highest temperatures this weekend. right now that is pushing southwards, skies are clear for the vast majority, just the odd shower pushing into central and southern england, but out of the way before long. temperatures into low single figures in towns and cities, but a widespread frost in the countryside, evenin widespread frost in the countryside, even in parts of southern england. despite a chilly start, a lovely start to the day, blue and sunshine, a little bit more in the way of cloud developing across eastern areas, but staying dry and bright, splashes of rain for the fat north of scotland. highest temperatures, up of scotland. highest temperatures, up to 17 for northern ireland, nine of a north sea coasts. into the second half of the weekend, a predominantly dry story with a few areas of light rain from a warm front across eastern scotland to north—east england, and a few showers from the north sea for east anglia and south—east england, but

are dry for the marathon, i think. 12-14 are dry for the marathon, i think. 12—14 for most, but in northern ireland up to will us lawmakers heed joe biden's plea to pass the multi—billion dollar military aid package for ukraine and israel? a former us national security adviser tells us the west has a big problem. we're facing the emergence of a new china—russia axis. china is the senior partner and russia is the subordinate partner. we'll put that to donald trump's ambassador to the eu and a former senior uk diplomat.

also tonight, we are in the tees valley — where the upcoming mayoral election could be a bellweather for the general election. and this... we think something big is going to happen. something massive. they shriek. oh, my god. # he looks up grinning like a devil # it's new, the shape of your body...# - the inexorable rise of taylor swift as she sends out not one, but a double album's worth with the tortured poets department. how has she shape—shifted the music industry? we'll be asking the writer and serious swiftie, cat mckenna. good evening. how do we calibrate the chances of wider conflict in this precarious world, and where is the most danger? this weekend the us house of representatives will likely make a decision on the long stalled multi—billion pound package of military aid for ukraine, for israel. and also for the indo—pacific region, including taiwan. of course, threats and warnings abound.

and ahead of the us vote, ukraine's prime minister's warned that if ukraine loses the conflict with russia, there will be a third world war. and as for a wider conflagration in the middle east? iran has said there will be no immediate retaliation to israel's limited overnight strike on the birthday of iran's supreme leader. but there is no sign of a breakthrough in negotiations over gaza and the israeli hostages, and qatar's prime minister has threatened to withdraw from qatar's role as a mediator in seeming frustration at the way his country has been treated by other parties to the negotiations. here's joe inwood. nearly $61 billion for ukraine. more than 26 billion for israel. and over 8 billion for the indo—pacific region, including taiwan. president biden has said that the huge foreign assistance bill will send a message to the world. but, what message? it will be a powerful signal that the overwhelming body of opinion in the united states,

including in the republican party, is in favour of a strong american presence in the world, and the isolationists will find themselves isolated. if it fails to pass, that will be a real blow for biden and i would say for the united states more broadly. again, we can all see that this is a quite pivotal global moment in terms of the different conflicts that are going on. so, is the us facing an alliance set on destabilising the west or are these three independent conflicts, each of which happens to involve us interests? of all the areas funded by this bill, the largest and most urgent is ukraine. a severe lack of artillery shells, ammunition and air defence missiles have cost lives and territory. speaking to the bbc this week, the country's prime minister was in no doubt about what was at stake. if we will not protect, if ukraine will fall, there will be many conflicts, many such kind of wars. and in the end of the day, it could lead to the third world war.

at the heart of that assessment is the idea there is a global alliance of autocracies all working together to undermine the west. the fact that this funding bill links the conflicts in ukraine and the middle east with fears over taiwan plays into that narrative. we're facing the emergence of a new china—russia axis. this time, unlike the sino—soviet alliance of cold war days, china is the senior partner and russia is the subordinate partner. they have their outliers in north korea, iran, syria, belarus, cuba, nicaragua, venezuela. i think the lines are being drawn, and i think it's a question whether, once again, the west will be able to stand up to the threat. i think the outcome is uncertain at this point. certainly the us government argues russia's war effort is hugely dependent on support from china. we see china sharing machine tools, semiconductors, other dual use items that have helped russia rebuild

the defence industrial base that sanctions and export controls had done so much to degrade. but the question is, are economic and military links between china, russia, iran and north korea, being dubbed crink, part of a grand geopolitical strategy? there are interrelations for sure, but i would caution as to overstate this idea of an axis or of states coordinating with each other around these conflicts. most of these conflicts are still regional. they're still very much based in terms of state interests and state conflicts, rather than some kind of international plan. it's important to note there are many who oppose sending more money to israel because of the price being paid by ordinary palestinians. just as there are those who oppose arming ukraine, preferring to focus on domestic spending. but, for president biden, this is about maintaining what he sees as america's role as a global leader. there are plenty who oppose the way that leadership has been carried out and others who would take advantage

should it fail. i'm joined now from brussels by gordon sondland, a former us ambassdor to the eu in the trump administration and here in the studio by a former british diplomat whose work's included included focusing on crisis in the middle east, reza afshar. thanks forjoining us. gordon, you were on a mission with mike pence in europe talking to senior european officials, what is the message? the messaues officials, what is the message? tue: messages that officials, what is the message? tte: messages that we stand with europe in support of ukraine, and there's a lot of noise coming from a very small fraction of the republican party who have forgotten their history and have become isolationist and both the vice president and myself were there to reassure the europeans that that is not the prevailing sentiment in the us. imilli prevailing sentiment in the us. will it be a sentiment if donald trump wins that will prevail? tt it be a sentiment if donald trump wins that will prevail?— wins that will prevail? it will not be. wins that will prevail? it will not be- donald _ wins that will prevail? it will not be. donald trump _ wins that will prevail? it will not be. donald trump has _ wins that will prevail? it will not be. donald trump has a - wins that will prevail? it will not be. donald trump has a two - wins that will prevail? it will not.

be. donald trump has a two track presentation, there's the show business track and the reality track and the reality track, i'm confident, is strong support for ukraine and israel.— confident, is strong support for ukraine and israel. talking in the introduction _ ukraine and israel. talking in the introduction about _ ukraine and israel. talking in the introduction about the _ ukraine and israel. talking in the introduction about the vote - ukraine and israel. talking in the introduction about the vote in - ukraine and israel. talking in the| introduction about the vote in the us house of representatives, how pivotal moment is this for both ukraine and israel and what are the states? t ukraine and israel and what are the states? ., �* ~' ukraine and israel and what are the states? ., �* ~ , ., states? i don't think you can underscore _ states? i don't think you can underscore and _ states? i don't think you can underscore and understate, | states? i don't think you can | underscore and understate, i states? i don't think you can - underscore and understate, i should say, the pivotal nature of this. this is not another vote on another bill, we are at an inflection point, and if we do not support ukraine and if ukraine falls to russia, i disagree with one of your previous speakers, that this is limited to regional conflict. i think the axis thatjohn bolton described earlier can very quickly congeal into a major global force can very quickly congeal into a major globalforce and it can very quickly congeal into a major global force and it is incumbent on the west, the eu and the us, primarily, to put a stop to

it and it stops in israel and in ukraine. ., ., ., �* ., ukraine. you got an obe for your negotiation _ ukraine. you got an obe for your negotiation work _ ukraine. you got an obe for your negotiation work in _ ukraine. you got an obe for your negotiation work in syria - ukraine. you got an obe for your negotiation work in syria and - ukraine. you got an obe for your negotiation work in syria and you are an independent diplomat now, as it were, so how important is the decision in washington? absolutely, i a . ree with decision in washington? absolutely, i agree with gordon, _ decision in washington? absolutely, i agree with gordon, it _ decision in washington? absolutely, i agree with gordon, it is _ decision in washington? absolutely, i agree with gordon, it is a - decision in washington? absolutely, i agree with gordon, it is a pivotal i i agree with gordon, it is a pivotal decision— i agree with gordon, it is a pivotal decision and — i agree with gordon, it is a pivotal decision and we need to make sure the aid _ decision and we need to make sure the aid gets to the ukrainians and we need — the aid gets to the ukrainians and we need to— the aid gets to the ukrainians and we need to make sure it happens as soon _ we need to make sure it happens as soon as_ we need to make sure it happens as soon as possible and in doing so that opens — soon as possible and in doing so that opens a window for europe and others _ that opens a window for europe and others to— that opens a window for europe and others to step up their support ukraine — others to step up their support ukraine and to step up the action in support— ukraine and to step up the action in sopport of— ukraine and to step up the action in support of ukraine against the russians— support of ukraine against the russians but we need to buy time and the aid _ russians but we need to buy time and the aid package is critical for that — the aid package is critical for that. , ., ~' the aid package is critical for that. ,, ~' 3 the aid package is critical for that. ~ �*, ., , that. do you think there's a big difference _ that. do you think there's a big difference between _ that. do you think there's a big difference between the - that. do you think there's a big i difference between the strategic, even preparedness or vision for the so—called crink andy almost tentative reactive nature of the uk

and the eu and the us? —— and the almost tentative. and the eu and the us? -- and the almost tentative.— and the eu and the us? -- and the almost tentative. across the border there is concern _ almost tentative. across the border there is concern that _ almost tentative. across the border there is concern that we _ almost tentative. across the border there is concern that we seem - almost tentative. across the border there is concern that we seem to i almost tentative. across the border| there is concern that we seem to be reacting _ there is concern that we seem to be reacting to— there is concern that we seem to be reacting to events instead of driving — reacting to events instead of driving these solutions that we want to see _ driving these solutions that we want to see in _ driving these solutions that we want to see in the world, whether that is in russia _ to see in the world, whether that is in russia ukraine or in respect of israei— in russia ukraine or in respect of israel palestine, or indeed with respect — israel palestine, or indeed with respect to iran's actions, so we need — respect to iran's actions, so we need to— respect to iran's actions, so we need to be — respect to iran's actions, so we need to be driving solutions, not 'ust need to be driving solutions, not just reacting to events, and if we are going — just reacting to events, and if we are going to be successful in ukraine, _ are going to be successful in ukraine, if we are going to be successful— ukraine, if we are going to be successful in bringing a stop to the conflict _ successful in bringing a stop to the conflict in — successful in bringing a stop to the conflict in the middle east, we to stop conflict in the middle east, we to stouiust — conflict in the middle east, we to stopjust putting out the fires conflict in the middle east, we to stop just putting out the fires and actually— stop just putting out the fires and actually have a plan for where we are going — actually have a plan for where we are anoin. ,, up actually have a plan for where we are anoin. ,, mg ., actually have a plan for where we are aoian. ,, «g ., ., actually have a plan for where we areaoain. ,, ., ., ., are going. quickly on iran, iran said there _ are going. quickly on iran, iran said there is _ are going. quickly on iran, iran said there is no _ are going. quickly on iran, iran said there is no question - are going. quickly on iran, iran said there is no question of- are going. quickly on iran, iran said there is no question of it l said there is no question of it responding to the israeli attacks quickly but do you get a sense that they are in a position where they do not want a wider conflict? t they are in a position where they do not want a wider conflict?— not want a wider conflict? i cannot s-eak for not want a wider conflict? i cannot speak for them — not want a wider conflict? i cannot speak for them and _ not want a wider conflict? i cannot speak for them and i _ not want a wider conflict? i cannot speak for them and i don't - not want a wider conflict? i cannot speak for them and i don't know i not want a wider conflict? i cannot i speak for them and i don't know but it is not—

speak for them and i don't know but it is not in— speak for them and i don't know but it is not in their interests to have an all-out — it is not in their interests to have an all—out conflict with israel and it is not— an all—out conflict with israel and it is not in— an all—out conflict with israel and it is not in the interest of israel either— it is not in the interest of israel either but — it is not in the interest of israel either but at the moment unfortunately, in some ways it is beneficiai— unfortunately, in some ways it is beneficial for the israelis to be doing — beneficial for the israelis to be doing a — beneficial for the israelis to be doing a bit of tit—for—tat with the iranians — doing a bit of tit—for—tat with the iranians because we are not talking about— iranians because we are not talking about palestine and for the iranians. _ about palestine and for the iranians, whatever constituency they think they— iranians, whatever constituency they think they are pandering to, it works— think they are pandering to, it works for— think they are pandering to, it works for them to be seen to be fighting — works for them to be seen to be fighting israel and pushing back against — fighting israel and pushing back against the us, but we need to not -et against the us, but we need to not get sucked — against the us, but we need to not get sucked into this kind of thing and we _ get sucked into this kind of thing and we need to have our priorities, ukraine. _ and we need to have our priorities, ukraine, dealing with iran, which is a problem. — ukraine, dealing with iran, which is a problem, and is there is not the right— a problem, and is there is not the right actor— a problem, and is there is not the right actor to deal with that, we need _ right actor to deal with that, we need to— right actor to deal with that, we need to get a grip. —— israel is not the right— need to get a grip. —— israel is not the right actor. need to get a grip. -- israel is not the right actor.— need to get a grip. -- israel is not the right actor. what about the idea of beina to the right actor. what about the idea of being to reactive _ the right actor. what about the idea of being to reactive and _ the right actor. what about the idea of being to reactive and proactive i of being to reactive and proactive enough? of being to reactive and proactive enanh? . . of being to reactive and proactive enanh? ., , ., ., enough? iran is one of the few malian enough? iran is one of the few malign actors _ enough? iran is one of the few malign actors that _ enough? iran is one of the few malign actors that gets - enough? iran is one of the few malign actors that gets the - malign actors that gets the privilege of exclusively using proxies until recently, and on the

other side of every conflict with iran is a principle, and they use proxies, and the way we get sucked into dealing with the proxies is by dealing with the proxies, and i was very much for on the 8th of october, the day after the massacre in israel, i was for the israeli strike on significant amount of oil fields backed by the us in iran with no comment, no discussion of hamas or hezbollah, all roads lead to iran and that is the way we should be treating them we should have taken out a significant amount of economic strength on their part. irate out a significant amount of economic strength on their part.— strength on their part. we are movina strength on their part. we are moving between _ strength on their part. we are moving between ukraine - strength on their part. we are moving between ukraine and | strength on their part. we are . moving between ukraine and iran strength on their part. we are - moving between ukraine and iran and let me quickly ask you something on ukraine, gordon, you know the ukrainian prime minister said his country needs to win the conflict or it is world water three. —— world

war iii, people are certainly upping the stakes in the hyperbolic language. t5 the stakes in the hyperbolic language-— the stakes in the hyperbolic lanauaae. , i, the stakes in the hyperbolic lanauaae. . i, , the stakes in the hyperbolic lanauaae. . _ , ., language. is it hyperbole? it is not world war iii _ language. is it hyperbole? it is not world war m the _ language. is it hyperbole? it is not world war iii the next _ language. is it hyperbole? it is not world war iii the next day, - language. is it hyperbole? it is not world war iii the next day, no, - language. is it hyperbole? it is not| world war iii the next day, no, but it is a slippery slope which can happen quickly and it would send a unmistakable signal to the chinese that taiwan is now fair game and they will get a tepid response from they will get a tepid response from the west. so, no, it is not world war three the next day but it could be inside the e and i do not think thatis be inside the e and i do not think that is hyperbole in any respect. —— it could be inside the year. the negotiations — it could be inside the year. the negotiations are _ it could be inside the year. the negotiations are ongoing over gaza and the hostages, and we are still in a situation where formally, hamas wants to destroy israel, and israel thinks it can destroy hamas and now there is no talk publicly at least of a two state solution from anybody, so where are we here? ittrui’ith

anybody, so where are we here? with res-ect to anybody, so where are we here? with respect to this. _ anybody, so where are we here? with respect to this, the problem is there — respect to this, the problem is there is— respect to this, the problem is there is not a wider context, that sets out— there is not a wider context, that sets out a — there is not a wider context, that sets out a pathway to an end state, so we _ sets out a pathway to an end state, so we are talking about a very narrow — so we are talking about a very narrow set _ so we are talking about a very narrow set of negotiations but we are not— narrow set of negotiations but we are not talking at how we exit the whole _ are not talking at how we exit the whole problem and the pathway to palestinian state? that is the only way you _ palestinian state? that is the only way you can create a context in which _ way you can create a context in which you — way you can create a context in which you can actually resolve this problem _ which you can actually resolve this problem long term. we have been back and forth— problem long term. we have been back and forth over 75 years, in various stages _ and forth over 75 years, in various stages of— and forth over 75 years, in various stages of conflict, and there has to be stages of conflict, and there has to he an— stages of conflict, and there has to he an end — stages of conflict, and there has to be an end state here and we are not setting _ be an end state here and we are not setting up— be an end state here and we are not setting up the vision, nobody is setting — setting up the vision, nobody is setting out the vision or a pathway to it _ setting out the vision or a pathway to it. ,., ., ., setting out the vision or a pathway to it. ., ., i. setting out the vision or a pathway to it. ., ., 4' setting out the vision or a pathway to it. ., ., i. ~ ., to it. gordon, do you think that the us is not using _ to it. gordon, do you think that the us is not using the _ to it. gordon, do you think that the us is not using the leverage - to it. gordon, do you think that the | us is not using the leverage it has? it is using it but it is using it in the wrong way. discouraging israel from finishing the job of eliminating hamas and i hate to say

this, because of my children and my family, if they were hostages, it would be very difficult for me to say what i'm about to say, and i completely sympathise, notjust say what i'm about to say, and i completely sympathise, not just with netanyahu but any prime minister from the left or the right that is in this position, but the hostages and some of the civilians, unfortunately, they are casualties of war and that is not the fault of israel but the fault of hamas, and so hamas needs to finish and to follow on to the point, when you talk about palin in skinny and state, who is the palestinian state, —— when you talk about a palestinian state, who is the palestinian state? the 75% who said they want to see the destruction of israel? is it a state brokered by the other democracies in the area? you talk about a palestinian state, you have got to talk about who that is. thanks forjoining us.

in exactly two weeks' time we'll be raking over the results of the local and mayoral elections in england and police and crime commisioner ones in wales for what they might tell us about the coming general election. of the elections for 11 mayors in england — from london to liverpool and beyond, we've decided to focus on two contests — the west midlands and tees valley — which are both held by the conservatives, because it's likely that results in those areas carry high stakes for the two men vying to be prime minister. newsnight will be in the west midlands next week, but first, here's nick's report from tees valley. an icon of a vibrant industrial past, now out of action, symbolising an area struggling to find its feet. tees valley, an infant hercules in its days as a world capital of iron and steelmaking, is now clearing sites of past glories and looking

for new ventures. a painful process with economic decline alongside pockets of affluence. that has placed this area on the national political map and now a mayoral contest with high stakes for the two main parties. a rumbustious conservative mayor became the first poster boy of the red wall after his narrow win here in 2017. re—elected in a landslide in 2021, ben houchen is now hoping to buck the national trend. a local labour stalwart hopes to win back what was once a heartland for his party. a win for chris mcewen would ease keir starmer�*s path nationally. and the lib dem outsider placing the fight against child poverty at the heart of his campaign. over the past decade or so, tees valley felt neglected by the party that thought it was the area's champion.

and so voters delivered a series of bloody noses to labour. twice electing a conservative mayor and then ejecting labour from the prized parliamentary seat of hartlepool in a byelection — the lowest of low points. and so that's why this mayoral contest reverberates way beyond here. a tory win and rishi sunak will grab a lifeline. a labourwin, and keir starmer, well, he will believe he really is on a roll. i think this is the headline grabber. if rishi sunak holds on to this, then that's what he will be trumpeting. he will show that he does have that indefinable quality to reach out to these former areas that borisjohnson won. so that's big for him. but to overturn a 73% share of the vote last time round for labour would again be a massive triumph and show that they really are coming home to their former heartlands. and just talking to various people

who've been out on the doorsteps, they say it's incredibly close and they're all confident for their own sides, but nobody is really predicting the winner yet. and offerings from the parties vying for the top slot... from ben houchen, a highly personal campaign with no mention of the conservative party other than in the small print. and then bold claims about building a hospital and delivering more international flights. ben houchen hails thousands ofjobs created at tees works, the old redcar steelworks that closed in 2015. no mention of a recent review which criticised oversight of the multi—million pound project with 28 recommendations for greater transparency. for labour, a more conventional party campaign with more modest pledges on free town centre parking and a £2 cap on train and bus fares. from the lib dems, a pledge to deliver £25 million

a yearforan early years support programme. showing off his plans to his leader. well, ben meets the ronseal test, he's someone who, when he says he'll do something, he does it. and people said he couldn't save the airport. he did it. people said that there wouldn't be a freeport and indeed in many cases fought to stop it. he delivered it. people said there's no way steelmaking will come back to teesside. he's made it happen. he embodies that teesside fighting spirit and he has made things happen. this is obviously a really difficult time for the conservative party, but i think ben is perhaps the one person who can rise above that. labour's candidate believes he can tap into the potential of this former industrial behemoth. i was raised here. i've got my mum in redcar, my stepmum in middlesbrough. i brought my three daughters up in darlington. i've worked here for most of my working career in the nhs. what does this place mean to me? it's a place of immense opportunity.

it's also a place with challenges, but it's also a place with accessibility to many things. i often talk about from from coast to country. you know, we have marvellous beaches and we have countryside on our doorstep. so that's what it means for me. renewed confidence from the lib dems who sat out the last contest. we see all areas as winnable and all areas of being very receptive - to our core liberal message. you know, i've been out knocking on hundreds of doors, _ speaking to a huge amount of people. we've had an excellent i turnout from volunteers. and in the region, you know, - at the moment durham county council has a lib dem leader. we're really making a difference ito local people's lives all over. the place and this isjust the next step in that process. _ a commanding presence at the heart

of an electoral battleground that may soon command the nation's attention. taylor swift dropped a whole load of extra songs on her new album, the tortured poets department, last night, sending her superfans into quite the online frenzy. why should you care, dear viewer? well, you're probably one of them, as swift has metamorphosed from the latest madonna—style pop princess to the human face of a fully fledged billion—dollar multinational industry, one that threatens to swallow pop music whole. how did swiftanomics become a thing? a warning, there are some flashing images coming up. we think something big's going to happen. something massive. they got 16 songs at midnight, eastern standard time. then, two hours after release, in the early hours, taylor swift added 15 more, sending heavily invested shrieks of delight echoing around the internet. here's what she tweeted. "it's a 2am surprise. "the torture poets department

is a secret double album. "i'd written so much tortured poetry in the past two years, "i wanted to share it all with you." welcome to the eras tour. normal musicians release albums, then go on tour. but when you're this big, you make your own gravity. and swift does as she likes. her current eras tour, her sixth, consists of 152 shows across five continents. it started in march 2023 and ends this december. it's the first tour to surpass $1 billion in revenue, making it the highest grossing of all time. she has ten uk performances injune, and none of them is glastonbury. this is strictly business. is she the richest musician in the world, then? the consensus is, not yet. that crown is thought to belong to jay—z, followed by rihanna. but how long before taylor topples them all? see you there.

i'm joined now by cat mckena, a taylor swift superfan and the author of an upcoming book "look what you made me do — a love letter to the fandom era." you have had 31 songs on repeat all day. you have had 31 songs on repeat all day~ is _ you have had 31 songs on repeat all da . . you have had 31 songs on repeat all da . , ,., ., , day. is there something that feels different about _ day. is there something that feels different about dijsselbloem? - day. is there something that feels different about dijsselbloem? i i different about dijsselbloem? i would say definitively so. i think that what she's given us with this album was quite a shock to me, to really hear some of her most transparent albums, some of her interesting observations about her own fame, very unfiltered and as usual a work of genius.— own fame, very unfiltered and as usual a work of genius. what is it about her music that _ usual a work of genius. what is it about her music that makes - usual a work of genius. what is it l about her music that makes people feel so connected? t about her music that makes people feel so connected?— about her music that makes people feel so connected? i believe we are in the quite — feel so connected? i believe we are in the quite an _ feel so connected? i believe we are in the quite an effect _ feel so connected? i believe we are in the quite an effect of—

feel so connected? i believe we are in the quite an effect of longevity . in the quite an effect of longevity now so the fans who are listening to taylor, we are bringing layers upon layers to the music we are listening to. d0 layers to the music we are listening to. , ., ~' layers to the music we are listening to. ~ �* . ., to. do you think you've changed? does the way _ to. do you think you've changed? does the way you _ to. do you think you've changed? does the way you have _ to. do you think you've changed? does the way you have listened l to. do you think you've changed? | does the way you have listened to does the way you have listened to her change? t does the way you have listened to her change?— does the way you have listened to her change? i think so, i do this in a professional— her change? i think so, i do this in a professional manner. _ her change? i think so, i do this in a professional manner. one - her change? i think so, i do this in a professional manner. one of - a professional manner. one of the interesting things about taylor and her fan base, interesting things about taylor and herfan base, myself included, is many of us have grown up with taylor. so we are experiencing a lot of the same things at the same time as she is. she is very different to us, she is in a world of celebrity but there's a deep sense of care and commitment to taylor swift as a fan, so to hear, with this album in particular, what she's experienced over the last year, in her own words, in no uncertain terms, is fascinating and meaningful. you think she's _ fascinating and meaningful. you think she's prepared to challenge the contract of likeability that so many female stars think they have to have? t

many female stars think they have to have? .. many female stars think they have to have? ~' ,., many female stars think they have to have? ~ ,., ., �*, ., have? i think so, that's an interesting _ have? i think so, that's an interesting point - have? i think so, that's an interesting point about. have? i think so, that's an l interesting point about how have? i think so, that's an _ interesting point about how women in music and media are asked to be in a certain mould. taylor has talked about this. this album, i was so stunned, really, to hear her talking about... .. stunned, really, to hear her talking about... ~' ., stunned, really, to hear her talking about... ~ ., ., , about... like marta bassino is songs even addressing _ about... like marta bassino is songs even addressing her _ about... like marta bassino is songs even addressing her fan _ about... like marta bassino is songs even addressing her fan base, - about... like marta bassino is songs| even addressing her fan base, saying even addressing herfan base, saying that they've gone too far this time and hurt me —— like her songs addressing herfan base. that and hurt me -- like her songs addressing her fan base. that is the sur-raisin addressing her fan base. that is the surprising thing _ addressing her fan base. that is the surprising thing i — addressing her fan base. that is the surprising thing i was _ addressing her fan base. that is the surprising thing i was hearing - addressing her fan base. that is the surprising thing i was hearing but i surprising thing i was hearing but we have to take responsibility about the para— social relationship with artists. the para- social relationship with artists. �* . the para- social relationship with artists. 3 . the para- social relationship with artists. �* , ., ., the para- social relationship with artists. �*, ., ., ., , artists. there's an almost unhealthy obsession, people _ artists. there's an almost unhealthy obsession, people reading - artists. there's an almost unhealthy obsession, people reading far - artists. there's an almost unhealthy obsession, people reading far too i obsession, people reading far too much into her music and songs and even typos. t much into her music and songs and even typos-— even typos. i wouldn't call it unhealthv- _ even typos. i wouldn't call it unhealthy. unhealthy - even typos. i wouldn't call it | unhealthy. unhealthy fandom even typos. i wouldn't call it - unhealthy. unhealthy fandom can get to a point where you are sleeping, breathing, eating, obsessing over somebody like taylor swift but

actually what she does, de—uniqueness of taylor is that she speaks for an audience that are not often spoken for, which is just the young person and that is why we feel the connection.— the connection. there was a shift because she _ the connection. there was a shift because she had _ the connection. there was a shift because she had to _ the connection. there was a shift because she had to take back- because she had to take back ownership of her creativity and in that way became almost a business. absolutely, she's been running this business, taylor swift, they call management her family business because it is her mum, her brother, her father. because it is her mum, her brother, herfather. it is because it is her mum, her brother, her father. it is quite closely managed and taylor herself has a lot of direct input. managed and taylor herself has a lot of direct input-— of direct input. do you think, tickets change _ of direct input. do you think, tickets change hands - of direct input. do you think, tickets change hands for - of direct input. do you think, tickets change hands for a i of direct input. do you think, | tickets change hands for a lot of direct input. do you think, i tickets change hands for a lot of money and do you think that it therefore means she is crowding out therefore means she is crowding out the market by virtue of the fact that people are so desperate for the music and to see her? t that people are so desperate for the music and to see her?— music and to see her? i think ta lor, music and to see her? i think taylor, there's no _ music and to see her? i think taylor, there's no denying i music and to see her? i think. taylor, there's no denying that music and to see her? i think i taylor, there's no denying that she has a huge market, a majority at the

moment. everyone is talking about taylor swift. for me as a fan of 15 years it is bizarre because i've been here almost from the beginning. she is opening—round for artists, especially young female artists. olivia breen, —— olivia roderigo. they are talking about things that are meaningful to them and i'm interested in how they are meaningful to young women and taylor is doing that, opening up the industry more so than she is closing it. �* , ., ., ., industry more so than she is closing it. ~ . ., . i'm it. and you are going twice? i'm aoain to it. and you are going twice? i'm going to edinburgh _ it. and you are going twice? i'm going to edinburgh and - it. and you are going twice? i'm i going to edinburgh and wembley, very excited! . , going to edinburgh and wembley, very excited! ., , . before we go, a clarification on a story we featured last night. in a report about poor behaviour by mps we repeated incorrect allegations about the mp claudia webbe threatening an acid attack. although ms webbe was convicted of harassment,

she appealed and while her conviction was upheld, the court found that she had not made a threat to throw acid, and reduced her sentence. we apologise for the inaccuracy. so, let's take a look at some of the front pages. we begin with the guardian, calls for calm after israeli strikes hitting tehran. the times, tories plan stamp duty cut. a picture of prince harry. with a bonus arrest. daily may, benefits to be axed after a year on the dole. pm announcing biggest welfare crackdown in a generation to getjobless back to work. disability benefit facing cuts in tory manifesto as pm bezz election on a welfare blitz, says the i. the daily express, 200,000 demand that dame esther gets her dying wish, wishing to die when she

wants. that's all from us this week. but how could we go without remembering that our host channel of 44 years, bbc two, turns 60 this weekend? it got off to a dodgy start back in 1964, when a powerfailure blacked out television centre and forced the channel to postpone its grand opening until the following night. but it was upwards from there — transmitting in higher definition than bbc! and, within a few years, becoming the first channel in europe to broadcast in colour. over the decades it's created many classic shows, a number of which have been cheekily ported across to bbc1. we'll leave you with a mash—up of memories. happy birthday bbc2 — love newsnight. # just the two of us, we can make it if we try # just the two of us...#