for anyone who's come into contact with a positive case of covid—19. wales‘s first minister says he can't rule out a post—christmas lockdown, with the number of coronavirus cases on the rise. and non—essential shops have opened for the first time in three weeks across much of western scotland, after a covid lockdown. the prime minister says it's very likely the uk will have to start trading with the eu on world trade organisation terms terms from january 1st. it is looking very likely we will have to go for a solution that i think will be wonderful for the uk, we will be able to do exactly what we will be able to do exactly what we want, from january the 1st. coming up on bbc news, newcastle manager steve bruce says he will still be without a fair few players for tomorrow's game against west brom, after a coronavirus outbreak at the club. good afternoon, and welcome to the bbc news at one. dame barbara windsor, whose acting career spanned more than 60 years, has died at the age of 83. she found fame in the carry on films of the 19605 and ‘70s, and went on to spend more than 20 years behind the bar of the queen vic in eastenders, playing the formidable landlady peggy mitchell. in 2014, barbara windsor was diagnosed with alzheimer's disease, and she spent the last few years of life campaigning for better understanding of the condition. our entertainment correspondent david sillito looks back at her life. barbara giggles. that'll do, that'll do. all right, girls, get in the coach, and you get on with the loading. barbara windsor — a lift 10in national treasure. funny, cheeky and much loved. we were told to bring the minimum of clothing. now really let's see those chests come out! and fling! the tributes today, a testament to a career that goes back decades. among them her eastenders co—stars. patsy palmer saying, i can hear that laugh now. daniella westbrook, my heart is broken. she was actually a men talk to me and a good friend throughout everything in my life —— mentor. born barbara ann deeks, she began acting as a teenager. her big break ina acting as a teenager. her big break in a workshop, oh what a lovely dog, sparrows can't sing man inspiration for those who followed her path through the stratford east leiataua. to grow up, go to carry on films, see her in kitchens and legends she was, to know and work with are for the short time i did, it is super special. iam special. i am thankful. her early fame and ca ba ret i am thankful. her early fame and cabaret and stage also attracted shady company. she briefly dated reggie kray. it was the carry on films which made her a star. hi. her entrance always an excuse for something slightly saucy. have you got a large one?” for something slightly saucy. have you got a large one? i have had i'io have you got a large one? i have had no complaints so far! after those nine carry on films, there were some lean years until she found peggy. grant. mum. i hope you are back. why didn't you give me a call? peggy mitchell in eastenders, the new landlady, was a role made for her. you are unfit to be a father, don't you dare! 22 years in albert square. get out of my pub. which ended with barbara becoming dame barbara. dame babs sounds nice but her mum butcher and my mum would like it to be dame barbara, she was a bit of a cockney snob. what would she be thinking now. however, her farewell to woolford was also her farewell to acting. she had been diagnosed with alzheimer's. 0h, alzheimer's. oh, my dear friend. dame barbara windsor. you will never leave me, will you ? no, sweetheart. dame barbara windsor, talent, warmth... ..and a lifetime of cheeky fun. after being diagnosed with dementia, dame barbara became an ambassador for the alzheimer's society. last year, she made a rare public appearance — alongside her husband scott mitchell, she delivered a letter to the prime minister which had been signed by 100,000 people — asking for better care for people affected by dementia. helena wilkinson reports. frail and holding on to her husband scott for support, when dame barbara windsor visited downing street last year, it was clearjust how unwell she was. determined, though, to speak out about dementia care, she urged the prime ministerfor speak out about dementia care, she urged the prime minister for better support for those affected, saying the system was completely inadequate and unfair. the couple had been nervous about revealing her diagnosis, but they decided to go public in 2018, they wa nted decided to go public in 2018, they wanted people to know and accept it for what it was. working together with alzheimer's society has been incredible. both campaigned tirelessly on behalf of the charity, and became ambassadors, credited with helping so ambassadors, credited with helping so many others. unite with me against dementia. families won't discuss it, it is still a taboo. someone as amazing as barbara, her wonderful still a taboo. someone as amazing as barbara, herwonderfulfamily, still a taboo. someone as amazing as barbara, her wonderful family, even coming public and talking about this, evenjust coming public and talking about this, even just that act has coming public and talking about this, evenjust that act has made such a massive difference in the dementia world for families struggling everywhere. earlier this year, ross kemp, her on—screen son in eastenders and close friend spoke to dame barbara's husband about the couple's pain and struggle. what was it like when the specialist said to you, it is alzheimer's? that was the moment when she just looked at me, and she held her hand down and said, i am so sorry, she whispered it to me. she said sorry. earlier this year, dame barbara was moved to a care home, her condition got worse during lockdown. her husband said it was not the ending she would have wanted. this year i am asking you to make a stand against dementia. but that he was immensely proud of her courage and dignity dealing with her courage and dignity dealing with her own illness and still trying to help others for as long as she could. helena wilkinson, bbc news. and you can see a special programme paying tribute to barbara windsor this evening. babs is on bbc one, tonight at 7.35. from monday, the time that people must self—isolate after coming into contact with someone who's tested postive for covid—19 will be reduced from 1a to ten days. it also applies to anyone who's returned from a country which isn't on the government's safe travel list. it comes as mass testing of secondary school pupils and staff in parts of kent, london and essex is rolled out. our health correspondent katharine da costa has more. pupils at this school in dagenham are being encouraged to get tested for coronavirus this weekend. cases have risen sharply among 11—18 —year—olds in parts of north east london, kent and essex. these people think it is a good idea. i feel like it will be useful, and efficient, ensuring the rate remains low and not increasing. i know some people in my school, they may not be ambitious for the whole testing thing, with the fake i’uitioui's, whole testing thing, with the fake rumours, but it is about helping the community. following a trial in liverpool last month, pupils, staff and parents will be offered rapid swab test providing results in 30 minutes. one in three don't have any symptoms which is why mass testing is seen as a priority to help schools and communities get on top of the virus. what we have lost in the past is the ability to control and plan for the future. this possibly will give us in the short term the opportunity to know what we are dealing with. the programme as it rolls out into schools without other students i think is positive way forward. extra mobile testing units will be sent out to secondary schools in the worst—affected areas, but teaching unions think, like in wales, they should close next week instead. is the testing, which will take a couple of days, schools will close oi'i couple of days, schools will close on friday, is that a better decision than the one in wales where essentially you are stopping the community transmission? in the week to the 5th of december covid cases were falling in most areas of england. the latest figures show one in 115 had the virus, but cases were rising in london and the east of england. one in 120 had the virus in scotland and wales. while scotla nd virus in scotland and wales. while scotland remains stable, cases were rising in wales. they were falling in northern ireland where half as many people had the virus. while mass testing is being rolled out in more hotspots in england, south isolation rules are being simplified. from monday, england, scotla nd simplified. from monday, england, scotland and northern ireland will follow wales in reducing the period to ten days. the tail end of infectiousness if you like is the one where you are least likely to transmit infection. allowing somebody out of self—isolation a short time earlier than that is a reasonable balance between managing the risk to the public, but allowing us not to intrude on their lives. there is still a question over whether london and essex will be moved into tier 3 when measures are reviewed next week. some hospitals are already under significant pressure and another surge may need tougher restrictions are needed. health leaders say a third wave is not inevitable but what we do now will shape how the pandemic plays out. katharine da costa, bbc news. in the last half—hour, the first minister of wales mark drakeford has said he can't rule out a post—christmas lockdown. our wales correspondent hywel griffith is in cardiff. what more has he been saying? mark drakeford what more has he been saying? mark dra keford reflecting what more has he been saying? mark drakeford reflecting on what are the rising and rising numbers of coronavirus cases here in wales. a third week now of cases going up, and accelerating, showing no signs of slowing. while the first minister has ruled out imposing any lockdown before christmas, and the five days are for relaxed rules, over christmas, he says unless things show a sign of improvement by then, he will move things to level 4. what does that mean? he will publish that next week. it will look pretty much like the firebreak lockdown that wales experienced in autumn. he has been under a lot of pressure to move things, bearing in mind the pressure in the community and welsh hospitals which have a record number of covid patients. health boards have been told they can now start cancelling nonurgent treatment. so, the pressure has already reached the front nine and shows no sign of slowing. he was questioned about the decision last night on closing schools next week. secondary schools and colleges across wales will move turning to online. we have spoken to staff and pupils today who say they have been surprised and caught on the hop. they say it is not necessarily wrong decision but a week too late. the welsh government struggling to show it is in control of the situation the moment. non—essential shops across much of western scotland, including glasgow, have opened today for the first time in three weeks. more than two million people have been living under the tightest restrictions since 20th november. pubs and restaurants are allowed to reopen tomorrow, but only under restricted hours, and they can only sell alcohol to takeaway. this from our scotland correspondent james shaw. before dawn in the centre of glasgow, shops getting ready for the expected rush, after three weeks of lockdown. and the queues formed early at popular outlets. shoppers have less than two weeks to get everything they need for christmas, and it is an anxious time for retailers as well. just how much will they be able to recoup the losses of this desperately difficult year? this is the golden quarter in terms of the trading year for retailers and hospitality, the period of time in the yearwhen and hospitality, the period of time in the year when you build up your cash to sustain yourself in january, february when times are hard. unfortunately, we have seen a lot of announcements as you know, or retailers who have finally called it a day. we are afraid injanuary when re nt a day. we are afraid injanuary when rent time comes around we will see a few more. meanwhile, pubs and restaurants in many parts of the west of scotland are still waiting to open their doors. that will not happen until tomorrow. to use a good scottish word, it is a pretty dreadful morning here which perhaps explains why this street is busy this morning, but not absolutely packed. but for those who did brave the weather, there was a definite sense of relief to be out and about again. 0h. it feels nice, actually, it feels real nice but at the same time you have to be careful. i have my sanitiser and my masks, three masks. prime up, perfume shop and now mcdonald's for a coffee. are you getting what you need? yes. no, not enough money to get it! high streets up and down the country bear the scars of famous names that have failed in the past. the fate of many more now hangs in the balance. james shaw, bbc news. in northern ireland, nonessential shops and most hospitality businesses have reopened today, though pubs that don't serve food must remain closed. close contact services like hairdressers are also allowed to reopen. but the leaders of the devolved government say people must still follow public health advice and limit their social contacts. here's our ireland correspondent chris page. the circuit breaker has finished, so circuit training is beginning again. gym goers were among the first to get back their routines on the big reopening day, working out at six o'clock this morning. it is great, there is a good atmosphere about the place, and i think that downtime, and periods in the house where we were kind of cooped up, it is ideal to get out and do something active. it's been stop, start, stop, start, no one knows, but i hope this is our last lockdown. restaurants have been restricted to take away only since mid—october. some have enlarged their outdoor spaces for reopening but business is still going to be tough. labour—wise, we've probably spent £3000 on staff coming in, £3,000 on staff coming in, cleaning the place, tidying, setting out rotas, ordering, getting prepped in the kitchen. so probably £3,000 this week already. so, next week we'll probably just break even, if we're lucky. non—essential retailers have reopened after being shot for two reopened after being shut for two of their busiest four weeks of the year. gift—buying shoppers picked up they had left off. happy days, you can get christmas stuff in. it's amazing, i'm so glad that they're opening, a wee bit of christmas spirit. the pandemic is still there, you know, i think it's good for the economy, but people just need to be cautious about it. it certainly doesn't feel like there has been a rush back to the shops, though it is slightly busier than normal for this time on a friday. but the devolved government is stressing that the last two weeks of restrictions actually haven't brought down the infection rate as much as had been hoped. so, ministers are asking people to be as careful as they possibly can. on a visit to a contact tracing centre, the leaders of the stormont of the stormont executive were emphasising the need for caution. i know it's christmas and i know people want to go out and do things that they normally do but we have to just do things differently. this year, the vaccine is here and we are on the road to normality but we just have to stick with the guidance that is there at the moment.. be safe, be careful, mind yourself, mind your family, look after each other. the next number of weeks is going to be crucial. if you want to have a christmas, then please think carefully about your actions over the next number of days and weeks. # auld lang syne... the lockdown is being loosened as we go into the last few weeks of a uniquely challenging year. but northern ireland has already braced for the possibility of more but northern ireland is already braced for the possibility of more restrictions around the end of 2020. chris page, bbc news. our top story this lunchtime... dame barbara windsor, whose acting career spanned more than six decades, has died at the age of 83. her former co—stars pay tribute. we were so very close, and you know, she was actually mentor to me and a good friend to me, throughout everything in my life, and she was just great fun. coming up on bbc news — the nine—time world rally champion sebastien loeb will race for lewis hamilton's extreme e team when the offroad electric series starts in march, with races in areas affected by climate change. the european commission president, ursula von der leyen, has told eu leaders that a trade deal with the uk before sunday's deadline is unlikely, describing the talks as difficult. her comments come after the prime minister urged businesses to prepare for a no—deal brexit when the transition period ends at the end of the month. speaking this morning, borisjohnson said it was very likely that from 1st january, the uk would have to trade with the eu on world trade organisation terms. here's our political correspondent iain watson. leaders met in brussels today, while negotiations with the uk went on behind closed doors. no deal remains a possibility but the government says this would not be so bad, it could look like this, a road without so much sunshine. ministers say we can trade with the eu on australian terms. after all, they don't have a free trade deal with the eu and they are doing ok. free trade deal with the eu and they are doing 0k. it is looking very, very likely that we will have to go for a solution that i think would be, you know, wonderfulfor the uk, we would be able to do exactly what we would be able to do exactly what we wa nt we would be able to do exactly what we want from the 1st of january, obviously it would be different from what we set out to achieve, but i've no doubt that this country can get ready. government ministers have not totally given up on getting what they call a canada plus a deal. translated, it is one that cuts out the need for taxes on most goods to and from the continent. now, the uk could end up with something that is described as australia minus. because while australia has no free trade deal with the eu, it does have a series of mini deals and arrangements, or nuclear energy, for example, and on wine imports. even then, one former australian prime minister says this arrangement is not exactly bonser. there are very big barriers to australian exports of agricultural products in particular. there is a lot of friction, be careful what you wish for. australia's relationship with the eu is not one, from a trade point of view, that britain think would want. (all it an australian—type relationship, or call it no deal, there is a very real prospect that the talks between the eu and the uk and without agreement this weekend. that's because matt borisjohnson says, no british prime minister could sign up to brussels' demands which would keep the uk in step with eu rules for yea rs keep the uk in step with eu rules for years to come. the president of the european commission made it clear today that the uk could diverge from eu rules in the future, but there would be consequences, and there would be less access to european markets. this is not to say that we would require the uk to follow us every time we decided to raise our level of ambition, for example, in the environmental field. they would remain free, sovereign, if you wish, to decide what they wa nt to if you wish, to decide what they want to do. we would simply adapt the conditions for access to our market accordingly. eu leaders insist they are united. face—to—face negotiations with the uk continue in brussels this weekend. but the two sides still don't ci to i. iain watson, bbc news. in a moment, we'll speak to our political correspondent in westminster, iain watson, but first to our correspondent in brussels, nick beake. ursula von der leyen sounding downbeat, would you say?|j ursula von der leyen sounding downbeat, would you say? i would agree with that and i think her mood really mirrored what a lot of people are feeling here in brussels and also in london. she did suggest that they offer on the table represented a good one for the united kingdom. we heard her use the word sovereignty, which of course is one that boris johnson sovereignty, which of course is one that borisjohnson uses in the context of brexit, being all about taking back control. she was making the point that the uk would not necessarily have to raise its rules and regulations and standards in line with the eu but there would be consequences if it didn't. british sources are saying that that might sound like a very friendly offer but actually the uk could be hit by retaliatory taxes or tariffs that wouldn't represent taking back control. we have also heard from president macron of france today, who says he hopes the two sides can have a harmonious relationship in the future. he also denied that the ca ke were the future. he also denied that the cake were having their cake and eating it. a famous phrase that borisjohnson is employed before, saying that he was pro—having his ca ke saying that he was pro—having his cake and eating it. this is because the eu has put forward these emergency contingency plans for no deal, suggesting that for the next year or so, when it comes to fishing, eu access to uk waters should remain the same. president macron said, no, he was not about having his cake and eating it, but he certainly wanted to hold onto his portion. also, jane, ishould he certainly wanted to hold onto his portion. also, jane, i should tell you that the european commission, the building have confirmed this lunchtime, that borisjohnson asked to have individual conversations with both president macron and chancellor merkel of germany, and the commission said no. and we wait to see what london makes of that. nick, thank you very much. let's talk now to iain at westminster, your thoughts on that and what comes in the next few days? yes, downing street have not denied that boris johnson did attempt to get a call into chancellor merkel and in two president macron and was rebuffed by the eu. the eu is very keen to make sure that the 27 nations are not divided in their negotiating strategy. what the uk has been wanting to do all along is to try to appeal to individual nations to see if they can put some pressure on them to avoid a no deal scenario and to make the case that they would potentially lose out as well as the uk from any attempt not to get a free trade deal by the end of the year. now, what downing street is also saying is that this shows a clear willingness by the prime minister to go the extra mile, perhaps that should be the extra kilometre, to try to get a deal, and he is willing to talk to anyone from europe, anytime, over the he is willing to talk to anyone from europe, anytime, overthe next he is willing to talk to anyone from europe, anytime, over the next few days. but we know that the mood music is sounding pretty gloomy this and fundamentally although there doesn't seem to be apparently some warm words from the european commission today on sovereignty, nonetheless, the fear from the uk is that they would have to be in lockstep with eu rules for years to come if they were to avoid having taxes or tariffs imposed upon them, and unless there is a comprise on that point in the next few days, then we could be heading towards whether you call it an australian type deal, no deal, a world trade organisation deal, we are certainly going to be looking at a very different type of relationship with the eu from the end of this year, one that will involve taxes and tariffs on goods coming to and from the continent. iain watson, thank you, and nick beake. so, why are the talks deadlocked? ros atkins has been looking at the obstacles to getting a deal. the brexit trade talks are struggling. for the uk, any deal must involve being free of eu rules. this is not a trade deal, so, this hasn't ceased to be this has ceased to be a trade deal right now, the discussion is about sovereignty. for the eu, both sides must follow the same rules. translation: we must have a level playing field, not only for today but for the future. but is the eu treating the uk differently? certainly there is a perception among brexit supporters that it is not being fair. listen to borisjohnson. i don't believe, mr speaker, that those are terms that any prime minister of this country should accept. or there is the conservative mp daniel kawczynski, who accuses the eu of acting in a highly irresponsible and wholly unreasonable way. but has the eu demanded more from the uk? in short, it has. the eu wants the uk to agree to shared rules on government subsidies, on workers' rights, on environmental and food standards, and it wants the uk to remain in sync in the future, too. well, the uk rejects that, and this does go beyond other trade deals that the eu has struck with canada and with japan. but the eu has itsjustification. one mep puts it this way. it would be economic suicide for the european union to basically undermine, not one of its pillars, but one of its foundations, the single market. the point being, if a trade deal is done but the uk has different rules, potentially its businesses benefit. and as the bbc‘s chris morris explains, that possibility connects to the eu's approach. one of the reasons they're being stricter and harsher is because the uk is a major global economy right on its doorstep so it thinks it needs to be harsher because the uk has the potential to be a much bigger competitive threat. so, those are the eu's demands and the justification, but are they unusual? does this happen in other major trade deals around the world? well, not to this degree. recently, these 15 countries created a vast trading bloc. they don't share regulations, though their level of free trade isn't the same as the eu and the uk are hoping for. or there is the recent free trade deal in north america. the us insised on certain wage levels in the car industry to stop mexico having an advantage. but there is nothing as wide—ranging as the eu is asking for here. so, this is different. one analyst argues, the eu is being too defensive, it underestimates the strength of the single market and the impact on the uk of leaving it. and no doubt, the eu is a huge economic force. but still, it argues, this defence is necessary. and back in 2017, other than uk international trade secretary, liam fox, didn't foresee this approach. the free trade agreement that we will have to come to with the european union should be one of the easiest in human history. that has not come to pass. the eu is asking for a lot, but its single market is its greatest asset, and brexit rejects the very idea of the eu. this is a unique eu response to what it sees as a unique threat. whether fair or not, none of this should come as a surprise. two serial rapists who were each given a life sentence are to have the minimum time they must spend in prison increased. the high court has ruled that joseph mccann, who was jailed last year for 37 offences involving women and children, and reynhard sinaga, jailed in january for 159 offences against 48 men, will now both have to serve a minimum of a0 years. the judges rejected calls for whole—life prison terms, which have never been imposed in a non—murder case. the coronavirus vaccination programme has been under way for four days. our health correspondent james gallagher has been looking into the safety of the vaccine. mass vaccination for coronavirus is under way, and eventually, millions of us will be offered a jab. so, what do we know about its safety? well, first of all, i want you to hold this number in your mind. one in a thousand of the entire uk population have already died after being infected during the pandemic, and this figure is rising daily. this is the known threat that any side—effects have to be balanced against. so, what are they? more than one in ten people can expect fatigue, fever or muscle pains as their body responds to the jab. but these tend to be mild and can be handled with pa racetemol.