good morning, welcome to breakfast with naga munchetty and charlie stayt. our headlines today: more than 40,000 criminals would avoid jail every year, under plans to scrap prison sentences of six months or less. president trump digs in over his mexican border wall — hundreds of thousands of workers go unpaid during a record—breaking us government shutdown. mainland europe braces itself for more heavy snow, as austria suffers the worst conditions for 30 years. murray's melbourne return — after the tears that flowed as he annnounced his impeding retirement, andy has been back on court, ahead of what could be his final match on monday morning. and flying into the new year — it's indoor bungee jumping — i've been to try the new sport which leaves you in a spin. mrl startand mrl start and we can, and it stays mild lard but is increasingly windy. all the details right here on papers. —— right here on breakfast.

it's saturday the 12th of january. our top story: prison sentences of less than six months could be abolished under plans being considered by the ministry ofjustice. it's argued that community penalties are better than short jail sentences at cutting re—offending rates. in england and wales it's thought the move would mean about 40,000 offenders avoiding jail every year, including burglars and shoplifters. this report from ben ando. at any one time, around 3,500 people are behind bars in england and wales, serving sentences of six months or less for crimes like burglary or shoplifting. but almost two thirds of those released will re—offend within a year. the prisons minister rory stewart has described these short sentences in a newspaper interview as long enough to damage you and not long enough to heal you, adding that those jailed even for a few weeks can lose their home, theirjob and their family and be set on a course to more crime. the ministry ofjustice says that prison is meant to protect the public from dangerous people, reduce crime,

and also reform prisoners. but could it be our overcrowded jails are instead turning one—time offenders into career criminals? since the 1990s, the prison population has doubled from 40,000 to 80,000. in 2017, 86,275 people were jailed and more than half of them received sentences of six months or less. abandoning such short prison sentences in england and wales is stilljust a proposal. legislation would be needed and politicians know promising to send fewer law—breakers to prison is rarely a vote winner. but a similar scheme in scotland has beenjudged a success and is being extended to sentences of 12 months. it could be that ending short sentences will benefit criminals, and the community, in the long term. ben ando, bbc news. the standoff between president trump and members of the us congress over funding for a wall on the mexican border

has now resulted in a record—breaking government shutdown. the row has entered its 22nd day, leaving hundreds of thousands of government workers unpaid as politicians argue over budget. david willis has the latest from washington. at the white house, they prayed. among them, a president caught in a crisis so seemingly intractable, it might take divine intervention to solve. a government shutdown that started with museums closed and rubbish piling up in national parks has now seen hundreds of thousands of government workers go without pay. and following protests across the country, that shutdown has now set a dubious record as the longest in american political history. there is an unknown, we did know how

long it will go on. i really loved the work that i did, i would like go back eventually. i do not know how long it will be and i do not know if i need to start making other plans. my husband is working without pay. you have to evaluate your family circumstances and how long you can hold out. president trump had threatened to declare a national emergency in order to break a political stalemate. he still might, he says, but not now. this is a 15—minute meeting — if they cannot do it, i will declare a national emergency. there has been no formal contact between president trump and democrat leaders since talks collapsed in the middle of this week. and with none planned, washington's winter of discontent threatens to drag on and on. heavy snow is continuing to wreak havoc across large parts of europe, leaving roads blocked, trains halted and schools shut. seven people have died in austria in the past week, and two hikers are missing. conditions are also particularly treacherous in bavaria,

as andy beatt reports. from scandinavia to switzerland, and the baltic to bulgaria, vast swathes of europe in the grip of a deadly, debilitating freeze. in austria, the heaviest snowfalls in 30 years have left alpine resorts and villages stranded, up to three metres of snow bringing many to a standstill. in germany, hundreds of soldiers joined emergency workers to clear roofs and roads in bavarian towns. five districts declared a state of emergency with schools closed and many communities cut off. further north in saxony, helicopters were used to blow snow of trees to stop them falling on roads and railways. but some remain blocked, while more than 100 flights have been cancelled. three people were injured when an avalanche swept through this hotel in eastern switzerland. local reports said the wall of snow was 300m wide. and storms across scandinavia have

made some routes impassable. in northern norway, a bus full of students blew off the road, while winds on the swedish border approached almost 180km/h. 1,000 miles further south, more snow and sub—zero temperatures. drivers in romania battling blizzard conditions, police rescuing some, but reportedly finding the body of one man in a car park. translation: you cannot see three metres in front of you. right here, 200m back, you cannot see. translation: we're waiting, for the moment. we're waiting for the snowfall to stop. but there is little sign of that with heavy snows forecast to continue across europe over the weekend. for many, there is still a long winter ahead. andy beatt, bbc news. a suspected gas leak at a bakery in paris this morning

has left several people injured. details are still coming in — but photos show a street littered with debris from nearby apartment blocks and several cars damaged, with a fire burning at street level in the city's 9th district. using credit cards for gambling could be banned under plans being considered by the government. in a bid to target addiction, culture secretary jeremy wright will meet banks and bookmakers ahead of a review by the gambling commission next month. the move would affect billions of pounds worth of bets a year. the wreck of a german submarine from world war i is gradually resurfacing on a beach in northern france, after decades of being buried in the sand. shifting sand near calais is exposing the remains of the uc—61 which was stranded there injuly 1917. it's now becoming a tourist attraction again, although the local mayor warns it may only be

a fleeting visit. extraordinary pictures. what were you doing this christmas? for most of us, it was probably spent enjoying a well—earned break. for one british army officer, it was spent making history with a 921—mile solo trek across the antarctic. captain lou rudd became the first brit in history to complete the journey unaided, while his family waited at home for his safe return. lou joins us now alongside his wife lucy. lucy, he gets all the accolades,

bored doing this amazing achievement, no disrespect, but you are at home and worrying. it cannot be easy. no, it was hard. especially because he was on his own this time, so because he was on his own this time, so you always have the worry that something will happen to him. previous trips he has gone with people. this time he was on his own. sol people. this time he was on his own. so i did have butterflies the whole time. ayes had the honour of talking to you once you have completed the track. we interviewed you on brea kfast. track. we interviewed you on breakfast. i remember saying to you, what is next? and you said, i need to go home. i don't know if you heard, but you are very mindful of that. you have to be mindful of what you are putting your family through. yes, and lucy said, it was my first time doing so low, previously i had been with teams, so the risk level dembele goes up. what drove you to do that on your own? i had previous

expeditions, always been in teams, and it was the final polar record left to be done was a solo unsupported, not using kites are any form of resupply, so i was keen to go down and see if i could grab that final record. this is where you work, these extraordinary images 110w. work, these extraordinary images now. it is a stunning place. i have never been to the antarctic, but these pictures are stunning. the risks are very real as you are on your own. are there times when that plays on your mind? you know what your doing, but do games start to happen in your own head? yes, there we re happen in your own head? yes, there were some days when the wind would start, i would were some days when the wind would start, iwould be were some days when the wind would start, i would be skiing for 13 hours a day, the wind would build tom andi hours a day, the wind would build tom and i would be thinking, at some point i have to stop and get the tent up, and putting the ten top and a50 tent up, and putting the ten top and a 50 mph wind on your own, if

something goes wrong and the wind goes into it, damages its worst case you lose your grip on it, it plays like a parachute, your options then, you are in a life—threatening situation if you use that tent. there is no room for error. it has got to be methodical and careful. you have to think ahead. you knew how important this was, lucy, what was also driving this? apart from the inner drive to achieve? he always wants to do that next step. he was to have a go at it. it has not been done so he wanted go and do it. he has always got that adventure spirit. even though he is getting older, he still wants to do it. we spoke about henry worsley, who was very important to you. we were close friends, served together for many yea rs friends, served together for many years in the army, and my first expedition to antarctica in 2011 was

when henry, we shared a tent together for two months and when henry, we shared a tent togetherfor two months and i retra ced togetherfor two months and i retraced the route by ahmanson, so we are great friends and he was massively passionate about the early polar pioneers, and that really inspired me hence why have done several journeys. inspired me hence why have done severaljourneys. he died attempting the same route, that must be berry emotional. on a personal level, yes, he was attempting the very same thing. it was nice that i could go down and complete the journey and obviously he was my thoughts all the time. when we started the interview, lucy is the reason you are able to do these things. this not apply to a lot of people. —— this must apply. essentially that is how it works. the equation could be the other way around, could be a female explorer with a family at home. without lucy,

there is nowhere could have done this, she is at home keeping the fire burning, looking after three children while i am absent, and running christmas in my absence, and they laid a place for me and because they laid a place for me and because the dinner table and casually put a wooden penguin imagine where i sit. and the kids must worry. they do, but because he has been an army, they are used to him being away. it is hard for them, but they had busy lives, they are all grown up. we have this plan that when the text me at the end of the date safely at got in the tent i would then take them and show them. then we could sleep easy. but was like coming back home? what was interesting you dead? -- what was the first thing? jelle food, i was eating 6000 calories a day, but burning about 10,000.|j

lost 15 kilograms by the time i'd finished. my appetite as i got back has been ravenous. what is the go to food item? stake, i was has been ravenous. what is the go to food item? stake, iwas fantasising about steak and full english brea kfast. about steak and full english breakfast. a fatty high—protein food. just like that and are being controlled. yes, yes. laughter was it a hot shower or hot bath? hot shower, either time i got back, both their shower was when i got to chill a, from leaving their to getting back it would have been 75 days since i had a shower or any form of water, so that was pretty special. what next? i am sure how buggy back to antarctica some point in the future but i have promised a family that this coming christmas i will be at home. but make lucy, did you just roll your eyes? i support him

whatever he wants to do. nothing too dangerous. lovely to see you both. congratulations. glad you are safe and sound at all good. you're watching breakfast from bbc news. the headlines: prison sentences of less than six months could be abolished under proposals being considered by the ministry ofjustice. heavy snow is continuing to fall across large parts of europe, wreaking havoc with blocked roads, towns cut off and schools closed. i was just i wasjust thinking, i was just thinking, what was the cold est i was just thinking, what was the coldest temperature? -35 only polar plateau with the wind chill. that was a headwind. can you describe how

cold that deals? you literally cannot expose, on that particular day, i had a tiny gap between my goggles and face mask, and you can... that took about five seconds of that being exposed for it as she frees the tissue on the side of my face. i felt it burning. frees the tissue on the side of my face. ifelt it burning. i moved the mask and covered it up. it's capped over after a feud days. —— it scabbard. here's matt with a look at this morning's weather. probably felt like the bahamas coming back to the uk after that, it has been mild. that mild streak continues today, and indeed do the weekend, but we will see the wind pick—up and a weekend that will not be without the wet weather. some of

you already discovered that, and at times to the rest of this morning was part of wales, midlands, southern england, brightening up in the afternoon, some showers in the channel islands. showers in north—west england and northern ireland western scotland, which will merge into some longer spells of rainfor merge into some longer spells of rain for the highlands. the eastern parts of northern ireland, afternoon sunshine. the westerly wind was strengthened, touching gale force, and bigger mild ahead of the atlantic, attempt is almost uk wide in double figures. tonight, temperatures not dropping much, though the rain at times in the north and west of scotland, rain across the front part of england. south and west you will probably stay dry, often large amount of cloud and temperatures not dropping much from daytime values, 8— pencils is, higher than they should be by day at this time of year. high pressure in the south—west, bigging lof pressure in the south—west, bigging l of the atlantic, a greater chance

of weather fronts putting southwards, a bit more in the way of wet weather this weekend. the rain hit and miss across the globe and wales and for sunday, the odd shower elsewhere, most places sunshine on sunday, showers most frequent any north of northern ireland and especially north and west scotland and wind gusting there in excess of 50 mph for some. cooler across scotland, milder in the south, colder air just scotland, milder in the south, colder airjust clipping east for monday, chilly start, most places will be dry other than some wintry showers in the north—east and rain showers in the north—east and rain showers in the hebrides later as well as northern ireland. cloud will increase in the west but still some sunny spells. temperatures down on the weekend values, things turning milder and none of this insight of the coming days. this was bucharest, and the worst of these novell in

bavaria, southern germany and austria weather is a respite on the 90, austria weather is a respite on the go, blue skies do yesterday afternoon but it does not last long. heavy snowfall to take as it did tonight, tomorrow and monday once again across the same areas. northerly winds getting trapped with the snowploughs on the northern side of the alps. somehow seem three times the normaljanuary snowfall, only a third of the way through the month and there is more to come. summer got a touch above us from over gogol. that is brilliant. nice to see we are being seen. they said was a lot of snow. more to come. thanks very much. you're watching breakfast from bbc news, time now for a look at the newspapers. broadcaster beverley turner is here to tell us what's caught her eye. treats, we were talking about that.

you see the office at the counter, the swedes had been removed, a lot of... the backlash, the power of by one, get one free. the government has been trying and failing to tackle our ability the crisis, sugar tax introduced, of fast—food advertising on the june. tax introduced, of fast—food advertising on thejune. they are finally trying to do something. health chiefs are trying new curbs on the sale of treats. this is controversial to some extent but most controversial to some extent but m ost pa re nts controversial to some extent but most parents want the state to help us. most parents want the state to help us. despite what is specifically being done? there is the whole thing about pester power. by one, get one free on sugary high fat foods is a different matter. it is curbing the

multi—byte promotions, that is not what they will not be allowed to do. they have to justify the percentage of their multi—byte offers a quite significantly around 70% has to be healthy. 83% of parents have said they had been pestered by children to buy the source projects, who are the other 17%? i do not know, as far asiam the other 17%? i do not know, as far as i am concerned, 100% parents are being pestered. how do you handle back? you have to just say no a lot. mike kitsap 15, back? you have to just say no a lot. mike kitsap15, nine and seven and i spent most of my conversation with them saying no to things they want. if you are on a budget, it is difficult and it is so tempting. if you are struggling with your budget, you are struggling with your budget, you will buy them. it is difficult. i feel like the government have to do something, and i think there is the will from families for them to

help us. the supermarkets claim, the idea that they have taken away the killer area, those mothers when you're standing still and the kids will see it in front of them, those sort of members which can be tricky. yes, david davis, have surprised they hear him say that if people are at exercising properly there is no reason why they should not have the occasional chocolate bar. most of us by children, they are not have the odd chocolate bar, it is ubiquitous. ina way odd chocolate bar, it is ubiquitous. in a way that it wasn't years ago. why is adopted supermarkets to educate the children on how much chocolate to eat? it is up to the pa rents to chocolate to eat? it is up to the parents to say no, sadly not enough people are saying no enough, and it feels like the mountain that we have decline is so huge that we cannot do it on our own. the most common reason for children to go to hospital is to the extraction. i was

kids' keep falling out and not enough parents are saying no. it is hard. this other story is about what example we set our children with the use of phones. everyone has suffered the christmas holidays tried to get their children off their screens. we do not know often as parents what the guidelines should be on screen time. i don't know, any parent that does not have this at the top of their agenda. most recent research concluded that there was no tangible and evidenced damage by the amount of screen time. that is simply because we have not been using the blog enough there has not been enough research. give us 20 jazz, ten, five, that research will be there. the times have done this supplement giving common—sense advice to the likes of me who do

struggle with getting teenagers often screens. this is the thing, we have the model the behaviour we expect to see, that is not always easy. we are often looking at our foes, our children i try to doctors, just a minute, and this article is saying that all the experts are advising that we have set the example. i say i'm an adult and a different rules, but apparently that is not the role —— that is the wrong way to go about it. toddlers are now been educated with screens, and with the games, understanding, when you are in school a lot of research is done on tablets. it does say in the article that with teenagers there are studies that suggest that some screen time is better poor mental health and none in a connected world. i can guarantee that if i told my 50 drug that he could not have any screen time he would feel

highs laterfrom have any screen time he would feel highs later from his have any screen time he would feel highs laterfrom his peer group because they talked each other online than they do in real life, which is not necessarily good but it isa which is not necessarily good but it is a trend. bouts it is just plain rude to be doing something else. it is, and we have two set the example. they are going to model, we have to model the behaviour we want to see from them. very few things annoy me more than someone using a digital device when we are eating. this is what this article is saying, declared tips like, do not have bones at the table, do not have them in the bedrooms at night, it is a lot of common sense, but we are the first generation have had children have so much access and we do not have so much access and we do not have enough guidelines about how to handle it will stop pop-up shops and restau ra nts a nd handle it will stop pop-up shops and restaurants and all those things, this one everyone is confused about. this is a guy who has put the name

ofa this is a guy who has put the name of a restaurant on the outside his house, but he is denying that it is actually a restaurant, he says he used to own a restaurant and it is a p pa re ntly used to own a restaurant and it is apparently a sushi restaurant, the council want him to have the proper regulations and rules that you need. his name is 0rlando. regulations and rules that you need. his name is orlando. yes, it is a little bit unclear as to what he is actually doing. he denies it has a restau ra nt actually doing. he denies it has a restaurant but it is open in the evening, so i don't know, the council may have to send somebody down. he claims it is for the benefit of the postman. is a website advertising his looking and —— opening hours and the food he serves. we will see how that pans out for him. laughter this is breakfast. we're on bbc one until ten o'clock this morning, when matt tebbutt takes over in the saturday kitchen. matt, what's on the menu?

hgppy happy new year. i wouldn't say my most relaxing, a lot of drinking and food. nice to get back to work. i am doing dry january, just food. nice to get back to work. i am doing dryjanuary, just dry gin. google talk about that later. 0ur special guest estee tozer. we watch at all things stepson stickley, let's talk for now about your food heaven. japanese food, crab is a big thing for me. you should go to that della's restaurant. sorry, i mean his house. laughter lam nota laughter i am not a fan of lentils in anything. that texture, yeah. good to know. we also have two great chefs making saturday kitchen debut, mark moriarty. what are you cooking?

turbot with cauliflower and brown butter, lively. a warm welcome back to all the. great lipstick. georgian bread with beetroot, lemon zest and spring onions, crossed with loads of butter. embracing the caring things down forjanuary. we are dane paterson in charge of the drinks.|j have some tour around france, was in french things. you guys at home are in charge of enough a destitute food heaven or food health. dry gin january, dry ginjanuary, i drink dry gin or vodka all per second. that chap,

0rlando, the outside of your studio, do you have matt in big letters?” think that is a terrible idea, actually. laughter you're watching breakfast. still to come on the programme this morning: how do you make brexit funny? we'll find out if it's possible when we speak to the editor of the british comedy guide, and a comedian who's gigged at both the tory and labour party conferences — that's just before ten o'clock. stay with us, headlines coming up. hello, this is breakfast with charlie stayt and naga munchetty. a summary of this morning's main news. prison sentences of less than six months could be abolished under plans being considered by the ministry ofjustice. it's argued that community penalties are better than short jail sentences at cutting re—offending rates. in england and wales it's thought the move would mean about 40,000 offenders

avoiding jail every year, including burglars and shoplifters. the standoff between president trump and members of the us congress over funding for a wall on the mexican border, has now resulted in a record—breaking government shutdown. the row has entered its 22nd day. about a quarter of all government agencies are closed, leaving hundreds of thousands of government workers unpaid, as politicians argue over budget. heavy snow is continuing to wreak havoc across large parts of europe, leaving roads blocked, trains halted and schools shut. seven people have died in austria in the past week, and two hikers are missing. conditions are also particularly treacherous in bavaria. a suspected gas leak at a bakery in paris this morning, has left several people injured. details are still coming in, but photos show a street littered with debris from nearby apartment blocks and several cars damaged, with a fire burning at street level in the city's 9th district. firefighters were on their way to

deal with reports of a gas leak when the explosion occurred. promotional deals on unhealthy snacks placed at supermarket tills could be banned under new government proposals. the department of health has said offers for high—sugar, high—fat foods linked to childhood obesity should be restricted. it said the number of children classed as seriously obese is at a record high and it's now consulting on its plans. the charity age uk says more than 50,000 pensioners will be pushed below the poverty line if they lose free television licences. the government is withdrawing its funding for the over—75s scheme, and asking the bbc to cover the cost. the corporation is looking at a range of options. we've all heard of the expression "life imitating art". but one teenager in the american state of utah took it to an extreme in an attempt to emulate the sandra bullock film bird box by driving while blindfolded. the film involves sandra bullock

being blindfolded throughout to avoid seeing the bad things which make humans do bad things. this 17—year—old pulled her had over her eyes while driving and that is the result. people have been posting videos of themselves trying to perform a range of activities while blindfolded. netflix, which stream the film, is urging people not to hurt themselves. ijust say, don't be stupid. 0r don't do it. exactly. it is common sense. you need to look where you're going. this morning in our time in australia andy murray has been back on court. everybody looking at him very closely. yes, a very emotional

day with him yesterday. he had a lovely day with his mum. he was thankfulfor lovely day with his mum. he was thankful for the messages from around the world. he has been back on court getting down to business again. annabel croft told breakfast earlier that she thought he was looking gingerly, moving gingerly. i can't see that. this is a training session and he will not be pushing himself. she was talking about when he was walking around in between the rallies. it is really when he gets to those long matches, the big points, when he is having to go at full pelt, he feels his hip girl. psychologically that must weigh heavily on you as well. i suppose seeing him on the court there in the fierce sunshine in australia, you realise there is no hiding place at that level of tennis particularly or any sport. the club

doesn't stop for you. the reason he is training is that he has this match on monday against roberto augusta baku. he would like to try to get through and carry on for a final farewell at wimbledon but that isa final farewell at wimbledon but that is a long way off. he will be missed. his great rival tap in speaking in the last 24—hour is. in a moment we will hear from rafael nadal, but first andy murray's, great friend, the world number one, novak djokovic. you get the sense that djokovic was thinking, this could have been me. they grew up playing against each other but the contrast now couldn't be more different, with the serbian making a full comeback from his own injury problems. it is quite a shock for me. we are the same age and the same generation. it is kind of sad to see him going through what he has been going through in the last couple of years with his injuries. as someone who has been through a major injury with my elbow the last couple of years, i can definitely empathise

with him and relate to what he is going through. 0bviously probably the extent of his injury is even worse than mine. it seems like he had not a very long career because today, players are playing that long. but he is 31. ten years ago he will... if he had retired at 31, we will say that he had a great and very long career, so that's — that's the real thing. so all the best for him. we will miss him. but today it's him. tomorrow, another one. we are not 20 anymore, our generation. everyone is more than 30. these kind of things happens. now, who will step into murray's huge shoes? well, cameron norrie, who's 23, has been doing his best in the country where he grew up.. he made his first atp final in new zealand, and although lost overnight to tenys sandgren, his progress in auckland will see him rise towards the world's top 50. former england international

jermainejenas has called for leeds to have points deducted, after head coach marcelo bielsa, admitted he was behind the spying incident, at derby's training ground. derby manager frank lampard also described the action as "unethical", even if no laws were broken and no—one arrested. well, leeds went five points clear at the top of the championship after beating lampard's side 2—0. all eyes were on bielsa before the match. the argentine says it was his decision alone, because in other countries he's worked in, it's common practice. kemar roofe and jack harrison scored the goals in a one—sided match in front of over 34,000 at elland road. it was the spying mission though that grabbed headlines still afterwards. for him to have had an employee or someone that he put up to the job actually physically caught by the police, and then to stand there in front of cameras and say he don't actually care, i mean, it's — it's disgusting, so, i mean, it's gonna be interesting to see actually what the, you know, what the fa deal with that because it is...

i mean, it's out of order. it has polarised opinion, this debate. it is not new, is it? no. could it be considered research? what was it, standing on a hill? around the perimeter fence. what was it, standing on a hill? around the perimeterfence. he had binoculars. aroused suspicion. the police came but did not make any arrest. derby would claim leeds had an unfair advantage. the debate will go on. the fa are investigating. bielsa has said it is common practice, it goes on. was this ahead of the game? yes, this was on thursday. after the actual game frank lampard said they were second best throughout. leeds were so dominant it was not really an issue.

which kind of makes it worse in some ways, because, why do it? frank lampard ways, because, why do it? frank lampa rd saying he ways, because, why do it? frank lampard saying he doesn't want to coach if it comes to that. it is a debate going on. in the premier league, liverpool will be hoping to go seven points clear at the top when they travel to brighton. arsenal travel to west ham in the early game, while at the bottom, burnley welcome fulham to turf moor. manchester united travel to wembley to face tottenham tomorrow, with united enjoying a 100% record since 0le gunnar solskjaer‘s arrival. ironically, it's the current tottenham manager, mauricio pochettino, who's favourite to take over at united long term, and he has nothing but admiration for solskjaer. he was even present for arguably the norwegian's most famous moment in football. i have good memories because also i remember when he scored after 90 minutes in norway, with tonyjimenez, my old coach, we were there in 1999. i remember him when he scored the second goal in injury time and how i shouted the goal of manchester united,

that was unbelievable, because we were neutral. people watching a fantastic game, and yes, of course, yes, i have good memories of him. liverpool's virgil van dijk has become the first defender for almost six years to be named premier league player of the month. the reds were unbeaten throughout december, with the dutchman playing in all eight of their matches, scoring in their 2—0 win against wolves. his boss, jurgen klopp, earned the manager of the month award. liverpool are four points clear at the top of the premier league and play brighton later. chelsea midfielder cesc fabregas hasjoined monaco. the 31—year—old spaniard, captained the blues in the fa cup against nottingham forest last saturday, and was in tears when he was substituted just before full—time. he links up with former arsenal teammate and now monaco boss, thierry henry. it's bragging rights to ireland ahead of the opening six nations weekend, after munster took a big step towards the quarter—finals of the champions cup with a 41—15 win at gloucester.

munster fly—half joe carbery scored 26 points to outshine the returning danny cipriani on the other side. he also set up tries for rory scannell, and this one in the second half for andrew conway. the result ends gloucester‘s chances of qualifying from pool 2 for the next round. england and bath forward sam underhill is set to miss the six nations which starts next month. the 22—year—old has had surgery after picking up an ankle injury in a club match last month. a professional footballer from japan has extended his career for another year. nothing strange in that, you might think, but that means kazuyoshi miura will still be playing for second division side yokohama fc at the grand old age of 52. miura started his career back in 1986, at the age of 18. does he look 52? he does not.

he won the last of his international caps forjapan some 19 years ago. two years ago, aged 50, miura became the oldest professional to score a goal, breaking the record held, since 1965, by sir stanley matthews. the thing is though, as we all know, mid—505 now is the equivalent of mid—30s. i totally agree. i spent a full 90 minutes running around like a spring chicken the other week. age is completely different now. the parameters. i am going to be nice. i thought i was going to get a mega special there. i think he has them drinking the same stuff you drink because you look very well for your age. herbal tea. you look very well. i have never done a bungeejump. i

have always been cautious about a bungee jump. have you have always been cautious about a bungeejump. have you ever done one? now that i am in my mid—30s, i haven't thought about it. i might do. what do you drink? i drink many things. it is useful. it makes you feel youthful. this is the latest fitness craze to arrive from america. you could call it indoor bungee jumping. best not to america. you could call it indoor bungeejumping. best not to drink before you do it. it is bungee fitness. i've been to pembrokeshire in west wales this week, to one of the first centres in the uk, to release my inner child. flying into 2019, the aviation pioneers of a new way of getting fitter on the end of a bungee cord. # i'm spinning around. # move out of my way. it really releases the inner child. because obviously i'm

at the older age level, shall we say, but i feel about five years old again. # ..feeling me ‘cause you like it like this. for all those people too terrified to do a bungeejump, well now the bungee has come to them, enabling them to fly and dive, but in the safety of a gym. it's exercise and it doesn't feel like hard work at all, and you just want to keep doing it. you know, come away from it with such a buzz. it was started by an american bungee jumper who worked in a circus and who wanted to bring her aerial skills to the masses, so creating bungee fitness. last year, she brought it to south wales where a local dancer has been passing on the techniques to groups of all ages. so you're doing everything like if you were doing a zumba class, so you'd be running forward, running back. i can really access and engage many people in this because there are people who probably didn't do pe coming to the class. low impact, it's fab for your joints. if you're working with

the resistance, you land gracefully. upside down splits one—handed. what? that is your signature move? yeah! brilliant! my favourite bit is spinning because, like, you cannot stop. everyone's upside down and they look like bats. they look like bats? i like it when i spin around and jump 'cause i feel like i am a bird. just to get used to that resistance. before i could release my inner bat — or, indeed, bird — it was on with the harness and a bit of a crash course in the basics. if it is your first time, you do not want to fly before you can walk. nice! well done! yes! drop your hips. good! nice! good! it's like walking on the moon but weightless... keeping up all my energy. i cannot stop, actually. # i'm spinning around.

# move out of my way. #i know you're feeling me... it can take a while to get used to the harness and to trust your new powers of bounce, keeping up with the class. however, i've also learnt there is only so much spinning you can take before you start to get a bit dizzy and lose all sense of spatial awareness. i'm laughter. we're tangled up! we're completely hitched there. sorry! a good way of bonding, that sport. you didn't do any injury to anyone. --? that was the nearest it came to it. lack of spatial awareness after getting dizzy. a great work—out for my core. mentally challenging as well. a little bit physical. it looked like fun. it was. if you can

combine exercise with fun, that is the key. getting people who don't normally go to the gym, if they can get fitter by having a laugh, that is good. exactly. thank you. you know the feeling — you bought a medium when you needed a large, and you're glad you kept the receipt. this is the time of year when many of us return clothes and gifts that were given as presents or bought in the sales. but processing refunds and exchanges comes at a huge cost for businesses, so they're trying out new tactics — as our consumer affairs correspondent, colletta smith, has been finding out. picking, packing and mailing out. it has been a busy couple of weeks for this online fashion company. but staff here know that, like a boomerang, a big chunk of these clothes come straight back. this is just today's returns. 0h, we'd be flying if we didn't have any returns, but we sort of accept that.

it's like, if you go into a retail shop, you do expect to try a few things on before you buy something. this week in our clearance sale, we've had ladies by three of the same dress in three different sizes, and i know that, best—case scenario, one will stay out. however, if they actually don't get the dress, three might come back, which is quite heartbreaking, if you know the cost of getting things back and forth. but, increasingly, that is what shoppers are expecting. i will buy, like, a small and medium, and i'll see which one fits best, because i don't want to, like, risk it. so i'll send one back, because i don't need two. if you send it back, it's free. if you have to pay to send it back, i'll often give it to a friend, orjust a little something like that. and especially things for the kids, like clothes and things like that, we order loads just to try on, and then taking things back. with it being easier online, a lot of people will do that. maybe not so much in the shops, because it's more of a hassle to come back, but i think, yes, a lot of it is. the amount of stuff being brought

back to shops has increased dramatically over the last few yea rs. royal mail say they are expecting this year to be their busiest ever for returning online goods. that is why even some of the biggest stores, like next, have decided to start charging people to return some items. but most retailers are using softer techniques to make sure that too many things are not sent back. we're tending to see more online technology that suggests what size you might want to buy. they're paying more attention to the photography, or indeed the videos, of the things they're selling, to help the customer have a better sense of what they're buying. retailers will have to work harder to help customers get it right first time, or swallow the extra cost, because for customers, sending things back is now part and parcel of the shopping process. ten minutes to ten. you need to know

what happening with the weather. here is mapped. a fairly afairly mild a fairly mild start today and across the uk throughout the weekend. tempered by strong winds in recent days. they will pick up in strength as we go through tonight and tomorrow. some of you already wet, snow across eastern europe. widely subzero temperatures. northerly winds dominating. we are in one of the mildest parts of europe. the rain in southern counties of england and wales will continue to work its way towards the channel islands through this morning. most places brightening up in the afternoon. spots of rain in northern parts of northern ireland, showers and western scotland replaced by longer spells of rain in the second half of the day. the best of the afternoon brightness east of scotland. southern england sheltered from the winds. temperatures above levels

they should be at this time of the year. most places ten to 12 celsius. stick with the milder theme as we go into tonight. further rain at times across scotland. some splashes for england and wales. the ring—shaped southwards. note these temperatures into the morning. most places staying level. i'll start tomorrow. high—pressure drifting away. atla ntic high—pressure drifting away. atlantic winds. weather fronts toppling over the uk. producing more rain. hitand toppling over the uk. producing more rain. hit and miss on sunday for england and wales. brighter breaks here and there. especially in the afternoon. the better chance of sunshine in northern ireland and scotland. in the west of scotland be showers will be frequent. gale force winds possibly anywhere. 50 mph in parts of scotland. temps dropping across the north. cold air clips

east of scotland and eastern england tomorrow. some showers. wintry to the north—east of scotland. most places will be dry before patchy rain returns to northern ireland later. in the west mildest conditions. a cooler day on monday. while air will win back for a tuesday and wednesday. looking at the forecast for next week, temperatures set to drop away. mid to low single figures. that chilly theme will continue into next weekend. this week and it stays on the mild side. enjoy the rest of your saturday. —— weekend. some people may think the current situation surrounding brexit is laughable, but is it really something that you should joke about? well, one comedian isn't afraid to give it a go. we'll speak to alistair barrie, alongside the editor of the british comedy guide, in a moment. good morning.

but first, let's take a look at him in action in manchester last night. christmas was good. we had two weeks and no one mentioned brexit. if you mentioned brexit in a comedy club people just mentioned brexit in a comedy club peoplejust go, shut mentioned brexit in a comedy club people just go, shut up. it is all doom and gloom. nobody knows what is going on. it is really scary. why not have fond? if they came out tomorrow and said, we have had a chat and we're not going to do it, most of us would go, thank god! it's all right to have a joke about it. even nigel farage would go, not really, i don't mind. i have got a job at a radio station, it's brilliant. it's so not funny that it's funny. i'm going to die

horribly for 20 minutes. then when you get annoyed i am going to tell you get annoyed i am going to tell you these are the onlyjobs available and stay on stage until next christmas. comedian alistair barrie and editor of the british comedy guide, aaron brown, are with us now. welcome. this was last night. yes, manchester comedy store. people will realise immediately you don't shy away from brexit? i tend to do jokes about the news. if you dojokes about the news. if you dojokes about the news and you ignore brexit, it a bit weird. the last couple of years it has been trump or brexit. that is why you have got us in here. you guys are going, how can mimic something different about brexit? the difference is that trump is over there and brexit is here. you know there will be people in your audience who have polarised views. yeah, but what you see on the television of the time, i thought

today maybe i should have come on wearing a high visibility tabard to be more inclusive. if you look at couege be more inclusive. if you look at college green, that is the extreme element. most people are interested in hearing it. there is no subject off—limits to comedy. the secret is whether you can be funny. ok. aaron, other any things that should be off—limits, particularly in this day and age? no. absolutely not. comedy is vital in how we understand, how we process, how we let off steam. it's a pressure valve, laughter, in many cases. we are a community service. especially topical comedy, it isa service. especially topical comedy, it is a vital part of the national public discourse. do comedians take it on the chin, if you like? some have said they have seen people

leave the room during brexit stuff. is that the nature of it, you're not going to make people happy? the country is divided pretty much down the middle. the audience you get a stand—up comedy tends to be a bit more, it is an arts event. liberal people are more likely to be pro—remain. i had levers saying they really liked it. i was a remainer partly because i travel all around the world doing this. and i quite like working in those 27 countries. do you tease both sides? you mock both sides? if you do stand-up, in the clip you showed i was having a go at theresa may, there is an element of shooting fish in a barrel. if you are just giving one side of the argument, it is just a polemic and you will upset people. i know there have been walk—outs. but

you will get someone walking out because you have criticised their jumper. one thing that does occur to me, sometimes the comedy coming out of brexit inadvertently in terms of fa cts of brexit inadvertently in terms of facts is almost better than anything you could make up. my parents live on the isle of wight. i got there for christmas by booking a ticket with a ferry company that actually possesses some bolts. anything that chris grayling is involved in his most immediately hilarious. not in a particularly good way. i know trump is over there and brexit is here. but on both sides, donald trump yesterday denied having temper tantrums. i wondered yesterday denied having temper tantrums. iwondered if yesterday denied having temper tantrums. i wondered if that was another adult film star. these things keep on happening. aaron, what is in vogue at the moment in terms of comedy? interestingly, i think there is quite a difference in between the live side of comedy

stand—up and clubs and what people wa nt stand—up and clubs and what people want on television. a lot of the clu b want on television. a lot of the club audiences tend to be a bit more left leaning. but perhaps that in turn is because of the material that a lot of the comics are delivering and that they are not then attracting in the wider and more mainstream and right wing public. 0urtime is up. mainstream and right wing public. our time is up. you are back on stage tonight? yes, manchester. the comedy store. a busy night. gridlock. ema thank you. have a lovely weekend. back tomorrow at six. this is bbc news, i'm rebecca jones. the headlines at ten: prison sentences of under six months could be scrapped in england and wales for all but violent and sexual offences, under plans being considered by the ministry ofjustice. president trump digs his heels

in over his mexican border wall as the us government shutdown enters a record—breaking 22nd day. hundreds of thousands of workers have not been paid. we can work really hard to get this education and make sure we can provide for ourfamily education and make sure we can provide for our family but still end up provide for our family but still end up wondering if we are going to be able to pay our bills. europe braces itself as heavy snow continues to fall bringing chaos to a number of alpine regions. austria suffers the worst conditions for 30 years. major tech companies showcase their freshest innovations at the ces expo in las vegas.