hello and welcome to this, the last travel show of 2019, so what a there are more catastrophic fire warnings in australia better time to take a look back on for saturday in three the past year on the programme. has parts of new south wales, with temperatures set to hit a taste of what's coming up. condors the mid—40s celsius. the australian prime minister scott morrison has apologised for going on a family holiday to hawaii while his country was dealing with the bushfire emergency. facebook says that it has removed get this view, condors and us, it's hundreds of accounts with ties to a conservative news outlet that uses artificially generated faces to spread messages in favour of president trump and against the chinese government. the social media network said incredible. that was like being in a the fake profiles are linked to the us—based news outlet, the epoch times. mps in poland have adopted tumble dry us. that was completely a law making it easier for the government to sackjudges. insane. all that and more to come the legislation also allows them to be fined or demoted for dissent and has been adopted despite a plea to wait from the european commission. here on the show this week, but let's kick off with a trip that mike made over to california back in may. we told him that all he would need was a taste for adventure and a head a funeral and a memorial service for heights. here is what happened have taken place for the two to. here in western california,

victims of last month's terror attack near london bridge. there are complex beings that have jack merritt and saskia jones, lived for over a millennium. redwood were stabbed to death by convicted terrorist usman khan, trees have become an icon of this while attending a conference in a building next to the bridge. our home affairs correspondent, state. some fear that our changing climate might threaten their survival. i have come to the most daniel sandford has more. southern tip of their range, where change could hit the hardest, to at the cambridge university church joina change could hit the hardest, to of st mary the great, join a scientist who has been working here to try to find some jack merritt‘s mother and father and girlfriend, a nswe i’s. leanne o'brien. working here to try to find some answers. it's absolutely amazing being out in the forest, ijust love it, listening to the birds and watching the sun moves through the canopy, it's beautiful. today, we his body in a wicker coffin, in keeping with the ethical life will be climbing this... these are he'd tried to lead. jack merritt was 25 years old and had a masters in criminology from cambridge. in the service, his friends and family recalled a compassionate young man who felt compelled to help people, and whose politics was love, not hate. coast redwoods, the tallest tree species in the world, reaching it is a tragedy, jack's death, but his life, as his father said in the service, his life commonly about 380 feet tall is the was a triumph, and we have to hold

onto that and jack's legacy of commitment to those on whom society is all too tallest, and they are incredibly happy to turn its back. jack passionately believed in others, and so should we. in stratford—upon—avon, tough and resilient, really at the holy trinity church, important ecologically, they are iconic. i have been here trying to where william shakespeare is buried, the family and friends get a better understanding of how of saskia jones were they are responding to climate change, and how they might respond gathering to remember her. to future climate change. and how are they responding? as the climate she died in the same changes, temperatures are increasing, it's trying things out attack as jack merritt, as temperatures get warmer, and and also had a masters that's a big consideration for these in criminology from cambridge. particular trees because they need she'd planned tojoin the police so particular trees because they need so much water, it's affecting their to work with victims of crime. water balance in their ability to transport more water to the tops of the trees. now, it's time to get to she was with jack merritt at a prisoner education conference near london bridge three weeks ago work. there we go. first, we need a when one of the participants, who had recently been released sample of the tree's core. this is from a long sentence for terrorism offences, stabbed them both to death. the halfway mark there, and then the cambridge university when you get to the ground, we can vice—chancellor said that the way pull that spoon out with the core on they died should not eclipse their lives and the way they had helped others. it. and the hidden secrets beneath daniel sandford, bbc news. this bark will be ours! the

now, the travel show. lucy hedges rounds up some of the team's best 00:03:04,006 --> 4294966103:13:29,430 adventures from 2019. knowledge will be ours! earlier on, anthony showed me some of the secret the tree had already revealed. these other rings here? yeah, each one of those an annual ring, one year of growth. so it only grows a couple of millimetres each year? and sometimes only less than a millimetre a year. we are back hundreds of years right now? wants we polish this up and sanded and get a better of the rings, there could be... 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 rings, there could be... 100, 200, 300,400,500 600,700 may be years here. this section appear, it has seen sunlight for 600, 700 years. here. this section appear, it has seen sunlight for 600, 700 yearsm an amazing archive. i have one end of the tape measure, we are doing the circumference measurement. rapid all the way around that underneath this tubing. we are at 7.84 metres

circumference. that's a big tree... seven .8 metres around, and the next plan is to go up to the top. upwards we go, to the top! . this redwood stands at over 70 metres tall. claiming redwoods is forbidden in most places, but in this reserve, we have a special permission, and what a privilege it is. i can't get over how beautiful this tree is. there are marks on this tree, 40 metres, which boggles my mind... it's incredible up here. as we inched upwards, iam incredible up here. as we inched upwards, i am faced with more scorched bark. anthony told me that wildfires are another threat that

these trees are increasingly facing in the modern world. birds nest. i don't think there is anybody at home though. with anthony already at the top collecting samples, i make my final push upwards. this view... it's definitely one of the wildest, most incredible views i have seen in my entire life. i can't believe we are 71 metres off the ground right 110w. are 71 metres off the ground right now. condors get this view, condors, and us. is incredible. this is 700 yea rs and us. is incredible. this is 700 years old, which is before the colonisation of america, before taj mahal, it makes you feel like a speck of sand in the sandbox,

insignificant. humbling experience. if the climate change experience try things sufficiently, then they might start to feel some impacts, they might not grow as well, may not get as tall, and might die back, and thatis as tall, and might die back, and that is what we're trying to out. mayfield the tree shaking a little bit? yeah, it's wriggling. just a normal thing, i am assuming? mike being rewarded with some truly spectacular views in california back in may, and earlier injanuary, carlin took on her own talent in taiwan, but this would involve staying firmly on the ground. it's the annual arts festival and a local dance company have invited me to ta ke dance company have invited me to take part in a performance that they are doing for today's parade. you must be roger? i am, let's get

changed. 0k! the festival is held every year close to taipei, and teams from all over the country and further afield come to compete in a celebration of music and dance. it's a big high—profile event, so my team are taking a real risk by letting a total novicejoin their are taking a real risk by letting a total novice join their ranks. with only an hour to go before the start of the parade, troop leader roger walked me through my role. i'd rather be hiding somewhere at the back, but he has me leading the whole team. look at the dragon, swing this way, like an eight. the idea is that the dragon follows the ball and stick that i am holding. if only i knew r is meant to be heading — where i was. miraculously, the other performers follow my somewhat frantic lead. let's just hope they

will be this accommodating when we do it for real. i hope no—one laughs at me... in the first section of the parade, a dozen or so local high schools will compete for best performance. the streets are crammed with friends, families and teachers all waiting to see their groups performed. they have been working on their routines for months, and today is the day that it all comes together, with an extravaganza of energy, colour and sound. with a great level of showmanship thrown in as well for good measure. and now i can hear my group approaching. i am so nervous! i don't want to make a total full of myself in front of this big crowd. there is at least a thousand people here, it's a lot more than i thought. 0k, tell me when? now? and all of a sudden, i'm on. my mind seems to go totally blank, amid all the noise and

colour. luckily, roger is there to give mea colour. luckily, roger is there to give me a push in the right direction. somehow, the team follow my lead, although i really have no idea where i am going. 0k my lead, although i really have no idea where i am going. ok now in the middle? sorry! it's ok! and then, my big dragon stick seems to develop a mind of its own... i was really really nervous, and it was quite stressful, all my gosh! i tried to remember my moves, i think i only had two people with the ball. i was ina had two people with the ball. i was in a state of panic. sorry to the people that i hit with the ball, it seemed to go on forever. i can't believe i was part of a dragon dance on the streets of taiwan! who would

have thought? carmen causing trouble with her dragon stick in taiwan, back at the start of the year. type something with a bit more horsepower now, and in march, adam made his first ever visit to dubai, let's just say he got to travel style, very very quickly. good to see you. look at this! jump in. all sat? let's do it! i'm just seeing, we have a rolls—royce going past here, thatis have a rolls—royce going past here, that is standard, supercars everywhere. what is it with you by? why are they so in love with the supercars? there are a couple of

different reasons. one is to show off, as much as no—one wants to admit it, people do like showing off, partly why people drive supercars, to show off a little bit, then there is the most amazing driving roads here, you had out to the local areas, there are amazing driving roads out there. danny's ninth degree group of local supercar owners hold regular track days and events here. that even let you hire one of the top of the range models, so that you can get behind the wheel for a few hours, at least. we are going to go for a spin in this car, and this car is the real deal. it's almost £1 million worth of raw, brutal, unadulterated power. let's do this, man! 0h brutal, unadulterated power. let's

do this, man! oh yes! 0h, oh, my days! ade not quite breaking the sound barrier, but almost, in dubai earlier this year. stick around, because there is plenty more to come, including this. i know they said i'm not going to feel the cold, but i'm really nervous. my goodness!

now, if you are a fan of winter sports, you are going to love this next one, because back in march, christa headed to latvia to try her hand on one of the very few professional bobsleigh tracks open to tourists, and it was quite a ride. welcome to segorda's bobsleigh tracks, one of the very few in the world where tourists can get the same adrenaline rush as professional races. we are about to set off, 100 kilometres, down a very icy help. luckily i've got an expert pilot, so fingers crossed that it goes very smoothly. apart from the pilots during the bobsleigh from the front, a team also includes pushes and a brakeman. but a team also includes pushes and a bra keman. but tourists a team also includes pushes and a brakeman. but tourists get it easy. they just need to brakeman. but tourists get it easy. theyjust need to duck in and hold on very tight. this track is almost 1500 metres long and you need a pretty strong stomach to manage its

16 curves. 0h, pretty strong stomach to manage its 16 curves. oh, man! ithink pretty strong stomach to manage its 16 curves. oh, man! i think that is one of the most intense experiences of my entire life. that was like being ina of my entire life. that was like being in a very, very active, very cold tunnel drierfor a being in a very, very active, very cold tunnel drier for a minute and being in a very, very active, very cold tunnel drierfor a minute and a half. i didn't even know how long it was. that was completely insane. another winter sport that can take your breath away is this, the skeleton. imagine a luge with no brea ks skeleton. imagine a luge with no breaks or steering aid that you ride headfirst. i don't think i'm ready to try one of the full—blown skeletons, but there is a tourist version available but is a little bit more my speed. wish me luck.

it's called a frog, and for this one, there is no crew to make me feel safe. 0h, one, there is no crew to make me feel safe. oh, my goodness! 0h, one, there is no crew to make me feel safe. oh, my goodness! oh, god! laughter. 0h, feel safe. oh, my goodness! oh, god! laughter. oh, god. how was it? so cool! i could go ain! how was it? so cool! i could go again! right now, let's go. christa

in latvia back in march. and keeping within the icy theme, it was my turn to feel the cold when i headed to the french alps to try my hand at ice diving. i still can't believe i somehow got talked into that one. the good news is i can't feel how cold it is out here. the lake i'll be diving into is right in the ski village of temlinac, just a stones throw from the lifts. the more i stare at the icy abyss, the more i just want to stick my foot in just to get a taste or a feel of how cold it is. i know they said i'm not going to feel the cold, but i'm really nervous about my body going into some kind of shock once i get into some kind of shock once i get into the water. i am sure it will be fine, but my mind is currently in overdrive. i just want to get fine, but my mind is currently in overdrive. ijust want to get in now. you are in, perfect. davan will

be staying above the ice, helping me and another instructor go under. it is not an activity you can do as a group. rather, one person at a time with an instructor, for safety reasons. we will go into the water... now. my initial worries reasons. we will go into the water... now. my initialworries of freezing to death quickly went away. perfect! i buy! but it didn't quite go to plan, and i had to surface. so my mask started to fill with water... and i started to panic. so i was like, help! after a little reminder about what to do, namely, don't panic, i was mentally prepared for another go. i am

don't panic, i was mentally prepared for another go. iam ready don't panic, i was mentally prepared for another go. i am ready to go back in. i only did it for a minute orso, back in. i only did it for a minute or so, but it is so pretty down there stop just being able to touch all the bubbles under the ice is really cool. this time my mask stayed put, but we decided not to stray too far from the ice whole, and my confidence returned. it is an otherworldly experience under the ice, cut off from the noise and distractions above. and it is surprisingly relaxing. 0nly towards the end did my toes and fingers start to tingle a little, but otherwise, the drysuit really did keep the cold out. for the really daring, it is possible to free dive. following not funny, though. i much prefer having the oxygen tank. a truly amazing experience, but one i'm not in any kind of hurry to repeat, you won't be surprised to

hear. let's finish this look back at 2019 by heading to malaysia, where mike gota 2019 by heading to malaysia, where mike got a chance to get up close to the orangutans of sarawak back in 0ctober. the orangutans of sarawak back in october. i am sure it is an experience you won't forget. i have come to the samango nature reserve where the ranges are preparing for the morning feed. the reserve took orangutans that have been rescued from captivity or suffered from habitat loss and taught them how to live wild in the surrounding forest. since then, the rehabilitation programme has been moved elsewhere, but the forest is still home to 33 orangutans, and tourists have the chance to glimpse those tempted back bya chance to glimpse those tempted back by a free meal. it is very different toa by a free meal. it is very different to a zoo, then? no orangutans in cages here? yeah, it is totally different to a zoo. luckily for us, we don't have to wait long for a sighting. mrs edwin, one of the males in the park. like the ranger said, this is not a zoo. the

orangutans can come from any direction at any time, so you have to bea direction at any time, so you have to be a little careful, especially around the big males like edwin here. while these orangutans are used to people, they are still unpredictable, so tourists are kept ata unpredictable, so tourists are kept at a safe distance. edwin is 23 yea rs at a safe distance. edwin is 23 years old, born in 1996, and he was the first male austrian born in samango. sadly, despite conservation efforts, orangutans face an uncertain future. 0ver efforts, orangutans face an uncertain future. over a 16 year period, the numbers in borneo fell by more than 100,000, a decline blamed on hunting and deforestation. it is now estimated that ijust over 100,000 orangutans left on the island. and so the facility here,

how does it help? so, by having a sanctuary like samango, people still get the sense of seeing the wild orangutan, and not disturb the in its natural habitat stop the feeling, the excitement of seeing wild orangutans bringing you closer conservation efforts, it really mean something. mike in malaysia back in 0ctober. and i'm afraid that is set for this programme and for this year. all that is left to do is to say thank you forjoining us on our travels in 2019. and on behalf of eve ryo ne travels in 2019. and on behalf of everyone here on the programme in front of and behind the camera, we would like to wish you a happy and healthy new year, and we will all see you again in 2020. bye—bye.

imean, i mean, this is 2000 years old! definitely worth the ungodly wake—up call. 0h, definitely worth the ungodly wake—up call. oh, if definitely worth the ungodly wake—up call. 0h, if you insist. here you go. oh! good morning. what a miserable week of weather it has been for many of us with some relentless rain, and that has brought localised flooding. in fact, on friday afternoon, these were fairly typical weather watcher pictures across parts of central and southern england in particular. in fact, by close of play on friday, there were over 90 flood warnings in force, and with more rain to come through the weekend, well, do go to the bbc weather website for the latest updates on the flood warnings, and also any met office warnings as well. so, over the next few hours, we've got this little mini weather front which will enhance some

showers, some of them heavy, with hail and thunder. windy conditions following on behind before another weather front makes its presence felt by the end of the day on saturday. so saturday morning, we start off with a few sharp showers still remaining, but they are easing away. the best of the sunshine perhaps on saturday, likely to be for the far north of scotland. slowly brightening up as well across parts of england and wales for a brief time, before yet more wet weather starts to push into the south—west by the end of the day. a cooler feel in scotland, five or six degrees. double digits quite widely further south. now, that rain will continue to drift its way steadily eastwards but it is going to clear off into the near continent through the early hours of saturday night into sunday morning. and then behind, with some clearer skies, it will be a chilly start into sheltered eastern areas of scotland, maybe a touch of light frost here. too much cloud further south and too much of a breeze for any issue. and still some bits and pieces of rain first thing on sunday morning. but sunday will be quieter for many — a case of sunny spells and a few isolated showers around. but still quite windy across the exposed coasts of the south, 40—50 mile an hour gusts of winds not out of the question. cooler again in scotland, five or six degrees, but highest values of nine

or ten further south. it looks as though that quieter theme is set to continue for a time, though. showers will ease away on monday and by tuesday, christmas eve, drier and quieter. what on earth is happening, you may ask. it looks as though father christmas might be granting us our wish and giving us a brief lull in the weather story at the moment with high pressure building on christmas eve into christmas day. that will quieten things down quite nicely. it means the chance of a white christmas is very remote indeed but it does mean a good deal of dry weather in the forecast. so our christmas week is looking like this — a showery start, drying up quite nicely for christmas eve and christmas day. there is the potentialfor more rain arriving late in the week. take care.

good morning. welcome to breakfast, withjon kay and tina daheley. 0ur headlines today: the man who confronted the london bridge attacker with a narwhal tusk speaks publicly for the first time, and tells of his deep hurt at not being able to save the victims.

a catastrophic fire warning is issued in parts of eastern australia, including sydney, with residents urged to leave before it's too late. prince philip spends the night in hospital in london after being admitted for treatment for a pre—existing condition. it is one of the few trophies missing from their cabinet, as liverpool take on brazilian side flamengo in the final