. theatre. —— anton —du —— anton du beke. lam pretty fit. i had been double jabbed and had a blister. i am sensible and do not breathe into other peoples faces. life goes on. they must cope with these things and navigate our way through them sensibly. —— we must cope with these things. we are going out to lunch on christmas day and boxing day at to the show. what else is on the bucket list? so many things on the bucket list, actually. i have not yet flown enabling, i would quite like to do that. ~ , ., enabling, i would quite like to do that. ~ , enabling, i would quite like to do that. , , that. when you said bucket list, i thou~ht that. when you said bucket list, i thought sally _ that. when you said bucket list, i thought sally was _ that. when you said bucket list, i thought sally was talking - that. when you said bucket list, i thought sally was talking about i thought sally was talking about milking a cow again.— thought sally was talking about milking a cow again. exactly. what is not on milking a cow again. exactly. what is rrot on the _ milking a cow again. exactly. what is not on the bucket _ milking a cow again. exactly. what is not on the bucket list _ milking a cow again. exactly. what is not on the bucket list is - milking a cow again. exactly. what is not on the bucket list is kicking. is not on the bucket list is kicking the bucket will stop absolutely. that is my message, have fun, get out there, do something you have never done before and enjoy life. it is for living. never done before and en'oy life. it is for living.— is for living. you have been practising _ is for living. you have been practising what _ is for living. you have been practising what you - is for living. you have beenj practising what you preach. is for living. you have been i practising what you preach. thank you forjoining us this morning. we look forward to hearing as well as seeing you. we are loving the scarf, the musical scar. do seeing you. we are loving the scarf, the musical scar.— seeing you. we are loving the scarf, the musical scar. do you want to and their show on — the musical scar. do you want to and their show on a _ the musical scar. do you want to and their show on a high _ the musical scar. do you want to and their show on a high note? _ the musical scar. do you want to and their show on a high note? thank i the musical scar. do you want to and| their show on a high note? thank you very much- — all star musicals at christmas airs on boxing day at 8pm on itv and will be on the itv hub. he will be able to see the show on boxing day and be back in time for everyone to watch him in his own show. his grandson will have to watch granddad doing a show of his own. you're watching bbc breakfast. this is bbc news with the latest headlines: opening up christmas for thousands — new government advice says people with covid can stop self—isolating up to three days early in england if they're testing negative but widespread disruption to rail and other public services are blamed on covid staff sickness and self—isolation. ministers in wales and northern ireland meet today to consider a range of new covid measures — new restrictions were announced for scotland yesterday. in other news , nearly 400 people are now thought to have died with hundreds of thousands more displaced in the philippines after last week's typhoon. also — aiming for a record fourth christmas number one in a row in the uk charts — ladbaby teams up with