for normalising violence and leading more children to commit stabbings and murders. now on bbc news, it's time for a special audience edition of brexitcast. hello. it is adam fleming. i'm in london. only with chris mason. we thought we would do our usual little nerdy podcast. in this cupboard. except it's not a cupboard. we are here in the bbc radio theatre with 300 friends. applause. hello everyone! and of course laura and katya are here too! hello! hi! and the reason we are doing it is because it is about a year to go to a brexit, so welcome to brexitcast: the arena spectacular. brexitcast. .. brexitcast, from bbc 5 live and bbc news. brexit means brexit. breaking up is hard. the people voted, they need to get on with it.

a process which i can only describe as a dog's brexit. brexit means brexit. but what does brexit mean? hello, brexitcastsers. welcome to — well, just another edition of our podcast — except this time we're in the bbc radio theatre with a studio audience of around 300. the extraordinary thing — and i don't know if you guys feel the same — but we four are meant to be used to go on the television and radio, and that notion that people are watching and listening. but it is quite something else when people are actually in front of us, as opposed to imagining that you might be turning off or yawning or throwing things at the television — you're actually here! actually, i spotted all of our bosses sitting on a balcony. noo! hello! and we are being watched on bbc world news, bbc news channel, listened to by the regular listeners of the podcast, and also being listened to by an audience on 5 live as well, so welcome everyone. we hope. normally when i record the pod cast, and sitting back like this. just slouch.

just do it! so i want to involve you guys in the audience a bit. that unfortunately means audience participation. so where isjoey — joey, our colleague? where are you, joey? joey is one of our researchers, who has been busy with the world's biggest felt—tipped pen, writing out brexit cliches on massive pieces of card. so i thought, any time anyone of us says one of these phrases... 0r anyone says! ..yeah, joey is there hold of the card and the whole audience is going to read what it says. you get the concept? so let's to wake practice. so, katya, when will we have certainty on the process? what does michel barnier say? the thing is, adam, whatever michel barnier and david davis says, and whatever is agreed today, the thing is nothing is... all: nothing is agreed tell everything is agreed! well done! yes. so it is a year or so to go until brexit day, on the 29th of march 2019.

i think, shall we speak to somebody in the audience? i thinkjosh has a question. good, josh. this is where i stand up, walk around here, and walk around with max the cameraman. where is josh? hellojosh. nice yellow shirt! um, what's your question for the panel and the audience? i have two, actually. firstly, in the first year of the brexit process, for you asjournalists, or for brexit, and the second is, adam, what's the secret of greeting a good binder? laughter. no, will be here til christmas at least! good questions, josh, particularly the first one. laura, for you? off the top of my head, i would say the election, because it changed the balance of power in parliament, and give hope to remainers that was not necessarily there, that they might be able to slow down or potentially, for a minority of them, try to stop the process, because theresa may's authority had drained away. but i actually think

the most important moment, for me, um, anyway, was the mansion house speech. it was meant to be the newcastle speech but was changed for snow. because it was the first time that theresa may stood up and said to her party, to the public, and also to the eu, that nobody was going to get everything they want. and i know i have to compromise. and we spoke about this on brexitcast and the news and everywhere. there were always do that to be compromises, and it was not until that moment that theresa may admitted to that. and it changed something in the political water, for me. you know, we are journalists, so we never keep to the rules. biggest moment, there are lots. i think, symbolically, when the uk's ambassador to the eu delivered the letter in brussels, to donald tusk, who sort of represents the 27 eu member states, in brussels, and that triggered the formal process

of brexit negotiations, the article 50 process. so that was a big moment. i think what happened just now over russia and the salisbury poisoning was another big moment. yeah. that shows how much the eu wants to stay close to the uk after brexit. rhetoric aside and negotiations aside, this is a clear message about what the eu's intent is. you know, it wasn't just out of solidarity with the uk, of course. the eu 27 are very worried in a wider way about russia. salisbury, though, felt very close to home for them. and as we know, they want to make sure that there is a close security deal with the uk after brexit, despite all talk of cherry picking and so on. joey, joey, joey! quick! all: cherry picking! or as i like to say, as it is pronounced by some abroad, "sherry picking. " a key moment for me was speaking to — um, the secret squirrel contacts,

we like to talk about, and he said to me, i am actually not to speak to you on this evening, katya, because don't want the brexit negotiations to happen to you your colleague, laura, and that was really interesting, i mean, that was interesting. because the two sides were not talking. they were not communicating. they did not want to communicate through us, if you like. and that is fascinating. yes, there were certainly moments where it people were, well, you know, we can't go there, because that could influence negotiations. the two sides — they might not want to admit it — but they obsessively look at what the other is saying, and over the tweets. particularly your binder pictures. can i tell you, instead of my best moment, my worst? a few weeks ago, i'd bumped into michel barnier at a st patrick's day party. aww. .. here we go. so sweet... he said, where your cameras, where are your cameras? and i said, michel barnier, "i'm here to get drunk."

and instantly regretted it. did he buy you a drink? the drinks were all free. where were you? the irish embassy st patrick's day party. that's the — that's the soft power of the irish government. it hasn't affected my reporting. i have had plenty of drinks at the british embassy too. now, chris, i want you to go find henry eaglesfield. where are you? he's down here. i'll go... so slick, isn't it? as an 18—year—old, i was unable to vote in the election or referendum. is it likely that i will have a say on brexit either by election or referendum we leave the european union? the short answer is a think probably not would not rule anything out. it does not feel that way right now

unless something unexpected happens, but i would not rule anything out, because politics has been volatile, but it does not feel that way now. but there is a concerted campaign with some powerful voices who are pushing it. and the eu is very... yeah, they would like... they have never hidden the fact that they believe brexit a terrible thing. they don't agree with those in the uk that believe it is a chance for the future. they say over say over and over again they think it is a lose—lose agreement. but they think the uk will lose most of all. a bit like animal farm, everybody is a loser, but some lose more than others. that is very much the uk. but i do have to point out that they are realists. so this sort of conspiracy idea that the eu is plotting to have another referendum is not something that you come across. you know, they say, you know, emmanuel macron, "any chance you could change your mind, the door is open." and no, we won't sing abba right now.

but they really believe it is happening and is continuing. and as we go into this next age of negotiations, you have both sides looking for a fair brexit. we should have a card for that, that is the new one, "fair brexit" or "pragmatic brexit". but of course, both sides, and very much the eu, will look after their side first. and what is your perspective when you talk to your mates about what they say about that sense of not having had a say in this huge decision that has been taken that will have ramifications for a long time, and you guys didn't get a say? a lot of my friends would have voted to remain. and it feels that we don't have a say when we are the youngest generation and we have not had a say, and everyone in my school will grow up not having had a say in what is a really big decision for the country. let's hear from someone just as passionate but on the other

side of the argument. sophiejervis, where are you? go speak to her. i almost ran past her as well! you look you are proposing. and she's come dressed for the occasion. back to brexit, what is your question? yep, so i think the likes ofjohn major, saying we don't have any leveraging decisions, and tony blair sort of, holding out for a second referendum, actually undermines our position in negotiations. i wondered if you agree. certainly some in cabinet think that. and some people here... so on the day afterjohn major's, i was talking to somebody from cabinet who is gnashing their teeth. and they said "doesn't he get it that any time in that sort of position says something like this, it makes it harder for us?" but i think there is a sense

of a group, and there is a campaign and a group of people people who are kind of co—ordinating to — maybe not overturn it, but maybe put the brakes on in a different way. for them, it is a greater cause than their party. it is an interesting thing that we have seen since the referendum, is that politics is split down leave and remain lines. party lines are not what they were. that has made the commons a little unwhippable, to use that ridiculous westminster word that if you aren't a nerd that makes you think "what is that about?" i think it is understandable that people think that, and it is not necessarily remain—tending people this way, or rather, leave—tending people thinking that way either. so we arejoined in the radio theatre by a german journalist working in london. what is it like reporting all this stuff, and brits being emotional about eu, for a german audience? surprisingly, our audience is still very, very interested in brexit.

people look at this and wonder what is going on. if you look at what people's comment on our report, it is split, a lot of german readers — users — actually think brexit might be a good idea. there was almost agreed that the brits were leaving. but now i think it won't make much of a difference whatjohn major mike tony blair say when it comes down to negotiations. they look at this as a factual things. as we get into the details of about how the customs union works, what that directive is, how the fishing quotas will look — do you get much of that information, orjust the big picture stuff? that is an interesting question. in germany, we have been

going into the nitty—gritty of the european union for20, 30, or40 years. every morning, i get a press review about what is happening in brussels, and it is 35 pages of all the little stuff, fishery, technology, digital, whatever. so germans are pretty much informed about what the european union is, so they don't need to know now, i'm afraid. where is anna carruthers and her amazing nails? anna does brexit nail art. it is a massive thing, nail art. it is a massive thing, nail art. what is your question? what are the main differences in the border between northern ireland and gibraltar? i think the honest answer

is we don't know. nothing wrong with saying that. joey? but i also think they are happening in parallel rather than being together. spain and the uk are talking about gibraltar. i don't know if it's technically bilateral but it is a twin track process with the spanish and the uk try to sort it out. people are involved in that. they say it would be fixed, it will be sorted. it is hanging around is one of the possible damocles sword is that crashed down and cause big problems. but it is a separate thing to the other process, where you are now got

the commission and ireland and the uk having their own triptych, their own talks. which they weren't allowed to do until now. it is only i'iow allowed to do until now. it is only now they can do that. the difference is that the eu 26, in this case, and the heads of eu institutions are 150% behind the irish government and they mean it when they say, you have to be happy with this arrangement. they take the good friday agreement very seriously. that is a very real concern. very seriously. that is a very real concern. first spain it is more of a national pride issue. it is seen as such. it is used by the spanish prime minister for domestic reasons. if you were to use this, and put into peril and agreement that the eu very much wants, not just the into peril and agreement that the eu very much wants, notjust the uk, you can expect the weight of the 26 to come bearing down on marianne eloy.

we have had a lot of political heat around the irish border issue. until now, the gibraltar question has not forced itself to the front of the discussion. it doesn't have to. i think with a lot of brexit it is economic arguments. when it comes to fishing, people's livelihoods ducks when it comes to the irish border situation, people remember the troubles. it is about peace. that is what catapults the irish issue to the fore. no politician in ireland, the fore. no politician in ireland, the uk or anywhere around the eu, wa nts the uk or anywhere around the eu, wants in any way to be or seem to be the politician that might tip the balance towards going back to a much more dangerous and unhappy time. we are going to get another question. this time it is you, chris. where is

elliott? he is there. you have got matching huddys. —— goodies. he has already proposed to someone. good evening. it is an honour to be here. i have two questions. i'm from believing brexit. i have to give the organisation a plug. as a mixed race brexit voter i was deeply disgusted and offended by the leader of the not so democratic liberal democrats' comments. could someone please eddie kidd vince cable that when we voted to leave, that means having more diversity and be more open to inclusive immigration, as opposed to what we have now? that was quite a

long question. if you don't remember vince cable in his spring conference speech, he made a comment... he suggested white voters chose brexit because of prejudice. he is a leader ofa because of prejudice. he is a leader of a small political party who is keen to build up their profile. i think they felt in retrospect that maybe he was added to sharp with some of his language. what you do key into is one of the things that the brexit campaign was lots of —— full of lots of different strands. and for a lot of people it was about immigration. everybody will remember the nigel farage controversial poster he stood in front of with the slogan. i know, like you, elliott, lots of brexiteers in parliament and around the country were really cross around the country were really cross around —— about that. they thought

that crossed a line. it is not what brexit was about for them. it is all talk true that an immigration for any people was a motivating factor. -- it is any people was a motivating factor. —— it is also true. any people was a motivating factor. -- it is also true. it will be interesting to see whether emigration is used as a bargaining tool in the negotiations. —— immigration. amber rudd has been noticeably quiet about immigration figures and promises to bring them down. it is thought very possible that during the negotiation process, which will continue past the year from now, that is something we haven't said yet... we have so many eu countries. poland, the czech republic, slovakia, they have a lot of their citizens living in the uk. they have other citizens who want to come to the uk. spain is another country, italy. it is thought possible that the government may use some kind of eu immigration quotas

asa bargaining some kind of eu immigration quotas as a bargaining chip. it is out there. i have to ask you picking up on the conversation by vince cable. how often, when you are in conversation, does the issue of brexit come up? and when does it become very divisive? sort of thing where levers and remainers are at each other‘s throat. where levers and remainers are at each other's throat. some of my friends didn't vote. some voted to leave. we debate it. they have my point of view. —— they have their point of view. —— they have their point of view. —— they have their point of view, i have mine. we voted to be more inclusive. so at the moment we have a migration system which favours predominantly people of one race from one continent. we voted to be more open, to have more people from more races, from more continents. but for it to favour

people, not based— based on their ability. fairness and their skill level. not fairness in terms of theirskin level. not fairness in terms of their skin colour. that is what we have now. if my friends do go off, i make that point to them and they usually agree that i am right. ican usually agree that i am right. i can see a couple of people shaking their heads at that. i think one of their heads at that. i think one of the difficult things for the politicians is they have tried to get this process going. people voted for also to have different reasons. people who voted to leave voted for different motivations. the politicians have been trying to wrangle about and grapple with that. theresa may decide than her definition, which means controls on immigration, leaving the european court etc. it is from a properly nerdy policy point of view. it is so different to, there was a general election, this is our manifesto, we will do these things. there was a

massive political, diplomatic, economic, emotional relationship. borisjohnson economic, emotional relationship. boris johnson and michael gove economic, emotional relationship. borisjohnson and michael gove did look like they were running an election campaign. they made all sorts of promises. yes, but at that point didn't think they would win. the next question is from stephen hurley. you will love this question. as europe's finest cake aficionados, who would pick the best cake and what would it be? —— bake the best cake? jean—claude juncker, michel barnier, david davis... i think angela merkel would make a good cake. wasn't she a chemist? a physicist. she would have the temperatures precise and everything.

i think theresa may's cake would have a lot of wheat. the prime minister gave an interview before christmas about how she collect delia smith's cookbooks. before christmas about how she collect delia smith's cookbooksm is not one of the things the pm likes, being asked about stuff she does personally. i am interviewing her tomorrow. i might ask. does personally. i am interviewing hertomorrow. i might ask. shall does personally. i am interviewing her tomorrow. i might ask. shall i?! gibbon tipping them in comey said, until they don't dissolve. i don't know. corbyn bestjam? i don't know. corbyn bestjam? i don't think michel barnier is a very ca ke i don't think michel barnier is a very cake person. he has steamed fish and spinach in the canteen.

what is terrible is the cake in that horrible building, the austrian cafe. not a struggle inside! dry cake. you had a big milestone of your own at the summit last week. for people listening in brussels, you went to kitty's for the first time will stop not for the first time. this is the irish pub immediately opposite the european commission and opposite the bbc brussels bureau. we had to start working again. we had finished the day at 11:30pm. and then the story about the diplomatic expulsions started to move on. we ended up working until two. we have been for one drink. i had been there long time ago, when i was 18. every good

night ends with a party game. you know that one where you put a stupid thing in your mouth, which means you can't speak properly? we're going to do it. we are going to put these stupid things in her mouths and we are going to say brexit buzzwords and brexit vips and you have to work out what we are saying. jean—claude juncker. mutual recognition. stephane doering, if he is listing. he is on michel barnier‘s ten. david davis? no. specialist knowledge. amazing.

i think it is time to say thank you to everyone for being in the audience and everyone watching as well. well done everyone. applause. hello once again. i'm afraid the holiday weekend, albeit early in the year, it is the holiday weekend but it is dominated by low pressure. leaden skies, even here at howra. some have seen some sunshine. northern and western scotland have done quite well. and improving situation for many western parts. hang on in there. if you haven't seen hang on in there. if you haven't seen sunshine, you may be for the

day is done. you were further from the centre of the low pressure close by the south—eastern quarter. through the rest of the evening and overnight. all too late in the day from any of you. many of these skies will clear nicely. the rain will become confined and the toepfer eastern areas. we are looking at quite a cold night for the heart of scotland. —6, —7 in the glands. either side of freezing elsewhere. not a bad easter day. even on the big picture it looks fairly quiet until you look towards the south west. if you are in the south—west, i would get on with it very early. you are on borrowed time in the afternoon. sun showers either side of the wash. 0therwise, afternoon. sun showers either side of the wash. otherwise, it is a pretty decent sort of day. i don't say it is a heatwave. five to 7 degrees for some, eight and nine for others. and on easter monday,

because of the cold regime, when we push the moisture in from the south there will be a significant conversion, particularly but not exclusively, on the higher ground. i say that for the northern half of britain. there will be snow in wales overnight. easter monday, if you are on the move in that sort of zone, trans—pennine is northwards, it could be a tricky do. watch out for that. we are already keeping a close eye on the developing situation because many of you could be on the move. it will not be an issue in southern britain. i don't expect that. it will be too mild. further north, the risk of snow. at least it doesn't hang around for too long. 0n tuesday the front is into the northern part of scotland. elsewhere it becomes a really mild sort of day with the breeze in the south. top temperature of the day could be 15 to 16 degrees. see you in half an hour. this is bbc news, i'm carrie gracie. the headlines:

moscow tells britain to withdraw more diplomats in the continuing row over the attempted murder of a former russian spy and his daughter in salisbury two british men accused of carrying out beheadings for the so—called islamic state have complained that they won't get a fair trial after losing their citizenship. the daughter of one of their victims — david haines — says they should be given orange jumpsuits and stripped of all the things they hold dear. hundreds of people are attending the funeral of professor stephen hawking in cambridge. the actor eddie redmayne is giving a reading. the un calls for an independent investigation as 16 palestinians are killed in clashes on the gaza—israeli border. and coming up in half an hour: