more than half of them will pretend to be a christmas parcel delivery. i'll look at how you can spot the real ones, from the fakes. on a dramatic night of league cup football, liverpool stage a late fight back against leicester, to eventually reach the semi—finals in a penalty shoot—out. good morning. it isa it is a cloudy start to the day. some rain around, they heaviest of what is coming in from the west. but for most of us it will be unseasonably mild. details coming later. good morning. it's thursday, the 23rd of december. our main story. the omicron variant may cause milder illness than delta, according to two early studies, with patients less likely to need hospital treatment. scientists say the research is "good news to a degree", but a big wave of infections in unvaccinated people could yet overwhelm the health service. the government says it is continuing to monitor coronavirus data. here's our health correspondent, katharine da costa. early data from south africa, and now studies in england and scotland, are pointing in the same direction. omicron infections may be milder and leading to fewer hospital admissions. research by imperial college london found around a 40% reduction in the risk of being admitted to hospitalfor a night or more, compared to delta. a scottish study suggested there was a 65% lower risk of being hospitalized with omicron, but it was based on only a few cases. while in south africa, omicron patients were thought to be around 75% less likely to need hospital treatment. rather than omicron being fundamentally milder, scientists think it's partly due to immunity in the population from previous infection and vaccination. it's still early days, but scientists say it's good news, to a degree. it's very important to recognize that, even if the worse a 50% reduction in the rate of hospitalisation, because it's doubling every two days, that 50% will soon just be overwhelmed by the increase in case numbers. so that the total impact of omicron is still very, very significant, because it's such a highly transmissible virus and it's growing so quickly. in the face of rapidly rising infections, record numbers of boosters are now being administered. 30 million have beenjabbed so far. from the new year, boosters will be offered to all over 16s, as well as at risk 12 to 15—year—olds, those living with someone with a weakened immune system, and teenagers who are immunosuppressed themselves, will get a fourth jab. for the first time, five to 11—year—olds in the uk, with specific health conditions, will be offered two smaller doses of the pfizer vaccine eight weeks apart. christmas may be just days away, but scientists are working flat out to provide the data governments need to make tough decisions on how best to respond to the virus. katherine dacosta, bbc news. let's speak to our political correspondent ben wright. good morning. so, this data suggests that omicron may be milder. that is good news for many, because we have been waiting for this, but my card impact on the decision—making of the government when it comes further restrictions?— government when it comes further restrictions? good morning. yes, it is certainly — restrictions? good morning. yes, it is certainly encouraging _ restrictions? good morning. yes, it is certainly encouraging and - restrictions? good morning. yes, it is certainly encouraging and there l is certainly encouraging and there will be _ is certainly encouraging and there will be much more data and more research — will be much more data and more research papers in the coming weeks that will_ research papers in the coming weeks that will form the decisions politicians are taking. the question is, do _ politicians are taking. the question is, do they— politicians are taking. the question is, do they take a precautionary approach — is, do they take a precautionary approach now, or not? what we are seeing _ approach now, or not? what we are seeing across the uk are different approaches. in scotland, wales and northerh_ approaches. in scotland, wales and northern ireland this week, we have seen their— northern ireland this week, we have seen their first ministers, their leaders. — seen their first ministers, their leaders, do press conferences, make announcements, explained that in their view— announcements, explained that in their view new measures are needed now to _ their view new measures are needed now to protect public health, measures that will comment on boxing day and _ measures that will comment on boxing day and within three weeks following that. england is currently out of step _ that. england is currently out of step. borisjohnson had a meeting of his ministers earlier this week, and they decided not to take any action immediately. there is a great questionable whether they do anything after christmas. they are not been _ anything after christmas. they are not been very forthcoming with their plans _ not been very forthcoming with their plans all_ not been very forthcoming with their plans. all we have been told is that number— plans. all we have been told is that number 10 — plans. all we have been told is that number 10 continues to study the data, _ number 10 continues to study the data. and — number 10 continues to study the data, and they feel it is too early to put— data, and they feel it is too early to put the — data, and they feel it is too early to put the sort of restrictions in place _ to put the sort of restrictions in place that— to put the sort of restrictions in place that other parts of the uk have _ place that other parts of the uk have. borisjohnson has his own political— have. borisjohnson has his own political considerations. we know his cabinet is split on this. they are reluctant to go down the route further— are reluctant to go down the route further restrictions for england untit— further restrictions for england until they are sure that the omicron wave _ until they are sure that the omicron wave will_ until they are sure that the omicron wave will result in many more hospitalisations that could overwhelm the nhs. until they are sure of— overwhelm the nhs. until they are sure of that, they are going to hold back going — sure of that, they are going to hold back going further at this stage. ben, _ back going further at this stage. ben, thank you very much. pubs and restaurants in wales say they fear they could be "crippled" by new covid restrictions being brought in on boxing day. from sunday, no more than six people will be allowed to sit together for food and drink. it's part of the measures being reintroduced in response to the omicron variant. our wales correspondent tomos morgan reports. from boxing day, it'll feel like deja vu again in wales. the rule of six will be back. table service will be needed at licensed premises. and nightclubs have been told they must shut altogether. another blow for an industry reeling after a difficult 18 months, and one that was expecting a bumper christmas. probably the thing that underpins it the most is customer confidence. so all of these messages say that hospitality is not safe, and it is safe. of course, it'll mean a decline in footfall, a decline in sales. you know, going into the start of the year, when we were hopefully looking forward with a bit of optimism, we're on the back foot again and having to restart things. although an extra £120 million has been set aside to help those affected, some businesses took to social media yesterday, bemoaning the announcement, with some suggesting they couldn't operate under these new measures. later today, the economy minister will outline how the extra money will be divided amongst those affected. in addition, spectators at sports and large events will be banned for now, while only guidance has been put in place for household mixing. there is a limit of 30 indoors, before breaking the law. the decision was made in order to protect the nhs from further pressure this winter. the question many are asking, though, is for how long will restrictions be in place this time around? tomos morgan, bbc news, cardiff. meanwhile, the number of military personal supporting the nhs in wales will almost double in the new year to relieve some of the pressures caused by the pandemic. another 183 servicemen and women will help the welsh ambulance service as drivers. nhs wales has warned that up to 17% of its staff could be ill or self—isolating next month, when the omicron wave is expected to peak. a jury in the trial of the british socialite ghislaine maxwell, has decided to reconvene after christmas, after failing to reach a verdict last night. ms maxwell, a close associate of the late convicted paedophile, jeffrey epstein, denies eight counts of sex trafficking and other crimes. our correspondent, barbara plett—usher, has been following the trial in new york. the jury deliberated for two full days, but it wasn't able to reach a verdict before christmas, and the court has now recessed for the holiday weekend. the jurors are considering six counts against ghislaine maxwell, of grooming and transporting girls for sex. and the case is narrowly focused on the accusations of four women, who say that she facilitated — or participated in — jeffrey epstein's abuse of her. the jurors have several times asked the judge to send them transcript of testimony, or to clarify certain issues. they will come back on monday, to continue deliberating about whether to convict ghislaine maxwell of all, some or none of the charges. in the meantime, ms maxwell will be spending christmas at the federal detention centre in brooklyn, where she's been for more than a year, with this decision still hanging over her. footage has been released of two babies being pulled from the wreckage of a tornado last week in the us state of kentucky. they had been tucked in a bath by their grandmother for protection. the tub was ripped from the house by the storm and tossed into the garden, where rescue workers found the children largely unscathed. the babies were reunited with their grandmother, before being taken to hospital. gibraltar, and the capitals of the falkland islands and the cayman islands, are among 39 places vying to win official uk city status. it's the first time british overseas territories and crown dependencies are being included in the competition, as part of the queen's platinum jubilee celebrations. the winners will be announced injune next year. the duchess of cambridge has paid tribute to the inspirational people who served their communities during the pandemic. she delivered her message during a carol service held at westminster abbey earlier this month, which will be shown on christmas eve. the service will showcase music from the westminster abbey choir, as well as performances from leona lewis and ellie goulding. we wanted to say a huge thank you to all those amazing people out there who have supported their communities. we also wanted to recognise those whose struggles have perhaps been less visible, too. we have been through such a bleak time, we have seen so many challenges. we have lost our loved ones, we have seen our front—line workers under immense pressure. and, also, we have been more emotionally and socially distanced and isolated from each other. but i suppose through that separation, we have also realised how much we need each other. ten minutes past six. so, i think there is going to be a white christmas song work for someone. but todayit christmas song work for someone. but today it is going to warm up a little bit, carol. good morning. little bit, carol. good morninu. ., �*, good morning. that's right. good morninu. good morning. that's right. good morning- a _ good morning. that's right. good morning. a much _ good morning. that's right. good morning. a much milder - good morning. that's right. good morning. a much milder day, - morning. a much milder day, unseasonably mild. but for some it will still be chilly, especially in the north east, and we have got some rain in the forecast. there is a lot of cloud this morning. not as cold a start as it was yesterday, when we had —10 in parts of aberdeenshire. rain moving steadily northwards and eastwards. as it bumps into the cold air in scotland, we will see some snow in the hills. later on behind it it brightens up in south west england, wales and northern ireland. the south east will be left with a legacy of cloud. like i might mention of the temperatures. quite rightly so. nine to 30 degrees across much of northern ireland, england and also wales. as we push further north, we are looking at fives and sixes. the average at this time of the year is six in the north to a in the south. we are more or less on average in some parts of scotland, but way above average for the rest of the country. this evening and overnight of the rain continues to push northwards, stalling across scotland. we will see some snow fall, mostly above 300 metres. we could have as much as ten centimetres of snow. at lower levels we could see a little bit of falling as well. quite a lot of cloud. murky conditions, mist and fog patches forming. temperatures are lower in the north than in the south. again, not a particularly cold start. for a christmas eve we have got a mist and fog to lift. we have got the remnants of the front across scotland. you might see the art snow flurry in the highlands and grampian is, possibly the northern isles. the next weather front comes in from the west. this will be accompanied by increasing winds. temperatures are mild in western areas but on the cool side as we push towards the north—east. thank you very much. see you later on. many of us will be looking forward to enjoying christmas in the company of friends and family, but for some, a roof over their head, and a warm bed is all they ask for. the homeless charity crisis says that on any given night, tens of thousands of people are without a place to call their own. our reporter danjohnson has been speaking to molly about her experiences of homelessness, and the support she's had to get back on her feet. i was in a very unstable situation. i was in a van. erm, i... ..it wasn't... i could have been kicked out at any minute. the water came through the roof when it was raining, you know, it was just — and it was cold, obviously. so i was just absolutely falling apart with, just... ..despair. you're just constantly surviving. you know, all you're dealing with is making sure you got somewhere to stay, and food. and, you know, and dealing with bureaucracy. there's always like a process, there's like a three month waiting list for something, there's an interview. you feel like you're interrogated. your, like, brain is just, like, overloaded. and just for your heart alone — my heart was pacing all the time. what's been the key to turning that around, then? the first step was the ability to get into the emergency accommodation. and definitely the continued support, erm, that came from crisis, absolutely on so many levels. it wasn'tjust, you know, making sure i had a roof over my head. it was checking in on my mental health, helping with all this stuff, like bureaucracy. most importantly, for me, was the final realisation of how much somebody really cares, and that they were kind of showing me that i can start to care more for myself. you know, we're all human. whatever the story, whatever the reasons, whatever�*s happening right now, whatever somebody�*s manifesting, you know, it's a result of the experience they've gone through. and, you know, we could all do with someone reaching out in some way. you have a bed, you have a roof, and you have some security? yes. more than i have done at all in the whole time i've been back in london. erm, and that's great. that's priceless, really. for a very long time, i've been used to moving, moving, moving, and, like, constantly having my stuff in bags and disorganised. and, you know... it's still a process, erm, tojust kind of, for my brain to just go, "it's ok, you can stay here. like, no one's going to kick you out. i mean, you never really know what's going to happen from one day to the next. but, you know, in the bigger picture, i'm in a very stable situation. and right now, i'm happy. so, i'm very grateful. it really is that time of the year when, if you weren't all year round, which we all should be, you become very mindful of those who haven't got a home. very mindful of those who haven't got a home-— very mindful of those who haven't not a home. , , ., got a home. remember we spoke to the lovely gentleman — got a home. remember we spoke to the lovely gentleman last _ got a home. remember we spoke to the lovely gentleman last week _ got a home. remember we spoke to the lovely gentleman last week it _ got a home. remember we spoke to the lovely gentleman last week it was - lovely gentleman last week it was previously homeless, and you asked him, what you —— what should you do if you see someone homeless on the street? just say hello. how are you? yeah. it was also that a thing about engaging with people.— yeah. it was also that a thing about engaging with people. because they become invisible. _ engaging with people. because they become invisible. maybe _ engaging with people. because they become invisible. maybe you - engaging with people. because they become invisible. maybe you feel. become invisible. maybe you feel like ou become invisible. maybe you feel like you want _ become invisible. maybe you feel like you want to _ become invisible. maybe you feel like you want to put _ become invisible. maybe you feel like you want to put money - become invisible. maybe you feel like you want to put money in - become invisible. maybe you feel like you want to put money in a l like you want to put money in a collection. at a conversation can be the most important thing above and beyond the basic stuff. 16 the most important thing above and beyond the basic stuff.— beyond the basic stuff. 16 minutes ast six. let's take a look at today's papers. the daily telegraph reports on early data suggesting that omicron may be less severe than previous covid variants. the paper says senior government sources believe further restrictions should not be introduced following the findings. the daily express has a message for those who have not had their coronavirus vaccination. the paper reports that the health secretary is urging all unvaccinated people to give the country the best christmas present by booking a jab. the daily mirror has a similar plea from frontline nhs staff. "young people are dying in intensive care — they haven't had theirjabs", is their headline. and the western mail reports on tough new restrictions in wales for hospitality and leisure venues, which will be introduced from boxing day. iam going i am going to tell you a lovely story. in case you haven't bought anything for christmas yet, there is anything for christmas yet, there is a book out, the heroics of the first woman awarded the george cross after saving an raf pilot trapped in the wreckage of his burning bomber, has been retold in this book. her name is daphne pearson. basically what happened is a plane, part of an raf squadron sent into bomb enemy held harbours in france, came down. the crew had to turn back. it failed to release its palms. so the plane crashed, to engines burst into flames. so, two of the crew managed to climb through the wreckage, the co—pilot, unfortunately, was killed. and then there was a man called david bond, nicknamed bomber boy, who was trapped in the cockpit and the plane was on fire. so daphne, 29 years old, a corporal in the women's auxiliary air force, she was lying in nearby quarters in her bunk. she got out, ran to the plane, god him, dragged him out, and he managed to warn her that they were bombs exploded on the plane. she dragged him out, she covered his face with her tin helmet and then threw her body on top of him when the aircraft blew up. she protected him from the shrapnel. so she, king george vi was so impressed, rightly so, that he awarded her the empire gallantry medalfor her actions. and awarded her the empire gallantry medal for her actions. and that medal was replaced by the george cross a year later. she was one of the earliest recipients. truth? cross a year later. she was one of the earliest recipients.— the earliest recipients. why is the story being _ the earliest recipients. why is the story being told — the earliest recipients. why is the story being told now? _ the earliest recipients. why is the story being told now? there - the earliest recipients. why is the story being told now? there is . the earliest recipients. why is the story being told now? there is a i story being told now? there is a book. story being told now? there is a book- robert — story being told now? there is a book. robert brooks _ story being told now? there is a book. robert brooks has - story being told now? there is a j book. robert brooks has written story being told now? there is a - book. robert brooks has written this book. robert brooks has written this book and he spoke to daphne. he is a local historian. daphne then emigrated to australia. and she actually was reunited with david, the guy she rescued, her sons, years later, and she died at the age of 89 in 2000. but she is a woman, daphne pearson. there is a name for you this morning. i pearson. there is a name for you this morning-— this morning. i am giving it a moment _ this morning. i am giving it a moment because _ this morning. i am giving it a moment because as - this morning. i am giving it a moment because as this - this morning. i am giving it a moment because as this is l this morning. i am giving it a - moment because as this is nothing like this. is moment because as this is nothing like this. . . moment because as this is nothing like this. , , ., .., ., like this. is this what we call a rear like this. is this what we call a gear change? _ like this. is this what we call a gear change? i _ like this. is this what we call a gear change? i think - like this. is this what we call a gear change? i think so. - like this. is this what we call a - gear change? i think so. christmas lunch leftovers. _ gear change? i think so. christmas lunch leftovers. which _ gear change? i think so. christmas lunch leftovers. which does - gear change? i think so. christmas lunch leftovers. which does one i lunch leftovers. which does one prefer? apparently, according to this study, 70% of us prefer a turkey sandwich in the evening more than having the launch itself. so, a further 37%, than having the launch itself. so, a further37%, i'm not than having the launch itself. so, a further 37%, i'm not going to hold this any longer, insist that the leftover sandwich is an art form. do you want to know what a perfect sandwich is, according to this theory? ok, iwill tell you. the perfect sandwich, according to this theory is three slices, three slices of turkey — are you taking notes? three slices of turkey, two thin slices of ham — there is a lot of meat in this sandwich — and 2.5 slices of pigs in blankets. one spoon of cranberry sauce. that is the sandwich. here is one i haven't heard of before. if you are needing liquid, some form of moistness in the sandwich, a lot of people going for a generous spirit of mayonnaise, although some people say that if they dip a slice of bread in cold gravy, inserted in the middle of the sandwich to make it a triple deck. you didn't see this episode of friends? ross gets really angry because comedy takes a sandwich out of the fridge. it is because monica makes the sandwich and what she does, she that gravy layer. by, does, she that gravy layer. a soaking wet slice of bread. does, she that gravy layer. a i soaking wet slice of bread. that does, she that gravy layer. a - soaking wet slice of bread. that is our soaking wet slice of bread. that is your instant _ soaking wet slice of bread. that is your instant moistness. _ soaking wet slice of bread. that is your instant moistness. this - soaking wet slice of bread. that is your instant moistness. this is - soaking wet slice of bread. that is| your instant moistness. this is one in ten people _ your instant moistness. this is one in ten people who _ your instant moistness. this is one in ten people who do _ your instant moistness. this is one in ten people who do that. - your instant moistness. this is one in ten people who do that. i've - in ten people who do that. i've never heard of that. i in ten people who do that. i've never heard of that.— in ten people who do that. i've never heard of that. i would be havin: a never heard of that. i would be having a sandwich _ never heard of that. i would be having a sandwich after- never heard of that. i would be having a sandwich after my - never heard of that. i would be - having a sandwich after my christmas dinner, i would having a sandwich after my christmas dinner, iwould bejust having a sandwich after my christmas dinner, i would bejust eating having a sandwich after my christmas dinner, i would be just eating the roast potatoes and going back to the roasting tray. ?t}’s roast potatoes and going back to the roasting tray-— roasting tray. 70% of people like a sandwich and _ roasting tray. 70% of people like a sandwich and preferred _ roasting tray. 70% of people like a sandwich and preferred to - roasting tray. 70% of people like a sandwich and preferred to their . sandwich and preferred to their christmas lights. i sandwich and preferred to their christmas lights.— sandwich and preferred to their christmas lights. i think they spoke to --eole christmas lights. i think they spoke to people alike _ christmas lights. i think they spoke to people alike like _ christmas lights. i think they spoke to people alike like sandwiches - to people alike like sandwiches generally. i don't like sandwiches generally. i don't like sandwiches aenerall . , generally. i don't like sandwiches uenerall. , ,, . , generally. they specifically tar: eted generally. they specifically targeted people _ generally. they specifically targeted people you - generally. they specifically targeted people you like i generally. they specifically _ targeted people you like sandwiches? absolutely, because it goes to bed narrative, doesn't it?— narrative, doesn't it? narrative! 6:21am. thursday _ narrative, doesn't it? narrative! 6:21am. thursday morning. - sales of e—scooters have rapidly increased over the last four years. but if you're thinking of buying or gifting one this christmas, you may want to think again. police forces across the uk are warning people to make sure they're aware about where they can be used legally. otherwise, they could be seized and destroyed. as jo black reports. at a depot in the midlands, thousands of pounds worth of e—scooters are being chopped into pieces. if one of these is on your christmas list, it could be seized and destroyed if you're caught riding it in the wrong place. privately owned e—scooters can only be used on private land, with the land owner's consent. currently, the only e—scooters you can ride on public highways are rental ones from approved operators, which are part of a government trial operating in 32 areas of england. mate, just pull over there. and the police are out and about looking for illegal e—scooter use. £600, totalling £1200 for the two of them, and i think they're brilliant. stephen crowley from birmingham bought his own e—scooter. he's walking with it, so isn't doing anything wrong on this occasion. when you bought it, were you told about where you could use it? no, not really. but, you know, in the same breath, you're not going to — you know, we didn't inquire. you know, so we wasn't really interested. but what what gets me a little bit, just finding this out, they shouldn't be allowed to sell something that you can't use. stephen says the rental scooter trials can confuse people into thinking personal devices can be used in the same way. and he's not alone in calling for retailers to be much clearer about the rules when they're selling them. the fact westminster police have seized well over 100 private e—scooters since april — around 140, in fact — and sometimes they're seizing them a few minutes after people have bought them from the shops. there's no way people would be riding them around on public land, if they'd been told on that kind of scale. so the shops are not doing enough. but retailers we've spoken to say they do provide clear and visible information, so customers understand the legal restrictions. and sales seem to be booming. more sales brings more safety concerns. this crash testing footage released by the charity guide dogs shows the potential dangers of badly ridden e—scooters. james holbrook dislocated his shoulder when two schoolgirls riding a private e—scooter, crashed into him as he was cycling home. i think anything that gets people out of cars is a good thing. i think e—scooters are part of a solution of freeing up the roads. but there should be some regulation. people aren't aware of what the rules are, or choose to ignore them. they're not really being enforced. calls to legalise private e—scooters are growing, and a decision could be taken by the government next year. the department for transport says safety is a top priority, and the rental trials across england will allow an understanding of the benefits and impact of this new form of transport. many say e—scooters provide a fun, convenient, greener way to travel. but if you misuse a privately—owned one, it could in the end be a very expensive journey. jo black, bbc news. a seven—year—old girl, who has been fundraising with her mum to pay for a bionic arm, will finally get her wish after raising £10,000 through crowdfunding. eloise, who was born without a left hand, will get the artificial limb in the new year. now she's got a special message for everyone who has helped her achieve her dream. let's take a look. hi, i'm eloise and i'm seven. hello, i'm charlotte, i'm eloise's mom. ijust remember it being very emotional. do you know what we've got? no. £10,000! we originally found open bionics when eloise was, maybe three? so it's been something that's always been in mind and eloise's minds for a very long time. you're getting a new arm, baby. are you happy? it got cancelled through covid, pushed back to january 18th. now we're going to measure your arm. yeah. check all your muscle strength, that you've been doing your exercises. i have to tense my arm up and you have to do this. mummy has to hold it. and then we canjust see, feel her muscles on the top and on the bottom tensing, because the sensors of the arm will actually go to here and to here, and that's what operates the arm. we can choose two. when i put my pink one on, that's just going to be like when i chill. and then, my frozen one's going to be when i go out, at school and that. we're just so unbelievably grateful, not even just everybody who's donated, everybody who's shared on social media, everybody who's everybody who's watched, everybody who spread the word. what do you say to everyone? thank you. i keep eloise the way she is. good girl, that's it. i mean, she can do everything. she's brilliant, but it's more for her, sort of herself. it's one of, erm, dreams to get my arm. this is my wish come true! i'm happy to do whatever you want to do, aren't i? whatever we can make possible. hip—hip! hooray! merry christmas, everybody. i hope you're having a merry christmas. thank you, everybody, for donating, who did. that really was a heartfelt thank you. wasn't it? by, that really was a heartfelt thank you. wasn't it?— you. wasn't it? a brilliant thank ou. you. wasn't it? a brilliant thank you- also _ you. wasn't it? a brilliant thank you- also very _ you. wasn't it? a brilliant thank you. also very impressed - you. wasn't it? a brilliant thank you. also very impressed by - you. wasn't it? a brilliant thankj you. also very impressed by the matching pyjamas. worked really well. good luck. time now to get the news, travel and weather where you are. good morning from the news teams at bbc london and bbc south east an mp in the south east says other uk nations are wrong to introduce tighter covid restrictions in response to rising case numbers. henry smith, who represents crawley, says he'd only support similar measures in england if there was a significant rise in the number of people seriously ill in hospital with covid. the town, which relies heavily on gatwick airport for employment, was severely affected by previous lockdowns. i think scotland and wales are overly cautious when it comes to the threat of omicron. i think the government for england have got it about right in terms of the restrictions that are in place. we can't keep on closing down our economy — that is deeply damaging. a man has beenjailed for causing the death of his daughter who he threw into a cot in edgware more than 20 years ago. maisie newell — who was adopted by another family afterwards — died as a result of her injuries when she was 13. dean smith from bushey previously served three years in prison for the assault. the 46—year—old has now been sentenced to three and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter. a coroner says indicator lights on trailers and tankers need to be clearer after a brighton paramedic was killed trying to overtake a tractor towing one. james mckeough, who worked for south east coast ambulance service, hit a right—turning tractor while riding a motorbike in february 2020. the coroner said it seemed he didn't see the indicator because of other flashing warning lights. the first christmas getaway for two years has prompted high demand for travel, according to a new survey by transport focus. gatwick airport is expecting nearly a quarter of a million passengers over the festive holidays — nearly seven times more than over the same time 12 months ago. tho that's still less than half of what it saw before the pandemic. two of the south east's football clubs are postponing their boxing day matches due to covid—19. crawley town will no longer play stevenage after 1a confirmed cases among players and staff. gillingham have also postponed their boxing day match against ipswich town. let's get the weather with elizabeth rizzini. good morning. a different feeling day of weather today for london and the south east. it will be an awful lot milder — temperatures well above average for the time of year. already, a mild, frost—free start to the morning. temperatures in mid—single figures. it is quite grey, it is misty and murky out there. we will be keeping those layers of cloud as we head through the day — also some outbreaks of light rain and drizzle, particularly as we head through the afternoon. top temperatures all the way up to 11—12. that is a big jump from where we were yesterday. overnight tonight, the skies will clear. behind this front, lows of 6—8c. also, some mist and fog patches developing into tomorrow morning, so poor visibility as we start christmas eve, which is looking dry throughout the day. a touch cooler, but still mild. plenty of cloud, but some rain expected as we head into the evening. more from me in half an hour. see you then. good morning, welcome to breakfast with naga munchetty and charlie stayt. coming up on breakfast. one of the nation's favourite scientists, professor brian cox, will be giving us his take on a new netflix film starring leonardo dicaprio and jennifer lawrence about a huge comet hurtling towards earth. angela rippon will bejoining us to talk about a lost episode of morecombe and wise that has been restored and will air on the bbc this christmas. whistling. that is a clanger. they're the little pink nozzle—nosed aliens that entertained millions of children in the 19705. but what were they saying? we'll be finding out from the creator of the clangers' son, who is turning his father's scripts into a book. did you love the clangers? did you think you understood what they were saying? yes. did you know there was profanity in the clangers? i am not even sure i want to know that. i have burst your bubble about the clangers. we will find out more later. new studies suggest the wave of omicron appears to be milder, but there is still concern that the high number of cases could lead to hospitals being overwhelmed. let's talk now to one of our regular gps, dr sarahjarvis. good gps, dr sarah jarvis. morning. good gps, dr sarahjarvis. morning. we try to digestive news good morning. we try to digestive news about surveys and results. can you give your take on what you are hearing about the risk of omicron? this i think is very much qualified good news. there have been several studies coming together at once but the biggest study from imperial suggests you are 40% less likely to end up in hospital if you catch omicron compared to other variants. but, in the past week, we have had a 60% increase in the average number of people testing positive, which is notjust because more people are testing, because the number of tests being done has increased by 22% whereas the number testing positive has increased by 59, almost 60%. it means there is risk. we have not got off scott free on this occasion. i think we have a real risk the nhs could end up struggling because a smaller proportion of a much bigger number can still be a big number of people ending up in hospital. by, lot people ending up in hospital. a lot of --eole people ending up in hospital. a lot of people watching _ people ending up in hospital. a lot of people watching this morning will be thinking of their own circumstance, triple vaccinated, had the booster. they might have had two. and there will be a substantial number not vaccinated. how do you relate information you told us about omicron and the risks to people in relation to those different categories?— relation to those different cateuories? , , , ., categories? the same study showed ou are categories? the same study showed you are probably _ categories? the same study showed you are probably only _ categories? the same study showed you are probably only about - categories? the same study showed you are probably only about 1196 - categories? the same study showed you are probably only about 1196 lessj you are probably only about 11% less likely to be seriously ill if you are completely not vaccinated. this tells us vaccination is working, that boosting in particular really does help. you need to wait at least ten days, two weeks, after the booster to get full protection, so if you are boosted today and there are gp hubs providing vaccination over christmas, that will not protect you in time for christmas but it will in time for new year, which really does turbo boost immunity. still important to get vaccinated and really important to do lateral flows if you are seeing people over christmas and important to be aware that although the risk is lower with this variant than it was, particularly for older people, because the risk was so big before, even a 40% lower risk is still substantial, so be careful. i’m even a 4096 lower risk is still substantial, so be careful. i'm not sure if you — substantial, so be careful. i'm not sure if you get _ substantial, so be careful. i'm not sure if you get calls _ substantial, so be careful. i'm not sure if you get calls from - substantial, so be careful. i'm not sure if you get calls from parents| sure if you get calls from parents about the news in relation to the government recommending some vulnerable 5—11 year olds can now be vaccinated. there must be questions from parents about this.— from parents about this. there are lots of questions _ from parents about this. there are lots of questions and _ from parents about this. there are lots of questions and we _ from parents about this. there are lots of questions and we have - from parents about this. there are lots of questions and we have had | lots of questions and we have had them throughout and they have been divided into the, i desperately want my child to have vaccination, usually because i think they are at high risk, or i am worried about the risks of the vaccine. there is no evidence there are new or different risks from the vaccine for young people. the risks are tiny. but the risks of the virus for most young people are also tiny. so if we were to vaccinate all 5—11 year olds as they have done in some countries, they have done in some countries, the benefits to them would be very small. the benefits and risks are finely balanced. if you have the same minuscule risk from the vaccine and a higher risk from getting the virus, which is the case in vulnerable children, for them, the benefit for them is greater. in normal times, winter would be a busy time. how is normal business? what is happening away from covid? part ofthe is happening away from covid? part of the problem _ is happening away from covid? part of the problem we have is we are trying to boost up the number of vaccinations, so a lot of time given to that, at the same time as we have the normal winter pressure. we are not doing too badly with flu but that often ramps up from now to february and that could get busy as a result. we also have so many staff off sick because of covid, and that is a real concern for the nhs, as much as the likelihood of people ending up in hospital. if people need to go to hospital, even without a huge increase in the number, if there are not enough people in general practice, and we estimate 16,000 people could be off sick in general practice by christmas, if there are not enough people in general practice and in hospital to look after you, you could still struggle. b. look after you, you could still stru: ule. �* .., , look after you, you could still stru: ule. . .., , ., look after you, you could still stru~le. �* , ., , look after you, you could still strunle_ �* , ., , ., struggle. a couple of days from christmas. _ struggle. a couple of days from christmas, so _ struggle. a couple of days from christmas, so our _ struggle. a couple of days from christmas, so our chance - struggle. a couple of days from christmas, so our chance to - struggle. a couple of days from | christmas, so our chance to wish struggle. a couple of days from - christmas, so our chance to wish you all the best. and those who are not well, i hope things improve. it is nice to see you this morning. have you heard of the phrase smishing? it is when you get a text scam this week more than half a million scam text messages will be sent. you know you get a text when you have a parcel. you can pay this and you can get it. it is so easy to fall for these scams because so many are waiting for parcels. you are right. it is higher than that and i will come onto the numbers in a minute. they get more sophisticated and harder to spot every time they emerge. and the latest is called smishing, when you get a text pretending to be from a parcel delivery company. they ask you to put in your bank details. they ask you to pay a small fee, it might seem small, but the problem comes further down the line when they use bank details to take more money out of the bank account and in some cases thousands of pounds. and now at this time of year, it is probably difficult to spot. many will be waiting for parcels and you might get taken in by it. for those scammers, it is big business. lucrative for them. more than 1 million of those scam texts are expected over the next week. half of them will be from companies pretending to be a parcel delivery firm. last year, almost £97 million was lost to this sort of scam. the numbers are going up. more than half of the money was returned after an investigation, got back to the person who was defrauded, but not everyone is so lucky and the latest report suggests the number of suspicious text messages reported this year are more than three times what they were this time last year. that problem is on the rise. you might wonder what is the motivation, the motive behind this. what we have seen is they get your £2.99. you enter your credit card and banking information. we have seen them use your credit card number to then buy stuff, or use your banking credentials to set up something like apple pay. but worse, what we have seen then is that the scammer calls from your bank purporting to be from your bank to say that we have noticed fraud, we have noticed these charges. and, of course, the consumer gets duped because they have noticed the charges on their credit card and bank account as well. that they have not authorised. so they trust this call is from the bank taking care of them, but actually it is the scammer that's wanting more data. how can you be sure the text message you get is genuine because you might get a genuine one. the first bit of advice is do not click on a link you might get in a text message. go to the company website and type in your tracking number. that is a sure—fire way to make sure you know it is genuine. if you do get scammed, particularly if you have put in bank details, you should report it. report it to your bank to ensure you might be able to get money back but you can also forward the scan text to 7726. they will investigate where it is from and hopefully get some of your money back. others falling victim to it. delivery firm say they would never ask for any bank details in a text message. this is what the royal mail told us. two of the really common scams we see our text messages that say, you've got a customs fee to pay, click here to pay it. or, we missed a delivery, click here. they are asking you to make a payment or they are asking you to put in your personal details, which they are then looking to use for future crime. if we ever send a message like that, we will always put something through the door. we love putting things through the letterbox. so we will always put either a a red "something for you" card, if there is an item we can deliver. or a grey "fee to pay" card that will always come through the door. so if you receive a message from us where we ask you to make a payment, don't make the payment until you have received that card through your door. that was the view from the royal mail. the advice, it is a busy time of year, you might be confused about what parcels are due, if some are delayed, some left outside, some in a safe place, some you need to pick up. the advice is not to click on links in text messages. look on the company website and do not pay, unless you have a card from the royal mail or you have spoken to the company. a very busy time of year and easy to get taken in but do not fall victim to this. and anyone can be taken in. you think you know about these scams but it is all about these scams but it is all about timing. especially if you are waiting. it might be something crucial that has been delayed you hope arrives in time for christmas. easy to get caught up with everything else going on. and there is a reason they are doing it now because they hope we are distracted. mike is here. we are going to be looking back at a dramatic night of league cup football. but full steam ahead into festive fixtures. jurgen klopp said they have a meeting with the premier league to discuss concerns over the ongoing covid crisis. nine matches of the last 20 in the premier league postpone. i am confused. i was under the impression lots of people do not want the fixtures going ahead. divided opinion in the premier league. jurgen klopp argued for a time against a firebreak on boxing day. he did not see the point. the same situation may be, he said, by new year. other managers say it should be for everybody. there is a meeting today to discuss the situation. jurgen klopp had a tense time on the touchline last night, watching his side come back to beat leicester and reach the league cup semi—finals. james maddison put leicester 3—1 ahead, with this brilliant strike from range. diogojota made it 3—2, but it looked like that wouldn't be enough — untiltakumi minamino hit the equaliser, five minutes into injury time. it went to penalites — and jota scored the winner, to give liverpool a semifinal meeting with arsenal. there was a flurry of goals at tottenham. indeed three in five minutes as they beat west ham 2—1 to reach the semis — lucas moura with the winnerfor spurs. and they'll face chelsea, after two late goals gave them victory over brentford — a pontus jansson own goal, followed by a jorginho penalty. scottish premiership clubs have agreed to bring forward their winter break because of the new covid restrictions in the country. they mean only 500 spectators will be allowed at games, so after boxing day, the next two round of matches, will now not be played until the end of january and beginning of february. there were full crowds last night, though — and a depleted st mirren side held celtic to a goalless draw. st mirren had tried twice to have the game postponed, after 11 players tested positive. shaun maloney got off to the perfect start as hibernian manager — he described his side as incredible after their 1—0 win over aberdeen — ryan porteous with the goal. ross county beat stjohnstone in the night's other game. there's still concern over the levels of vaccination amongst professional players — 16% of those in the premier league haven't had a jab — the head of the players union says they're fully behind the vaccination programme but he warms againstjudging individuals' motives . we need to be careful with oversimplistic explanation. i think it is not as simple as saying it is only a question of vaccination. vaccination is an important piece of it. we need to continue making sure people make the right decision. i'm not sure what how many are awake at 11.30pm on christmas day. but england's cricketers will be starting the third ashes test in melbourne. and it's as important as they come — they're 2—0 down with three matches to come. and following australia's 275 run victory in adelaide, bowler mark wood revealed the post—match debrief from coach chris silverwood was pretty harsh. it was needed — to hear him speak like that. not because he is under pressure, butjust to hear him speak like that — you know, rather than being his usual coaching self. you could see he was annoyed and wanted a change. so hopefully it comes at the right time to catch a spark. it's fair to say people can let their discipline slip when it comes to eating at christmas but golfer ian poulter has been taking things to another level. don't worry, this isn't a golf ball. ian poulter is aiming at his son. he thought it might be fun to try to hit a marshmallow intojosh's mouth, which he did succeed in doing — don't know how many times they tried it. he said that is how they eat in their household. you like gold. i love it but i would not waste a marshmallow. maybe a spout. i was thinking roast potato. spout is small. roast potato would break up. it is only a chip. it would be a nice, crispy roast potato. i look forward to the photos. i'm surprised the marshmallow did not collapse. they very soft. good point. thank you. carol is taking a look at the weather. you will make sense of it. i will try. it is very messy the next few days. this time yesterday, in parts of aberdeenshire, it was —10. this morning, not as cold, although freezing is pretty cold inbound moral. the isles of scilly, quite a change. st mary's at 12 degrees. today will be a mild day. across northern ireland, england and wales. we have outbreaks of rain. what is happening is we have an old weather front draped across the north and the east producing rain and anyone coming in introducing heavy rain especially in the north of the country. some ice in parts of scotland this morning. a lot of cloud. we will have lighter rain pushing across eastern england. it should brighten up in the south—west and in wales and northern ireland. as the front engages with cold air, in the highlands we could see snow on higher ground. temperatures, 9-13. we on higher ground. temperatures, 9—13. we do not expect this towards christmas day. in the north, closer to where we should be, 6—8 north to south. this evening and overnight, the front pushes north. across parts of scotland it will stall and we could have as much as ten centimetres of snow on higher ground, possibly some of it at lower levels. the risk of ice and frost here. in the rest of the uk, fairly cloudy and we will see mr fog patches forming. not a particularly cold night —— mist and and fog patches. some wintry flurries coming out of this now and again. and some across the northern isles. cloud on christmas eve with limited brightness and then a weather front from the west introducing rain. as it comes in, the wind will strengthen, particularly in the south—western corner. still mild across western england, wales, northern ireland. cool with a cold wind in the far north—east of scotland. we still have a battle between the cold and mild air and it is where the dividing line is we could see snow on christmas day. at the moment, we think with weather fronts coming in, cloud in england and wales, and also windy, especially in the south—west. we could see hill snow in northern ireland into wales, the pennines, in the southern uplands, but if we see it it is more likely to be sleet at lower levels. a sunny day but cold in the far north—east of scotland. that is a clanger. did you hear that? was it the clanger is? you remember them? i do. i rememberthe you remember them? i do. i remember the soup dragon. carol, sometimes i think the clanger is sound like... that is what i hear when i hear yourforecasts. i knew you would say that. i thought that was why it was being played at the end of the forecast. state watching if you want to know more. is she? she listens to the whole programme. the whistling voices of �*the clangers' were enjoyed by millions of children in the �*70s but long—time fans of the show have often pondered the hidden meaning behind their language. after more than 60 years, we may finally understand what exactly the knitted mouse—like animals were saying. lucy vladev reports. clangers whistle. that is a clanger. and that is another clanger. they seem to have a piece of rope. with a distinctive sound and rather cheeky personalities, you can see why the clangers became such a firm favourite. and now they seem to be having an argument about their piece of rope. the creation of oliver postgate and peter furmin, it shared the tales of creatures living on a starfar, far away. and it was a labour of love. in the age before green screens and special effects, many of the episodes were shot using trial and error and perhaps unexpectedly, there were also scripts. yes, including all the hoots and whistles, which oliver's son daniel is now trying to protect. people always used to wonder about what the clangers were actually saying on the tv show. because they were always written out in english, and that is what my dad used to whistle from. so they were actually saying things to each other. now, thanks to crowdfunding, a special book is set to be made, including those stories, as well as analysis and anecdotes. now the work starts, really. i am going to have to do put my mouth where the money is, or rather start typing away, really, and getting deeply involved in what it's all about. meanwhile, the future looks bright, with a special exhibition in canterbury and potential demand for more new series, it's hoped the magic of these friendly little creatures is there for generations to come. did that take you back? yes. ifind it quite calming, the noises they make. we will speak to daniel, the son of the writer and find out more. some more nostalgia. a lost episode of the morecambe & wise show has been discovered in an attic after more than 50 years. it hasn't been seen since it was broadcast in october 1970 but will be shown on bbc two this christmas as our media and arts correspondent david sillito reports. morecambe and wise, october 1970, and what would become a familiar setting for many classic sketches — eric and ernie at home in pyjamas. and the name on the card is mr eric morecambe. - hello, mr morecambe. hello, hello! are you there, mr morgan? yes, speak up. but unlike so many of their shows, this has not been repeatedly re—shown. it was thought to have been lost. that is until eric's son gary paid a visit to his mother's attic. i was rummaging around mainly looking for paperwork. i was looking, actually, for old scripts, because some of them had gone missing. and then i came across all these cylinders. i thought very little of them, except they were big and old and worth bringing down. he had no idea what was in the canisters until he got a call from someone who finally watched the footage and told him... i think you will be very surprised to learn you have just found a missing show. and i really was, i was staggered. i thought that was incredible. would you care to try to hit me over the head with your umbrella, sir? hit you over the head with my umbrella? i yes, please. all right, if you insist. i didn't realise, at that point, just how far the bbc would go then to present it. that it would then get colourised, for instance, which is fantastic. so it has been brought bang up to date. don't light your pipe in here, is not allowed! lookout, the nurse is coming. get rid of it, quick. and also, what's really good is the quality. the quality of the show itself. you can see the embryonic morecambe and wise come through, and that's fantastic. so now, restored and colour rise, a chance to see a bit so now, restored and colourised, a chance to see a bit of comedy history which has, until now, been lost in the family attic. mr morecambe. yes, that's true, that's true. mr morecambe. yes, that's me. for £85. oh, yes. do you have any idea whose voice this is? i it's you! david sillito, bbc news. that will be a joy for older people. bbc two, 7:45pm. that perfect time. you just want to relax and watch something easy that is brilliant. 7:45pm, bbc two, christmas day. now the news where you are. hello, here are the top stories in london and the south east this morning. the mp for crawley says england should not introduce tighter covid restrictions in response to rising case numbers. henry smith says he wouldn't support measures like those introduced elsewhere in the uk, unless there was a significant rise in the number of people seriously ill in hospital with covid. the crawley economy relies heavily on gatwick airport —and was hard hit by previous lockdowns. i think scotland and wales are overly cautious when it comes to the threat of omicron. i think the government for england have got it about right in terms of the restrictions that are in place. we can't keep on closing down our economy — that is deeply damaging. a man's been jailed for causing the death of his daughter, who he threw into a cot in edgware more than 20 years ago. maisie newell, who was adopted by anotherfamily afterwards, died as a result of her injuries when she was 13. dean smith from bushey previously served three years in prison for the assault. the 46—year—old has now been sentenced to three and a half years in prison, after pleading guilty to manslaughter. a panel of experts due to examine plans to build a theme park in kent, say they have rising concerns about delays to the process. an application to build the london resort on the swanscombe peninsula was submitted last december, but a public inquiry has been postponed after the site was given protected wildlife status. local business owners say the uncertainty is stressful. we have to get this finished. it either— we have to get this finished. it either has _ we have to get this finished. it either has to be, we need certainty. we have _ either has to be, we need certainty. we have to — either has to be, we need certainty. we have to get closure on this issue — we have to get closure on this issue. eitherthis we have to get closure on this issue. either this application has to be _ issue. either this application has to be thrown out or it has to go ahead — to be thrown out or it has to go ahead but _ to be thrown out or it has to go ahead. but whatever happens, it has .ot ahead. but whatever happens, it has got to— ahead. but whatever happens, it has got to happen soon. and the first christmas getaway for two years means millions of us have travel plans this christmas — according to a new survey by transport focus. gatwick airport is expecting nearly 3 quarters of a million passengers over the festive holidays — nearly seven times more than 12 months ago. tho that's still less than half of what it saw before the pandemic. let's get the weather now with elizabeth rizzini. good morning. a different feeling day of weather today for london and the south east. it will be an awful lot milder — temperatures well above average for the time of year. already, a mild, frost—free start to the morning. temperatures in mid—single figures. it is quite grey, it is misty and murky out there. we will be keeping those layers of cloud as we head through the day — also some outbreaks of light rain and drizzle, particularly as we head through the afternoon. top temperatures all the way up to 11—12. that is a big jump from where we were yesterday. overnight tonight, the skies will clear. behind this front, lows of 6—8c. also, some mist and fog patches developing into tomorrow morning, so poor visibility as we start christmas eve, which is looking dry throughout the day. a touch cooler, but still mild. plenty of cloud, but some rain expected as we head into the evening. more from me in half an hour. see you then. bye. good morning, welcome to breakfast with naga munchetty and charlie stayt. our headlines today. people with omicron are less likely to end up in hospital, as studies suggest it could be milder than previous covid variants. scientists say they're "cautiously optimistic", but warn the sheer number of infections could still lead to hospitals being overwhelmed. new covid restrictions in wales — pubs and restaurants say they could be "crippled" by the measures. on a dramatic night of league cup football, liverpool stage a late fight back against leicester, to eventually reach the semi—finals, in a penalty shoot out. good morning. it is not as cold a start to the day as it was yesterday but there is the risk of ice across parts of scotland. more cloud, we have got some heavy rain in the us. unseasonably mild for most. details later in the programme. good morning. it's thursday the 23rd of december. our main story. the omicron variant may cause milder illness than delta, according to two early studies, with patients less likely to need hospital treatment. scientists say the research is "good news to a degree", but a big wave of infections in unvaccinated people could yet overwhelm the health service. the government says it is continuing to monitor coronavirus data. here's our health correspondent, katharine da costa. early data from south africa, and now studies in england and scotland, are pointing in the same direction. omicron infections may be milder and leading to fewer hospital admissions. research by imperial college london found around a 40% reduction in the risk of being admitted to hospitalfor a night or more, compared to delta. a scottish study suggested there was a 65% lower risk of being hospitalized with omicron, but it was based on only a few cases. while in south africa, omicron patients were thought to be around 75% less likely to need hospital treatment. rather than omicron being fundamentally milder, scientists think it's partly due to immunity in the population from previous infection and vaccination. it's still early days, but scientists say it's good news, to a degree. it's very important to recognize that, even if the were say a 50% reduction in the rate of hospitalisation, because it's doubling every two days, that 50% will soon just be overwhelmed by the increasing case numbers. so that the total impact of omicron is still very, very significant, because it's such a highly transmissible virus and it's growing so quickly. in the face of rapidly rising infections, record numbers of boosters are now being administered. 30 million have beenjabbed so far. from the new year, boosters will be offered to all over 16s, as well as at risk 12 to 15—year—olds, those living with someone with a weakened immune system, and teenagers who are immunosuppressed themselves, will get a fourth jab. for the first time, five to 11—year—olds in the uk, with specific health conditions, will be offered two smaller doses of the pfizer vaccine eight weeks apart. christmas may be just days away, but scientists are working flat out to provide the data governments need to make tough decisions on how best to respond to the virus. katherine dacosta, bbc news. let's speak to our political correspondent ben wright. good morning. good news to a degree is the phrase scientists are using. what, potentially, does this mean for policies and to have to make decisions about the lives we lead? good morning. iam decisions about the lives we lead? good morning. i am sure this data will have _ good morning. i am sure this data will have a — good morning. i am sure this data will have a qualified welcome from politicians — will have a qualified welcome from politicians too. they know this is early _ politicians too. they know this is early data — politicians too. they know this is early data. they will be many more papers _ early data. they will be many more papers in _ early data. they will be many more papers in the coming weeks that will form their— papers in the coming weeks that will form their policy choices. they are having _ form their policy choices. they are having to — form their policy choices. they are having to make a very big decision about— having to make a very big decision about her— having to make a very big decision about her precautionary to be about about her precautionary to be about a virus _ about her precautionary to be about a virus and — about her precautionary to be about a virus and a — about her precautionary to be about a virus and a variant that is clearly— a virus and a variant that is clearly incredibly contagious, spreading very fast, that may be less severe than delta and may proportionately result in fewer hospitalisations. they are having to weigh— hospitalisations. they are having to weigh up— hospitalisations. they are having to weigh up that evidence. throughout this pandemic we have seen various nations— this pandemic we have seen various nations of— this pandemic we have seen various nations of the uk take their own approach — nations of the uk take their own approach. we are really seeing that at the _ approach. we are really seeing that at the moment because in the last few days _ at the moment because in the last few days wales, scotland and northern ireland have announced their own — northern ireland have announced their own measures which will kick in after— their own measures which will kick in after christmas day, to try and reduce _ in after christmas day, to try and reduce the — in after christmas day, to try and reduce the amount of omicron there is. reduce the amount of omicron there is boris— reduce the amount of omicron there is. borisjohnson is taking a different— is. borisjohnson is taking a different approach. no change to the rules until— different approach. no change to the rules until christmas day. beyond that. _ rules until christmas day. beyond that. we — rules until christmas day. beyond that, we have to wait and see. and trying _ that, we have to wait and see. and trying to— that, we have to wait and see. and trying to decode where downing street _ trying to decode where downing street is— trying to decode where downing street is on this is not easy. at the moment all they will say is they will look— the moment all they will say is they will look at — the moment all they will say is they will look at the data. boris johnson is having _ will look at the data. boris johnson is having to — will look at the data. boris johnson is having to weigh up the scientific evidence _ is having to weigh up the scientific evidence he is getting, but consider the politics— evidence he is getting, but consider the politics of this too. he has got a cabinet — the politics of this too. he has got a cabinet that is fairly split. a majority— a cabinet that is fairly split. a majority of his ministers at a meeting _ majority of his ministers at a meeting this week were quite clear they didn't feel the evidence justified further restrictions at the moment, and his parliamentary party. _ the moment, and his parliamentary party. half— the moment, and his parliamentary party, half of them voted against the current plan b measures that came _ the current plan b measures that came in— the current plan b measures that came in last week. he is having to weigh— came in last week. he is having to weigh a _ came in last week. he is having to weigh a lot — came in last week. he is having to weigh a lot up as he makes these very big _ weigh a lot up as he makes these very big decision. thank— very big decision. thank you very much. meanwhile, the number of military personnel supporting the nhs in wales will almost double in the new year, to help relieve pressure. another 183 servicemen and women will help the welsh ambulance service as drivers. nhs wales warns that up to 17% of staff could be ill or self—isolating next month, when the omicron wave is expected to peak. a jury in the trial of the british socialite, ghislaine maxwell, will reconvene after christmas, after failing to reach a verdict last night. ms maxwell, a close associate of the late convicted paedophile, jeffrey epstein, denies eight counts of sex trafficking and other crimes. our correspondent, barbara plett—usher, has been following the trial in new york. the jury deliberated for two full days, but it wasn't able to reach a verdict before christmas, and the court has now recessed for the holiday weekend. the jurors are considering six counts against ghislaine maxwell, of grooming and transporting girls for sex. and the case is narrowly focused on the accusations of four women, who say that she facilitated — or participated in — jeffrey epstein's abuse of her. the jurors have several times asked the judge to send them transcript of testimony, or to clarify certain issues. they will come back on monday, to continue deliberating about whether to convict ghislaine maxwell of all, some or none of the charges. in the meantime, ms maxwell will be spending christmas at the federal detention centre in brooklyn, where she's been for more than a year, with this decision still hanging over her. footage has been released of two babies being pulled from the wreckage of a tornado last week in the us state of kentucky. they had been placed in a bath by their grandmother for protection. the tub was ripped from the house by the storm and tossed into the garden, where rescue workers found the children largely unscathed. the babies were reunited with their grandmother, before being taken to hospital. gibraltar, and the capitals of the falkland islands and the cayman islands, are among 39 places vying to win official uk city status. it's the first time british overseas territories and crown dependencies are being included in the competition, as part of the queen's platinum jubilee celebrations. the winners will be announced injune next year. it's understood princess anne will not be spending christmas with the queen, after her husband tested positive for coronavirus. a royal source says the princess royal will be self—isolating with sir timothy laurence. earlier this week, the palace confirmed the queen would be spending her first christmas without her husband at windsor castle. the duchess of cambridge has paid tribute to the inspirational people who served their communities during the pandemic. she delivered her message during a carol service held at westminster abbey earlier this month, which will be shown on christmas eve. the service will showcase music from the westminster abbey choir, as well as performances from leona lewis and ellie goulding. we have lost our loved ones, we have seen our front—line workers under immense pressure. and, also, we have been more emotionally and socially distanced and isolated from each other. but i suppose through that separation, we have also realised how much we need each other. ten minutes past seven. let's find out what is happening... oh, that is festive, carol! that is lovely. festive, carol! that is lovel. ., ,, ., ., that is lovely. thank you, naga. it is from one _ that is lovely. thank you, naga. it is from one of— that is lovely. thank you, naga. it is from one of our— that is lovely. thank you, naga. it is from one of our weather - that is lovely. thank you, naga. it i is from one of our weather watchers. christmas just upon us and it is very mild for the time of the year across some parts of the uk. we have got outbreaks of rain. a weak weather front producing rain got outbreaks of rain. a weak weatherfront producing rain in northern scotland, clearing eastern england. we have got the next batch of red coming in. the heaviest of it will be across northern ireland, parts of scotland and northern in that. light rain crossing the south—east. behind that rain there will be quite a lot of cloud. it should brighten up later in the day in northern ireland, wales and south—west ended. cold across the north of scotland. still the north—easterly flow. temperatures between five and 7 degrees. look at northern ireland, much of england and wales. up to 13 degrees. you don't expect that at this stage in december. this evening and overnight, a band of rain continues to push northwards. some of it could be heavy. it will engage with the cold air across parts of scotland, depositing up to ten centimetres of snow above 300 metres. that is quite high. at lower levels you might see snow flurries but that will be about it. forthe snow flurries but that will be about it. for the rest of the uk it will be fairly cloudy with spots of rain. also some mist and fog patches. these are the temperatures. there is a chance we could see frost and ice under clear skies in scotland. here is that weather front weakening tomorrow with the odd snow flurry. snow flurries in the northern isles. a lot of cloud tomorrow. in comes more rain from the south—west and with this, the wind is going to pick up. still mild in western areas but it as we push towards the north—east. thank you, carol. north-east. thank ou, carol. ' . north-east. thank ou, carol. ' , thank you, carol. 12 minutes past seven. the days following christmas will see the return of some coronavirus restrictions in many parts of the uk, in response to concerns over the omicron variant. some of the devolved administrations announced new measures yesterday, which will come into effect from boxing day. let's take a look at what is being introduced. in northern ireland, nightclubs will be closed from boxing day. from the 27th of december, hospitality will return to table service only, with no more than six people allowed to sit together, and people will be advised to reduce indoor mixing to a maximum of three households. in scotland, from boxing day, there will be limits on the size of live public events for at least three weeks. from the following day, pubs, bars and other hospitality venues will return to table service only, and one metre social distancing is advised in these settings, with no more than three households in each group. and the restrictions introduced in wales include a return of the rule of six in pubs, cinemas and restaurants. two metre social distancing rules will also be reintroduced in public places. nightclubs will close from boxing day. joining us now is vaughan gething, ministerfor the economy for the welsh government. good morning, vaughan gething. thank you forjoining us. what kind of data where you looking at that got you to this point, to introduce these measures? itrtte you to this point, to introduce these measures?— you to this point, to introduce these measures? ~ ., ., ., , these measures? we have got to be modelled evidence _ these measures? we have got to be modelled evidence from _ these measures? we have got to be modelled evidence from our - these measures? we have got to be modelled evidence from our on i these measures? we have got to be i modelled evidence from our on people in wales. _ modelled evidence from our on people in wales, who have also been looking at the _ in wales, who have also been looking at the rest _ in wales, who have also been looking at the rest of the uk. our advises that london is about a week ahead of us in terms _ that london is about a week ahead of us in terms of the curve, the number of cases _ us in terms of the curve, the number of cases. yesterday we had a big day. _ of cases. yesterday we had a big day. with— of cases. yesterday we had a big day, with the record number of cases identified _ day, with the record number of cases identified in— day, with the record number of cases identified in wales. it is entirely possible — identified in wales. it is entirely possible omicron is entirely dominant in wales. case rates have risen _ dominant in wales. case rates have risen significantly in the last couple — risen significantly in the last couple of days. we are starting to see a _ couple of days. we are starting to see a curve — couple of days. we are starting to see a curve of cases increase. in the face — see a curve of cases increase. in the face of— see a curve of cases increase. in the face of all that we have to think— the face of all that we have to think of— the face of all that we have to think of the direct harm omicron good _ think of the direct harm omicron good cause, because it is faster, it is more _ good cause, because it is faster, it is more likely to evade the vaccine response. — is more likely to evade the vaccine response, so the two doses providing .ood response, so the two doses providing good protection against delta, don't provide _ good protection against delta, don't provide the same infection. even if it is mild. — provide the same infection. even if it is mild. it— provide the same infection. even if it is mild, it needs to be so much milder— it is mild, it needs to be so much milder not— it is mild, it needs to be so much milder not to have that significant impact _ milder not to have that significant impact on — milder not to have that significant impact on hospitalisation and mortality. but more than that, of course. _ mortality. but more than that, of course. it— mortality. but more than that, of course. it is— mortality. but more than that, of course, it is the impact on services and the _ course, it is the impact on services and the economy. because if people are needing to isolate, then whether it is police. _ are needing to isolate, then whether it is police, fire and rescue, health— it is police, fire and rescue, health and _ it is police, fire and rescue, health and care, retail, or indian hospitality. _ health and care, retail, or indian hospitality, then all of those services _ hospitality, then all of those services would be significantly affected if omicron continues to spread — affected if omicron continues to spread in — affected if omicron continues to spread in the way it has in other parts _ spread in the way it has in other parts of— spread in the way it has in other parts of the country and is due to hear— parts of the country and is due to hear as— parts of the country and is due to hear as well. so we've had to make difficult _ hear as well. so we've had to make difficult choices for a proper settlement so people can plan after the christmas period. i rtvtrill settlement so people can plan after the christmas period.— the christmas period. i will come unto hospitality _ the christmas period. i will come unto hospitality in _ the christmas period. i will come unto hospitality in a _ the christmas period. i will come unto hospitality in a moment. i the christmas period. i will come l unto hospitality in a moment. you will be well aware of the discontent in the hospitality industry. first minister mark drakeford has said he hopes these measures will flatten the infection rate. if the infection rate is flattened, does that rule out further restrictions or a continuation of these restrictions? well, this is the uncomfortable reality. — well, this is the uncomfortable reality, naga, that we have to look at what _ reality, naga, that we have to look at what is — reality, naga, that we have to look at what is happening rather than trying _ at what is happening rather than trying to— at what is happening rather than trying to give a hard and fast idea of when _ trying to give a hard and fast idea of when this will end. we hope that the measures we have struck today are proportionate, they are in line with the _ are proportionate, they are in line with the advice we are getting from our chief— with the advice we are getting from our chief medical officer. but there is a real— our chief medical officer. but there is a real urgency about it. now, if they— is a real urgency about it. now, if they do— is a real urgency about it. now, if they do flatten the curve of infections, they do protect us from the sort _ infections, they do protect us from the sort of— infections, they do protect us from the sort of harm that might otherwise happen, iwill the sort of harm that might otherwise happen, i will be very happy. — otherwise happen, i will be very happy. we — otherwise happen, i will be very happy, we don't need to go any further — happy, we don't need to go any further. but we will still need to regularly— further. but we will still need to regularly review the data. 30 further. but we will still need to regularly review the data. so you wouldn't go _ regularly review the data. so you wouldn't go further, _ regularly review the data. so you wouldn't go further, but - regularly review the data. so you wouldn't go further, but you i regularly review the data. so you wouldn't go further, but you may maintain those measures in place? well, the challenge about going further— well, the challenge about going further is a practical one in many senses. — further is a practical one in many senses, naga. because if the harm increases. — senses, naga. because if the harm increases, then we have a really practical— increases, then we have a really practical challenge, because furlough is the best answer to prevent— furlough is the best answer to prevent the sort of catastrophic loss of— prevent the sort of catastrophic loss ofjobs and businesses. furlough— loss ofjobs and businesses. furlough can only be introduced if the uk _ furlough can only be introduced if the uk government to do it. it is about— the uk government to do it. it is about the — the uk government to do it. it is about the money. it cost about £600 million _ about the money. it cost about £600 million a _ about the money. it cost about £600 million a month in wales. we don't have _ million a month in wales. we don't have the _ million a month in wales. we don't have the resources for furlough and other— have the resources for furlough and other demands. also, we don't have access— other demands. also, we don't have access to _ other demands. also, we don't have access to the information required forfurlough. if access to the information required for furlough. if the public health information deteriorated further, we need the _ information deteriorated further, we need the treasury to step up to the plate _ need the treasury to step up to the plate and _ need the treasury to step up to the plate and help to protect lives and livelihoods across the uk. while you are waitin: livelihoods across the uk. while you are waiting for _ livelihoods across the uk. while you are waiting for the _ livelihoods across the uk. while you are waiting for the uk _ livelihoods across the uk. while you are waiting for the uk treasury i livelihoods across the uk. while you are waiting for the uk treasury to i are waiting for the uk treasury to step up to the plate, in your words, what are you saying to the landlord of the unicorn pub in pontypool who has already lost 25% of business, or the owner of a pub in flintshire, who says bookings for lunch on thursday alone were down from 100 to 18, and he fears he may have to close in january. 18, and he fears he may have to close injanuary. this isjust one command i am sure you are more than aware of many in hospitality saying they fear they have to close in january, and they feel desperate? i have heard it directly from the hospitality sector, retail, leisure and events, but it is because i have met directly— and events, but it is because i have met directly with stakeholders over the last _ met directly with stakeholders over the last few days to keep them updated — the last few days to keep them updated on our thinking and the evidence — updated on our thinking and the evidence we are getting. i really do understand that for retail and hospitality in particular, this is the most — hospitality in particular, this is the most important trading period in the most important trading period in the whole _ the most important trading period in the whole year. it's why it's been a really— the whole year. it's why it's been a really difficult choice to make, because — really difficult choice to make, because i_ really difficult choice to make, because i do understand this directly— because i do understand this directly affects those livelihoods. it is directly affects those livelihoods. it is also — directly affects those livelihoods. it is also why, of course, yesterday first _ it is also why, of course, yesterday first minister confirmed we are doubling — first minister confirmed we are doubling our business support package _ doubling our business support package. there is £120 million are going _ package. there is £120 million are going to _ package. there is £120 million are going to use to support businesses affected _ going to use to support businesses affected. the period we are looking at is to _ affected. the period we are looking at is to try— affected. the period we are looking at is to try to support businesses in the _ at is to try to support businesses in the two — at is to try to support businesses in the two month period from the 13th of— in the two month period from the 13th of december, so before the restrictions and protections came informally, but we know there has already— informally, but we know there has already been an impact, partly because — already been an impact, partly because of the advice we have had to .ive because of the advice we have had to give the _ because of the advice we have had to give the public, partly also because the public— give the public, partly also because the public alike that to the head of the public alike that to the head of the government, making choices and restricting _ the government, making choices and restricting their movements, the sort of— restricting their movements, the sort of things they would do. now that doesn't mean that we're expecting restrictions to be in place — expecting restrictions to be in place until the middle of february, but we _ place until the middle of february, but we do — place until the middle of february, but we do anticipate there will be an impact— but we do anticipate there will be an impact on businesses for a period of time _ an impact on businesses for a period of time because of the measures now, and the _ of time because of the measures now, and the importance, the key importance of this period. i recognise it as a problem. | importance of this period. i recognise it as a problem. i have not 'ust recognise it as a problem. i have gotjust under— recognise it as a problem. i have got just under a _ recognise it as a problem. i have gotjust under a minute. - recognise it as a problem. i have gotjust under a minute. i i recognise it as a problem. i have gotjust under a minute. i want l recognise it as a problem. i have| gotjust under a minute. i want to move onto something that perhaps you can clear up. when it comes to finds for people travelling to work unnecessarily. —— fines. what is the situation? how do you determine if somebody is going to work, to a workplace, that doesn't need to go to a workplace? and will they be fined? ~ , ., ,., to a workplace? and will they be fined? ~ , ., , fined? well, the starting point is the employer— fined? well, the starting point is the employer is _ fined? well, the starting point is the employer is in _ fined? well, the starting point is the employer is in charge - fined? well, the starting point is the employer is in charge of i fined? well, the starting point is the employer is in charge of the | the employer is in charge of the workplace. it is the duty of the employer— workplace. it is the duty of the employer to enable people to work from home. the reason why we have a duty for— from home. the reason why we have a duty for the _ from home. the reason why we have a duty for the individual as well as the employer is for those individuals who don't believe that they need to go into work physically, and the ability to say to one _ physically, and the ability to say to one of— physically, and the ability to say to one of our rogue employers, i have _ to one of our rogue employers, i have a _ to one of our rogue employers, i have a legal duty to work from home, as do— have a legal duty to work from home, as do you _ have a legal duty to work from home, as do you have a legal duty to enable — as do you have a legal duty to enable a. _ as do you have a legal duty to enable a, when we had the same provisions— enable a, when we had the same provisions previously, not a single worker— provisions previously, not a single worker was— provisions previously, not a single worker was fined. the real issue is about— worker was fined. the real issue is about the — worker was fined. the real issue is about the employers. the real issue is for— about the employers. the real issue is for all— about the employers. the real issue is for all of— about the employers. the real issue is for all of us to do the right thing — is for all of us to do the right thing if— is for all of us to do the right thing. if we do, more of us will be here _ thing. if we do, more of us will be here for— thing. if we do, more of us will be here for future christmases. whether employers _ here for future christmases. whether employers find? i think there was a course _ employers find? i think there was a course of— employers find? i think there was a course of action taken but i don't believe _ course of action taken but i don't believe we — course of action taken but i don't believe we got of the point of people — believe we got of the point of people being fined. that is the point _ people being fined. that is the point of— people being fined. that is the point of enforcement. you start off talking _ point of enforcement. you start off talking to _ point of enforcement. you start off talking to people, making clear what they are _ talking to people, making clear what they are supposed to do and i think most _ they are supposed to do and i think most people do the right thing. the aim and _ most people do the right thing. the aim and objective is not to find businesses or workers. it is to make clear— businesses or workers. it is to make clear the _ businesses or workers. it is to make clear the legal duty, reinforce it, and make — clear the legal duty, reinforce it, and make it clear that if people are determined to flout the law, reinforcement action could be taken. we want _ reinforcement action could be taken. we want everyone to do the right thing. _ we want everyone to do the right thing. to— we want everyone to do the right thing, to keep ourselves and each other— thing, to keep ourselves and each other safe — thing, to keep ourselves and each other safe this christmas. vaughan gething, thank you very much for your time with us at this morning. for your time with us at this morning-— for your time with us at this morning._ seven| for your time with us at this i morning._ seven 20 for your time with us at this - morning._ seven 20 am. i morning. thank you. seven 20 am. i would hazard — morning. thank you. seven 20 am. i would hazard a _ morning. thank you. seven 20 am. i would hazard a guess _ morning. thank you. seven 20 am. i would hazard a guess that _ morning. thank you. seven 20 am. i would hazard a guess that it - morning. thank you. seven 20 am. i would hazard a guess that it pretty i would hazard a guess that it pretty much everybody watching at the moment has been thinking about how christmas is going to work out. maybe because they are thinking, are we doing the right thing, the plan that was? maybe it is literally because they are isolating, in quarantine. things have got a little more complicated, haven't they? hopefully things are working out perfectly well, but christmas is just two days away, fast changing covid restrictions have led many to rethink festive plans for a second year. john maguire has been speaking to some families about what they'll be getting up to during the festive season. it's beginning to look a lot like christmas, but with so many last minute covid changes, what does christmas look like? this is the first year i've put the tree up. 0h, is it? yeah, because normally i'm away. i think, oh, its too much effort to put a big tree up, you know. but this year i thought, no, i'm putting a big tree up, so i'm really glad i am. it's been all change for sandra smith. she was planning on being with one of her sons and his husband, but both caught covid last week. the change in the isolation rules means they could now be together, but sandra says it's too late. to travel all the way down to bournemouth, it's like a five, six hour journey on christmas eve. to travel back on boxing day, itjust felt a little bit too much. yeah. we only found out, obviously, about the seven—day isolation, i think that was this morning. and obviously, i've already now made alternative arrangements to go — my sister lives around the corner, so i'll be spending christmas with her and her family. so... so you've managed to find christmas lunch somewhere? yeah, they managed to squeeze me in! if i can take the emergency chairs round! there is some christmas cheer in the form of a silver lining, though. sandra is retiring this week, so hopes to have more time to spend with her family. for lee smythe, christmas was cancelled. a positive test last week, meant he would have to isolate for ten days. but the surprise gift of the ten being reduced to seven means the celebrations are back on. i was looking at returning home midnight on boxing day, and now i'll get back christmas eve. so, all positive from my side. yeah. so all you were going to get were turkey sandwiches. now you'll get the whole spread? yeah. and i won't be able to sort of have to face time on christmas day either. i'll be there. dear me! what was the prospect of that going to be like? i mean, what were your thoughts? it was going to be quite sad, if i'm honest. i've got a four—year—old daughter. i was going to miss her terribly. and obviously, my wife and family, etc, they'll all be at home, and i'll be here all alone. but now that's changed. travel plans have been, well up in the air. emma and chris, who live in the netherlands, had been hoping to see family in the uk, until the arrival of the omicron variant. the thought of travelling on public transport and airplanes with covid, and the situation it is, along with six different households meeting together. we just thought that was too risky and not sensible. yeah. was that was that a tough decision? did you agonize over it? it really was, yeah. we have been keeping an eye on the situation for weeks, just hoping it would be ok, but finally decided on sunday to cancel it. but for me, i haven't been back to the uk for two years now, to see my family. so i was really hoping this year we could do it. but as emma's from sardinia, the couple are planning an italian feast. we are going to make ravioli. 0h! _ 0h! we were lucky to find ricotta cheese, and so... we made it also last year, and so we made, you know, homemade with our own hands. and then we are having a piglet, a roast piglet. well, just a bit, not a whole piglet. there's only two of us! the vaccination programme has done much to ensure that christmas present is better than last year, christmas past. the hope now, once again, is that by next year's christmas future, it will all be over. john maguire, bbc news. as you said, there are so many familiesjust as you said, there are so many families just reassessing, as you said, there are so many familiesjust reassessing, it as you said, there are so many families just reassessing, it is just trying to work it out. i think the thing is there will be less offence because now because you can just blame covid. in a offence because now because you can just blame covid.— just blame covid. in a way you are alwa s just blame covid. in a way you are always trying _ just blame covid. in a way you are always trying to — just blame covid. in a way you are always trying to prejudge - just blame covid. in a way you are always trying to prejudge other i always trying to prejudge other people's sensibilities as well. because what you think is the right thing to do commando within the rules, someone else might have a slightly different thought. good luck if you are still negotiating with 48 hours to go. good luck. hope it all works out. 26 with 48 hours to go. good luck. hope it all works out.— it all works out. 26 and his past seven. here on breakfast we've been following the story of richie cottingham, a man living with cerebral palsy who's been searching for a voice to call his own. richie uses an artificial aid that has a standard computerised pronunciation, but he wanted something that was a lot closer to his native yorkshire accent. richie and his therapistjennifer having been looking back on a year that changed his life for the better. as crispin rolfe reports. my name is richard cottingham. i'm richard cottingham. i'm richard, but i like to be called richard. i would love to have my own voice. a generic voice is not my identity. i'd like a young man's voice with a subtle east yorkshire accent. is that the one? yes! i think that's the one _ is that the one? yes! i think that's the one i— is that the one? yes! i think that's the one. i think we've got it. and now a new computer system to use it with. if you are going to the admiral of the humber tonight for your tea, what _ the humber tonight for your tea, what would you have? for richard cottingham. _ what would you have? for richard cottingham, 2021 _ what would you have? for richard cottingham, 2021 has _ what would you have? for richard cottingham, 2021 has been i what would you have? for richard cottingham, 2021 has been quite l what would you have? for richard | cottingham, 2021 has been quite a year. cottingham, 2021 has been quite a ear. ~ . . cottingham, 2021 has been quite a ear. . ., ., ,., cottingham, 2021 has been quite a ear. t ., ., ., ., cottingham, 2021 has been quite a ear. ., ., ., ., ., ., year. what are you going to have to dfink? year. what are you going to have to drink? jack — year. what are you going to have to drink? jack daniels _ year. what are you going to have to drink? jack daniels and _ year. what are you going to have to drink? jack daniels and coke. i year. what are you going to have to drink? jack daniels and coke. not l drink? jack daniels and coke. not least because _ drink? jack daniels and coke. not least because of— drink? jack daniels and coke. not least because of all— drink? jack daniels and coke. not least because of all the _ drink? jack daniels and coke. not least because of all the media i least because of all the media attention. we've been following the story of richie cottingham, a man living with cerebral palsy who's been searching for a voice to call his own. you've been on not just bbc look north, but you've been on channel 4, bbc breakfast. how's it feel? i love all the attention i have received. you know, 2021 for many people might be a year to forget. but for richie, it's been a year to remember. 0h, absolutely. it's been a year to remember. so we started off the year looking to do a complete review of richie's communication age, which is where the idea of finding the unique voice came from in the first place. hi, my name is richard cottingham. i'm richard cottingham. hi, i'm richard cottingham. i am richard cottingham, but i'd like to be called richie, but also about richie having a voice to call his own. and that's been the real highlight of the year. i think it is still taking some getting used to. it definitely feels like my own voice. i'm pleased with it. and so much so, that with his new computer voice, this is ritchie's christmas message. i would like to say a big, big thank you to everyone for supporting and following my sorry. so thank you. and finally, i hope you all have a great christmas. all the best for 2022. what a fantastic moment. speaking in what he now takes as his own voice. and accenss are so important. they are your identity. crispin rolfe reporting. time now to get the news, travel and weather where you are. good morning from the news teams at bbc london and bbc south east. an mp in the south east says other uk nations are wrong to introduce tighter covid restrictions in response to rising case numbers. henry smith, who represents crawley, says he'd only support similar measures in england if there was a significant rise in the number of people seriously ill in hospital with covid. the town, which relies heavily on gatwick airport for employment, was severely affected by previous lockdowns. i think scotland and wales are overly cautious when it comes to the threat of omicron. i think the government for england have got it about right in terms of the restrictions that are in place. we can't keep on closing down our economy — that is deeply damaging. a man has beenjailed for causing the death of his daughter who he threw into a cot in edgware more than 20 years ago. maisie newell, who was adopted by anotherfamily afterwards, died as a result of her injuries when she was 13. dean smith, from bushey, previously served three years in prison for the assault. the 46—year—old has now been sentenced to three and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter. a coroner says indicator lights on trailers and tankers need to be clearer after a brighton paramedic was killed trying to overtake a tractor towing one. james mckeough, who worked for south east coast ambulanc service, hit a right—turning tractor while riding a motorbike in february 2020. the coroner said it seemed he didn't see the indicator because of other flashing warning lights. the first christmas getaway for two years has prompted high demand for travel, according to a new survey by transport focus. gatwick airport is expecting nearly three quarters of a million passengers over the festive holidays — nearly seven times more than over the same time 12 months ago. that's still less than half of what it saw before the pandemic. two of the south east's football clubs are postponing their boxing day matches due to covid—19. crawley town will no longer play stevenage after 14 confirmed cases among players and staff. gillingham have also postponed their boxing day match against ipswich town. the weather now with elizabeth rizzini. good morning. a different feeling day of weather today for london and the south east. it will be an awful lot milder — temperatures well above average for the time of year. already, a mild, frost—free start to the morning. temperatures in mid—single figures. it is quite grey, it is misty and murky out there. we will be keeping those layers of cloud as we head through the day — also some outbreaks of light rain and drizzle, particularly as we head through the afternoon. top temperatures all the way up to 11—12. that is a big jump from where we were yesterday. overnight tonight, the skies will clear behind this front — lows of 6—8c. also, some mist and fog patches developing into tomorrow morning, so poor visibility as we start christmas eve, which is looking dry throughout the day. a touch cooler, but still mild. plenty of cloud, but some rain expected as we head into the evening. there'll be more from mejust before 8.30. good morning, welcome to breakfast with naga munchetty and charlie stayt. children aged between five and 11 who are clinically at risk, or live with someone who is immunosuppressed, should be offered a covid vaccine. the advice from thejoint committee on vaccination and immunisation comes as the omicron variant of covid continues to spread rapidly in the uk. let's get more on this now from professor anthony harnden from the jcvi. good morning. on that announcement in relation to certain vulnerable 5—11—year—olds, what was the significant change that meant you could make the recommendation? it was the mhra, the regulator, approving the paediatric dose of vaccine in that age group. we thought it important we aligned the jcvi advice with that announcement, because parents, once they knew the vaccine was available, would be asking if they were getting it, so we recommended those with underlying illness in that age group plus those who live in a household where the parent, oranother who live in a household where the parent, or another individual has immunosuppression, should be offered the vaccine first. but it is up to the vaccine first. but it is up to the nhs to deploy this and given they are putting a huge amount of effort into the adult booster programme, that might take a period of time before they deploy. what we wanted was to make it clear what groups we were recommending. talk to me about why — groups we were recommending. talk to me about why the _ groups we were recommending. talk to me about why the decision _ groups we were recommending. talk to me about why the decision to _ groups we were recommending. talk to me about why the decision to offer- me about why the decision to offer vaccinations to all 5—11—year—olds has not come at the same time? we still want has not come at the same time? - still want to look at further data. it is important we see what the severity of illness is with omicron in this age group. with previous variants, we know the illness was mild in children. we also wanted to look at further data from the united states, where they are deploying the vaccine to all well children, in terms of a safety profile. there is no need to make that decision at the moment, but we will review that. there is no timeframe on that, it is about data as it becomes available? absolutely, that is what we have to look at. we have to remember that we vaccinate children for the benefit of children, because the vaccines are not usually good at preventing transmission, they prevent a bit, they have to be shown to be really good for children themselves, and thatis good for children themselves, and that is the data that is lacking at the moment. iflan that is the data that is lacking at the moment-— that is the data that is lacking at the moment. ., ., i. ., , that is the data that is lacking at the moment. . . ,, ., , , the moment. can i ask you to help us understand — the moment. can i ask you to help us understand information _ the moment. can i ask you to help us understand information in _ the moment. can i ask you to help us understand information in relation i understand information in relation to the risk from omicron. depending which study you look at or newspaper you read, there is something like 50%, omicron is something like 50% less severe than delta and this is about the risk of hospitalisation. how does that figure working practice? how does that figure working ractice? . . how does that figure working ractice? , ., ., , , , practice? these are early studies and they are _ practice? these are early studies and they are showing _ practice? these are early studies and they are showing in - practice? these are early studies and they are showing in the i practice? these are early studies l and they are showing in the people who developed omicron, they are less likely to go to hospital. if they go to hospital, they are less likely to be admitted. there is the caution that virus is circulating mainly among a younger group of people so this is a younger group of patients, and once we have christmas and mixing of generations, we need to look carefully at data after that. the other issue is the number of infections. infection rates are going up to the highest levels ever. even a small proportion of a large number is a large number of people. at a time when nhs staff are getting infected and are off sick and capacity issues, that is the worry, that we will still get a large number ending up in hospital at a time when we do not have as many nhs staff. we are not out of this urgent problem yet. but these are early and promising data. d0 problem yet. but these are early and promising data-— promising data. do these figures break down _ promising data. do these figures break down the _ promising data. do these figures break down the difference i promising data. do these figures i break down the difference between someone who is not vaccinated and someone who is not vaccinated and someone who is not vaccinated and someone who has had the triple, including the booster. this drop in severity, the risk of hospitalisation. can you clarify the difference between those two macro positions? there is focus now on those who have chosen to remain without vaccines.— those who have chosen to remain without vaccines. these studies came out some of— without vaccines. these studies came out some of them _ without vaccines. these studies came out some of them yesterday - without vaccines. these studies came out some of them yesterday so i i without vaccines. these studies came j out some of them yesterday so i have not been through them in detail. there is no doubt that if you are not vaccinated, you are hugely more at risk of hospitalisation, severe illness and even death. those figures have been borne out by the proportion of patients not vaccinated that are ending up with severe illness in hospitals. they are much higher than the proportion of vaccinated people —— not vaccinated people compared to vaccinated. it is a 3—5 fold increased risk of developing severe illness if you are not vaccinated. there is no doubt that the worrying group of people are the 5 million adults not vaccinated in this country. i plead for them to come forward. in my own practice, i have started to notice some of those people are coming forward now and i think it is the worry about omicron and realisation it is so infectious and realisation it is so infectious and they are more likely to be exposed to it than variants previously. ijust hope people come forward in larger numbers. tbs, forward in larger numbers. a question in connection with people asking questions about when and if there will be a fourth booster offered. what is the situation? we need to offered. what is the situation? - need to see more data on whether there is waning immunity after the third dose of vaccine. we also need to see whether there is increased hospitalisation risk months after the third dose, that is the booster dose. there is a lot of data we need to review before we make a decision on a fourth dose. a decision about that would be based on the epidemiology, the frequency and distribution of virus and whether vaccines are available. so a lot to think about before we make decisions on this. ., ,,., ., ,, think about before we make decisions on this. ., , ., ,, ,., on this. professor, thank you. a pleasure- — mike has the latest sport. there has been uncertainty and chat about whether fixtures should go ahead and whether fixtures should go ahead and whether they should be behind closed doors. we have heard from players saying there is a duty of care. jordan henderson yesterday. this is going out on football focus. this interview he has done saying we need to be looked after better in terms of injury and mental health and covid. after league cup action last night, the liverpool manager revealed there would be a meeting today between premier league managers and premier league to discuss the covid situation. nine out of the last 20 premier league games have been postponed because of covid but the plan is to go ahead with festive matches starting on boxing day. and a lot of clubs have two games on the 26th and 28. in some clubs are missing players. you have missing players. the squads, some of them are not big enough, so injuries... and fatigue. and the argument whether it should be consistent for all. should all be postponed, or do you carry on so you do not have a fixture backlog? liverpool were missing several key players who were still isolating, last night, and it made for a tense night on the touchline last nightforjurgen klopp, as he watched his side come back to beat leicester and reach the league cup semi—finals. james maddison put leicester 3—1 ahead with this brilliant strike from range. diogojota made it 3—2, but it looked like that wouldn't be enough — untiltakumi minamino hit the equaliser five minutes into injury time. it went to penalites and jota scored the winner to give liverpool a semifinal meeting with arsenal. last season's beaten finalists, tottenham, are also in the semis after a crazy five minutes and three goals meant they beat west ham 2—1 lucas moura with the winnerfor spurs. and they will face chelsea after two late goals gave them victory over brentford — an—own goal followed by a jorginho penalty. scottish premiership clubs have agreed to bring forward their winter break because of the new covid restrictions in the country. from boxing day, only 500 spectators will be allowed at games, and, after then, the season will pause until the end of january. there were full crowds last night, though — and a depleted st mirren side held celtic to a goalless draw. st mirren had tried, twice, to have the game postponed, after 11 players tested positive. shaun maloney got off to the perfect start as hibernian manager. he described his side as incredible after their 1—nil win over aberdeen — ryan porteous with the goal. ross county beat stjohnstone in the night's other game. now, cricket fans, don't be overdoing it on christmas day and peaking too soon, because the third ashes test starts at 11.30 pm. so a need to pace ourselves. and it's as important as they come — with englan, as they come — with england 2—0 down with three matches to play. and following australia's 275, run victory in adelaide, bowler mark wood revealed the post match debrief from coach chris silverwood was pretty harsh. it was needed — to hear him speak like that. not because he is under pressure, butjust to hear him speak like that — you know, rather than being his usual coaching self. you could see he was annoyed and wanted a change. so hopefully it comes at the right time to catch a spark. because it is christmas we talk about the speed and velocity of a marshmallow. ian poulter. he is serving the treat this way. you know charlie was concerned. the speckles. it is artificial snow. do you reckon the marshmallow is toasted? no, down the side. a roasted marshmallow? when you taste it on the fire, it becomes more solid. in the middle. without talking airspeed velocity. you have never toasted marshmallows outside on a barbecue? i do not want to encourage anyone hitting theirfood. keep i do not want to encourage anyone hitting their food. keep your sprouts on the table. jordan henderson on new year's day arm football focus. he is on football focus. carol, you would not be whacking your marshmallows with a golf club. no, i do not play golf. this morning, not as cold start as yesterday. this festive picture taken this morning. there is some mist and fog. this cloud is wrapped around low pressure and pushing across us. it is home to a weather front. we have a weather front in the north and a new one coming in across northern ireland bringing rain which will push north—eastwards as we go through the course of today. a lot of cloud to start. where we had freezing rain overnight there is a risk of ice in parts of scotland. the rain moves out of northern ireland and across north—west england and western scotland. the rain also affects wales and the south—west although here it is lighter. a lot of cloud ahead of it. 11 degrees in belfast at the moment. still freezing in bar moral. through the day, the weather front moves north. it will be weaker in the south and the north so that is where we see the heaviest rain. we might see snow on the hills in the highlands and grampians. behind the highlands and grampians. behind the rain, cloud and then brightening up the rain, cloud and then brightening up in northern ireland, wales and south—west england. what is notable today, it will be mild. between 10-13 in today, it will be mild. between 10—13 in parts of england, wales and northern ireland. we still have a north—easterly flow across north—easterly flow across north—east scotland, where it will feel cold. overnight, the weather front pushes northwards with rain. we will see snow as it bumps into cold air in the highlands and grampians. down to 300 metres but we could have ten centimetres of snow. in the rest of the uk, cloudy, fog patches forming. temperatures 11 overnight in plymouth. in northern scotland, we could see frost and again the risk of ice on untreated surfaces. the rest of christmas eve, we have the front producing spots are rain and the odd snow flurry and we will see those in the northern isles, as well. limited brightness tomorrow. then the next weather front from the west introducing rain. behind that, the wind will start to strengthen. temperatures, 10—12. but as we push into central and eastern areas, feeling that bit colder. deborahjames has endured more than 100 cycles of cancer treatment and 13 different operations. but, through them all, she has always found a reason to stay positive and find the strength to inspire others. the you, me and the big c podcast host was diagnosed with incurable bowel cancer five years ago, despite doctors saying she only had months to live. graham satchell has been catching up with her as she prepares to celebrate christmas. the royal marsden's ever after garden in grosvenor square in central london. every rose dedicated to a loved one lost to cancer. deborahjames is here to remember john, a dearfriend and fellow patient, who died this year. john was somebody that i met on my first day, five years ago, having chemo. on paper, he should have died 20 years ago. i think he was always grateful for whatever extra time he had, and hejust kept ploughing on. he was always like, one more shot, i just want one more shot at it. one more shot — options and hope. it's something deborah talks about a lot on the podcast you, me and the big c. particularly this year, a year of personal milestones. i made my 40th birthday. that's huge, that's enormous. it's the birthday that i never thought i would make, and i did. deborah was surprised at her birthday party by one of her heroes, sophie ellis—bextor. she said, do you know what, deborah, i am just going to turn up at your 40th birthday. and she did, she actually did. i am blown away by the fact that you came. no, i wanted to. thank you. deborah has just reached another incredible milestone. it is five years since she was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer. only 8% of patients make it that far. just like that, not. i got to the point where i thought, hang on a moment, i can't find any example of somebody living for five years or more with my type of cancer. and so i think there was some tenacious grit to me that tenacious grit in me that decided i was going to have to be that person. deborah has two young children. every moment precious. it has been a privilege to see them blossom into these kind of young adults, or tweenagers, or whatever we want to call a 14—year—old and a 12—year—old. what it has made me realise, actually, isjust how much i've been able to witness and grow up since i have been diagnosed with cancer. yes, i might not see them get married, but, actually, the blessing of that five years is possibly the difference between them remembering me and not remembering me. that is huge. it's great to see you here. and it's great to see you looking radiant, well, lively. deborah is meeting her oncologist, professor david cunningham. i've said before you have been inspirational to many, many people. and that needs to be said. things have progressed during the five years. we are seeing much more of what we call personalised and precision medicine. diseases that were incurable, untreatable five, ten years ago, like melanoma, where our outcomes are now substantially better and we are seeing long—term survivors of treatment. in terms of i suppose the elephant in the room is the fact that both you and i know that covid has had a massive impact on people going and getting that early diagnosis. are you seeing that as an oncologist, and does it worry you, the impact it has been having? i think we've seen it and i don't think anybody is trying to hide that. if you look at the number of cases diagnosed in the last 18 months, it is less than should have been diagnosed. yes, there is a backlog? there is a missing group of people who have not been diagnosed. who knows where this next wave will take us? but we are laser—focused. the doors are open. we still want to see patients who are worried about cancer. deborah has spent the last five years recording, chronicling, sharing her life with cancer. her campaigning, her honesty, her good humour, has had a remarkable, profound impact. i talk about this five—year milestone and, trust me, i am fighting so hard not to only reach five years. but, at the same time, i'm very happy that i have reached five years, because there is 92% of people who didn't and, actually, ithink, overtime, we don't want that to be 92%. over time, we want it to be nobody. but we need those stories of hope to carry us through. that was graham satchell reporting. we can speak to deborah now from her home in london. good morning. looking festive at home. ., . �* good morning. looking festive at home. ., ., �* ., ,, home. how are you? i'm 0k, thank ou. home. how are you? i'm 0k, thank you. well. — home. how are you? i'm 0k, thank you. well. 0k _ home. how are you? i'm 0k, thank you. well, 0k probably _ home. how are you? i'm 0k, thank you. well, 0k probably does i home. how are you? i'm 0k, thank you. well, 0k probably does not i home. how are you? i'm 0k, thank l you. well, 0k probably does not sum you. well, ok probably does not sum up you. well, ok probably does not sum up what i have been through the past couple of months. we recorded that video the day after i left hospital for another operation that did not go to plan unfortunately. so it is fair to say the truth is, rather than ok, i am ok today, thank you, but! than ok, i am ok today, thank you, but i am certainly riding the cancer roller—coaster and right now in an uncertain phase of one step at a time. not sure what happens next. the past six months have been scary in terms of my health, but right now, i have options. iwill in terms of my health, but right now, i have options. i will be grabbing them in the new year. i am happy to be here today. i will not think about where the future might take me. . ~ think about where the future might take me. ., ,, i. ., think about where the future might take me. . ~' ,, ., ,, think about where the future might take me. ., ,, i. ., i. take me. thank you for your candid assessment — take me. thank you for your candid assessment of— take me. thank you for your candid assessment of where _ take me. thank you for your candid assessment of where you - take me. thank you for your candid assessment of where you are i take me. thank you for your candid assessment of where you are at. i take me. thank you for your candid l assessment of where you are at. this is what you do. you are honest and open. i think you have put a lot of yourself out there, which a lot of people would not be comfortable doing. were you that person before the cancer diagnosis? goad doing. were you that person before the cancer diagnosis? good question. i think i am always _ the cancer diagnosis? good question. i think i am always happy _ the cancer diagnosis? good question. i think i am always happy to - the cancer diagnosis? good question. i think i am always happy to share i i think i am always happy to share things if i think there is a good benefit for somebody. it is the teacher in me. i used to be a teacher. for me, regardless of where life takes you, if you have a passion for something, you end up back there. even though cancer took me sideways in life, i realised that education, whatever it might look like on different platforms, is still in my heart somewhere. i always thought cancer happen to other people. i thought it looked very different. it was a word i knew nothing about, despite knowing people with it. i did not really know what it was like. it is scary, it is a big word, but at the same time, i have had so much life whilst i have had cancer. it is not easy, but i want to share that. when i was diagnosed, literally last week, five years ago, and i heard the words you have cancer, i went into this dark place when i spent about three months trying to search for me. i wanted to know which doctor i would be on the graph in terms of the hideous statistics that i suggest nobody look at, and on top of that, i wanted to know what my life would look like with cancer. would i still be here, and how do i put one foot in front of the other? i could not find it. i hope by sharing my story, i am the person if somebody has been diagnosed with cancer, they go ok, she can live with cancer, so can i. good morning. whenever we talk, iam absolutely in awe about how you go about the way you approach everything. answer in any way you see fit. it is hard for families. that is the understatement. it is terribly hard for families. people watching will know this. it is really hard? _ watching will know this. it is really hard? yes, _ watching will know this. it is really hard? yes, one i watching will know this. it 3 really hard? yes, one thing that people have to remember is a lot of what i do... i want to do it but it is my way of coping and getting through the darkness. sometimes when i am in a hospital bed, i do not feel like doing any of that. behind closed doors at 3am, when tiers start, it is a different story. i look at my children. i have a 12—year—old and a 14—year—old now. my 12—year—old and a 14—year—old now. my heart breaks. it absolutely breaks. and putting on a brave face or not, quite frankly i do not half the time, is one of the hardest things to do. telling your children, five years ago, mummy has cancer. and we know from the date, over 1000 people are told you have cancer every day, so there are families up and down the country having to do this. my message to those families, if you are one of them it is taking things a step at a time. my oncologist you saw in the video, the best advice he gave was do this one step at a time. that can be as simple as getting through the next hour. yesterday, i was not feeling great. to put it in perspective, i think i watched three harry potter films and did a dance with my daughter and we got through the day. if you are blessed to have another day it is knowing anything can happen in that day. it sounds easy to say that, but the reality is it is going to be like that. we layer on covid and the fact it is grim outside. we have to be kind to ourselves. the best thing we can do on journeys like this is to be kind to ourselves. fin on journeys like this is to be kind to ourselves-— to ourselves. on a trivial note, i am looking _ to ourselves. on a trivial note, i am looking at — to ourselves. on a trivial note, i am looking at your _ to ourselves. on a trivial note, i am looking at your christmas i am looking at your christmas decorations. are there family ones that always appear? they all classy to me. . that always appear? they all classy to me. , ,., , that always appear? they all classy tome. , .,, that always appear? they all classy tome. , ., ,, to me. this sounds hideous but i have two trees. _ to me. this sounds hideous but i have two trees. one _ to me. this sounds hideous but i have two trees. one i _ to me. this sounds hideous but i have two trees. one i decorate. | to me. this sounds hideous but i i have two trees. one i decorate. that is proper! and one the kids decorate. they can throw whatever they want on it. and i promise not to touch it. the older they get, the smart of the tree is becoming. i am impressed with their tree this year. i love my christmas decorations. i love everything up to christmas, because it is magical, it reminds me of being a child. the magic, the belief in whatever it is, the belief santa will come. the best present i could have is this year would be to be told my body is fit enough to be back on treatment. it sounds random to save. what i want is to start chemo again, because it is my only chance. i have to be honest, i am always grumpy on christmas day. i am hideous on christmas day. sometimes those milestones are too much to handle. i think, those milestones are too much to handle. ithink, don't those milestones are too much to handle. i think, don't worry about it. , ., ., . handle. i think, don't worry about it. ., ., . ~ handle. i think, don't worry about it. great advice. and you are allowed to — it. great advice. and you are allowed to be _ it. great advice. and you are allowed to be hideous i it. great advice. and you are allowed to be hideous on i it. great advice. and you are i allowed to be hideous on christmas day because you are pretty fantastic on all the other days when you have been kind enough to talk to us. enjoy the family, and so many people are so with you with the christmas tree. i do the same thing. always done it. my weight is the best way. as is yours. done it. my weight is the best way. as is yours-— as is yours. your tree is stunning. thank you- _ stay with us, headlines coming up. good morning, welcome to breakfast with naga munchetty and charlie stayt. our headlines today. people with omicron are less likely to end up in hospital, as studies suggest it could be milder than previous covid variants. scientists say they're "cautiously optimistic", but warn the sheer number of infections could still lead to hospitals being overwhelmed. new covid restrictions in wales — pubs and restaurants say they could be "crippled" by the measures. good morning from central london. this is one of the hotel is opening its doors and offering a bed to rough sleepers over the festive period. as the charity now celebrates 50 years of helping the homeless at christmas. —— crisis. more than a million scam text messages will be sent in the uk this week. more than half of them will pretend to be a christmas parcel delivery. i'll look at how you can spot the real ones, from the fakes. liverpool leave it late, but complete a dramatic fight back against leicester with victory in a penalty shoot—out to reach the league cup semi—finals. good morning. it is not as cold a start to the day as it was yesterday. more cloud around. some rain, the heaviest from the west. for many it is going to be unseasonably mild. details later in the programme. good morning. it's thursday, the 23rd of december. our main story. the omicron variant may cause milder illness than delta, according to two early studies, with patients less likely to need hospital treatment. scientists say the research is "good news to a degree", but a big wave of infections in unvaccinated people could yet overwhelm the health service. the government says it is continuing to monitor coronavirus data, but let's have a look at those studies in a bit more detail now. research by imperial college london found around a 40% reduction in the risk of being admitted to hospitalfor a night or more, compared to delta. a scottish study suggested there was a 65% lower risk of being hospitalised with omicron, but it was based on only a few cases. while in south africa, omicron patients were thought to be around 75% less likely to need hospital treatment let's discuss this more with our medical editor fergus walsh. fergus, good morning. hope all is well. we have seen all these studies and i have been printing out some of them, desperately trying to figure out basic... i know you have gone through them all yourself! all of these studies are fairly small samples, really. what can we definitely know?— samples, really. what can we definitely know? so, naga, ithink what we can _ definitely know? so, naga, ithink what we can take _ definitely know? so, naga, ithink what we can take home _ definitely know? so, naga, ithink what we can take home from i definitely know? so, naga, ithink what we can take home from this, j definitely know? so, naga, ithink- what we can take home from this, and if you _ what we can take home from this, and if you look— what we can take home from this, and if you look at _ what we can take home from this, and if you look at the front pages of the newspapers today, they take a different _ the newspapers today, they take a different percentages, but i think the body— different percentages, but i think the body positive thing is that they are all— the body positive thing is that they are all basically heading in the same — are all basically heading in the same direction with a similar conclusions in the sense that the omicron — conclusions in the sense that the omicron wave looks set to be milder than the _ omicron wave looks set to be milder than the delta wave, so it is grounds _ than the delta wave, so it is grounds for a very cautious optimism, but i say that after the day when — optimism, but i say that after the day when the uk had more than 100.000 — day when the uk had more than 100,000 cases. and if you do a bit of very— 100,000 cases. and if you do a bit of very simple maths, if you said that. _ of very simple maths, if you said that. for— of very simple maths, if you said that, for example, the omicron variant— that, for example, the omicron variant was— that, for example, the omicron variant was half as deadly as delta, well. _ variant was half as deadly as delta, well. if— variant was half as deadly as delta, well. if you — variant was half as deadly as delta, well, if you had twice as many omicron — well, if you had twice as many omicron cases, you would be back to where _ omicron cases, you would be back to where you _ omicron cases, you would be back to where you started. so it doesn't mean _ where you started. so it doesn't meanjust— where you started. so it doesn't meanjust because it does look like it is causing — meanjust because it does look like it is causing milder illness, that it is causing milder illness, that it is causing milder illness, that it is not— it is causing milder illness, that it is not a — it is causing milder illness, that it is not a major concern.- it is not a ma'or concern. now, fer us, it is not a ma'or concern. now, fergus, one it is not a major concern. now, fergus. one of— it is not a major concern. now, fergus, one of the _ it is not a major concern. now, fergus, one of the questions i it is not a major concern. now, i fergus, one of the questions that will be raised from this as well is, if omicron is so much milder than delta, and the numbers are lower in hospital, for those who are not vaccinated yet, the argument could well be, well, look, we have had of this latest variant, the latest wave is coming, but it is not as deadly, therefore, i am fine. there is this post—poll again of the message? == post-poll again of the message? -- ush, post—poll again of the message? —— push, pull. i'm worried about the message — push, pull. i'm worried about the message and this could potentially send _ message and this could potentially send you — message and this could potentially send. you see headlines that say milder— send. you see headlines that say milder and — send. you see headlines that say milder and people think it is not a problem — milder and people think it is not a problem. now most of the 8000 or so people _ problem. now most of the 8000 or so people in_ problem. now most of the 8000 or so people in hospital with covid at the moment— people in hospital with covid at the moment are in with delta. but yesterday in london, which has seen the early— yesterday in london, which has seen the early brunt of omicron, there were _ the early brunt of omicron, there were 300 — the early brunt of omicron, there were 300 hospital admissions. a considerable number of those, i imagine. — considerable number of those, i imagine, will have been omicron. so, this is— imagine, will have been omicron. so, this is not— imagine, will have been omicron. so, this is not something that we now don't _ this is not something that we now don't need — this is not something that we now don't need to worry about. the imperial— don't need to worry about. the imperial modelling was very interesting because they tried to tease _ interesting because they tried to tease apart, is the variant intrinsically milder, or is it causing _ intrinsically milder, or is it causing milder infection because so many— causing milder infection because so many of— causing milder infection because so many of us — causing milder infection because so many of us have got built up immunity? we have come across wuhan, the alpha _ immunity? we have come across wuhan, the alpha variant, the delta variant _ the alpha variant, the delta variant. most of us have been immunised. they said they think that if you _ immunised. they said they think that if you haven't been vaccinated, and you haven't — if you haven't been vaccinated, and you haven't been infected at any point. _ you haven't been infected at any point. you — you haven't been infected at any point, you haven't come across coronavirus _ point, you haven't come across coronavirus at all, then maybe it might— coronavirus at all, then maybe it might be — coronavirus at all, then maybe it might be about 10%, a little bit more. — might be about 10%, a little bit more, milder infection. but we know how serious— more, milder infection. but we know how serious coronavirus has been. how many— how serious coronavirus has been. how many deaths there have been. so they are _ how many deaths there have been. so they are not _ how many deaths there have been. so they are not good odds. and i have been _ they are not good odds. and i have been talking to intensive care consultants and they are really worried — consultants and they are really worried. so many people have gone into hospital, and are in hospital now. _ into hospital, and are in hospital now. on— into hospital, and are in hospital now, on vaccinated. it is the number one thing _ now, on vaccinated. it is the number one thing you — now, on vaccinated. it is the number one thing you can do. we talk about being _ one thing you can do. we talk about being boosted. but for the millions of people _ being boosted. but for the millions of people who have not had a single vaccine. _ of people who have not had a single vaccine, really there should be the push _ vaccine, really there should be the push to— vaccine, really there should be the push tojust go vaccine, really there should be the push to just go down today and get your first _ push to just go down today and get your first jab, let alone your second _ your first jab, let alone your second or— your first jab, let alone your second or your third. yes. _ second or your third. yes, that is such a good point, fergus. just on those figures, i think it was yesterday, a record number of people had their boosters. that is what the government is recommending and that is what people are clearly doing. has there been any change at a significant level of those people who have had none? we talk most of the time about a figure of around 5 million. now i am thinking we have been saying that for weeks if not months. is it changing?— for weeks if not months. is it chanauin? h , ., ., .." for weeks if not months. is it chanauin? h , ., ., ., ~ ., changing? it's very hard to work out from the figures, _ changing? it's very hard to work out from the figures, because _ changing? it's very hard to work out from the figures, because you i changing? it's very hard to work out from the figures, because you do i changing? it's very hard to work out | from the figures, because you do get about. _ from the figures, because you do get about. i_ from the figures, because you do get about, i don't know, somewhere between — about, i don't know, somewhere between 30000 and 50,001st doses a day. between 30000 and 50,001st doses a day but— between 30000 and 50,001st doses a day. but you can't tell whether they are 12—year—olds or other teenagers having _ are 12—year—olds or other teenagers having their — are 12—year—olds or other teenagers having their first dose. so very hard _ having their first dose. so very hard to— having their first dose. so very hard to tease those figures out. so i'm hard to tease those figures out. so i'm afraid — hard to tease those figures out. so i'm afraid i— hard to tease those figures out. so i'm afraid i don't know the answer to that _ i'm afraid i don't know the answer to that one — i'm afraid i don't know the answer to that one. the trouble is, we don't _ to that one. the trouble is, we don't know— to that one. the trouble is, we don't know how many people there are in the _ don't know how many people there are in the population, so it is always a bit of— in the population, so it is always a bit of a _ in the population, so it is always a bit of a guess. we have been given this figure — bit of a guess. we have been given this figure of 5 million who are unvaccinated for a long time. it is very hard — unvaccinated for a long time. it is very hard to — unvaccinated for a long time. it is very hard to determine how many unvaccinated there are. | very hard to determine how many unvaccinated there are.— very hard to determine how many unvaccinated there are. i would also sa , unvaccinated there are. i would also say. fergus. — unvaccinated there are. i would also say. fergus. and — unvaccinated there are. i would also say, fergus, and you _ unvaccinated there are. i would also say, fergus, and you are _ unvaccinated there are. i would also say, fergus, and you are very i unvaccinated there are. i would also say, fergus, and you are very good| say, fergus, and you are very good at this, if you don't know, you say you don't know. that is not a bad thing. there are some parts of these equations we don't know. it is fine to say so. good to catch up with you. stay well and we will speak to you. stay well and we will speak to you soon. you. stay well and we will speak to ou soon. . . you soon. thanks, fergus. eight minutes past — you soon. thanks, fergus. eight minutes past eight. _ you soon. thanks, fergus. eight minutes past eight. time - you soon. thanks, fergus. eight minutes past eight. time to i you soon. thanks, fergus. eight minutes past eight. time to get| you soon. thanks, fergus. eightl minutes past eight. time to get a festive look at the weather. carol was festive earlier on with the holly. that is a very beautiful picture, carol. the contrast between your bright red dress and that dull sky is rather lovely. thank you, naga. that is very nice of you. this morning it is cloudy and there is rain, there is drizzle. as we have got in this picture in oxfordshire. as naga said, it is a beautiful picture. we have got the risk of ice in parts of northern scotland for a wee while it —— for a wee while yet. this weather front is going to be pushing northwards and eastwards through the day. the heaviest rain across the north, limited in the south—east. the residual cloud behind that weather front. it should brighten up in south—west england, wales and northern ireland. as these front bums into the cold air in scotland we could see some hills now. brighter skies in the north—east of scotland and a cold wind. we have got a brisk breeze coming from a milder direction, the south, across parts of northern ireland, england and also wales. here, it is unseasonably mild. temperatures at this time of the year should be roughly six to 8 degrees, north to south. this evening and overnight here is the weather front, still producing some rain and also some snow. down to about 300 metres or so. we could see as much as ten centimetres. this will wax and wane as we go through the night. behind it there will be clear skies, there will also be some patchy mist and fog. a mild night across many areas for the time of the year. it is still cold across the north, with the risk of ice. we could see some frost. i will bring you the christmas forecast the risk of ice. we could see some frost. i will bring you the christmas forecast a the risk of ice. we could see some frost. i will bring you the christmas forecast a wee the risk of ice. we could see some frost. i will bring you the christmas forecast a wee bit the risk of ice. we could see some frost. i will bring you the christmas forecast a wee bit later. carol, thank you. many of us will be looking forward to enjoying christmas in the company of friends and family, but for some, a roof over their head, and a warm bed is all they ask for. for the next two weeks, the homeless charity crisis has booked out a number of hotels in london for those who would otherwise be spending the festive period on the streets. our reporter danjohnson is at one of them for us this morning. dan, good morning. isaid forsome, it's important for everyone. it is something we take for granted. most of us are fortunate enough to take for granted warmth, shelter, feeling safe and so many are? absolutely, yes. that is exactly the sort of _ absolutely, yes. that is exactly the sort of thing on offer here at this hotel— sort of thing on offer here at this hotel in— sort of thing on offer here at this hotel in central london. and some others _ hotel in central london. and some others that— hotel in central london. and some others that will be offering bags to hundreds— others that will be offering bags to hundreds of rough sleepers over the next fortnight. a huge operation staffed _ next fortnight. a huge operation staffed by volunteers who come forward — staffed by volunteers who come forward to help feed and look after those _ forward to help feed and look after those people over the festive period — those people over the festive period i_ those people over the festive period. i have been talking to somebody who has experienced homelessness. and molly's story will .ive homelessness. and molly's story will give you _ homelessness. and molly's story will give you the sense that it is not 'ust give you the sense that it is not just what — give you the sense that it is not just what you see on the streets, although— just what you see on the streets, although this hotel is for rough sleepers — although this hotel is for rough sleepers this christmas, homelessness is of course much more complicated — homelessness is of course much more complicated. mallia somebody who has experienced a precarious living, insecure — experienced a precarious living, insecure housing, and she was for a time _ insecure housing, and she was for a time sofa _ insecure housing, and she was for a time sofa surfing, and he spent time as well_ time sofa surfing, and he spent time as well as _ time sofa surfing, and he spent time as well as christmas living in a van on someone's driveway. —— she spent. i was in a very unstable situation. i was in a van. erm, i... ..it wasn't... i could have been kicked out at any minute. the water came through the roof when it was raining, you know, it was just — and it was cold, obviously. so i was just absolutely falling apart with, just... ..despair. you're just constantly surviving. you know, all you're dealing with is making sure you got somewhere to stay, and food. and, you know, and dealing with bureaucracy. there's always like a process, there's like a three month waiting list for something, there's an interview. you feel like you're interrogated. your, like, brain is just, like, overloaded. and just for your heart alone — my heart was pacing all the time. what's been the key to turning that around, then? the first step was the ability to get into the emergency accommodation. and definitely the continued support, erm, that came from crisis, absolutely on so many levels. it wasn'tjust, you know, making sure i had a roof over my head. it was checking in on my mental health, helping with all this stuff, like bureaucracy. most importantly, for me, was the final realisation of how much somebody really cares, and that they were kind of showing me that i can start to care more for myself. you know, we're all human. whatever the story, whatever the reasons, whatever�*s happening right now, whatever somebody�*s manifesting, you know, it's a result of the experience they've gone through. and, you know, we could all do with someone reaching out in some way. you have a bed, you have a roof, and you have some security? yes. more than i have done at all in the whole time i've been back in london. erm, and that's great. that's priceless, really. for a very long time i've been used to moving, moving, moving, and, like, constantly having my stuff in bags and disorganised. and, you know... it's still a process, erm, tojust kind of, for my brain to just go, it's ok, you can stay here. like, no one's going to kick you out. i mean, you never really know what's going to happen from one day to the next. but, you know, in the bigger picture, i'm in a very stable situation. and right now, i'm happy. so, i'm very grateful. and people are checking in here this morning. _ and people are checking in here this morning, ready for their stay for the next — morning, ready for their stay for the next couple of weeks. i can introduce — the next couple of weeks. i can introduce you tojohn, the boss of crisis. _ introduce you tojohn, the boss of crisis. and — introduce you tojohn, the boss of crisis, and to jason, one of the volunteers _ crisis, and to jason, one of the volunteers. you have been volunteering for a long time? yeah, 19 ears volunteering for a long time? yeah, 19 years this — volunteering for a long time? yeah, 19 years this year. _ volunteering for a long time? yeah, 19 years this year. let's _ volunteering for a long time? yeah, 19 years this year. let's talk - volunteering for a long time? yeah, 19 years this year. let's talk about l 19 years this year. let's talk about 50 ears 19 years this year. let's talk about 50 years of _ 19 years this year. let's talk about 50 years of this. _ 19 years this year. let's talk about 50 years of this. how _ 19 years this year. let's talk about 50 years of this. how much i 50 years of this. how much difference has now made? we 50 years of this. how much difference has now made? we have run it for 50 years- — difference has now made? we have run it for 50 years. which _ difference has now made? we have run it for 50 years. which is _ difference has now made? we have run it for 50 years. which is no _ difference has now made? we have run it for 50 years. which is no reason i it for 50 years. which is no reason for celebration. we started with 20 volunteers in 1971, now we run with thousands of volunteers each year. there are currently 272,000 people experiencing homelessness in britain, so we will keep doing it as long as we need to.— britain, so we will keep doing it as long as we need to. what were people exerience long as we need to. what were people exoerience in — long as we need to. what were people experience in the _ long as we need to. what were people experience in the next _ long as we need to. what were people experience in the next fortnight? i experience in the next fortnight? 0ver— experience in the next fortnight? over the — experience in the next fortnight? over the next couple of weeks we are providing hot meals, a place to stay, clothing, vaccinations. and then that vital support to move into our year—round services to help people move away from homelessness for good. people move away from homelessness for tood. . . people move away from homelessness for tood. , , i. people move away from homelessness foraood. , for good. give us your perspective on that, jason? _ for good. give us your perspective on that, jason? what _ for good. give us your perspective on that, jason? what is _ for good. give us your perspective on that, jason? what is your- for good. give us your perspective | on that, jason? what is your role? for good. give us your perspective i on that, jason? what is your role? i volunteer as — on that, jason? what is your role? i volunteer as a _ on that, jason? what is your role? i volunteer as a health _ on that, jason? what is your role? i volunteer as a health care _ on that, jason? what is your role? i | volunteer as a health care manager, so we _ volunteer as a health care manager, so we will— volunteer as a health care manager, so we will be — volunteer as a health care manager, so we will be seeing _ volunteer as a health care manager, so we will be seeing a _ volunteer as a health care manager, so we will be seeing a range - volunteer as a health care manager, so we will be seeing a range of- so we will be seeing a range of guest — so we will be seeing a range of guest this— so we will be seeing a range of guest this week, _ so we will be seeing a range of guest this week, with - so we will be seeing a range of guest this week, with various i guest this week, with various medical— guest this week, with various medical conditions, - guest this week, with various medical conditions, from i guest this week, with various| medical conditions, from skin problems. _ medical conditions, from skin problems, respiratory, - medical conditions, from skini problems, respiratory, mental health. — problems, respiratory, mental health. drug _ problems, respiratory, mental health, drug and _ problems, respiratory, mental health, drug and alcohol, i problems, respiratory, mental. health, drug and alcohol, urging people _ health, drug and alcohol, urging people to — health, drug and alcohol, urging people to be _ health, drug and alcohol, urging people to be vaccinated - health, drug and alcohol, urging people to be vaccinated againstl people to be vaccinated against covid — people to be vaccinated against covid that _ people to be vaccinated against covid that is _ people to be vaccinated against covid. that is one _ people to be vaccinated against covid. that is one of— people to be vaccinated against covid. that is one of the - people to be vaccinated against covid. that is one of the key. covid. that is one of the key priorities _ covid. that is one of the key priorities th— covid. that is one of the key priorities-— priorities. a big effort to get --eole priorities. a big effort to get people vaccinated _ priorities. a big effort to get people vaccinated while i priorities. a big effort to get| people vaccinated while they priorities. a big effort to get - people vaccinated while they are here? _ people vaccinated while they are here? , , ~ , people vaccinated while they are here? , , g ., , people vaccinated while they are here? , , g ., h, here? yes, definitely. my teams of doctors, here? yes, definitely. my teams of doctors. nurses. — here? yes, definitely. my teams of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, - here? yes, definitely. my teams of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, will| doctors, nurses, pharmacists, will be talking to people about getting vaccinated. stjohn�*s ambulance will be here providing vaccinations as well. the key message is, please get vaccinated to keep yourself well. and if it. ~ ., , ., .,~ , vaccinated to keep yourself well. and ifit. ~ ., , ., , and if it. what is it that makes you kee- and if it. what is it that makes you keep coming _ and if it. what is it that makes you keep coming back _ and if it. what is it that makes you keep coming back to _ and if it. what is it that makes you keep coming back to volunteer? i keep coming back to volunteer? crisis _ keep coming back to volunteer? crisis makes a difference as an organisation. it does a lot of work all year round. christmas is one of the highlights where we can talk to people. get them off the streets. get help throughout the year. so that actually we can end homelessness. and people often forget crisis is here all year round. lobbying, campaigning orable people face—to—face. —— helping people. what i like about the organisation is it is making a big difference to people's lives in many small ways. it difference to people's lives in many small ways-— difference to people's lives in many small ways-— small ways. it is an all year round roblem, small ways. it is an all year round problem. john- — small ways. it is an all year round problem, john. what _ small ways. it is an all year round problem, john. what happens, i small ways. it is an all year round | problem, john. what happens, the small ways. it is an all year round - problem, john. what happens, the new year when _ problem, john. what happens, the new year when these people have to leave his hotel? _ year when these people have to leave his hotel? 50 year when these people have to leave his hotel? ., year when these people have to leave his hotel? . , his hotel? so the main thing is we are working _ his hotel? so the main thing is we are working right _ his hotel? so the main thing is we are working right across _ his hotel? so the main thing is we are working right across the - his hotel? so the main thing is we are working right across the next | are working right across the next two weeks — are working right across the next two weeks to _ are working right across the next two weeks to give _ are working right across the next two weeks to give people - are working right across the next two weeks to give people advice | are working right across the next - two weeks to give people advice and support— two weeks to give people advice and suaport with — two weeks to give people advice and support with where _ two weeks to give people advice and support with where they— two weeks to give people advice and support with where they go - two weeks to give people advice and support with where they go next. . two weeks to give people advice and i support with where they go next. and where _ support with where they go next. and where people — support with where they go next. and where pepple even— support with where they go next. and where people even need _ support with where they go next. and where people even need to _ support with where they go next. and where people even need to stay - support with where they go next. and where people even need to stay a - support with where they go next. andl where people even need to stay a few more days, _ where people even need to stay a few more days, we — where people even need to stay a few more days, we will— where people even need to stay a few more days, we will be _ where people even need to stay a few more days, we will be able _ where people even need to stay a few more days, we will be able to - where people even need to stay a few more days, we will be able to do - more days, we will be able to do that if— more days, we will be able to do that if that's _ more days, we will be able to do that if that's what _ more days, we will be able to do that if that's what it _ more days, we will be able to do that if that's what it takes - more days, we will be able to do that if that's what it takes to - more days, we will be able to do that if that's what it takes to get| that if that's what it takes to get people _ that if that's what it takes to get peppte moved _ that if that's what it takes to get people moved on. _ that if that's what it takes to get people moved on. we _ that if that's what it takes to get people moved on. we can't - that if that's what it takes to get| people moved on. we can't solve everything — people moved on. we can't solve everything over— people moved on. we can't solve everything over christmas. - people moved on. we can't solve everything over christmas. a- people moved on. we can't solve everything over christmas. a lotl people moved on. we can't solve i everything over christmas. a lot of that is— everything over christmas. a lot of that is about — everything over christmas. a lot of that is about referring _ everything over christmas. a lot of that is about referring people - everything over christmas. a lot of that is about referring people intoi that is about referring people into our year-round _ that is about referring people into our year—round services _ that is about referring people into our year—round services to - that is about referring people into our year—round services to make. that is about referring people into - our year—round services to make sure we can _ our year—round services to make sure we can support — our year—round services to make sure we can sopport them _ our year—round services to make sure we can support them on _ our year—round services to make sure we can support them on an— our year—round services to make sure we can support them on an ongoing l we can support them on an ongoing basis _ we can support them on an ongoing basis. ., , ._ ., ., ., basis. people may have heard at the start of the pandemic _ basis. people may have heard at the start of the pandemic that _ basis. people may have heard at the | start of the pandemic that everybody was offered a bed. it seemed like we had solved _ was offered a bed. it seemed like we had solved the problem for a short time _ had solved the problem for a short time. ~ ., ., , had solved the problem for a short time. . . ., ., ., had solved the problem for a short time. ~ . ., ., , time. what has gone wrong? yes, the eve one time. what has gone wrong? yes, the everyone in — time. what has gone wrong? yes, the everyone in campaign _ time. what has gone wrong? yes, the everyone in campaign was _ time. what has gone wrong? yes, the everyone in campaign was a _ time. what has gone wrong? yes, the everyone in campaign was a great - everyone in campaign was a great success. 37,000 people went into hotel accommodation. at the underlying issues that cause homelessness are still there. building social housing, the level of housing benefits and so on. these big structural things need to happen. while they haven't happened, we will still be there to deliver what we deliver.— what we deliver. thank you. appreciate _ what we deliver. thank you. appreciate your _ what we deliver. thank you. appreciate your time, - what we deliver. thank you. appreciate your time, john l what we deliver. thank you. i appreciate your time, john and jason — appreciate your time, john and jason. thank you to everybody who has spoken — jason. thank you to everybody who has spoken to us. huge effort. lots of volunteers. offering people a bed and giving _ of volunteers. offering people a bed and giving them some sort of christmas inside this year. dan, _ christmas inside this year. dan. so _ christmas inside this year. dan, so valuable to see what is going on. thank you. we're joined now by the mayor of greater manchester, andy burnham, who is working to address the root causes of homelessness there. good morning. good morning. that was the situation — good morning. good morning. that was the situation in — good morning. good morning. that was the situation in london. _ good morning. good morning. that was the situation in london. give _ good morning. good morning. that was the situation in london. give us- good morning. good morning. that was the situation in london. give us a i the situation in london. give us a snapshot of greater manchester? fin snapshot of greater manchester? on the latest count of the number of people _ the latest count of the number of people sleeping rough we were back in double _ people sleeping rough we were back in double figures. that is the first time _ in double figures. that is the first time in _ in double figures. that is the first time in a — in double figures. that is the first time in a decade. so the good news is some _ time in a decade. so the good news is some of— time in a decade. so the good news is some of the things that we are doing _ is some of the things that we are doing are — is some of the things that we are doing are working. but crisis are a brilliant _ doing are working. but crisis are a brilliant organisation. they say there _ brilliant organisation. they say there are — brilliant organisation. they say there are still thousands and thousands of people in rough sleeping or temporary or emergency accommodation this christmas. can you imagine what that was for like two people, to be in that position at this— two people, to be in that position at this time of the year? it is really— at this time of the year? it is really awful. at this time of the year? it is really awful-— at this time of the year? it is really awful. last christmas, i remember — really awful. last christmas, i remember there _ really awful. last christmas, i remember there was - really awful. last christmas, i remember there was a - really awful. last christmas, i remember there was a big i really awful. last christmas, i i remember there was a big focus, because it's christmas, but also because it's christmas, but also because of covid, by the homeless. there were a lot of attention on hotels. there is always that fear that people like yourselves, and i am not pointing fingers, but they do something then because it is christmas, because there is heightened attention around it, and thenit heightened attention around it, and then it lapses. have you managed to have continuity, either you or the other services you work with? that is a very fair _ other services you work with? that is a very fair question. _ other services you work with? that is a very fair question. this topic is a very fair question. this topic is bedevilled by people doing things that are _ is bedevilled by people doing things that are short lived and then they io that are short lived and then they go on _ that are short lived and then they go on to— that are short lived and then they go on to something else. no, here in go onto something else. no, here in greater— go on to something else. no, here in greater manchester i have set up a scheme _ greater manchester i have set up a scheme called a bed every night. so last night, _ scheme called a bed every night. so last night, on a cold night, over 600 _ last night, on a cold night, over 600 people were supported in that scheme, _ 600 people were supported in that scheme, a — 600 people were supported in that scheme, a permanent scheme. it is notjust— scheme, a permanent scheme. it is notiust a _ scheme, a permanent scheme. it is notjust a bed, it is the same bed every— notjust a bed, it is the same bed every night — notjust a bed, it is the same bed every night. when people go into it, they can _ every night. when people go into it, they can stay where they are. that is why— they can stay where they are. that is why it _ they can stay where they are. that is why it is — they can stay where they are. that is why it is beginning to have results _ is why it is beginning to have results. we fund it, it's a struggle _ results. we fund it, it's a struggle. if i'm honest. we raise funds— struggle. if i'm honest. we raise funds voluntarily, the greater manchester mare's charity, which i donate _ manchester mare's charity, which i donate part— manchester mare's charity, which i donate part of my salary to command lots of _ donate part of my salary to command lots of other— donate part of my salary to command lots of other people can donate to. some _ lots of other people can donate to. some of— lots of other people can donate to. some of the money i raise. that is through— some of the money i raise. that is through my— some of the money i raise. that is through my preset. the health service — through my preset. the health service put some money on, the probation — service put some money on, the probation service. we work hard to find it— probation service. we work hard to find it but— probation service. we work hard to find it but it — probation service. we work hard to find it but it is a struggle. it is getting — find it but it is a struggle. it is getting real results. it is one of the big — getting real results. it is one of the big reasons why we are back in double _ the big reasons why we are back in double figures with the number of people _ double figures with the number of people sleeping rough.— people sleeping rough. sleeping rouah and people sleeping rough. sleeping rough and homelessness - people sleeping rough. sleeping rough and homelessness are i people sleeping rough. sleeping| rough and homelessness are two different things. homelessness can be actually you being in a property where you don't feel safe. and you are vulnerable. when you put homeless, or rough sleeper is coming to these hotels, it is for one night and there is a bed every night. when you are rough sleeping and homeless, isn't it more productive to put them into a system where they are educated, they are all given more help, given more support, to enable them to have the confidence to then move into sheltered accommodation and their own accommodation eventually? isn't that the solution rather than this stopgap? filth. rather than this stopgap? 0h, definitely- _ rather than this stopgap? 0h, definitely. i _ rather than this stopgap? 0h, definitely. i am _ rather than this stopgap? 0h, definitely. i am not— rather than this stopgap? oh, definitely. i am not going to say that every— definitely. i am not going to say that every night is the full solution, it is not. what you are describing — solution, it is not. what you are describing is the solution. on the street— describing is the solution. on the street vour— describing is the solution. on the street your physical and mental health— street your physical and mental health take a real hit. the recovery from _ health take a real hit. the recovery from that _ health take a real hit. the recovery from that will take some time. we are one _ from that will take some time. we are one of— from that will take some time. we are one of the pilot areas for something called housing first. housing — something called housing first. housing first is a finnish idea, which — housing first is a finnish idea, which says— housing first is a finnish idea, which says you have to give people not just _ which says you have to give people notjust property, bricks and mortar. _ notjust property, bricks and mortar, but then a whole range of support— mortar, but then a whole range of support so— mortar, but then a whole range of support so they can have breathing space, _ support so they can have breathing space, if— support so they can have breathing space, if you like, to recover. we have _ space, if you like, to recover. we have set — space, if you like, to recover. we have set up — space, if you like, to recover. we have set up a _ space, if you like, to recover. we have set up a pilot, the west midlands and liverpool city region .ot midlands and liverpool city region got funds from the government to do this, and _ got funds from the government to do this, and it _ got funds from the government to do this, and it has really worked. we have _ this, and it has really worked. we have helped 300 people through housing — have helped 300 people through housing first. the success rate of the tenancies is 90%. the really good _ the tenancies is 90%. the really good news — the tenancies is 90%. the really good news is we just got word in the last couple _ good news is we just got word in the last couple of days that the government is going to extend it for two more _ government is going to extend it for two more years. credit to them for that _ two more years. credit to them for that. :: ., two more years. credit to them for that. i: ., two more years. credit to them for that. :: ., ., ., that. 270 of those are now in permanent — that. 270 of those are now in permanent accommodation l that. 270 of those are now in i permanent accommodation and that. 270 of those are now in _ permanent accommodation and moving towards...? permanent accommodation and moving towards. . . ? , permanent accommodation and moving towards...? , ., , towards. . . ? then they move beyond housina towards. . . ? then they move beyond housing first — towards. . . ? then they move beyond housing first into _ towards. . . ? then they move beyond housing first into their _ towards. . . ? then they move beyond housing first into their own - towards. . . ? then they move beyond housing first into their own home. i housing first into their own home. the bed _ housing first into their own home. the bed every night stabilises people — the bed every night stabilises people. they can move onto housing schemes— people. they can move onto housing schemes like housing first and then they can _ schemes like housing first and then they can go on to their own home. and the _ they can go on to their own home. and the thing is, it is an awful problem. _ and the thing is, it is an awful problem, homelessness. it is getting bigger— problem, homelessness. it is getting bigger and _ problem, homelessness. it is getting bigger and bigger. when problem, homelessness. it is getting bigger and bigger-— bigger and bigger. when you talk about it, what _ bigger and bigger. when you talk about it, what are _ bigger and bigger. when you talk about it, what are the _ bigger and bigger. when you talk about it, what are the numbers? | bigger and bigger. when you talk i about it, what are the numbers? that is 300. 270 is 90% out of that. how many homeless people are in manchester? it many homeless people are in manchester?— many homeless people are in manchester? , . , ., manchester? it is much bigger than that, manchester? it is much bigger than that. actually. _ manchester? it is much bigger than that, actually, naga. _ manchester? it is much bigger than that, actually, naga. there - manchester? it is much bigger than that, actually, naga. there are i that, actually, naga. there are families— that, actually, naga. there are families in— that, actually, naga. there are families in emergency accommodation, bed & _ families in emergency accommodation, bed & breakfast, but there is hidden homeless _ bed & breakfast, but there is hidden homeless. young people who are sofa surfing _ homeless. young people who are sofa surfing you _ homeless. young people who are sofa surfing. you can't actually see them — surfing. you can't actually see them. ~ ., ., surfing. you can't actually see them. . . . , surfing. you can't actually see them. ~ ., ., , it is them. what are the numbers? it is impossible — them. what are the numbers? it is impossible to _ them. what are the numbers? it is impossible to know. _ them. what are the numbers? it is impossible to know. there - them. what are the numbers? it is impossible to know. there are i them. what are the numbers? it is| impossible to know. there are tens of thousands of people are possibly hundreds— of thousands of people are possibly hundreds in that situation. across the country— hundreds in that situation. across the country crisis are saying a quarter— the country crisis are saying a quarter of— the country crisis are saying a quarter of a million. you the country crisis are saying a quarter of a million. you would know about manchester? _ quarter of a million. you would know about manchester? we _ quarter of a million. you would know about manchester? we do. - quarter of a million. you would know about manchester? we do. we i quarter of a million. you would know| about manchester? we do. we would estimate there _ about manchester? we do. we would estimate there are _ about manchester? we do. we would estimate there are 50 _ about manchester? we do. we would estimate there are 50 to _ about manchester? we do. we would estimate there are 50 to 100,000 i estimate there are 50 to 100,000 people _ estimate there are 50 to 100,000 people in— estimate there are 50 to 100,000 people in the position. certainly during _ people in the position. certainly during the pandemic more of those people _ during the pandemic more of those people could claim homeless because there are _ people could claim homeless because there are sofa surfing arrangement broke _ there are sofa surfing arrangement broke down when the pandemic started — broke down when the pandemic started. we have seen a lot of new people _ started. we have seen a lot of new people come onto the street during the pandemic. this is a novel problem _ the pandemic. this is a novel problem but the good news from greater— problem but the good news from greater manchester is it is fixable. if greater manchester is it is fixable. if you _ greater manchester is it is fixable. if you put — greater manchester is it is fixable. if you put in — greater manchester is it is fixable. if you put in place a scheme like a bed every— if you put in place a scheme like a bed every night, housing first, you can actually — bed every night, housing first, you can actually help people on a journey— can actually help people on a journey of recovery away from the street _ journey of recovery away from the street. ., ., , .. journey of recovery away from the street. . ., ,~' , ., journey of recovery away from the street. . ., , ., ., street. can i ask you about the situation in _ street. can i ask you about the situation in relation _ street. can i ask you about the situation in relation to - street. can i ask you about the situation in relation to covid i street. can i ask you about the l situation in relation to covid and staff, particularly? what we know is that all today there is some amount of good news, it guardedly said about omicron and its severity, but nonetheless, people are being kept away from work because more and more people are testing positive and the suggestion is that it's going to get worse. 50, what are suggestion is that it's going to get worse. so, what are your suggestion is that it's going to get worse. 50, what are your forecasts in terms of your staff, who are doing essentialjobs in and around greater manchester?— doing essentialjobs in and around greater manchester? when i chaired the greatest — greater manchester? when i chaired the greatest -- _ greater manchester? when i chaired the greatest -- greater— greater manchester? when i chaired the greatest -- greater manchester| the greatest —— greater manchester covid _ the greatest —— greater manchester covid committee earlier this week the issue — covid committee earlier this week the issue of maintaining public service, — the issue of maintaining public service, business continuity, was the biggest singles —— single wari on the _ the biggest singles —— single wari on the minds of all of the services. to give _ on the minds of all of the services. to give you — on the minds of all of the services. to give you an illustration of why they are — to give you an illustration of why they are worried, in greater manchester police about 7% of the workforce — manchester police about 7% of the workforce is either off ill or isolating. it rises to about 10% in the nhs — isolating. it rises to about 10% in the nhs. that of course is a worry. that will— the nhs. that of course is a worry. that will be — the nhs. that of course is a worry. that will be on the minds of the government at the moment. now a trans- — government at the moment. now a trans— system it is about 15%. —— tram _ trans— system it is about 15%. —— tram that — trans— system it is about 15%. —— tram that is _ trans— system it is about 15%. —— tram. that is difficult when you're trying _ tram. that is difficult when you're trying to— tram. that is difficult when you're trying to maintain services. these are the _ trying to maintain services. these are the other considerations in the minds _ are the other considerations in the minds of— are the other considerations in the minds of people like myself and the government when we are looking at omicron _ government when we are looking at omicron figures. i think the government has been right not to rush to _ government has been right not to rush to restrictions. i do think they— rush to restrictions. i do think they have _ rush to restrictions. i do think they have actually been right to take time to look at the data that is coming — take time to look at the data that is coming through. because what we know— is coming through. because what we know is— is coming through. because what we know is it _ is coming through. because what we know is it is — is coming through. because what we know is it is certain that if you put restrictions in it was damaged people's— put restrictions in it was damaged people's mental health. you have to be careful— people's mental health. you have to be careful at this stage of the pandemic that whatever is done is proportionate. the pandemic that whatever is done is proportionate-— pandemic that whatever is done is proportionate. the reduction in days of isolation to _ proportionate. the reduction in days of isolation to seven _ proportionate. the reduction in days of isolation to seven days _ proportionate. the reduction in days of isolation to seven days from i proportionate. the reduction in days of isolation to seven days from ten, | of isolation to seven days from ten, that happened this week. that surely will help in terms of staffing. have you been privy to any discussions about emergency workers having even fewer days to isolate if they test? because what we hear from the nhs, the police, the transport secretary, is that society will be affected if this does not change? brute is that society will be affected if this does not change? we expect the government — this does not change? we expect the government might _ this does not change? we expect the government might shorten _ this does not change? we expect the government might shorten the i this does not change? we expect the government might shorten the time | government might shorten the time for nhs _ government might shorten the time for nhs staff given where the nhs has got _ for nhs staff given where the nhs has got to. we were discussing that very issue~ — has got to. we were discussing that very issue. we imagine we might have to ask— very issue. we imagine we might have to ask the _ very issue. we imagine we might have to ask the government for that going into january. to ask the government for that going into january-— into january. three days, five days? you don't want _ into january. three days, five days? you don't want to _ into january. three days, five days? you don't want to cut _ into january. three days, five days? you don't want to cut corners i into january. three days, five days? you don't want to cut corners and i you don't want to cut corners and put the _ you don't want to cut corners and put the public at risk, but i think there _ put the public at risk, but i think there is— put the public at risk, but i think there is a — put the public at risk, but i think there is a case for using lateral flow— there is a case for using lateral flow tests, people who perhaps were close contacts of people. there are different _ close contacts of people. there are different ways of looking at it. but certainty. — different ways of looking at it. but certainly, the maintenance of public services, _ certainly, the maintenance of public services, the pressure on the nhs, is the _ services, the pressure on the nhs, is the big _ services, the pressure on the nhs, is the big concern. there was good news _ is the big concern. there was good news yesterday, better news, about the severity of omicron. but the worry _ the severity of omicron. but the worry stilt— the severity of omicron. but the worry still is because it is so transmissible, because of the numbers— transmissible, because of the numbers of people who might have it at the _ numbers of people who might have it at the same — numbers of people who might have it at the same time, that could put a lot of— at the same time, that could put a lot of people in hospital but it also _ lot of people in hospital but it also could have an impact on the running — also could have an impact on the running of— also could have an impact on the running of the nhs.— also could have an impact on the running of the nhs. when are you askin: for running of the nhs. when are you asking for that? _ running of the nhs. when are you asking for that? we've _ running of the nhs. when are you asking for that? we've got - running of the nhs. when are you| asking for that? we've got another meetin: in asking for that? we've got another meeting in the _ asking for that? we've got another meeting in the next _ asking for that? we've got another meeting in the next few _ asking for that? we've got another meeting in the next few days i asking for that? we've got another meeting in the next few days and l asking for that? we've got another i meeting in the next few days and we will be _ meeting in the next few days and we will be keeping a close eye on it. it is manageable at the moment. but the question charley hasted is the question— the question charley hasted is the question that is foremost in the minds _ question that is foremost in the minds of— question that is foremost in the minds of many of our public service professionals in greater manchester. good to _ professionals in greater manchester. good to have you here. christmas is just around the corner, so i hope everything goes well. a lot of measures taken place to help the homeless, which is where we begun. thank you. homeless, which is where we begun. thank ou. ., time now to get the news, travel and weather where you are. hello, here are the top stories in london and the south east this morning. the mp for crawley says england should not introduce tighter covid restrictions in response to rising case numbers. henry smith says he wouldn't support measures like those introduced elsewhere in the uk unless there was a significant rise in the number of people seriously ill in hospital with covid. the crawley economy relies heavily on gatwick airport and was hard hit by previous lockdowns. i think scotland and wales are overly cautious when it comes to the threat of omicron. i think the government for england have got it about right in terms of the restrictions that are in place. we can't keep on closing down our economy — that is deeply damaging. a man has beenjailed for causing the death of his daughter who he threw into a cot in edgware more than 20 years ago. maisie newell — who was adopted by another family afterwards — died as a result of her injuries when she was 13. dean smith, from bushey, previously served three years in prison for the assault. the 46—year—old has now been sentenced to another three and a half years after pleading guilty to manslaughter. a panel of experts due to examine plans to build a theme park in kent say they have rising concerns about delays to the process. an application to build the london resort on the swanscombe peninsula was submitted last december but a public inquiry has been postponed after the site was given protected wildlife status. local business owners say the uncertainty is stressful. we have to get this finished. it either has to be — we need certainty. we have to get closure on this issue. either this application has to be thrown out or it has to go ahead. but whatever happens, it has got to happen soon. and the first christmas getaway for two years means nearly half of us have travel plans this christmas, according to a new survey by transport focus. most are expected to travel by road, but gatwick airport is expecting nearly three quarters of a million passengers over the festive holidays — nearly seven times more than this time last year. though still down on pre—pandemic levels. the weather now with elizabeth rizzini. good morning. a different feeling day of weather today for london and the south east. it will be an awful lot milder — temperatures well above average for the time of year. already, a mild, frost—free start to the morning. temperatures in mid—single figures. it is quite grey, it is misty and murky out there. we will be keeping those layers of cloud as we head through the day — also some outbreaks of light rain and drizzle, particularly as we head through the afternoon. top temperatures all the way up to ii—i2. that is a big jump from where we were yesterday. overnight tonight, the skies will clear behind this front — lows of 6—8c. also, some mist and fog patches developing into tomorrow morning, so poor visibility as we start christmas eve, which is looking dry throughout the day. a touch cooler, but still mild. plenty of cloud, but some rain expected as we head into the evening. more from me just after 9. good morning, welcome to breakfast with naga munchetty and charlie stayt. chances are you might be waiting for a parcel to arrive before be careful when you award it is late be careful when you award it is [ate it might not be from the company. ben can tell us more. it is the time of year you get anxious. you might be quicker to respond to something in other circumstances you might be alarmed by. circumstances you might be alarmed b . ., ., circumstances you might be alarmed by. you are right. good morning. i think that is _ by. you are right. good morning. i think that is probably _ by. you are right. good morning. i think that is probably what - by. you are right. good morning. i think that is probably what the i think that is probably what the scammers count on. we are distracted at this time with a lot of things arriving and you might be tempted to fall victim to a scammer. they always get more sophisticated and the latest is called smishing, when you get a text pretending to be a delivery firm. they say they have a parcel but they need your bank details, perhaps to pay a small fee to get it re—delivered because they missed you at home. fishd to get it re-delivered because they missed you at home.— missed you at home. and it might only seem — missed you at home. and it might only seem like — missed you at home. and it might only seem like a _ missed you at home. and it might only seem like a small— missed you at home. and it might only seem like a small fee - missed you at home. and it might only seem like a small fee but i missed you at home. and it mightj only seem like a small fee but the problem comes down the line when they might use the bank details to take money out of your account without permission. in some cases costing you thousands of pounds. as you said, at this time of year it is probably easy to get caught out because we are waiting for things to because we are waiting for things to be delivered and you might be distracted sorting out everything else and you might click on the link and fall victim to it. for the scammers, it is a lucrative time to be doing this. it is expected more than a million of these scam text messages will be sent this week and half of them pretending to be from a delivery firm. it is not the first time it has happened. last year almost £97 million was lost of this type of fraud. they managed to get back about half of that money by reporting it to the authorities and then the money was reclaimed but not everyone is so lucky. this time of year, when we might be distracted, it is expected scammers will try to cash in. the number of suspicious text messages reported are three times greater than they were this times greater than they were this time last year. what is the motivation behind this? what we have seen is they get your £2.99. you enter your credit card and banking information. we have seen them use your credit card number to then buy stuff, or use your banking credentials to set up something like apple pay. but worse, what we have seen then is that the scammer calls from your bank purporting to be from your bank to say that we have noticed fraud, we have noticed these charges. and, of course, the consumer gets duped because they have noticed the charges on their credit card and bank account as well. that they have not authorised. so they trust this call is from the bank taking care of them, but actually it is the scammer that's wanting more data. how can you be sure any text message you get is genuine? the first bit of advice is do not click the link in the text message. if you are not sure, go to the company website, type in your tracking number, it should tell you where it is and if there is anything to pay. if you fall victim, and crucially if you have given your bank details. first of all tell your bank and they might be able to stop it. you could also report it to 7726 and they might be able to work out where it is coming from and in some cases help get your money back and help make sure others don't fall victim. delivery firms say they never do this. this is what the royal mail said. two of the really common scams we see our text messages that say, you've got a customs fee to pay, click here to pay it. or, we missed a delivery, click here. they are asking you to make a payment or they are asking you to put in your personal details, which they are then looking to use for future crime. if we ever send a message like that, we will always put something through the door. we love putting things through the letterbox. so we will always put either a a red "something for you" card, if there is an item we can deliver. ora grey "fee to pay" card that will always come through the door. so if you receive a message from us where we ask you to make a payment, don't make the payment until you have received that card through your door. all of these scams getting more sophisticated and preying on the fact we might be distracted time, because we expect a lot of deliveries to come through and you might be worried about one making it before christmas or tempted to organise a redelivery. do not click the link in any text message. if in doubt, look at the company website or telephone them to find out where your parcel is an crucially if there is a feed to pay. that is what the scammers hope you will fall victim to, offering bank details and they can take money later down the line. we are warned. and be nice to the parcel delivery person. a seven—year—old girl, who has been fundraising with her mum to pay for a bionic arm, will finally get her wish after raising £10,000 through crowdfunding. eloise, who was born without a left hand, will get the artificial limb in the new year. now she's got a special message for everyone who has helped her achieve her dream. let's take a look. hi, i'm eloise and i'm seven. hello, i'm charlotte, i'm eloise's mum. ijust remember it being really emotional. do you know what we've got? no. £10,000! we originally found open bionics when eloise was maybe three. so it's been something that's always been in mine and eloise's minds for a very long time. you're getting a new arm, baby. are you happy? it got cancelled through covid, pushed back to january 18th. now we're going to measure your arm. yeah. _ check all your muscle strength, that you've been doing your exercises. i have to tense my arm up and you have to do this. mummy has to hold it. and then we canjust see, feel her muscles on the top and on the bottom tensing, because the sensors of the arm will actually go to here and to here, and that's what operates the arm. we can choose two. when i put my pink one on, that's just going to be like when i chill. and then, my frozen one's going to be when i go out, at school and that. we're just so unbelievably grateful, not even just everybody who's donated, everybody who's shared on social media, everybody who's watched, everybody who spread the word. what do you say to everyone? thank you. i keep eloise the way she is. good girl, that's it. i mean, she can do everything. she's brilliant, but it's more for her, sort of herself. it's one of, erm, dreams to get my arm. this is my wish come true! i'm happy to do whatever you want to do, aren't i? whatever we can make possible. hip—hip! hooray! merry christmas, everybody. i hope you're having a merry christmas. thank you, everybody, for donating, who did. and we hope she and herfamily and we hope she and her family have a fantastic christmas. baht! and we hope she and her family have a fantastic christmas.— a fantastic christmas. and they will have matching _ a fantastic christmas. and they will have matching outfits _ a fantastic christmas. and they will have matching outfits at _ a fantastic christmas. and they will| have matching outfits at christmas, as well. see the trend? thea;t have matching outfits at christmas, as well. see the trend?— as well. see the trend? they do it well. as well. see the trend? they do it well- talking _ as well. see the trend? they do it well. talking about _ as well. see the trend? they do it well. talking about brienne i as well. see the trend? they do it | well. talking about brienne outfits and how they _ well. talking about brienne outfits and how they complement - well. talking about brienne outfits and how they complement the i and how they complement the background, carol.— and how they complement the background, carol. very nice of you. this morning. _ background, carol. very nice of you. this morning. it— background, carol. very nice of you. this morning, it is _ background, carol. very nice of you. this morning, it is milder _ background, carol. very nice of you. this morning, it is milder for - background, carol. very nice of you. this morning, it is milder for most l this morning, it is milderfor most than yesterday. yesterday, it was -10 than yesterday. yesterday, it was —10 in aberdeenshire. and also in braemar. nothing like that today. very mild in england, wales and northern ireland. we have outbreaks of rain. that is because this weather front is moving across. this is the decaying one. behind the weather front, is the decaying one. behind the weatherfront, the isobars coming from the south—west, a mild direction. a lot of cloud. still the risk of ice in the far north of scotland. in comes the rain through northern ireland, scotland, northern england and clearing to the east of england. behind it some cloud and drizzle. but it should brighten up in south—west england, wales and northern ireland later. the breeze picking up as well here. temperatures of note. 12 in belfast and cardiff. 13 in plymouth. compared to what we look at further north, between 5—7. in the north of the country, temperatures where they should be at this stage in december. as we come south, they are higher. overnight, the rain continues across scotland, and as it bumps into cold air, we could see above 300 metres as much as ten centimetres of snow. any snow at lower levels is likely to be a flurry. further south, cloud. some mist and fog forming. cloud broken in parts of scotland and where we have had damp surfaces, there could be ice. and frost. the decaying front across the north on christmas eve. still producing flurries. a lot of cloud around tomorrow. and then a new front introducing rain in northern ireland, wales, the south—west. with it, the wind will strengthen. these are the temperatures... we still have a battle going on between cold air in the north and mild in the south. dependent on how far south and north it travels depends on what we get. this is what we think on christmas day at the moment. rain across the west. a lot of cloud. and where this engages with the colder air, we are likely to see snow. if we see snow, most of it on the hills. the same in northern ireland, northern england and north wales and later the southern uplands. but it is a big if. further north, and further south, still in the is a big if. further north, and further south, still in the mild air. that is exciting. it is. i love the weather, so this is right up my street. just as well you do the weather. that has been fortuitous. very much so. we will not see you before christmas. have a lovely christmas. i am in tomorrow. excellent. save the emotion for tomorrow. last month we reported on a nasa space agency mishra to launch a rocket. and it is thought a strategy would save as if something was on a collision course. this is the subject of a netflix film don't look up. this comet is what we call a planet killer. that is correct. so how certain is this? there's100% certainty of impact. please, don't say 100%. shall we just call it _ a potentially significant event? but it isn't potentially going to happen, it is going to happen. exactly. 99.87%, to be exact. oh, great, so it is not 100%. scientists never like to say 100%. call it 70%. let's move on. ok, as it's damaging, i will it hit this one house in particular that's right- on the coast of newjersey? it's my ex—wife's house. i need it to be hit. can we make it happen? stop. i will, but in all seriousness... i'm sorry, are we not being clear? we are trying to tell you that the entire planet is about to be destroyed. well, you know, it's something we do around here. just keep the bad news light. a bit of an insight into television. professor cox, hello. how are you? very well. do you recognise that breakfast television? | very well. do you recognise that breakfast television? thankfully, i think that was _ breakfast television? thankfully, i think that was an _ breakfast television? thankfully, i think that was an evening - breakfast television? thankfully, i- think that was an evening programme. i think leonardo dicaprio, did you compare yourself to him? ihlat i think leonardo dicaprio, did you compare yourself to him? not that bit. but compare yourself to him? not that bit- but what _ compare yourself to him? not that bit. but what is _ compare yourself to him? not that bit. but what is interesting, i compare yourself to him? not that bit. but what is interesting, it i compare yourself to him? not that bit. but what is interesting, it is i bit. but what is interesting, it is a beautifully written character. that position, when he says it is a 99.87% chance, that is where scientists and the media often lose the public. if you are very precise, as you saw, it was the president in that case, so it is not 100, we are probably all right! brute that case, so it is not 100, we are probably all right!— probably all right! we should not residents probably all right! we should not presidents by — probably all right! we should not presidents by meryl— probably all right! we should not presidents by meryl streep's i presidents by meryl streep's character in that. in that sense, which scientists do you think has nailed it in terms of communicating to us clearly? so many scientists with everyday names, who is getting it right in terms of clarity? most of them. it right in terms of clarity? most of them- it _ it right in terms of clarity? most of them. it is _ it right in terms of clarity? most of them. it is a _ it right in terms of clarity? most of them. it is a difficult - it right in terms of clarity? most of them. it is a difficult job. i it right in terms of clarity? i’j�*iksii of them. it is a difficultjob. this film, it is a comedy, a satire. but it does have a serious message, which is why i like it. i think it is valuable. it is saying we have reliable knowledge as a civilisation about things, about threats, be they climate change, pandemic disease, asteroid impact. the question is, given we have that knowledge, how do we convince people, the public, everybody, that this is the best knowledge we have and therefore we should act on it? it is difficult. it plays out in the film. this is a scientist who discovered a comet, which ultimately you can see in the sky. still, there is a debate about whether it is there. even though it is there for all to see. that is the dilemma we face. we need to solve it because some of these things, asteroid impacts in this case, are a threat and will happen at some point. threat and will happen at some oint. ., ., ,~' threat and will happen at some oint. . ., ,~' i. threat and will happen at some oint. . ., i. point. can i ask you something, we saw the scene. _ point. can i ask you something, we saw the scene, scientist _ point. can i ask you something, we saw the scene, scientist and i saw the scene, scientist and president. have you been in a scenario as the scientist, faced with. .. scenario as the scientist, faced with... i will not name a politician, but a politician, saying, do you not get it? do you not understand? can you picture yourself, have you been in that circumstance? i yourself, have you been in that circumstance?— yourself, have you been in that circumstance? . , ., circumstance? i was in a meeting. it was a mile — circumstance? i was in a meeting. it was a mile ago _ circumstance? i was in a meeting. it was a mile ago but _ circumstance? i was in a meeting. it was a mile ago but i _ circumstance? i was in a meeting. it was a mile ago but i was _ circumstance? i was in a meeting. it was a mile ago but i was in - circumstance? i was in a meeting. it was a mile ago but i was in a - was a mile ago but i was in a meeting once when i found out afterwards they called to be intellectually aggressive. they did not want to listen because i had essentially told them the level of our knowledge. jennifer lawrence's character... i was closer to jennifer lawrence than leonardo dicaprio in career terms. she is wonderful in the film. she is a young scientist and very direct. you hear her say. you did not play the bit where she was extremely direct because you cannot play it at breakfast but in the film she is very forceful. as you get more experience with dealing with politicians, important people in society, you try to play the game and try to get your message across. you see leonardo dicaprio in the film doing that. he you see leonardo dicaprio in the film doing that.— film doing that. he goes a little bit far. i will — film doing that. he goes a little bit far. i will ask _ film doing that. he goes a little bit far. i will ask the _ film doing that. he goes a little bit far. i will ask the question, | bit far. i will ask the question, who was it who said that to you and what date was it? just who was it who said that to you and what date was it?— what date was it? just the details. it was a previous _ what date was it? just the details. it was a previous government, i what date was it? just the details. it was a previous government, not this one. but that does not say much. they come and go so fast, these days. brute much. they come and go so fast, these days-— these days. we will let that sit there. these days. we will let that sit there- you _ these days. we will let that sit there. you are _ these days. we will let that sit there. you are going _ these days. we will let that sit there. you are going on i these days. we will let that sit there. you are going on tour i these days. we will let that sit i there. you are going on tour and taking your message to the people. that is the thing you love most. sharing stuff with people. the learnina sharing stuff with people. the learning curve. _ sharing stuff with people. the learning curve. i— sharing stuff with people. tue: learning curve. i am sharing stuff with people. he learning curve. i am taking sharing stuff with people. tt9 learning curve. i am taking a huge arena tour out next september. part of the message of those shows is the message of this film, which is that one, we live in a violent, dangerous universe and we do not see it. we look into the night sky and see the lovely stars, it seems nothing changes and we are safe. it is an illusion. the famous one is 66 million years ago when the dinosaurs were wiped out by an impact. there was one in 1908 in siberia that hit over the forest. only 50 metres across, a little rock. hit over siberia and flattened 200,000 square kilometres of forest. it exploded with the power of many atomic bombs. if that exploded over a city it would have flatten the city and that was in 1908. these things happen and this is part of the message of my tour. the only way we can protect this unbelievably valuable planet, possibly the only planet in the milky way galaxy where intelligent civilisation lives, the only way is to take these messages seriously and learn more about the universe. and you referred to the mission. that is what it is doing, we learn what will happen with the impact of an asteroid. t happen with the impact of an asteroid. .. :, ,, :, happen with the impact of an asteroid. :, ,, :, ., , ., asteroid. i cannot think of anyone less intellectually _ asteroid. i cannot think of anyone less intellectually aggressive. i asteroid. i cannot think of anyone | less intellectually aggressive. the term is inappropriate. let’s less intellectually aggressive. the term is inappropriate.— less intellectually aggressive. the term is inappropriate. let's get rid of that. i term is inappropriate. let's get rid of that- i get _ term is inappropriate. let's get rid of that. i get frustrated. _ term is inappropriate. let's get rid of that. i get frustrated. my i term is inappropriate. let's get rid of that. i get frustrated. my live i of that. i get frustrated. my live shows, the universe is a beautiful place. studying it, it tells us and informs us we are tremendously fortunate to be here and you see that in the film. also, it tells us learning about nature is never a bad idea. it might conflict with your comfortable ideas, it might pose a challenge you don't like politically, economically. but these are facts. politically, economically. but these are facts- you _ politically, economically. but these are facts. you are _ politically, economically. but these are facts. you are always _ politically, economically. but these are facts. you are always welcome | politically, economically. but these are facts. you are always welcome here. politically, economically. but these are facts. you are always welcome here. to politically, economically. but! thesis are facts. you are always welcome here. to see politically, economically. but! thesis are facts. you are always welcome here. to see you. politically, economically. but! thesis are facts. you are always welcome here. to see you. thank politically, economically. but! thesis are facts. you are always welcome here. to see you. thank you. don't look up is in cinemas now, and is available on netflix from tomorrow. a lost episode of the morecambe and wise show has been discovered in an attic after more than 50 years. it hasn't been seen since it was broadcast in october 1970, but will be shown on bbc two this christmas as our media and arts correspondent david sillito reports. morecambe and wise, october 1970, and what would become a familiar setting for many classic sketches — eric and ernie at home in pyjamas. and the name on the card is mr eric morecambe. i hello, mr morecambe. hello, hello! _ are you there, mr morecambe? yes, speak up. but unlike so many of their shows, this has not been repeatedly re—shown. it was thought to have been lost. that is until eric's son gary paid a visit to his mother's attic. i was rummaging around mainly looking for paperwork. i was looking, actually, for old scripts, because some of them had gone missing. and then i came across all these cylinders. i thought very little of them, except they were big and old and worth bringing down. he had no idea what was in the canisters until he got a call from someone who finally watched the footage and told him... i think you will be very surprised to learn you have just found a missing show. and i really was, i was staggered. i thought that was incredible. would you care to try to hit me over the head with your umbrella, sir? hit you over the head with my umbrella? i yes, please. all right, if you insist. i didn't realise, at that point, just how far the bbc would go then to present it. that it would then get colourised, for instance, which is fantastic. so it has been brought bang up to date. don't light your pipe in here, it's not allowed! look out, the nurse is coming. get rid of it, quick. and also, what's really good is the quality. the quality of the show itself. you can see the embryonic morecambe and wise come through, and that's fantastic. so now, restored and colourised, a chance to see a bit of comedy history which has, until now, been lost in the family attic. mr morecambe. _ yes, that's true, that's true. yes, that's me. for £85.| oh, yes. do you have any idea whose voice this is? i it's you! david sillito, bbc news. there will be many looking forward to that. including angela rippon. good morning. good morning. iwas good morning. i was having the giggles listening to that.- giggles listening to that. fancy that? it was — giggles listening to that. fancy that? it was just _ giggles listening to that. fancy that? it wasjust discovered . giggles listening to that. fancy that? it wasjust discovered in | giggles listening to that. fancy l that? it wasjust discovered in an that? it was just discovered in an attic. that? it was 'ust discovered in an attic. , ~' ., that? it was 'ust discovered in an attic. , ~ ., .,., ., , attic. yes, i know, extraordinary. and terrifie- _ attic. yes, i know, extraordinary. and terrific. gary _ attic. yes, i know, extraordinary. and terrific. gary is _ attic. yes, i know, extraordinary. and terrific. gary is a _ attic. yes, i know, extraordinary. and terrific. gary is a great - and terrific. gary is a great archivist of his father's work and to have found notjust a script but an actual show, bearing in mind how many of their programmes they did for bbc and itv have been shown over and again and are available on cd and again and are available on cd and online, to find one people have not seen since the 19705 is fantastic. that wonderful new material. and as he says, the morecambe and wise we remember and love in their embryonic form. it has not been seen _ love in their embryonic form. it has not been seen since _ love in their embryonic form. it has not been seen since 1970. - love in their embryonic form. it has not been seen since 1970. angela, | love in their embryonic form. it has| not been seen since 1970. angela, i never know the full story. you see newsreaders, journalists on strictly come dancing. that happens. but, some time ago, when you were invited, you break the mould. tell me the story of how you were invited by morecambe and wise. you cannot underestimate how huge they were at that time. but also to say yes and not have a clue about how it would impact on you. you not have a clue about how it would impact on vom— not have a clue about how it would impact on yep-— impact on you. you are right. two generations _ impact on you. you are right. two generations of — impact on you. you are right. two generations of people _ impact on you. you are right. two generations of people who - impact on you. you are right. two generations of people who watch | generations of people who watch their programmes think yes, they are funny, but they were not born when they were at the peak of their profession. it is difficult for some people, except those of my generation, to recognise hamas if they were on television. they set a precedent of having big names as special guest artists in the christmas programme, glenda jackson, andre previn, shirley bassey. the list is endless. top names. i was at the time reading the bbc news, the nine 0'clock news. i was one of five newsreaders and all the others were blokes and me. i got a telephone call from a guy who became a dear friend and he was their producer. and ernie said, angela, the boys would like you to be in their christmas show —— he said. and i said me, why? he's 5aid christmas show —— he said. and i said me, why? he's said they would 5aid me, why? he's said they would like to see what you can do. i said i had better get permission. i went to alan protheroe, the editor of television news and said morecambe and wise want me to be in their christmas show. i think he was a huge fan. he said of course you must do it. which was a huge leap of faith on his part. when i met them they said can you sing? i said not unless you want me to clear the studio in 30 seconds. but i studied classical ballet so i can dance a bit. and all his movements, like gene kelly. shall i get the tea, very balletic everything he did. he said great and choreographed the 5aid great and choreographed the peace and we did it. we rehearsed it over three hours with three sessions of one hour each, rehearsed it, did it, and i did not think any of us knew what an impact it would have but it did. there was rather a large audience watching which was lovely. from my point of view, it was great. my from my point of view, it was great. my background is journalism. from my point of view, it was great. my background isjournalism. to from my point of view, it was great. my background is journalism. to work with them was such a joy. they were lovely people. they were so supportive and so much fun. they made rehearsal so much fun. it was fascinating for me on my side of television work to watch them. they were perfectionists. they were so keen everything should be so perfect. we rehearsed and rehearsed so it looked effortless on the day. so it was a realjoy to work with them. so it was a real 'oy to work with them. ., ,., , ~' so it was a real 'oy to work with them. ., , ~ , ., , ., them. nobody knew newsreaders had lens until them. nobody knew newsreaders had legs until that — them. nobody knew newsreaders had legs until that point. _ them. nobody knew newsreaders had legs until that point. now— them. nobody knew newsreaders had legs until that point. now that - them. nobody knew newsreaders had legs until that point. now that goes l legs until that point. now that goes back to something _ legs until that point. now that goes back to something that _ legs until that point. now that goes back to something that happened . legs until that point. now that goes - back to something that happened when i was reading the news when we used to do the royal variety performance live and bob monkhouse was the compere live at the palladium. in the intervalfor the compere live at the palladium. in the interval for the people compere live at the palladium. in the intervalfor the people in the audience, they went back to bbc television, covering it live, and he said we are going back for the news with angela rippon. he said by the way, they keep her behind a desk because she does not have legs, they wheel her around on a chair. that is how the legs things started. what is great, subsequently, and you have hinted at it, the way people who like me work on the serious side of television most of the time are able to let their hair down at christmas and have fun. and demonstrate to the audience there is another side, there are other things we can do and subsequently, my colleagues in television news have done so much to raise money for charity on children in need with things they have done and the year after, i did my slot, all the guys, i was told a few months into the new year, after my christmas show, he had a couple of newsreaders go to him and say, do you think we might be able to do something? a5 you think we might be able to do something? as a result, you had the male newsreaders, sport presenters, michael parkinson, guys doing serious stuff on television, doing that wonderful sketch. you serious stuff on television, doing that wonderful sketch.— serious stuff on television, doing that wonderful sketch. you were a trailbiazer- _ that wonderful sketch. you were a trailblazer. angela, _ that wonderful sketch. you were a trailblazer. angela, thank- that wonderful sketch. you were a trailblazer. angela, thank you. - you can watch the morecambe and wise show, the lost tape at 7.45pm on bbc two on christmas day. it's 8.59. this is bbc news, with the latest headlines. people with omicron are less likely to end up in hospital, a5 studies suggest it could be milder than previous covid variants. scientists say they're "cautiously optimistic", but warn the sheer number of infections could still lead to hospitals being overwhelmed. homeless at christmas. a charity's hiring out hotel rooms to help rough sleepers over the festive season. and the name on the card is mr eric morecambe. hello, mr morecambe. hello, hello! pare morecambe. hello, mr morecambe. hello, hello!— hello, hello! are you there, mr morecambe? — hello, hello! are you there, mr morecambe? yes, _ hello, hello! are you there, mr morecambe? yes, speak- hello, hello! are you there, mr morecambe? yes, speak up! i a long—lost episode of morecambe and wise is set to be broadcast in colour for the first time on christmas day.