things seemed bad boat races, things seemed bad for the government when professor john curtis on this channel predicted that the labour party has a 99% chance of forming the next government, but a poll of 15,000 voters published in the sunday times today suggests an election held in the last few days would have returned. fewer than 100 conservative mps and more than 460 the headlines this 460 labour. the headlines this last week were ghastly nhs satisfaction at a record low. the debacle at thames water is widely regarded as a general indictment of that most tory of policies. privatisation and a new honours list rewarded a conservative donor and conservative donor and conservative mps. our top political panel will discuss this further. damage to a beleaguered government, even in the realm of defence. traditionally a strong conservative territory. new polling suggests that labour is more trusted , and that's more trusted, and that's significant amid warnings from the polish prime minister, donald tusk, that there is a real prospect of war on the european continent. i'll discuss that view with the defence

editor at the evening standard and a former british army colonel . turning to more bucolic colonel. turning to more bucolic subjects, the art of hedgelaying in england goes back more than 4000 years. the skills of those few hardy yeoman who still practice it are increasingly in demand as farmers seek natural ways to boost wildlife, manage water filtration and absorb carbon. richard negus has been laying hedges for decades and has now written a book and ending the morning hour of the program. stefan kyriazis will review a trio of musicals. all of that is to come. but first, your headlines with sophia wenzler. >> thanks, michael. good morning. it's 11:02. >> thanks, michael. good morning. it's11:02. i'm sophia wenzler in the gb newsroom. your top story this hour. king charles is attending an easter sunday service in windsor, joined by the queen. it's his first significant public appearance since his cancer diagnosis. other members of the

royal family are also there, but the prince and princess of wales are missing the service as catherine continues her cancer treatment. royal biographer and former photographer lloyd former photographer ian lloyd says the king's attendance is a good sign. the fact that they issued a statement saying that he's going is a positive step because when the queen was frail and the queen mother was frail, it was usually wait and see on the day approached, you know what i mean? >> to sort of just see how they would cope. fact that a few would cope. the fact that a few days they announced he was days ago they announced he was going is to be seen as a positive sign . positive sign. >> pope is leading >> i think the pope is leading easter mass at the vatican amid concerns over his health. thousands of people have turned out to see pope francis , who's out to see pope francis, who's been greeting crowds. his appearance welcome after he failed to attend a major good friday procession , cancelling at friday procession, cancelling at the last minute. the vatican says the decision was made to preserve his health ahead of a vigil yesterday and today's easter sunday mass. pope francis

will hold mass and his orbi. orbi his message to the city and the world. the blessing will be watched globally . in his easter watched globally. in his easter message, the prime minister paid tribute to the work of churches and christian communities across the country . the country. >> happy easter everyone! this weekend , as people come together weekend, as people come together to celebrate and reflect on the message of the heart of the easter festival, i want to pay tribute to the incredible work of christians in this country. the churches, charities, volunteers and fundraisers who lived the christian values of compassion, charity and self—sacrifice, supporting those in need and demonstrating what it means to love thy neighbour. >> and sir keir starmer also posted on social media saying it's a time for optimism and new beginnings . the easter messages beginnings. the easter messages come as a new poll suggests the tories are on track for their worst general election result. salvation found the party could win fewer than 100 seats, with

labour predicted to sweep to power with a landslide victory of 468 seats. the 15,000 person poll indicated the conservatives would be wiped out in scotland and wales, and hold just 98 seats in england . the energy seats in england. the energy secretary has warned that labour's dangerous net zero plans would leave britain at the mercy of china . labour has mercy of china. labour has pledged to convert the country to clean power 2030. that's to clean power by 2030. that's five years earlier than the conservatives. but claire coutinho told the telegraph the plan would leave the uk over reliance on chinese made metals cables and batteries, just as europe was weaning itself off russian oil and gas. europe was weaning itself off russian oil and gas . and there russian oil and gas. and there are calls for suicide prevention support for teachers following a rise in the profession of people taking their lives, a survey has found . nearly a quarter of found. nearly a quarter of teachers use alcohol to cope with stresses of the job, while 12% have used antidepressants , 12% have used antidepressants, the poll of teaching union members found almost 9 in 10

believe their job has adversely affected their mental health in the past 12 months, and a new gender clinic for children are due to open in england after a year long delay and a waiting list of thousands, the news comes as the tavistock clinic in london officially closes its doors after a review found it was not safe for children . was not safe for children. around 250 patients were being treated at the controversial site as of tomorrow, responsible for their care will be transferred to the new clinics in the north and south of the country . and for the latest country. and for the latest stories, sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on your screen , or go to gb on your screen, or go to gb news. com slash alerts . now it's news. com slash alerts. now it's back to michael

i >> -- >> thank 5mm >> thank you very much. sophia wenzler. well, rishi sunak a torrid time in number 10 continues, but who knows how long for a poll published in the sunday times suggests that had the election been held in the last few days, the conservatives will be wiped out in scotland and wales and would hold just 98 seats england. only 13 of 28 seats in england. only 13 of 28 cabinet members would their cabinet members would hold their seats . portillo moments would be seats. portillo moments would be the renamed the norm or would be renamed mordant moments or cleverly moments . nhs satisfaction is at moments. nhs satisfaction is at a record low. consumers are outraged by the proposal made by thames water to hike their bills , and the government's latest honours list prompted accusations of cronyism. the tory ship is full speed ahead for the rocks to discuss all of that. i have an excellent political panel, political commentator and former sunday mirror editor paul connew, gb news own albie amankona and darren grimes. very nice to see you all. good morning and happy easter, paul, is this poll

credible? is it possible that the tories are going to come in with fewer than 100 seats? >> i think it is very credible. >> i think it is very credible. >> i'm good. sources tell me that number 10 is private polling is coming up with with similar figures. so i gather a labour's although labour are determined not to be seen to be complacent or crowing. so i don't think they would be even even telling anybody in confidence , you know, or confidence, you know, or certainly not in public anyway what their results are . but i what their results are. but i think and you had, you had the extraordinary situation, the daily mail, even seemed to be cooling on the sunak and even the tory government . i mean, you the tory government. i mean, you had often its mouthpiece, richard littlejohn , last friday richard littlejohn, last friday in his column saying which richie sunak is a decent man, but he's run out of ideas . he's but he's run out of ideas. he's run out of road. call an election now with the now in caps with an exclamation mark, and you had you had yesterday's daily mail with saying that now

the now labour are trusted more than the tories on defence with an exclamation mark again on there and a stinging leader. so although i can't see the mail coming out and actually saying doing a complete cheerleading role for keir starmer, i think, i think they may be somewhat lukewarm or even fence sitting when it comes to the crunch, unless unless something happens to change the polls. >> paul, sticking with you, you talked about what's going on inside number 10. one of the complaints that's made about rishi sunak, one of the reasons that given for why it might be better change the leader at better to change the leader at this that people better to change the leader at this number people better to change the leader at this number 10 ople better to change the leader at this number 10 as.e better to change the leader at this number 10 as the place describe number 10 as the place that die. they that policies go to die. they talk about this sort of stone walling effect. this control mania in number 10, which is stopping anything happening. do you hear anything of that? what i do, what i do hear is that there are, if you like, two camps within number 10, some arguing for an early poll in

june, others saying stick with the october plan. >> i think november is probably less likely because quite a few advisers suggest that coincided too much with the us election. will actually divert attention. media coverage and confuse the issues. so if i was forced to put a bet on, i would still say mid october, but if it was june, i wouldn't be that surprised , i wouldn't be that surprised, darren, do you think the second local elections are going to be are going to be the crunch? that's there will that's when i'm sure there will be to try to unseat sunak, be moves to try to unseat sunak, whether they get anywhere or not, i don't know. well let me adjust the question i was going to ask to darren. >> is it possible for the prime minister to survive with a poll like this? >> we're all in the same >> i think we're all in the same position. you know, you mentioned mail and mentioned the mail there and sort full sort of not coming out full throated starmer. throated for sir keir starmer. i think nation is in the same think the nation is in the same position where there isn't this groundswell love sir keir groundswell of for love sir keir starmer. labour vote, starmer. the labour vote, i would isn't rock solid,

would argue, isn't rock solid, i think the prime minister can survive a poll like this. he can't survive an actual poll. perhaps when it comes to the local elections we've got in the north—east of england , a mayoral north—east of england, a mayoral election for the first time for the full region. now that is will be massive. you have a corbynista candidate who is standing against the labour candidate, and then the conservative party candidate. same in north yorkshire. you have a candidate, that conservative candidate there against labour. it's going to be really interesting to see if they lose all of their elected mayors, who of course have been power for shoring up votes power bases for shoring up votes and saying, look what we can do to level up. and if they lose those power bases , then i really those power bases, then i really think that's probably when we all know that the game is up and the writing is very much on the wall. >> i mean, funnily enough, sticking darren, sticking with you, darren, funnily in running up to funnily enough, in running up to 1997, we didn't think that the

disaster was going to be as great as it actually was . i great as it actually was. i mean, i rather tended to think it might be, but on the whole, the view was that the polls were so extreme they couldn't possibly be true. and i think that's one of the reasons why john survived to fight the john major survived to fight the election. wonder election. but i just wonder what is psychological impact is the psychological impact of this sort poll this sort of poll on conservative members of parliament? >> well, it must be extraordinary. it must be excruciating. i don't think if anyone was thinking of jumping into a reform shaped lifeboat, i wonder if that's that's getting a few people thinking about that , i know where certain mps are on manoeuvres . on manoeuvres. >> wouldn't be a very good lifeboat, though, would it? well, it would just sink straight away. >> well, i mean, they start when it to for example, it comes to men for example, they're the conservatives. >> you think reform >> so do you think the reform party will win a seat like alby is quite keen to go into the discussion >> alby, i'm sorry that we've kept waiting. and thank kept you waiting. and thank you for patience you've for the patience that you've demonstrated. for the patience that you've demccould ed. for the patience that you've demccould you could address now. could you could you address that to darren

that question i put to darren a moment what is the moment ago? what is the psychological of this moment ago? what is the psychilogical of this moment ago? what is the psychilogical it of this moment ago? what is the psychilogical it seemsf this moment ago? what is the psychilogical it seems t01is moment ago? what is the psychilogical it seems to me in poll? i mean, it seems to me in a way it almost doesn't matter at stage whether the poll at this stage whether the poll is that is right or wrong. the fact that the exists, fact that , the poll exists, the fact that, you know, the majority of mps, even the majority of the cabinet, is being told that they're not going to hold their seats the next election. seats at the next election. that must devastating. must be devastating. what will it do ? it make them do? >> the conservatives polling badly is not something new for the conservative party. we know that we have been polling badly. tory mps know that they have been polling badly. we've been polling michael , since polling badly, michael, since liz truss was the prime minister, there was a bit of a rebound when rishi came into power. the, power. but the, the, the situation hasn't really improved since autumn 2022. so what hasn't really improved? well it hasn't really improved? well it hasn't it hasn't really improved. these are these are the statistics. i'm not going to argue with the fact the polls are not looking good at the moment. the polls are not looking good autumn 2022. and looking good in autumn 2022. and things improved things have not really improved since . since that time. >> i'm trying to put to

since that time. >> is i'm trying to put to since that time. >> is this, i'm trying to put to since that time. >> is this, the trying to put to since that time. >> is this, the understanding 0 you is this, the understanding that people had until quite recently, i think, was that the conservatives were going lose conservatives were going to lose the and there was the election, and then there was a whether they'd a debate about whether they'd lose 100 or lose it by 50 or 100 or whatever. says that the whatever. this says that the conservative has the pole conservative has had the pole been week, would have conservative has had the pole been annihilated aek, would have conservative has had the pole been annihilated .3k, would have conservative has had the pole been annihilated . that)uld have conservative has had the pole been annihilated . that is.d have been annihilated. that is completely different. this is the one poll saying it. no and this you know, things this isn't you know, things haven't since truss . haven't improved since truss. this is that things have reached an position . and as an historic position. and as i say to you, not a position we had to cope with in 1997, because that was not at least our expectation or what i would say to people who getting say to people who are getting overexcited about this poll, as i think many of us are, is that the only poll that matters is the general election. >> and hold on, let me make the point and the point that i will make is that people are not exactly about the labour exactly excited about the labour party. we don't know what any of their policies are. we don't know what their policies are on how they're going to stop the boats. what their boats. we don't know what their policies we policies are on levelling up. we don't know their policies don't know what their policies are spend. we don't

are on tax and spend. we don't know them all. are on tax and spend. we don't knowe them all. are on tax and spend. we don't knowe do them all. are on tax and spend. we don't knowe do know them all. are on tax and spend. we don't knowe do know is them all. are on tax and spend. we don't knowe do know is that1em all. are on tax and spend. we don't knowe do know is that people all we do know is that people are angry with the conservatives. but i do think when the manifestos are out, where the mps are out there making the case their making the case for their political it be political parties, it will be a choice between labour and the conservatives. darren's reform lifeboat dream is just not going conservatives. darren's reform lifihappen.zam is just not going conservatives. darren's reform lifihappen. andis just not going conservatives. darren's reform lifihappen. and i just not going conservatives. darren's reform lifihappen. and i thinkiot going conservatives. darren's reform lifihappen. and i thinkiot goithe to happen. and i think when the pubuc to happen. and i think when the public faced that public are faced with that choice , i think things will be closer. >> paul connew do you know anything is the anything about mrp? mrp is the system is used in these system that is used in these polls. now the reason the reason that we're getting excited about this poll, albie, is that 15,000 people were interviewed. that's a very large number of people, a huge amount of resources being put into this poll. and what this poll does, it tries to understand the sort of people that exist in britain and the tendencies that they have to vote, and then it translates that seat by seat and produces these results. it's had quite good results in the past. but pauli good results in the past. but paul, i get very suspicious about polling because, you know, iused about polling because, you know, i used to think very naively that an opinion poll was you

asked people what they thought and then you published it. no no no no no no, not at all. what you you put it through you do is you put it through computers and algorithms and you apply sorts of prejudices to apply all sorts of prejudices to it, and you make sure that you're outlying poll you're not an outlying poll because don't to be because you don't want to be humiliated get it wrong. humiliated if you get it wrong. so much can we trust so how much can we trust this mrp methodology? so how much can we trust this mrp methright»gy? so how much can we trust this mrp methright about the >> you're right about the risk of an outlying poll, but the trouble different trouble is that different methods by different pollsters are all coming up. you had probably our best known psephologist, sirjohn probably our best known psephologist, sir john curtice, on friday or thursday, saying it was 99% certain that was going to be a labour government . you to be a labour government. you had a distinguished oxford university poll coming up with virtually the same statistic. so i think i think the idea that the polls could be misleading, you know, i'm in an odd position of somebody who did some research in the red wall as it was and wasn't then called in 2016 and predicted, even though i'm a staunch remainer, that leave would actually win , i leave would actually win, i would not make any prediction that the tory party can possibly

win this election unless something absolutely, you know, unpredictable happened. >> i somehow feel we're not quite on the same page. i think. i think a lot of tories have understood for quite a long time that they weren't going to win, but telling them that but this is telling them that they're annihilated. they're going to be annihilated. let's talk about recent let's just talk about recent events. shocked , events. were you pretty shocked, darren, by that honours list that was produced easter that was produced the easter honours list wasn't shocked, but i was puzzled by the timing. >> why now? you know why now? is this the prime minister deciding that actually in 12 months time, what is the good time to advertise that if someone gives you £5 million, they'll get a knighthood? well, that's a fair point. but well, i think it's probably a time rishi probably a good time for rishi sunak he doesn't think sunak because he doesn't think he's be around he's going to be around much longer, months he's going to be around much longehe's months he's going to be around much longehe's going months he's going to be around much longehe's going to months he's going to be around much longehe's going to be �*nonths time he's going to be leading a silicon valley social media company something that , company or something like that, which suited to the which is more suited to the office prime minister. office of prime minister. >> me ask you one >> let me let me ask you one last question, because you use the day, the

the word we the other day, the other referring the other moment referring to the conservatives. it sounds like conservatives. so it sounds like you're a conservative. i put so much effort into privatisation. what's going on with thames water has discredited the whole concept of privatisation, has it not? >> well, it's interesting you asked that question, michael, because i was out yesterday reporting at the oxford and cambridge boat race, asking the pubuc cambridge boat race, asking the public this very question whether or not they think privatisation has failed and if thames water is an example of privatisation failing because the rowers couldn't even go into the rowers couldn't even go into the thames yesterday because it's full of e coli, because it's so full of e coli, because thames dumping sewage thames water is dumping sewage in thames, single in the thames, and every single member i member of the public that i spoke said that they thought spoke to said that they thought privatisation has failed. so do you accept that it is a failure, i think it has been horribly abused and maybe we were naive in not foreseeing the ways in which it would be abused. >> virtually no other european nafion >> virtually no other european nation doesn't have a effectively nationalised water

system. >> in fact, no, no other nation has the nhs. i'm not particularly impressed by that argument. thank you. thank you very much. it sounds as though the tories may be washed away by, by the by the tidal flow . by, by the by the tidal flow. thank you very much. albie amankona. paul connew and darren grimes . king amankona. paul connew and darren grimes. king charles is appearing in public this morning for easter sunday service at for the easter sunday service at saint george's chapel, windsor castle . it's his first proper castle. it's his first proper pubuc castle. it's his first proper public engagement since he was diagnosed with cancer. our royal correspondent, cameron walker, has the details. hello, cameron, could i ask you, first of all, i mean, given the risk to the king's health of being with the public, of possibly getting an infection, why do you think the king was so insistent on appearing today ? appearing today? >> good morning, michael, and happy easter to you . i think the happy easter to you. i think the king, if you just listen to what his nephew said last week, peter phillips, he said the king is an incredibly frustrated not to be able to be out and with able to be out and about with members of the public. he said

he was saddened to not be able to attend the maundy thursday service this week. and think service this week. and i think the king was very determined to provide some sort of reassurance following the princess of wales's cancer diagnosis and undergoing treatment. it was a huge shock to the public and clearly i think he's aware of this perception of a very, very slimmed down monarchy, indeed at the moment. and the king as well, has a deep faith . he's well, has a deep faith. he's head of the church of england and him attending a service on one of the most significant days in the christian calendar would have been very, very important to service has had to him. now, the service has had to him. now, the service has had to be adjusted because he is still undergoing cancer treatment, which means he cannot be around large . be around large. >> thank you very much. cameron walker , after the break, we'll walker, after the break, we'll be talking about the security of europe amid dire warnings that have come from the polish prime minister. that war with russia is a distinct possibility. stay with please . thank you

with us, please. thank you very much,

welcome back, donald tusk. that is . the welcome back, donald tusk. that is. the polish prime minister. didn't mince his words this week when he warned that europe is in a pre—war era in ukraine. russia shows tenacity and is predicted to summer offensive. to launch a summer offensive. vladimir putin's mandate has been a sham been renewed after a sham election. the country has settled vastly increased settled on vastly increased military expenditure. the scene is set for more aggression, to debate how we can respond , i debate how we can respond, i have with me in the studio studio robert fox, the defence editor at the evening standard. good morning. very, very good to see you. good morning. happy easter, happy easter to you. but i not very happy this i feel not very happy this easter this story , easter concerning this story, the in the press the tone, i think, in the press this is that we're this morning is that we're looking at the possibility of

ukrainian defeat and frustratingly, possibly a defeat that even at this stage, western allies could avoid. what do you think ? yes, i think first of think? yes, i think first of all, retreat and defeat that is on the cards, don't want to be over self—regarding, but i wrote that that we are facing setback, but we are facing the very possibility if the combination of things go right for russia, stand off bombs attacking odesa as . as on the front, and as well. as on the front, and huge build up of numbers of munitions and personnel, 1.3 million in reserve altogether ehhen million in reserve altogether either. whether that defeat is tactical , temporary or tactical, temporary or catastrophic. either way, and this is what donald tusk was warning. it is very, very bad news for europe. >> and the trouble is, with warning, europe about the real dangen warning, europe about the real danger, which includes the area in britain sits, that if in which britain sits, that if you really want varne to early,

people will be put off. >> they say you're frightening the horses, and if you do it too late, it will be too late . and late, it will be too late. and we're in a very, very dangerous position. what donald tusk position. and what donald tusk was that european was saying is that the european allies, through allies, particularly through nato and the eu, have not got their together . ukraine is their act together. ukraine is running out of ammunition. >> that's a simple point. on the one hand, we have the problem in the united states, where the arms is blocked in arms supply is blocked in congress. and then we have the issue of whether donald trump will become president. but in europe, our procurement systems are failing. talk to me about that. >> absolutely hopeless. they've talked about it for years and years and years. i think very likely when you were defence secretary, that we're going to coordinate the european coordinate that the european entity, whether it was the ec or the eu, would get this aspect together. by the way, i think we have to say to europe, britain is very much involved in defence, but the european union framework for defence and security, it plays second,

you've got to work through nato and you've got to get it together. but it is very reminiscent of things we saw in the last century where ammunition stocks run out. the lack of ammunition, particularly artillery ammunition, is absolutely the symptom of the crisis. and we've got to work out a different stages uk, how we work with allies , how we're we work with allies, how we're going to deal with reforming our own system in defence. it's a very big ask that will happen to the new government that comes in after the election. there will have to be a defence review and it revolve around 3 or it must revolve around 3 or 4 very simple principles. >> was was indeed immensely >> i was i was indeed immensely frustrated by the procurement system when i was in office and also, as you can imagine, very insistent that nato had to be the primary organisation for collective defence. colonel richard kemp, who's formerly an officer in the british army, can join us now , richard, do you join us now, richard, do you take the view that at this stage the europeans, if they got their act together, could make a

material difference to the defence of ukraine? >> i think they certainly could, but it's probably too late for that. i think it's possible that something significant could be done, but but i think, we've had over two years now of, of un, insufficient support for ukraine from the us and of course, from the, from europe as well . and the, from europe as well. and that's put ukraine in the position sinner today. i think it's going to it. you know, you russia's been on the on the offensive to a limited extent anyway for a number of months now, and there's not really a hell of a lot stopping them for from continuing with that. and i think unless we're able to get significant amounts of particularly artillery, tank ammunition, long—range missiles and of course, aircraft to ukraine, they're not we're not going to turn the situation around now, i'm afraid , richard, around now, i'm afraid, richard, around now, i'm afraid, richard, a thought that i heard expressed this morning, which struck me like a thunderbolt is that if russia were to take over

ukraine, it gains the armaments of ukraine. and they 800,000 who are enlisted in the ukrainian forces, which puts it in a much stronger position to initiate its next offensive . its next offensive. >> yeah, i think that's that's obviously a real danger. i'm not sure it's very likely to happen. i suspect that , putin won't go i suspect that, putin won't go full blast out to, to take over the whole of ukraine. i think he'll probably , be more willing he'll probably, be more willing to, to keep what he's got and maybe expand the territory further and come to some kind of a, an agreement, some kind of peace agreement, probably forced upon ukraine by the americans. i think that's a more likely outcome. but you're of course right that if he does go full blast into, into ukraine and take over the whole country, then he's got a hell of a lot more power than he already has now, potentially, thank you. richard. let me let me ask robert. which are the places that we should be worried about ?

that we should be worried about? moldova, poland, the baltic states? yes >> and the arctic. and but the problem is that we have seen, activity off the program in the eastern mediterranean. they've taken over benghazi. they've got two ports there. they're moving into africa because they are now part of the axis of disruption . part of the axis of disruption. and the new factor in this, that putin is absolutely clear , the putin is absolutely clear, the solid allies for supply. and it will continue on north korea and iran. donald tusk point, as you know, is that it's not going to stop here. this is what the bolts the three baltic countries are advising us. and there is this alliance, and they look very much to britain. curiously of poland. and then the joint expeditionary force, are the expeditionary force, who are the nordics now? finland? poland? norway. have they got in norway. what have they got in common? they have got a border with russia, and they're very worried about it. but it's very interesting. we show pictures of

ground forces in the next few months, as one of the senior advisers to the mod , doctor, rob advisers to the mod, doctor, rob johnson, was pointing out in a talk last, last week, a lot is going to happen in the air and on the sea and on the sea in keeping odesa open. it's where britain and britain's advice, which has been actually very strong and very practical, up to now, is absolutely critical. >> you imply, of course, a new division in europe, which is between those who have a border with russia or are very close to russia, who have sort of, as it were, got it. and the rest of us who kind of haven't got it. thank you very much indeed, colonel kemp. and here colonel richard kemp. and here in the studio, robert fox. i'll be changing tack after the break. we'll explore the ancient art of hedgelaying and its new application to sustainable farming. with us, please

welcome back. the earliest written record regarding hedgelaying is contained in juuus hedgelaying is contained in julius caesar's account of the conquest of gaul . but by then conquest of gaul. but by then the practice was probably already 2000 years old. the ancient art is gaining renewed impetus today in britain as a means to partition fields , means to partition fields, sustain wildlife, manage water filtration and absorb carbon. and that's thanks to people like richard negus who've kept the skill alive. richard's been laying hedges in east anglia for decades and has written a book, words from the hedge a hedge hedge player's view of the countryside. i'm very pleased that he joins me now, happy easter , welcome to gb news. easter, welcome to gb news. richard. you have pointed out you have pointed out the paradox that the hedge is full of nature, but the hedge is not a

naturally occurring phenomenon . naturally occurring phenomenon. so if it's not naturally occurring, how has it occurred ? occurring, how has it occurred? >> well, it's courtesy really , >> well, it's courtesy really, of our farming heritage, the archaeology artist frances pryor, discovered in a fenland ditch in the 80s. a little tiny barb, tiny little barb of hegeps barb, tiny little barb of hegel's brash. and he realised, with some further digging, that that that was the first hedge. the oldest hedge in europe, 2500 bc. and it stands to reason that if there was a hedge planted by man to retain livestock, as they know that this was, then there had to be hedge layers, because a hedge is only a hedge if you maintain it by man , courtesy of maintain it by man, courtesy of the of laying or otherwise the art of laying or otherwise coppicing a hedge, because otherwise that hedge just turns back into either a linear wood or a block of scrub. >> now, you've described the

physical impact upon you of laying a hedge. do you want to go through that briefly ? go through that briefly? >> well, my arms are somewhat scarred and tattered, even though i wear very large leather gauntlets, they are lacerated. i've got my right shoulder. is a lot larger than my left shoulder because this is the one i use for my billhook and where every stake that i hit in. and also i've got a middle aged stoop probably a bit early because it's a very physical job and obviously you're dealing with these thorny, prickly , shrubby these thorny, prickly, shrubby species, and yeah , it's, it's it species, and yeah, it's, it's it takes its wear and tear, particularly on a middle aged man like me. i'm starting to feel old age now, you've talked there about the brawn that you employ, but you also need brain to be a hedge layer. explain that. what is it you're having to think about as you lay hedges ? >> 7. >>i 7_ >> i believe ? >> i believe you do, 7

>> i believe you do, because the, the brawn bit is, is obvious. >> it's a physical job, but the brain is that you've got to understand the ecology of, of the hedgerow and you've got to understand farming understand the farming practices, farming needs and practices, the farming needs and the, the economy of farming, i also what you really need also think what you really need to understand is that you are manufacturing. you are man making a habitat. so manufacturing. you are man making a habitat . so therefore making a habitat. so therefore you have to have an understanding of a of a mosaic of the landscape. and by that what i mean is that when we lay a line of hedge, it is denuded for wildlife for a brief period at. and if you don't realise how wildlife can move about , if we wildlife can move about, if we laid every single hedge on one farm in one season, it would be very bad for wildlife and probably actually very bad for the farm. two, so therefore we have to understand how you can manipulate the landscape with a beneficial thing for, for, for, for wildlife and for the farm.

this is very much a partnership between farming and nature recovery. >> and tell me about the sweep of ecological benefits. so it's a habitat for things like yellowhammers. but what else. how does it play a role in things like filtration and carbon recovery and things like that. >> yeah. well for filtration it's an interesting one. one of my, my customers and neighbour nean my, my customers and neighbour near, near here, they did a trial with some perennial wildflower strips through arable fields . and they were looking at fields. and they were looking at how they might retain , how they might retain, filtration from, from inputs of fertiliser , chemicals, etc. and fertiliser, chemicals, etc. and while they realised was that if you also had these buffers of grassland , these margins, as we grassland, these margins, as we call them, but you also had a hedge , the water quality that hedge, the water quality that was going into those ditches was improved. and the water companies immediately saw the benefit in this, because all of a sudden, the water that they were getting at their filtration

plants required less filtration. so therefore they financially rewarded the farmers for having clean water. and that hedge the root structure filters through the chemicals or the nitrates or the chemicals or the nitrates or the soil. that's that's going through that, that before it goes into the ditch , i think goes into the ditch, i think there's also i mean, carbon is a very interesting one. yes. we know that the hedgerow is a good means of, of sequestering carbon. however, there is a negative to that is if you have one size perfect two metres by two metres, that's going to store lots of carbon . that's store lots of carbon. that's terrible actually for wildlife because you're back to a monoculture. and so therefore, you know, a two metre high hedge. that's fine for yellowhammer, but it's useless for a turtledove or a bullfinch that wants to nest higher. so that's back that narrative that's back to that narrative i'm talking about of, of a mosaic . and that's why we plan

mosaic. and that's why we plan so the hedge laying season finishes, in a couple of days time at the end of this month. and then we have a little bit of a break and then we come back usually after harvest, and we will go and plot and map hedges on farms, and we'll do a management plan which will give us an idea that for the next five and ten years, as to which hedges will lay when. so that mosaic is maintained. hedges will lay when. so that mosaic is maintained . and, so mosaic is maintained. and, so carbon is an interesting one. we all know that farmers are under huge pressure to be the carbon sink for britain, that they've been given yet another task to do, but the hedge is only part of it, i think really, because the hedge that is there now, i would say predominantly for, for wildlife and to have a carbon friendly hedge doesn't necessarily mean it's a nature friendly hedge. richard would you remind me of the title of your book, please ? my book's

your book, please? my book's words from the hedge, it's published by unbound, it's a bit of a pun, to be perfectly honest, because it's a pun on a jethro tull album. called, songs from the wood. and it's because i believe that in a way, the hedgeis i believe that in a way, the hedge is a bit like the original jethro tull's horse drawn , hoe a jethro tull's horse drawn, hoe a plough, that we have been manipulating the landscape for , manipulating the landscape for, for since more or less we realised that we could farm easier than we could hunt. and i suppose my words from the hedge is about the fact that we have an impact on the landscape, and that's usually through farming and hedges. they're a great impact that we can have as a legacy for others. and it's my job to look after these wonderful arteries of the land. and that's what my book is trying to show. >> richard negus, author of words from the hedge. thank you very much indeed . after the

very much indeed. after the break, stefan kyriazis will shepherd us through the latest musical theatre productions. stay with me

welcome back. stefan kyriazis is here with three reviews of new musicals . i here with three reviews of new musicals. i have read your reviews of opening night. and what an enjoyable read. it is. unless, of course, you happen to be a member of the cast or the production team. in which case, i mean , you must be in a state i mean, you must be in a state of depression today. you about absolutely savaged it with a trenchant review. >> yes . >> yes. >> yes. >> and i'm not alone. >> and i'm not alone. >> this one. there's been a lot of one and two stars and lots of critics fudge around a three star if they don't love something, find something, but they still find there are things to admire. >> this opening night, let's

>> in this opening night, let's introduce it. who's in it? introduce it. who's who's in it? so opening night. so this is opening night. >> based on the john >> it's based on the john cassavetes name cassavetes 1977 film big name shendan cassavetes 1977 film big name sheridan smith, so she is a big draw. >> she will draw audiences is automatically they come for her. almost doesn't matter what she's in. director ivo van hove, belgian let's say conceptual artist director. so his shows are very marmite anyway. but this is very, very closely on the 1977 film, but it's, it's this thing again, it's mixing camera work, which i'm already a little bit. i know it's the new thing , but little bit. i know it's the new thing, but i'm little bit. i know it's the new thing , but i'm already little bit. i know it's the new thing, but i'm already a bit tired of. she's been hitting tired of. and she's been hitting headunes tired of. and she's been hitting headlines in the headlines for collapsing in the street, on the street outside in soho. yeah, and obviously for me, it was a bit gimmicky. it's a bit of a stunt. it's going to get headlines. it creates a bit of interest. i don't know that it's necessary for play it's necessary for the play that's filmed, relayed to us. there huge screen inside, there is a huge screen inside, but unlike sarah snook where we had all these different screens for dorian grey, this screen pretty much generally shows

what's happening right in front of us, but i found it. it gave me a headache. it's very distracting . it's right there. distracting. it's right there. but the actors are there. you can see them. >> you even talked about bad acting, i think. >> think some there's some >> i think some there's some really established musical theatre stars in here. and i think some of the worst think there's some of the worst performances they've probably think there's some of the worst perfcgiven. es they've probably think there's some of the worst perfcgiven. and ey've probably think there's some of the worst perfcgiven. and ejdon'trobably think there's some of the worst perfcgiven. and ejdon't knowy ever given. and i don't know whether bit whether it's they're a bit abandoned concept. abandoned in this crazy concept. it's called myrtle it's an actress called myrtle who is putting they're rehearsing and doing previews for a play the actress herself is having a bit of a breakdown. the character in the play is having a breakdown . the actress having a breakdown. the actress doesn't like the play. her ex—husband is playing her husband in the play. there's also an ex—husband in the play. the producer loves her. she sleeps with the director, the writer hates her. and there's all these people on stage all the time. for me, it's impenetrable. i know what it's trying to do. there's concepts of a women's place in theatre, art and artist, self and self destruction . in what is real. destruction. in what is real. she starts hallucinating , girl

she starts hallucinating, girl that gets hit by a car at the start of the play , played by start of the play, played by shira haas, who is extraordinary. the actress from unorthodox . but you just you unorthodox. but you just you really don't know what's going on.and really don't know what's going on. and then there are moments where she's improvising the play and if it's and you don't know if it's rehearsals, on stage rehearsals, if she's on stage where are or genuinely i did. where we are or genuinely i did. i saw a few people snoozing . i i saw a few people snoozing. i kind of wish i had, i just, kind of wish i had, ijust, i find it frustrating. i think this is i'm all for bold, experimental theatre, but i don't know that the west end is the place for it. and the critics that loved it would argue, yes, that is where it should be. >> well, it'll draw the crowds, though smith. will it? >> yes, &- % those crowds are >> yes, but those crowds are paying >> yes, but those crowds are paying lot of money. and paying a lot of money. and as has papers has been in the papers again yesterday and today, they are often again. friend of often leaving again. a friend of a interval. a friend left to the interval. so this to me, it so i think this to me, it doesn't feel like it's completely formed in itself . i completely formed in itself. i also just don't think it should be in the west end. that's moonwalk on to mj to mj. now michael jackson new musical again quite a lot of controversy. but we've got a

lovely little clip to get you in the mood . i said you wanna be the mood. i said you wanna be startin somethin. >> you got to be startin somethin i said, you wanna be startin somethin. you got to be startin somethin. you got to be startin somethin. you got to be startin somethin . holibobs parm startin somethin. holibobs parm sandhu somebody got a plan for someone holibobs. you got to be startin somethin . startin somethin. >> so it looks like the choreography and the dance is superb. would that be right? >> it's absolutely stunning, it's by christopher wheeldon now. he has already won two tony awards. was also with the new now. he has already won two tony awarcity vas also with the new now. he has already won two tony awarcity balleto with the new now. he has already won two tony awarcity ballet for'ith the new now. he has already won two tony awarcity ballet for a1 the new now. he has already won two tony awarcity ballet for a long new york city ballet for a long time. choreographed the time. he's choreographed for the royal ballet, the english national ballet, he did an american in paris, the stage musical adaptation, which i loved. exquisite yes. the movement in this is incredible, and it is obviously based on michael jackson's life. so it is his movements. but also his movements. but he also a portion of it. it's based very cleverly on, a well—chosen portion of his life. so it's 1992. he's setting up the dangerous tour. he's having

financial problems, and he can talk about all his childhood traumas and his father, but we don't really touch on what's looming ahead, which is a wise decision. some critics then have said, well, then what's the point? i would say this show's goal to the man and how goal is to show the man and how he his music and what it he created his music and what it came from. how did a small child sing with the pain of an adult? >> because i'm a great fan of wagner, used to dealing wagner, i'm very used to dealing with yes. you with this question. yes. and you separate the art ? separate the man from the art? yes. and this arises very strongly case, i assume strongly in this case, i assume the leapt to its feet the audience leapt to its feet at end. at the end. >> the audience screamed and cheered way the cheered all the way through the minute. beat minute. it opens with beat it. you tremendous recreation you get a tremendous recreation of thriller, but kind of reinvented an almost kind of reinvented as an almost kind of new orleans day of the dead mexican mash up. it's spectacular. the moments where he pulls out the white sequinned glove or the fedora, or strikes a pose , the gold shades and the a pose, the gold shades and the gold jacket from the dangerous tour. gold jacket from the dangerous tour . these gold jacket from the dangerous tour. these are all iconic michael moments. those baselines that you hear but you also see him, the actor. it has to be,

said myles frost got this job. i think he was still just about a teenagen think he was still just about a teenager. they couldn't find anyone role. pulled anyone for the role. they pulled him he'd him off the internet where he'd posted little that was posted a little video that was trending. absolutely trending. good lord, absolutely extraordinary . he won the tony extraordinary. he won the tony award at youngest award on broadway at youngest man the lead in man ever to win the lead in a musical. he's incredible. there are moments when you almost. he's got the breathy voice. he can do the movement. he can do the kind of skittery man child. >> sounds like there's a real premium to see it. while he's in the role. >> yeah, he's absolutely. he did it for a long time on broadway. he's transferred to here. he will it as far as we will be doing it as far as we know. there's no date and know. there's no date yet. and this open the this is booking open ended. the crowd went absolutely you crowd went absolutely nuts. you have this. for what it have to accept this. for what it is. it's a whole other story. if you're going to do something else jackson's else about michael jackson's life for life and his demons, but for what is , it's tremendous. and what it is, it's tremendous. and it is, yes, beautifully choreographed and staged. >> we just time for a cabaret life is a cabaret, michael. >> we got a teeny tiny clip here. superstar new cast .

here. superstar new cast. covid—19 let's hop from don peyton stearns friends . to rikki peyton stearns friends. to rikki neave to singing to sweet soul shouting . shouting. >> happy to see you, my love. weston—on—trent >> so i've been to this cabaret twice. okay the mise en scene is extraordinary. so they've converted a theatre into a round cabaret that is absolutely superb for me. that's a bit where the good news ended. okay, i didn't think the performances were a patch on the movie from the 1970s, i'm guessing. and the way in which the plot had been interfered with, i thought was was schmaltzy and sentimental and nothing . anyway, it's and added nothing. anyway, it's the same show, but a new cast. yes pretty much every. >> it's a very clever. they're very clear what they're doing. every three months, new names in the two lead roles, of sally and

the two lead roles, of sally and the emcee and they're either theatre stars or established stars at this time. we've got cara delevingne. she's very good. really very good. remembering that the character is not supposed to be a great singer, luke treadaway is the emcee. i eddie redmayne emcee. i have eddie redmayne in my and nothing can ever top my head and nothing can ever top that. but it's i find it beautiful and disturbing. i it's not quite, but there are moments itook not quite, but there are moments i took a friend who didn't know anything was as good as the movie, it's different. i took a young friend. she's 23, 24 and knew nothing about it very much p0p knew nothing about it very much pop culture girl. and for her it blew her mind . she came out blew her mind. she came out wanting to talk about all the issues, all the thoughts, parallels to today. so for that, i think it's a strong show. >> and i would say the total experience of the show is worthwhile . absolutely stunning. worthwhile. absolutely stunning. the into theatre, the way you go into the theatre, what happens before you what happens to you before you get theatre, i'm get into the theatre, which i'm not reveal because not going to reveal because i want to do a spoiler . want don't want to do a spoiler. so, all right, go to so, all right, go along to cabaret. but would say cabaret. but i would say definitely movie definitely watch the movie as well. you steph

well. thank you so much. steph takyi, to you, takyi, happy easter to you, you're watching portillo you're watching michael portillo on news on gb news britain's news channel that ends the first houn channel that ends the first hour, but stay tuned. i'll be back at 12 noon. we'll be discussing how another discussing how to avoid another horror like the one in batley, yorkshire, where teacher yorkshire, where a teacher remains after showing remains in hiding after showing pupils a picture of the prophet mohammed . mohammed. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar , sponsors of weather on . solar, sponsors of weather on. gb news. >> hello there. welcome to your latest gb news, weather. >> well, the best of the weather today continues to be across the north—west of the uk. >> we will see some heavy rain pushing in from the south and that's thanks to pressure that's thanks to low pressure still weather still dominating the weather pattern do for the next pattern and will do for the next week or so as well, bringing in further spells of rain over the next 24 hours so. but for the next 24 hours or so. but for the rest of the day, best of the sunshine across scotland perhaps

northern england into northern ireland morning's rain ireland to this morning's rain clearing here. generally cloudier skies across much of england and wales. thick enough for some patchy light rain and drizzle, but there will be some sunshine coming the far sunshine coming into the far south, trigger south, but this could trigger 1 or showers as we move or 2 heavy showers as we move through into the latter part of the afternoon. temperatures are a average . feeling a little above average. feeling warm in sunshine 15 or 16 warm in that sunshine 15 or 16 celsius through this evening. heavy rain across central southern parts of england pushing northwards. further rain also from the north also pushing in from the north sea to affect parts of northern england. the clearest skies across scotland, northern ireland for before ireland for a time before it clouds over here, temperatures for most generally remaining above . so it's a mixed above freezing. so it's a mixed start to monday. some bright skies across the far south, but as the day goes on, some heavy showers developing here. cloudy across northern parts england across northern parts of england into . rain spreading from into wales. rain spreading from here into northern ireland. generally more cloud across scotland too, but the best of the sunny spells, particularly across the west, holding on some low the east and low cloud in the east and temperatures again lifting

towards teens . towards the mid teens. >> that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers . sponsors of boxt boilers. sponsors of weather on

gb news. >> good afternoon, and welcome to the second hour of easter sunday with michael portillo . a sunday with michael portillo. a review by dame saira khan into social cohesion has found that three quarters of people in britain don't feel that they can speak their minds freely because of the threat of harassment . she of the threat of harassment. she singled the incident in singled out the incident in batley yorkshire, where singled out the incident in b school yorkshire, where singled out the incident in b school teacherorkshire, where singled out the incident in b school teacher hashire, where singled out the incident in b school teacher has gone vhere singled out the incident in b school teacher has gone into; a school teacher has gone into hiding showing picture hiding after showing a picture of muhammad to his of the prophet muhammad to his class. do avoid such class. how do we avoid such incidents happening in the future? i'll discuss that with the founder faith matters and

the founder of faith matters and tell mama fiyaz mughal . northern tell mama fiyaz mughal. northern ireland experienced a rare burst of optimism in recent weeks as politicians resumed power sharing in stormont and engaged in a string of goodwill gestures between the two communities. does the sudden resignation of the dup leader, sirjeffrey donaldson, on thursday as he faces charges of historic sex offences? shake that political stability. we'll cross to belfast to assess the impact. a much loved cambridge musical institution faces the chop. saint john's voices is a mixed voice choir and, though quite young, has earned itself some powerful fans who've reacted with dismay to the news that it will be disbanded. one of those fansis will be disbanded. one of those fans is enda maxtone graham, who will join me to explain why the choir be another choir should be saved. another cultural institution has suffered grave reputational damage the british damage recently. the british museum has now appointed a new chief, nicholas cullinan, who currently directs the national portrait gallery. can he turn

the ship around? and we couldn't finish an easter sunday programme without some chocolates. i'll be trying my hand at decorating some easter eggs with artisan chocolatier liza green. all of that to come. but first, your headlines with sophia wenzler. >> thanks, michael. good afternoon. it's 12:01. >> thanks, michael. good afternoon. it's12:01. i'm sophia wenzler in the gb newsroom . your top story this newsroom. your top story this houn newsroom. your top story this hour. king charles has made his first significant public appearance since his cancer diagnosis . this joined by the diagnosis. this joined by the queen, he smiled and waved as he arrived for an easter sunday service at saint george's chapel in windsor. other members of the royal family are also there , but royal family are also there, but the prince and princess of wales are missing as catherine continues her cancer treatment. now these are live pictures coming to you from windsor, gb news royal correspondent cameron walker says the king's attendance is a good sign . and attendance is a good sign. and we can see the king and the

queen there greeting well—wishers outside of the church as they enjoy their easter sunday service in . windsor. >> king looking, looking well, looking strong and clearly very determined to make an appearance on easter sunday. and that seems to have gone very well . the king to have gone very well. the king and queen exiting from the chapel at windsor and greeting the crowds as they go . lot of the crowds as they go. lot of well—wishers there. >> greeting well—wishers outside of the chapel, the king and . of the chapel, the king and. queen. really quite remarkable . queen. really quite remarkable. the king there. now the pope is

leading easter mass at the vatican amid concerns over his health. thousands of people have turned out to see pope francis , turned out to see pope francis, who's been greeting crowds. his appearance welcome after he failed to attend a major good friday procession, cancelling at the last minute. the vatican says the decision was made to preserve his health ahead of a vigil yesterday and today's easter sunday mass. pope francis will hold mass and his orb, a orb. his message to the city and the world. the blessing will be watched globally . in his easter watched globally. in his easter message, the prime minister paid tribute to the work of churches and christian communities across the country . the country. >> happy easter everyone! this weekend, as people come together to celebrate and reflect on the message of the heart of the easter festival, i want to pay tribute to the incredible work of christians in this country. the churches, charities, volunteers and fundraisers who live the christian values of compassion, charity and self—sacrifice , supporting those

self—sacrifice, supporting those in need and demonstrating what it means to love thy neighbour. >> sir keir starmer also posted on social media saying it's time for optimism and new beginnings. the easter messages come as a new poll suggests the tories are on track for their worst general election result . survation found election result. survation found the party could win fewer than 100 seats, with labour predicted to sweep to power with a landslide victory of 468 seats. the 15,000 person poll indicated the conservatives would be wiped out in scotland and wales, and hold just 98 seats in england . hold just 98 seats in england. now the energy secretary has warned that labour's dangerous net zero plans would leave britain at the mercy of china . britain at the mercy of china. labour has pledged to convert the country to clean power by 2035 years earlier than the conservatives but claire coutinho told the telegraph the plan would leave the uk overreliant on chinese made metals cables and batteries, just as europe was weaning itself off russian oil and gas.

new gender clinics for children are due to open in england after are due to open in england after a year long delay and a waiting list of thousands. the news comes as the tavistock clinic in london officially closes its doors after a review found it was not safe for children around 250 patients were being treated at the controversial site as of tomorrow, responsibility for their care will be transferred to the new clinics in the north and south of the country . and and south of the country. and for the latest stories, sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on your screen, or go to gb news. com slash alerts. now it's back to michael i >> -- >> thank 5mm >> thank you very much, sophia wenzler . well, we are continuing wenzler. well, we are continuing to receive live pictures from

windsor of the king departing the. the king has been attending the. the king has been attending the easter service at the chapel at windsor. the king was clearly very determined that he should do so. there was taught that the king was feeling frustrated because he was not allowed to do more of his duties at, but he set upon attending the easter service , and that has now service, and that has now happened. there was a reduced number of people allowed in the chapel because the king obviously has to be careful of being infected by members of the public. and what to me was very remarkable in the pictures that we saw a few moments ago. is that the king, he left the that the king, when he left the chapel and made his way across to large crowd that was to the large crowd that was gathered there, certainly a crowd of well—wishers and started to work the crowd. so whatever medical advisers whatever his medical advisers may have thought, he was very keen to make contact with with people and the king, i must say, looking very steady on his feet,

very cheerful, and i think very pleased that he's done that particular piece of his duty today. a report by dame saira khan lays out in disturbing detail how campaigner , what she detail how campaigner, what she calls freedom restricting harassment forced a teacher at batley grammar school in west yorkshire to go into hiding . yorkshire to go into hiding. khan found that such harassment frequently impacted the decisions of public sector authorities. so how do we avoid further such blasphemy? rouse to consider that it's my pleasure to be joined by fiyaz mughal, who is the founder of faith matters and tell mama, an organisation that records anti muslim hatred and fires. welcome to gb news. thank you very much for joining me today and give us forjoining me today and give us some background on batley . why, some background on batley. why, and, and this broader conclusion that has been drawn that in the pubuc that has been drawn that in the public sector certainly people are feeling very frightened, very intimidated and, and that is affecting their work and their decision making as well as

obviously their, their wellbeing i >> -- >> indeed. michael, thank you for having me on this morning, the batley grammar school , i the batley grammar school, i would call it fiasco, took place in 2021 and it was in relation to a teacher who was conducting. i think, his fifth class in relation to discussion on, things like free speech. and he used the charlie hebdo cartoon as a teaching tool with young school children. he had done this before, but it was a teaching tool for discussion. so there had not been a kind of an outrage before. but that had been picked up by some groups online. varne, and those groups started to spread information on that, prophet mohammed or mohammed was, being abused and it whipped up a storm that led to individuals from the local

area, predominantly from, the local muslim community, again, a small number, but they started to protest outside the school, and the teacher felt threatened and the teacher felt threatened and intimidated enough that, in and intimidated enough that, in a way, he was fearing for his life just on conducting a simple classroom exercise around free speech. now that that's that batley teacher is still in hiding, has lost his career, suffers from ptsd, and to this day really doesn't look like he is employed. so the impact on a teacher conducting a basic classroom session on free speech has led to his, effectively exclusion from society. that's the background to the batley issues. that, in a way, has led to the to sarah khan suggesting this issue of freedom , this issue of freedom, restricting harassment as a key component of her report, and where there are chilling levels of harassment affecting our democratic institutions, things

like intimidatory abusive harassment, threatening activities, etc. so it's a good example what she lays out and what's happened to somebody's life, you talked about a fiasco, which in a way, i suppose implies that you think that someone did something wrongly , i someone did something wrongly, i want to i wanted to focus really on how we could avoid this sort of situation in the future. so please answer that. and perhaps you could give me evidence as to why you say that it's a small number. can we be certain that it's a small number who are conducting themselves in this way ? way? >> w- w“ >> yeah, that's a really good, really michael , it's really good point, michael, it's a fiasco because the fact is, a teacher conducting a classroom exercise, which is about discussing free speech as a perfectly normal, lesson to be conducted in any school in our country. the fact is that that teacher was in a, in a way, has led, has, has, has reached a

point where they are now excluded from society, did not feel supported by the local school where the school where the school effectively then started to listen to individuals part of or individuals who are connected to the demonstration , connected to the demonstration, gave them the opportunity to have their voices heard is why i mentioned the term fiasco , mentioned the term fiasco, because actually a teacher, any teacher should have the opportunity. if we are talking about creating an open minded society, a society where we can discuss anything that teacher should have had the full backing and support of the school and in and support of the school and in a way should not have the school should not have been in a position where they were actually sitting around, tables and discussing with those same very demonstrators issues of how to, sessions should be held in their schools. so that's why i call it a fiasco. yeah, the fact is, we cannot be pandering to individuals who want to shut

down democratic debate discussion in our institutions, in our country. it really is as simple as that . simple as that. >> and how do you know they're small numbers? >> a good point . well, my work >> a good point. well, my work with muslim communities has meant that i, i know that, there are many who feel repulsed by what has taken place again, in a way, there is a guesstimation here around small numbers , and i here around small numbers, and i say small numbers, but a small but growing component aren't because actually still, in the wider of muslim wider context of muslim communities, there are many who are repulsed by what took place against the teacher. now, we don't any exact figures, don't have any exact figures, but i would say small but growing number of individuals who accept this issue of blasphemy in our society. and that's and that's deeply problematic . and let's go back problematic. and let's go back this issue around blasphemy and curtailing free speech is not new. it goes back to the salman rushdie affair. we are talking 1989, so we are talking over 40 years of this blasphemy issue ,

years of this blasphemy issue, just sitting in our society and never being tackled. and i think there comes a time where we need to call it out, we need to challenge it. and dame sarah khan's makes that very khan's report makes that very clear. important clear. it is important for all of challenge it , clear. it is important for all of challenge it, but of us to challenge it, but saying we challenge it saying that if we challenge it and the kind person who's and i'm the kind of person who's been challenging for years and had of harassment from had a lot of harassment from islamist lot islamist extremists, a lot of intimidation, stepped islamist extremists, a lot of intimifrom n, stepped islamist extremists, a lot of intimifrom a stepped islamist extremists, a lot of intimifrom a governmentepped islamist extremists, a lot of intimifrom a government role d down from a government role because of the intimidation myself. the fact is, government must step up and support individuals who challenge these extremist groups trying to undermine our ability to speak in our own society . so. in our own society. so. >> so let me ask you that you've had this experience recently. you you were put up for a job, you were intimidated, you withdrew . have you had the sort withdrew. have you had the sort of support since that you of support since then that you would ? would expect? >> if i had a couple of calls, i had a i had a meeting with michael gove, who expressed his support . i'm deeply grateful for support. i'm deeply grateful for that. i had a call from the home office offering support, which

was, well, we're here to listen. but this is this is i welcome this support now. but the fact is, i've been this for 25 is, i've been saying this for 25 years, we have real issues years, that we have real issues of extremism threatening people who are openly willing to challenge it. so i think it's i think it's support that's vocal, that's come very late in the day. what kind of practical support that is ? i don't know, support that is? i don't know, because government didn't tell me what kind of practical support they could give me. and the reality that happens the reality is, if that happens to and i'm willing to stand to me and i'm willing to stand up challenge kind of up and challenge these kind of groups , well, what happens to groups, well, what happens to the the public who the members of the public who wants their employers wants to have their employers targeted? have targeted? who wants to have their targeted? their family members targeted? we have a real problem here. you know, our institutions are know, that our institutions are under threat. the fact is , 40, under threat. the fact is, 40, 50 years ago, we were much more robust in tackling this 2024. we are we are much weaker in tackling these kind of groups , tackling these kind of groups, fayyaz, i congratulate you on your courage and your backbone,

and thank you very much for being on gb news today. >> thank you. >> thank you. >> northern ireland has been experiencing some rare optimism after the resumption of power sharing at stormont and there were some high profile gestures by politicians sides of by politicians on both sides of the divide aimed at creating an atmosphere on atmosphere of goodwill on thursday. dup leader sirjeffrey donaldson was arrested and subsequently charged with historic sex offences. a 57 year old woman was also charged with abetting those offences . sir abetting those offences. sir jeffrey had steered the unionist towards an agreement the towards an agreement with the british government and a return to with the sinn to power, sharing with the sinn fein first minister. he's now resigned position. what are resigned his position. what are the implications for northern ireland's politics? ben lowry is the editor of the belfast news letter and he joins me now . ben, letter and he joins me now. ben, it's very good indeed to talk to you again now . thank you. many you again now. thank you. many people are worried about what the impact of this resignation could be on the recent, but doubtless delicate stability that's been established in northern ireland. what would

your comment on that be? >> well, the first thing i would say is that the immediate reaction from all the main players is to emphasise that everything is going to go on. >> so that is i'm thinking of the interim leader of the dup. sir jeffrey was the leader of the dup. this is another mp called gavin robinson, he's emphasised he's not in emphasised that he's not in stormont. you can't be in both. in the old days you used to be able to be in both stormont and westminster and many of the politicians he's politicians were. so he's in westminster, said he wants westminster, he's said he wants to keep stormont going. the deputy first minister is a dup politician. former mp emma little—pengelly , she's little—pengelly, she's emphasised that she wants things to continue and the sinn fein first minister, michelle o'neill, has said the same . but o'neill, has said the same. but importantly, perhaps most importantly, perhaps most importantly, sammy wilson , who importantly, sammy wilson, who is an mp who's an open critic of the deal , and is an mp who's an open critic of the deal, and was really, very much at odds with sir jeffrey in sir jeffrey's claim that the irish sea border had gone. a claim that has somewhat

unravelled in recent weeks. he has emphasised that he doesn't want a leadership challenge this side of a general election or anything like that. so, it had already been the case, that sir jeffrey had had, remarkably little dissent to the steel, there were other politicians like sammy wilson who were criticising it, but they were emphasising their loyalty to the leadership. in when i was leadership. in fact, when i was last program , i was last on this program, i was expressing concern at unionists, seeming acquiesce in seeming to acquiesce in everything. i don't think, given the shock, i mean , the primary the shock, i mean, the primary reaction is utter, utter shock. i mean, sirjeffrey was arrested i mean, sir jeffrey was arrested at 6:00 in the morning on thursday , i don't know much thursday, i don't know much about, policing operations, but my understanding from talking to police and lawyers is that a 6 am. arrest is designed to a.m. arrest is designed to surprise people, and the utter shock is the predominant reaction. the second is that all the key players are saying they want stormont to continue. >> i have not sure i wonder

whether i have turned off signed for you. i'm not hearing you

welcome back. the eagle eyed amongst you may have spotted that a technical hitch interrupted my conversation with ben lowry of the belfast news letter, but i hope we can now resume. ben, i was just saying to you that actually , this might to you that actually, this might be an opportunity to step back a tiny bit and just analyse what are general are the overall general difficulties beset unionism difficulties that beset unionism in northern ireland, it's a very big question, something of an analogy can be drawn with the conservatives, but it's a much deeper problem than that. let me just start with analogy that just start with the analogy that can with the can be drawn with the conservatives, an conservatives, that an unpopularity, young people, changes in mood and so on, bad election results. turmoil, not

knowing whether to be more liberal, not knowing whether to be more conservative. that's the analogy with the conservatives. the analogy falls apart a little bit in that unionist vote bit in that the unionist vote probably collapse for probably will never collapse for constitutional reasons, it has been slowly, but it been declining slowly, but it would be too serious for unionist voters to abandon unionism. so that probably won't happen. but i think that the principal problems for unionism are , threefold 3 or 4 fold, the are, threefold 3 or 4 fold, the first is the irish sea border, that nobody really understood it. it happened. it's a long story. i could you could write, encyclopaedias on it, but it, it it has divided. it has done something that was unthinkable. i think it's the biggest constitutional change in northern ireland since its creation. there isn't unfettered trade between northern ireland and the rest of uk spite and the rest of the uk in spite of deal. i won't go into of the deal. so i won't go into the that's huge the details. that's a huge problem the second unionism problem, the second is unionism is unfashionable , it's is really unfashionable, it's just, it has tends to have, old fashioned views on, on social

questions . not that old questions. not that old fashioned. i don't think ulster protestants are that different from the rest of the uk, but it tends and the orange tends to be. and the orange order manifestations, order and the manifestations, are fashioned , the other are old fashioned, the other problem is demographic change, the that it's greatly exaggerated by enemies of unionism. the astonishing thing is, 100 years later, how strong the support is for staying in the support is for staying in the uk. but it's still a real thing. and, and then you have just the, the multiple personalities. this is , the personalities. this is, the unionism is currently divided between three parties. the dup has stayed the biggest party, but only just so. these are huge problems to start with and, are really quite , i did say that sir really quite, i did say that sir jeffrey had had astonishing success in getting stormont back, but i think it was a slow burning problem that people were realising that his claim that the irish sea border had gone was wrong. i mean, i've even said, not wanting to be unkind.

ihave said, not wanting to be unkind. i have said in broadcasts that it's nonsense. i think it needs to be described as nonsense. and i that that, know, i think that that, you know, that slowly coming to the that was slowly coming to the fore. so the one thing i would say is that the fact that sammy wilson, a critical player wilson, who's a critical player in for the time being, is in this, for the time being, is giving his support to the party, this is somebody some people wondered whether leave wondered whether he would leave and hard line group and join a more hard line group called tuv, really called the tuv, that is really significant things not significant for, things not completely falling apart now. anyway >> ben lowry, i thought that was extraordinarily interesting analysis . extraordinarily interesting analysis. thank you very much indeed for joining analysis. thank you very much indeed forjoining us today analysis. thank you very much indeed for joining us today on easter sunday on gb news. saint john's voices is a relatively new choir by the standards of the ancient university of cambridge. the group of male and female singers was formed just in 2013. it has won a large and influential following at evensong and with its concerts and with its tours, so there was dismay when saint john's college, cambridge announced that the choir would be disbanded in order to redirect

resources to a broader range of music, choir members circulated an open letter saying that they were devastated by the decision, and they've been backed by figures who have included the former archbishop of canterbury, rowan williams . here is former archbishop of canterbury, rowan williams. here is a clip of the choir singing sacred choral music by the russian composer pavel chesnokov . they composer pavel chesnokov. they said oh, ayat nouri . first of said oh, ayat nouri. first of john mauger for us, maestro rafael mark tufnell . rafael mark tufnell. >> oh so much . they

>> oh so much. they so much . >> oh so much. they so much. love thursday . they . love thursday. they. >> glorious sound filling the chapel of saint john's, cambridge. among the many articles written lamenting the decision to disband the saint john's voices is one in the spectator by elisenda maxtone—graham , who joins me maxtone—graham, who joins me now. elisenda. welcome to gb news, what prompted you provoked you to write your article in defence of the saint john's voices ? voices? >> well, i just my heart sank that it's just one more click of an email and away goes another gem of our country's incredible choral tradition , which was choral tradition, which was built up, as you say, from 2013. it was a choir that sang on monday afternoons in saint john's chapel . and while the john's chapel. and while the world renowned and wonderful

main with with child main choir with with child choristers was having has has their one day off. and it was an opportunity for sopranos in saint john's, of whom there are many in proud and happy. saint john's, of whom there are many in proud and happy . and many in proud and happy. and what a great thing that there are in own chapel are to sing in our own chapel choir. out be not choir. they turned out to be not just any choir, but just any any choir, but a seriously good one, as you can hear from that clip. i mean world class and absolute built up to be a gem. and i can't work out what it is that has made them made this decision, make this decision. they the this decision. they i the only paid of choir is the paid member of the choir is the conductor i can't believe is conductor who i can't believe is very paid very for his one very paid very much for his one day job. just few day a week job. just a few hours, one day a week, are they really going to . they've come up really going to. they've come up with so 7 or 8 wishy washy initiatives that seem to me rather wishy washy , which are, rather wishy washy, which are, you know, all very well, community, music making, innovative interdiscipline projects, outreach and engagement that engagement programs, is that really does that really have to happen at the expense of this marvellous choir? and i beg them

to reconsider. >> i'm going to quote at least a part of quite a long statement that was made by saint john's college. they say that council decision to pursue a broader approach to co—curricular opportunities was unanimous , and opportunities was unanimous, and reflects students preferences and experiences in music today. it emphasises that saint john's voices is the second chapel choir of the college, after saint john's college choir, which was established in the 17th century, and the college adds the opportunities for soprano singers are except really well provided for across the university of cambridge . so, the university of cambridge. so, ascender, that's what they're saying. what is going on? what you say you can't work it out, but please work it out. what is going on? >> i worry that it is a sort of anti anti so—called elitism because we of course we love elitism when it's in sport and we love it, but, but, but i think that there is just a general sense that, that it's, it's a good idea to just

broaden. of course broaden often broaden. of course broaden often broaden means thinning doesn't it. broaden out means something thinner. give everybody thinner. and you give everybody in the college a chance to sing in the college a chance to sing in a non—auditioned choir, which is a great idea. but why does this to be that? why can't this have to be that? why can't that those aspire that those people aspire to being in the in being in to being in the in these? absolutely top wonderful choirs. that sets an example and raises and sets the raises the standard and sets the gold all the other gold standard for all the other music the college , so music making in the college, so i do agree there are other colleges they women can sing in, but why can't they sing ? there's but why can't they sing? there's their lovely own chapel. there's this marvellous thing that does exist. it's been set up, creates beautiful music to bring bring congregations in on a rainy monday afternoon in january , and monday afternoon in january, and that, you know, why can't that carry on? i and saint john's being second richest college in cambridge, can they. surely they can afford to, to, to run, to run both . i feel it's a more run both. i feel it's a more ideological rather than a financial decision . financial decision. >> and your article makes two very interesting points. one is about the decision in principle and the other is that things institutions like this can be

abolished by email. an email was sent out just after the choir had completed three days of recording sessions , and recording sessions, and typically had displayed their brilliance. that's iskender maxtone—graham . later in the maxtone—graham. later in the show, i'll be trying my hand at decorating easter eggs. before that, here are the news headunes that, here are the news headlines with sophia wenzler. >> it's 1230. headlines with sophia wenzler. >> it's1230. i'm sophia wenzler in the gb news room. king charles has made his first significant public appearance since his cancer diagnosis. joined by the queen, he smiled and waved as he left an easter sunday service at saint george's chapelin sunday service at saint george's chapel in windsor and went on to greet crowds shaking people's hands. other members of the royal family were also there , royal family were also there, but the prince and princess of wales are missing. the service as catherine continues her cancer treatment . tens of cancer treatment. tens of thousands of people turned out to see pope francis preside over

easter mass at the vatican and the delivery of his urbi et orbi to the city and the world. blessing from the balcony of the saint peter's basilica . the saint peter's basilica. the pontiff, who has been dealing with health problems , used his with health problems, used his address to renew his call for an immediate ceasefire in gaza, as well as the release of all israeli hostages . sir keir israeli hostages. sir keir starmer also posted on social media, giving his easter message . giving his easter. the easter messages come as the new polls suggest the tories are on track for their worst general election result at survation found the party could win fewer than 100 seats, with labour predicted to sweep to power with a landslide victory of 468 seats. the 15,000 person poll indicated the conservatives would be wiped out in scotland and wales, and hold just 98 seats in england . for

just 98 seats in england. for the latest stories, sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on your screen, or go to gb news. com slash alerts now michael will be back after a short .

break. >> and welcome back. the british museum faces testing times following the scandalous theft of artefacts last year. the demands to return parts of its collection , most notably the collection, most notably the elgin marbles and a proposed £1 billion redevelopment of its building . to lead it through building. to lead it through these challenges, it has appointed a new director. nicholas cullinan currently directs the national portrait gallery gallery. is he the right choice to answer that? i'm joined by archaeologist mario trabucco torretta . mario, trabucco de la torretta. mario, it's lovely to talk to you again

. now, where should we start? let's let's start with the £1 billion redevelopment that the british museum has to undertake . british museum has to undertake. thatis british museum has to undertake. that is a very big management project. nicholas cullinan had an important experience at the national portrait gallery . does national portrait gallery. does it, equip him for the task ? it, equip him for the task? >> well, on one side, obviously, this was the massive checkbox that every candidate needed to tick, that is having a substantial experience of a full renovation of a national insignificant collection like the national portrait gallery , the national portrait gallery, but on the other side, if we need to look at the history of what he has done as a trace to interpret what he's going to do at the british museum, i'm i'm a little bit concerned because, on one side, yes, obviously the project was delivered on time, was delivered on budget. it was £41 million, kind of project .

£41 million, kind of project. and, this obviously lets us have good hopes on the other side, the, the project for the renovation of the british museum is 20 times as bigger. this obviously means that, also the, this project is going to be delivered in significantly different conditions because , different conditions because, the renovation of the national portrait gallery happened during covid. so without actually having visitors in for most of the time, the british museum is obviously not going to be shut down entirely like the npg was , down entirely like the npg was, the other problems that i can see is the way the renovation is going to be, performed , that the going to be, performed, that the results that that are going to be delivered on one side, the npg has delivered 20% more exhibition space, which is obviously something to be looked at favourably , but on the other at favourably, but on the other side, there is a tinge of modernist sensibilities , and

modernist sensibilities, and that can in a way, taint this kind of result. for example , you kind of result. for example, you know, on the on the facade of the national portrait gallery, we have 16 roundels with british giants of the arts. and, as part of the renovation, they've decided to kind of balance these, by, engaging, decided to kind of balance these, by, engaging , creative these, by, engaging, creative eamonn the, royal academician to , make three new bronze portals , , make three new bronze portals, with roundels and figures of female , artists or idalene female, artists or idalene figures, this was supposed to kind of balance the two male and stale kind of appearance of the of the national portrait gallery so far they have, worn as a mark of honour the fact that they have, now brought the, the quantity, the share of female sitters, in the hangings of the

collection , from 35% to 48. so collection, from 35% to 48. so are we are we going to look at the renovation of the british museum , under this kind of museum, under this kind of light, that's where i'm a little bit more unease. >> so you're really talking here about the degree to which he may be affected by wokery political correctness, by by a gender, items which aren't strictly artistic or curatorial, at least in your opinion. correct. and having identified that as the issue, the saving of a very important portrait by the national portrait gallery , what national portrait gallery, what did that tell us about cullinan's attitudes and indeed methods, it's a it's an interesting story. >> we're talking about the portrait of omai that has been, recently, added to the collection only in part because, it came with a price tag of £50 million and, this, deal has been

secured, 50 over 50 paying with the, getty museum in los angeles. now, this is going to be, a sort of time share, joint possession of, of the item, which is a first in terms of an international, international joint position. joint ownership, i should say, while because right now we have, already experience of items that are jointly owned, for example, from the national gallery and the national gallery of scotland or from with cardiff and other places. but it always been in the uk, it needed to raise the £50 million that were needed to , £50 million that were needed to, secure this painting, which in itself is also a, a story because it was like it's not, the most brilliant painting of sir joshua reynolds , is it sirjoshua reynolds, is it because, the sitter is, kind of

taking the diversity and inclusion box that we really, really wanted this painting to enter the collection , because it enter the collection, because it may, it didn't manage to secure the £50 million. he struggled a lot to , get to alphabet and only lot to, get to alphabet and only after the ministry of culture basically , allowed a third basically, allowed a third consecutive again, another first extension of the ban of the export ban that would potentially have brought the picture elsewhere in the world, this raises significant concerns, obviously, because it's going to need to raise again 20 times as much in in terms of, money and, for the renovation of the british museum and, if this performance is what we need to kind of expect , this we need to kind of expect, this doesn't bode well. obviously, on the other side , even the joint

the other side, even the joint ownership is a bit of a of a problem, in my opinion. in the opinion of people that know way more than i do about this, it raises way more problems than it actually solves , so it's like, actually solves, so it's like, did we really need to go to these lengths to secure the, these lengths to secure the, these portraits? and if this is these portraits? and if this is the most interesting financing , the most interesting financing, exactly what's going to happen in the british museum . in the british museum. >> so just to explain to people we've been talking about nicholas cullinan, who is transferring from the national portrait gallery to the british museum. thank you very much indeed. della indeed. mario trabucco, della torretta . happy to torretta. and happy easter to you, please as i you, sir. sternat. please as i shall be getting my fingers dirty, decorating some easter eggsin dirty, decorating some easter eggs in a few minutes time

welcome back. some of you may have come across an amusing twitter thread about me. it was the impressive work of a man called brian elwick, who discovered the hidden code behind my outfit choices. they are, inspired by are, of course, inspired by easter eggs. here i am dressed as a flake . good. here i am as a flake. good. here i am dressed as a creme egg . here's dressed as a creme egg. here's my malteser outfit . got it. and my malteser outfit. got it. and today i've come back as the whisper . these are, of course , whisper. these are, of course, the mass manufactured easter eggs. but i'm delighted to be joined. now by an artisanal chocolatier, lisa green. she has

excellent pedigree, being half belgian, and she's going to show me how to decorate these eggs, and she's brought some in. lisa, thank you very much indeed . my thank you very much indeed. my pleasure. before we turn to your delightful looking eggs, which are very pretty already, before we even touch them, tell me a little bit about your business. what it consist of? what does it consist of? >> my business is artisanal. >> it's basically me in a domestic kitchen in northwest london, helped by my young , london, helped by my young, suffering husband, we are expanding as we speak, but we're very small business. we take a lot of pride in our work, and i love it because it's hugely creative, we basically supply direct to customer and we are hopefully building a loyal fan base. >> when you say direct to customer , do you mean customer, do you mean individuals or do you mean would it be like hotels and restaurants and so on? >> well, it's it can be both. >> well, it's it can be both. >> well, it's it can be both. >> we have customers who come directly to the websites. we have, businesses who come to us

directly saying we want to give our customers a gift. so can we have 20 boxes a month. so it's varied, it is varied, but it's all very , we make our products all very, we make our products with a lot of time and a lot of care. >> now, i would speculate that you don't just make easter eggs because you have to keep going all the year. what do? all the year. what do you do? what do you do the rest of the year? >> the rest the year? year? >> ate rest the year? year? >> at e re�* moment, (ear? year? >> ate re�*moment, i'm? year? >> ate re�*moment, i'm doing >> at the moment, i'm doing mixed boxes of chocolates with a variety of centres, and they're all by myself, over all made by myself, over christmas we were extremely busy because we also launched boxes of 24 that proved quite popular , of 24 that proved quite popular, for valentine's day, we tend to focus on hearts and the advantage of being small is that we can be really adaptive and very creative. so if we decide one week, hey, there's a coronation coming up, we're going to make a chocolate in the shape of a crown. we can do

that. fast. that. too much fast. >> okay, now you're going to paint your eggs. yes. with what? not with paint. i assume . not with paint. i assume. >> well, it does look a bit like paint, what i'm going to do. excuse scary gloves. i'm going to give a demo on how i paint a large easter egg, and then i'm going to hand it over to you, michael. and you're going to do exactly the same thing. we can't fill them with chocolate because chocolate temperamental , chocolate is very temperamental, of course, and has to be kept at a very consistent temperature . a very consistent temperature. but what we're going to do is i'll you how i made my i'll show you how i made my easter egg, they're all hand painted. let's pop these out of the way. so the first thing i do is i get an easter egg mould. yeah, it's made of polycarbonate. it's a professional mould. it's very solid. and you can reuse it time and time again. and then i'm going to take a bit of edible gold leaf and can't have any

gold leaf and can't have any gold in it . gold in it. >> well firstly gold's poison, that's not my problem. >> and secondly anyway something that's very like gold. >> yes. it's inflation. oh look at that. >> but it is edible and you can see it's edible gold and you can see it's edible gold and you can see it's edible gold and you can see it sticks on absolutely everything. okay. so you have to use tweezers. yeah. and i'm going to put a bit in each mould and i'm going to pat it down so that it sticks to the mould . that it sticks to the mould. >> are you able to lift that up a tiny bit so the camera can see it more. yeah. yes okay. and just do a bit of pushing around what just do a bit of pushing around whtso basically to push >> so basically you have to push it . down. do it with dry dry it. down. do it with dry dry hand a clean finger or a glove. right. because it basically moves all over the place. you have to make sure it's. >> and then what you're going to put an egg into that are you know, we're going do know, what we're going to do is first all, we're going to i'm

first of all, we're going to i'm going to put in this is coloured cocoa butter and it has to be melted around the same temperature of chocolate. >> so about between 32 degrees, sometimes a bit higher. >> so about between 32 degrees, sometimes a bit higher . and what sometimes a bit higher. and what you do is you have to melt it completely or almost melt it completely or almost melt it completely , put some on the completely, put some on the plate. and then to make it the right consistency, i'd have to dip your finger in it like that until it slightly thickens . then until it slightly thickens. then i'm going to get my mould and i'm going to get my mould and i'm going to start basically making . circles. making. circles. >> okay. very pretty. >> okay. very pretty. >> so it's quite simple yes, but very labour intensive. >> my goodness. every egg has to be done in this way does it. yes. yeah, that's why we don't make that many. and then that will set over the next couple of minutes. but obviously because we're a bit pressed for time,

i'm going to cover it. >> we are quite pressed for time. i'm going to cover it time. yes i'm going to cover it with layer . with another layer. >> and this is black cocoa butter. use whatever butter. you can use whatever colours you want. i quite like these because they form quite a nice contrast . nice contrast. >> while you were doing that, tell me what your website address is and my website , it's address is and my website, it's lisa green chocolates, cocoa .uk . so people got to remember lisa green. yes. which is lisa. >> lisa. >> lisa. >> exactly. it's not an s yes . >> exactly. it's not an s yes. all right. >> oh and then what you can see is you can the start of is you can see the start of quite nice contrasting pattern quite a nice contrasting pattern . then once that's dried, . and then once that's dried, this to be filled to the this needs to be filled to the brim with chocolate, which has to be at about 30.5 degrees for milk. you fill it up, leave it for a three for a few minutes, pat it out , do the same in pat it out, do the same in another mould, and then if you're lucky, you will end up with something that looks like that. >> that is absolutely pretty. in

the time remaining, i only really have a moment to sort of play really have a moment to sort of play with that. >> yeah of course. >> yeah of course. >> go ahead, give that me >> so go ahead, give that to me if would. >> so go ahead, give that to me if i'llnould. >> so go ahead, give that to me if i'll give!. >> so go ahead, give that to me if i'll give you some gold. the >> i'll give you some gold. the first challenge is to actually get so we get it to stick on. so there we are you can use it. are very much you can use it. you can use your just the glove. oh you see there you go. i told you it goes everywhere. >> oh well i've managed to rescue a little bit of gold i caught that. so you put that down there. yeah. and somehow down in there. yeah. and somehow push that around. yeah. it's jolly sticky stuff, isn't it? >> it's very sticky and it's quite fiddly. >> let me see if i've got any more gold in there. just >> let me see if i've got any mora gold in there. just >> let me see if i've got any mora littlein there. just >> let me see if i've got any mora little bithere. just >> let me see if i've got any mora little bit of'e. just >> let me see if i've got any mora little bit of gold just got a little bit of gold and then i you to then i think you need to practice quite a lot for this. >> i did waste quite a lot >> yes, i did waste quite a lot of leaf the time of gold leaf the first time i did it. yes, you can just put a tiny bit and just it tiny bit and just swirl it around. that's it. it's very hard at first. you always you either put too much or too little. >> i'll tell you what's going to happen here. my, my famous, coloured clothes are going to change different colours, change to different colours, lisa green, thank you very much

indeed for coming on and talking to us about these marvel glass painted chocolate eggs , i'd like painted chocolate eggs, i'd like to thank all my guests, particularly those who came to the studio on easter sunday. i've really enjoyed celebrating easter all of you at home. easter with all of you at home. i'll be back at the same time next week. until then, goodbye, lisa. . lisa. thank you so. >> looks like things are heating up. boxt boilers. sponsors of weather on gb news is . weather on gb news is. >> hello there. welcome to your latest gb news weather. we've had some sunshine across the north and the west, but over the next 24 hours it does turn more unsettled. pressure unsettled. low pressure dominating the weather yet again over next days we see over the next few days we see further spells of rain, heavy showers pushing across the country , some brisk winds later country, some brisk winds later on in the week as well for the evening time, we do have some heavy showers pushing into central southern areas. we could

see flooding see some localised flooding here. warning in force here. metoffice warning in force for the evening time and then overnight rain pushes overnight this rain pushes slowly northwards, further rain pushing eastern areas too, pushing into eastern areas too, with northern ireland and scotland seeing the driest weather with some clear spells. but vast majority of us but the vast majority of us temperatures remaining above freezing . so a mixed start on freezing. so a mixed start on monday. outbreaks of rain across northern england into central parts and wales as well. some of this heavy at times brighter skies following across central southern areas but into the afternoon we'll see some heavy thundery showers developing, afternoon we'll see some heavy thund hailhowers developing, afternoon we'll see some heavy thund hail possible eveloping, afternoon we'll see some heavy thund hail possible inaloping, afternoon we'll see some heavy thund hail possible in parts g, afternoon we'll see some heavy thund hail possible in parts of some hail possible in parts of northern ireland and scotland will see some drier weather, some sunny spells and here temperatures lifting to around 13 or 14 celsius feeling quite cold under the cloud and rain. temperatures in single figures . temperatures in single figures. for tuesday, we'll see areas of rain across the top and tail of the country. in between we'll see some sunny spells, but some scattered showers also developing and it remains unsettled for the week ahead. further showers and some heavy

spells of rain as well, and temperatures just climbing a little . little. >> that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers sponsors of weather on

gb news. >> hello and welcome to gb news sunday thank yous for joining us on this very special easter sunday. i'm darren grimes, for and the next two hours, i'll be keeping you company on tv, onune keeping you company on tv, online and on digital radio. coming up this hour to pohl disaster. as the sunday times reports that the tories could get under 100 seats and voters seem utterly united against a sunak coup. is there now any hope for that party? a very royal easter. his majesty king charles the third attends the

royal easter service at windsor. in his more significant public appearance since he was diagnosed cancer. we'll diagnosed with cancer. we'll have the latest on the royals easter weekend. labour's water plans and as sir keir starmer's party unveils tough sanctions on companies who treat our rivers as dumping grounds , can labour as dumping grounds, can labour tackle that significant sewage crisis ? and of course, this show crisis? and of course, this show is absolutely nothing without you and your views. let me know your thoughts on all the stories we'll be discussing today. i want to know what you're up to this easter sunday. email me on gbviews@gbnews.com or message me on at at gb on our socials. we're at at gb news. first of all though, here's your news with sophia wenzler . wenzler. >> thanks, darren. good afternoon. it's 1:01.

>> thanks, darren. good afternoon. it's1:01. i'm sophia wenzler in the