as new restrictions come into force in bars and restaurants. as covid—19 cases increase rapidly in france, home working will become mandatory for at least three days a week wherever possible. in new york, children age 12 and over now have to be fully vaccinated to enter into restaurants and leisure facilities. as infections rise in the city. remembering archbishop desmond tutu, south africa has begun a week of events to commemorate the anti—apartheid leader who died on sunday. now here on the bbc news it is time for political thinking with nick robinson. 0h oh my god, how do you know a ball someone said to me the other day assuming the only reason you might know my guest on political thinking for this christmas special is because of his dancing on strictly convincing, winning the celebrity best home chef or making all those documentaries on bbc two. i pointed out to someone who was about my children's age before all of that stuff he was a serious politician being when i first met him the adviser to the shadow chancellor gordon brown and then to the chancellor himself before the coming education secretary and a candidate for the labour leader. that feels like a very long time ago. welcome to political thinking. it's christmas after all and while we're recording this before christmas it's been broadcast afterwards. giving you just produced a cookery book or a book about christmas cooking reflections, tips, people are sitting there wondering what they should do with this christmas leftovers. what is your recommendation?- leftovers. what is your recommendation? ., , , ., ., recommendation? the most important thin . recommendation? the most important thin for recommendation? the most important thing for post-christmas _ recommendation? the most important thing for post-christmas leftovers - thing for post—christmas leftovers is chips. homemade chips. my mother in law is brilliant at making homemade chips and potatoes double cooked in a pan and you can get quite a lot of cold turkey or cold goose if the chips are good and crisp and nice and salty. the other thing i learned over the years and our family nobody wants leftovers so therefore you have to cook thinking let's not have too much time around in the days afterwards. i let's not have too much time around in the days afterwards.— let's not have too much time around in the days afterwards. i assumed he was auoin in the days afterwards. i assumed he was going to — in the days afterwards. i assumed he was going to come _ in the days afterwards. i assumed he was going to come up _ in the days afterwards. i assumed he was going to come up with _ in the days afterwards. i assumed he was going to come up with a - in the days afterwards. i assumed he was going to come up with a recipe l was going to come up with a recipe for turkey, the man who used to be my book agent used to recommend turkey hash you can have after christmas. it turkey hash you can have after christmas-_ turkey hash you can have after christmas. . ~ , ., , christmas. it makes me feel a bit uloom . christmas. it makes me feel a bit gloomy- turkey _ christmas. it makes me feel a bit gloomy. turkey lasagne, - christmas. it makes me feel a bit gloomy. turkey lasagne, let's - christmas. it makes me feel a bit| gloomy. turkey lasagne, let'sjust gloomy. turkey lasagne, let's just move on from the turkey. gloomy. turkey lasagne, let's 'ust move on from the turkey.�* gloomy. turkey lasagne, let's 'ust move on from the turkey. there are lots of peeple _ move on from the turkey. there are lots of people thinking _ move on from the turkey. there are lots of people thinking thank- lots of people thinking thank god the christmas cooking is over. i get a sense it's a highlight for you. the idea of cooking for christmas and for the family is a pleasure for you. i and for the family is a pleasure for ou. ., , ., , and for the family is a pleasure for ou. ., , ., you. i love christmas cooking and i love new year's _ you. i love christmas cooking and i love new year's cooking _ you. i love christmas cooking and i love new year's cooking as - you. i love christmas cooking and i love new year's cooking as well. i love new year's cooking as well. right now i'm looking forward to three days and through new year's day every day for the last 20 years we have the same 18, 20 people, and when he first arrived i would children retain and their kids retaining anti—stays the twentysomethings, beyond teenagers, they come back because they know it will be fine with everybody together and the food will be good. we will be fine with everybody together and the food will be good.— and the food will be good. we have the house of _ and the food will be good. we have the house of commons _ and the food will be good. we have the house of commons in - and the food will be good. we have the house of commons in front - and the food will be good. we have the house of commons in front of. and the food will be good. we have i the house of commons in front of us. the men's party. eating on camera is not of the ada is it? it the men's party. eating on camera is not of the ada is it?— not of the ada is it? it depends on what ou not of the ada is it? it depends on what you eat- _ not of the ada is it? it depends on what you eat. and _ not of the ada is it? it depends on what you eat. and you _ not of the ada is it? it depends on what you eat. and you learn - not of the ada is it? it depends on what you eat. and you learn this . what you eat. and you learn this over the years. spaghetti bolognese. pizza disaster. bacon and eggs with a knife and fork cut discreetly, good idea. a knife and fork cut discreetly, good idea-— a knife and fork cut discreetly, i good idea._ it's a knife and fork cut discreetly, . good idea._ it's a good idea. bacon sandwich? it's a terrible idea _ good idea. bacon sandwich? it's a terrible idea because _ good idea. bacon sandwich? it's a terrible idea because the - good idea. bacon sandwich? it's a terrible idea because the trouble l good idea. bacon sandwich? it's a| terrible idea because the trouble is the bacon is to be and the british chilli and there's never quite clear what is eating what. is the bacon sandwich consuming you or are you eating the bacon sandwich. i think a mince pie you can put it off but what i would do is i would not go like this i would break and then take a morsel.— like this i would break and then take a morsel. you know the story about ed miliband _ take a morsel. you know the story about ed miliband eating - take a morsel. you know the story about ed miliband eating that - about ed miliband eating that bacon sandwich which caused him so much hell is i know for a fact because make him was filming at the time that ed miliband was told seconds before don't eat on camera may his senior press at the time and he decided to ignore it because he was hungry. the decided to ignore it because he was hunt . , ., , ., , decided to ignore it because he was hunt . , decided to ignore it because he was hun . , ., hungry. the problem was it was not but it was just _ hungry. the problem was it was not but it wasjust on _ hungry. the problem was it was not but it wasjust on television - but it was just on television there were cameras there and i played football for the house of commons against the press every year for 15 years and all these press photographers there behind the goal every time the top and 80 football players paid but of the thousand pictures they take the prep out the best one which they would show wayne rooney in his pomp as he heads to the goal but if you're a politician of the thousand pictures you pick out the one which will make you look worse, that'sjust out the one which will make you look worse, that's just the nature of the game. worse, that's 'ust the nature of the name. ., , ., worse, that's 'ust the nature of the name. . , ., _, worse, that's 'ust the nature of the name. ., , ., y., ., y., game. the where a bra you want your played football _ game. the where a bra you want your played football with _ game. the where a bra you want your played football with you? _ game. the where a bra you want your played football with you? they - game. the where a bra you want your played football with you? they were i played football with you? they were able to print — played football with you? they were able to print out _ played football with you? they were able to print out the _ played football with you? they were able to print out the one _ played football with you? they were able to print out the one picture - able to print out the one picture which made him look completely... it was unfair because i'm sure it was a nice discreet bite but you have got still photographers and it never going to look good.— still photographers and it never going to look good. don't do it. i remember _ going to look good. don't do it. i remember you — going to look good. don't do it. i remember you playing _ going to look good. don't do it. i remember you playing football l going to look good. don't do it. i i remember you playing football and there be photographs of you appearing to be bloodied as if he were some lunatic or occasionally you will go out for header and they would be cuts coming out. figs you will go out for header and they would be cuts coming out.- you will go out for header and they would be cuts coming out. as he said to me at the — would be cuts coming out. as he said to me at the time, _ would be cuts coming out. as he said to me at the time, the _ would be cuts coming out. as he said to me at the time, the got _ would be cuts coming out. as he said to me at the time, the got pictures . to me at the time, the got pictures struck a chord with middle—aged men across the country. so that's authenticity.— authenticity. those people i mentioned _ authenticity. those people i mentioned in _ authenticity. those people i mentioned in the _ authenticity. those people i. mentioned in the introduction authenticity. those people i- mentioned in the introduction who think you are lovely and cuddly. you are of course a dancer. that was not quite the reputation and politics. politics is a very physical cartoon theme and there's always caricature and if i had been lighter or smaller it would never have been the same caricature coming into the cartoonist at the newspapers they find something to make it bigger the truth was also if you're going to the government well it's about having the argument. and i have been teaching for the last few years in london and he would look at different chancellor relationships and how they work and had good or bad outcomes and part of good government is challenge and there was a constitutional role for the chancellor especially with the last majority and vice versa but when people did not like that that becomes a caricature.- people did not like that that becomes a caricature. what is fascinating — becomes a caricature. what is fascinating is _ becomes a caricature. what is fascinating is many _ becomes a caricature. what is fascinating is many of- becomes a caricature. what is fascinating is many of us - becomes a caricature. what is fascinating is many of us have watched back now this documentary and i originally resisted doing it on the grounds it was too much like a bossman holiday and because i was a report —— report at the time but what struck me as i was watching it thatjust what struck me as i was watching it that just reflects what struck me as i was watching it thatjust reflects on the fact is we have grown up in the same generation together it's just how young you are. my goodness, you are plotting the independence of the bank of england, one of the most important economic decisions taken since the war and you economic decisions taken since the warand you are economic decisions taken since the war and you are my children's age. when i read the paper and presented it to tony blair —— tony blair in 905i it to tony blair —— tony blair in 9051 was 28. but the thing is we worked intensively for years and i think i spent seven, eight years of my life thinking about that moment but the time we arrived in 97. the moment you actually said and shown on the documentary, you say to the secretary of the treasury that bank of england which had not been independent but always been under the government, the chancellor of the government, the chancellor of the day with the prime ministers involvement and you said that era is over. you planned all that time for years and years. i over. you planned all that time for years and years-— years and years. i had a job at the years and years. i had a 'ob at the treasury to — years and years. i had a 'ob at the treasury to go i years and years. i had a 'ob at the treasury to go to h years and years. i had a 'ob at the treasury to go to in _ years and years. i had a job at the treasury to go to in 1988 - years and years. i had a job at the treasury to go to in 1988 and - treasury to go to in 1988 and deferred it because i went to harvard for two years and they worked there for the summer and 89 with nigel as chancellor and i was studying in harvard and we were studying in harvard and we were studying central—bank independence in the case for it and how you could do it differently and for years at the financial times writing about it. a pamphlet in 92 book about how you could do it in a neighbour away and the gordon brown five years before we did so and the intensity of the preparation was quite something. of the preparation was quite something-— of the preparation was quite somethint. . ., , something. was it ever is good atain? i something. was it ever is good again? i look— something. was it ever is good again? i look back _ something. was it ever is good again? i look back sometimes l something. was it ever is good l again? i look back sometimes at majorjournalistic again? i look back sometimes at major journalistic career again? i look back sometimes at majorjournalistic career in the first big story i covered was the fall of margaret thatcher. i was not on screen behind the microphone i was a there are moments i think they will never be a story as exciting, is important as the filing of margaret thatcher when i was very young and inexperienced. the look back at that period and think and never got as good as that again. i think that in a positive way. but i do think that. different generations have different experiences. some generations can spend years and years in politics and never get into government. we were there for 13 years and itjust happened that it started when i was 30 four tony blair and gordon brown in their early 40s. he had a large majority in the country was looking for change and it was an era where things was opening up and it was an opportunity to do new and those for me eight years in the treasury they were undoubtedly the period of my life where i had the most influence in the most clouds. we did budget after budget and spending with you and the hardest thing every day politically was being a cabinet minister. the most satisfying was that but also the treasury you have to be celebratory about that. i think to myself what an honour to have had the opportunity. irate think to myself what an honour to have had the opportunity. we refer to it earlier— have had the opportunity. we refer to it earlier that _ have had the opportunity. we refer to it earlier that you _ have had the opportunity. we refer to it earlier that you are _ have had the opportunity. we refer to it earlier that you are seeing - have had the opportunity. we refer to it earlier that you are seeing as| to it earlier that you are seeing as ability and he was seen as very aggressive and gordon brown against tony blair, is this a process he talked about how when labour left government in 2010 he talked about how you have to consciously think i might have a midlife crisis, have been going at hundred 50 mph in my life is changing and still important in politics, you had to make a conscious decision, is that how it worked? , , , ., conscious decision, is that how it worked? , , ., , worked? yes, because we had been in government — worked? yes, because we had been in government for _ worked? yes, because we had been in government for 13 _ worked? yes, because we had been in government for 13 years _ worked? yes, because we had been in government for 13 years and _ worked? yes, because we had been in government for 13 years and we - worked? yes, because we had been in government for 13 years and we lost. l government for 13 years and we lost. and we were all exhausted and we have been plunged into this long labour leadership election and then that autumn i think by that point we were absolutely shattered. and going into opposition when you have been into opposition when you have been in government for a long time is difficult because you know what you are missing and you feel those frustrations but i think when i wish i could chancellor it was a time to reassess and think about the past but also what was important in my life, the things i was doing and although there were things i have done since 2015 which have carried that on but in a conscious way. i know you took up the piano for example the other day people who follow you will know you did a piano concert with other people. but do you really think 0k and out of government now i need to give time to other things in my life to have some balance and to have an inter—land. i some balance and to have an inter-land— some balance and to have an inter-land. ~' ., �* inter-land. i think i thought i'm in danter of inter-land. i think i thought i'm in danger of having _ inter-land. i think i thought i'm in danger of having a _ inter-land. i think i thought i'm in danger of having a midlife - inter-land. i think i thought i'm in danger of having a midlife crisis. i danger of having a midlife crisis. so therefore i should plan it and have always been somebody who likes to think about a few independent sort things out and i thought if this is a time to start thinking about things which are important and devote more time to them, is there a bit of you that thinks you be a better politician now? because you have had that _ better politician now? because you have had that broader _ better politician now? because you have had that broader life. - better politician now? because you have had that broader life. oddly, | have had that broader life. 0ddly, i'm not asking if you want to go back. i'm saying if magically they put you back that he would get a broader perspective? edit put you back that he would get a broader perspective?— put you back that he would get a broader perspective? of course that is the case- — broader perspective? of course that is the case. because _ broader perspective? of course that is the case. because you _ broader perspective? of course that is the case. because you continually are learning and getting prep perspective and having time to reflect and when you're away from the intensity you have more time for that. i have glanced at that because i get a lot of we always knew that you were a politician and it's great to see you now become a human being and i don't like that because politicians are human beings and i think i was one when i was in the cabinet it's hard for me to disconnect how i have changed my perception that the way in which politics has changed over the same period because i looked at the nature of political discourse now and it's so much more confrontational and so much more entrenched and you have to inside often to spur your group on you have to hit the other side and think they are notjust wrong but evil and i don't feel that way about politics. people who know you on television have seen that you are interested in people who have different views from yourself. you go and meet trump voters which many of the people in politics with would never want to meet any of them and would never want to hear any of them and would want to hear any of them and would want to hear any of them and would want to shout at them about what they are doing. but what i found fascinating about your television work is you want to hear them. that is not a politics _ work is you want to hear them. trust is not a politics learning. i work is you want to hear them. tryst is not a politics learning. i think i learned that a big change happen for me in 2005 and the boundaries change and suddenly within a year i'm going to be fighting a very marginal constituency in see marginal constituency in see marginal and they end up losing it in 2015. it was a speech which had the largest british national party membership in the country and elected a counsellor in the run up to 2010. it was a seat which ended up voting clearly for leave in 2016. and if you are a marginal cmp and you do it well or if you are a marginal thief candidates and this is important for current politics as well if you write of people because it looks like they have a view that people like you disagree with they may never understand and you can't persuade but you don't persuade because they don't hear anything you say. the word you keep using which i think is strongest persuasion. it’s think is strongest persuasion. it's not berating. it's not lecturing. it's not even operating in every it's persuasion. i it's not even operating in every it's persuasion.— it's not even operating in every it's persuasion. i think you have to start the that _ it's persuasion. i think you have to start the that before _ it's persuasion. i think you have to start the that before that - it's persuasion. i think you have to start the that before that which . it's persuasion. i think you have to start the that before that which is | start the that before that which is to talk about what you think and what you feel and what you value. that's what we are doing and to understand that and say there's choices we face and to get what you want the opinions i would find 5% or five and a hundred people in a public meeting on immigration who wanted to close the borders and it would be even less who thought the movement was a good abf. free movement and a fee for all and most people to be controlled, they thought migration was important and british people going to work was important but they wanted it to be controlled and if you listen and you hear we can start a conversation when you say we agree but sometimes it means we have to change what we say and sometimes you have to expose the other side not got an answer but if you don't listen first and then it's ok to agree and it's ok there are things which the government does which are good and things they do which are good and things they do which are good and things they do which are bad and in politics the only things which blast are the ones which become consensual and the things george osborne and i agree on are things that last night the minimum wage. the are things that last night the minimum wage. are things that last night the minimum ware. , ,.,, ., minimum wage. the purpose and with reflections- -- — minimum wage. the purpose and with reflections... i— minimum wage. the purpose and with reflections... i am _ minimum wage. the purpose and with reflections... i am not _ minimum wage. the purpose and with reflections... i am not used _ minimum wage. the purpose and with reflections... i am not used to - reflections... i am not used to this. reflections... i am not used to this- people — reflections... i am not used to this. people talk _ reflections... i am not used to this. people talk about - reflections... i am not used to this. people talk about your i this. people talk about your documentary. _ this. people talk about your documentary. it _ this. people talk about your documentary. it is - this. people talk about your documentary. it is time - this. people talk about your documentary. it is time to i this. people talk about your i documentary. it is time to the documentary. it is time to the documentary you made. this is a personaljourney for you because your mother has dementia. was it also a journey looking at yourself thinking why didn't not necessarily ia but why didn't the system do more to deal with this crisis? what is it about british politics which means a crisis that people on your side of politics are on the other side of politics are on the other side of politics have privately talked about for a quarter of a century have not managed to solve. i for a quarter of a century have not managed to solve.— for a quarter of a century have not managed to solve. i very consciously went into it — managed to solve. i very consciously went into it to _ managed to solve. i very consciously went into it to ask _ managed to solve. i very consciously went into it to ask the _ managed to solve. i very consciously went into it to ask the question - managed to solve. i very consciously went into it to ask the question whyl went into it to ask the question why has it taken politics so long to sort out social care and in the very first conversation i had with the bbc and with expectation months before we started filming i said i feel guilty we did not do more and that became a starting point for the film. i did not intend to go in talking to me a bit about my mother. clearly that was a motivation for me doing it but i never wanted to do it. but there was a learning i had in those first couple of weeks about the nature of care and its scale and complexity which suddenly made me realise and the same thing was true for my brother and sister but we did not understand how hard it was the job that was being done to look after my mother. i think what it does is the viewer comes in with me and they see what i see and i think lots of people who don't work in care or have not seen it have got a mother in care and i did not know and using goodness, that's what it is and why aren't we valuing this? what are we doing. i is and why aren't we valuing this? what are we doing.— what are we doing. i think it's an interesting _ what are we doing. i think it's an interesting observation. you - what are we doing. i think it's an interesting observation. you are | what are we doing. i think it's an i interesting observation. you are not seeing politics have done all that and now and the tv star. you are still using television to say to people understand, see what i can see and come with me on a journey and you think of thinking —— and the way i think. i and you think of thinking -- and the way i think-— way i think. i think it was 'ust reall way i think. i think it was 'ust reatty fun. i way i think. i think it was 'ust really fun. strictly, �* way i think. i think it was 'ust really fun. strictly, best h way i think. i think it wasjust really fun. strictly, best cup, | really fun. strictly, best cup, experiences you'd never expect to having a life. and if you simply make people smile that is really good. but the parts of television i really enjoyed and found profaning when people say that they saw things they have not seen before. and if i haligonian making a current affairs documentary about social care and what i said i have come to tell you what i said i have come to tell you what the problem is and what the answer is they would be some people who would say brilliant and some people would say i hate him and i will not listen to what he says and he would not have advanced whereas if you actually go in and say come with me and let's go and see nico coalescing in the way in politics you should listen to what the voters as first and you see things and you learn things but also it changes your view. it learn things but also it changes your view-— learn things but also it changes our view. , , ., , . your view. it is christmas. we will have a christmas _ your view. it is christmas. we will have a christmas quiz. _ your view. it is christmas. we will have a christmas quiz. favourite i have a christmas quiz. favourite dance? ., .., have a christmas quiz. favourite dance? ., .., y., ., have a christmas quiz. favourite dance? ., ., , ., dance? how could you not state gantnam dance? how could you not state gangnam style _ dance? how could you not state gangnam style because - dance? how could you not state gangnam style because even i dance? how could you not state i gangnam style because even now i dance? how could you not state - gangnam style because even now i get e—mails every week from people saying i was feeling down and they watched gangnam style and it cheered me up. fiend watched gangnam style and it cheered meu-.r . ._ me up. and particularly teaching michael gove _ me up. and particularly teaching michael gove gangnam - me up. and particularly teaching michael gove gangnam style. i me up. and particularly teaching i michael gove gangnam style. every time she sees _ michael gove gangnam style. every time she sees it _ michael gove gangnam style. every time she sees it for _ michael gove gangnam style. every time she sees it for the _ michael gove gangnam style. every time she sees it for the first - michael gove gangnam style. ea time she sees it for the first time she rolls her eyes and inside she is thinking what's he doing? but she would say i cha—cha—cha, the mad scientist and the love potion number nine, that was a great dance and i think we did a sketch to a quickstep to help by the beatles and that was the one time where where he said he actually is improving and i thought yes, as a part of me which is like always, it's nice making people smile but i wanted to get better. favourite music? i do smile but i wanted to get better. favourite music?— smile but i wanted to get better. favourite music? i do like to think -- | favourite music? i do like to think -- i do favourite music? i do like to think -- i do like _ favourite music? i do like to think -- i do like to _ favourite music? i do like to think -- i do like to sing _ favourite music? i do like to think -- i do like to sing saturday - —— i do like to sing saturday boy. november the 1st time i met her that september evening the way she walked and laughed at myjokes and the way she wrapped herself up against the edge of my desk. she became a magic mystery to me and we would sit together in ways —— twice a week... and he really enjoyed playing bark on the piano and they love handle 0pera on the piano and they love handle opera and joshua recommend jazz player absolutely brilliant. tliha player absolutely brilliant. nina simone. favourite _ player absolutely brilliant. nina simone. favourite anecdote which for me i will prompt you to tell it's because it's very christmas. gordon brown and the beef. mr; because it's very christmas. gordon brown and the beef.— because it's very christmas. gordon brown and the beef. my mum and dad were livint brown and the beef. my mum and dad were living out — brown and the beef. my mum and dad were living out here _ brown and the beef. my mum and dad were living out here in _ brown and the beef. my mum and dad were living out here in italy _ brown and the beef. my mum and dad were living out here in italy and - were living out here in italy and we were living out here in italy and we were going out that night for christmas flying out and my mum said the beef in italy is not as good as you can get in an english butcher, can you bring out a sirloin? so i buy one and we are staying with my mum and dad and drove up from hampshire at te heathrow and as we are driving into heathrow events, my phone rings and it's gordon brown on his mobile phone and he said he said peter has resigned and this is when peter has resigned and this is when peter madison was exposed for the geoffrey robinson known after a couple of days in 1998. so geoffrey robinson known after a couple of days in 1998.— couple of days in 1998. so for treole couple of days in 1998. so for people of— couple of days in 1998. so for people of a — couple of days in 1998. so for people of a certain _ couple of days in 1998. so for people of a certain age, - couple of days in 1998. so for. people of a certain age, gordon brown is the new chancellor. and peter is very close to gordon brown and tony blair at the time. and the cabinet minister. but and tony blair at the time. and the cabinet minister.— and tony blair at the time. and the cabinet minister. but he had taken a loan and he — cabinet minister. but he had taken a loan and he had _ cabinet minister. but he had taken a loan and he had not _ cabinet minister. but he had taken a loan and he had not declared - cabinet minister. but he had taken a loan and he had not declared from i loan and he had not declared from jeffrey robinson and after 48 hours backin jeffrey robinson and after 48 hours back in those days people resigned and he resigned quickly. so he rings me and as he rings me on my mobile to say peter madsen has resigned i realised we have left the beef into her parents fridge at home and i turn to yvette and say where the beef? and gordon said i don't think you heard me peter madison has resigned. and i said to yvette is it too late and gordon said what the umeed mean is it too late? he's already resigned and i said to yvette can return back? there is no turning back now echoed down the phone but i got off the phone with gordon having lamented the resignation and rang her mother and she drove in from hampshire and we got checked in and the sewer was handed over to security and the beef made it to italy. the handed over to security and the beef made it to italy.— made it to italy. the morale of the story ladies _ made it to italy. the morale of the story ladies and — made it to italy. the morale of the story ladies and gentlemen - made it to italy. the morale of the story ladies and gentlemen is - made it to italy. the morale of the j story ladies and gentlemen is even when you are the chancellor of the exchequer it is your mothers roast sirloin that matters most. thank you forjoining me it's been a pleasure. thank you. i was sat next to david on the bbc election night except when i heard the news that abby had lost his parliamentary seat. the truth is i was still rather emotional and i had lost my voice and i had cancerand emotional and i had lost my voice and i had cancer and came back and was struggling to broadcast and i found myself saying on here exactly what i thought which i don't always do. i said what i thought which i don't always do. isaid many what i thought which i don't always do. i said many people regarded him as a bully or tough guy as someone who is obsessed with politics and a person who love football and love karaoke and he left a cook and i predicted people would see him in a few years time very differently. from how they did at that time. most of my predictions are rubbish, that one turned out to be pretty good. thanks for watching. have a great new year. hello there. we've had some big contrasts in the weather today, much of the time for england and wales has been rather grey with some low cloud, some mist and fog, outbreaks of rain and drizzle pretty widely as well. but it's not been like that everywhere. in scotland and northern ireland, in places, we have seen something a bit brighter with a few glimmers of sunshine. now, in the week ahead, the big headline is that the the weather is going to get exceptionally mild. the deeper the reds, the more extreme the heat. now, we are not talking about t—shirt weather, we are looking at a really start to the day. gusts reaching around a0 to 50 mph. rainfrom the day. gusts reaching around a0 to 50 mph. rain from any but the rain will be reluctant to ease off across the eastern england where it will turn light and patchy as the day goes by. but still face on. the weather improving west but the best of the day sunshine will be across scotland and northern ireland. this is bbc news. the headlines: no new coronavirus restrictions will be introduced in england before the new year. but the health secretary says people should remain cautious and that the figures are being monitored. we'll watch the situation very carefully and should, in the future, we need to act, of course, we will not hesitate to do so. a sharp rise in the the number of coronavirus cases in scotland, the highest yet, as new restrictions in bars and restaurants come into force. as covid cases increase rapidly in france, home working will become mandatory for at least three days per week where possible. in new york, children aged 12 and over have to be fully vaccinated to go into restaurants and leisure facilities, as infections rise in the city.