of those victims and their families. raf scampton, once home to the dambusters and the red arrows, can house 2000 asylum seekers after the local council loses its high court battle. why golf�*s biggest hitters are going to be reined in by new balls under rulesjust announced. and guess who? we have a wonderful interview marking a glittering career with a star of stage and screen. and coming up on bbc news — a busy evening of premier league action ahead, as manchester to take on aston villa, hoping to close the gap at the top. good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. borisjohnson has apologised at the covid inquiry for the way the government handled the pandemic,

saying it had underestimated the challenge. during around six hours of evidence he admitted that he should have twigged sooner how serious the situation was and said he was sorry for the pain and loss and suffering of victims and families. at one point some campaigners interupted the hearing holding signs that read "the dead can't hear your apologies". much of today focused on the start of the pandemic and the timing of covid measures. italy was the first country in the world to announce nationwide lockdown measures on the 9th march. the uk didn't follow suit until a fortnight later. that first lockdown stayed in place untiljune. borisjohnson put england into a second full lockdown in november, ss well as a third full lockdown in january. 0ur deputy political editor, vicki young, sent this report. a lot has been said by a lot of people about borisjohnson�*s time in number ten.

he was confronted by the biggest challenge to face a prime minister in peacetime, notjust a health crisis, but an economic one as well. he's been accused of acting too late and of lying about what went on here. ..to tell the truth and nothing but the truth. this was mrjohnson�*s chance to give his side of the story and he began with an apology. can ijust say how glad i am to be here at this inquiry and how sorry i am for the pain and the loss and the suffering... sit down. ..of the covid victims. please, sit down. right, ushers, please could you ask them to leave. these were the four women thrown out for interrupting. they said they'd never accept mrjohnson�*s apology. 11 municipalities in italy... back inside questions about february 2020. coronavirus had spread to italy and the cabinet had discussed what plans were in place here.

i look at all this stuff in which we seemed so oblivious with horror now, we should have twigged, we should have collectively twigged much sooner, i should have twigged. when the seriousness of the virus was understood it led to this, lockdown. several former colleagues described mrjohnson as indecisive. he says he was weighing up all the options. i've got the chancellor of the exchequer with me saying that there is a risk to the uk bond markets and our ability to raise sovereign debt. this matters massively to people in this country. i have to go through the arguments and that is what i was doing. did you consider the arguments against lockdown? i'm afraid to say at that stage i gave it pretty short shrift because i thought that myjob was to protect human life. i had no other, i had no other tool,

literally nothing else. there were some uncomfortable questions about the culture in number ten. former chief adviser dominic cummings wrote sweary messages criticising colleagues, including his boss. i knew that some people were difficult, i didn't know how difficult they were, clearly, but i thought it was better on the whole for the country to have a disputatious culture in number ten rather than one that was quietly acquiescent. that was a positive spin on a workplace atmosphere many described as toxic. borisjohnson seemed emotional as he reflected on the first year of the pandemic. we have to be realistic about 2020, the whole year, the whole tragic, tragic year... we did lockdown... ..but then it bounced back after we had unlocked.

plenty of people still blame boris johnson for the country's high death toll for not acting soon enough. today he tried to give a sense of the dilemmas he faced as he wrestled with the enormous consequences of lockdown. another politician who has faced a lot of criticism is the former health secretary matt hancock. today borisjohnson said he did consider sacking him but in the end he decided he was working hard, he was intellectually able, a good communicator and that moving him in the middle of a pandemic would not be in the country was my interest. today mrjohnson has admitted mistakes were made, but he says it was a collective failure, official, politicians and scientists all underestimating how serious covid wars. tomorrow mrjohnson will return to give further evidence. vicky, thank you. there were families and campaigners inside and outside the inquiry today. what did they make of

borisjohnson�*s evidence? 0ur health editor, hugh pym, has been hearing from some of them. i have cognitive issues, i find it difficult to walk very far without having to rest or i collapse, but today is so important. i've come from south london today. i am here primarily for my dad. jean and anthony, both at the inquiry today, have lost so much in different ways because of covid—i9. jean's father died in april 2020 in a care home after getting the virus. anthony was a war correspondent but now because of long covid every day is a struggle. he can no longer work. outside the inquiry they met others who have lost loved ones or suffered with the lasting consequences of the virus. there is no doubt this is a highly significant day for campaigners, but there will be more to come when the inquiry in its later stages looks in more detail at the response of the nhs in the covid crisis and what happens in care homes.

and what happened in care homes. boris johnson: the scene from italy really rattled me. ata distancejim, who is a consultant, is watching the inquiry on a break from his hospital shift. if we look at our icu, there are two non—corona patients... working in intensive care in the first wave of covid he had to help manage the surge of seriously ill patients. listening to borisjohnson, that period, you know, from my perspective we were desperate for a lockdown. we were terrified that we were going to be overrun with patients and we would be put in the most awful, ethical situation. was it matt hancock last week? having heard borisjohnson, jean was sceptical of the explanations of decisions on lockdown. he made reference to the scientists quite a few times, well, they didn't say anything. behavioural fatigue and bounce back and that is why they delayed locking down, so it's almost pushing the blame on to the scientists and absolving

himself of that responsibility as prime minister to make those decisions. anthony and his wife are both living with the continuing symptoms of long covid. it has taken everything we hold dear us from us. we have lost everything, we exist now on benefits for all of our income. so what did he make of borisjohnson�*s apology? they are words, aren't they? it makes a headline, boris says sorry, but what does it change? jean will be coming back when rishi sunak gives evidence. for anthony the physical effort of getting there may be too much. hugh pym, bbc news. the government has tonight published emergency legislation which it hopes will mean its new deal to send some asylum seekers to rwanda

can finally take off. it's hoped the safety of rwanda bill will overcome a supreme court ruling that blocked plans to send thousands of illegal migrants to rwanda. the former home secretary suella braverman has told the house of commons that the conservative party faces being wiped out at the next election if it introduces emergency rwanda legislation which is "destined to fail". 0ur political correspondent, leila nathoo, joins us now. explain the latest developments for us tonight. explain the latest developments for us toniaht. ., ,, . ., , explain the latest developments for ustoniaht. ., ,, . ., , us tonight. home secretary james cleverly has _ us tonight. home secretary james cleverly has just _ us tonight. home secretary james cleverly has just got _ us tonight. home secretary james cleverly hasjust got up _ us tonight. home secretary james cleverly hasjust got up on - us tonight. home secretary james cleverly hasjust got up on his - us tonight. home secretary james | cleverly hasjust got up on his fate cleverly has just got up on his fate in the commons making a statement about this new legislation which we have seen a draft. it tries to declare rwanda a safe country and it says parliament should be the judge of that. the supreme court a few weeks ago ruled the policy unlawful on the basis of that. the legislation says certain sections of the human rights act will not apply to it, this is to try to stop the uk

courts from declaring this plan unlawful. there is a provision in there therefore certain individuals to apply for an appeal against removal but the government has tried to limit this way through this legislation. it stops short of this applying the european convention on human rights, that is something many tory mps on the right of the party want to see, but it says ministers can decide whether to comply with ruling from the european court in strasbourg. the government thinks it has gone as far as it can with this legislation in trying to give the rwanda policy a solid legal ground, declaring rwanda save and try to stop appeal is being launched against removal. they also have to strike a balance between what different parts of the tory party once and those who want to disregard human rights regulations entirely and those who think that would be unacceptable. it looks like though they have leaned towards the right of the party, but we have heard from allies of the former home secretary,

suella braverman, who have stood up in parliament to say this is a do or die issue for the tory party, and she wanted to see five tests met in this legislation and she is already letting it be known that what she has seen so far does not meet those tests. it looks as though the government has failed to satisfy her at least. we will have to see more broadly how it is received in the tory party, but this bill has to get through the commons and lords. rishi sunak desperately wants these flights to take off before the next election and time running out. council bosses have lost a high court battle to stop the government housing asylum seekers at a famous disused raf base in lincolnshire. raf scampton was home to the dambusters during world war two and more recently the red arrows. the government wants to put up to 2,000 asylum seekers at scampton because it's cheaper than housing them in hotels. from lincolnshire, mairead smyth reports. judgment day for raf scampton near

lincoln. with the red —— where the red arrows once took to the sky, this former base will now be home for asylum seekers. if this former base will now be home for asylum seekers.— this former base will now be home for asylum seekers. if they have to no for asylum seekers. if they have to go somewhere. — for asylum seekers. if they have to go somewhere, then _ for asylum seekers. if they have to go somewhere, then they - for asylum seekers. if they have to go somewhere, then they should l for asylum seekers. if they have to l go somewhere, then they should go for asylum seekers. if they have to - go somewhere, then they should go to somewhere more appropriate, this site is not, there is too much history and heritage here. we have not history and heritage here. we have got millions _ history and heritage here. we have got millions of— history and heritage here. we have got millions of homeless _ history and heritage here. we have got millions of homeless people i history and heritage here. we have got millions of homeless people in | got millions of homeless people in this country and sort them out first — this country and sort them out first. ~ ., ., ., , ., , first. we have got a small community and we are going _ first. we have got a small community and we are going to _ first. we have got a small community and we are going to be _ first. we have got a small community and we are going to be outnumbered| and we are going to be outnumbered three _ and we are going to be outnumbered three to _ and we are going to be outnumbered three t015_ and we are going to be outnumbered three to 15 men _ and we are going to be outnumbered three to 15 men. in _ and we are going to be outnumbered three to 15 men.— three to 15 men. in effect, today's rives three to 15 men. in effect, today's lives the three to 15 men. in effect, today's gives the government _ three to 15 men. in effect, today's gives the government to - three to 15 men. in effect, today's gives the government to grant - gives the government to grant planning permission for a year. 0nce home to the dambusters in world war ii and more recently the red arrows, this site will now be home to up to 2000 asylum seekers and it is not just this site is affected by today's decision. mdp wethersfield in essex will also be home to 1700 asylum seekers. people living nearby also fear the plan will threaten

private investment. it is also fear the plan will threaten private investment.— private investment. it is about predominantly _ private investment. it is about predominantly predicting - private investment. it is about predominantly predicting the i private investment. it is about - predominantly predicting the history and heritage of scampton because it means so much to so many people, but also fighting for the £300 million investment that was due to happen here because we are at serious risk of losing that. here because we are at serious risk of losing that-— here because we are at serious risk of losing that. asylum seekers could arrive here in _ of losing that. asylum seekers could arrive here in the _ of losing that. asylum seekers could arrive here in the coming _ of losing that. asylum seekers could arrive here in the coming weeks. - of losing that. asylum seekers could | arrive here in the coming weeks. the home office says it is working with local councils to manage the impact. for sarah the fight will continue. people living here do feel vulnerable with the proposed asylum accommodation is, but i am disappointed, but upset, but it doesn't mean the fight is over. the government has stopped short of giving hillsborough campaigners the law they want as it finally published its response to a report about the hillsborough disaster. 97 liverpool fans died following a crush in 1989 in what was britain's worst sporting tragedy. the government admitted its response to the report produced six

years ago took too long. but it won't introduce one of the key recommendations — a so called hillsborough law, which would have forced all public servants to co—operate with inquiries. judith moritz reports. this is not the scene we wanted to see on semifinal day. hillsborough is a disaster— see on semifinal day. hillsborough is a disaster which _ see on semifinal day. hillsborough is a disaster which is _ see on semifinal day. hillsborough is a disaster which is still- see on semifinal day. hillsborough is a disaster which is still going - is a disaster which is still going on, 35 years after the crash which claimed 97 lives. as survivors and families of those who died, they will tell you they continue to feel let down. the former bishop of liverpool, james jones, let down. the former bishop of liverpool, jamesjones, wrote a report about their experiences six years ago. today the government published its response, butjenny, debbie and diana, who lost relatives at hillsborough, say it's too little, too late. it at hillsborough, say it's too little, too late.— at hillsborough, say it's too little, too late. it doesn't go far enou . h. little, too late. it doesn't go far enough. there _ little, too late. it doesn't go far enough. there are _ little, too late. it doesn't go far enough. there are too - little, too late. it doesn't go far enough. there are too many . enough. there are too many recommendations, too many consultations still to come and not

enough legal statutory duty. to me, it's like, gosh, we are getting criticised about not having the response and the length of time is taken and they've copied it together. it taken and they've copied it together-— taken and they've copied it touether. , ., , , ., together. it needs to be statute law. a together. it needs to be statute law- a duty _ together. it needs to be statute law- a duty of _ together. it needs to be statute law. a duty of candour - together. it needs to be statute law. a duty of candour with - together. it needs to be statute law. a duty of candour with the | law. a duty of candour with the police, — law. a duty of candour with the police, is — law. a duty of candour with the police, is notjust the police, it's everybodx — police, is not 'ust the police, it's everybody._ everybody. i've lost count of the number of _ everybody. i've lost count of the number of home _ everybody. i've lost count of the number of home secretaries - everybody. i've lost count of the | number of home secretaries that everybody. i've lost count of the - number of home secretaries that have been across this and between all of them, this the best they can come up with some if hillsborough happened again tomorrow, families involved would have to go through exactly the same thing we have, so they have failed. ., ., , �* failed. the government hasn't endorsed a — failed. the government hasn't endorsed a hillsborough - failed. the government hasn't endorsed a hillsborough law, | failed. the government hasn't - endorsed a hillsborough law, which would make it illegalfor all endorsed a hillsborough law, which would make it illegal for all public officials to withhold information, arguing elements of the legislation already exist. it says it will consult on improving financial support forfamilies' legal consult on improving financial support for families' legal because and it has signed a voluntary hillsborough charter. {iii

and it has signed a voluntary hillsborough charter.- hillsborough charter. of the national police _ hillsborough charter. of the national police chiefs' - hillsborough charter. of the i national police chiefs' council, hillsborough charter. of the - national police chiefs' council, the culture policing, the crown prosecution service, the national fire chiefs council and others. we want this charter to become part of the culture of what it means to be a public servant in britain. the the culture of what it means to be a public servant in britain.— public servant in britain. the time it has taken _ public servant in britain. the time it has taken for— public servant in britain. the time it has taken for the _ public servant in britain. the time it has taken for the government i public servant in britain. the time | it has taken for the government to respond has become as much a feature of the exercise is the response itself. today minister accepted the delay has compounded the hillsborough families' agony. given that the purpose of the original report was to prevent further suffering, that might be seen as particularly unfortunate. because althou . h particularly unfortunate. because although the _ particularly unfortunate. because although the government - particularly unfortunate. because - although the government statement. of the hopes of the hillsborough of the hopes of the hillsborough families, it is a serious and substantial response to my report. i welcome the government but a sign the charterfor welcome the government but a sign the charter for those bereaved

through public tragedy. it now puts the rights of the bereaved above public authorities protecting their own reputations. the public authorities protecting their own reputations.— own reputations. the bishop has uraed own reputations. the bishop has ura ed the own reputations. the bishop has urged the government _ own reputations. the bishop has urged the government to - own reputations. the bishop hasi urged the government to extend own reputations. the bishop has i urged the government to extend its report to include a hillsborough law and bereaved families and survivors say they will continue to campaign for it is a legacy after years of struggle. our top story this evening... boris johnson apologises for the way his government handled the coronavirus pandemic. and still to come... how professionals and amateurs will be hit by the new golfball rollback. coming up on bbc news — england's women strike first against india. a 38—run victory in mumbai, inspired by dani wyatt and nat sciver—brunt, means they take the advantage in the t20 series. the un's human rights chief says palestinians are living in "utter,

deepening, horror". the un says 600,000 people are under evacuation orders in southern gaza but "there is nowhere to go". israeli warplanes have carried out more heavy bombardment across gaza. and the fighting on the ground has intensified in the south, particularly around the city of khan younis. 0ur international editor, jeremy bowen, reports now on the growing humanitarian crisis, and you may find some of the images in his report distressing. more palestinian civilians fled south towards the egyptian border after israel declared a brief pause in combat operations. almost 2 million gazans have fled their homes. israel says it is killing fewer civilians, as the us has requested. the un says no in this tiny territory is safe. this person

offers people lifts. he says he has seen casualties in the street with legs or heads blown off and nobody can reach them from the de—stream of misery entering the hospital in khan younis does not stop at neither is growing condemnation from international relief agencies of the pain and death israel is inflicting on gaza's civilians. it's one of the worst assaults on any civilian population in our time and age, according to the norwegian refugee council. as israel's forces pushed out, their leaders were checked that out, their leaders were checked that out right. but damage and death, they say, is the fault of hamas for starting this war. israel has given out video of captured weapons. it says they were found near schools and clinics, more proof, the army insists, that hamas uses civilians as human shields. injerusalem, lynn

hastings, a senior un official, said hamas attacks on israel were horrific and atrocious but now israel has obligations.- horrific and atrocious but now israel has obligations. there are allegations _ israel has obligations. there are allegations that _ israel has obligations. there are allegations that the _ israel has obligations. there are allegations that the un - israel has obligations. there are allegations that the un isn't i israel has obligations. there are l allegations that the un isn't doing enough but it's up to the government of israel to lead us to another and right now the conditions inside gaza are not permitting us to do ourjob and to deliver humanitarian assistance.— and to deliver humanitarian assistance. ,, ., , ., , assistance. should the israelis examine their _ assistance. should the israelis examine their conscience? i i assistance. should the israelis i examine their conscience? i think we should all examine _ examine their conscience? i think we should all examine our— examine their conscience? i think we should all examine our consciences l should all examine our consciences in terms what's going on in gaza, and you will have heard many people say, have we lost our humanity in this crisis? d0 say, have we lost our humanity in this crisis?— say, have we lost our humanity in this crisis? say, have we lost our humanity in i this crisis?— i this crisis? do you think we have? i think some — this crisis? do you think we have? i think some of _ this crisis? do you think we have? i think some of us _ this crisis? do you think we have? i think some of us have. _ this crisis? do you think we have? i think some of us have. i _ this crisis? do you think we have? i think some of us have. i think- this crisis? do you think we have? i think some of us have. i think the l think some of us have. i think the world is not doing enough to enter this. , ., . ., world is not doing enough to enter this. , . . ., , this. israel could enter this tomorrow- _ this. israel could enter this tomorrow. it _ this. israel could enter this tomorrow. it could - this. israel could enter this tomorrow. it could indeed. i this. israel could enter this - tomorrow. it could indeed. in gaza, another dead _ tomorrow. it could indeed. in gaza, another dead child _ tomorrow. it could indeed. in gaza, another dead child gets _ tomorrow. it could indeed. in gaza, another dead child gets a _ tomorrow. it could indeed. in gaza, another dead child gets a last i tomorrow. it could indeed. in gaza, another dead child gets a last kiss. | another dead child gets a last kiss. the bbc freelance who filled this

mass funeral reported it followed an israeli strike which killed a7, and can a 15 children. nine people are still under the rubble. israel says only force will destroy hamas and save its hostages but the americans have warned israel that fighting the war this way, killing so many civilians risks driving palestinians into the arms of hamas and, for israel, that would be a strategic defeat. the bbc�*s adnan el—bursh, who you can see here, is one of the fewjournalists left in gaza who is still reporting for an international news organisation. as israel's military campaign moves south, he's faced narrowing options and increasingly difficult decisions for his family. he's been writing about his experience for the bbc news website. life is closing in on me. this is the first time i feel completely lost. all willpower and control has been ripped from me. i'm used to keeping my family safe and secure. now i am torn by indecision.

should i go to rafah, keep working and hope my family will be ok? or should i try to get back to them, stop reporting and, if it comes to the worst, at least we die together? you can see more of adnan's story and follow the latest developments of the israel—gaza war on the bbc news website. now a look at some other stories making the news today... electric car manufacturers in the uk and eu, who were facing a 10% import tax from 1stjanuary, have won a three—year reprieve. the european commission has said it now wants a one—off extension until the end of 2026, after the car industry raised concerns. the tv executive dr samir shah is to become the new chairman of the bbc. he will replace the former goldman sachs banker richard sharp, who resigned over disclosure

about his financial links with borisjohnson. dr shah spent a decade at the bbc in the �*80s and �*90s. since then, he has been at the production companyjuniper tv, where he is chief executive. taylor swift has been named time magazine's person of the year. the 33—year—old pop star was chosen for her ability "to transcend borders and be a source of light", according to the magazine's editor. ms swift had three number—one albums this year, and her eras tour has broken multiple records since it began in march. cuttings and seeds taken from the tree at sycamore gap will be used to grow new saplings. the national trust confirmed that the seeds from the 200—year—old tree are expected to be able to grow new trees. the sycamore at hadrian's wall was a popular destination for hikers and tourists before it was cut down in september. some golfers are now hitting their balls so far that new rules have been introduced

to limit distances. from 2028, golf balls in the professional game will need to be modified so they don't travel so far — a move the sport's governing bodies say needs to happen to make the game both financially and environmentally sustainable. and it's notjust professionals who'll be affected — the new rules will affect all players across the game, as natalie pirks reports. steve a nd steve and his cousin, leon, are battling the morning mist in bromley. they've been playing together for years admit they are no tiger woods. but new rules unveiled today will affect all players, no matter their level. fin today will affect all players, no matter their level.— matter their level. on a cold, rain-soaked _ matter their level. on a cold, rain-soaked day... _ matter their level. on a cold, rain-soaked day... is - matter their level. on a cold, rain-soaked day... is back i matter their level. on a cold, rain-soaked day... is back in | matter their level. on a cold, i rain-soaked day... is back in the da , uolf rain-soaked day... is back in the day, golf courses _ rain-soaked day... is back in the day, golf courses were _ rain-soaked day... is back in the day, golf courses were designed | rain-soaked day... is back in the i day, golf courses were designed to challenge but, as golfers and technological butter, both through further. in 1980, only six

professional golfers could hit the ball 270 yards from the tee shot. this year, rory mcilroy. a record average was more than 326 yards. to keep challenging those big hitters, courses need extending but that's expensive, not to mention environmentally damaging so, after five years of grappling with these issues, the room i can say it's a case of new balls, please. it is 20 ears case of new balls, please. it is 20 years since _ case of new balls, please. it is 20 years since we — case of new balls, please. it is 20 years since we last _ case of new balls, please. it is 20 years since we last updated i case of new balls, please. it is 20 years since we last updated the i case of new balls, please. it is 20 l years since we last updated the golf ball and a lot has changed in sport and golf. ball and a lot has changed in sport and aolf. ., :: j~ , and golf. from 2028, bowls will araduall and golf. from 2028, bowls will gradually be _ and golf. from 2028, bowls will gradually be swapped _ and golf. from 2028, bowls will gradually be swapped to - and golf. from 2028, bowls will gradually be swapped to new i and golf. from 2028, bowls will. gradually be swapped to new ones which travel around 15 yards less for pros but a mere five yards less for pros but a mere five yards less for amateurs. for pros but a mere five yards less for amateurs-— for amateurs. we are nothing like b son for amateurs. we are nothing like bryson dechambeau _ for amateurs. we are nothing like bryson dechambeau or _ for amateurs. we are nothing like bryson dechambeau or rory i for amateurs. we are nothing like i bryson dechambeau or rory mcilroy, it is a good choice, because it makes golf ball realistic. not eve one makes golf ball realistic. not everyone is _ makes golf ball realistic. not everyone is happy for the ball manufacturers are miffed and some pros have called the governing body

out of touch, speaking to me on his phone, padraig harrington said he agrees with the new roles if you are at the top. — agrees with the new roles if you are at the top. you _ agrees with the new roles if you are at the top, you never— agrees with the new roles if you are at the top, you never want - agrees with the new roles if you are at the top, you never want to i at the top, you never want to change. you want to keep it where it is your winning formula. but it helps with sustainability, maintenance, safety. 50 helps with sustainability, maintenance, safety. helps with sustainability, maintenance, safe . ., , maintenance, safety. so change is cominu maintenance, safety. so change is coming no — maintenance, safety. so change is coming no matter— maintenance, safety. so change is coming no matter which _ maintenance, safety. so change is coming no matter which side i maintenance, safety. so change is coming no matter which side of. maintenance, safety. so change is| coming no matter which side of the debate golfers land on. she's played everyone from queen victoria to james bond's boss, but damejudi dench's first love has always been shakespeare. now, 66 years after her professional debut in hamlet, she's written a memoir, packed with stories about a lifetime interpreting the bard's characters. 0ur arts correspondent, david sillito, has been talking to her. damejudi dench — over more than 60 years on stage and screen, what hasn't she done?

as you walk in the door, there's even a little reminder of her 007 years. come hither, sir. good majesty. and the topic today — a new book about her sha kespearian roles written with her friend, brendan 0'hare. we began in 1957. it's 0phelia, straight out of drama school. that must have been a good feeling. it was heavenly. not for the critics it wasn't, but it was for me. you say the critics... they were very cross. cross ? they were cross at the national theatre of britain had got somebody fresh out of drama school. i had no experience. that must have been crushing. it was tricky. but i have never actually read the critics since. the critics soon warmed to her many shakespearean roles. she has played titania three times. she will not forget 1968. the original plan had been for an elizabethan costume,

but the director thought it looked a bit overdressed. so, day by day... what angel wakes me from my flowery bed? ..he made a few reductions. eventually they were peeled away, peeled away. eventually we were sprayed green, and they use to pick my costume on the way to the studio. it is like three leaves, isn't it? yes, just a few leaves. for somebody so comfortable on stage, the book reveals another side. do you not like talking about yourself? no, i do not like it much. you would much rather go on stage and play a part in front of 5000 people instead of walking into a party by yourself. that actually happened at the end of a season at stratford. we had a last night party in a conference hall. i came down, i got to outside the door, i could not go in. at the end, a return

to what this is all about. in this a00th anniversary year of the publication of shakespeare's plays, a celebration of those words and how they live on. are there passages from shakespeare that come back to you at moments that are helpful? absolutely. reems of it. don't start me, david. my love is deep. the more i give to thee, the more i have, for both are infinite. crikey! how did he write that on a wednesday afternoon in stratford—upon—avon? david sillito, bbc news. time for a look at the weather. here's simon king. some big contrasts at the moment in the temperature across the uk. in the temperature across the uk. in the north—east, aberdeenshire, currently —5 but, in contrast, in

the south—west of england, with cloudy skies, that mild air moving into cornwall, so temperature here about ten. but that milder air comes with rain, quite significant rain in south—west england, wales and northern ireland, spreading north and east as it hits cold air for the there could be some significant snow in the central lowlands tomorrow morning and some frost in the far north—east of scotland but generally speaking a milder night than last night to dip mostly frost free and temperatures three to 11. it will be a very wet day on thursday, potentially some disruption from snow early on, but that will turn to rain you can see the bright green, really quite heavy rain to northern ireland, western areas. 0n really quite heavy rain to northern ireland, western areas. on top of that, strong winds for all of us, gales run i was to close, severe gales run i was to close, severe gales in the of scotland. it will be a mild day. you can see the yellows, temperatures, 12 or 13. that rain

really will be quite heavy, even as we go through