we've been here for 33 years and we've never had it quite as bad as this. ., ., , , ., , ., this. the good news is the worst of the reian this. the good news is the worst of the reign is — this. the good news is the worst of the reign is over— this. the good news is the worst of the reign is over but _ this. the good news is the worst of the reign is over but the _ this. the good news is the worst of the reign is over but the river - the reign is over but the river levels could continue to rise in parts of the country for a few days yet and this morning we have some heavy snow to contend with. all the details later. another 60 covid—19 vaccination centres open their doors in england — but there's concern over variations in the availability of the jab. the women who say they're being punished financially for having a baby. that's what the high court will examine today — the tens of thousands of self employed parents whose covid support took a hit. a moment of magic from paul pogba sends manchester united back to the top of the premier league, after rivals city had earlier overtaken them. it's thursday, 21st january. our top story. america's new presidentjoe biden has started his time in office by reversing key trump—era policies — hours after being sworn in as the 46th president of the united states. "there is no time to waste when it comes to tackling the crises we face," he tweeted as he headed to the white house following his inauguration. the ceremony, which included musical performances by lady gaga and jennifer lopez, was unlike any other due to coronavirus restrictions. nomia iqbal reports from washington. there was no traditional ball for president biden and vice president harris, but they got bruce springsteen and tom hanks. now it is my honour to introduce the president of the united states — joseph r bidenjr. this is a great nation. we're good people. and to overcome the challenges in front of us requires the most elusive of all things in a democracy — unity. hours earlier, the new leaders of america were sworn in on capitol hill. so help me, god. congratulations, mr president. soon, president biden headed into his new office and started signing away donald trump's legacy with a pen. he green—lighted 15 executive orders — some of them included calling for a nationwide facemask mandate, and rejoining both the paris climate agreement and the world health organization. # ..firework. # come on, show �*em what you're worth. this administration says it wants to set a unifying and optimistic tone for america. we are bold, fearless and ambitious. we are undaunted in our belief that we shall overcome, that we will rise up. but this new start comes just a few weeks after donald trump's loyal supporters stormed the capitol. the stakes for what president biden does in the next few years couldn't be higher. nomia iqbal, bbc news. nomia joins us now from washington. very good morning to you. we have the ceremonies and then we have the music and the entertainment and pretty much straight down to business. , ., ., ., g ., business. yes, good morning. joe biden is not _ business. yes, good morning. joe biden is not wasting _ business. yes, good morning. joe biden is not wasting any - business. yes, good morning. joe biden is not wasting any time. - biden is not wasting any time. straight up to his inauguration he said he is eager to work and has been cracking on, trying to dismantle donald trump's legacy as quickly as possible. much like what donald trump did to barack obama in 2016. it will be interesting to see how that goes down with a lot of americans because a lot of those policies that donald trump had were very popular with people. his hardline position on immigration, building that border wall, standing up building that border wall, standing up to big establishment. they liked that about him and joe biden has talked a lot about unity and trying to bring people together on the political divide. not quite sure. it will be interesting to see how reversing some major policies, will they win him many people who do not bite his presidency? today is his first full day in office and he will be attending a virtual prayer service and then we'll tackle his number one priority, the coronavirus pandemic. he has never minced his words and how he thinks of the trump administration failed to show any leadership on it, more than 400,000 americans have died. there has been a huge economic impact which is also another priority of his to tackle. the other thing worth pointing out is that there is a real sigh of relief in the city after the inauguration went off without too many problems. we have been reporting all week about the huge security operation, which is still in place because they want the administration to bed in. but americans are very proud about this traditional transfer of power and the inauguration may have been more different than normal but it did go off without a glitch white thank you very much. thousands of homes across england and wales were evacuated overnight, after widespread flooding caused by storm christoph. rivers reached record high levels in parts of greater manchester and north wales. there are now more than 200 flood warnings in place — five of them severe. andy moore reports. storm christoph started with strong winds and heavy rain, but now temperatures are falling. many places are dealing with a difficult combination of rising water levels and falling snow. at didsbury near manchester, the river mersey rose to record levels. we've been told to evacuate. however, during corona, where do you evacuate to? you don't want to impose yourself on other people. so we are trying to hold on as long as we can and hopefully it will pass. it's risen slightly higher than its previous height, so... but clearly at the moment it's holding holding good, it's holding firm. we've been here in melton avenue for 33 years and we've never had itj quite as bad as this. and it's more alarmingl even when the record — the river got to a record level. this was a picturesque — but fortunately empty — cottage at chorley in lancashire before and after the floods. some places are expected to get two months' of rain in just a few days. just a few miles from didsbury, severe flood warnings were in place overnight for the river bollin at heatley. and just across the welsh border at bangor—on—dee, homes were evacuated. across england and wales, several severe flood warnings have been in place overnight. in north wales, police helped some people leave their homes in ruthin, while warning others not to come to the area for sightseeing of the floods. near machynlleth yesterday, this river burst its banks, sending half a metre of water through some nearby homes. the river came in throughout the garden — all of the garden, rather than just the odd little hole through the side of the bank. and it didn't catch us by surprise, but the sheer volume of it and the persistence of it has caught us out. we're often told not to drive through floodwater. but this driver didn't get the memo. wrong speed, wrong speed, wrong speed! their experience showed that most cars — not even 4x4s — are built to negotiate deep floodwaters. andy moore, bbc news. in didsbury in south manchester, people from more than 2,000 properties were asked to evacuate, after the river mersey reached record high levels. our reporter adam mcclean is there for us this morning. good morning. we are not used to being asked to evacuate from our home. . �* , being asked to evacuate from our home. . �*, , ., home. that's right. good morning. the river mersey _ home. that's right. good morning. the river mersey here _ home. that's right. good morning. the river mersey here in _ home. that's right. good morning. the river mersey here in didsbury| home. that's right. good morning. | the river mersey here in didsbury is at its highest ever recorded level. it peaked in the last few hours and overnight that forced emergency services here to advise those, and as many as 2000 homes, were advised to leave and take shelter elsewhere. police officers and firefighters were knocking on doors, many people being woken in the early hours and strongly advised to evacuate. a short distance from where we are is the didsbury flood basin. yesterday, as river levels rose, the floodgates were open, allowing this river to spill over into an empty space in the hope that that would take the pressure off the strange river banks, but even with those measures in place at this river is perilously close to overflowing. now those who have been advised to evacuate here have been advised to evacuate here have been advised to evacuate here have been told that potential flooding poses a danger to life, but of course people have been staying at home now for quite some time because of a virus that poses a danger to life so it is an incredibly challenging situation here. some moved valuables and themselves upstairs and decided to take their chances, others are sheltering at nearby community centres and a local mosque and while clinically vulnerable people and those who are currently self isolating, they have been provided with hotel accommodation in which to self—isolate. water levels have dropped in the last few hours, which will be a relief, and it is hoped the banks here will hold. indeed. thanks very _ the banks here will hold. indeed. thanks very much. _ the banks here will hold. indeed. thanks very much. anyone - the banks here will hold. indeed. thanks very much. anyone who l the banks here will hold. indeed. | thanks very much. anyone who is the banks here will hold. indeed. - thanks very much. anyone who is out there, do stay safe. levels of coronavirus in the community may have risen over the first ten days of the third lockdown, according to a new study. the past few days have seen a clear slowdown in the number of lab—confirmed cases reported daily by the government — however, the imperial college london researchers say their data is more up to date. ministers say the study does not yet reflect the impact of the national lockdown in england. more than 60 new covid—i9 vaccination centres will open today in england, as the roll out of the programme continues. in some regions the over 70s are now receiving the jab, while in others those in their 80s are still waiting. here's our health correspondent dominic hughes. in care homes, hospitals, gp surgeries and now pharmacies, the number of places where the covid—i9 vaccine can be delivered are growing. the latest new venues coming online today include a mosque in birmingham and a cinema in aylesbury. but problems with the supply of the vaccine remain a challenge, leading to some frustration for those trying to deliver it. it is frustrating. you know, we've spent a lot of time and effort setting up centres — there's 15 across sheffield — gp practices working in partnership to make sure it's ready to go. now we can deliver, you know, 700, 800 vaccines a day, but the supply to us is really limited. we may face a whole week of not being able to give any vaccines next week. there are some tough targets to hit for the roll—out of the vaccine. by mid—february, care—home residents, the over—705, front line health and care staff and the extremely clinically vulnerable should have had their firstjab. by the end of april, vaccine should have reached all those over 50 and young people with underlying health conditions. and by the autumn, the rest of the adult population. manufacturing the vaccine is a complex process subject to multiple safety and quality—control checks, ministers described the supply of the vaccine as "lumpy" and acknowledge this is the limiting factor on the speed of the roll—out. people are being reassured they won't miss out, and the vaccine remains our best way out of this crisis. dominic hughes, bbc news. time now is 6:12am. time to get the latest weather with tempo map. we spoke to adam in greater manchester, didsbury, about these warnings of floods and people being told to evacuate from their homes. it is really concerning. it evacuate from their homes. it is really concerning.— evacuate from their homes. it is really concerning. it is indie. this time yesterday — really concerning. it is indie. this time yesterday we _ really concerning. it is indie. this time yesterday we had _ really concerning. it is indie. this time yesterday we had about - really concerning. it is indie. this time yesterday we had about 40| really concerning. it is indie. this - time yesterday we had about 40 flood warnings, now we have 240, including five soviet flood warnings in force across england and wales. all the latest details on the bbc weather website at the moment. good news, the west of the reign is over. some river levels will continue to rise through the day so we will see flood warnings still increase even though the worst of the rain is gone. we have had some snow as well through the night and across parts of scotland at the moment. heavy snow across northern parts of the mainland and towards the south and south—east. rain around the coast through the next few hours could cause some flooding. further south, better than yesterday but rain, sleet, snow showers, the odd rumble of thunder throughout northern ireland, north—west inwood, wales, showers in the west, clearer and drier in the east. colder today and there is some frost and ice in the west. this note will be fairly relentless across the grampians today, blizzards with a strong to gale force winds. further rain across the north—east. a mixture of sunshine and showers across other parts of the country but we will see somewhat persistent rain arrived in the channel islands and it will be a cold day. for it to 8 degrees across the effect of that strong winds and it will be close to freezing, particularly across parts of scotland and north—east england. into tomorrow, most places will become dry but there will be a risk of ice. ,, , ., become dry but there will be a risk of ice. ,, ,, . become dry but there will be a risk of ice. ,, i. ., ., become dry but there will be a risk of ice. ,, ., ., ~' ., joe biden described it as a day of "history and hope" after taking his oath to become the 46th president of the united states. in another sign of change, kamala harris became the first woman and the first black and south asian—american to be sworn in as vice president. we can speak now to lita rosario richardson, a friend of kamala harris and sean rameswaram, who hosts a us politics podcast. hello to you both. thank you for joining us. lita rosario richardson, you must be delighted to see kamala harris now as vice president. not elect, vice president.— harris now as vice president. not elect, vice president. yes, exactly. it is elect, vice president. yes, exactly. it is definitely. _ elect, vice president. yes, exactly. it is definitely, i _ elect, vice president. yes, exactly. it is definitely, i am _ elect, vice president. yes, exactly. it is definitely, i am elated - elect, vice president. yes, exactly. it is definitely, i am elated and - it is definitely, i am elated and very happy. happy for howard university, happy for the usa, happy university, happy forthe usa, happy forthe university, happy for the usa, happy for the world. tell university, happy for the usa, happy for the world-— for the world. tell me, you went to university with _ for the world. tell me, you went to university with her, _ for the world. tell me, you went to university with her, you _ for the world. tell me, you went to university with her, you knew- for the world. tell me, you went to university with her, you knew her. university with her, you knew her when she was younger. did you see this in her timeline in the future, whether ambitions then? you this in her timeline in the future, whether ambitions then? you know, i can't really say _ whether ambitions then? you know, i can't really say that. _ whether ambitions then? you know, i can't really say that. howard - can't really say that. howard university has a history of graduating many people who have been influential in american politics and influential in american politics and in world politics to some extent. of course we had marshall, a supreme courtjustice. so while kamala was certainly a star in her own right in school, she, you know... i didn't know she had any particular political aspirations. i don't think there was anything that really indicated that. but after we became professionals and started working, she started out distancing her peers and so became more evident at that point, when she kept making career leaps and bounds that were certainly setting her apart from the pack. good morning, sean rameswaram. good morning, sean this setting her apart from the pack. good morning, sean this was an open oration like no other. there were absences. the former president was not there, the crowds were not there. what did you make of what she witnessed? it there. what did you make of what she witnessed? ., , ., there. what did you make of what she witnessed? . , ., ., ., ., ., witnessed? it was an inauguration of our times. witnessed? it was an inauguration of our times- you _ witnessed? it was an inauguration of our times. you know, _ witnessed? it was an inauguration of our times. you know, every - witnessed? it was an inauguration of our times. you know, every last - ourtimes. you know, every last detait _ ourtimes. you know, every last detait the _ ourtimes. you know, every last detail. the flags replacing people. you know. — detail. the flags replacing people. you know, three former presidents but not _ you know, three former presidents but not the — you know, three former presidents but not the one who really mattered to sort _ but not the one who really mattered to sort of— but not the one who really mattered to sort of undo the insurrection we saw on _ to sort of undo the insurrection we saw on capitol two weeks ago. two weeks _ saw on capitol two weeks ago. two weeks ago — saw on capitol two weeks ago. two weeks ago to the day we have an insurrection and one week later we have the _ insurrection and one week later we have the outgoing president impeached in that us capitol hill. impeached in that us capitol one week— impeached in that us capitol one week later, a new president sworn in without— week later, a new president sworn in without the _ week later, a new president sworn in without the outgoing president there to sanction the peaceful transfer of uowen _ to sanction the peaceful transfer of uowen this — to sanction the peaceful transfer of power. this sacrosanct element of the american prophecy —— american democracy— the american prophecy —— american democracy which to this day had been unbroken _ democracy which to this day had been unbroken and is now unbroken. there was no _ unbroken and is now unbroken. there was no peaceful transfer of power this year. — was no peaceful transfer of power this year, there was a violent transfer— this year, there was a violent transfer of power, and then the outgoing — transfer of power, and then the outgoing president did not attend the subsequent president's inauguration. it was the best inauguration. it was the best inauguration they could muster in a way they— inauguration they could muster in a way they pulled up quite an event fora _ way they pulled up quite an event for a pandemic way they pulled up quite an event fora pandemic and way they pulled up quite an event for a pandemic and a recovery from an insurrection. it was a day that was both— an insurrection. it was a day that was both historic for its positivity. the first black, first compilation vice president. the oldest _ compilation vice president. the oldest president ever inaugurated. sadly— oldest president ever inaugurated. sadly historic because of a pandemic that has— sadly historic because of a pandemic that has claimed 400,000 american lives because of an insurrection this country is still recovering from — this country is still recovering from. ,, . this country is still recovering from, ,, ., this country is still recovering from. ,, ., ., ,, ., ., from. sean, can we talk about how thins will from. sean, can we talk about how things will change? _ from. sean, can we talk about how things will change? joe _ from. sean, can we talk about how things will change? joe biden - from. sean, can we talk about how things will change? joe biden got i from. sean, can we talk about howl things will change? joe biden got to the office and got down to work with these 15 executive orders, many pushing back donald trump's policies. do you want to take us through the significance of that? we can't go through all 15, but the significant ones. i can't go through all 15, but the significant ones.— can't go through all 15, but the significant ones. i mean, ithink, ou significant ones. i mean, ithink, you know. _ significant ones. i mean, ithink, you know. joe — significant ones. i mean, ithink, you know, joe biden _ significant ones. i mean, ithink, you know, joe biden and - significant ones. i mean, ithink, you know, joe biden and his - you know, joe biden and his administration are clearly trying to make _ administration are clearly trying to make up— administration are clearly trying to make up for a lot of lost ground within— make up for a lot of lost ground within the — make up for a lot of lost ground within the us and especially by joining — within the us and especially by joining the who, rejoining the paris climate _ joining the who, rejoining the paris climate accord. there is a lot of lost reputation to make up for in the united — lost reputation to make up for in the united states and they are trying — the united states and they are trying to— the united states and they are trying to waste no time there. that is some _ trying to waste no time there. that is some of— trying to waste no time there. that is some of the stuff they are doing ahroad~ _ is some of the stuff they are doing ahroad~ at— is some of the stuff they are doing abroad. at home, just holding a press _ abroad. at home, just holding a press conference where the media is respected _ press conference where the media is respected and welcomed to the table. immediately, right out of the gate. white _ immediately, right out of the gate. white a _ immediately, right out of the gate. white a lot— immediately, right out of the gate. while a lot of inauguration festivities are still being planned and executed. it sends a message that this _ and executed. it sends a message that this is — and executed. it sends a message that this is sort of a return to some — that this is sort of a return to some semblance of normalcy in the united _ some semblance of normalcy in the united states. as far as what this president. — united states. as far as what this president, who has the most ambitious platform of, say, any president— ambitious platform of, say, any president since maybe fdr, it will be actually able to realise, that remains — be actually able to realise, that remains to be seen. already we are seeing _ remains to be seen. already we are seeing very— remains to be seen. already we are seeing very strong opposition ted cruz. _ seeing very strong opposition ted cruz. who — seeing very strong opposition ted cruz, who attended his inauguration. from _ cruz, who attended his inauguration. from rand _ cruz, who attended his inauguration. from rand paul, so, you know, how the us— from rand paul, so, you know, how the us senate, in which the democrats have a very slim majority, will accept _ democrats have a very slim majority, will accept and welcome president biden— will accept and welcome president biden and his policies, i think, remains — biden and his policies, i think, remains to— biden and his policies, i think, remains to be seen. certainly a tough _ remains to be seen. certainly a tough road _ remains to be seen. certainly a tough road ahead. gne remains to be seen. certainly a tough road ahead. one thought from ou, lita, tough road ahead. one thought from you. lita. kamala — tough road ahead. one thought from you, lita, kamala harris. _ tough road ahead. one thought from you, lita, kamala harris. is- tough road ahead. one thought from you, lita, kamala harris. is it- tough road ahead. one thought from you, lita, kamala harris. is it too . you, lita, kamala harris. is it too early to say there is a shiver of excitement among young women or women of colour, just about seeing her there? women of colour, just about seeing herthere? it women of colour, just about seeing her there? it happening. we knew it was going to happen and then there is the moment. is there something tangible you can feel? i is the moment. is there something tangible you can feel?— tangible you can feel? i don't know if it is tangible, _ tangible you can feel? i don't know if it is tangible, but _ tangible you can feel? i don't know if it is tangible, but certainly - if it is tangible, but certainly there is a feeling in the air of hopefulness that a lot of things will actually get accomplished, and i think kamala being there as vice president to president biden, he has probably got more legislative experience than any president since lbj, that if anyone could get it done under these circumstances it would be president biden, and i believe kamala is committed to the work, as well. so i think the team that they have together will be able to accomplish many things and we will see exactly what opposition they get out of the senate or some of the more conservative democrats, like joe of the more conservative democrats, likejoe mansion, to see what he is willing to go along with. i think they will have a plan, i think she is certainly a hard worker will put in the time needed and that competency is certainly there to have our government functioning again at full capacity. fine have our government functioning again at full capacity.— again at full capacity. one final word, again at full capacity. one final word. sean. — again at full capacity. one final word, sean, on _ again at full capacity. one final word, sean, on the _ again at full capacity. one final word, sean, on the tone - again at full capacity. one final word, sean, on the tone of- again at full capacity. one final word, sean, on the tone of his| word, sean, on the tone of his presidency. there was a question as to the press secretary, and just asking about what the tone is going to be like with the press. considering how it had been with donald trump. the considering how it had been with donald trump-— considering how it had been with donald trump. the prevailing tone, the theme. — donald trump. the prevailing tone, the theme. it _ donald trump. the prevailing tone, the theme, it seems _ donald trump. the prevailing tone, the theme, it seems to _ donald trump. the prevailing tone, the theme, it seems to be - donald trump. the prevailing tone, the theme, it seems to be unity. i donald trump. the prevailing tone, l the theme, it seems to be unity. joe biden. _ the theme, it seems to be unity. joe biden. his _ the theme, it seems to be unity. joe biden, his whole political career, decades— biden, his whole political career, decades long in the senate, has been bringing _ decades long in the senate, has been bringing people together, moderation, has been bipartisanship. he has— moderation, has been bipartisanship. he has been saying this for over a year now— he has been saying this for over a year now while he has been running for this— year now while he has been running for this office, and it doesn't seem to have _ for this office, and it doesn't seem to have clicked with the entire country — to have clicked with the entire country yet. that is his ambition, he would — country yet. that is his ambition, he would put his entire soul into it. whether or not it will work remains — it. whether or not it will work remains to— it. whether or not it will work remains to be seen but i do think he means— remains to be seen but i do think he means it _ remains to be seen but i do think he means it and — remains to be seen but i do think he means it and i think he is in the honest— means it and i think he is in the honest pursuit of uniting this country— honest pursuit of uniting this country and you cannot help but root for him _ country and you cannot help but root for him. . .. country and you cannot help but root for him. ., ,, i. country and you cannot help but root for him. . ~' ,, , , country and you cannot help but root for him. ., ,. i. , , . for him. thank you very, very much. sean rameswaram _ for him. thank you very, very much. sean rameswaram and _ for him. thank you very, very much. sean rameswaram and lita - for him. thank you very, very much. sean rameswaram and lita rosario| sean rameswaram and lita rosario richardson, thank you very much for your company this morning. 6:22am, thursday morning. the inauguration of presidentjoe biden dominates some of the front pages this morning. the telegraph's headline says �*end this uncivil war�* — a quote from the new president during his inaugural address, as he promised to be a president "for all americans" — including those who didn't vote for him. "democracy has prevailed" reads the guardian's headline — using another quote from president biden. the paper says he has dedicated himself to rebuilding a country ravaged by disease, racial inequality and political division. the daily express looks at what the new leadership could mean for the uk—us relationship. and the new york times looks at some of the work president biden has already set into motion — just hours after being sworn into office — including reversing some of donald trump's policy decisions and recommitting the us to the paris climate agreement. an image... i'm sorry if this sounds rather flippa nt an image... i'm sorry if this sounds ratherflippant in an image... i'm sorry if this sounds rather flippant in relation to the serious stuff to do it with a new president—elect. quite a lot of attention to this address. lady gaga took to the stage and she gave her rendition of the national anthem. look at that. how do you describe that? it is huge, isn't it, namely you would describe it as absolutely fantastic! yeah. aha, you would describe it as absolutely fantastic! yeah.— you would describe it as absolutely fantastic! yeah. a public statement. it has fantastic! yeah. a public statement. it has scale- — fantastic! yeah. a public statement. it has scale. illuminance _ fantastic! yeah. a public statement. it has scale. illuminance and - fantastic! yeah. a public statement. it has scale. illuminance and grand. | it has scale. illuminance and grand. and the giant _ it has scale. illuminance and grand. and the giant brooch, _ it has scale. illuminance and grand. and the giant brooch, as _ it has scale. illuminance and grand. and the giant brooch, as well. - and the giant brooch, as well. enormous brooches.— and the giant brooch, as well. enormous brooches. that did very much catch _ enormous brooches. that did very much catch my — enormous brooches. that did very much catch my eye, _ enormous brooches. that did very much catch my eye, it _ enormous brooches. that did very much catch my eye, it matched i enormous brooches. that did very l much catch my eye, it matched the golden microphone when she was singing. it was all very carefully thought out, very beautiful. shall i tell you a story? {30 thought out, very beautiful. shall i tell you a story?— thought out, very beautiful. shall i tell you a story?- when - thought out, very beautiful. shall i tell you a story?- when you| tell you a story? go on. when you think of the _ tell you a story? go on. when you think of the heroes _ tell you a story? go on. when you think of the heroes of _ tell you a story? go on. when you think of the heroes of previous - think of the heroes of previous wars, world war i, who do you think of? b5 wars, world war i, who do you think of? �* . . wars, world war i, who do you think of? �* , . . wars, world war i, who do you think of? �* . . . think wars, world war i, who do you think of?_ think of - wars, world war i, who do you think of?_ think of an l of? as in an individual? think of an imaue. of? as in an individual? think of an image- are — of? as in an individual? think of an image- are you _ of? as in an individual? think of an image. are you thinking _ of? as in an individual? think of an image. are you thinking of- of? as in an individual? think of an | image. are you thinking of someone in the trenches, _ image. are you thinking of someone in the trenches, i _ image. are you thinking of someone in the trenches, i due? _ image. are you thinking of someone in the trenches, i due? i _ image. are you thinking of someone in the trenches, i due? i will- in the trenches, i due? i will chance in the trenches, i due? i will change one _ in the trenches, i due? i will change one of— in the trenches, i due? i will change one of the _ in the trenches, i due? i will change one of the images i in the trenches, i due? i will change one of the images in| in the trenches, i due? i will- change one of the images in your head. i am going to put a pigeon in theirfor you. head. i am going to put a pigeon in theirforyou. listen head. i am going to put a pigeon in theirfor you. listen to head. i am going to put a pigeon in their for you. listen to this. 194 soldiers were trapped and almost 600 americans, including lieutenant james blake, got cut off from comrades during a major offensive in german positions. these were men of the 1st battalion, surrounded deep in a french forest, shelled by the enemy, as well as taking friendly fire hits. new 200 of them died. when is trying to get messages out, they couldn't, they failed. then the group sent carrier pigeons out. and the ease carrier pigeons were shot out of the sky. but there was one. one british homing bird called share army. it blew 25 miles in 25 minutes to deliver a note and it was shot in the breast, it was blinded in one eye, and one leg was hanging just by attendant. it eye, and one leg was hanging 'ust by attendant. . ., eye, and one leg was hanging 'ust by attendant. , ., ., , ., attendant. it survived for a period of time. attendant. it survived for a period of time- all _ attendant. it survived for a period of time. all of _ attendant. it survived for a period of time. all of this _ attendant. it survived for a period of time. all of this has _ attendant. it survived for a period of time. all of this has been - of time. all of this has been documented _ of time. all of this has been documented in _ of time. all of this has been documented in various - of time. all of this has been i documented in various archives of time. all of this has been - documented in various archives of letters that are now being put on sale. it is a story i'm interested in. what was lovely about the bird who survived her injuries, she lost her leg but then a small wooden one was carved for her. she lived for another year. is was carved for her. she lived for another year-— was carved for her. she lived for another year. is it cher ami is in a dear friend? _ another year. is it cher ami is in a dear friend? things _ another year. is it cher ami is in a dear friend? things you _ another year. is it cher ami is in a dear friend? things you didn't - another year. is it cher ami is in a i dear friend? things you didn't know. the government could be forced to award rebates to tens of thousands of self—employed women who say they've lost out as a result of one of the key support schemes offered during the pandemic, nina has the details. in amongst very difficult times, these little intricacies, where things aren't quite the same. the dust is settling on that monumental support schemes. all the week we have been looking back at people who necessarily haven't been treated fairly. today self employed women who've taken maternity leave and seen their covid support impacted as a result — will take their case to the high court. the self employment income support scheme was launched last march. like the furlough scheme — but for those who aren't directly employed by a company. the government covers 80% of trading profits over a three—month period. so far three grants have been made available — details of a fourth are expected soon. it's already paid out nearly £14 billion. here's where it gets complicated if you've taken time out. the grants are based on average profits over the last three three tax years. so supposing you earned £20k in each of the three tax years. your grant would be 80% of that — so £16k. but if you took time out to give birth and look after your baby and your income dropped to £2,000 in one of those years, that pulls down the average to 14k. 80% of that — a little over £11k. we spoke to cheryl — a fitness instructor who took time out and feels she's been treated unfairly. i had my third child in 2018, which obviously comes under the three years that they are working out the averages. so to put it in perspective, what i received from the government grants, the three months — or what was meant to be covering for three months — was probably what i was earning on a monthly basis prior to that. my partner, his industry got shut down but his income wasn't affected by it at all, and obviously he had the child at the same time so why has his not been affected? why is itjust mine? campaigners say it is discriminatory against women who give birth and because of that it breaches both the human rights act and the equality act. which is why is being heard in the high court today. they say 75,000 women have lost out. and if the campaigners win the case they may be in line for a refund. there will of course be some self employed men who have lost out too if they were self employed and took time out and saw their income drop. the government has said in the past that it is lawful to treat maternity leave the same as other gaps in trading — which is why an average over three years is taken in. we are not expecting the judgment today and it could be some weeks before it the decision is handed down. it is not about whether people think they have been treated fairly tjy think they have been treated fairly by when the judge thinks it is fair, it is about the law. campaigners say this is way more money, about the role parents pay. "for maternity leave to be dismissed is the same as the sick, it is not only insulting but sends out a dangerous message about how the government views of mothers and the integral role in a functioning society. quote proceedings will begin via zoom at around 10am. white thank you. time now to get the news, travel and weather where you are. good morning from bbc london, i'm victoria hollins. some councils in london are concerned that vulnerable communities are being targetted by anti—vaccine activists. westminster council is urging communities to challenge anti—vax publicity. it's feared social media campaigns and some printed material could put off some people from getting the coronavirus vaccine. it's asking faith leaders, councillors and the wider community to help counter consipiracies. the brother of a teenager stabbed to death in north london earlier this week has described him as "humble", "kind" and someone who always put others first. 17—year—old anas mezenner was attacked shortly after 9 o'clock on tuesday evening near turnpike lane station. two 16—year—olds have been arrested on suspicion of murder. a nurse working at newham hospital has filmed a day in the life of herjob for the bbc. zara zaman had been deployed to the intensive care unit in march last year, but has now been asked to go back and treat very sick covid patients again due to the high amount of cases. she says her team are doing their best to save lives. this is what nursing is. we are here to provide the best care that we possibly can for our patients, and that gives me peace. i am tired, i am hungry, but i am feeling hopeful for the future, because that's what helps us keep going as well. let's take a look at the travel situation now. there's a good service on the tubes this morning. the a2 east rochester way remains down to one lane in both directions at the danson interchange for ongoing bridge work, with delays building from hall place. but things are still moving at the moment. in new southgate, the a406 north circular at pinkham way is down to one lne westbound just before colney hatch lane for emergency water work. in the city, the blackfriars underpass remains closed for ongoing works. now the weather with elizabeth rizzini. good morning. a lot drier today across the capital than it was yesterday but it does stay blustery and it's also going to be feeling colder too. a chillier start to the morning, temperatures in low to mid single figures and there will be spells of brightness on and off through the day with more clout in the afternoon. watch out for some showers that will blow through fairly swiftly on a fairly brisk south—westerly wind, possibly a little wintry over the higher ground with top temperatures between seven and nine celsius. watch out for a bit more rain perhaps into south—eastern areas of the capital as we head through the evening, but if we do see that it will clear away to leave us with a dry night, clear skies and a frosty start to the day tomorrow with temperatures for many spots dropping below freezing. tomorrow, lighterwinds, mostly dry, plenty of sunshine around but again watch out for one or two showers. there could be some rain on saturday and the potential for some snow on sunday. i'm back with the latest from the bbc london newsroom in half an hour. plenty more on our website at the usual address. bye for now. hello, this is breakfast with naga munchetty and charlie stayt. coming up on breakfast this morning. we'll be bringing you the latest from our "lockdown life" series when we speak to double olympic rowing champion helen glover who'll be giving us her tips on how to exercise with young children. the writer behind "dr who" and "queer as folk", russell t davies, will be talking about his new five—part miniseries which charts the dazzling highs and harrowing lows of lgbtq life as aids swept across the globe in the 1980s. make wingless of your arms with heart at its centre. the challenge, the flight. catatonia singer cerys matthews has used poetry by lemm sissay and adam horovitz for her new album. she'll be telling us about her latest collaboration pairing poems with music. the prime minister has warned there'll be "tough weeks to come", as the uk reported another all—time high of daily coronavirus deaths. a further 1,820 people have died within 28 days of a positive covid test, according to government figures. over the last week, an average of 39,068 people in the uk were in hospital with coronavirus — that includes suspected cases in wales. it's putting huge pressure on staff working on the frontline. we asked three medics to record their experiences for bbc breakfast, and jayne mccubbin joined them to hear about the emotional impact it's having on their lives. the pressure has never been greater. in birmingham, 400 troops are being deployed to hospitals. very, very busy, and the flood is showing no signs of stopping. in london, police officers are being trained as ambulance drivers. there's just... there's no words. in liverpool, the children's hospital has started admitting adults. so that's a bit of a worry for us. and the fact that the patients are young and fit, that's- a bit of a concern. we've asked three medics from each city to share a night shift with us and reflect on the emotional impact of this crisis. three weeks ago when i came over, there were 59 patients. now we have nearly 140. and a lot of them are really, really sick. we've probably trebled the capacity of looking after critically unwell patients, but it has come at high cost. and the biggest problem is staffing. the staff feel anxious - about being asked to look after more and more patients when there aren't any more l nurses, and there's no easy solution to that. i hello. hi, peter. hi, nitton. hi, emily. it is worse than april. it's the rate of admissions. we are surpassing april easily. this is onjust a whole other scale. we are way beyond the april peak. and remember, this is where in april, everyone was convinced, everyone was enthusiastic. everyone was willing to go in all out. now i have about 20% of my medical workforce in ic that is off sick long term with covid, self—isolating or something. everyone's tired, everyone's stressed and we are short of people. and we have more patients, a lot more patients than we had the first time. nearly 50% more. covid admissions and deaths are at a record high while hospitals are creating capacity to bring patients in they can't magic up staff. i had a 32—year—old patient. he was six months older than me and i reassured him he would be fine. and then, he didn't live. we're seeing about four times as many deaths as we normally do, and there is the guilt of not being able to supply them with our usual high standard of intensive care. the reason ic works _ is because we've got one to one nursing and the nurses look- after the patient and they document every single observation. so if you dilute that, l you're going to dilute the effect of intensive care. absolutely. i'm taking care of two, three or four itu patients. and that's way beyond what i would usually be doing. when i first came here, i felt incredibly guilty. and i think that's why i was struggling. i would go awayjust feeling horror at what i had seen and what i couldn't do. i wonder how much of a psychological toll we are storing up for ic staff. i think we will need to have a lot of support in place for health care staff once this ends. there will be a psychological reckoning here at some point. medics describe guilt for the things they cannot do and guilt for asking colleagues to do more and more and more. so, i'm asking my colleagues to step up again _ can you do some extra work? and you know that you've already asked them to do that and you'rej asking them again and asking. the nurses to do it again so that, you know, and you're also saying, yeah, but we want to look - after you and kind of like contradictory things. - sometimes it feels worse to be on a break because you just feel like you should be in the hospital, or you're getting texts from your trust saying, "urgent call to arms. we need extra, extra anybody." i completely agree with emily. all of this has come at a cost and there is anger. i'm angry. really angry. what a lot of us are really angry about is the covid deniers and the people that have been walking around videoing outpatient clinics at midnight. and recently, two people were arrested in my hospital and fined just for trespassing. so that's the sort of people that generally our anger is against. it's just after nine - o'clock and we've had the handover from the night team. er, a huge increase in the number of patients with covid in the trust. i we've got 550 patients now, - and that was from yesterday morning. so it's probably higher now. and another bit of bad news i is the two cubicles on our hdu have just flooded overnight. so that's really unhelpful when we're trying to make more space for patients. l it feels like people are tired i of hearing about the situation and sort of want to i deny what's going on. and i think that feeds into staff morale. - what peter is saying, morale is low and there'sjust a sense of hopelessness. it'sjust galling to be coming in and be around seeing what the general public are doing, and knowing that you're about to put in a 12 and a half hour stint in because people just for some reason are apathetic or don't believe or whatever. as their cities wait, they prepare for home to sleep then face the same again tomorrow. death rates and hospital admissions have yet to hit their peak. i'm just coming out from my shift. and i'm just walking past stacks and stacks of ambulances. they have lived through this stress for a year and a lot of people are near breaking point. what i'm hoping is, and what all of my colleagues are hoping is, that in the next few weeks, as more and more people get vaccinated, the numbers will start coming down. and if i never see a patient with covid again in my life, i will be crying. you get a real sense of how weary some of the medics are. our thanks for that insight into what is going on in hospitals. let's speak to our gp, dr rachel ward. i know you were able to hear some of what they were saying a moment ago and a couple of things i would draw your attention to, emily, the nurse, was talking about the guilt she feels when she has time off, whereas seeing people she cannot help. this is a very tough burden. goad is a very tough burden. good morning. _ is a very tough burden. good morning, charlie. _ is a very tough burden. good morning, charlie. that - is a very tough burden. good morning, charlie. that was l is a very tough burden. good morning, charlie. that was a heart—wrenching video, wasn't it? the fact that these people who are literally giving blood sweat and tears every single day, i find that very upsetting. it takes a special kind of person who works in and i have family and friends who work in itu and i remember them saying back in the first wave that they were just about holding on but they couldn't take much more and now we are in a situation where things have ramped up to such a serious extent. that what the staff in itu are being asked to do is just beyond belief, so for them to feel guilt, i find that incredibly sad, because what they are putting in is beyond what most people can even imagine. i will! most people can even imagine. i will ut this most people can even imagine. i will put this out — most people can even imagine. i will put this out there. _ most people can even imagine. i will put this out there. you _ most people can even imagine. i will put this out there. you are a gp and it's a different kind of pressure, but you two are under immense pressure and we ask this often, but how are you coping, and are you now seeing may be colleagues professionally who are struggling as part of your practice? we professionally who are struggling as part of your practice?— part of your practice? we are under a very different _ part of your practice? we are under a very different type _ part of your practice? we are under a very different type of— part of your practice? we are under a very different type of pressure i a very different type of pressure and i wouldn't want to liken it to what is going on in itu. we have a race against time because we are trying to immunise everybody so people don't end up in that situation when they are in itu and we are trying to look after everyone in the community while you're doing that, so there is a huge burden on us at the moment. i'm not going to deny that. and over recent weeks there's certainly been a lot more tears than normal and more heightened feelings and there have been some very difficult times and, yes, i've seen colleagues at breaking point. i mean, i have so much admiration for my colleagues and i am so proud of what we are doing, but the amount of extra time, effort, that everybody is putting in at the moment, i cannot even begin to tell you what it is like. and i think it is really important that people understand that, because those they said in the clip, people are tired of the rules and we do have disbelievers out there and we are not doing this for praise, we are not doing this for praise, we are doing it to tell people that you do not want to find yourself in a situation with covid, so please listen to us.— situation with covid, so please listen to us. ., .., ., listen to us. rachel, what could or can be done? _ listen to us. rachel, what could or can be done? it— listen to us. rachel, what could or can be done? it feels— listen to us. rachel, what could or can be done? it feels like - listen to us. rachel, what could or can be done? it feels like it - listen to us. rachel, what could or can be done? it feels like it is - can be done? it feels like it is going to happen. there are going to be medics who work in those places who cannot work because of the stress they are under. how can we try and help? how can anything be done to help them right now given the pressures that exist? it's not going to change. how can we help? from the general public point of view, the most important things are, there are no excuses, you need to follow the rules. there are no bending the rules, that is not acceptable, you need to stay at home and follow the rules. when you get invited for a vaccine, please take it up, and if you have concerns about having a vaccine, talk to a health care professional about it, and in the meantime, following hands, face, space is incredibly important, but what i would ask as well is this, if you are having interactions with health services, please bear in mind the immense pressure that we are under. sad to say, at the moment, we have huge numbers of complaints, people who are obviously anxious and worried about their health but we are getting so much and so many people phoning up who are being very difficult, giving verbal abuse to our staff, and we understand the underlying causes, but please remember that everybody is having a tough time and please remember that the person on the end of the phone, they didn't ask for a pandemic, they really are trying to do the best for you, and pleasejust be patient with us. you, and please 'ust be patient with us. . , , ., , you, and please 'ust be patient with us, . , , ., , ~' us. clearly giving people like ourself us. clearly giving people like yourself grief— us. clearly giving people like yourself grief is _ us. clearly giving people like yourself grief is completely l yourself grief is completely unacceptable and it's shocking that should be happening. just update us on how it is going with your vaccination programme. we hear it is patchy over parts of the country, and you are in newbury. what is the situation in terms of the numbers you have been able to vaccinate so far and in terms of the age ranges? my far and in terms of the age ranges? my practice is in didcot, just in south oxfordshire, and we have had a good start. we have done the majority of our over 80s and really pleased to say we've done the majority of our care homes as well, which is so important. we have worked down into some of the upper 70s age range, but because we have done the majority of the first couple of categories we are on a bit of a pause at the moment. we are getting some vaccine through, but what the plan is at the moment is that nhs england are trying to ensure that everybody is on a bit of an even keel and everybody is covering those higher categories and getting us all on the same level before we progress to the lower ages. before we progress to the lower a . es. , . before we progress to the lower aces. , . .., before we progress to the lower aces. . . before we progress to the lower aces. , before we progress to the lower aces. . ages. just so people understand, you re ort ages. just so people understand, you reort in ages. just so people understand, you report in to — ages. just so people understand, you report in to the _ ages. just so people understand, you report in to the authorities _ ages. just so people understand, you report in to the authorities where - report in to the authorities where you are, the numbers you have got through and then they allocate the resources to you accordingly? so if you've nearly reached it, they will only send you a small amount more, if any? only send you a small amount more, if an ? . . . only send you a small amount more, ifan ? . , ., ., if any? that is what our understanding - if any? that is what our understanding is. - if any? that is what our understanding is. they| if any? that is what our - understanding is. they obviously have a clear picture of what the situation is, what is being done in each area and of course, remember not every play started on the same day. there was a staggered start so some of us have been going for longer than others so at the moment there is focus on getting those places that have not been immunising for as long up to speed to get those very vulnerable people immunised. always good to catch up with you and thanks for being so honest about how things are for you and it's lovely to catch up. good luck in the days and weeks ahead. thank you. what do we take from that? be nice to medics. there is no reason to be polite to anyone, is there? if you have a complaint, get it sorted, but be nice about it. we are always lovely to match, aren't we? always, even when — lovely to match, aren't we? always, even when the _ lovely to match, aren't we? always, even when the weather _ lovely to match, aren't we? always, even when the weather is _ lovely to match, aren't we? always, even when the weather is shocking. | lovely to match, aren't we? always, | even when the weather is shocking. i have figured it out after all these years, it's not yourfault, it is carol's. i years, it's not your fault, it is carol's. . , years, it's not your fault, it is carol's. , , ., ., carol's. i can see why carroll disappeared _ carol's. i can see why carroll disappeared this _ carol's. i can see why carroll disappeared this week. - carol's. i can see why carrollj disappeared this week. good carol's. i can see why carroll - disappeared this week. good morning to you. a weather watchers shot from chester sums it up, flooding and snow all in one shot and it is the flooding that is a major concern at the moment particularly across parts of north—west england and wales where we have five severe flood warnings, dangerto where we have five severe flood warnings, danger to life warnings and all are on the bbc weather website. well over 240 flood warnings and over the next few days the flood risk will extend a bit more towards parts of yorkshire and the midlands as river levels rise, so even though the heavy rain has gone, river levels will respond to the rain already fallen so do not drop your guard yet. another thing to contend with this morning snowfall, particularly across parts of scotland which saw in stirling and focusing there, some of the heavy snow will be in the north and blown around by strong to gale force winds and around the coast there will be some intense rain as well so they could be flooding on the coastal strip, they could be flooding on the coastalstrip, heavy they could be flooding on the coastal strip, heavy snow in land and some snow in the shower is pushing across northern ireland, southern scotland, northern england, the odd rumble of thunder and overall, a brighter day to come than yesterday but it will cloud over across the south later and certainly for the channel islands it will turn wetter. blustery winds across the board and the strongest across eastern scotland and north—east england and that will make it feel very cold indeed, even though temperatures are down on yesterday, add on the effect of the wind and it will feel closer to —2 or —3 in the likes of aberdeen and newcastle, so wrap yourself up well. in the evening and overnight, a mixture of rain, sleet and snow across northern scotland and some towards northern ireland in scotland and north—west england and the further south and east you are, dry clear night and tonight is a colder night than last night with more widespread frost and given there is so much water around at the moment there is likely to be some icy conditions as we go into the start of friday. overall, if you are in england and wales, not a bad day, sunshine for most of you and a few showers dotted in the west and wintry across north—west england, some for northern ireland, southern scotland but they ease in northern scotland but they ease in northern scotland and properly the best weather through the central belt. temperatures only three or 4 degrees, eight or nine across southern parts. into the weekend, low—pressure to the north—east, still bringing in colder air and this feature here is pushing through the english channel and likely to bring wetter conditions into the channel islands and maybe fringing the southern counties with rain, sleet and snow and more wintry showers but sunshine between north and west and as we going to sunday, and west and as we going to sunday, a greater chance across the southern half of the— arm wales of seeing a little bit of snow for a time. more through the morning. mike's got the sport a tussle at the top of the premier league. going in and out. idem; a tussle at the top of the premier league. going in and out. very well ut. league. going in and out. very well put- looked — league. going in and out. very well put. looked like _ league. going in and out. very well put. looked like you _ league. going in and out. very well put. looked like you were - league. going in and out. very well put. looked like you were doing - put. looked like you were doing oriuami put. looked like you were doing origami again- _ put. looked like you were doing origami again. or— put. looked like you were doing origami again. or a _ put. looked like you were doing origami again. or a weird - put. looked like you were doing| origami again. or a weird dance. put. looked like you were doing - origami again. or a weird dance. the title race is — origami again. or a weird dance. ila: title race is doing origami again. or a weird dance. iie: title race is doing its origami again. or a weird dance. "ii2 title race is doing its best origami again. or a weird dance. ii2 title race is doing its best to keep us warm on the winter night. there were three different leaders of the premier league in the space of a few hours last night with leicester starting on top, before they were overtaken by manchester city, only for manchester united to then, go clear, thanks to their victory in west london. football still has a challenge to play on through the lockdown butjust like the players, the teams at the top are so hard to separate. it could make this title race the most exciting for years. manchester united lead it by two points but they still show vulnerability. they went 1—0 down at fulham but then the fightback came. fulham's goalkeeper was once edison cavani's team—mate. he might have never made it easierfor the striker to score. 1—1 and united fighting, so paul pogba went for something special. it was a game that needed a magic moment to separate the sides, and that is exactly that. we've always said paul can do everything. when you win tight games, we've done that a few times this season, and those two extra points instead of a draw, that's vital. watching from home didn't seem so bad in manchester, but right now city and aston villa would play in any weather. the home side were on for nine wins in a row while villa's first team last played on new year's day, but from out of isolation, they made city look out of practice. villa held them back for 80 minutes but when the goal came, it was controversial. manchester city have finally broken through and aston villa aren't happy about it. they rush to the referee. the problem wasn't the strike, but in the build—up. city's forward came back from offside to steal the ball. the official said that was fine and the villa boss said otherwise. sent off to the stands, he then watched his team concede a penalty and then a second goal. in his post—match interview, he wanted answers. can you clear it up for me? i mean, listen, i'm out there watching and i've been involved in 30 years of football and i see somebody coming back from ten yards in an offside position and tackling a player from _ behind and they go and score and it is given. farcical. if the game can carry on, then it knows the reward. so many teams are in close contact and this unique season could have a specialfinish. celtic dropped more points on rangers at the top of the scottish premiership. the game at livingston was one of their games in hand, and they came from behind to lead, thanks to nir bitton, who was on side here. but a slip in the wintry conditions cost celtic dear as jay emmanuel thomas, got the equaliser for the home side. the game finished with a layer of snow, at the tony macaroni stadium, also known, as the spaghetti—had. celtic are 20 points adrift, withjust two games in hand now. now yesterday we heard that some locked down players were being disturbed by mice in their hotel rooms ahead of the australian open which starts on the 8th february. but the enforced lockdown in melbourne has prompted some of them to be creative. here's what french player edouard roger—vasselin has come up with a chain reaction obstacle course!! with10 more days left of isolation ahead of the australian open, he made use of a pillow, tennis bag, bananas, racquets and tennis ball cans among other hotel room objects in a short video he posted on social media. no mice were caught during that moment of creativity. nice to see them using their time productively rather than complaining. yes. them using their time productively rather than complaining. yes, they had been complaining _ rather than complaining. yes, they had been complaining that - rather than complaining. yes, they had been complaining that food, i rather than complaining. yes, they i had been complaining that food, now the mice. the had been complaining that food, now the mice. ., ., the mice. the girlfriend of one tennis player _ the mice. the girlfriend of one tennis player complained - the mice. the girlfriend of one tennis player complained that| the mice. the girlfriend of one i tennis player complained that she had to wash her own hair. filth. tennis player complained that she had to wash her own hair.- had to wash her own hair. oh, i know. had to wash her own hair. oh, i know- they _ had to wash her own hair. oh, i know. they have _ had to wash her own hair. oh, i know. they have to _ had to wash her own hair. oh, i know. they have to do - had to wash her own hair. oh, i know. they have to do their - had to wash her own hair. oh, i | know. they have to do their own cleaning, wash your own hair. paar cleaning, wash your own hair. poor loves. more details have emerged about the recovery of a stolen painting that is 500 years old. the copy of leonardo da vinci's �*salvator mundi' was found in naples — even though the theft came as something of a surprise. solving a robbery that no one knew had actually happened. a500 year old painting unveiled by police after being discovered a hidden room. this is a copy of leonardo da vinci's salvator mundi, saviour of the world, would normally be found at a chapel in naples, but due to the coronavirus pandemic, the collection was closed to the public and the paintings disappearance went painting's disappearance went unnoticed. it was found at the apartment of a local businessman, 36—year—old man now accused of trafficking in stolen goods. it is 36-year-old man now accused of trafficking in stolen goods.- trafficking in stolen goods. it is a erson trafficking in stolen goods. it is a person without _ trafficking in stolen goods. it is a person without a _ trafficking in stolen goods. it is a person without a criminal- trafficking in stolen goods. it is a person without a criminal record. it's very unlikely this person could have a direct interest.— it's very unlikely this person could have a direct interest. $400 million is the beard. _ have a direct interest. $400 million is the beard, and _ have a direct interest. $400 million is the beard, and the _ have a direct interest. $400 million is the beard, and the piece - have a direct interest. $400 million is the beard, and the piece is... - is the beard, and the piece is... sold _ is the beard, and the piece is... sold do— is the beard, and the piece is... sold. . �* , is the beard, and the piece is... sold. . 2 ., ., is the beard, and the piece is... sold. a, ., ., , sold. da vinci's original, itself only rediscovered _ sold. da vinci's original, itself only rediscovered 15 _ sold. da vinci's original, itself only rediscovered 15 years - sold. da vinci's original, itself| only rediscovered 15 years ago, sold. da vinci's original, itself - only rediscovered 15 years ago, sold at auction in 2017 for more than $400 million, the most expensive painting ever sold. this is a lot less valuable, but it is, at last, back where it belongs. time now to get the news, travel and weather where you are. good morning from bbc london, i'm victoria hollins. some councils in london are concerned that vulnerable communities are being targeted by anti—vaccine activists. westminster council is urging communities to challenge anti—vax publicity. it's feared social media campaigns and some printed material could put off some people from getting the coronavirus vaccine. it's asking faith leaders, councillors and the wider community to help counter conspiracies. the brother of a teenager stabbed to death in north london earlier this week has described him as "humble", "kind" and someone who always put others first. 17—year—old anas mezenner was attacked shortly after 9.00 on tuesday evening near turnpike lane station. two 16—year—olds have been arrested on suspicion of murder. a nurse working at newham hospital has filmed a day in the life of herjob for the bbc. zara zaman had been deployed to the intensive care unit in march last year, but has now been asked to go back and treat very sick covid patients again due to the high amount of cases. she says her team are doing their best to save lives. this is what nursing is. we are here to provide the best care that we possibly can for our patients, and that gives me peace. i am tired, i am hungry, but i am feeling hopeful for the future, because that's what helps us keep going as well. let's take a look at the travel situation now. there's a good service on the tubes this morning. now the weather with elizabeth rizzini. good morning. a lot drier today across the capital than it was yesterday but it does stay blustery and it's also going to be feeling colder too. a chillier start to the morning, temperatures in low to mid single figures and there will be spells of brightness on and off through the day with more cloud in the afternoon. watch out for some showers that will blow through fairly swiftly on a fairly brisk south—westerly wind, possibly a little wintry over the higher ground with top temperatures between seven and nine celsius. watch out for a bit more rain perhaps into south—eastern areas of the capital as we head through the evening, but if we do see that it will clear away to leave us with a dry night, clear skies and a frosty start to the day tomorrow with temperatures for many spots dropping below freezing. tomorrow, lighterwinds, mostly dry, plenty of sunshine around but again watch out for one or two showers. there could be some rain on saturday and the potential for some snow on sunday. i'm back with the latest from the bbc london newsroom in half an hour. plenty more on our website at the usual address. now it's back to naga and charlie. bye for now. good morning, welcome to breakfast with naga munchetty and charlie stayt. our headlines today. the new us president's first hours in office — joe biden signs a series of orders reversing some of donald trump's key policies i've never been more optimistic about america than i am this very day. there isn't anything we can't do if we do it together. # baby, you're a firework... a televised concert with a string of celebrities and fireworks rounds off inauguration day. severe flood warnings after heavy rain means thousands are told to leave their homes in manchester and north wales. we've been here in melton avenue for 33 years and we've never had it quite as bad as this. the worst of the rain may be over but rivers will continue to rise in some parts of the uk and this morning we also have heavy snow in scotland. from winning medals to managing fitness and children in lockdown — olympic rower helen glover will be sharing her tips for staying active when you are a full time parent it's thursday, 21st january. our top story. america's new presidentjoe biden has started his time in office by reversing key trump—era policies — hours after being sworn in as the 46th president of the united states. on the way to the white house following his inauguration he tweeted, "there is no time to waste when it comes to tackling the crises we face." the ceremony, which included musical performances by lady gaga and jennifer lopez, was unlike any other due to coronavirus restrictions. nomia iqbal reports from washington. there was no traditional ball for president biden and vice president harris, but they got bruce springsteen and tom hanks. now it is my honour to introduce the president of the united states — joseph r bidenjr. this is a great nation. we're good people. and to overcome the challenges in front of us requires the most elusive of all things in a democracy — unity. hours earlier, the new leaders of america were sworn in on capitol hill. so help me, god. congratulations, mr president. soon, president biden headed into his new office and started signing away donald trump's legacy with a pen. he green—lighted 15 executive orders — some of them included calling for a nationwide facemask mandate, and rejoining both the paris climate agreement and the world health organization. # ..firework. mr biden did receive a letterfrom his predecessor, a tradition. he wrote a his predecessor, a tradition. ii2 wrote a very generous letter. i won't talk about it until i talk to him but it was generous. that was the only tradition _ him but it was generous. that was the only tradition donald - him but it was generous. that was the only tradition donald trump i him but it was generous. that was i the only tradition donald trump held up. he didn't attend the inauguration, instead flying to florida with his wife. # ..firework. # come on, show �*em what you're worth. this administration says it wants to set a unifying and optimistic tone for america. we are bold, fearless and ambitious. we are undaunted in our belief that we shall overcome, that we will rise up. but this new start comes just a few weeks after donald trump's loyal supporters stormed the capitol. the stakes for what president biden does in the next few years couldn't be higher. nomia iqbal, bbc news. nomia joins us now from washington. hello to you. what an evening. it was so different. business, that is what needed to be done, and president biden has got down to it. morning. yes, he certainly has. he hasjust morning. yes, he certainly has. he has just cracked morning. yes, he certainly has. he hasjust cracked on morning. yes, he certainly has. he has just cracked on with trying to dismantle president trump's legacy as quickly as possible. i think it might be at a quicker rate than any other president that i can certainly think of, and signing all these executive orders. it will be interesting to see how that goes down with american people because, as controversial as a lot of those policies were, they were very popular with people. donald trump may have lost the election but got more than 75 million people voting for him based, lots, on those policies. it will be interesting to see what happens there. today isjoe biden's first full day in office and one of the big issues that he has wanted to make his priority is tackling the coronavirus pandemic and he has not mince his words on how he thinks donald trump has failed to show any leadership on tackling it. the us has hit a real grim milestone of more than 400,000 deaths with corona and it has had a huge impact economically, as well, which is another priority on his list. it is also worth mentioning that people in the city and the country are breathing a sigh of relief after the inauguration went up relief after the inauguration went up with any problems, following those riots that happened on capitol hill that we were reporting all week about the huge security there and americans were worried about what could potentially happen. but it all went to plan and just when i speak to lots of americans one of the things they are really proud of is that tradition of peaceful transition of power. and whilst the inauguration yesterday just was transition of power. and whilst the inauguration yesterdayjust was not normal by any standards because there were no crowds there for starters, what it did show as far as they are concerned, that there can be that peaceful transfer of power, which we saw white thank you very much, nomia iqbal. thousands of homes across england and wales were evacuated overnight, after widespread flooding caused by storm christoph. rivers reached record high levels in parts of greater manchester and north wales. there are now more than 200 flood warnings in place — five of them severe. andy moore reports. storm christoph started with strong winds and heavy rain, but now temperatures are falling. many places are dealing with a difficult combination of rising water levels and falling snow. we've been told to evacuate. however, during corona, where do you evacuate to? you don't want to impose yourself on other people. so we are trying to hold on as long as we can and hopefully it will pass. it's risen slightly higher than its previous high, so... but clearly at the moment it's holding holding good, it's holding firm. we've been here in melton avenue for 33 years and we've never had itj quite as bad as this. and it's more alarmingl even when the record — the river got to a record level. this was a picturesque — but fortunately empty — cottage at chorley in lancashire before and after the floods. some places are expected to get two months' of rain in just a few days. just a few miles from didsbury, severe flood warnings were in place overnight for the river bollin at heatley. and just across the welsh border at bangor—on—dee, homes were evacuated. across england and wales, several severe flood warnings have been in place overnight. in north wales, police helped some people leave their homes in ruthin, while warning others not to come to the area for sightseeing of the floods. near machynlleth yesterday, this river burst its banks, sending half a metre of water through some nearby homes. the river came in throughout the garden — all of the garden, rather than just the odd little hole through the side of the bank. and it didn't catch us by surprise, but the sheer volume of it and the persistence of it has caught us out. we're often told not to drive through floodwater. but this driver didn't get the memo. wrong speed, wrong speed, wrong speed! their experience showed that most cars — not even 4x4s — are built to negotiate deep floodwaters. andy moore, bbc news. let's look at what this is looking like this morning. the river mersey in didsbury. you get a sense of the water. you can see snow on the banks, which i'm sure it is not helping the situation. our reporter adam mcclean is there for us this morning. he is on the bridgejust he is on the bridge just above. he is on the bridgejust above. take us through what the picture is. there has been a huge emergency response overnight. these are large pumps have been put in place, should the river burst its banks. the river mersey in didsbury is at its highest ever recorded level and overnight that forced emergency services to ask people in as many as 2000 homes to evacuate, to leave and to seek shelter elsewhere. a short distance from where we are is the didsbury flood basin. yesterday, as river levels rose, flood there were opened, allowing the river to spill into an open area, to hold water and to take pressure off the river banks. but even with those measures in place this river is perilously close to overflowing. now those who have been advised to leave their homes have been told that this flood poses a danger to life. if the river went to burst its banks. but of course people have been staying at home now for quite some time because of a virus that poses a danger to life. so it is an incredibly challenging situation here. some moved themselves and their valuables upstairs and decided to take their chances. others are sheltering at nearby community centres and at a local mosque. those who are self isolating and clinically vulnerable people have been offered hotel accommodation in which to isolate. now water levels have dropped slightly here in the last hour. that will provide some relief and it is hoped the banks of the river mersey in didsbury will hold.— in didsbury will hold. adam, you very much _ in didsbury will hold. adam, you very much for— in didsbury will hold. adam, you very much for the _ in didsbury will hold. adam, you very much for the moment. - levels of coronavirus in the community may have risen over the first ten days of the third lockdown, according to a new study. the past few days have seen a slowdown in the number of lab—confirmed cases reported daily by the government, however, the imperial college london researchers say their data is more up to date. ministers say the study does not yet reflect the impact of the national lockdown in england. more than 60 new covid vaccination centres will open today in england, as the roll out of the programme continues. in some regions the over—70s are now receiving the jab, while in other areas those in their 80s are still waiting. but ministers have sought to reassure people in the top four priority groups that they will get their vaccination before mid—february. worth saying that we are speaking in 20 minutes to gavin williamson, the education secretary. quite a bit of confusion over quite what is happening in connection two as and when schools are reopening, how any testing programme will work within schools. you're probably aware there have been a few changes around that recently. hopefully we will try to get some clarification. if you have children in school, if you are home—schooling, any particular questions, lets us know. we have around 15 minutes so get those in if you would like to hear the answers. 7:12am. let's talk to matt. we were hearing from adam a little earlier about the flooding. people are very concerned. lots of rivers and streams and waterways at these kind of levels but people are very familiar with when they tip over. exactly. there are five severe flood warnings, dangerto exactly. there are five severe flood warnings, danger to life, exactly. there are five severe flood warnings, dangerto life, because england and wales. this time yesterday there were around 50 general flood warnings and now there are 240. i suspect they will go further in england through the next few days. there is good news, west of the rain is over although we are seeing some snow which will have an impact was that there is a covering of snow across western areas this morning and heavy snow across parts of scotland. particularly around the north—east. around the coastal areas it will rain and there will be a potential flooding. it will rain and there will be a potentialflooding. snow it will rain and there will be a potential flooding. snow across the central belt and the southern uplands. in the form of showers into northern ireland and northern england, odd rumble of thunder, could give a temporary covering of snow. mixture of clear skies and showers further south over the next few hours. a better day than yesterday. showers can be frequently ireland and northern through the day and in the north of scotland strong to gale force winds will be blowing the snow around, blizzards and the grampians, could be some drifting. the street wherever you are through the day and a cold wind. 4 degrees to around 9 degrees this afternoon but factor in the wind and it will feel much colder. particularly across the north and east. frosty night to come, brighterfor many tomorrow but still some showers and they will be rindt done eco winter in the north and west —— they will be wintry in the north and west. i will have more later.— joe biden's inaugural address focussed on a theme of unity, after he was sworn in as the 46th president of the united states. he said he was optimistic about the future and urged americans to overcome their differences — so what will america look like with president biden in office? we can speak now to taylor griffin — a republican strategist who voted for mr biden, and laura schwartz, former advisor to president clinton. very good morning. . laura, could you kick us off with a thought about what you witness last night and what it tells you about how things will pan out. i it tells you about how things will an out. .. . ~. it tells you about how things will an out. ~ , ., ., pan out. i think first of all the address was _ pan out. i think first of all the address was helpful - pan out. i think first of all the address was helpful yet - pan out. i think first of all the address was helpful yet not i pan out. i think first of all the - address was helpful yet not naive. joe biden really addressed head on that there are deep divides in our country, racially, economically, and right now there has been so much unrest it felt like he could gloss over it so it was good he address it. that was the day of the inauguration about america, democracy, something bigger than all of us and the only way he can achieve the platforms of which he was voted in on is that we all work together. no one man could do it alone which is unlike what we had four years ago. last night was a prime—time special. in a loo at the inaugural ball, and sometimes there are almost as many as 14 in one night, an incredible prime—time special that i believe united the nation in a whole other way. much better than any of those bowls could have been with great celebrity appearances. but a very moving two minute speech byjoe biden at the base of the lincoln memorial and kamala harris looking out onto the national mall from lincoln. there where poignant moments last night that may have broken through to some people that watched. ih that may have broken through to some people that watched.— people that watched. in many ways, ta [or people that watched. in many ways, taylor griffin. _ people that watched. in many ways, taylor griffin, you _ people that watched. in many ways, taylor griffin, you are _ people that watched. in many ways, taylor griffin, you are the _ people that watched. in many ways, taylor griffin, you are the perfect i taylor griffin, you are the perfect person to speak to after the speech. so much about it was healing and moving forward in a positive light is a former republican strategist, former adviser, is a former republican strategist, formeradviser, i is a former republican strategist, former adviser, i should say, to george bush, and your brother, who did vote for donald trump, you know about these divisions and the energy needed to move forward positively. yeah, and i thinkjoe biden is doing a really— yeah, and i thinkjoe biden is doing a really good job of this. he is the right— a really good job of this. he is the right man. — a really good job of this. he is the right man. i— a really good job of this. he is the right man, i believe, forthis really— right man, i believe, forthis really precarious political moment we have _ really precarious political moment we have in— really precarious political moment we have in this country. this is a country— we have in this country. this is a country that _ we have in this country. this is a country that has been deeply divided over the _ country that has been deeply divided over the last election, deeply divided — over the last election, deeply divided over president young. his supporters— divided over president young. his supporters loved him, a lot of other people _ supporters loved him, a lot of other people really hated him. joe biden understands how delicate a line he has to— understands how delicate a line he has to walk and i think he is doing a pretty— has to walk and i think he is doing a pretty good job of it. i think the speech— a pretty good job of it. i think the speech was exactly what you need to do. speech was exactly what you need to do it— speech was exactly what you need to do it was— speech was exactly what you need to do it was a — speech was exactly what you need to do. it was a quiet speech, about america. — do. it was a quiet speech, about america, democracy, the things that unite _ america, democracy, the things that unite us _ america, democracy, the things that unite us and — america, democracy, the things that unite us and i think it was a really good _ unite us and i think it was a really good touch— unite us and i think it was a really good touch point to start his administration. do good touch point to start his administration.— good touch point to start his administration. , ., ~ administration. do you think he can reach, administration. do you think he can reach. with — administration. do you think he can reach, with this _ administration. do you think he can reach, with this calm, _ administration. do you think he can reach, with this calm, peaceful, - reach, with this calm, peaceful, quiet approach, those who are so head up —— het up or angry about the election result. those are the ones he needs to reach to ensure that healing gets under way. i he needs to reach to ensure that healing gets under way.- he needs to reach to ensure that healing gets under way. i think that will take a good _ healing gets under way. i think that will take a good bit _ healing gets under way. i think that will take a good bit of— healing gets under way. i think that will take a good bit of time - healing gets under way. i think that will take a good bit of time and - healing gets under way. i think that will take a good bit of time and i i will take a good bit of time and i don't _ will take a good bit of time and i don't think— will take a good bit of time and i don't think you can expect a lot of those _ don't think you can expect a lot of those people to become a democrat and a _ those people to become a democrat and a joe _ those people to become a democrat and a joe biden supporters. i am part and a joe biden supporters. ! am part of— and a joe biden supporters. i am part of a — and a joe biden supporters. i am part of a very small minority in the republican— part of a very small minority in the republican party. most republicans are still— republican party. most republicans are still very strong trumps of what very disappointed in the election. you cannot— very disappointed in the election. you cannot expect them or listen to b. biden _ you cannot expect them or listen to b, biden supporters but maybe you can expect — b, biden supporters but maybe you can expect them to become more of a loyal opposition and work productively for the future of the country — productively for the future of the country rather than divide it further~ _ country rather than divide it further. . ., ., country rather than divide it further. . ., further. laura can go, can i ask ou, further. laura can go, can i ask you. the _ further. laura can go, can i ask you. the reality _ further. laura can go, can i ask you, the reality check - further. laura can go, can i ask you, the reality check for - further. laura can go, can i ask you, the reality check for a - further. laura can go, can i askj you, the reality check for a new president in these extraordinary times, as you will know only too well is, there are sadly some 400,000 americans who have died because of covid. the unemployment rate is at an extraordinary level. all sorts of questions about the vaccine programme roll—out. i mean, these are epic, immediate tasks that people will, rightly or wrongly, say, what are you going to do about that now, tomorrow, next week? how will it look and feel different? for an one will it look and feel different? ft?" any one president any of those tests would be monumental but i think it will feel different becausejoe biden has already been addressing covid—19 is notjust a pandemic. and tjy covid—19 is notjust a pandemic. and by the way, he has addressed it. he did a memorialfor the 400,000 dead when he touched down in dc on tuesday night before the inauguration, before even setting footin inauguration, before even setting foot in his overnight home for the evening. just that alone, the empathy with which he listens and speaks with, has shown the american people he is in touch with this crisis. but he is into it with it in a couple of ways. notjust vaccine distribution to states, a nationalised strategy to get vaccines into arms. it is also economic programme that has to go hand—in—hand with pandemic recovery. putting those two things together in a covid relief bill and —— that he is ready to get congress to work on, he could get that done with bipartisan support in the first 100 days. there will be bits and pieces that will be picked apart and gone back and forth but i really think they can achieve something in the first 100 days and that is what needs to do. you need to now put in action, he is now president, he can no longer say, well, when i get in their... or, if! no longer say, well, when i get in their... or, if i was the one at... he is the one and it is time for action but i think they are ready for this. ., ~ ., ., , for this. taylor, we know he has thins for this. taylor, we know he has thin . s to for this. taylor, we know he has things to do. — for this. taylor, we know he has things to do, but _ for this. taylor, we know he has things to do, but the _ for this. taylor, we know he has things to do, but the issue - for this. taylor, we know he has things to do, but the issue of i things to do, but the issue of impeachment by president is still there. you describe your position in there. you describe your position in the republican party. do you think that should still go ahead? weill. that should still go ahead? well, it's a difficult _ that should still go ahead? well, it's a difficult question. - that should still go ahead? well, it's a difficult question. i - that should still go ahead? well, it's a difficult question. i think i it's a difficult question. i think that— it's a difficult question. i think that there _ it's a difficult question. i think that there is value in setting an example — that there is value in setting an example for future presidents that's the kind _ example for future presidents that's the kind of— example for future presidents that's the kind of behaviour that donald trump _ the kind of behaviour that donald trump exhibited towards the end of his term _ trump exhibited towards the end of his term is — trump exhibited towards the end of his term is not acceptable, and the punishment from that isn't necessarily removal from office because — necessarily removal from office because he went off. the punishment is that— because he went off. the punishment is that he _ because he went off. the punishment is that he is— because he went off. the punishment is that he is barred from running for office — is that he is barred from running for office in _ is that he is barred from running for office in the future. this is the situation we have never been in. it is unprecedented. but i think that it — it is unprecedented. but i think that it is — it is unprecedented. but i think that it is probably better the country _ that it is probably better the country if that is the case. it will be deeply— country if that is the case. it will be deeply divisive, though, when it happens. _ be deeply divisive, though, when it happens, and that is going to be hi-h happens, and that is going to be high for— happens, and that is going to be high for the country, but in the long _ high for the country, but in the long run— high for the country, but in the long run i— high for the country, but in the long run i think republicans in the senate _ long run i think republicans in the senate needed to make the right choice _ senate needed to make the right choice yet. senate needed to make the right choice et. ., , , choice yet. ok. taylor griffin, republican — choice yet. ok. taylor griffin, republican strategist, - choice yet. ok. taylor griffin, republican strategist, formerj republican strategist, former adviser to george w bush, and laura schwartz, former adviser to president clinton, thank you to both of you. we are looking at flooding. one of our other main stories. thousands of people were told to leave their homes overnight, as storm christoph caused widespread flooding across england and wales. several danger to life warnings were issued, as rivers reached record high levels in parts of the north west and north wales. this is didsbury in greater manchester this morning, where overnight more than 2,000 homes were evacuated. we note the river mersey there is at record levels. you can see the snow on either side, which was overnight, of course. and these were some of the scenes in north wales yesterday. you get a sense of how high the water is there. homes and gardens were flooded. while in ruthin the high street was partly submerged. you are getting a real sense of some of the problems caused. we can speak now to richard kilpatrick, a councillor for west didsbury. you personally have been hit overnight. what happened? yes. overnight. what happened? yes, that's right- _ overnight. what happened? yes, that's right. so, _ overnight. what happened? yes, that's right. so, when _ overnight. what happened? yes, that's right. so, when we - overnight. what happened? i2: that's right. so, when we got notification that the flood warnings were in place, i actually left my flat, which is about 300 metres from where i am stuck now. i started to set up the local mosque for anyone who might be hot drinks or shelter. little did i know that four hours later, i would little did i know that four hours later, iwould be little did i know that four hours later, i would be met with the police in the middle of burton road in west it's free, who were knocking on doors in the area asking people to evacuate myself and my girlfriend both had to evacuate ourselves, but i think that, you know... the last couple of hours have been extremely challenging for everyone in the community, especially given the covid situation, so i think my situation is very similar to a lot of residents at the minute. some of the evacuations _ of residents at the minute. some of the evacuations were _ of residents at the minute. some of| the evacuations were precautionary. do you know how many homes have been flooded? 50. do you know how many homes have been flooded? ., , flooded? so, at the minute, we are not sure how _ flooded? so, at the minute, we are not sure how many _ flooded? so, at the minute, we are not sure how many homes - flooded? so, at the minute, we are not sure how many homes have - flooded? so, at the minute, we are i not sure how many homes have been flooded as a result of the mersey actually breaking its banks. we believe that the flood basin did its job and a lot of the feared flooding has been avoided. however, i don't think we are quite out of the woods yet. as you can see, there is a lot of snow on the ground. we are expecting further rainfall over the next couple of days and should have a better idea of the situation as of friday. a better idea of the situation as of frida . ., ,. , a better idea of the situation as of frida , ., ,. , . ., , friday. you describe... in amongst the pandemic. _ friday. you describe. .. in amongst the pandemic. i— friday. you describe... in amongst the pandemic, i cannot _ friday. you describe... in amongst the pandemic, i cannot imagine i friday. you describe... in amongst. the pandemic, i cannot imagine how tricky it is, getting people out of their homes safely, observing social distancing, and into a safe environment. how has that gone? well, i think anxiety levels in the community are already at an all—time high. ijoined police officers and fire and rescue officers knocking on doors in the early hours of this morning, and a lot of my residents are vulnerable, a lot of them were shielding. it is very difficult for them to weigh up the pros and cons of what to do next. they have spent an entire year being told they have to stay inside and that has kept them safe. it has been extremely high to convince them that in this current situation they need to leave their homes in order to find safety. we appreciate your time and i hope your own accommodation is ok. thank you. councillor richard kilpatrick, at didsbury and the river levels are very high. let's get more details on the current situation from lee rawlinson from the environment agency. lee rawlinson, thank you forjoining us from warrington. we just had a picture in didsbury. can you update us on the trouble, concerning areas around the uk? istate us on the trouble, concerning areas around the uk?— us on the trouble, concerning areas around the uk? we have got around 200 flood warnings _ around the uk? we have got around 200 flood warnings at _ around the uk? we have got around 200 flood warnings at the moment. 200 flood warnings at the moment that are out there and hundreds more are flood alerts. this weather has hit the whole of the country but particularly around cheshire, derbyshire, manchester, merseyside. there are four severe flood warnings we have had to issue comic two around the didsbury area, which is where i was yesterday speaking to those residents. ok. where i was yesterday speaking to those residents.— where i was yesterday speaking to those residents. ok, we talk about residents now. _ those residents. ok, we talk about residents now. how— those residents. ok, we talk about residents now. how concerned - those residents. ok, we talk about residents now. how concerned are | residents now. how concerned are they? some were told to leave their homes, as we heard in didsbury stocking up didsbury at the river mersey docks to very high levels very quickly. the water was pouring through. what we did as an organisation, we have a couple of the flood basin is that we employed, they took the water the flood basin is that we employed, they took the wate— they took the water away, took the eak of they took the water away, took the peak of the — they took the water away, took the peak of the water _ they took the water away, took the peak of the water off. _ they took the water away, took the peak of the water off. the - they took the water away, took the peak of the water off. the top - they took the water away, took the peak of the water off. the top of i peak of the water off. the top of the river came within centimetres of the river came within centimetres of the top of the river bank but our defences there have served a purpose and kept those properties drive that it was very close.— it was very close. have people been adherin: it was very close. have people been adhering to — it was very close. have people been adhering to the _ it was very close. have people been adhering to the evacuation - it was very close. have people been adhering to the evacuation orders? | adhering to the evacuation orders? they are quite unusual, not something people are very used to stop no, it is very difficult times and we have been working closely with the local authority, the fire, to make sure we manage everybody's safe as to make sure we manage everybody's safety as best — to make sure we manage everybody's safety as best we _ to make sure we manage everybody's safety as best we can _ to make sure we manage everybody's safety as best we can when _ to make sure we manage everybody's safety as best we can when we - to make sure we manage everybody's safety as best we can when we are i safety as best we can when we are trying to manage the flood event and the covid event. we have heavy snow last night, which added to it. but the coordinated response from all the coordinated response from all the authorities has worked very effectively. i5 the authorities has worked very effectively-— effectively. is it likely to get worse, are we _ effectively. is it likely to get worse, are we expecting - effectively. is it likely to get worse, are we expecting it | effectively. is it likely to get| worse, are we expecting it to worsen? ~ ., ., ., ., worsen? we have to remain vigilant for the worsen? we have to remain vigilant forthe next — worsen? we have to remain vigilant for the next couple _ worsen? we have to remain vigilant for the next couple of _ worsen? we have to remain vigilant for the next couple of days - worsen? we have to remain vigilant for the next couple of days stop - worsen? we have to remain vigilant for the next couple of days stop the j for the next couple of days stop the rain is still coming down on the other highlands and the water levels will still come down into the towns and cities over time. we are encouraging everybody to sign up to flood warnings, use our website, we keep people alert as to what the referee river levels are and what is the latest information.— the latest information. thank you for that update, _ the latest information. thank you for that update, lee _ the latest information. thank you for that update, lee rawlinson i the latest information. thank you i for that update, lee rawlinson from the environment agency. time now to get the news, travel and weather where you are. good morning from bbc london, i'm victoria hollins. some councils in london are concerned that vulnerable communities are being targetted by anti—vaccine activists. westminster council is urging communities to challenge anti—vax publicity. it's feared social media campaigns and some printed material could put off some people from getting the coronavirus vaccine. it's asking faith leaders, councillors and the wider community to help counter consipiracies. research by a doctor at a london hospital has found that junior doctors are having end—of—life conversations with families without any training. due to the high number of critically unwell patients during the covid—19 pandemic, research found that foundation level doctors have had to take the lead with difficult discussions. there is currently no formal requirement forjunior doctors to be specifically trained in this area. the brother of a teenager stabbed to death in north london earlier this week has described him as "humble", "kind" and someone who always put others first. 17—year—old anas mezenner was attacked shortly after nine o clock on tuesday evening near turnpike lane station. two 16 year—olds have been arrested on suspicion of murder. police have discovered what they've called a "significant" cannabis factory after raiding a building next door to the bank of england. 826 class b drug plants were found in throgmorton street after a "strong smell of cannabis" was reported the previous day. it's believed to be the first time a cannabis factory has been found in the square mile. let's take a look at the travel situation now. there's a good service on the tubes this morning. in new southgate, the a406 north circular at pinkham way is down to one lane westbound just before colney hatch lane for emergency water work, with delays building back through green lanes. the a2 east rochester way remains down to one lane in both directions at the danson interchange for ongoing bridge work, with westbound traffic slow from hall place. in the city, the blackfriars underpass remains closed for ongoing works. good morning. a lot drier today across the capital than it was yesterday but it does stay blustery and it's also going to be feeling colder too. a chillier start to the morning, temperatures in low to mid single figures and there will be spells of brightness on and off through the day with more cloud in the afternoon. watch out for some showers that will blow through fairly swiftly on a fairly brisk south—westerly wind, possibly a little wintry over the higher ground with top temperatures between seven and nine celsius. watch out for a bit more rain perhaps into south—eastern areas of the capital as we head through the evening, but if we do see that it will clear away to leave us with a dry night, clear skies and a frosty start to the day tomorrow with temperatures for many spots dropping below freezing. tomorrow, lighterwinds, mostly dry, plenty of sunshine around but again watch out for one or two showers. there could be some rain on saturday and the potential for some snow on sunday. i'm back with the latest from the bbc london newsroom in half an hour. plenty more on our website at the usual address. bye for now. hello, this is breakfast with naga munchetty and charlie stayt. us presidentjoe biden has begun to undo some of donald trump's key policies, hours after being sworn into office. he's signed more than a dozen executive orders — which included the scrapping of a travel ban on some majority—muslim countries. speaking at the white house, mr biden said there was "no time to waste". he also revealed that mr trump had left him a "very generous letter", but declined to share what was in it. five severe flood warnings — meaning there's a danger to life — are in force across parts of north—west england and north wales, because of flooding triggered by storm christoph. rivers reached record high levels in parts of greater manchester and north wales where homes were evacuated overnight. there are now also more than 200 flood warnings in place. levels of coronavirus in the community may have risen over the first ten days of the third lockdown, according to a new study. the past few days have seen a slowdown in the number of lab—confirmed cases reported daily by the government, however, the imperial college london researchers say their data is more up—to—date. ministers say the study does not yet reflect the impact of the national lockdown in england. more than 60 new covid—19 vaccination centres will open today in england, as the roll out of the programme continues. in some regions the over 70s are now receiving the jab, while in other areas those in their 80s are still waiting. but ministers have sought to reassure people in the top four priority groups that they will get their vaccination before mid—february. the tour operator, saga, has said anyone going on one of its holidays or cruises this year must be fully vaccinated against covid—19. the company, which specialises in holidays for the over—sos, said it wanted to protect customers' health and safety. it will delay restarting its travel packages until may to give travellers enough time to getjabs. coming later we will be talking to helen glover, who will be taking us through, because you know, there are so many people i'm thinking, ifit enough, i am sitting around all day, i've got kids to look after, home—schooling, just piling on top of you and helen, obviously has been at that peak of physical fitness in her career and is trying to maintain it, she's got wins and three children and the thing that made me laugh this morning was it said depending on who is not having a nap, she will grab whichever child is awake to show us how we can exercise with children. given her extraordinary career in rowing and the success she has had, in a funny way, the pressure is greater, because people think if you can handle that, you can handle anything or is there a more importantjob than bringing up another human being? and helen glover will be talking to us in about 15 or 20 minutes. schools have been closed to most children since the start of january and many parents will be wondering when they will re—open — we're joined now by the education secretary, gavin williamson. good morning to you. we know that some schools are open to a greater or lesser degree for key workers, but leaving that to one side, when is the plan for most schools to reopen? is the plan for most schools to reo en? ~ ., is the plan for most schools to reo en? ~ . ., is the plan for most schools to reoen? ~ . ., ., reopen? well, we are in a position where we had _ reopen? well, we are in a position where we had to _ reopen? well, we are in a position where we had to close _ reopen? well, we are in a position where we had to close schools - reopen? well, we are in a position where we had to close schools are | where we had to close schools are very much as a national decision and very much as a national decision and very much as a national decision and very much in the national interest to relieve pressure on the nhs and reduce movement as part of the actions of the lateral lockdown and as you and so many of your viewers will be wanting to see schools opening at the earliest opportunity, but we have to do that on the basis of the best scientific and health advice. we are not in a position to be able to say exactly when that date is, but what i can reassure you and your viewers is that we will give notjust schools and teachers the time to be able to prepare, but also we are giving children the time to get ready and parents enough notice to be able to get everything ready, so we will be hoping to give everybody two weeks notice in order for them to be ready to return back to school. so for them to be ready to return back to school. , ., ., to school. so there will be a two week notice _ to school. so there will be a two week notice period _ to school. so there will be a two week notice period when - to school. so there will be a two week notice period when that i week notice period when that decision is made and people will understand that there are a lot of uncertainties along the way. what will be the key factors in you determining whether schools can reopen, as and when that is? what are the figures you will be looking at that mean you can make that decision to reopen?— at that mean you can make that decision to reopen? when we were in the position — decision to reopen? when we were in the position of— decision to reopen? when we were in the position of a _ decision to reopen? when we were in the position of a decision _ decision to reopen? when we were in the position of a decision none - decision to reopen? when we were in the position of a decision none of - the position of a decision none of us wanted to take, and i she will understand, as education secretary you always want to keep schools open to all children —— as you will understand. the key reason we took the national decision to close schools, not to have the gates open to every child, was down to pressure on the nhs and it will be when the pressure on the nhs is starting to lift. that puts us in the best possible position to be able to welcome all children back into schools. we will be basing that on the best scientific advice, the best health advice and that is a decision that the government will have to take. the; that the government will have to take. �* . , ., that the government will have to take. a ~' ., that the government will have to take. as you know, the pressure on the nhs is — take. as you know, the pressure on the nhs is higher— take. as you know, the pressure on the nhs is higher now _ take. as you know, the pressure on the nhs is higher now than - take. as you know, the pressure on the nhs is higher now than it - take. as you know, the pressure on the nhs is higher now than it has i the nhs is higher now than it has been, and that is expected because of the lag between the infection rate of the positive tests and those admitted to hospital. we know there is a two week lag, so there is a period of time coming up when we know for certain, effectively it is baked in, that that will increase or stay as it is, so there is no prospect immediately of that changing, therefore schools, no decision made during that time. iusi’hgt decision made during that time. what we will be doing _ decision made during that time. what we will be doing is _ decision made during that time. mw. we will be doing is looking at all of the data, but the key thing is to get children back into school at the earliest point, but this is a decision that has to be guided by the best scientific and health advice, and that is what everybody would be expecting us to base the decision on but we do recognise how important it is for children to be in the classroom, because quite simply children learn best by being in the classroom but we have had to take these extraordinary measures due to the fact that there is mounting pressure on the nhs and we had to reduce movement within society and that is what the basis of the school is not being able to be open to every single child was based on. . be open to every single child was based on. , , ., ., i. based on. this period of time you have now with _ based on. this period of time you have now with the _ based on. this period of time you have now with the school- based on. this period of time you have now with the school is - based on. this period of time you have now with the school is not i have now with the school is not admitting most pupils, presumably that gives you a chance to come up with a clear plan for how it will be possible for them to reopen, as in testing structures and how the classes will work. can you tell me that plan? riff classes will work. can you tell me that ian? , classes will work. can you tell me that ian? . 2 ., classes will work. can you tell me that plan?— classes will work. can you tell me that ian? , . ., ., that plan? of course. what we also saw back in — that plan? of course. what we also saw back in september— that plan? of course. what we also saw back in september before - that plan? of course. what we also saw back in september before the l saw back in september before the return of all schools back in september, we have had a successful return and we want to repeat that, but we will want to put in extra measures over and above that and we have seen already the roll—out of mass testing in secondary schools, the fact that all teachers and those who work in primary schools can have this mass testing available to them as well and we will be looking at building on that. it's going to be a key part in terms of returning children back into schools and it's already demonstrating really good results, because as you have rightly pointed out, there's as many children for schools to keep their gates open for the children of critical care workers and the children most vulnerable in society, so we have been able to do that but we want to be able to see that the testing regime that has been rolled out in those schools is expanded to all pupils as they return, really important part of the safety and security of both children and staff themselves. {to security of both children and staff themselves-— themselves. go through some practicalities _ themselves. go through some practicalities for _ themselves. go through some practicalities for me _ themselves. go through some practicalities for me rather - themselves. go through some l practicalities for me rather than the broader principles. if i am a parent watching the programme or a student and i'm thinking, and let's talk about secondary schools for example, under your new plan, as i understand it, student arrives at school. the student has one of their lateral flow tests which gives a positive or negative test, so what happens next?— happens next? obviously, if a student has _ happens next? obviously, if a student has a _ happens next? obviously, if a student has a negative - happens next? obviously, if a student has a negative test, l happens next? obviously, if a - student has a negative test, what you would be hoping to do is for them to enjoy the day's education going forward. we have rolled out this testing regime and its already in operation in so many schools up and down the country and working really well, so we have proved that it can work, but if that student has a positive test, they are immediately given a pcr test, instructed to go home, take the test and that data is logged immediately with test and trace and the pcr test is sent back to test and trace where they will then get results, and as we have seen with test and trace, it's a very rapid turnaround in terms of results and obviously the contact with that individual would have to self—isolate, as has been expected and as we have all been doing. the; expected and as we have all been doin:. �* . , ., doing. as i understand it, the oriainal doing. as i understand it, the original plan _ doing. as i understand it, the original plan for— doing. as i understand it, the original plan for covid-19 - doing. as i understand it, the i original plan for covid-19 testing original plan for covid—19 testing in secondary schools, outside of the lateral flow tests, was that seven days of daily tests for pupils who had been near a positive case would take place, so if you had been close to one of those who tested positive, you would get a series of tests which meant you could stay in the class. is that no longer the plan? we had trialled this system extensively in schools before christmas, working with public health england, clinicians, and it worked really well and it was a really important part in terms of actually reducing the amount of absence. so actually reducing the amount of absence. ., , ., ., what absence. so are you doing it? what we have been _ absence. so are you doing it? what we have been asked _ absence. so are you doing it? what we have been asked to _ absence. so are you doing it? what we have been asked to do - absence. so are you doing it? what we have been asked to do is - absence. so are you doing it? what we have been asked to do is pause| we have been asked to do is pause that element. i we have been asked to do is pause that element.— that element. i thought you said it worked really _ that element. i thought you said it worked really well, _ that element. i thought you said it worked really well, so _ that element. i thought you said it worked really well, so why - that element. i thought you said it worked really well, so why are - that element. i thought you said it worked really well, so why are you pausing it? i worked really well, so why are you pausing it?— pausing it? i didn't mean to talk across you- _ pausing it? i didn't mean to talk across you. you _ pausing it? i didn't mean to talk across you. you said _ pausing it? i didn't mean to talk across you. you said a - pausing it? i didn't mean to talk across you. you said a moment| pausing it? i didn't mean to talk. across you. you said a moment ago pausing it? i didn't mean to talk- across you. you said a moment ago it worked really — across you. you said a moment ago it worked really well _ across you. you said a moment ago it worked really well and _ across you. you said a moment ago it worked really well and know - across you. you said a moment ago it worked really well and know you - across you. you said a moment ago it worked really well and know you have decided to pause it. istate worked really well and know you have decided to pause it.— decided to pause it. we have been doin: the decided to pause it. we have been doing the mass — decided to pause it. we have been doing the mass testing, _ decided to pause it. we have been doing the mass testing, but - decided to pause it. we have been doing the mass testing, but what l decided to pause it. we have been i doing the mass testing, but what you are talking about is the seven—day testing that had worked really well but the challenges, with the emergence of the new variant, what we have been asked to do by public health england is that they wanted to look at more detail as to how it was working with the new variant, so thatis was working with the new variant, so that is what we are doing, working with them and we very much hope that they can restart that programme. it had worked so well. let they can restart that programme. it had worked so well.— had worked so well. let me 'ust be clear, the had worked so well. let me 'ust be cear.l the way i had worked so well. let me 'ust be clear, the way the h had worked so well. let me 'ust be clear, the way the new h had worked so well. let me 'ust be clear, the way the new plan b had worked so well. let me just be clear, the way the new plan works, if i may, is that in those circumstances, we are back where we were, that if there is one positive case for those kids have had contact with someone, the class is out. bill with someone, the class is out. all those with someone, the class is out. .�*c'ii. those contacts, yes, they would have to self—isolate, but what we would be hoping to do is by putting the mass testing right at the start of term, making sure that this mass testing is effectively going right across the school and you are reducing the amount of contact that youngsters would have with someone who is positive, because obviously they don't start entering that school day and we start very much with a clean slate. this isn'tjust good for pupils or those who work in schools, it's good for the community because we are really rooting out the virus. i because we are really rooting out the virus. . ., because we are really rooting out the virus. , ., ., the virus. i 'ust want to get throu~h the virus. i 'ust want to get through a — the virus. i just want to get through a bit _ the virus. i just want to get through a bit more - the virus. i just want to get. through a bit more territory. vaccines for teachers. are you intending to make that a priority and how many tests will there be for teachers as well? 50. and how many tests will there be for teachers as well?— teachers as well? so, testing is already fully — teachers as well? so, testing is already fully rolled _ teachers as well? so, testing is already fully rolled out - teachers as well? so, testing is already fully rolled out to - teachers as well? so, testing is already fully rolled out to both | already fully rolled out to both primary school teachers and those who work in primary schools as well as secondary schools, so that is already very much there and available to school staff. you raise theissue available to school staff. you raise the issue of vaccines and it's absolutely right that we are vaccinating those who are most likely to be hospitalised, those most likely and are most at risk of dying as a result of coronavirus in the first wave, but it will be no surprise to you whatsoever that i want to see all teachers, all support staff vaccinated at the very earliest moment. share support staff vaccinated at the very earliest moment.— earliest moment. are they being prioritised? _ earliest moment. are they being prioritised? it's _ earliest moment. are they being prioritised? it's absolutely - earliest moment. are they being prioritised? it's absolutely rightl prioritised? it's absolutely right that we are _ prioritised? it's absolutely right that we are prioritising - prioritised? it's absolutely right that we are prioritising those i prioritised? it's absolutely right i that we are prioritising those who are most at the risk of dying. ilthhhztt are most at the risk of dying. what does it mean _ are most at the risk of dying. what does it mean in _ are most at the risk of dying. what does it mean in practice, _ are most at the risk of dying. what does it mean in practice, and forgive me again, i aware i'm talking over you, but when you say they are prioritised, teachers, what that mean? ~ ., they are prioritised, teachers, what that mean?— they are prioritised, teachers, what that mean? ~ . ., , , that mean? what i was saying is the first wave, that mean? what i was saying is the first wave. the _ that mean? what i was saying is the first wave, the first _ that mean? what i was saying is the first wave, the first priority, - first wave, the first priority, understandably, is those people most at risk of being hospitalised and that are in the categories of most likely to die as a result of coronavirus. i would certainly be hoping, as i'm sure so many teachers and those who work in schools would very much hope that the vitally important work that teachers and teaching staff and support staff do, i would very much like to see them up i would very much like to see them up the list when there are those people who are most vulnerable to coronavirus who have been vaccinated and looked after. but also, we do have to remember that we are coming out of this. i’m have to remember that we are coming out of this. �* , ., ., out of this. i'm very mindful of how little time we _ out of this. i'm very mindful of how little time we have. _ out of this. i'm very mindful of how little time we have. you _ out of this. i'm very mindful of how little time we have. you will - out of this. i'm very mindful of how little time we have. you will know. little time we have. you will know that the labour party has called on you as education secretary to resign for a series of errors, a series of miscalculations involving exams, admissions to schools, the testing process. are you secure in yourjob? it's really interesting that journalists and politicians talk about journalists and journalists and politicians talk aboutjournalists and politicians, about journalists and politicians, but aboutjournalists and politicians, but today we are launching a skills forjobs paper. but today we are launching a skills forjobs paper-— forjobs paper. please could you answer the _ forjobs paper. please could you answer the one _ forjobs paper. please could you answer the one question. - forjobs paper. please could you answer the one question. it's i answer the one question. it's absolutely — answer the one question. it�*s absolutely about focusing on creating really great skills for young people and people of all ages in order to be able to get into the very bestjob in the very best career. that is what my focus is on. making sure that we bring schools back, children getting the benefit of being in the classroom for great education. yes, we are in a global pandemic and we've had to take decisions, decisions that frankly i would never have wanted to have to take or be in a position to having to close schools. fort take or be in a position to having to close schools.— to close schools. part of the problem _ to close schools. part of the problem is. _ to close schools. part of the problem is, mr— to close schools. part of the problem is, mr williamson, | to close schools. part of the | problem is, mr williamson, if to close schools. part of the i problem is, mr williamson, ifi problem is, mrwilliamson, ifi may... problem is, mr williamson, ifi ma ~ ., problem is, mr williamson, ifi ma ...~ . , problem is, mr williamson, ifi ma ...2 . , , problem is, mr williamson, ifi ma . , may... we are focusing in terms of caettin may... we are focusing in terms of getting children — may. .. we are focusing in terms of getting children back— may... we are focusing in terms of getting children back into - may... we are focusing in terms of getting children back into school. l getting children back into school. agreed. gavin williamson, can i ask you one last thought and i'm sorry for interrupting, but do you think you have done a good job? fiur for interrupting, but do you think you have done a good job? you have done a good “ob? our focus is makin: you have done a good “ob? our focus is making h you have done a good “ob? our focus is making sure that _ you have done a good job? our focus is making sure that young _ you have done a good job? our focus is making sure that young people - you have done a good job? our focusj is making sure that young people get the very best. we are in a global pandemic. and when we look at what we are doing in terms of the skills forjobs, this is about making sure, because, you know, so much of the media would love to talk about those youngsters who are going to university, really important what universities do for so many young people and that's only 50% of young people and that's only 50% of young people going off to university. we don't have enough focus, whether it is in the media, or in terms of what we talk about, and in the past, not enough focus even sometimes in westminster on those 50% of youngsters. they are often called the forgotten 50% that are not going on to university on what we have been outlining today is a plan to make sure that businesses, very much like you see in germany and switzerland, where they are able to influence the course is that young people are able to take, getting the chambers of commerce involved in designing courses so every course the youngster takes, or of any age, gives them the skills to get a job. that is what our focus should be about building back better out of the pandemic and that is what we are doing today and it is what i am announcing and i appreciate the opportunity that you have given me to come on to talk to about it. i'm not sure if there's any questions that you would like to ask us about talking about these vocational and technical qualifications that are so incredibly important. i technical qualifications that are so incredibly important.— technical qualifications that are so incredibly important. i suggest that it is something _ incredibly important. i suggest that it is something we _ incredibly important. i suggest that it is something we are _ incredibly important. i suggest that it is something we are interested i incredibly important. i suggest thatj it is something we are interested in on the programme and we have done things previously, but it's not for now but we appreciate your time this morning. istate now but we appreciate your time this morninu. 2 2, 2, ~' now but we appreciate your time this morninu. 2 ., ., ~ ., ., ., now but we appreciate your time this morninu. 2 ., ., ., ., morning. we look forward to “oining ou aaain morning. we look forward to “oining you again to — morning. we look forward to “oining youagaihtotaikfi morning. we look forward to “oining you again to talk about h morning. we look forward to “oining you again to talk about it _ morning. we look forward to joining you again to talk about it more. - you again to talk about it more. thanks for being with us on breakfast and matt has a really important where the news because we have numerous flood warnings, and when you hear danger to life, that really brings it home, doesn't it? because of the rainfall we are having. yes, it certainly does in the storm has made its mark on the uk. these are some of the rainfall total since monday morning and parts of north—west england have seen over a month of rainfall which is why river levels are in the state they are with still five severe danger to life flood warnings across england and wales and 230 flood warnings, that will be in place and vary through the day as water flows down the river system and it's notjust about the rain which has eased because we have other things to consider as well. we have strong winds through the night and some heavy snowfall across scotland, especially in the north and east and the central belt welch will get a further covering of snow and blizzards across northern scotland with the strongest winds and away from that, a mixture of clear skies and showers this morning, the heaviest over northern ireland and southern scotland and north wales and some sleet and snow and rumbles of thunder mixed in, a few showers further south and then on sunday morning we will see cloudy conditions pushing, outbreaks of rain through the channel islands. the wind is not as strong across the south was last night but stronger towards the north and east of the country with them topping 50 or 60 miles an hour, so with temperatures between four and 9 degrees, factoring in the wind and the air being so cold, this is what it will feel like, closer to —3 in aberdeen and below freezing in newcastle, so and below freezing in newcastle, so a chilly day, cold might come tonight and the wind remained strong across the north—east of scotland feeding and more wintry showers and some in northern ireland and southern scotland and north—west england and wales. further south and east, clearer conditions and a cold night across the board with widespread frost. and of course all of the water around at the moment, you will be an icy start to tomorrow morning. a lovely bright day for much of the south and east of the uk. north—west england and northern ireland and south—west scotland see further showers and a slight covering of snow over the hills. the showers are using in northern scotland through the day so more sunshine here and temperatures again around four or8 sunshine here and temperatures again around four or 8 degrees. a look going into the weekend where we will see a weather system on saturday scraping through the channel islands and southern england bringing rain, but after a cold start to saturday, it will be a day of sunshine and showers. the showers will be sleet and snow across many northern and western areas giving a covering of snow and could be the same further south on saturday —— sunday. we promised we would be talking to helen glover because we have been enlisting the help of familiar faces to get advice and ideas for getting through the coronavirus lockdown. this morning, we're joined by olympic rowing champion helen glover — here she is in action with partner heather stanning at rio 2016. good luck, helen. good luck, heather. this is where the british crew will absolutely pound it. they will go out hard, go out strong. we are watching something awe—inspiring by helen and heather. be inspired by thejourney. they by helen and heather. be inspired by the journey. they are without equal. they are history makers. great britain's glover and stanning. that is an achievement, indeed. helen, hello. hi. that is an achievement, indeed. helen, hello.— that is an achievement, indeed. helen, hello._ so| that is an achievement, indeed. - helen, hello._ so good helen, hello. hi, everybody. so good to see you- — helen, hello. hi, everybody. so good to see you- we _ helen, hello. hi, everybody. so good to see you. we saw _ helen, hello. hi, everybody. so good to see you. we saw you _ helen, hello. hi, everybody. so good to see you. we saw you being - to see you. we saw you being fantastic on the water but there is a battle that lots of parents and carers are facing at this moment in time with trying to stay fit, not have pandemic bottom, just stuck on your sofa vegging out, but with children running around as well, trying to keep fit for them, with them and for yourself.— trying to keep fit for them, with them and for yourself. that's why i was excited _ them and for yourself. that's why i was excited to _ them and for yourself. that's why i was excited to come _ them and for yourself. that's why i was excited to come on _ them and for yourself. that's why i was excited to come on today - them and for yourself. that's why i i was excited to come on today because i think it's something that i've definitely worked through over the yearin definitely worked through over the year in finding the right formula and way of keeping everybody active has been a big challenge for everybody this year. so has been a big challenge for everybody this year. so what have ou been everybody this year. so what have you been doing? _ everybody this year. so what have you been doing? i _ everybody this year. so what have you been doing? i have _ everybody this year. so what have you been doing? i have been - everybody this year. so what have i you been doing? i have been mixing it u -. you been doing? i have been mixing it up- when — you been doing? i have been mixing it up- when they _ you been doing? i have been mixing it up. when they sleep, _ you been doing? i have been mixing it up. when they sleep, if— you been doing? i have been mixing it up. when they sleep, if they - you been doing? i have been mixing it up. when they sleep, if they all i it up. when they sleep, if they all sleep at the same time, i will do some of my own training, lifting weights and a lot of the time they wake up and i train with them or we go for walks, but generally i really think it is about movement and not putting pressure on yourself to make it look like you are always training but feel like you are moving well throughout the day. it is but feel like you are moving well throughout the day.— throughout the day. it is charlie here. we throughout the day. it is charlie here- we can — throughout the day. it is charlie here. we can see _ throughout the day. it is charlie here. we can see behind - throughout the day. it is charlie here. we can see behind you i throughout the day. it is charlie i here. we can see behind you that logan is your two—year—old and we can see his weight lifting equipment behind you. do you have your own stuff as well? he behind you. do you have your own stuff as well?— behind you. do you have your own stuff as well? he has a set, and we are really lucky _ stuff as well? he has a set, and we are really lucky that _ stuff as well? he has a set, and we are really lucky that we _ stuff as well? he has a set, and we are really lucky that we have - stuff as well? he has a set, and we are really lucky that we have some | are really lucky that we have some weight lifting equipment in the house, so it definitely makes it easier when they do sleep and they definitely try to get involved. i am deli . hted definitely try to get involved. i am delighted to _ definitely try to get involved. i am delighted to hear _ definitely try to get involved. i am delighted to hear a _ definitely try to get involved. i am delighted to hear a little bit of noise in the background. this happens every time and it is perfectly apt, because when we talk about people and their lockdown and the regime, we have a little interruption. so who's there? it was this side the camera? it’s interruption. so who's there? it was this side the camera?— this side the camera? it's calm on this side the camera? it's calm on this side, this side the camera? it's calm on this side. but _ this side the camera? it's calm on this side, but the _ this side the camera? it's calm on this side, but the other _ this side the camera? it's calm on this side, but the other side - this side the camera? it's calm on this side, but the other side we i this side, but the other side we have a one—year—old twins, a two and a half year old, logan, who is walking towards me and a lot of my work out today will involve them, so it's a reality of life as a parent that they will be around any time you try to do anything.— that they will be around any time you try to do anything. helen, i am so lad, you try to do anything. helen, i am so glad. because — you try to do anything. helen, i am so glad, because you _ you try to do anything. helen, i am so glad, because you did _ you try to do anything. helen, i am so glad, because you did say - you try to do anything. helen, i am so glad, because you did say that l so glad, because you did say that you are going to grab the child that was awake to do some weights with. but can you reassure everyone, we see pictures of you with the twins, walking in the park with logan as well, so it is still hard. you may be managing and looking the way you do and smiling this morning and looking fresh at five to eight in the morning with three young children, but it is hard. it's ok to think, i cannot do this today. i think, i cannot do this today. i think this is the best point to come out of all of this, do what you can do and not beating yourself up if you find it difficult, because i just want to say for any mother, especially a new mum this year, you are all amazing. it is so tough and challenging parenting kids, let alone in the middle of a global pandemic where you might be looking forward to handing that child over to a friend or grandparent, and i suddenly realised that some of my friends we have not seen them all gone to the baby group, and that is hard and it makes it hard every day and a toughjob even harder, so he is trying to push the camera. when you see all of these images on social media, just remember, it's all about doing what you can. tbs, all about doing what you can. a brilliant point well made. thank you. so you have will oboe in your arms. 2 2. you. so you have will oboe in your arms. 2 . 2 ., arms. we are calling her bow. what can ou arms. we are calling her bow. what can you do — arms. we are calling her bow. what can you do with _ arms. we are calling her bow. what can you do with her? _ arms. we are calling her bow. what can you do with her? bring - arms. we are calling her bow. what can you do with her? bring us - arms. we are calling her bow. what can you do with her? bring us some cheer this morning. i am going to show you how you might want to do some squats with the baby in your arms. we will face her out this way, holding her under her armpits and just squatting down. a lot of it is movement she would do in the gym anyway. oh! it's all going swimmingly. baby cries here is one you made earlier. this is the back-up- — here is one you made earlier. this is the back-up. we _ here is one you made earlier. ii 52 is the back—up. we are doing some sit—ups. right, so, it'sjusta little crunch, and the baby gets a little crunch, and the baby gets a little aeroplane of movement. flan little crunch, and the baby gets a little aeroplane of movement. can i ask, little aeroplane of movement. can i ask. helen. — little aeroplane of movement. can i ask. helen. is— little aeroplane of movement. can i ask, helen, is that _ little aeroplane of movement. can i ask, helen, is that steve _ little aeroplane of movement. can i ask, helen, is that steve managing the other two? he ask, helen, is that steve managing the other two?— the other two? he is 'ust snoozing in the background. _ the other two? he isjust snoozing in the background. he _ the other two? he isjust snoozing in the background. he might- the other two? he isjust snoozing in the background. he might be i in the background. he might be screaming _ in the background. he might be screaming later. _ in the background. he might be screaming later. is _ in the background. he might be screaming later. is that - in the background. he might be screaming later. is that him - in the background. he might be screaming later. is that him in. in the background. he might be i screaming later. is that him in the background holding the camera? he is holdini the background holding the camera? he is holding the camera _ background holding the camera? h2 :2 holding the camera and looking after two children, no, one child. this holding the camera and looking after two children, no, one child.- two children, no, one child. this is the best thing _ two children, no, one child. this is the best thing that _ two children, no, one child. this is the best thing that we _ two children, no, one child. this is the best thing that we have - two children, no, one child. this is the best thing that we have done l two children, no, one child. this is. the best thing that we have done all day, for me. this is the best lockdown life i have ever seen, because it is so real and it is brilliant, because you are still smiling and being positive and showing us all that it is ok because it goes wrong as well, and that is fine. i it goes wrong as well, and that is fine. , 2. it goes wrong as well, and that is fine. , ., ., , , , ., fine. i will try and do this type of work out and _ fine. i will try and do this type of work out and do _ fine. i will try and do this type of work out and do the _ fine. i will try and do this type of work out and do the sit-ups, - fine. i will try and do this type of i work out and do the sit-ups, some work out and do the sit—ups, some squats and have a huge list that i was going to do, so sometimes it does end up inputting music on and just moving and having fun with the little ones, and ten minutes of dancing with your children and your heart rate is higher and you have sort of done a work—out. that heart rate is higher and you have sort of done a work-out.- heart rate is higher and you have sort of done a work-out. that is the herfect sort of done a work-out. that is the perfect smile _ sort of done a work-out. that is the perfect smile to _ sort of done a work-out. that is the perfect smile to finish _ sort of done a work-out. that is the perfect smile to finish on. _ sort of done a work-out. that is the perfect smile to finish on. that - sort of done a work-out. that is the perfect smile to finish on. that is i perfect smile to finish on. that is a fantastic smile. someone is messing around, making him smile. that is logan doing laps of the kitchen. �* . . that is logan doing laps of the kitchen. �* , , ., , that is logan doing laps of the kitchen. �*, , ., , . kitchen. it's been lovely catching u i kitchen. it's been lovely catching u- with kitchen. it's been lovely catching up with you _ kitchen. it's been lovely catching up with you this _ kitchen. it's been lovely catching up with you this morning - kitchen. it's been lovely catching up with you this morning and - kitchen. it's been lovely catching i up with you this morning and good luck. in amongst the chaos, you can make it work. lovely to see you there, helen. ithought make it work. lovely to see you there, helen. i thought you were amazing as a double olympian but i think you are even more amazing as a motivated mum as well, so take care. thank you. that is how to bring a smile to anyone who is just trying to cope this morning. i love the fact that it started quite calm and i thought that's a nice calm house. this is going to work. no it doesn't. give it a go. headlines coming up. good morning, welcome to breakfast with naga munchetty and charlie stayt. our headlines today. the new us president's first hours in office — joe biden signs a series of orders reversing some of donald trump's key policies. i've never been more optimistic about america than i am this very day. there isn't anything we can't do if we do it together. # baby, you're a firework... a televised concert with a string of celebrities and fireworks rounds off inauguration day. severe flood warnings after heavy rain means thousands are told to leave their homes in manchester and north wales. the worst of the rain may be over but river levels continue to rise in some parts and this morning there is heavy snowfall in scotland. stay with us for the crucial forecast. life on the front line in the battle against covid — as hospitals face rising admissions amid a record number of deaths — three intensive care medics give us their frank assessment of the crisis. three weeks ago when i came over, there were 59 patients. now we have nearly 140. and a lot of them are really, really sick. the women who say they're being punished financially for having a baby. that's what the high court examines today — the tens of thousands of self—employed parents whose covid support took a hit. it's thursday, 21st january. our top story. the usa's new presidentjoe biden has started his time in office by reversing key trump—era policies — hours after being sworn in as the country's 46th president. on the way to the white house following his inauguration he tweeted, "there is no time to waste when it comes to tackling the crises we face." the ceremony, which included musical performances by lady gaga and jennifer lopez, was unlike any other due to coronavirus restrictions. nomia iqbal reports from washington. there was no traditional ball for president biden and vice president harris, but they got bruce springsteen and tom hanks. now it is my honour to introduce the president of the united states — joseph r bidenjr. this is a great nation. we're good people. and to overcome the challenges in front of us requires the most elusive of all things in a democracy — unity. hours earlier, the new leaders of america were sworn in on capitol hill. so help me, god. congratulations, mr president. soon, president biden headed into his new office and started signing away donald trump's legacy with a pen. he green—lighted 15 executive orders — some of them included calling for a nationwide facemask mandate, and rejoining both the paris climate agreement and the world health organization. mr biden did receive a letter from his predecessor, though — which is a tradition. the president wrote a very generous letter. because it was private, i won't talk about it until i talk to him. but it was generous. that was the only tradition mr trump upheld on the day, though. he didn't attend the inauguration — instead he flew home to florida with his wife, melania trump. it looked like she was ready for a holiday! # you're a firework. # come on, show �*em what you're worth. this administration says it wants to set a unifying and optimistic tone for america. we are bold, fearless and ambitious. we are undaunted in our belief that we shall overcome, that we will rise up. but this new start comes just a few weeks after donald trump's loyal supporters stormed the capitol. the stakes for what president biden does in the next few years couldn't be higher. nomia iqbal, bbc news. thousands of homes across england and wales were evacuated overnight, after widespread flooding caused by storm christoph. rivers reached record high levels in parts of greater manchester and north wales. there are now more than 200 flood warnings in place — five of them severe. andy moore reports. storm christoph started with strong winds and heavy rain, but as temperatures fell overnight, many places had to deal with a difficult combination of rising water levels and falling snow. we've been told to evacuate. however, during corona, where do you evacuate to? you don't want to impose yourself on other people. so we are trying to hold on as long as we can and hopefully it will pass. it's risen slightly higher than its previous high, so... but clearly at the moment it's holding holding but clearly at the moment it's holding good, it's holding firm. we've been here in melton avenue for 33 years and we've never had itj quite as bad as this. and it's more alarmingl even when the record — the river got to a record level. this was a picturesque — but fortunately empty — cottage at chorley in lancashire before and after the floods. some places are expected to get two months' of rain in just a few days. just a few miles from didsbury, severe flood warnings were in place overnight for the river bollin at heatley. and just across the welsh border at bangor—on—dee, homes were evacuated. in scotland there was an amber warning overnight for heavy snow in the borders, east and west lothian and midlothian. five to ten centimetres was predicted to fall, with up to 30 centimetres over higher ground. police urged motorists not to travel in the worst affected areas. across england and wales, several severe flood warnings have been in place overnight. in north wales, police helped some people leave their homes in ruthin, while warning others not to come to the area for sightseeing of the floods. near machynlleth yesterday, this river burst its banks, sending half a metre of water through some nearby homes. the river came in throughout the garden — all of the garden, rather than just the odd little hole through the side of the bank. and it didn't catch us by surprise, but the sheer volume of it and the persistence of it has caught us out. we're often told not to drive through floodwater. but this driver didn't get the memo. wrong speed, wrong speed, wrong speed! their experience showed that most cars — not even 4x4s — aren't built to negotiate deep floodwaters. andy moore, bbc news. let's look alive at our picture here, the river mersey. this is in didsbury. the rising levels there. you can see the quantity of water coming through and the snow either side, a lot of snow overnight, alongside the range. i side, a lot of snow overnight, alongside the range.- side, a lot of snow overnight, alongside the range. i have walked around their— alongside the range. i have walked around their and _ alongside the range. i have walked around their and that _ alongside the range. i have walked around their and that is _ alongside the range. i have walked around their and that is pretty - around their and that is pretty dramatic, considering how low that river is, and it is obviously muggy and i'm it with the snow. if anybody is taking a walk there today, just be careful because the conditions, as you can see, rapid flowing water. very icy and muggy. {titre as you can see, rapid flowing water. very icy and muggy-— very icy and muggy. give you a real impression- — very icy and muggy. give you a real impression. just _ very icy and muggy. give you a real impression. just above _ very icy and muggy. give you a real impression. just above the - very icy and muggy. give you a real impression. just above the bridge, | impression. just above the bridge, our reporter. adam mcclean is there for us this morning. it is obvious a lot of water is flowing down the river, what problems are people facing? goad problems are people facing? good morninu. problems are people facing? good morning- a _ problems are people facing? good morning- a huge _ problems are people facing? (13mg morning. a huge emergency response here overnight. problems like this have been put in place in case the river burst its banks. the river mersey here in didsbury is at its highest ever recorded level and overnight that prompted emergency services to ask families in more than 2000 homes to evacuate, to leave and define shelter elsewhere. just where we are, a short distance from here, is the didsbury flood basin. yesterday as river levels rose, floodgates were opened, allowing the river to spill into an open area to hold excess water and take pressure off the river banks. even when those measures in place, this section has been perilously close to overflowing. those who have been advised to evacuate have been told that potential flooding poses a danger to life, but of course people have been staying at home for quite some time now because of a virus that poses a danger to life, so it is an incredibly challenging situation here. some people chose to move their valuables and themselves upstairs in order to take their chances and to try and stay safe. some people are sheltering at nearby community centres and at a local mosque. and people who are self isolating and are extremely click vulnerable, they have been provided a hotel accommodation in which to isolate. river levels, the water here has dropped slightly in the last hour. that will of course no doubt be a relief, but more rain is forecast and the situation here is being monitored very closely indeed. adam, thank you. the education secretary gavin williamson has told this programme he can't guarantee when schools in england will re—open to all pupils. our chief political correspondent adam fleming joins us now from westminster. adam — not much clarity there for parents was there? i know you are watching that very closely, the interview that charlie did with gavin williamson at 7:30am. what do you get out of it? the did with gavin williamson at 7:30am. what do you get out of it?— what do you get out of it? the big thin the what do you get out of it? the big thing the government _ what do you get out of it? the big thing the government wants - what do you get out of it? the big thing the government wants out i what do you get out of it? the big - thing the government wants out today is us all talking about their new proposals for a massive huge overhaul of technical and vocational qualifications and funding for colleges and that is getting quite good reviews from people who have seen it but the big question parents are asking is, when our school is going to go back after the lockdown? gavin williamson gave us a clue about what he hopes might happen. we are not in a position to be able to say— we are not in a position to be able to say exactly when that day is, but what _ to say exactly when that day is, but what i _ to say exactly when that day is, but what i can _ to say exactly when that day is, but what i can reassure you and your viewers — what i can reassure you and your viewers is — what i can reassure you and your viewers is that we will give, you know, _ viewers is that we will give, you know. not — viewers is that we will give, you know, notjust schools viewers is that we will give, you know, not just schools and teachers, time to _ know, not just schools and teachers, time to be _ know, not just schools and teachers, time to be able to prepare, but also, _ time to be able to prepare, but also. you — time to be able to prepare, but also, you know, we are giving children— also, you know, we are giving children the time to get ready and parents _ children the time to get ready and parents enough notice to be able to get everything ready. so we will be hoping _ get everything ready. so we will be hoping to— get everything ready. so we will be hoping to give everyone two weeks' notice _ hoping to give everyone two weeks' notice in _ hoping to give everyone two weeks' notice in order for them to be ready to return _ notice in order for them to be ready to return back to school. now, in england, schools should be going back in normal circumstances on the 22nd of february, so if you count back two weeks that means you would probably have to have a decision made by the government on the week of the 8th of february, which is about two and a half weeks away from now. i use that word aspiration because that is what gavin williamson hopes. it is not just down to him, there are other government departments and the prime minister and scientists involved and of course what is happening with the pandemic. there are a few other bits of news in there. he hopes they will be able to restart this programme they were going to introduce where pupils who come into contact with a positive case don't have to self—isolate because they get tested every day. that was post yesterday because scientists want to see if that will still work when we have this new variant. the other big conversation is who will be the next group of people to get vaccinated after the most vulnerable people have been vaccinated by the middle of february? gavin williamson very keen that teachers and support staff are on the list of people to get vaccinated. but again, that is not a decision for him, but it is one of the scientists who will work—out you should get the jab is next to. lots should get the 'ab is next to. lots of questions — should get the jab is next to. lots of questions there. _ should get the jab is next to. lots of questions there. adam fleming, you very much. use of those images of the floods earlier. matt has details of the weather. do you know where that one is behind you? you know where that one is behind ou? . you know where that one is behind ou? , . , . ~' you know where that one is behind ou? , ., . ~' ., 2, you? this was taken in the last hour in exeter on — you? this was taken in the last hour in exeter on the _ you? this was taken in the last hour in exeter on the river _ you? this was taken in the last hour in exeter on the river exe. _ you? this was taken in the last hour in exeter on the river exe. not - you? this was taken in the last hour in exeter on the river exe. notjust. in exeter on the river exe. notjust the north west and wales where we have river becoming swollen. the worst covered by a severe flood warnings, dangerto worst covered by a severe flood warnings, danger to life. worst covered by a severe flood warnings, dangerto life. five worst covered by a severe flood warnings, danger to life. five of them across north—west england and them across north—west england and the north—east and wales, i should say. over 230 flood warnings are generally across the rest of the country. that will probably rise through the day. it's notjust about the rain and flooding. plenty of snowfall across scotland needing clearing away. lots to come in the grampians through this morning. blown around by strong winds, drifting, publicity and rain across the coastal districts in the north—east. that could cause flooding as you go into this afternoon. a mixture of sunshine and showers across the rest of the country. sleet and snow across northern ireland, north—west england and south—west scotland. icy conditions, the rumble of thunder. but overall, less rain compared with yesterday. wet it later across the channel islands, across because the districts of scotland, more was no inland. for many, sunshine and showers, blustery across the uk, strongest in the north and east, making it feel distinctly cold. added winchell across the north and east of the country it makes it feel more like —2, —3 across northern england and east of scotland. winds will ease through the night, saying blustery, clear skies will dominate the further south you are and they will be frost and lots of ice to take us into tomorrow morning. full forecast for 8:45am.— forecast for 8:45am. thank you so much to think _ forecast for 8:45am. thank you so much to think about _ forecast for 8:45am. thank you so much to think about in _ forecast for 8:45am. thank you so much to think about in terms - forecast for 8:45am. thank you so much to think about in terms of. much to think about in terms of weather. the prime minister has warned there'll be "tough weeks to come", as the uk reported another all—time high of daily coronavirus deaths. a further 1,820 people have died within 28 days of a positive covid test, according to government figures. over the last week, an average of 39,068 people in the uk were in hospital with coronavirus — that includes suspected cases in wales. it's putting huge pressure on staff working on the frontline. we asked three medics to record their experiences for bbc breakfast — and jayne mccubbin joined them to hear about the emotional impact it's having on their lives. the pressure has never been greater. in birmingham, 400 troops are being deployed to hospitals. very, very busy, and the flood is showing no signs of stopping. in london, police officers are being trained as ambulance drivers. there's just... there's no words. in liverpool, the children's hospital has started admitting adults. so that's a bit of a worry for us. and the fact that the patients are young and fit, that's- a bit of a concern. we've asked three medics from each city to share a night shift with us and reflect on the emotional impact of this crisis. three weeks ago when i came over, there were 59 patients. now we have nearly 140. and a lot of them are really, really sick. we've probably trebled the capacity of looking after critically unwell patients, but it has come at high cost. all and the biggest problem is staffing. the staff feel anxious _ about being asked to look after more and more patients when there aren't any more nurses, and there's no - easy solution to that. hello. hi, peter. hi, nitton. hi, emily. it is worse than april. it's the rate of admissions. we are surpassing april easily. this is onjust a whole other scale. we are way beyond the april peak. and remember, this is where in april, everyone was convinced, everyone was enthusiastic. everyone was willing to go in all out. now i have about 20% of my medical workforce in ic that is off sick long term with covid, self—isolating or something. everyone's tired, everyone's stressed and we are short of people. and we have more patients, a lot more patients than we had the first time. nearly 50% more. covid admissions and deaths are at a record high. while hospitals are creating capacity to bring patients in, they can't magic up staff. i had a 32—year—old patient. he was six months older than me and i reassured him he would be fine. and then, he didn't live. we're seeing about four times as many deaths as we normally do, and there is the guilt of not being able to supply them with our usual high standard of intensive care. the reason itu works is— because we've got one to one nursing and the nurses look— after the patient and they document every single observation. so if you dilute that, l you're going to dilute the effect of intensive care. absolutely. i'm taking care of two, three or four itu patients. and that's way beyond what i would usually be doing. when i first came here, i felt incredibly guilty. and i think that's why i was struggling. i would go awayjust feeling horror at what i had seen and what i couldn't do. i wonder how much of a psychological toll we are storing up for icu staff. i think we will need to have a lot of support in place for health care staff once this ends. there will be a psychological reckoning here at some point. medics describe guilt for the things they cannot do and guilt for asking colleagues to do more and more and more. so, i'm asking my colleagues to step up again _ can you do some extra work? and you know that you've already asked them to do that and you'rej asking them again and asking. the nurses to do it again so that, you know, and you're also saying, yeah, but we want to look - after you and kind of like contradictory things. - sometimes it feels worse to be on a break because you just feel like you should be in the hospital, or you're getting texts from your trust saying, "urgent call to arms. we need extra, extra anybody." i completely agree with emily. all of this has come at a cost and there is anger. i'm angry. really angry. what a lot of us are really angry about is the covid deniers and the people that have been walking around videoing outpatient clinics at midnight. and recently, two people were arrested in my hospital and fined just for trespassing. so that's the sort of people that generally our anger is against. it's just after nine o'clock i and we've had the handover from the night team. er, a huge increase in the number of patients with covid in the trust. we've got 550 patients now, - and that was from yesterday morning. so it's probably higher now. and another bit of bad news - is the two cubicles on our hdu have just flooded overnight. so that's really unhelpful. when we're trying to make more space for patients. it feels like people are tired i of hearing about the situation and sort of want to deny what's going on. - and i think that feeds into staff morale. - what peter is saying, morale is low and there'sjust a sense of hopelessness. it'sjust galling to be coming in and be around seeing what the general public are doing, and knowing that you're about to put in a 12 and a half hour stint in because people just for some reason are apathetic or don't believe or whatever. as their cities wait, they prepare for home to sleep then face the same again tomorrow. death rates and hospital admissions have yet to hit their peak. i'm just coming out from my shift. and i'm just walking past stacks and stacks of ambulances. they have lived through this stress for a year and a lot of people are near breaking point. what i'm hoping is, and what all of my colleagues are hoping is, that in the next few weeks, as more and more people get vaccinated, the numbers will start coming down. and if i never see a patient with covid again in my life, i will be crying. joining us now is chris hopson — chief executive of nhs providers, which represents hospitals and other nhs trusts in england. chris hopson, that many people watching, and we had many reports on the bbc in recent weeks where we have been given access to intensive care units and two brilliant people who are working in hospitals at the moment. foryou, isuppose who are working in hospitals at the moment. for you, i suppose this isn't a surprise, but how do you react when you hear members of the nhs, people who are working for us, for society, nhs, people who are working for us, forsociety, being in nhs, people who are working for us, for society, being in this position now of almost despair?— now of almost despair? well, i thou . ht now of almost despair? well, i thought it _ now of almost despair? well, i thought it was _ now of almost despair? well, i thought it was an _ now of almost despair? well, i thought it was an incredibly i now of almost despair? well, i - thought it was an incredibly moving film, and i suppose it for me it reinforced three things. first, the sheer number of people that we have got coming into hospital now. i think some of the people in the film were making the comparison tween the first peak. in the first pick the maximum number of people we had in hospital was 21,000. we are now at 39,000 so that is 80% higher. so, you know, the pressure is really am. i think the second thing that really comes across is the impact this is having on our staff. i have spoken to about 100 chief executives over at the last sort of three or four days and what consistently comes across is their real worry about the impact this is having on our staff. and i thought that was very graphically portrayed. if you don't mind, i think the third point, that it absolutely reinforces, is i cannot stress how important it is for your viewers to make sure that they stick by the rules. i know we are all getting fed up with the rules, i know we all want to go back to normal, but if we want to stop this decorate, reduce patient harm, give the nhs the chance of treating all the patients who need care, we have to meticulously follow the rules. 2 2. .. have to meticulously follow the rules. 2 ., ,, .,, rules. we will take those three hoints rules. we will take those three points because _ rules. we will take those three points because it _ rules. we will take those three points because it would - rules. we will take those three points because it would be - rules. we will take those three points because it would be a i rules. we will take those three i points because it would be a good structure for this conversation. the first point, looking at 39,000 plus in hospital at the moment. 80% higher than the previous peak in april. can you explain to me and our viewers why it is expected that this number will remain high? i'm talking about in the coming days bearing in mind the relation to the lockdown in early january and restrictions after christmas and how that is feeding into hospital and also the death rate number. we had 1820 yesterday. the weight that it works is effectively what you see is in sequential order. what you see is a drop—off in the infection rate but then people who catch the infection, a percentage of them come into hospital, so then it is hospital admissions that fall later. and then obviously a number of people who come into hospital, they don't all necessarily die in hospital, some at home, then the death rate is the last thing in the sense of those three measures that starts to drop. it is difficult to predict but certainly the conversations we were having yesterday suggests there is probably something like another four or five weeks of this kind of incredibly intense pressure on hospitals. part of the issue here, just to make a comparison, in the first phase if you look at the peak, when we came over the peak in the first phase, it dropped really pretty quickly afterwards. i think there is a real nervousness that because of the transmissibility, how transmissible this new variant is, i think the slope down, what you have got over the peak, will be slower than in the first phase. in that sense i think the pressure on hospitals will last longer than it did in the first phase. given how much pressure our staff are facing, thatis much pressure our staff are facing, that is a real concern. bhd much pressure our staff are facing, that is a real concern.— that is a real concern. and that leads onto _ that is a real concern. and that leads onto the _ that is a real concern. and that leads onto the second - that is a real concern. and that leads onto the second point. that is a real concern. and that| leads onto the second point you made. your concern about the impact this will have on staff. what is in place to help those working in the nhs at this moment under this unbelievable pressure?- nhs at this moment under this unbelievable pressure? well, when ou talk to unbelievable pressure? well, when you talk to chief _ unbelievable pressure? well, when you talk to chief executives, - unbelievable pressure? well, when you talk to chief executives, the i you talk to chief executives, the two things that are top of their mind is providing care to patients, because that is why they are there, but interestingly whenever i speak to chief executives the conversation turns incredibly quickly to how they are trying to do their very best to support their staff. every single trust now has in place a fairly extensive set of arrangements to ensure that we care for our staff. again, i thought that piece really illustrated... we are asking our staff to delay leave, come in and do extra shifts, extend shifts. we are not asking them to make an occasional extra effort, we are doing this day after day after day, shift after shift. i thought in particular what i thought it captured was we have been asking them to do this for months on end. when i talk to our chief executives, what most worries them is what the impact on our staff is going to be. because the royal college of physicians has said that mental health is a real concern. i suppose that was where i was directing my question. what help will be offered to counter the impact that the staff are feeling now?— are feeling now? there is a combination _ are feeling now? there is a combination of _ are feeling now? there is a combination of things - are feeling now? there is a combination of things that l are feeling now? there is a i combination of things that will are feeling now? there is a - combination of things that will need to happen which effectively as soon as we are able to we are going to need to allow our staff to decompress and effectively recover, which means taking the lead they have been unable to take, but also exactly as you say, providing them with a really comprehensive and effective support. in terms of the psychological issues, the mental health issues that we know are coming. and in some cases, to be frank, have already arrived. it is very striking the number of people who are saying they are finding it difficult to sleep. i thought there were conversations in the piece you just showed about the sense of guilt people have. this is really, really difficult stuff that we are going to need to ensure that we fully support staff with. if i may, it really, really highlights a very important issue for when we get over the peak. we are going to have to strike a very difficult balance between, on the one hand, giving our nhs staff space to decompress and recover, but on the other hand we know we will have backlogs of care that we have had to delay, and how we strike the right balance between going fulltilt to deal with those backlogs but also at the same time giving our staff some space to recover. that in a senseis some space to recover. that in a sense is that the issue we are beginning to start talking about in the nhs. , ., , ... beginning to start talking about in the nhs. , ., , . the nhs. chris hopson, chief executive — the nhs. chris hopson, chief executive of _ the nhs. chris hopson, chief executive of nhs _ the nhs. chris hopson, chief executive of nhs providers, | the nhs. chris hopson, chief- executive of nhs providers, thank you for talking to us. time now to get the news, travel and weather where you are. good morning from bbc london, i'm victoria hollins. some councils in london are concerned that vulnerable communities are being targetted by anti—vaccine activists. westminster council is urging communities to challenge anti—vax publicity. it's feared social media campaigns and some printed material could put off some people from getting the coronavirus vaccine. it's asking faith leaders, councillors and the wider community to help counter consipiracies. research by a doctor at a london hospital has found that junior doctors are having end—of—life conversations with families without any training. due to the high number of critically unwell patients during the covid—19 pandemic, researchers from kings college hospital nhs trust found that foundation level doctors have had to take the lead with difficult discussions. there is currently no formal requirement forjunior doctors to be specifically trained in this area. the brother of a teenager stabbed to death in north london earlier this week has described him as "humble", "kind" and someone who always put others first. 17—year—old anas mezenner was attacked shortly after 9 o'clock on tuesday evening near turnpike lane station. two 16—year—olds have been arrested on suspicion of murder. police have discovered what they've called a "significant" cannabis factory after raiding a building next door to the bank of england. 826 class b drug plants were found in throgmorton street after a "strong smell of cannabis" was reported the previous day. it's believed to be the first time a cannabis factory has been found in the square mile. let's take a look at the travel situation now. there's a good service on the tubes this morning. in new southgate, the a406 north circular at pinkham way is down to one lane westbound just before colney hatch lane for emergency water work, with delays building back through green lanes. the a2 east rochester way remains down to one lane in both directions at the danson interchange for ongoing bridge work, with westbound traffic slow from hall place. in the city, the blackfriars underpass remains closed for ongoing works. good morning. a lot drier today across the capital than it was yesterday but it does stay blustery and it's also going to be feeling colder too. a chillier start to the morning, temperatures in low to mid single figures and there will be spells of brightness on and off through the day with more cloud in the afternoon. watch out for some showers that will blow through fairly swiftly on a fairly brisk south—westerly wind, possibly a little wintry over the higher ground with top temperatures between seven and nine celsius. watch out for a bit more rain perhaps into south—eastern areas of the capital as we head through the evening, but if we do see that it will clear away to leave us with a dry night, clear skies and a frosty start to the day tomorrow with temperatures for many spots dropping below freezing. tomorrow, lighterwinds, mostly dry, plenty of sunshine around but again watch out for one or two showers. there could be some rain on saturday and the potential for some snow on sunday. i'm back with the latest from the bbc london newsroom in half an hour. plenty more on our website at the usual address. bye for now. hello, this is breakfast with naga munchetty and charlie stayt. after breakfast this morning, the "rip—off britain" team will be continuing a special week of live programmes on bbc one. gloria and angela are here to tell us what's coming up today. thanks, charlie and naga. and indeed, once again, thanks to all you breakfast viewers. we had another terrific set of messages from you before, during and after our programme yesterday. and today, we want more of the same, please! particularly if you're a holder of premium bonds. they've come in for some flack recently for service issues, including from a number of our viewers. i think it's just very frustrating. i think the thing that keeps niggling away is that it is my money. _ niggling away is that it is my money, why can't i get at it? already, so many of you writing in about this. - and, with savings accounts i at all—time low interest rates, you might be wonderingl where to put your money at the moment, or how best to hang on to it, i so we've got lots of advice from personal finance - expert emmanuel asuquo. plus, cancelled and postponed gigs. what do you do if you no longer want to go to a delayed show and want your money back, i but you're being told no. we'll have all the tips you need. and everything you ever wanted to know about supermarkets, but were afraid to ask — from getting a delivery slot to rumours of empty shelves. we'll be taking a deep dive through the freezer section with retail expert george knott, so, if you've got questions for him, send them in. you can email us right now. and we look forward to your company once again at 9.15. _ see you then. gloria and angela, thank you very much. storm christoph has caused widespread flooding across england and wales as many rivers reached "dangerously high levels". there are 200 flood warnings in place — five of them severe. thousands of homes were evacuated overnight in the didsbury and northenden areas of manchester, where a danger to life warning was issued. let's speak to councillor greg stanton who is there. this is the river mersey and attention has been drawn here particularly because the levels are some of the highest that have ever been recorded, and you get a sense of the quantity of water that is flowing there. let's speak to councillor greg stanton who is there. you are on the bridge just above the water that we were focusing on a moment ago. tell us what the impact has been for people where you are? absolutely, i'm on the bridge at the boundary between didsbury and northern and the impact has been that overnight we issued an evacuation warning to over 2000 homes and we started at the lower number of 300 but we always said we had the capacity to do more if needs be and we move people to a safe distance from the water for their protection. in distance from the water for their protection-— distance from the water for their hrotection. ., ., . . . , protection. in normal circumstances, it's a logistical _ protection. in normal circumstances, it's a logistical operation _ protection. in normal circumstances, it's a logistical operation with - it's a logistical operation with plenty of challenges getting people out of their homes and persuading them, so what about in the current circumstances, given the pandemic and people's concerns? i circumstances, given the pandemic and people's concerns?— and people's concerns? i think ou're and people's concerns? i think you're absolutely _ and people's concerns? i think you're absolutely right, - and people's concerns? i think you're absolutely right, this i and people's concerns? i think you're absolutely right, this is| and people's concerns? i think. you're absolutely right, this is a situation that has been rehearsed for a number of times over the year and enacted before but never during the pandemic, so we looked at stratify the residents into various different groups and if you were clinically extremely vulnerable or self isolating or if you have the coronavirus, positive test, we accommodated you separately and in more local residential accommodation rather than sending you to the rest centre. it’s rather than sending you to the rest centre. �* . , , ., centre. it's very well explained, and clearly _ centre. it's very well explained, and clearly you _ centre. it's very well explained, and clearly you are _ centre. it's very well explained, and clearly you are taking - centre. it's very well explained, and clearly you are taking great| and clearly you are taking great precautions over who is being looked after and how, but in terms of the actual damage, i know you evacuated actual damage, i know you evacuated a lot of people from their homes, so what about the flooding itself? what has transpired?— has transpired? thankfully in the end the flooding _ has transpired? thankfully in the end the flooding was _ has transpired? thankfully in the end the flooding was limited - has transpired? thankfully in the end the flooding was limited to i has transpired? thankfully in the i end the flooding was limited to the areas immediately around the river and no homes were impacted or flooded but we were right to take those precautionary steps in the evening of yesterday and running in the early hours to make sure we removed people from places or potential danger.— removed people from places or potential danger. looking forward, there was so _ potential danger. looking forward, there was so much _ potential danger. looking forward, there was so much rain _ potential danger. looking forward, there was so much rain overnight i potential danger. looking forward, i there was so much rain overnight and i am looking at the river there and there is an awful lot of water still flowing through, so what are people being advised to do? what are the prospects for the coming days? people will be individually contacted and invited to go back to their homes when the time is right and we don't expect any further flooding at this point. the river has been subsiding and receding since about 4am this morning and we expect it to continue to do so but it is a storm and we cannot always accurately and precisely predict a storm so people should remain ready as we were asking them to do yesterday and we will go door—to—door if we need to and i would like to say huge thank you to greater manchester police and the fire and rescue service and the environment agency alongside the city council yesterday for the army of 120 people we had on the doorsteps until the early hours, knocking on doors and giving people the best possible advice. thahk knocking on doors and giving people the best possible advice.— the best possible advice. thank you for our the best possible advice. thank you for your time _ the best possible advice. thank you for your time this _ the best possible advice. thank you for your time this morning - the best possible advice. thank you for your time this morning and - the best possible advice. thank you | for your time this morning and good luck with the work you are doing and with the work happening overnight as well. the government could be forced to award rebates to tens of thousands of self—employed women who say they've lost out as a result of one of the key support scheme's offered during the pandemic, nina has the details. and over time, we are discovering, aren't we, little bits of the equation of the help that was set up on those people who have not benefited. it on those people who have not benefited-— on those people who have not benefited. ., ., ., benefited. it important to say that tens of billions _ benefited. it important to say that tens of billions of— benefited. it important to say that tens of billions of pounds - benefited. it important to say that tens of billions of pounds have - benefited. it important to say that i tens of billions of pounds have been handed out to support individuals and businesses but there are lots of groups who have not been supported and say they haven't been treated fairly and we talked about company directors, freelancers, and this morning we are talking about parents who took time to look after newborns. today self employed women who've taken maternity leave and seen their covid financial support impacted as a result — will take their case to the high court. the self employment income support scheme was launched last march. like the furlough scheme. employed by a company. the government covers 80 per cent of trading profits over a three—month period. so far three grants have been made available — details of a fourth are expected soon. it's already paid out nearly £14bn. here's where it gets complicated if you've taken time out. the grants are based on average profits over the last 3 three tax yea rs. so supposing you earned £20k in each of the three tax years. your grant would be based on 80% of that — £16k. but if you took time out to give birth and look after your baby, and your income dropped to £2,000 in one of those years, that pulls down the average to 14k. 80% of that — a little over £11k. we spoke to charlotte, a self—employed architect who has been doubly affected. because she's been on maternity leave twice in the last 4 years. we have lost thousands and i feel it is very— we have lost thousands and i feel it is very unfairand we have lost thousands and i feel it is very unfair and it's not just affecting _ is very unfair and it's not just affecting my business, it's affecting my business, it's affecting my business, it's affecting my home life as well and therefore — affecting my home life as well and therefore the children, which is something we'll try and protect and, yes, something we'll try and protect and, yes. i_ something we'll try and protect and, yes. ijust _ something we'll try and protect and, yes, ijust feel it is unfair and i'm yes, ijust feel it is unfair and i'm not— yes, ijust feel it is unfair and i'm not particularly radical but i do believe in equal rights between men and _ do believe in equal rights between men and women and ijust feel that a man should _ men and women and ijust feel that a man should not get more in this sense. — man should not get more in this sense. i— man should not get more in this sense, i think it should be totally equal _ sense, i think it should be totally equal we — sense, i think it should be totally equal. we have all had children in this situation, if you have gone on maternity. — this situation, if you have gone on maternity, you should get your full amount _ maternity, you should get your full amount of— maternity, you should get your full amount of the grant. itjust seems a bit unjust _ amount of the grant. itjust seems a bit unjust |t— amount of the grant. it 'ust seems a bit un'ust. . amount of the grant. it 'ust seems a bit un'ust. , ., ., ., , bit un'ust. it feels unfair for many of bit unjust. it feels unfair for many of these women. _ this is about the law. campaigners say it is discriminatory against women who give birth and because of that it breaches both the human rights act and the equality act which is why it is being heard in the high court today. they say 75,000 women have lost out. and if the campaigners win the case they may be in line for a refund. there will of course be some men who have lost out too if they were self employed, took time out and saw their income drop. the government has said in the past that it is lawful to treat maternity leave the same as other gaps in trading — which is why an average over three years is taken. but campaigners say, "for maternity leave to be dismissed as the same as being sick or taking a sabbatical is not only insulting, but sends out a dangerous message about how this government views mothers and the integral role we play in a well—functioning society". to say we have had a couple of e—mails from men, died in norfolk who said please don't forget about self—employed men who took a hit over three years but don't get initial maternity pay so they are in a worse situation and another man got in touch, mark, who says he is a self—employed but took two years to look after his terminally ill mother so his average went from £3000 a month to £40 a month, so there are so many gaps in the support systems. this one specifically is for new mothers and it goes to the high court at around ten o'clock and we expect a judgment in the next few weeks. nina, thank you very much. periodically during the pandemic we have shared some extraordinary and personal moments that people have filmed in unusual circumstances, sometimes very harrowing. here is one view. whenjordan simon decided to ask his girlfriend to marry him he imagined the proposal would take place in amsterdam on christmas eve — in fact it looked quite different. i like children already, because he was planning it. this is the moment jordan asked beth to be his wife in hospital. she said yes. he did it with the help of staff at the royal papworth hospital in cambridge, watched by his family online. we can speak tojordan and beth now. good morning to both of you. good mornino. good morning to both of you. good morning- high- _ good morning to both of you. good morning. high. congratulations- morning. high. congratulations first. morning. high. congratulations first- what _ morning. high. congratulations first- what a — morning. high. congratulations first. what a thing. _ morning. high. congratulations first. what a thing. thank- morning. high. congratulations first. what a thing. thank you. | morning. high. congratulations- first. what a thing. thank you. you better out this _ first. what a thing. thank you. you better put this in _ first. what a thing. thank you. you better put this in some _ first. what a thing. thank you. you better put this in some kind - first. what a thing. thank you. you better put this in some kind of - better put this in some kind of context. jordan, do you want to start the story? you've not been well for some time and you were taken into hospital, so take us how you got to that point. it taken into hospital, so take us how you got to that point.— you got to that point. it started eioht you got to that point. it started eight years _ you got to that point. it started eight years ago _ you got to that point. it started eight years ago when _ you got to that point. it started eight years ago when i - you got to that point. it started eight years ago when i had - you got to that point. it started eight years ago when i had my | you got to that point. it started - eight years ago when i had my heart transplant at great ormond street hospital, but i was well for eight years, really well, i was in the entertainment industry and i was doing a terrific. it started last november that i started gathering fluid on my stomach and my kidney levels were too high and then come christmas time i was planning to propose and they rushed me into the royal pa pworth propose and they rushed me into the royal papworth hospital and i was there for christmas, so, yeah, scary times. . 2. there for christmas, so, yeah, scary times. , . ., , ~ , ., there for christmas, so, yeah, scary times. , . . , ~ , ., times. the plan was amsterdam, i can hicture the times. the plan was amsterdam, i can picture the scene, _ times. the plan was amsterdam, i can picture the scene, but _ times. the plan was amsterdam, i can picture the scene, but you _ times. the plan was amsterdam, i can picture the scene, but you knew - times. the plan was amsterdam, i can picture the scene, but you knew when | picture the scene, but you knew when he went into hospital and because of covid—19, that wasn't going to happen, so when did the plan hatched that you would do it anyway? like ou said, that you would do it anyway? like you said. it _ that you would do it anyway? like you said, it was _ that you would do it anyway? i 12 you said, it was going that you would do it anyway? i «12 you said, it was going to be amsterdam originally and then covid—19 happened and then christmas eve, i thought that would be a great idea and i knew i was going to be a little while and it was my stepdad, i knew there were going to let my girlfriend come in and see me anyway, but it was my stepdad that said, just do it. i thought to myself, i can't wait any longer, i've waited long enough and ijust need to do it, i need to ask because we just want to get married. filth. we just want to get married. oh, better, we just want to get married. oh, better. pick _ we just want to get married. oh, better. pick up — we just want to get married. oh, better, pick up the _ we just want to get married. oh, better, pick up the story. did you know it was coming? did you have any inkling? i know it was coming? did you have any inklin: ? 2. 2. . know it was coming? did you have any inklin: ? . ., , ., know it was coming? did you have any inklin ? . . , ., . inkling? i had a little bit of an inklin: inkling? i had a little bit of an inkling because _ inkling? i had a little bit of an inkling because his— inkling? i had a little bit of an inkling because his mum - inkling? i had a little bit of an inkling because his mum was| inkling? i had a little bit of an - inkling because his mum was like, make _ inkling because his mum was like, make sure — inkling because his mum was like, make sure you wear something nice to the hospital _ make sure you wear something nice to the hospital. let's have a little pamper— the hospital. let's have a little pamper night the night before. so there _ pamper night the night before. so there was— pamper night the night before. so there was a little inkling. obviously during the pandemic you had not been able to seejordan as often as you could and you had been communicating a lot on facetime so it must have been really hard seeing him going through what he was going through and not getting a hug from you or yourfamily. through and not getting a hug from you or your family.— you or your family. yeah, it has been really _ you or your family. yeah, it has been really hard. _ you or your family. yeah, it has been really hard. there - you or your family. yeah, it has been really hard. there are - you or your family. yeah, it has i been really hard. there are times where _ been really hard. there are times where he — been really hard. there are times where he has rang me and his mum on facetime _ where he has rang me and his mum on facetime and — where he has rang me and his mum on facetime and got really upset, and he gets— facetime and got really upset, and he gets a _ facetime and got really upset, and he gets a bit stressed out with too much _ he gets a bit stressed out with too much information, bless him. but me and his— much information, bless him. but me and his mum — much information, bless him. but me and his mum had calmed him down and we have _ and his mum had calmed him down and we have had _ and his mum had calmed him down and we have had to, facetime and then gone _ we have had to, facetime and then gone off— we have had to, facetime and then gone off and cried together. it has been _ gone off and cried together. it has been stressful.— been stressful. jordan, i know you were probably _ been stressful. jordan, i know you were probably in _ been stressful. jordan, i know you were probably in a _ been stressful. jordan, i know you were probably in a bad _ been stressful. jordan, i know you were probably in a bad way, - been stressful. jordan, i know you were probably in a bad way, even| been stressful. jordan, i know you i were probably in a bad way, even on the day when you were going to do it, and you were a bit concerned that either you could get down on one date, or if you did, you wouldn't be able to get back up again —— down on one knee. yes. wouldn't be able to get back up again -- down on one knee. yes, the day before — again -- down on one knee. yes, the day before i— again -- down on one knee. yes, the day before i had _ again -- down on one knee. yes, the day before i had the _ again -- down on one knee. yes, the day before i had the physio _ again -- down on one knee. yes, the day before i had the physio in - day before i had the physio in helping mejust practising getting down on one knee. they said, you don't have to get down on one knee, i said, if i'm going to do it, i'm going to do it properly and i was so determined, but the day after i was straight down and within five minutes of messing about i was straight down on one knee and i did it. . ~ ., , ., , , straight down on one knee and i did it. . ~ it. excellent. and obviously beth said es. it. excellent. and obviously beth said yes. quick _ it. excellent. and obviously beth said yes. quick word. _ it. excellent. and obviously beth said yes. quick word. when - it. excellent. and obviously beth said yes. quick word. when is i it. excellent. and obviously bethl said yes. quick word. when is the wedding? said yes. quick word. when is the weddini ? 2, g said yes. quick word. when is the weddini ? ., . :: said yes. quick word. when is the weddini ? 2, g :: ,., wedding? 22nd ofjune 2022, so we ho he it will wedding? 22nd ofjune 2022, so we hope it will be _ wedding? 22nd ofjune 2022, so we hope it will be a _ wedding? 22nd ofjune 2022, so we hope it will be a lovely _ wedding? 22nd ofjune 2022, so we hope it will be a lovely wedding, i hope it will be a lovely wedding, that's what we want. zzhd hope it will be a lovely wedding, that's what we want.— hope it will be a lovely wedding, that's what we want. 22nd of the sixth, that's what we want. 22nd of the sixth. 22. — that's what we want. 22nd of the sixth. 22. a — that's what we want. 22nd of the sixth, 22, a good _ that's what we want. 22nd of the sixth, 22, a good collection - that's what we want. 22nd of the sixth, 22, a good collection of i sixth, 22, a good collection of numbers. congratulations to you both. and good luck. it will be fabulous. it will be good. like you so much. thank— fabulous. it will be good. like you so much. thank you. _ fabulous. it will be good. like you so much. thank you. matt - fabulous. it will be good. like you so much. thank you. matt has - fabulous. it will be good. like you i so much. thank you. matt has been lookint at so much. thank you. matt has been looking at the _ so much. thank you. matt has been looking at the detail _ so much. thank you. matt has been looking at the detail of _ so much. thank you. matt has been looking at the detail of the - looking at the detail of the weather. i was noticing a moment ago, looking out the window here, it is bright sunshine in manchester this morning, by way of stark contrast to the extreme conditions of the last 24 hours. i have just been looking from the rooftop camera and the sunshine is there as well.— there as well. proof that after the rain clouds _ there as well. proof that after the rain clouds there _ there as well. proof that after the rain clouds there will— there as well. proof that after the rain clouds there will be - there as well. proof that after the rain clouds there will be some - rain clouds there will be some sunshine and bear that in mind for everything in life at the moment, but lots of rain clouds this week and this is some of the total from the environment agency and met office rain gauges and the wettest was across snowdonia and across parts of yorkshire and england we have seen about a months worth of rainfall in the space ofjust two days, so understandable why rivers are in a swollen state and there are still five severe flood warnings in force across england and wales, danger to life. there are over 230 general flood warnings as well and they will change and fluctuate through the day as all that water continues to flow downstream. not just that, some of us waking up to sunshine but plenty of snow, lots of snow through the night across parts of northern and eastern scotland. still falling in the north—east and being blown around by strong winds and blizzards in the grampians, heavy rain around the coast, so this will be the risk of fresh flooding through the day and elsewhere, not as bad as it has been, but plenty of showers across parts of northern ireland, western scotland and northern england and north wales and some of those will be a mixture of sleet and snow. you are showers across the south compared to this morning but more persistent rain in the channel islands and wherever you are it will be a blustery and cold day with wins strongest towards the east of the country, and a touch of severe gale force at time and that will have impact on the temperature and for up to 9 degrees but it will feel freezing for some of you if not below, particularly across scotland and northern england. an added windshield which will remain across the northern half of the country with further wintry showers —— wind chill. showers in northern ireland, north—west england, clear conditions in the south and east under sunny day for many across england and wales after frosty and ic start, few showers in the north and west but better than what we have had before —— frosty and icy. by by the way i enjoyed that little prophetic analogy you had with the weather and life and the sunshine coming out. i thought that was very astute. 2, 2. coming out. i thought that was very astute. ., ., ., astute. you have to find it where ou can, astute. you have to find it where you can. and _ astute. you have to find it where you can. and it— astute. you have to find it where you can, and it is— astute. you have to find it where you can, and it is there, - astute. you have to find it where you can, and it is there, and - astute. you have to find it where you can, and it is there, and it. you can, and it is there, and it will come. you can, and it is there, and it will come-— you can, and it is there, and it willcome. ., ., ., ., ., will come. you are a word of calm amont will come. you are a word of calm among the _ will come. you are a word of calm among the crazy _ will come. you are a word of calm among the crazy weather - will come. you are a word of calm among the crazy weather and - will come. you are a word of calm - among the crazy weather and madness. thank you, matt. fancy that. whether it was the drama �*queer as folk�* or the revival of doctor who, screenwriter russell t davies has been behind some of tv�*s most ground—breaking shows over the past thirty yea rs. russell's new project �*it�*s a sin' takes on a subject he's been thinking about for decades — the way in which the aids epidemic emerged in the 1980s. let's take a look. 0h oh my god, it is on. ritchie! it is a deadly disease _ oh my god, it is on. ritchie! it is a deadly disease and _ oh my god, it is on. ritchie! it is a deadly disease and there - oh my god, it is on. ritchie! it is a deadly disease and there is - oh my god, it is on. ritchie! it is a deadly disease and there is no| a deadly disease and there is no known _ a deadly disease and there is no known cure. is a deadly disease and there is no known cure-— a deadly disease and there is no known cure._ it| a deadly disease and there is no i known cure._ it can known cure. is that the bbc? it can be tassed known cure. is that the bbc? it can be passed during _ known cure. is that the bbc? it can be passed during sexual— known cure. is that the bbc? it can | be passed during sexual intercourse with an _ be passed during sexual intercourse with an infected person. anyone can get it. _ with an infected person. anyone can get it. man — with an infected person. anyone can get it, man or woman. so far it has been _ get it, man or woman. so far it has been confined to small groups, but it is spreading. so. been confined to small groups, but it is spreading-— it is spreading. so, protect yourself- — it is spreading. so, protect yourself- my _ it is spreading. so, protect yourself. my mother - it is spreading. so, protect yourself. my mother is - it is spreading. so, protect - yourself. my mother is watching this. �* 2. yourself. my mother is watching this. �* ., ., , ., this. and read of this leaflet when it arrives. if— this. and read of this leaflet when it arrives. if you _ this. and read of this leaflet when it arrives. if you ignore _ this. and read of this leaflet when it arrives. if you ignore it, - this. and read of this leaflet when it arrives. if you ignore it, it - it arrives. if you ignore it, it could — it arrives. if you ignore it, it could be _ it arrives. if you ignore it, it could be the death of you, so don't die of— could be the death of you, so don't die of ignorance. russell t davies joins us now. very good morning. how are you? very well thank you and good morning both, hello. well thank you and good morning both. hello-— both, hello. that clip we 'ust saw ofthe both, hello. that clip we 'ust saw of the advert. * both, hello. that clip we 'ust saw of the advert, i'm h both, hello. that clip we 'ust saw of the advert, i'm of _ both, hello. that clip we 'ust saw of the advert, i'm of a _ both, hello. that clip we just saw of the advert, i'm of a very - both, hello. that clip we just sawl of the advert, i'm of a very similar age to you and i remember so vividly, and lots of our viewers will be thinking, i remember sitting at home and that coming on and the impact it had. it really was a moment in time, wasn't it? absolutely. some people say the advert was too strong and terrified an entire generation away from sex, but you could say we could do with a campaign like that now. it's certainly a very strong statement, and the bbc and itv, that was shown to announce the dangers of the hiv virus, so an incredible time in history. virus, so an incredible time in histo . �* virus, so an incredible time in histo . . virus, so an incredible time in histo .�* ., ., ., ., , history. and your new drama follows a number of — history. and your new drama follows a number of characters, _ history. and your new drama follows a number of characters, young - history. and your new drama followsj a number of characters, young men, 18—year—olds, coming from different parts of the uk and it follows them as we start off with a joyous journey in some respects, they are young, coming alive in one way are another but we all know there is something coming and we get a sense of that right from the beginning. that is it. they are 1981, they are 18, they get a flat together, the fun and joy of the parties on the hangovers and the actual series is five episodes and goes from 1981 to 1991 and over those ten years you see them coming of age and coming out and falling in love and out of love, but all the time this fire risk which we first spoke about in 1981, the first sign on the horizon —— this virus. and it gets closer and closer and bigger and bigger, so it is their life under the shadow of this thing and how they cope with it and how they survive. i hope it is a very strong and optimistic series as well as being honest about the darkness of the time. it is “oyful. we have spoken �* darkness of the time. it is “oyful. we have spoken already _ darkness of the time. it is joyful. we have spoken already about i darkness of the time. it is joyful. i we have spoken already about this, russell, but i binge watched it in five episodes so i was lucky enough to get a preview, and it is about denial as well, and it's about coping comments about friendship, love and support and fear, notjust from those exposed to it but family members who are exposed to it and i would be really interested for you to tell us why this was so important for you to write, because you saw this with friends who were abandoned and families who struggled. i fit this a t e. and families who struggled. i fit this age- i _ and families who struggled. i fit this age. i was _ and families who struggled. i fit this age. i was 18 in 1981 and i lived through that decade. i didn't lived through that decade. i didn't live in london but i had friends who lived there and they moved into a flat together, but i went up to manchester and was there and that is a big city, so i saw these things happening and we lost friends and part of the reason i was determined to write this was to remember them, not just to write this was to remember them, notjust remember them in tears, but to celebrate the lives that they lived on the joy that i think of when the friends i have lost. i don't think of them at the end of their life, i think of laughing at somebody�*s 30th birthday party or the great nights we had and those with memories i wanted to capture. it is about family, and episode five, that is a top piece of work, it is hard to watch. == five, that is a top piece of work, it is hard to watch.— five, that is a top piece of work, it is hard to watch. -- tough piece of work. it is hard to watch. -- tough piece of work- you _ it is hard to watch. -- tough piece of work. you are _ it is hard to watch. -- tough piece of work. you are also _ it is hard to watch. -- tough piece of work. you are also thinking - it is hard to watch. -- tough piece i of work. you are also thinking about when someone is left in the wards and abandoned by family, rejected by family, and it is easy to cast aspersions on that family but that was something that was very confusing and frightening time. there were men who did not dare tell their parents that they were dying. i am very aware that the virus does not only affect men, but for the purposes of this drama it is about the gay male community and people were ashamed and parents buried their children saying they died of cancer because they didn't say it was because of aids, and i don't blame the families, because the grief, the lack of information but some of that misinformation lives on for decades and some of the deaths are misreported. the one good thing about the coronaviruses we can sit and talk about it and we have the government broadcasting about it and we can talk on here about it, but back then there was just silence, no internet, no mobiles, no information and silence creates shame, which creates lies, which creates more debts. i creates lies, which creates more debts. ., �* ,, ., , debts. i don't know whether it is appropriate _ debts. i don't know whether it is appropriate given _ debts. i don't know whether it is appropriate given the _ debts. i don't know whether it is i appropriate given the seriousness debts. i don't know whether it is - appropriate given the seriousness of the subject matter, but one thing i absolutely loved, the music, it is an extravaganza of early 80s music, because you have gone to town on the soundtrack, and the detail about the bars and the clubs and what people were wearing. it is a delight in that respect. i were wearing. it is a delight in that respect-— were wearing. it is a delight in that res-ect. . , 2, mi that respect. i want people to take delitht in that respect. i want people to take delight in it- _ that respect. i want people to take delight in it- i— that respect. i want people to take delight in it. i want _ that respect. i want people to take delight in it. i want lives _ that respect. i want people to take delight in it. i want lives to - that respect. i want people to take delight in it. i want lives to be - delight in it. i want lives to be remembered with a smile on your face and joy. remembered with a smile on your face andjoy. it remembered with a smile on your face and joy. it is an enormous team around me of designers and props people and make up artists and costume designers making it all look so brilliant. tracy's hair is a work of architecture in this. a masterpiece.— of architecture in this. a masterpiece. of architecture in this. a master-iece. 2, . masterpiece. on the wider notes, writers like _ masterpiece. on the wider notes, writers like you, _ masterpiece. on the wider notes, writers like you, you _ masterpiece. on the wider notes, writers like you, you absorb - masterpiece. on the wider notes, writers like you, you absorb stuff| writers like you, you absorb stuff all the time, you are like sponges, whatever you go, wherever you are going, you are watching and listening and that is where a lot of your stuff comes from but at the moment i assume it is not like that. what is it like for you at the moment?— what is it like for you at the moment? , �* ., moment? because i'm a writer everybody — moment? because i'm a writer everybody says. _ moment? because i'm a writer everybody says, what - moment? because i'm a writer everybody says, what do - moment? because i'm a writer everybody says, what do you i moment? because i'm a writer - everybody says, what do you make of the pandemic and my great big answer is, i don't know. we all think about it a lot and dramas will be written about it but i'm not rushing to any conclusions. i think we will live with the memories and consequences of this for decades, for the rest of our lives. this is history. we will always speak about this. i am glad i am not rushing to write a thriller called lockdown, somebody robs a bank when the streets are empty and someone will prop you make a fortune on it but having written about hiv i am writing about something 30 or 40 years later that is still taking its toll on families and haunting our memories. so a long story. did you ex-ect memories. so a long story. did you expect the — memories. so a long story. did you expect the discussion _ memories. so a long story. did you expect the discussion around - memories. so a long story. did you expect the discussion around your. expect the discussion around your comments, when you do the rounds of the media, about this. you know what i'm going to ask you, the comments he made about gay actors being given 93)’ he made about gay actors being given gay roles to play gay people rather than straight actors playing gay parts, and there is also the flip side of that, that if you believe thatis side of that, that if you believe that is the case, should gay actors not be playing heterosexual parts? do you want to give me the point of where you are coming from with this? it's a new way of casting. i have to say i'm not in charge. but it's a new way of casting. i have to say i'm not in charge.— say i'm not in charge. but you do have influence. _ say i'm not in charge. but you do have influence. that _ say i'm not in charge. but you do have influence. that is _ say i'm not in charge. but you do have influence. that is true - say i'm not in charge. but you do have influence. that is true and i j have influence. that is true and i ho he have influence. that is true and i ho -e m have influence. that is true and i hope my influence _ have influence. that is true and i hope my influence spreads - have influence. that is true and i hope my influence spreads but i | have influence. that is true and i - hope my influence spreads but i know in media city there will be 100 shows casted this morning that don't have to pay any attention to me and i've done it on the show, come and watch it. i think there is a lovely energy and newness to it, and if thatis energy and newness to it, and if that is the future, that is great. if it doesn't work, we will move on, but it is myjob to find new ways to make things and say things and not just repeat what i've done in the past. i have cast a straight actors and gay parts brilliantly and they have been the making of my career and i am so grateful to those people who do it. straight actors in gay parts are still very brave if they walk into the wrong pub on the wrong night in the middle of a football match, good luck to them if some lads say, it is you off the telly. that work allows me to move on and go to new places which we should always be doing. fine go to new places which we should always be doing.— go to new places which we should always be doing. one last thought. when people _ always be doing. one last thought. when people watch _ always be doing. one last thought. when people watch the _ always be doing. one last thought. | when people watch the programme always be doing. one last thought. - when people watch the programme and i hope they do, because it is a really, really well made one, they will inevitably ask, are any of the characters you?— will inevitably ask, are any of the characters you? well, yes, there is a little welsh _ characters you? well, yes, there is a little welsh lad — characters you? well, yes, there is a little welsh lad in _ characters you? well, yes, there is a little welsh lad in it. _ characters you? well, yes, there is a little welsh lad in it. they - characters you? well, yes, there is a little welsh lad in it. they are - a little welsh lad in it. they are all me and they are all really hundreds of friends of mine. they are a great big jigsaw. every line was said by somebody in my life somewhere, somehow, and that is what i wanted to do, create a memory and bring those people back to life. they are brilliant friends. you know those gay, funny friends of yours, they are hilarious and bringing them back to life and filling them with partisan one—liners and colours and sex lives is an honour —— parties and one—liners. it’s sex lives is an honour -- parties and one-liners.— and one-liners. it's been lovely talkint and one-liners. it's been lovely talking to _ and one-liners. it's been lovely talking to you. _ and one-liners. it's been lovely talking to you. and _ and one-liners. it's been lovely talking to you. and as - and one-liners. it's been lovely talking to you. and as always, i and one-liners. it's been lovely i talking to you. and as always, nice to see you. take care. it's a sin begins on channel 4 tomorrow at 9pm and will then be available on all4. you're watching bbc breakfast. it's 8.59. this is bbc news with the latest headlines. getting to work — president biden starts by reversing a number of his predecessor's key policies and signs more than a dozen executive orders. i have never been more optimistic about america than i am this very day. there isn't anything we can't do, if we do it together. a televised concert with a string of celebrities and a fireworks display over the capitol rounded off the inauguration day of america's 46th president. in others news, coronavirus infection rates may have risen in england since the beginning of the lockdown, according to a study tracking the spread of the virus. the vaccination rollout continues with another 65 centres opening across england, as more over—70s start to receive theirjabs.