hello, i'm lucy hockings. israel is broadening its ground offensive across the centre and south of gaza. the hamas—run health ministry says more than 210 palestinians have been killed in the past 2a hours, with 21,320 deaths in the last 11 weeks. there's also been an intensification of fighting across the israel—lebanon border in recent days, sparking fears of a wider conflict. a member of israel's war cabinet has warned that the military will take matters into its own hands if the lebanese government and the international community doesn't stop cross—border attacks by the hezbollah group. benny gantz said time for a diplomatic solution was running out. here's our middle east correspondent yolande knell. bundles ofjoy in a time of anguish. iman tends to three of her quadruplets recently born in one of gaza's overwhelmed hospitals. one remains in intensive care.

miles away from their home and with supplies short, iman and her husband fear for the safety of their newborns in this un school turned shelter. "because there is a lack of baby formula, i try to breast—feed them, but there is no nutritious food i can eat," iman explains. "disposable nappies aren't available, so i only change them three times a day." children continue to suffer in this brutal war. this little girl doesn't yet know her mother has been killed in an israeli air strike. medics here in khan younis battle to save lives close to the southern front line of the fighting. israeli ground forces are pushing into areas they say are strongholds of hamas, and targeting its command centres. the military says this tunnel network in northern gaza

was miles long. it's now been destroyed. increasingly, israel's attention is notjust focused on the war in gaza but on its northern border with lebanon. where there are almost daily exchanges of fire with the powerful iran—backed armed group, hezbollah. sirens sent israelis in northern towns rushing to shelters. yesterday saw some of the heaviest incoming rocket fire since tensions surged in october. hezbollah aims to tie up israel's military resources that could otherwise be deployed in gaza. israeli ministers warn it's a dangerous strategy. translation: the situation on israel's northern - border demands change. the stopwatch for a diplomatic solution is running out. if the world and the lebanese government don't act in order to prevent the firing on israel's northern residents and to distance hezbollah from the border, israel will do it. as israeli fighterjets strike in southern lebanon,

in response to the latest rocket fire, a grim pattern repeats itself. but the fear is that this could yet slip into another devastating all—out war. yolande knell, bbc news, jerusalem. let's talk more about the intensified fighting across the israel lebanese border. joining me live now is the lebanese political scientist hilal khashan. he is the author of five books including hizbullah: a mission to nowhere. what do you think the risk is now of a much larger escalation? goad a much larger escalation? good morninu. a much larger escalation? good morning- the — a much larger escalation? good morning. the risk _ a much larger escalation? good morning. the risk is _ a much larger escalation? good morning. the risk is very - a much larger escalation? good morning. the risk is very high. | a much larger escalation? (13r>r>c morning. the risk is very high. when an october eight, hezbollah decided tojoin the fighting an october eight, hezbollah decided to join the fighting to show solidarity with hamas, it did not alter the outcome of the battle because it could not. since then, the fighting has edgerley —— escalated especially since the five—day truth. it has been very

clear since the beginning of the fighting in gaza that once they have done with the southern front, they will move their attention to the north. that is the deal with hezbollah, so i believe a major confrontation, may be a war, is destined to break out between israel and hezbollah, who has been warning people pull—out of the border area in accordance with the 1701 ceasefire resolution of 2006, which ended they were.— ceasefire resolution of 2006, which ended they were. could you explain the relationship _ ended they were. could you explain the relationship between _ ended they were. could you explain the relationship between hamas - ended they were. could you explain | the relationship between hamas and hezbollah and how much support hezbollah and how much support hezbollah has been giving the hamas leadership? it is hezbollah has been giving the hamas leadershi? , ., ., , ., leadership? it is not only hezbollah that has given _ leadership? it is not only hezbollah that has given financial— leadership? it is not only hezbollah that has given financial and - that has given financial and military aid to hamas, but also and

mainly iran ride. since the iranian revolution, the ada policy became the most important dimension of its foreign policy with the idea of leading its relation to the middle east —— of the arab policy. the a syrian uprising when hezbollah and hamas took opposing sides and they were, but relations were restored after hezbollah ran control of most of syria. i would say that the relationship between the two sides is tactical, not strategic, because their ideology is fundamentally different from each other. [30 their ideology is fundamentally different from each other. do you think the chances _ different from each other. do you think the chances of _ different from each other. do you think the chances of hezbollah i different from each other. do you i think the chances of hezbollah being dragged into a bigger conflict and it escalating is very real? and you talk about the involvement of iran.

if that happens, do you think that iran will be drawn into the conflict? i iran will be drawn into the conflict?— iran will be drawn into the conflict? , ., h, ., conflict? i believe that hezbollah will be drawn _ conflict? i believe that hezbollah will be drawn into _ conflict? i believe that hezbollah will be drawn into a _ conflict? i believe that hezbollah will be drawn into a major - will be drawn into a major confrontation with israel, however, do not believe that iran will come the rescue of hezbollah though is that it has its calculations and are eventually, no matter how hostel it may appear, iran wants to reach a settlement with the us and be recognised as a major regional power, and since the revolution of 1979, iran created regional proxies, mainly hezbollah, so what can happen in the event of a confrontation, which i believe is destined to happen, is that the iranians will activate the syrian front, but they will not open in front from iranian territory. it will not open in front from iranian territo . ., , will not open in front from iranian territo . , , will not open in front from iranian territo . , ., territory. it has been very good to net our territory. it has been very good to get your thoughts. _ territory. it has been very good to get your thoughts. thank - territory. it has been very good to get your thoughts. thank you - territory. it has been very good to get your thoughts. thank you so l territory. it has been very good to - get your thoughts. thank you so much forjoining us now. let's take it back to what is happening on the

ground in gaza right now. let's speak to ahmed bayram — the middle east adviser for for the norwegian refugee council. can you outline the situation of aid at the moment any difficulties in getting aid into gaza? it is at the moment any difficulties in getting aid into gaza?— at the moment any difficulties in getting aid into gaza? it is a very, very difficult- _ getting aid into gaza? it is a very, very difficult. throughout - getting aid into gaza? it is a very, very difficult. throughout this - very difficult. throughout this month, we have had an average of 100 trucks coming into gaza and we do not want to get into this game of truck counting, but it is a good indication of what is happening on the ground. that is being translated into less food and clean water for people on the ground. at the same time, had shell, the crossing that used to bring aid through before the conflict from israel is not being as open as we would like it to be. just ut that open as we would like it to be. just put that into _ open as we would like it to be. just put that into context for us. if it is hundred trucks a day at the moment, how many are needed? we are

talkin: moment, how many are needed? we are talking about _ moment, how many are needed? we are talking about thousands. _ moment, how many are needed? we are talking about thousands. and _ moment, how many are needed? we are talking about thousands. and if - moment, how many are needed? we are talking about thousands. and if you - talking about thousands. and if you compare that to the volume that used to come into gaza when we had at least 500 today, we are now talking about unprecedented needs, so without getting into the maths of this, we need to see improvement. and that improvement is not being achieved. we are looking at the risk of famine for 500,000 people, have a million of gas a's population at risk of starvation. so million of gas a's population at risk of starvation.— risk of starvation. so what is holdin: risk of starvation. so what is holding up — risk of starvation. so what is holding up the _ risk of starvation. so what is holding up the tracks? - risk of starvation. so what is holding up the tracks? what| risk of starvation. so what is l holding up the tracks? what is stopping them getting in? it is all loaistics stopping them getting in? it is all logistics and _ stopping them getting in? it is all logistics and depends _ stopping them getting in? it is all logistics and depends on - logistics and depends on negotiations with the israeli side. every track is subject to israeli approval, which, of course, when there is no expedition of that, we get stuck —— every truck. i'm hearing now there are a few hundred trucks that are waiting for the approval to cross into gaza, which could come of course, happen in the

next few days, but also could face delays. going back to what is happening inside guys are, our teams are now giving out tents for people who are being displaced from central areas —— what is happening inside gaza. we are providing hot meals, but none of this is scratching the surface. this is why we need aid to be stepped up and we need a ceasefire now. for be stepped up and we need a ceasefire now.— be stepped up and we need a ceasefire now. ., , ., ., , ceasefire now. for your teams, the eo - le ceasefire now. for your teams, the people who — ceasefire now. for your teams, the people who are _ ceasefire now. for your teams, the people who are there _ ceasefire now. for your teams, the people who are there on _ ceasefire now. for your teams, the people who are there on the - ceasefire now. for your teams, the i people who are there on the ground, they are displaced as well, presumably. are the all in the south at the moment, in rafah? mast presumably. are the all in the south at the moment, in rafah?— at the moment, in rafah? most of them, yes- _ at the moment, in rafah? most of them, yes- i— at the moment, in rafah? most of them. yes- i can — at the moment, in rafah? most of them, yes. i can tell— at the moment, in rafah? most of them, yes. i can tell you - at the moment, in rafah? most of them, yes. i can tell you my - them, yes. i can tell you my colleagues have learned how to install tents, have learned how to install tents, have learned how to install external bathrooms and toilets and have no moved their families into these tents. these are aid workers who in a normal and even conflict times would be providing aid to people and now they have to look after their extended families

after their neighbours and the people we serve. these are, of course, some impossible situations and conditions under which aid workers are being asked to deliver. just imagine, i mean, rafah is now one of the most overcrowded areas in gaza with a 12,000 people per square kilometre. how can you provide aid for so many people around the clock with all the shelling and bombardment? it is almost an impossiblejob, really. bombardment? it is almost an impossible job, really.- bombardment? it is almost an impossible job, really. impossible 'ob, really. thank you so much as impossible job, really. thank you so much as always _ impossible job, really. thank you so much as always for _ impossible job, really. thank you so much as always for talking - impossible job, really. thank you so much as always for talking to - impossible job, really. thank you so much as always for talking to us - much as always for talking to us here on bbc news, ahmed bayram. here in the uk — around 100 homes have been damaged by a small tornado in greater manchester as storm gerrit swept across the country. police declared a major incident in tameside after roofs

were torn off houses, trees blew down and walls collapsed. elsewhere in the uk storm gerrit has brought flooding and disrupted travel, with scotland being the worst affected area. our correspondent fiona trott is in millbrook where the mini tornado struck. they'll evacuate us now. this is me daughter's car. the moment their lives turned upside down. it's been described as a "localised tornado," it lasted for seconds but the impact was devastating. here in millbrook, a lucky escape. this tree smashed through a house metres from where a woman slept. if you was to get a wrecking ball and go through the house. it was like, cos i opened the door and i thought, "oh, my god". maisie hasn't slept a wink. she has no idea what will happen to her home. what seems to have happened is the tree's hit the roof, gone through my bathroom, so the whole roof and ceiling of my bathroom is down, the tree is in the bathroom. and the whole tree is being held up by one branch and it is starting to snap currently, i've been told. so if it does snap, it's going to go through the whole house.

a scene from a movie — that's how they've described it here in stalybridge. it's amazing that nobody was seriously injured. tornadoes can be massively damaging. you can see winds in excess of 100 miles an hour concentrated on a very small area. but that is enough to bring down parts of houses, trees, cause massive amounts of damage. in scotland, the shetland isles were hit by winds of over 80mph last night, and across the whole of scotland more than 7,000 homes are still without power. fiona trott, bbc news, stalybridge. the taiwanese government has accused china of mounting a huge misinformation campaign to try to influence the outcome of the island's presidential election, which will be held next month. china says the claims are being "hyped up". taiwan's ruling democratic progressive party is attempting to win an unprecedented third consecutive term. from taiwan, rupert wingfield—hayes reports.

it's 6am and this fighter base on the coast of taiwan is already a hive of activity. on the mirage, 2000 fighter jets from taiwan's rapid reaction squadrons. theirjob — to meet any incoming threat to taiwan's airspace. these taiwanese fighter jets being scrambled behind me here are heading out into the taiwan strait to confront chinese aircraft that are coming across the strait and probing taiwan's airspace. this is now happening multiple times every day. these pictures are from chinese television showing their fighter jets, and that down below is the coast of taiwan. just over the horizon, there is another game of cat and mouse. this man puts up a long antenna to eavesdrop on the radio traffic coming from china's navy. radio chatter that's the chinese navy talking

to the taiwanese navy saying, "your territorial waters that you claim do not exist," that the people's republic of china is the only legitimate government of china, and that taiwan is an inseparable part of china. "they tell us that the taiwan strait is peaceful," he says. "then why are there chinese ships and aircraft harassing us all the time? how is that peaceful?" back in taipei, the former head of taiwan's armed forces says china's tactics are designed to intimidate the island's voters and send a warning to its allies. i think the china is sending a very strong signal to the united states, even to japan. "this is our area, our territorial area. so i can do whatever i want". but also in the meantime, they can use this kind of aggression

to make taiwanese people scared and make taiwanese people capitulate. as polling day approaches, there is little sign the intimidation is working. at this rally, supporters of the frontrunner to win taiwan's presidency told me they would rather fight than capitulate to beijing. i'm very worried, but i'm not afraid, because i will volunteer to be a soldier if they invade our beautiful country. if someday we may be at war or something else, i'm not afraid because i think i'm taiwanese, i need to protect my country. on the coast, the jets are returning from yet another patrol. taiwan has fewer than 300 fighterjets. china, more than 2000. whoever wins taiwan's presidential race will face a military balance tipping ever more in china's favour.

around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. holly willoughby will return to television to present dancing on ice alongside stephen mulhern injanuary, itv has announced. the 42—year—old has been absent from screens since she left this morning back in october after a man was charged with soliciting to commit murder over an alleged plot to kidnap the tv presenter. a 46—year—old man has died after a car hit a crowd of people outside a property in the burngreave area in sheffield. another person was seriously injured. two men, aged 23 and 55, are being held by south yorkshire police. officers are appealing for witnesses. fans of benjamin zephaniah have been asked to plant flowers and trees in his memory, as his funeral is held. the poet died earlier this month at the age of 65 after being diagnosed with a brain tumour. zephaniah has been described as a "titan of british literature"

who popularised dub poetry. you're live with bbc news. sport and for a full round—up, from the bbc sport centre, here's ben. hello. the festive football is coming thick and fast in england with two more games on thursday. spurs can go third with a big win over brighton and arsenal can go top against with victory at home to west ham. mikel arteta's side are unbeaten in their last 17 london derbies and the boss is demanding even more. that is and is well thing in life as well, isn't it? i haven't met anyone who wants less. my wife was once more, we always want more, you want more, we always want more, you want more press conferences, we want to be better and improve.

manchester united will be without goalkeeper andre onana for up to six matches in the new year after he was named in the cameroon squad for the africa cup of nations. he had retired from international football following a row at last year's world cup but returned in september and has been included for the tournament in the ivory coast. manchester united's reserve keeper altay bayindir has yet to feature for erik ten hag's side this season. 96 from mitch marsh has helped australia build a second innings lead of 241 with four wickets remaining at stumps on day three against pakistan. south africa are in full control of the first test against india in centurion. the home side were bowled out for 408 in theirfirst innings with dean elgar top scoring with 185 and marco jansen's test best of 84 not out. the left arm seamer has picked up two wickets with the ball to reduce the visitors to 96—5. virat kohli the only one to offer resistance on 48 not out. keep up to date with that and the first odi between australia and india's women on the bbc

sport website and app. thank you, ben. in an era of music streaming, you might have thought that vinyl records were destined to become a thing of the past, or at least limited to older collectors. but it seems they are enjoying something of a resurgence. latest figures here in britain show sales of vinyl albums increased by almost 12% this year — returning to levels last seen more than 30 years ago. meghan owen has more. taylor swift's 1989, the rolling stones hackney diamonds and lana del ray's did you know that there's a tunnel under ocean blvd? what do all of these have in common? they are the highest selling vinyl albums of 2023. in fact, sales are the highest they've been in the uk since the 1990s. they've jumped by around 12% to 5.9 million and they've continued to increase for the last 16 years — that's according to the british

phonographic industry. now, although 80% to 85% of recorded music is still consumed via streaming, there's clearly been a huge surge in vinyl sales. and i asked gennaro castaldo from the british phonographic industry why this was. i think people love the idea of having something to own and to collect. it's a beautiful kind of piece of artwork, really, from the sleeve artwork, the packaging and of course the baby boomers like me, who grew up with it, are still buying it, but we're seeing much youngerfans, millennials, certainly gen z who are buying it. maybe they've been informed by their parents�* record collections, certainly by streaming as well. but they love it because i think it helps them to feel closer to the artists they love, there's this emotional connection that vinyl, in particular, i think sort of affords us as fans. it's notjust vinyl. in fact, cassette sales have been up this year as well, despite having died out in the 1990s. and despite the decline in cd sales, they've now plateaued. in fact, 11 million were sold

in the uk this year. so it shows that there's been a bit of a physical resurgence of the way that we're consuming music and, in many ways, you could say that it's gone full circle. we're used to seeing wind turbines made of steel, but sweden's electricity grid is now powered, in part, by the world's tallest turbine made of wood. it's built from thousands of pieces of spruce — held together by glue — and it's more than 100 metres tall. our environment correspondent jonah fisher went for a look. having brought us abba, meatballs and flatpack furniture, from sweden comes another innovation thatjust might change the way we generate electricity. welcome to the world's tallest wind turbine tower made out of wood. almost all wind turbines are made of steel. but this one is made notjust of word, but the pieces are joined together... word, but the pieces are “oined together. . .fi

word, but the pieces are “oined i together. . .d glue? together... with adhesives. glue? yes. is it together... with adhesives. glue? yes- is it as _ together... with adhesives. glue? yes. is it as strong _ together... with adhesives. glue? yes. is it as strong as _ together... with adhesives. glue? yes. is it as strong as steel? - steel is great material, right? but steel is very heavy. and with this material, we can perform the same task, but with 30% less weight and with more than 100% less carbon emissions. we're the firstjournalists invited inside for a closer look. wind power is already one of the cheapest and cleanest ways to generate electricity. using wood could make it even greener. if you stand there. i'm now 105 metres up at the very top of the tower. these blades are — like almost all wind turbines — made out of fibreglass. the generator that i'm standing on is primarily made of steel. but the company who's built the wooden tower say that by making the tower out of wood, it's storing carbon dioxide,

it's carbon negative. and it's that carbon dioxide that's warming our planet. but this isn't only about being greener. to reach stronger and more consistent winds, turbines need to get even taller — and that means bigger and wider turbine towers. getting those massive pieces of steel on site by road is already a major headache. and that's where wooden towers just might come in. there's a huge amount of potential in this. that's because the towers are modular. at a factory in gothenburg, more than 100 thin sheets of wood are glued together to make the wall sections. those modular pieces can then be more easily taken to the turbine site. making around steel chip is quite easy, but making steel modular

towers is a challenge, really. because you have lots of boats. towers is a challenge, really, ——because you have lots of bolts. we do not bolt our towers or screw them together. we glue them together. right? and wood and glue is a perfect combination. so is it alljust a bit of a gimmick? well, maybe not. the project is being backed by vestas — the world's largest installer of wind power — and they told us that using wood could end up solving some of the industry's transport problems in a more environmentally sustainable way. jonah fisher, bbc news, in gothenburg, in sweden. let's bring you some of the day's other news now. two sailors had been injured after a ship hit a russian nine and the black sea. the unnamed ship was heading toward one of the ukraine's than your ports. we set the colorado republican party has asked the us supreme court to

intervene after the top court disqualified donald trump from appearing on the republican primary ballot. the appearing on the republican primary ballot. ., , , ., appearing on the republican primary ballot. . , , ., , appearing on the republican primary ballot. . ,, ., , ., ballot. the appeal comes after colorado's _ ballot. the appeal comes after colorado's supreme _ ballot. the appeal comes after colorado's supreme court - ballot. the appeal comes after| colorado's supreme court ruled ballot. the appeal comes after- colorado's supreme court ruled that mr trump was not an eligible candidate because of his role in the january attacks on the us capitol. by january attacks on the us capitol. by his supporters in 2021. don't forget, you can get more on our stories on the news website. you're watching bbc news. the year is winding down, but covid cases it seems are on the rise. last week the world health organisation declared a "new variant of interest" which has been detected in a number of countries — including the uk — and is the fastest growing strain in the us. joining me now is paul hunter, professor in medicine at the university of east anglia. and familiar to many of us. nice to see again, it feels like it has been a while. appropriate that we are again talking about covid. it feels

to me it is everywhere again. is that the case?— to me it is everywhere again. is that the case? well, i wouldn't say everywhere. _ that the case? well, i wouldn't say everywhere. but — that the case? well, i wouldn't say everywhere, but it _ that the case? well, i wouldn't say everywhere, but it is _ that the case? well, i wouldn't say everywhere, but it is certainly - that the case? well, i wouldn't say| everywhere, but it is certainly been going up since the last week in november. the problem is we no longer have as many tests available, so it is difficult to judge exactly how many infections we are seeing, but the resurrected ons survey published just before christmas and that would suggest we are seeing as many cases and probably more cases of infection across england, at least, than we have at the same period over the last two years. and at the evidence from europe is almost certainly they are seeing increasing infections as well, although most countries have stopped publishing weekly covid reports these days, but those that are, it is certainly increasing. tell these days, but those that are, it is certainly increasing.— is certainly increasing. tell us about this _ is certainly increasing. tell us about this new _ is certainly increasing. tell us about this new strain - is certainly increasing. tell us about this new strain and - is certainly increasing. tell usj about this new strain and how worrying it is, or whether it is

worrying?— worrying it is, or whether it is wor int? , h ., worrying it is, or whether it is wor in? g , worrying it is, or whether it is wor in? g m ., worrying? well, the jn.1 strain is a dauthter worrying? well, the jn.1 strain is a daughter variant _ worrying? well, the jn.1 strain is a daughter variant of _ worrying? well, the jn.1 strain is a daughter variant of the _ worrying? well, the jn.1 strain is a daughter variant of the one - worrying? well, the jn.1 strain is a daughter variant of the one we - worrying? well, the jn.1 strain is a l daughter variant of the one we have been seeing for some time the ba.2.86. it is not much different to the parent strain, but is spreading rather more quickly than at most new variants we have seen it for the last year or so. that is why the who stated it was a variant of interest. as far as whether it causes any more severe disease, the evidence so far is it probably isn't. although we are seeing more cases of infection, although there are more infections are occurring in england than a year ago, we are actually seeing substantially fewer su bsta ntially fewer hospitalisations, so substantially fewer hospitalisations, so the balance of evidence as at his not going to be causing a large amount of hospitalisations unless infection rates go very high. is it hospitalisations unless infection rates go very high.— hospitalisations unless infection rates go very high. is it the same kind of symptoms _ rates go very high. is it the same kind of symptoms that _ rates go very high. is it the same

kind of symptoms that people . rates go very high. is it the same | kind of symptoms that people are getting with this variant? yes. kind of symptoms that people are getting with this variant?- getting with this variant? yes. i mean, getting with this variant? yes. i mean. over _ getting with this variant? yes. i mean, over the _ getting with this variant? yes. i mean, over the last _ getting with this variant? yes. i mean, over the last year - getting with this variant? yes. i mean, over the last year or - getting with this variant? yes. i | mean, over the last year or two, covid has got more and more like influenza in terms of its symptoms. there are some differences between flu and covid, but by and large it is difficult to be certain without testing whether it is at the fluor covid they have got. and there is no evidence, really, thati covid they have got. and there is no evidence, really, that i can see that thist.1 evidence, really, that i can see that this jn.1 variant causes evidence, really, that i can see that thist.1 variant causes any different symptoms to the recent variants we have seen in the summer and autumn. fiend variants we have seen in the summer and autumn-— variants we have seen in the summer and autumn. and the advice as before with covid is — and autumn. and the advice as before with covid is a — and autumn. and the advice as before with covid is a stay _ and autumn. and the advice as before with covid is a stay at _ and autumn. and the advice as before with covid is a stay at home, - and autumn. and the advice as before with covid is a stay at home, as - and autumn. and the advice as before with covid is a stay at home, as you i with covid is a stay at home, as you would with influenza as well? yes. if ou're would with influenza as well? yes. if you're ill. _ would with influenza as well? yes. if you're ill, you're _ would with influenza as well? yes. if you're ill, you're almost - if you're ill, you're almost certainly quite infectious and it is good sense to stay at home, do not good sense to stay at home, do not go to work. whether it is flu or covid, the difficulty now is there

is a lot of infectious people around have either asymptomatic or have mild symptoms and do not know whether they have covid or flu or any of the other respiratory viruses we see this time of year. trier? any of the other respiratory viruses we see this time of year. very good to see again. _ we see this time of year. very good to see again, paul— we see this time of year. very good to see again, paul hunter, - we see this time of year. very good to see again, paul hunter, thank. we see this time of year. very good l to see again, paul hunter, thank you forjoining us, hope you can stay well. now on bbc news, time for this cultural life. ken loach, britain's foremost politically engaged film—maker. his work explores issues of social justice, freedom and power, and has twice won him the prestigious palme d'or at the cannes film festival — in 2006 for the wind that shakes the barley, and ten years later for i, daniel blake, a contemporary british story about unemployment and poverty. go back to your desk and let her sign on and do thejob that the taxpayer pays you for. ridiculous, man!

in this episode of this cultural life, the radio 4 podcast, he reveals his formative influences and experiences, and how at the age of 86, he's still as fired up as ever. there's an anger. is there? i think that's what drives you. well, you can't see it happen... you can't see it happen and be indifferent, you know, you can't. if there's something that puts fuel in the tank, it's seeing hope destroyed, you know? camera crew's ready. i think in my acting days, i did a tiny bit of bbc radio. oh, you did? it might have been in this very studio some 60—odd years ago. really, here? fantastic. well, we've got to dig those performances from the vault.

i can't think what it was. it was something.