prince andrew says he categorically denies having sex with a 17 year old girl. in an exclusive bbc interview, the duke of york has spoken in detail for the first time about the allegations against him. he says he doesn't remember this picture being taken of him with the woman who claims she was forced to have sex with him. i can absolutely categorically tell you it never happened. do you recall any kind of sexual contact with virginia roberts then or at any other time? none. the prince says he doesn't regret being friends with the disgraced financier jeffrey epstein — even though he was convicted as a sex offender. we'll be assessing where tonight's interview leaves prince andrew. also in the programme...

concerns about the cladding on a block of student flats in bolton engulfed by fire. the labour party agrees its election manifesto. jeremy corbyn says it will transform the lives of the british people. commentator: and headed in! and a boost for welsh hopes for euro 2020 with a 2—0 win over azerbaijan. good evening. prince andrew has told the bbc he categorically denies having sexual relations with virginia roberts — the woman who says she was forced to have sex with him when she was 17 years old. in an interview with the bbc‘s newsnight programme,

broadcast tonight, he spoke in detail for the first time about his links with the convicted sex offenderjeffrey epstein. the duke of york said he had no regrets about his friendship with the disgraced financier, who died earlier this year. our royal correspondent nicholas witchell reports. in the state rooms at buckingham palace, a senior member of the british royal family, prince andrew, second son of the queen, is preparing to be interrogated about allegations of sleazy behaviour and gross misjudgment. your royal highness, we've come to buckingham palace in highly unusual circumstances... at issue, which of these two people is telling the truth? andrew or virginia roberts, 17 years old when this photograph was taken? groomed, she says, to provide sexual favours to powerful men. even the photo is contentious. andrew says he has no memory of it. tramp, a nightclub in central london. virginia roberts says

she was there with andrew one night in march 2001. she says they later had sex. andrew says he was with his family. and he told the bbc‘s emily maitlis, there's a medical reason why ms roberts‘ allegation cannot be true. she was very specific about that night. she described dancing with you... no. and you profusely sweating, and that she went on to have... there's a slight problem with the sweating, because i... i have a peculiar medical condition which is that i don't sweat or that i didn't sweat at the time. is it possible that you met virginia roberts, dined with her, danced with her in tramp, had sex with her, on another date? no. do you remember meeting her at all? no. you can say categorically that you don't recall meeting virginia roberts,

dining with her, dancing with her at tramp and going on to have sex with her in a bedroom in a house in belgravia? i can absolutely categorically tell you it never happened. do you recall any kind of sexual contact with virginia roberts, then or at any other time? none whatsoever. the other key figure in all of this isjeffrey epstein, the new york financier who befriended andrew. epstein employed virginia roberts and many other young girls. in 2008 he was convicted of a child sex offence and sent to prison. so... do you regret the whole friendship with epstein? now, still not, the reason being that the people that i met and the opportunities that i was given to learn,

either by him or because of him, were actually very useful. in 2010 andrew visited epstein after his release from prison and stayed for several nights at his home in new york. a wrong judgment, andrew now says — "i let the side down". 0verall, did he think his behaviour had damaged the royalfamily? i don't believe it's been damaging to the queen at all. it has to me. i wonder what effect this has had on your close family? you've got daughters of your own. it has been what i would describe as a constant sore in the family. finally, as he looks back... i wonder if you have any sense now of guilt, regret, or shame about any of your behaviour and your friendship with epstein? as far as mr epstein is concerned, it was the wrong decision to go and see him in 2010. do i regret the fact that he has

quite obviously conducted himself in a manner unbecoming? yes. "unbecoming"? he was a sex offender. yeah. i'm sorry, i'm being polite. andrew will be hoping that his answers will allow him to move on. that remains to be seen. well, let's get more from nick whojoins me. nick a remarkable interview — where does this leave the prince now? well, the jury is well and truly out, i would say, it is a big gamble for him, and i think you very much wa nted for him, and i think you very much wanted to do this interview, supported by his closest officials, andi supported by his closest officials, and i don't think the queens officials at buckingham palace have had much to do with this. he will hope to gain credit for answering the questions that were put to him, nothing was off—limits, fairly relentless 45 minutes of interrogation and he will hope to be believed and he will hope to have given the impression that he is a man with nothing to hide and he seemed quite open and quite relaxed,

during the interview. where he will struggle more is his refusal to regret the friendship with jeffrey epstein, saying he was too honourable to have broken off the friendship, but he now accepts that was a wrong judgment, and apart from the credibility, i think it is the underlying sense of an element of arrogance, naivete, a lack of self—awareness, that perhaps people will find rather surprising. 0ne other thing he left open, the option ofa other thing he left open, the option of a sworn deposition which is what the american authorities are hoping that he will now agree to. nicholas witchell, thanks for joining that he will now agree to. nicholas witchell, thanks forjoining us. an investigation is underway into the cause of a fire at a block of student flats in bolton. witnesses say the blaze spread quickly to the upper floors, prompting concerns about the cladding on the block. two people were injured. from bolton, 0livia richwald reports.

these videos posted on social media show an intense fire which spread rapidly, sending chunks of burning cladding and sparks to the ground. at first, some of the students ignored the alarms. there was this girl who came running and she banged on the doors of the people on my floor, and she just started screaming, saying there was a fire, get out of here right now. when we were running down the stairs, it was getting higher and higher and catching really quickly. the cladding on this building is not the same as that which has been blamed for exacerbating the fire at grenfell tower in 2017, which killed 72 people, and the students living here in the cube have been reassured it was safe, but the videos posted on social media have raised alarm bells. this isn't a grenfell cladding scenario. this is a different type of material, essentially a compressed wood or paper pulp, which is still combustible and, as we see from the footage,

once it takes hold with a fire, it has potential to impinge on the evacuation or the safety of the occupants. this afternoon, prime minister boris johnson visited a shelter to meet affected students, and then to the scene where he met firefighters. the university of bolton says it's finding new accommodation for its students and offering them support. all my belongings, it's all gone. i don't know what to say. how are you feeling about it all? traumatised. tonight, there's a warning from the fire brigades union, who describe the videos as alarming and say urgent action is needed. 0livia richwald, bbc news, bolton. after six hours of talks, senior labour party figures have reached an agreement on the party's manifesto for next month's general election. jeremy corbyn hailed the set of policies as "transformative". it will be a once in a generation opportunity to vote for a more egalitarian society that cares

for all, and i'm very, very proud of the contents of it, and i can't wait to take those contents and its promise of a better britain to everyone all around this country during our election campaign. let's speak to our political correspondent iain watson. do we know what was agreed? what will be going in the manifesto? what will be going in the manifesto? what we can say tonight, taken together the policies of labour would signal a stronger role for the state, they have programmes of nationalisation, which were rubber—stamped to date, but the meeting was also about disagreements behind closed doors, so for example the party's grass roots at the conference wanted to see a policy not just of conference wanted to see a policy notjust of maintaining the free movement of workers but extending it, and some unions were worried that might put off voters who are worried about immigration, so i'm told there will be no explicit commitment to extend free movement in the manifesto and there will be

new policies to regulate the employment market so that people do not feel they will be undercut by migrant labour. another argument was over the delivery of net zero carbon emissions by 2020, and that will be in the manifesto, but rather as a target then a firm deadline. —— 2030. there is also helpful women who have been affected by the increase in the extension of the retirement age, and they will be free dental checks in england, although we will not see the exact wording of the manifesto until thursday. thanks forjoining us. and the labour leaderjeremy corbyn and the foreign secretary, dominic raab, are among the guests joining andrew marr tomorrow morning from 9am on bbc one. the sinn fein leader, mary lou mcdonald, has told her party conference there should be a referendum on irish unity within the next five years. she said she believed a united ireland would be achieved in the 2020s. earlier, sinn fein's leader at stormont, michelle 0'neill saw

off a challenge to her position. protests have erupted across iran after the government unexpectedly announced it was rationing petrol and increasing its price by 50%. at least one person has been killed and several hurt during clashes with security forces. iran's economy is already suffering because of tough sanctions imposed by the united states. french police have used water cannon and tear gas on demonstrators in paris, on the first anniversary of the anti—government protest movement. the clashes were the worst for several months, with thousands of protestors coming on to the streets to support the so—called giletjaune or yellow vest movement. more than a hundred people were arrested. from paris, lucy williamson reports. in paris today, a reminder that the anger that sparked this movement a year ago

hasn't gone away. the number of protesters much smaller now, but for the rioters and police, the tactics remain the same. translation: today is one year since the gilets jaunes took to the streets, to demand social, tax and economicjustice. one year later nothing has changed. we are still angry and still here, and still they gas us and they beat us. it was enough for police to ban the main protest at place d'italie. tear gas and water cannon clearing the square within hours. tonight across the city, small pockets of demonstrators are still battling with the police. the worry for the government is that this will notjust be a one—day protest but a whole new wave of opposition. president macron is facing a string of different protests over the next few weeks, from unions, students and public sector workers. isolated fires are one thing... the danger is they will unite to become an inferno.

lucy williamson, bbc news, paris. with all the sport now, here's lizzie greenwood—hughes at the bbc sport centre. good evening. it's a crucial weekend for the home nations as they try to follow england with a place at euro 2020. wales kept their hopes of automatic qualification alive by beating azerbajan, but a missed penalty means northern ireland have to rely on the play—offs. patrick gearey reports. patrick gearey rounds up the action. for wales's automatic qualification hopes it was baku or bask in my victory at azerbaijan was essential so victory at azerbaijan was essential so in the lyre slowing capital city they chose to aim high, that is six foot five kieffer moore who might have retired this year with a fractured skull, nights like this need courage. bravery takes different forms and sometimes it is the decision tojust different forms and sometimes it is the decision to just have a go, danieljames did, harry wilson and wales benefited. 2—0, that sucked the nerves out of the air, and there we re

the nerves out of the air, and there were chances for a third but the job was done, or at least part one. hungary on tuesday will be decisive. more than i do know michael 0'neill will be leaving but first he has something he would like to finish. like wales and northern ireland are guaranteed a place in the play—offs, so guaranteed a place in the play—offs, so why not have a go against the netherlands? the referee spotted a dutch handball, penalty. steven davis, the captain, owner of a 116 caps... anyone can miss them. it felt as crucial as it did unfair as the netherlands pushed on in the second half, threatening only rarely but controlling near completely, they only needed a draw to reach the finals. northern ireland needed more, but they would not get another chance, despite denying the dutch they must make do with the play—offs, but for those games at least michael 0'neill will still be there by their side and there might yet be some leaving do. patrick gearey, bbc news. scotland edged a morale—boosting 2—1win over cyprus.

but it was just a consolation for the scots who'll also have to try to qualify via the nations league play—offs in march. england's women's rugby union side have beaten france for the second time in a week. world player of the year — emily scarratt passed the 500—point mark for england but they still needed a dramatic late try from lydia thompson to seal the 17—15 victory. it's the opening weekend of rugby's european champions cup. the defending champions saracens play tomorrow. out of today's matches — exeter were the best of the british sides — comfortably beating la rochelle 31—12. there were also wins for glasgow who beat sale and ulster narrowly overcame bath. the biggest age gap in the history of the world tour finals resulted in roger federer being knocked—out by stefanos tsitsipas. the six time champion federer, who's 38 years old — was beaten in straight sets in the semi—finals by the 21 year old greek debutant.

tsitsipas will now face dominic thiem in the final tomorrow. the great britain rugby league side's first tour for more than a decade has ended in a series whitewash. the lions were beaten 28—10 by papua new guinea in the final match of their southern hemisphere tour. it follows two defeats by new zealand and one against tonga. max verstappen is on pole for tomorrow's brazilian grand prix — there's much more on the bbc sport website. but from me.... back to you, ben. that's all from me.

hello. this is bbc news. as we've been hearing, prince andrew has answered questions for the first time about his links with the convicted sex offenderjeffrey epstein

and allegations that he had sexual relations with virginia roberts, who says she was forced to have sex with him when she was 17 years old. he says that on the alleged date he had taken his daughter to pizza express in woking. 0n on that particular day, that we now understand is the date, which is the 10th of march, i was at home, i was with the children. i had taken truce toa with the children. i had taken truce to a pizza express in woking for a party at four or five in the afternoon. then because the duchess was away, we have a simple rule in the family that when one is a way, the family that when one is a way, the other is there. i was on terminal leave at the time from the royal navy, so therefore i was at home. why would you remember that so

specifically? why would you remember a pizza express birthday? because going to pizzaexpress in woking is an unusual thing for me to do. a very unusual thing for me to do. i have only been to woking a couple of times andl have only been to woking a couple of times and i it really distinctly. as soon as somebody reminded me of it, iwent, oh soon as somebody reminded me of it, i went, oh yes, i soon as somebody reminded me of it, iwent, oh yes, i rememberthat. the duke of york was also asked about the impact of the allegations on his family. this first came out in 2011. it was a surprise to all of us because the photographs were published at a separate time to when i was there and there was the question of what was going on. as a family we discussed it and then in 2015, when the allegations were made in the deposition, there was a sort of,

this is the immediate family, not the wider family, the wider family could have been more supportive, but the immediate family, it was what is all this about? and we alljust were ata all this about? and we alljust were at a loss, so it isjust... has all this about? and we alljust were at a loss, so it isjust. .. has the episode been damaging to the royal family, to her majesty the queen?” don't think it has been damaging to the queen at all. it has to me. and it has been a constant drip in the background that people want to know. ifi background that people want to know. if i was in background that people want to know. ifiwas ina background that people want to know. if i was in a position to be able to answer all these questions in a way that gave sensible answers other than the ones i have given that gave closure, i would love it but i'm afraid i can't. i am closure, i would love it but i'm afraid i can't. lam not in closure, i would love it but i'm afraid i can't. i am not in a position to do so because i am just as much in the dock as many people. that was the duke of york speaking

to bbc newsnight‘s emily maitlis. more than 60 flood warnings are still in place across england and wales, as water levels begin to subside after large parts of the country were water—logged. south yorkshire has been worst hit. today, hundreds of volunteers started a clean—up effort in doncaster, a week on from the worst of the flooding. some people travelled miles to help out. tom airey reports. ruined down to the foundations. two weeks ago, glyn had decorators in his living room putting up new wallpaper. a week later, it's volunteers ripping up the floor after floodwater rose up through it. we had a few sandbags that i bought years ago and put them in front of the door, but a stupid person drove by when it were about two—foot and knocked my wall down. everything's gone under water. 0nce my blinds fell down, everything, but like i say, i couldn't do it without these people. glyn, like many others in bentley,

has been uninsured after the cost of flood cover became unaffordable following major floods here 12 years ago. we came together to help him. what we can do for these people that aren't insured we'll do. we've taken all these floors up, the skirting boards, and then all this rubbish from underneath here, as we need to dry it out and then what we will do once we have all these floors up, we'll deodorise it all, sanitise it and put dehumidifiers in. today's clear up was organised by st peter's church with volunteers using a local window company as a hub to store donated supplies. we've had a massive response. i'm guessing over 100 people here already for nine o'clock. we have put them all in hi—vizers, give them a pair of gloves, wellies, wheel barrows, shovels and away they have gone. we broke off into five teams with a team leader and you will see they are out on all the streets helping everybody and trying to get this place tidy. the doncaster suburb was submerged in knee—deep water last friday after the river don burst its banks. the high volumes pumped here are now

being cleared away and it marks the end of the emergency phase. now the volunteers here are rolling in to help with the recovery process and residents here say this process will take months to complete. the efforts are involving everyone — neighbours, local businesses and even those who have cross county borders to lend a hand. just got together, come up today, just to help clear out a lot of the ruined carpets, furniture, a lot of the fridges and washing machines ruined, so if we can get them out of the houses, it makes life easier. staff from a nearby supermarket added their support while residents filled bags with ruined clothes destined for the skip. and despite the rain falling once again, it didn't dampen efforts of the volunteers giving up their weekend to help others. and we'll be taking an in—depth look at the papers with our reviewers. that's coming up

after the headlines. time for a look at the weather with stav da naos. pa rt part two of the weekend and we are starting to see some improvements with the high pressure building in across the north and west of the country. building over the atlantic and pushing this weather front slowly southwards and eastwards. for sunday it means we could see a bit of cloud across central portions of the uk. 0utbreaks of cloud across central portions of the uk. outbreaks of rain, some of it heavy for the north—east of england, a few spots of rain into wales and the south—west. glimmers of brightness for the midlands and south—east but most of the assumption will be across scotland and northern ireland. sunday night it looks like that weather front sinks further southwards and eastwards, so more cloud for much of england and wales whereas with scotla nd england and wales whereas with scotland and northern ireland, apart from the showers which will become confined to the northern isles, widespread clear skies. a cold night

here with widespread frost and if you mist and fog patches. good news is this area of high pressure will bring a window of fine weather for monday and tuesday. before that area of low pressure starts to take over as we head through the middle part of the week onwards. could steal a handbag of the weather front across the east and south—east. 0ne handbag of the weather front across the east and south—east. one or two showers but elsewhere after a cold, frosty start we should see plenty of sunshine and without winds despite it being cold, it should feel a bit better with all that sunshine. as we had through tuesday, this area of low pressure edges ever closer to the western side of the country. high—pressure dominating for tuesday and tuesday morning will be a cold one and widespread frost up and down the uk. some dense, mist and fog patches in places particular across the midlands, but as winds begin to pick up is that weather front moves m, pick up is that weather front moves in, the mist and fog should disperse

into the afternoon. central and northern eastern areas should stay dry with some sunshine, light winds again, maybe turning hazy is that weather front pushes into northern ireland, wales and the south—west with outbreaks of rain. the winds will pick up from the south. wednesday, a messier picture, thus the high pressure, this low pressure system will take over. pockets of over the west and south—west and that will bring us a run of south and south easterly winds. fairly strong at times across the south at the west, introducing more rain in the west, introducing more rain in the south—western quadrant but elsewhere, a little bit of cloud, one or two showers around but also some sunny one or two showers around but also some sunny spells and it will mean on the cool side. thursday, we will see sporadic spells of rain, most of it was the south—west, some heavy and persistent rain here and that breeze continues to drag, slightly less cold air into southern areas. tens and 11 is here. still single digits further north. towards the

end of the week, low pressure dominates the scene again across the south—west and into the weekend and beyond. the following week we could see more low systems moving in of the atlantic and that will feed in this less cold air from the south. milder as we reach the weekend and into the start of next week. slim chance that some cooler air might return to northern areas but the outlook for further head is often windy, though southerly winds, rain at times, most of it in the west and south—west and it will slowly turn less coal from the south as we continue to draw up the south or south or south—easterly winds.

hello, this is bbc news with lu kwesa burak. we'll be taking a look at tomorrow mornings papers in a moment. first, the headlines. prince andrew says he categorically denies having sex with a 17 year—old—girl who claims she was groomed by his friend jeffrey epstein. ican i can absolutely categorically tell you it never happened. do you recall any kind of sexual contact with virginia roberts then or at any other time? none whatsoever. the prince says he doesn't

regret being friends