more than 4.5 million people were waiting to begin hospital treatment in england at the end january, that s the highest number since records began in 2007. the royal college of surgeons has called the situation to turn things around. here s our health editor, hugh pym. hospital wards devoted to covid. the surge in numbers over the last two months led to widespread cancellations of less urgent types of care, and there s still a backlog from last year s first covid peak. today s figures highlight again the scale of the problem. charmaine has severe arthritis, and last year was hoping to have a knee replacement. she was told in november she d have to wait another 12 months. she s currently out of work and the task of finding a newjob keeps getting harder. i hate not being able to work. how do i say to a new employer, thanks for thejob, but maybe in a couple of months, i might need three months off for a knee replacement. patient waits for non urgent care have increased around t
you shrewd and knavish sprite. and virtual shakespeare using the latest technology to get audiences back into theatre. coming up on sportsday later in the hour on bbc news, a year on from the last match to take place in front of a full house, we look at the tragic impact of that game at anfield. good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. prince william has made his first public comments since the interview with the duke and duchess of sussex was broadcast four days ago, saying the royals are very much not a racist family . the duke of cambridge also revealed he had not yet spoken to his brother, but said he would do so. in the interview, meghan and prince harry said a member of the royal family had expressed concern over how dark their son archie s skin might be. our royal correspondent nicholas witchell reports. it is an allegation which strikes at the very core of an institution, the purpose of which is to unify. the suggestion by the sussexes in the oprah winfre
china s communist party rules only pro beijing candidates will be able to stand for hong kong s parliament. and £50 million at auction for a digital artwork that doesn t physically exist. and coming up in sport on bbc news, amad diallo scores his first manchester united goal, but a late equaliser for ac milan leaves the round of 16 europa league tie evenly poised. good evening. the family of sarah everard has tonight paid tribute to her, saying she brought so muchjoy to their lives, and that she was a strong and principled person who was a shining example to all. the 33 year old was last seen over a week ago, walking home from a friend s house in clapham in south london. today, police continued searching woodland in ashford in kent, where human remains have been found. a serving officer in the metropolitan police, arrested on suspicion of ms everard s murder, remains in custody. earlier today he was taken to hospital, after suffering from head injuries. our special corre
Credit cards are ticking time bombs. The i says corbyn will pledge £3 billion to education, reversing conservative pledges. Plans to make social media forms responsible for digital crimes. The Daily Express focuses on the foreign aid budget, £15 million is funding anti smoking campaigns in some of the worlds most corrupt countries. The guardian leads on theresa mays comments on tax, saying the Prime Minister has signalled a rise in National Insurance and income taxed after pledging not to increase vat. The times has a similar lead t5535; a similar lead frame online iii considering |e iii considering tax content. The mail is considering tax brea ks content. The mail is considering tax breaks for elderly relatives the mail says theresa may is considering. And the sun says anthonyjoshuas not forgotten the bill at his local launderette after his stunning victory. It wont change him, it is like lottery winners, they always say that. The guardian, we will begin q whats i 9553. 5 fi§ §14