Steven mcrae, welcome to hardtalk. We re here at the royal ballet and opera in london, which has been your professional home for many years now, and you re about to go back on stage as the mad hatter in alice s adventures in wonderland. Tell me first how this adventure began for you, the world of ballet. Because you grew up far away from here. Yes. So i grew up in the outskirts of sydney, australia. Probably the furthest you could possibly get from the royal opera house here in london. I grew up in a motorsport family. My father was a drag racer. My father was an incredibly clever man who would create any parts with his own bare hands that he couldn t afford to purchase or to import. But i obviously grew up watching him pursue a passion. My sister did a lot of gymnastics, a bit of dancing, and as a seven year old, i asked my father if i could have a go. I wanted to go to a dance lesson, and my mother and father didn t even question any of it. Bearing in mind we didn t go to the theatre
Senior international correspondent has the latest from beirut. Israel waging war from the air in Southern Lebanon today. But there are growing signals that its planning a ground war, perhaps within hours. In beirut, israel has struck near the heart of the city, killing three palestinian militant leaders in this Apartment Block overnight. This attack marks a new moment. Were in the centre of the city here. The area is densely populated. Usually, these streets are full. Theres a major university just around the corner. The War Isnt confined to the hezbollah suburbs now, its right here and all the signs point to escalation. Hezbollah said today there could be a long war, in its first public address since israel killed its leader, hassan nasrallah, on friday. The armed Groups Number two, sheikh naim qassem, said hezbollah i pulled my cousin, his brother and his Sister In Law from the rubble, says mahmoud barakat. He asks god to bring destruction on israel. There was funeral after funeral t
Displaced israelis to return to their homes in the north. Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief of hezbollah, naim qaissem, said the groups fighters are ready to confront an invasion. He acknowledged that the assassination of leader Hassan Nasrallah was a big blow, but said all fallen commanders would soon be replaced. President Joe Biden maintained his call for an end to fighting. Weve also heard from the us department of defense. Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh spoke to the bbc about the conflict in the last hour. What theyre doing along the northern border is conducting limited operations to dismantle hezbollah infrastructure, but again its really for the israelis to speak to in their own operations. What the secretary continues to urge for is to seek a diplomatic solution. We certainly want to see regional tensions cool, we want to see. We see the best path forward is through diplomatic means, and so that is what we are continuing to push for. Officials in lebanon say more than
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav gallant said the military is prepared to use forces from the air, Land And Sea to allow thousands of displaced israelis to return to their homes in the north. Mr gallant also said the next phase of the war against Lebanons Hezbollah will begin soon and that the killing of hezbollah S Leader was not the final step. Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief of hezbollah, naim qaissem, said the groups fighters are ready to confront an invasion. He acknowledged that Hassan Nasrallah s assassination was a big blow but said all fallen commanders would soon be replaced. We are hearing the British Government has chartered a flight for vulnerable british citizens. Presidentjoe biden maintained his call for an end to fighting. Weve also heard from the us department of defense. Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh spoke to the bbc about the conflict in the last hour. What doing along the Northern Border is conducting limited operations to dismantle Hezbollah Infrastructur
Scheme to redress victims of the Post Office gamble. I will explain why. And an unbelievable double save rescued arsenal in the Champions League. The goalkeeper manages to save a penalty but then scampers across to save the rebound. I was across to save the rebound. I was Alwa S across to save the rebound. I was always singing across to save the rebound. I was always singing through across to save the rebound. I was always singing through the always singing through the corridors. Always singing through the corridors always singing through the corridors. ,. , corridors. And we sit down with former manchester corridors. And we sit down with former Manchester United corridors. And we sit down with former Manchester United boss corridors. And we sit down with former Manchester United Boss Alex Ferguson who has created the soundtrack to his life as part of a dementia project. With the Autumn Equinox just around the corner, the weather is feeling decidedly less like summer. There are storms