ialiens. now it's time for a look at the weather with sarah keith lucas. not kind of blue sky here that's sure. we have some blue skies but the pinks and reds of the sunset so i feel it can call day for many parts of the country. it has been largely dry in settled high pressure well and truly in charge. eastbourne and east sussex, clear skies there. we have got some cloud toting around foods evening and overnight but for most foods evening and overnight but for m ost pla ces foods evening and overnight but for most places it should stay dry. for the second half of site we should see things changing in the north—west. the rain across northern ireland and scotland to woodwinds picking up your. south across england and wales, cloudy and mostly dry and a frost—free night ahead with temperatures tainted about three to 9 degrees. it is great to bea three to 9 degrees. it is great to be a windy morning across northern ireland and the west of scotland. it could take us of up to around 50 mph but as the rain eases away, the winter should ease and most places

looked dry with sunny spells and stu b looked dry with sunny spells and stub mild with height of ii to 13 degrees. stub mild with height of 11 to 13 degrees. hello, this is bbc news. the headlines... three men have been found guilty of the murder of five people who died after an explosion in a shop in leicester in february. the music retailer hmv is being put into administration, placing more than 2,000 jobs at risk. after a surge in the number of migrants crossing from france — calls to step up patrols in the english channel. potholes are getting worse —

more than half a million were reported for repair last year, according to research. now on bbc news — there's a festive feel to the travel show as ade takes on the snow, and freezing temperatures, of finnish lapland. this week on the show... we are looking at some of our favourite moments of 2018. it has been a hectic year as we bring you oui’ been a hectic year as we bring you our adventures from over 60 countries. here's a taste of what is coming up. that footwork is impressive. we are

going to the most fashionable part of tokyo and i'm dressed as a flat plumber. let's begin our look back with some stories that show what a cultured bunch we are here at the travel show. in a moment i will go to beirut to see how they are trying to reclaim their 1960s title as the paris of the middle east. lucy will

visit cape town to see how ballroom dancing is helping to break down barriers. but first, back in april, chris went to norway to try her hand at playing musical instruments made out of ice. she is so cool. at playing musical instruments made out of ice. she is so coolli at playing musical instruments made out of ice. she is so cool. i start my trip at the norway ice music festival. you are really feeling and seeing it in the air, it is cold. the word is it will reach a low of -24 the word is it will reach a low of —24 tonight. so i had better wrap up. what makes this festival extra special is that the instruments are actually made on the day from nearby ice. i really like it. it doesn't

sound like anything else you have ever heard. we don't get to practice so ever heard. we don't get to practice so the music is made on the stage in front of the audience and that is really special. many people are like, is this possible? it is always not possible so it is pretty good that we can do it. there's a of folk in it, quite nordic. just in the nick of time, all is ready and we gatherfor an evening nick of time, all is ready and we gather for an evening of ice nick of time, all is ready and we gatherfor an evening of ice music. applause

in the 1960s beirut was the height of glamour. it was dubbed the paris of glamour. it was dubbed the paris of the middle east. and few places a this ideal better than one of the city of‘s 5—star destinations. —— epitomised this ideal. this commemorative book was publicised to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the hotel and when you look through this it gives you an idea of the calibre of celebrity. marlon brando. bridget bardot. even the great mohammed ali. i was coming here since the beginning. we used to do fashion shows he and this is a very

special hotel. this is an international model who was based in beirut before the war. wow. mona ross, take a seat. now she is a permanent resident of the hotel.m is part of my life. i consider i'm pa rt is part of my life. i consider i'm part of the fixtures and fittings. you are part of the furniture. part of the furniture. part of the fabric of the furniture. part of the fabric of the furniture. part of the fabric of the whole hotel! when the war came the hotel became a battle ground, a key strategic point because of its size and downtown location. i was passing by next to it when it was destroyed. and i saw a little hibiscus plant with a red flower on it, and i was so touched

by this and i couldn't believe my eyes, why this plant was alive in front of this hotel that was dead. today a generation of young lebanese are determined to shake the dust and debris from the city's reputation. and it is the nightlife that is really putting beirut back on the map. the music hall is one of the capital's most famous venues. hosting a cabaret packed with an eclectic mix of musical forms. isaidi i said i was going to create a place where you have extremes, it can be

classical music and then something thatis classical music and then something that is totally punk or very kitsch. i'm working on cultural entertainment, and usually those two words do not meet because entertainment is nightlife and alcohol and culture is museums and theatres. with its bill celebrating theatres. with its bill celebrating the city's prewar golden age and contemporary music trends, the club offers a vision of beirut co mforta ble offers a vision of beirut comfortable with its past and living in the moment. this beautiful grand iconic building

is city hall and it is from that balcony that mandela gave his first speech after being released from prison, and back then this entire area was completely jam—packed prison, and back then this entire area was completelyjam—packed with people eager to catch a glimpse of him and hear what he had to say. but almost a quarter of a century after the end of apartheid in almost a quarter of a century after the end of apartheid “119911, almost a quarter of a century after the end of apartheid in 1994, i wa nted the end of apartheid in 1994, i wanted to see how far these hopes for the rainbow nation have come. we are on our way to for the rainbow nation have come. we are on oui’ way to a for the rainbow nation have come. we are on our way to a township in the suburbs of the city and in the past people from areas like this just would not get many opportunities but things are slowly changing and giving the next generation a chance for their talents to be recognised. at the neighbourhood dance studio children aged as young as four having their final rehearsals ahead ofa having their final rehearsals ahead of a prestigious ballroom competition. there footwork is impressive. dancing is one of the

most popular sports in townships, up there with football and boxing, and maybe more importantly it is bringing young south africans from all backgrounds together. it is a new day and it it showtime, a dazzling parade of sequins, lycra and colour. we are here at the super series national championship and people have come from all over the country to compete on this dance floor. there is so much excitement in the air, the guys are looking suave and the ladies are looking fabulous. it will take home the trophy is? although events like this area trophy is? although events like this are a regular part of the cameras are a regular part of the cameras are now are a regular part of the cameras are flow across south are a regular part of the cameras are now across south africa, it is sobering to remember that not long ago under apartheid it was socially taboo for black and white couples to dance together, competitions like this would be unthinkable. dance together, competitions like this would be unthinkablelj remember this would be unthinkable.” rememberwhen we did this would be unthinkable.” remember when we did our first competition in johannesburg and remember when we did our first competition injohannesburg and we we re competition injohannesburg and we were the only black dancers, and we

we re were the only black dancers, and we were in the corner. i remember being invisible. i know what it means to bea invisible. i know what it means to be a champion but also not really being recognised. i rememberthem not knowing my name. the amazing thing about the ballroom generation which is they don't really know what it feels like to see or feel segregation and we see couples who are dancing from different... a white boy and a black girl dancing together, and that is amazing. no one would deny that the country still has a way to go before fulfilling mandela's dream but in their own small way step—by—step of their own small way step—by—step of the young hopefuls here in cape town are doing their bit to carry his legacy into the future. there you go. fox trotting their way into the future in cape town, back in september. up next we have a

different type of dancing from the same month, but this is when we went to japan to take part same month, but this is when we went tojapan to take part in a same month, but this is when we went to japan to take part in a festival that required fancy footwork and a fairamount of stamina. that required fancy footwork and a fair amount of stamina. i'm looking forward to this. hello. tell me, what makes this festival unique? everything, every dancer has this. a very public training session for newbies like me will be followed by a chance to take part in the main festival parade around the streets of the city. the nerves have all gone, who cares how good you are? this is about community and festival, i'm getting it now. yes, it is exciting. there he was reporting from japan

backin there he was reporting from japan back in september. something tells me they won't be inviting him back tojoin in again next me they won't be inviting him back to join in again next year. me they won't be inviting him back tojoin in again next year. nice try, mate. still to come, on our special look back at 2018, mike ta kes special look back at 2018, mike takes on the sand dunes of kaza khsta n takes on the sand dunes of kazakhstan with a snowboard and we will also be saying goodbye to one of my travel show buddies who has 110w of my travel show buddies who has now become a hollywood star. and it all began right here on the travel show. being a present is that here means you have to be pretty comfortable taking on all sorts of challenges and over the years i've taken lions for a walk. head banged. and tried my hand at shakespeare. all in the name of the programme. but soft, what light through yonder window

breaks? it is the east and juliet is the sun. up next, some of our favourite clips from 2018 when some of my travel show buddies also faced up of my travel show buddies also faced up to their fears. my journey takes me to the wondrous alert of a seemingly limitless desert, abu dhabi's defining feature. at this annual sports festival there are camel and horse races but basically this is party time for petrol heads, people bring their four—wheel drive sleeps and buggies for a romp on the dunes and you don't get much bigger than this. 300 metres high at an incline of 50 degrees. i have been looking at one of the world's highest and steepest sand dunes for a while now and i really want to

reach the top. luckily i have got a lift. 0h! we are reaching the top. the best way to describe what i'm about to experience is a self drive video game simulation with some sightseeing thrown in. welcome. they have been running these go—kart welcome. they have been running

these go—ka rt taking welcome. they have been running these go—kart taking in many the tourist attractions of central tokyo for several years now. this brings back memories from my childhood. luigi. mario. it has got to be mario. where is the key? john, where is the key? this is ridiculous. even though it is a sunday morning and the traffic is light, it takes awhile to get used to driving a vehicle that feels so and exposed. 0h! slightly vulnerable, but i think i'm getting the hang of driving this car now. 0h i'm getting the hang of driving this car now. oh my gosh. did you see how close i came to a taxi? 0h! car now. oh my gosh. did you see how close i came to a taxi? oh! oh my gosh, i can't believe we are going through this crossing. we are going to the most fashionable

pa rt we are going to the most fashionable part of tokyo and i'm dressed as a fat plumber. laughter i wanted to see how kazakhstan‘s relationship with nature is changing so relationship with nature is changing so i'm meeting up with a mountain guide. they wanted to show me how some people are mixing old kaza khsta n some people are mixing old kazakhstan with the new. sand boarding on the most famous singing sand dune in kazakhstan, famous because the june sand dune in kazakhstan, famous because thejune makes a humming sound under the right condition, almost like an organ. carlos was along for the ride. the sand dune

reaches a height of 150 metres and it might look placid from a distance but it is an entirely other story when you are up there. it is a bit windy today but we are on the singing sand and that is always how it is here, i guess. i've gone snowboarding before, what are the differences with sand boarding? 0k. lean back? 0h! laughter this is a lot of fun. but before

long... we are starting to get the hang of it. and with that, my trip to kazakhstan is atan and with that, my trip to kazakhstan is at an end, and what a ride it was. yeah! to enter this look back at 2018 we could not finish without remembering that this year we said goodbye to a familiarface on that this year we said goodbye to a familiar face on the that this year we said goodbye to a familiarface on the programme. he has now swapped being on the tv for playing a leading man in hollywood. ever since i can remember my family

has been my whole life. henry has been with us since the start back in 2014 and we have had plenty of adventures together, clocked up countless miles and hollywood's success could not have happened to a nicer bloke so good luck, henry, and as a parting gift from everyone here on the show, here are your best bits. come on, baby. what is the baby's name? mina. well, so small. i'm determined to sweat even more.

i've got a fair way to go yet. straight, straight. i don't want to rip my pants. you are much stronger than i am. this is getting bumpier and bumpier, it's almost like trying to stay on a bucking bronco. 0h! and bumpier, it's almost like trying to stay on a bucking bronco. oh! i'm done, i'm finished. i'm going to go home and rest my sore backside, i think. it has been a long day. so that's it for our look back on

2018, i hope you've enjoyed following us on our travels this year and willjoin following us on our travels this year and will join us following us on our travels this year and willjoin us in 2019 as we hit the road to bring you some of the best stories from around the world and you never know, maybe even provide you with inspiration for your next trip. until then, from the and all the travel show presenters and all the travel show presenters and the crew on the programme, we would like to wish you where ever you are a happy and healthy new year. see you in 2019. good evening. we have a fairly quiet

speu good evening. we have a fairly quiet spell of weather at the moment with high pressure in charge, today started off very cloudy but the sunshine broke through and it was a pretty serene at sunset as pictured here by one of our weather watchers in merseyside. going through the evening things will change a little bit, but remaining mostly mild and dry, but there is rain working in through the course of the night on an approaching weather front. 0ut there, clear spells, pretty an approaching weather front. 0ut there, clearspells, pretty mild, with light winds, but they will pick up with light winds, but they will pick up in northern ireland and scotland with the arrival of patchy rain as well, the rain pushing into the far north of england in the early hours of saturday. to the south cloudy and dry and it should be frost free to start off the weekend where ever you are. enough cloud and the breeze to stop temperatures from falling. what

we have on saturday is a fairly weak weather front are pushing from east to west across the uk and that will bring a fairly breezy wet spell of weather for a bring a fairly breezy wet spell of weatherfor a time bring a fairly breezy wet spell of weather for a time and also mild air, you can see the yellow colours on the map. slightly colder in the north—east of scotland. this is saturday morning, these are the winds, we could see in excess of 50 mph especially around the western isles and the highlands of scotland. the brisk winds will wind down through the day as the patchy wayne moves towards the east —— patchy rain. the brisk winds will ease away. still mild for the time of year with temperatures around 10—13 on saturday and that mild settled theme continues into the second half of the weekend. a bit of rain on sunday for northern parts of scotla nd sunday for northern parts of scotland but elsewhere it should be another dry day, and a game of spot the difference with the weather over the difference with the weather over the next few days, a bit of cloud

but it should break, the best of the sunshine in eastern scotland and england and temperatures similar, 10-13 england and temperatures similar, 10—13 on sunday. high—pressure holding on as we look towards the final day of 2018, new year's eve, high—pressure stays towards the south, but we have a weather front towards the north of scotland so may bea towards the north of scotland so may be a bit of rain in the far north but if you have plans to see in the new year new year's eve is looking mostly dry with light winds but there could be cloud and fog developing overnight. this is bbc news. i'm ben brown. the headlines at five. three men are found guilty of the murder of five people who died after an explosion in a shop in leicester in february. the music retailer hmv is being put into administration placing more than 2,000 jobs at risk. after a surge in the number of migrants crossing from france — calls to step up patrols in the english channel.

potholes are getting worse — more than half a million were reported for repair last year, according to research. and coming up, one of the rarest birds in the world, the madagascar pochard, gets a new home. a british team of conservationists have released a small group of the birds at a lake in the north of madagascar. and we look back at some of the extreme weather events of 2018. that's in weather world in half an hour.