this is bbc news. i'm martine croxall. the headlines at 8pm: the un says a catastrophe is unfolding in yemen — as the country struggles with the world's worst cholera epidemic, and the looming threat of famine. police investigating the grenfell tower fire say there are grounds to suspect that corporate manslaughter may have been committed. a promise there'll be no cliff—edge on immigration when britain leaves the eu — the home secretary says any new system will be phased in. new figures reveal an alarming increase in the number of prisoners released by mistake. the head of the us military says there'll be no change to its policy on employing transgender people until the defence secretary receives direction from president trump. also in the next hour... day four of tackling the wildfires in the south of france. french firefighters appear to have contained blazes that threatened holiday areas near st tropez. and 50 years after decriminalising homosexuality in england and wales — the prime minister says more still needs to be done, to achieve equality.

good evening and welcome to bbc news. we report tonight a war that has been raging for two years in the middle east country of yemen, with devastating consequences for its people. a fierce civil war has split the country in two. the government backed by a saudi—led coalition controls the south of yemen — while houthi rebels, backed by iran, control the capital and the north of the country. yemen is now on the brink of famine and has become a breeding ground for disease. cholera has swept the country, with nearly 2000 deaths since the outbreak began in april. access for international journalists is very rare — but our middle east correspondent, 0rla guerin — with her producer nicola careem

and cameraman nico hameon — have got in. they've sent this report from aden — and a warning — there are distressing images of suffering children throughout. we cross the red sea to reach yemen, past the sunken wreckage of a hidden war. this was the only way to the port city of aden. the saudi—led coalition, bombing the country, flew us in. the saudi—led coalition, bombing the country grounded the un plane due to fly us in. this is the kind of suffering they don't want the world to see. rassam is 11. he is one of many children wasting away across the country. since the war, malnutrition rates have soared. hunger is menacing this nation, from the very old... to the very young. like hussain, who fights

for every breath. the united nations says an entire generation is being starved and crippled and famine is looming. in a ward nearby, another threat, a desperate rush to save abdullah mohammed salem, who came in with no pulse. they tried to squeeze fluid and life back into his veins, he's one victim of an epidemic ravaging yemen — cholera, and it's the worst outbreak in history. there is now a perfect breeding ground for the disease, as sanitation services have broken down. abdullah‘s son, ahmed, has a message for those in power who, are busy waging war. translation: deal with the sewage.

and clean the streets. mosquitoes and flies are everywhere causing illness. we are demanding that everyone who claims to be our leader should just care about the people. instead, they are dying of cholera at the rate of about one every hour. another outcome of a brutal conflict. this hospital alone receives about 100 new cholera cases every day. those who get help recover quickly, within hours. but many in yemen are dying needlessly, because they can't get the most basic treatment. after more than two years of war, half of the health facilities in the country are not functioning. like much else in the arab world's poorest nation, an ancient civilisation with new battle scars. the presidential guard mans the checkpoints in aden. but the yemeni president is seldom seen.

he was forced to flee by the houthi rebel, that's when his allies, the saudis stepped in. their bombing campaign has not restored his authority. but it has destroyed hospitals, schools and homes, like that of this family. their house was hit by two air strikes as the coalition targeted houthi fighters nearby. senaad tells us, that two years on, the extended family are among the forgotten victims of this war. some of the family still live right here in the ruins, with no help, they say, other than from god. but civilians here have been under fire from both sides. we met this woman and her children waiting forfood aid. 10—year—old imad used to love football, before

he was hit by a houthi shell. translation: i brought the kids into the house. i asked them to stay inside. they were in the livingroom when they were hit. he lost both legs immediately. since then, she says that imad and her other children have never been the same, they have deep psychological wounds as well as physical ones. most of all it is yemen's children, like ten—month—old ahmed who are paying the price here. the conflict has reached a stalemate.

international diplomacy has failed and nowhere in the world are more lives as stake. 0rla guerin, bbc news, aden. police investigating the grenfell tower fire have written to survivors, telling them that there are reasonable grounds to investigate the royal borough of kensington and chelsea council and the borough tenant management 0rganisation for corporate manslaughter. our home affairs correspondent, tom symonds, is following developments and gave us this update a short time ago. police have quite unusually updated people affected by the fire, with their progress. what they are saying is that there are reasonable grounds to suspect that two organisations, the council and the tenant management 0rganisation which manage the grenfell tower, there are reasonable grounds to suspect each of the organisations may have committed the offence of corporate manslaughter, which is a slightly

unusual potential charge, because a single person cannot be guilty of corporate manslaughter, it has to be a company. what they are saying is not that they have evidence the offence was committed or that the organisations will be prosecuted but they are saying they have enough to continue investigating. i think that's important to understand, it is the earliest stage, if you like. they say there is something for them to look at. and if they are updating regularly that is why they say it now. what happens next in the investigation if it is worth continuing? it allows the police and the council and tenant management organisation to be on notice. 0ne the council and tenant management organisation to be on notice. one of the leaders of the council could be questioned under caution, so someone is questioned under caution and anything they say can be used in a court committee may have heard that ina court committee may have heard that in a police drama, as part of the evidence of a police trial in

future. it is significant as it shows that senior people are going to be questioned and it is significant in that police have chosen to name these two organisations and no other ‘s, there are up to 60 involved in the case. it shows that this investigation is proceeding at some pace, there is a lot of work he for police and it will take them a great deal of time. it is worth saying that because it is corporate manslaughter, you cannot arrest the people you may question. so the chief executive of the council, the head of the tenant management 0rganisation cannot be arrested but they are questioned under caution as they are interviewed. it could be many months before that happens as police like to gather as much evidence as they can before they begin to question. a short time ago we heard from a g re nfell tower a short time ago we heard from a grenfell tower survivor who gave his reaction to the news. ijust heard, i've just been told. i am going to

be patient, iwant i've just been told. i am going to be patient, i want to hear more. i wa nt be patient, i want to hear more. i want to hear more and more, more information. i've been waiting for seven weeks. i haven't seen nothing. only a mess. seven weeks. i haven't seen nothing. onlya mess. now, my seven weeks. i haven't seen nothing. only a mess. now, my patients is smaller. elizabeth campbell has said that she is prepared to fully cooperate with the investigation, as the recently appointed leader of kensington and chelsea council. the recently appointed leader of kensington and chelsea councillj the recently appointed leader of kensington and chelsea council. i am pleased that the police are continuing this investigation, i am pleased they are starting and i will cooperate in any way i can possibly can. we will find out how the story is covered in the front pages and ——

on the front pages of the newspapers... this evening in the papers — our guestsjoining me tonight are joel taylor, deputy news editor of the metro and kate devlin, deputy political editor of the sunday express. the home secretary amber rudd has sought to reassure businesses today that there would be no migration "cliff edge" when the uk leaves the european union. her remarks came as ministers launched a study of how eu nationals contribute to the uk economy. but it won't report until autumn 2018, leading to strong criticism from labour. here's our deputy political editorjohn pienaar. how do you tailor a new immigration policy for britain after brexit? cuts to leave more jobs for home—grown workers maybe less for eu migrants? ask around at this garment factory in north london and the answer is: be careful. we have ten different nationalities that are here in ourfactories and 80% of those are from the eu. they're not taking away the jobs from the british public, because the british public at the moment can't do those skills, so pre—brexit or post brexit, it doesn't matter,

we need our european workers here. today, britain's border force has been on show. soon they'll enforce a new immigration system and the home secretary has announced a major study to help decide where britain needs migrants and who should be stopped when the uk leaves the european union. we are leaving the eu, we will be having a new policy, but part of what i'm announcing today is to show to it's evidence based and we're going to make sure that it works for the whole country. it will take years before home—grown british workers can take on or want many of the jobs that are now filled by europeans. free movement of eu citizens ends technically in two years when britain leaves. it may continue for a period after that, maybe two years, during a transition — ministers haven't decided. they don't all agree and that's causing confusion. when they do, they'll take that plan to the brexit negotiations where they're after the trade deal ministers want so badly.

but migration is a sensitive subject. on almost any street, almost anywhere, there's pressure to get on with cutting migrant numbers. what's your view when it comes to europe and britishjobs? well, we need work for british people. i think the sooner we get out, the better, to be honest with you. is it taking too long? i reckon they're going to drag it out as long as possible, aren't they? hoping that they'll change our mind. i think we should train our own people up. people who are living here. we have 67 million or whatever that live here. i'm sure we can train people up. borisjohnson is talking up a future trade deal in australia. critics say ministers have been too slow working out an immigration policy. he says migration can be good for the uk. that doesn't mean that you can't control it. that's that all i think people want to see. they want to see their politicians taking responsibility, explaining the policy, explaining what they're trying to do, explaining who can come in on what basis and why it's good for the economy.

well it's completely ridiculous that it is taking them 13 months to commission this basic evidence. we on the select committee were asking some of these basic questions back in january. the government should have commissioned this a long, long time ago. so, work's in progress on a new way to manage migration — one ministers agree should keep firms like this one supplied with the workers it needs. but crafting that policy has only just started. expect more political wrangling before thejob's done. john pienaar, bbc news. we can now speak to minette batters, deputy president of the national farmers' union — shejoins us from our southampton studio. thank you very much forjoining us. how dependent are your members on workers from the eu, whether permanent or seasonal? we are very dependent, like other sectors,

permanent or seasonal? we are very dependent, like othersectors, care, hospitality, construction, we currently employ 80,000 seasonal workers, people who come in from europe to plant, pick, great and pack fruit, vegetables and flowers. across the whole of the food and farming sector, there are 3.9 million people. we are a significant employer. these jobs are always advertised within the uk. but, there's a big demographic problem. if you take herefordshire as a really good example, a big and growing county currently employing 3500 seasonal working and only 600 unemployed. that's one of the challenges we face. we really welcome the commitment for a transition, this interim period. how clear is the strategy and what do you make of the timescale, this report finding is going to be published in the autumn of next year? the timescale is incredibly tight. we desperately need certainty. people have been coming

here from europe, encouraged by government policy for the last ten oi’ government policy for the last ten or 15 years. these same people coming backwards and forwards to do seasonal work. we really feel that we can have a visa restricted, a permit scheme, that allows them to continue to do that. also, the permanent sector, food and farming is the largest manufacturing sector in the country, worth £109 billion., and a significant employer. it will ta ke and a significant employer. it will take time to make changes and again, the number of people available to do those jobs, they are always advertised within the uk, and it is about achieving and not disadvantage in the british consumer, making sure they constantly have access to buy local british fruit and vegetables, and we have one of the safest supply chains in the world, and we are keen to keep that. there is a view, as we heard injohn to keep that. there is a view, as we heard in john pienaar‘s to keep that. there is a view, as we heard injohn pienaar‘s report, that

we can train people in this country. the geography of where farming takes place will not change, how can you match the labour need with weather home population lives? it's right, there's a real opportunity to showcase what a great sector the food and farming industry is too working and that needs change in government policy. one in eight people working in those jobs, they are getting there by default and not design, so it is an opportunity. there is the question of are there enough people, the current levels of unemployment, the lowest since 1975, there are not enough people unemployed to do those jobs. we really need schemes in place, it's a necessity to know that. thank you very much for speaking to us. the terminally ill baby charlie gard will be moved to a hospice and have his life—support withdrawn shortly afterwards, after his parents failed to get agreement to spend up to a week

there with him. they had wanted a private medical team at the hospice to care for their son. great 0rmond street hospital, where charlie is being treated, said that wasn't in his best interests. it follows a legal battle by charlie's parents to take him out of the country for experimental treatment. there has been no statement from family. the headlines on bbc news: the un says a catastrophe is unfolding in yemen — as the country struggles with the world's worst cholera epidemic, and the looming threat of famine. police say there are grounds to suspect that corporate manslaughter may have been committed in relation to the grenfell tower fire — 80 people are known to have been killed in the fire. the home secretary, amber rudd, has promised there will be an "implementation phase" after brexit, as changes are made to the immigration system. time for a look at the sport, a full round—up from the bbc sport centre

with mike. so a big night for england and scotland who are playing their final group matches in the women's european championship tonight. england will qualify for the knockout stages with a draw against portugal. it started well for mark sampson's side — six minutes gone and a mistake from the portugal keeper gave barcelona striker toni duggan the chance to chip into an empty net, but england then conceded their first goal of the tournament, mendes scoring, though it looked as though the ball may have gone over the goal—line in the build—up. scotland almost found themselves one down to spain afterjust five minutes — they survived though, it's still 0—0 and scotland need to win by two goals and hope portugal fail to beat england. on the european club front, everton are ten minutes into the first leg of their europa league qualiifer against ruzomberok of slovakia at goodison park — and that means a return to the blue shirt in competitive football for wayne rooney. in the starting line—up tonight, his first appearance for 1h years. predictably receiving a huge ovation

from fans, so just over ten minutes gonein from fans, so just over ten minutes gone in that game, and it remains goalless. aberdeen are also in the europa league qualifiers — they face cypriots apollon limassol at pittodrie and it only took them four minutes to take the lead through ryan christie, on loan from celtic. one final football line for you — burnley midfielderjoey barton has tonight won an appeal to have his ban reduced by the fa for breaking betting rules. barton was suspended for 18 months for illegal betting but that has been reduced to 13 months. its been south africa's day at the start of the third test against england at the oval. only former catpain alistair cook, and then the rain found a way to stop the tourists who lost the toss and were put into field. our sports correspondentjoe wilson has been at the oval for us. when a team picks three debutants for a test match, is it a sign of desperation? certainly for england right now there are more questions

than answers. keaton jennings certainly falls into the uncertainty character. his positive start to test match cricket is beginning to feel like a long time ago. docs do not help but when a player is starting his career, technique and temperament are as important as runs. tom westley displayed that. what he will be sad about is that he got to 25 and then got out straight after lunch. educating it out, swinging delivery, a lot of batsmen do that in their career —— edging it out. and in these conditions, i wonder how many times joe root wondered whether he should bowl rather than bat? the last thing he needed was a brilliant one—handed catch to end his innings and 29. dylan milan, the last thing he needed was a wicked swinging yorker to end his test match debut innings on one. brilliant bowling from rabada, and there isn't much you can do about that. alastair cook's innings did demonstrate the power of discretion

in test match cricket. when to leave, when to defend and when to attack. that comes with experience and england must decide which players they will persevere with. and that is a tough decision to make. it was mixed emotions. i was happy to get my cap this morning, it was exciting batting for the time i did but equally frustrating getting out just after lunch, having did but equally frustrating getting outjust after lunch, having got a start. so, mixed emotions, but hopefully the guys are in a relatively good position and we can have a good day tomorrow. finally, the bbc has secured the live tv, radio and digital rights to broadcast the final golf major of the year, the us pga championship at quail hollow next month. you can see ifjordan spieth can complete his career grand slam with highlights and live coverage on bbc two, the red button, online and five live, from the tenth to the 13th of august. that's all sport for now. i'll have more in the next hour. studio: thank you. dozens of prisoners have been

released by mistake and prison violence has surged to a new high, according to new figures from the ministry ofjustice. the data reveals a record 71 prisoners were released from jails in england and wales last year by mistake. there was more than 26,500 assaults in the year to march 2017 — an increase of 20% on the previous year. of those, over 7,000 attacks were on staff — equivalent to 20 every day. ala a la home affairs corresponded gene kelly explained the figures today. ata at a record high levels of self harm, assaults on inmates and staff, and assaults on staff are running at about 20 per day. in terms of the cause, there is a whole mixture of things that we have. staff shortages, overcrowding, the prevalence of drugs like spice in jails, meaning some inmates are out of control a lot of the time and the gang culture in somejails imported

from the outside world. the prison officers association says the figures today show the system is out of control that the government disagrees. they say it is a recruitment drive happening to get more staff in which is underway and the justice secretary today said the figures show the importance of improving safety and security in our prisons. june kelly. the head of the us military generaljoe dunford has said there will be no change to its policy on employing transgender people until the defence secretary receives direction from president trump on the issue. mr trump tweeted yesterday that transgender people wouldn't be allowed to serve in the armed forces in any capacity. our washington correspondent gave us the latest. well, when it comes to donald trump and his tweets it seems to have taken the pentagon completely off—guard. he tweeted yesterday that transgender people would no longer serve in the military and described them as, "a tremendous burden" because of their medical cost when it comes to them being part of the us armed forces.

it did seem to take a few people by surprise including many of his own generals, the defence secretary is away at the moment, so he could give no clarification, we finally have the statement from the pentagon who said they too are awaiting a directive from the white house, but generaljoseph dunford who has issued this statement to all chiefs of staff has said that things will stay as they are until they get direction from the white house and he said that all personnel will be treated with respect. laura bicker in washington. prince william has clocked in for his last shift as an air ambulance pilot this evening, before taking up his royal duties full—time. for the past two years, the duke of cambridge has been working for the east anglian air ambulance service, based in cambridge. our royal correspondent nicholas witchell reports. a team photograph at the start of his final shift. a picture from his working life which is likely to mean more than most for william wales since it will remind him of the role he's

played as a member of the emergency services doing a job largely out of public sight in which he's been able to prove himself solely on the basis of ability. his colleagues say they'll miss him. he's a hard—working member of the team, always keen to get his hands dirty and help out, whether it's just cleaning the aircraft or actually at scene, helping out with patients that are critically ill. from the moment william took up his air ambulance duties more than two years ago, it's clear how much thejob has meant to him. it's kept him grounded, he said, working as a member of a highly committed team. when i put my air ambulance hat on and i come here and fly, i'm one of the team. i just want to get the job done and at the end of the day feel like i've made a difference through my contribution. he's flown on scores of emergency call—outs and seen tragedy at close quarters. there are some very sad, dark moments and we talk about it a lot but it's hard. you try not to take it away with you but it can

be quite difficult. but for all the difficult moments, william says he's hugely grateful for the experience. he says it's instilled in him, "a profound respect for the men and women who serve in our emergency services, which i hope to continue to champion even as i leave the profession." after tonight's shift, william will turn to the profession to which he was born and from which he's known there could be no escape. that's to be a full—time working member of the british royalfamily, supporting his grandmother and preparing for the day when he will be king, but sustained by the knowledge that once he did have the freedom to do a valued job of his own choice. nicholas witchell, bbc news, cambridge airport. time for a look at the weather with darren bett. hello, still a lot of showers around this evening. we keep them going into the night as well, further west

and especially in northern parts of the uk. northern ireland, scotland and northern england turning wetter. those showers heavy enough to bring the risk of a rumble of thunder. blustery winds, clear spells overnight, especially south. lower temperatures of 12 or 13 degrees, in cooler air. sunshine in england and wales tomorrow morning, showers across the far north of england, especially in scotland and northern ireland, cloud increases through the afternoon into south—west england. like today, 20 or 21 degrees. through the evening, it turns wet quickly in england and wales, this rain could be heavy, accompanied by strong winds, things eased by the end of the night but it is a cool and unsettled weekend. often windy. sunshine at times or even longer spells of rain. hello. this is bbc news. the headlines: the un

says a catastrophe is says a catastrophe is unfolding in yemen as the country struggles with the world's worst cholera epidemic, and the looming threat of famine. the metropolitican police say there are grounds to suspect that corporate manslaughter may have been committed in relation to the grenfell tower fire. police say 80 people were killed in the fire injune. the home secretary, amber rudd, has promised businesses there will be an implementation phase after brexit, as changes are made to the immigration system. the number of assaults in prison is at a record high, and the performance of ten jails in england and wales is causing "serious concern," according to new figures. the head of the us military has said there will be no change to its policy on employing transgender people until the defence secretary receives direction from president trump on the issue. fires are continuing to burn in southern france for a fourth day. several thousand firefighters and troops are battling the flames, which they now say are more under control. around 10,000 holidaymakers

and residents have been forced to leave their homes and campsites around the town of bormes—les—mimosas, with many spending the night on beaches, or in sports halls and other public buildings. duncan kennedy reports. it's been another 2a hours of fires... and firefighting. this was bormes—les—mimosas, west of st tropez, and the flames have been spreading again across the windswept bridges. that meant another night on the beach for dozens of holiday—makers, forced out of their campsites. they included olivia hall from sevenoa ks, who's about to spend her third night in a sleeping bag along with her parents and grandparents. what do you think of sleeping on a beach like this? well, i mean for me, i'm 18, it's ok, but for old people, my grandparents for instance, it's not the easiest if they have a wheelchair or things. it is difficult for people.

today we went out with this team of firefighters. this is the kind of terrain they have to haul up their hosepipes, all in 30 degrees temperatures. they're dousing down dozens of small pockets of fire. afterfour days, he said, he's tired but holding up. and it's notjust a firefighting effort from the ground. there goes another load from one of these aircraft, one of dozens we are witnessing this morning. little patches of fire keep breaking up, they are the most dangerous ones, they are the ones that can lead to widespread bushfires and then they become out of control. and in wave after wave, the planes kept on coming, trying to control fires caused by combustible undergrowth and powerful winds. translation: when the fires

combine with the winds, it creates the worst of monsters. it's like a herd of bison storming down the hill, eating up all the vegetation, animals, and unfortunately people. when the fires have passed through, this is what they leave. green turned to black, life turned to dust. it is part of the natural cycle here, but the effects can be devastating. duncan kennedy, bbc news, on the cote d'azur. the prime minister says the conservatives have come a long way on the issue of gay rights, but that there's still more to do to achieve equality. theresa may was marking today's 50th anniversary of the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in england and wales. the introduction of the sexual offences act of 1967 meant it was no longer a crime for gay men aged 21 and over to be in a relationship in private. the law changed in northern ireland and scotland later. here's sophie long.

westminster lit up to mark 50 years since it enacted the law which partially decriminalised homosexuality. it may have been the beginning of legalisation but it did not stop the arrests. after 1967, pride celebrations became annual events, promoting equality and challenging prejudice. but over the decades, thousands of gay or bisexual men were convicted for behaviour which would not have been a crime if their partner had been a woman. terence stewart says he was wrongly found guilty of soliciting in 1981, 1a years after the act came into effect. the offence remains on his record today and has affected every aspect of his life. i was stopped from choosing particular careers. it also meant if i applied for a mortgage, i could not get a mortgage because that would come into play in an application for a mortgage.

so it affected where you lived as well. it had a huge affect on my health and well—being as well. i am very happy to announce that you are now legally husbands. cheering it was not until three years ago, that people in britain were able to marry the person they loved, regardless of their sex. david cabreza and peter mcgraith were one of the first gay couples to tie the knot. david told me today marks an important anniversary, and an opportunity to look back at a long hard fight that people can be proud of. 50 years ago marked the beginning of a very long journey that a lot of people devoted their lives to, put themselves at personal risk and all the rest. now when we look back over the 50 years, we can see all these small but very important steps that people and the government and society have made leading up today.

it is a very momentous time to look back and see the progress that we have made. but campaigners say there is still more to do to make sure young people can grow up confident that they can be whoever they want to be. sophie long, bbc news. with me isjohn cordingly — he was aged 26 in 1967 when homosexuality was partially decriminalised. at the time he was working as a psychiatrist. he hasjust been he has just been to an event this evening in london marking the 50th anniversary, hosted by the mayor of camden. john, welcome. thank you very much for coming in. what was life like for you as a 26—year—old 93v life like for you as a 26—year—old gay man in1967, life like for you as a 26—year—old gay man in 1967, before the act and after? well, the truth is that it didn't really change. i had to hide my sexuality, but i had to continue

to hide my sexuality as a professional man. that is not unusual. i think most professional people couldn't acknowledge publicly that they were gay because of the consequences of doing that. so i led a rather secretive day live since i was 21. i had a lot of gay friends and had some relationships and in some ways it was nice, but it was a double life. how careful did you have to be and what were the fears for you? the fears where of being arrested, of course. actually, none of my friends were. i think we were rather careful and fortunate because the number of arrests went up after the number of arrests went up after the 1967 act. the police became more vigilant at any public display of sexuality. so i suppose i was worried about being exposed as a

psychiatrist and also my father was a bishop and i thought if i was exposed it would go down really badly. did he know? i never told him, actually. but i know he knew, yes. so when you see how life has changed in the last 50 years and i am not pretending for a second it is perfect for gay men and women at all, but how much better is life because of the freedoms that people have? i can be open about who i am. because all that time, up until about 15 or 20 years ago, i couldn't really talk to strangers. with friends i knew i could talk about my sexuality but other people i couldn't. a whole area of my life was sort of excluded and that made it difficult. you have been too busy bentonite, hosted by the mayor of camden. was that? well, it is a very nice event. a number of people gave

testimonies and it is really to mark what is the journey. it was the beginning of a journey. as i have already said, things didn't change. ididn't already said, things didn't change. i didn't change. life outside didn't change, but gradually things and attitudes changed. i has taken a long time. well, for me it is a long time. how wary do you have to be now in certain situations? i don't think i need to be any more, no.|j in certain situations? i don't think i need to be any more, no. i know that you are involved in the charity open the doors london. yes, we had a celebration last week as well. and it provides information and support services, particularly... for older lg bt services, particularly... for older lgbt people. services, particularly... for older lg bt people. that services, particularly... for older lgbt people. that was very influential to me. ijoined it right at the beginning, it about ten years ago. and it was there, actually, they were doing a fundraising event, that they asked me to get a testimony and it was the first time i had spoken openly about being a 93v i had spoken openly about being a gay man and actually that was quite

liberating for me. you hope, though, that people don't need the kind of support that clearly the charity provides these days. what are the sort of issues that people come to you with. we would like to think that ends have moved on, haven't we? yes, they have moved on but voters there is this whole legacy of guilt and shame we carry. —— for us there is this legacy. and it is important for us to have a place where we feel like we belong because we did not belong in the straight world and so it is very important to give a lot of support to older gay people. thank you very much for coming in. thank you very much for coming in. thank you. the shortlist for one of britain's most prestigious music awards has been announced. among the nominations for this year's mercury music prize are stormzy, the xx and ed sheeran, which has caused uproar on twitter as his album divide was panned by the critics. the prize is regarded as the equivalent musical equivalent of the booker prize. well, one of the nominees isjoining

me here today. so first time around. how does it feel? absolutely amazing. it is such a cool thing with so many different kinds of music celebrated, so it is fantastic. so many different types. what would you call yourself? electricjazz? i think we try to avoid the] word of it. instrumental music that involves improvisation. it certainly is jazz but something like this gives us a chance to appeal to least access a wider audience, so for me it is trumpet led instrumental music, there you go. everyone else can decide what the stickers are. and how does it feel to go up against artists like stormzy and ed sheeran, who have a

slightly higher profile? yes, i think ed sheeran should be careful because the dinosaur streams are going to rocket and trumpet is going to ta ke going to rocket and trumpet is going to take over the world, let me tell you. irish singer— songwriter ‘s will be old news. i am joking, obviously. no, it is really fantastic. they are artists who are so fantastic. they are artists who are so dedicated to their craft and really worked on it over time and it is an absolute honour to be amongst these kind of names. it is amazing. and how important our awards like this in celebrating the album as an art ina this in celebrating the album as an art in a time when people stream or download individual tracks so much? yes, i think it is super important. it is such a statement of an artist to make an album. you put so much love and care into that and i think it is really important for that to continue in this time of streaming things for artist to be able to put out those big statements and awards like this really helped to celebrate that internal audiences onto it. let's speak to sam wolfson,

who is a music critic and executive editor at vice magazine. he joins us now via webcam from north london. what is your view of views on the list? i think it is quite an exciting less this year, actually. there is an interesting of traditional style indie bands and also some really exciting hip—hop artists, grime and things. ed sheeran is the one that everyone is talking about. that is the kind of unusual choice because this is an award ceremony that people really think of representing the highest quality music rather than the more successful. oh, that is a bit of a thing to say, sam. please explain. i am not against it. when you have an award like this and it is the same of the turner prize of the booker prize, you do not want a list that you expect and you know what that there, but equally you don't want something that i think maybe seems like it is headline grabbing and i

think the issue with ed sheeran is not that it is a really successful big p°p not that it is a really successful big pop album, it isjust not that it is a really successful big pop album, it is just that it is not a very good one. it was widely critically panned. even ed sheeran himself admitted that a lot of the tracks on the record are songs that he had written for other pop stars. one is that he wrote for birdie—mac and she did not like it's all he did it on to his album. it is a bit of a mishmash. i like that they are mixing it up and it is unexpected but it is right for some of the other acts to feel like it is a bit unfairand other acts to feel like it is a bit unfair and certainly parties to did not make the cut, they might be a bit annoyed. how women are honoured for your liking? it is to say, exactly. because there are some acts that have mixed male and female. most of the women who are on the list are in acts with other men. kate tempest is an artist is very

exciting on the list. but there is not enough. there are only about four acts that have women included in the band and certainly charlie xcx, you made this really weird problem that broke the boundaries of what music might sound like did not make the cut, whereas a very traditional indie band like blossoms, the kind of thing that you know how it sounds, it is a bit old—fashioned, that they'd get on the list. so what you're after is something that is about the #alot something that is about the # a lot more forward looking at and who would you like to be on it?|j think charlie xcx is an interesting one i think it is surprising that radiohead did not make the cut. they had a very good album this year. i think they have some interesting people.