do more to cover for their missing colleagues with a working extra hours, starting early, finishing late, the pressure will be immense. professor chris whitty is to be knighted and many team gb olympians including adam peaty are to be recognised in the new year's honours and goodbye to a golden girl — the american actress and comedian, betty white, has died, just weeks before her one hundreth birthday. new year's eve celebrations across the world have been scaled, as the more infectious omicron variant continues to drive up cases. but despite that, the displays have been just as spectacular. this is how dubai rang in the new year. this rang in the new year. is the scene now in madrid. those this is the scene now in madrid. those fireworks look wonderful. we are seeing scenes of pretty big crowds gathered watching fireworks in the centre of madrid in contrast to some places where main squares have been closed off entirely and people have been encouraged to stay away from the celebrations, to watch them from home. this tea scene live from madrid as spain welcomes in 2022. here in the uk... the prime minister has urged people to take a covid test before going to any celebrations — but with restrictions varying between the different nations of the uk, it's feared revellers from scotland and wales will cross into england to celebrate. our correspondent olivia richwald reports from carlisle in cumbria — just eight miles from the the border with scotland. new year's eve in the border city. carlisle castle was once used to keep the scots outcome and now it welcomes them as they arrive in the centre. earlier today, many scots made the trip south. there's nothing to do in the south of scotland, so i mean, this is the nearest place with stuff to do. i'm going to have a brilliant time because that's what new year's is all about. and they were ready to celebrate. the new year's party at this hotel was cancelled before christmas to keep staff and customers safe. tonight, the restaurant is busy in the room is fully booked, many by scots. tonight will probably be half of the central belt coming down, i think it will be busy. i think in carlisle we complain a little bit but secretly, we will be quite happy. it is money in the till. scotland along with wales and northern ireland have all introduced some covid restrictions over the festive period and that makes border towns like carlisle even more appealing for a night out. there are a lot of both english and scottish people out enjoying themselves in carlisle tonight and some of the scots admit they have come here on purpose to avoid restrictions back home. butjust walking up and down some of carlisle�*s busy streets, people are telling us it is quieter than they would expect. the scottish government had asked people not to cross the board. where have you come from today? glasgow. why have you come to carlisle? because there are no restrictions and all of our friends have covid. where you put off by the fact the government in scotland said don't go to england? no, definitely not. it encouraged us more. you can drink here but you can't drink six miles down the road. it's not fair, it's not fair. two years of pandemic have been really tough and tonight marks the start of a new year with fresh hope. what is your message for new year? love. one life, live, love, spread love. happy new year. and that is one message which everyone across the uk can agree on. olivia richwald, bbc news, carlisle. let's ta ke let's take a look at the scene in central london right now. let's take a look at the scene in central london right now. jean mackenzie is in trafalgar square for us now. i wonder whether there are people trying to gather together in significant numbers because clearly they've been discouraged from doing that, haven't they? yes. they've been discouraged from doing that, haven't they?— that, haven't they? yes, an interesting _ that, haven't they? yes, an interesting picture - that, haven't they? yes, an interesting picture in - that, haven't they? yes, an| interesting picture in central london tonight. the main celebrations, the public celebrations, the public celebrations that were planted been cancelled. normally you would have the big fireworks display along the river thames. there are plans for smaller parties in trafalgar square which is a where we are now and that's been cancelled. as you can see none of this and stop people coming out tonight. the streets are absolutely heaving. they've been getting busier and busier by the minute as we creep up to midnight. what's interesting is most people now appear to be making their way down to the riverside which is where you would normally see the fireworks a lot of the people we've been speaking to aren't aware that there isn't going to be that big public celebration.— isn't going to be that big public celebration. . �* , ., , ., celebration. that's actually what the are celebration. that's actually what they are still _ celebration. that's actually what they are still expecting. - celebration. that's actually what they are still expecting. thank. celebration. that's actually what l they are still expecting. thank you very much. thank you james shaw is with us in edinburgh. hello. farfrom hello. far from the usual holiday unfortunately in edinburgh. yes. hello. far from the usual holiday unfortunately in edinburgh. yes, is a really strange — unfortunately in edinburgh. yes, is a really strange atmosphere - unfortunately in edinburgh. yes, is a really strange atmosphere in - unfortunately in edinburgh. yes, is a really strange atmosphere in this city tonight. there is no big fireworks display here on the edinburgh castle esplanade. there's no enormous tree party. normally there might be 80,000 people thronging the centre for that none of that but nevertheless, you might be able to see behind me, there is a sort of informal gathering of people starting to take place. the police are here just to starting to take place. the police are herejust to keep starting to take place. the police are here just to keep an eye on things was actually told us that what people are doing here gathering to informally welcome in 2022 is not illegal, they are not breaking the law by coming here. but many people are tempted clearly to do that because there is not been an official party and people are finding their own ways to mark the end of 2021 and mark the bells after midnight. there will be probably fireworks as well, small firework displays in the city below as to the south. but it's a strange kind of informal atmosphere, not like a full—blown holiday should be perhaps in edinburgh. full-blown holiday should be perhaps in edinburgh-— in edinburgh. james, thank you very much. the governor of the us state of colorado has pledged to help residents who've lost everything to rebuild their lives, after sudden wildfires destroyed 1,000 homes. tens of thousands of people were evacuated as the fires tore through suburban areas of boulder county on thursday. gary o'donoghue has this report. winds of more than 100 mph drove the flames across more than 1600 acres of suburban colorado, which would normally have snow on the ground at this time of year. the fires spread quickly through homes and businesses, leading to the evacuation of tens of thousands of people. the emergency services did their best, but the sheer speed of the fire took everyone by surprise. coming down this road, the ditches and things and the trees, they're all up in flames. like, there's embers everywhere. packed myself, my cat and... just keep our fingers crossed. local officials declared a state of emergency, unlocking federal funds to help fight the blaze, and the governor spoke to president biden. this was a disaster in fast motion, all over the course of half a day, nearly all the damage, many families having minutes, minutes to get whatever they could — their pets, their kids — into the car and leave. the last 2a hours have been devastating. remarkably, no one died in the fires, and as dawn broke on friday, winds had significantly dropped and a forecast of snow should reduce the chances of any flare—ups — leaving the thousands of families to count the cost of the handful of hours that have devastated their lives. gary o'donoghue, bbc news. in the us, prince andrew's legal team has failed in its legal bid to stop proceedings in a civil sex abuse case. virginia giuffre — who now lives in australia — has accused prince andrew of sexually assaulting her when she was a teenager at the homes ofjeffrey epstein and ghislaine maxwell. prince andrew's lawyers argued that virginia giuffre is not a us resident and that her civil legal action should be halted. prince andrew has consistently denied her allegations. coronavirus infections in the uk has reached a new record high — and pressure on hospitals continues to grow. covid—related absences in acute nhs trusts in england went up by more than 40% during christmas week. an average of more than 25 thousand health workers were off sick or isolating each day. london was again the worst hit with about 4% of staff in acute trusts absent — up by nearly 60% on the week before. our health correspondent katharine da costa reports. most nhs staff will be glad to see the back of 2021. nearly two years into this pandemic, many are exhausted. a spike in covid cases is driving a rise in staff sickness. in england, london is worst affected with about 4% of staff in acute trusts absent for covid—related reasons in the week before christmas, up nearly 60% on the week before. many feel it's impacting on patient care. the staff that are at work will be caring for more patients, trying to do more to cover for their missing colleagues, working extra hours, starting early, finishing late. the pressure will be immense. in the latest infection survey from the ons, infections increased across the uk to their highest level on record in the week to christmas eve. in england, one in 25 had the virus. in scotland, wales and northern ireland, it was one in a0. infections doubled in a week in london. one in 15 tested positive. but there were big rises too in the north—west, yorkshire and the humber and west midlands. other regions weren't far behind. statisticians say infections are twice the level they were this time last winter in england because they're being fuelled by the more infectious omicron variant. across all age groups, we are seeing increases, but particularly driven by those young age groups, we've seen increases among school—age children fairly recently, particularly from nursery through to primary. but we are now seeing infections among older age groups as well, so young adults from the mid—20s to the mid—30s, but spreading right the way up to increases now in the over 70s, although they remain the lowest group to be infected. there's more encouraging news on boosters. new uk data suggests a booster shot is 88% effective at preventing people ending up in hospital due to omicron. after a huge push, all uk nations say they've hit the target of offering all adults a third dose by the end of the year. i would just say to people again, there's 1.5 million slots out there over the next few days. there's plenty of opportunities. there is mobile vaccination units, there's gps vaccinating, there's all sorts of ways to get vaccinated. just please come forward and help yourself, but also help reduce that burden on the nhs. and now, this. a second antiviral pill has been approved by the uk regulator. in trials, pfizer's paxlovid drug offered nearly 90% protection from severe illness and death among vulnerable adults. there's a glimmer of hope for the new year. vaccines and new treatments should help protect the most at risk from serious illness. but there are huge uncertainties. if there is a sharp rise in hospital admissions, health leaders say ministers will have to act fast. katharine da costa, bbc news. here in the uk — the faces in the fight against coronavirus have been honoured in the new years honours list. professor chris whitty — professorjonathan van tam — who became household names during the pandemic names during the pandemic have been knighted and drjenny harries, chief executive of the uk health security agency, and drjune raine, head of the vaccines regulator mhra, are both made dames. theyjoin almost 80 olympic and paralympic athletes who competed in last summer's tokyo games have also been honoured. lizo mzimba reports. their faces have become familiar to the public throughout the pandemic. now the chief medical officers for england, chris whitty... if lots of people were vaccinated that reduces the risk of transmission in the community. ..for scotland gregor smith and for a wales frank atherton have all been knighted. a knighthood too for england deputy chief medical officerjonathan van—tam. also being recognised for their roles responding to covid, jennie harries of the health security agency in june raine, head of the uk's vaccine regulator. they both become gains. ——dames in the entertainment world joanna lumley says she stunned to be made a dame... patterson, 47. ..both for her acting career and for her campaigning work. when i saw that sentence saying dbe i burst into tea rs. it's was extraordinary shock. i put my head in my hands and sobbed like a baby. then i thought, "how does this happen, is it a mistake?" truly was completely thrown. but i am thrilled to bits. award winning actress vanessa redgrave says she's surprised and grateful to also become a dame for services to drama. broadcaster trevor phillips has been knighted in recognition of his decades long work on equality and human rights. james bond actor daniel craig has been made a cmg, the same honour held by the fictional spy. while commander bonds movie producers michael g wilson and barbara berkley say they are honoured to be made commanders in the order of the british empire. cbe's was that consumer champion martin lewis becomes a cbe for his work on consumer rights. particularly during the pandemic. i never thought they give a cbe to somebody like me so it's very gratifying to get it. and especially after the couple of years we've had myself and my team have put so much work into trying to help get through the pandemic financially. two of our best—known soap stars william roach and june brown have both become obe�*s for services to drama charity. hello, jim, it's me, dorothy. as has tv personality and campaigner katie piperfor her work with people affected by burns and other injuries. spice girl mel b, a patron of women's aid has been made in mbe for her work highlighting abusive behaviour. as the world watched on another black life gone. and diversity star ashley says he's humbled and proud to become in mbe for services to dance. black lives matter. chris whitty — now sir chris — has given his reaction to his knighthood. he said... among the many olympic stars to receive an honour is the gold medal—winning diver tom daley. he spoke to bbc breakfast�*s sally nugent about being given an obe. iam i am extremely proud to be honoured with an obe. i think it's also that now being in obe i think it's a responsibility to make the whole car in a better place for lgbt for women, for all people of colour in a more inclusive and accepting environment with accepting this obe it is now my responsibility to help create change and help create this environment where everybody can be anything that they want no matter where they came from.— anything that they want no matter where they came from. that's quite an aspirational— where they came from. that's quite an aspirational thing _ where they came from. that's quite an aspirational thing to _ where they came from. that's quite an aspirational thing to mark - where they came from. that's quite an aspirational thing to mark out i an aspirational thing to mark out that you are accepting this award that you are accepting this award that you are accepting this award that you almost wanted to make you do more. , that you almost wanted to make you domore. ,, that you almost wanted to make you domore. , , ., that you almost wanted to make you domore. ,, ., �* that you almost wanted to make you domore. , ., �* , do more. yes. accepting an obe is one thing and _ do more. yes. accepting an obe is one thing and accepting _ do more. yes. accepting an obe is one thing and accepting it - do more. yes. accepting an obe is one thing and accepting it and - do more. yes. accepting an obe is. one thing and accepting it and doing something with her, taking it from just being an obe to being something where i can help people that are no matter where the bone, no matter where they come from that they feel like they can be involved in anything they want to be. and can be whatever they want to be. if you can't see it you can't be it. at the end of the day i think it's really important to be able to lift up all of the people that feel that their outsiders, fill it they don't fit in and feel like they have been lessened for 70 years, to support them in being whatever they want be. i feel now as an obe to be able to lift up their voices. joining me now is es devlin, the first woman to design the uk pavilion for expo since its inception in 1851. she is an artist and stage designer who has also worked on olympic ceremonies and on tour sets for beyonce, u2, and kanye west. she has been appointed cbe. she has been given a cbe. congratulations for that what does it mean to you to receive this honour? , ., ., , , it mean to you to receive this honour? , ,, ~ , honour? oh my goodness. as if it wasn't enough — honour? oh my goodness. as if it wasn't enough to _ honour? oh my goodness. as if it wasn't enough to have _ honour? oh my goodness. as if it wasn't enough to have the - honour? oh my goodness. as if itj wasn't enough to have the honour honour? oh my goodness. as if it i wasn't enough to have the honour of being invited to represent the uk and the world expo to then receive this further honour is very humbling and incredibly exciting. it means an enormous lot. the uk has been heavily featured at the world expo since 1851, the first expo but has never appointed a woman to design the pavilion since 1851. it's an enormous honour even just to the pavilion since 1851. it's an enormous honour evenjust to be appointed to design it in the first place. appointed to design it in the first lace. �* , ,., , ., appointed to design it in the first lace. �* , ., ., place. absolutely high time that a woman was _ place. absolutely high time that a woman was appointed _ place. absolutely high time that a woman was appointed to - place. absolutely high time that a woman was appointed to do - place. absolutely high time that a woman was appointed to do that. | place. absolutely high time that a i woman was appointed to do that. of course this honour as well as being a recognition of your work, i guess you would regard it as a recognition of the importance of design as well. which throughout the pandemic as we have been in our homes and thinking about how to make those the best possible places to spend lots of time, designed to something that we've all been thinking about more than ever, probably. i we've all been thinking about more than ever, probably.— than ever, probably. ithink so. i think as designers _ than ever, probably. ithink so. i think as designers we _ than ever, probably. ithink so. i think as designers we had - than ever, probably. ithink so. i think as designers we had time i than ever, probably. ithink so. i| think as designers we had time to consider how we can do things better and more sustainably. certainly in the field i worked mass entertainment has been temporarily extinct. we had a taste of what extinction might file for the we've all been thinking about how can we talk, how can we make shows, how can we do it in a much more secular design, sustainable way? it gives the eight given us cause for thought. as chris woody rightly said these owners go to one personal loan but it's always in recognition of a huge number of teams, certainly in my work in behalf of many many people who make the work with me. {iii people who make the work with me. of course your work involves places and occasions where we have mass gatherings. and that's what we haven't been able to do for the last two years. in that way it really strikes me as being quite poignant because it makes us think about what we've been missing and what we want to get back to. i we've been missing and what we want to get back te— to get back to. i think that's riuht. to get back to. i think that's right- how _ to get back to. i think that's right. how can _ to get back to. i think that's right. how can we _ to get back to. i think that's right. how can we do - to get back to. i think that's right. how can we do a - to get back to. i think that's i right. how can we do a better? honestly, if you asked me 18 months ago when i was watching every single thing i had planned get cancelled, if you asked me if i'd be sitting here on new year's eve talking to you right now i would never leader. so i'm thrilled and delighted. and so i'm thrilled and delighted. and ofthe so i'm thrilled and delighted. and of the many _ so i'm thrilled and delighted. and of the many and varied things that you've worked on, what are you proudest of? i guess it's a difficult question because they are very, are they? i’ge difficult question because they are very. are they?— very, are they? i've got to say representing _ very, are they? i've got to say representing the _ very, are they? i've got to say representing the uk _ very, are they? i've got to say representing the uk at - very, are they? i've got to say representing the uk at the - very, are they? i've got to say i representing the uk at the world expo is the real highlight i'm not an architect, it was a real honour to be invited to step into that as i was aided and supported by 70 great engineers around me who really help me make choices about sustainable materials. but to represent 1's country and try and say what you think about it, the pavilion represents cultural diversity and our country, it represents collective creativity, is something that i think is vital for us all to support even more now as we come through this pandemic. as they are and performances has such a difficult time and so many in the community has risen to the challenge with such courage and resiliency. the more we can support them the better. �* , . , ., better. after this incredible end of earto better. after this incredible end of year to you. _ better. after this incredible end of year to you, what's _ better. after this incredible end of year to you, what's next? - better. after this incredible end of year to you, what's next? i - better. after this incredible end of year to you, what's next? i know. year to you, what's next? i know you've been talking about how in general terms you can work more sustainably but what big projects have you got coming up? we sustainably but what big pro'ects have you got coming up?_ have you got coming up? we are workin: have you got coming up? we are working on _ have you got coming up? we are working on the _ have you got coming up? we are working on the super— have you got coming up? we are working on the super bowl - have you got coming up? we are - working on the super bowl half-time working on the super bowl half—time show for it next year. that is definitely big. quite the up and working on more sustainable forest projects was up more projects were as we make something temporary we can also plant something lasting. planting a lot of trees as we build sculptures outdoors feels great that we are working in that design rationale. ., , ., we are working in that design rationale-— we are working in that design rationale. ., , ., ., ,, ., rationale. lovely to talk to you. congratulations _ rationale. lovely to talk to you. congratulations again. - rationale. lovely to talk to you. congratulations again. in - rationale. lovely to talk to you. congratulations again. in a - rationale. lovely to talk to you. congratulations again. in a very happy new year to you.- congratulations again. in a very happy new year to you. thank you so much. happy new year to you. thank you so much- happy — happy new year to you. thank you so much- happy new— happy new year to you. thank you so much. happy new year's. _ the legendary american actress and comedian, betty white, has died, just weeks before her 100th birthday. her career spanned nine decades — from the earliest days of television in the 1930's and her own shows in the �*50s, to the latest toy story film just two years ago. betty white will probably be best remembered for her portrayal of rose nylund — in the sitcom the golden girls. it's believed she died at her home on friday morning. tributes have been pouring in. presdidentjoe biden tweeted... the hollywood actor ryan reynolds, who starred in a film with betty white, said... and will and grace star debra messing tweeted... michael schneider is from the entertainment magazine, variety. he's been reflecting on betty white's career. we don't use the term national treasure lightly but it definitely applies in the case of betty white. we've never known television without betty white, she was there at the dawn of tv. some of our favourite shows over the years golden girls, mary tyler moore, she was always present in our lives and that's what is said and really has our nation in mourning today. i think she had been living quietly at home during the pandemic. she has said in a recent interview that she felt lucky to be in such good health at her age, she was looking forward to her 100 birthday on the 17th of january. yes, that's what is so tragic and bittersweet about this. she was just a few weeks away, they're already plenty of tributes in magazines and newspapers including our own we were preparing for a big celebration of her 100th birthday. she got so close. that's it's kind of sad about this. but obviously her legend lives on. just a reminder that i'll be back with you to take a look at the london fireworks at the top of the hour. hello. you're not imagining it. it is exceptionally mild at the moment. we will continue to remain in very mild air for the first few days of the new year. notjust the uk, though, but many of our european neighbours have seen record temperatures for new year's eve, certainly records fell in parts of poland, austria, germany and the netherlands. and for new year's day, once again, we could see records being rivalled or toppled, for the day that is. this cold front will push across the uk, through new year's day, quite a skinny little weather front, not much temperature contrast across it and because it is such a narrow band of rain, actually it will not stick around in many areas for very long, perhaps an hour or so of rain working its way from west to east across england and wales. these showers for the west of scotland and northern ireland perhaps more persistent affairs, but look at the temperatures again. quite a lot of sunshine through the day and widely highs in the mid teens. squally showers for the south—east of england through saturday evening, into the small hours of sunday, some heavier showers, moving in from the west in wales and the midlands. a very mild night again. these are the temperatures, more typical of daytime for this time of year. sunday has wetter weather again on the cards for england and wales and some blustery winds. we could see some intense showers working their way through. the driest and brightest weather for sunday will be for scotland and northern ireland. and then on monday, we fall into a bit of a pincer movement in terms of our weather across the uk. we will see this weather front to the south trying to push some rain into this area of low pressure in the north, trying to turn things increasingly unsettled, between the two, some breezy conditions, but i think the best of any sunny spells are for the midlands, the north of england, but to the very south and very north of the uk, there could be some heavier, more persistent rain. a little cooler as well on monday, but temperature still slightly above average for the time of year. however, for tuesday, it looks like we are going to flip around and pick up a northerly wind and that will bring about a very dramatic change in the way things feel. you will have to add on the effect of the wind—chill, but temperatures in edinburgh just 4 degrees on tuesday, down to 8 degrees in london. so, is a big contrast in our weather to come over the next few days ahead. now on bbc news — review 2021: we remember. prince philip, una stubbs, charlie watts, sarah harding, captain sir tom moore, christopher plummer, and jimmy greaves — just a few of those whose lives are celebrated in this year's programme. # we're all going on a summer holiday... why doesn't he stop honking his horn? there's plenty of room to park! we're not going on a london bus if that's what you had in mind! well, you're not going to get very i far on your holiday in this thing. i we're not on our way on holiday. we're going to an engagement! i don't wish to impose upon you. my pleasure. in that case, you might as well do the laundry while you're about it, sweep the stairs, and dust the furniture and do the polishing because it makes my pretty back ache. boys! you've got another one! what? goodness, here? i think i might! applause. i say, he forgot to pay. i wasn't a trained dancer. i didn't go to any. lessons or anything. my dad was a barber, _ but he'd come home and start... and i copied him, but ii could always tap dance. # raindrops keep falling on my head # and just like the guy whose feet are too big for his bed # nothing seems to fit # those raindrops are falling on my head, they keep falling # so ijust did me some talking to the sun