good morning, welcome to breakfast with dan walker and mega munchetty. our headlines today... warnings over the five days of christmas. leaders of all four uk nations come together and urge caution over the relaxation of covid restrictions. we can't afford to throw caution to the wind. the virus doesn't know it's christmas, and we must all be careful. the rules mean families can now begin to plan a festive season like no other. i've seen them once since the beginning of lockdown one so it will beginning of lockdown one so it will be nice, two daughters and the

families togetherfor be nice, two daughters and the families together for christmas. getting people back to work after the pandemic. the chancellor says jobs are his "number one priority" as he unveils his spending plans for the next year. but there will be winners and losers in the spending review. while the nhs and defence get a boost there could be stings in the tail for public sector workers and people with private pensions. on the verge of the knockouts — manchester united bounce back in the champions league as olivier giroud sends chelsea into the last 16 with two games to spare. good morning! a band of rain is moving east across england and wales today. as it moves away from the west we will see brighter skies, some showers and feeling colder. all the details in ten minutes. all the details in ten minutes. it's wednesday the 25th of november. our top story. the leaders of all four uk nations are urging people to think carefully before they take advantage of the relaxation of coronavirus restrictions over christmas. from the 23rd of december, people from three different

households will be allowed to spend time together indoors for five days — northern ireland gets an extra day either side for travel. but scientists have warned this will cause a fresh spike in infections. keith doyle reports. the 12 days of christmas have been reduced to five. restrictions on travel and mixing will be lifted from the 23rd to december 27th, after leaders across all four uk nations agreed on a common plan to allow families and friends to meet each other. but it's not going to be a christmas as normal this year. this year christmas will be different. many of us are longing to spend time with family and friends, irrespective of our faith or background, and yet we can't afford to throw caution to the wind. the virus doesn't know it's christmas and we must all be careful. the christmas rules are up to three households will be able to meet up during this five day festive period. and while people can mix in homes, places of worship and outdoor

spaces, they can't visit pubs and restaurants together. and the three—household christmas bubble you make must be exclusive. that means no chopping and changing — your christmas bubble will stay the same throughout. whether it's say, three households, four households, five households i think extended families are mostly going to try and meet up, no matter how many households they come from. i'm really against it. i really don't think it should be happening. i think they should have locked us down, keep us locked down, because we all want to get back to normal. further details for scotland and wales will be published tomorrow. but even with the relaxed rules, people are being asked to make a personaljudgement about the risks they take over the festive period, for themselves and those vulnerable around them. the virus is not going to be taking christmas off. so although we want to give a little bit of flexibility for christmas, we are still urging people to be very cautious and to use this flexibility responsibly and only if you think

it is necessary. northern ireland has an extra day either side of the five days to allow for travel. across the uk these measures will give people more of a christmas than might have been. but it will still be far from the christmas most would wish for. keith doyle, bbc news. we can speak now to our political correspondent jonathan blake. jonathan, there are mixed views on this christmas decision? this is something being talked about for several weeks and what about those mixed views about the christmas decision? yes, and while we've no christmas 2020 would be far from normal, we now know something of the rules which would allow us to plan and the things that we have become used to not doing, gathering in different sized groups inside with people from different households for extended periods of time and staying overnight in different peoples houses, will be

allowed for that short period of five days over christmas. as we know those are the exact conditions which are encouraging the spread of coronavirus. so, there is caution from prime minister borisjohnson and the other leaders of the four uk nations about these rules which have been put in place. and also some concern. these were the views of one scientist advising the government, professor andrew heywa rd of university college london last night. effectively what this will be doing is throwing fuel on the covid fire and it will lead to increased transmission is likely to lead to a third wave and hospitals being overrun and more unnecessary deaths. so, there is an acknowledgement that while these rules have been put in place to allow people to celebrate christmas with some more friends and families than the restrictions would

otherwise permit, it is seemingly something of a gamble. jonathan, thank you very much and we will see you later on. the chancellor rishi sunak will set out the government's spending plans for the coming year, as public borrowing rises to record levels since the second world war. the spending review will include details on public sector pay and nhs funding, as well as revealing the extent of the damage done to the economy by the pandemic. our economics correspondent andy verity reports. we promised to level up with new roads, railways, broadband and homes! this budget gets it done! in march, when coronavirus was coming but no lockdown had yet been announced, the new chancellor, rishi sunak, promised a comprehensive review of government spending byjuly. long before then, he had embarked on the biggest spending spree in peacetime, almost all of it funded by borrowing. in the march budget, the official forecast was the chancellor would have to borrow £55 billion this financial year. by august, the huge cost of the government's coronavirus policies meant he was expected to borrow nearly seven times that figure, £372 billion.

now in the midst of a second wave of renewed support measures, that figure's expected to jump even higher. that doesn't mean now is the time for cuts. with renewed restrictions pushing down consumer spending and few businesses investing, it's only higher government spending that's preventing the double dip we are in getting even deeper. the government's already promised to spend £4 billion a year extra on defence and about £1 billion a year on a restart scheme to help unemployed people find work. and it is under pressure to prevent millions slipping into poverty by extending a £20 a week boost to benefits beyond march. to try to show it can rein back spending, the government's floated the idea of cutting overseas aid and freezing or capping the pay rises of 5 million public sector workers outside the nhs. that's prompted unions to accuse the government of a return to the same austerity it promised one year ago to end. but with the pandemic still set

to last months and the shape of a brexit deal still unknown, any forecasts for government spending remain deeply uncertain. andy verity, bbc news. a shortage of personal protective equipment during the early months of the coronavirus pandemic led to the government paying £10 billion more for ppe than if they'd bought it a year earlier. a report from the public spending watchdog, the national audit office, found that not enough ppe had been stockpiled before the pandemic to meet demand. that drove up prices. our special correspondent lucy manning reports. as nurses and doctors risked their lives to save others, they should have been protected. but a shortage of personal protective equipment left many feeling vulnerable. the report from the spending watchdog found in the early months of the pandemic, not enough ppe, huge increases in prices and orders that failed to meet specifications. at the start of the pandemic

the government hadn't built the stockpile up enough. there were only nine days' worth of goggles, seven days' worth of protective aprons, and not enough gowns to even last a day. so they were forced to buy as prices rocketed. the cost of body bags and gowns went up by more than a thousand percent. gloves went up by 500%. more than £12 billion was spent buying ppe. if it had been bought at the prices a year before, £10 billion could have been saved. your masks and your two boxes. dan archer runs an in—home care company in sheffield. the report highlights how care companies came close to running out of ppe. i run a care business. we support vulnerably placed adults in the community. i'm not a procurement expert, but we were finding ourselves in a position, with a little bit of work, a little bit of desk research, where we were able to find these face masks for better value than we were being offered by government sanctioned providers. in august, the bbc revealed 150

million face masks with ear loops, supplied by ayanda capital couldn't be used in the nhs. and similar masks from pestfix also didn't meet the safety specifications. pestfix agreed to supply other ppe instead. ayanda said it had met the requirements at the time. the report says there could be millions of other items of ppe, totalling hundreds of millions of pounds, that are potentially unsuitable. we're suggesting that there is a comprehensive lessons learned exercise that should be undertaken, that should involve local stakeholders, staff, representatives and care providers, to look at how we prepare for future emergency pandemics, orjust emergencies generally. the department of health said during this unprecedented pandemic, all the nhs providers audited were always able to get what they needed in time, thanks to the herculean effort

of government, nhs, armed forces, civil servants and industry. at the start of the pandemic, huge effort was made, but prices were high and supplies were low. lucy manning, bbc news. i'm a celebrity... get me out of here has defended its use of bugs following reports some could have escaped into the welsh countryside during bushtucker trials. the show is currently being filmed in wales rather than australia because of coronavirus. a spokesperson said the non—native creatures are only ever released in a contained area and collected immediately after filming. can they guarantee they have got every cockroach, every worm? there we re every cockroach, every worm? there were a lot of cockroaches the other day. wasn't there someone screeching when it happened? there is a lot of screeching going on, yes. we should do our own bush tucker trial and i

think the first person we should put up think the first person we should put upfor it think the first person we should put up for it is carol because she loves bugs, and all entwined in the hair... you see, you are up for it, aren't you? not on your nellie! thank you very much for nothing! good morning, everybody. this morning is a cold start across scotland and northern ireland with clear skies but a band of rain is moving west to east across england and wales and behind that a return to sunshine and shower so that a return to sunshine and shower so here is our band of rain which is a cold front, which is moving slowly eastwards. a peppering of show‘s coming on across northern and western scotland, some of those getting into northern ireland as well and as this band of rain advances eastwards it turns lighter and patchy allowing sunshine to follow one behind. some of those showers in the west could be on the heavy side. temperatures today lower than yesterday. foremost we reached

15, but for much of england and wales and scotland we are looking at 7-10 with wales and scotland we are looking at 7—10 with milder conditions across the channel islands and the south—east where we have the cloud and remnants of the rain. that'll become ensconced in the south—east and channel islands across the night. clear skies follow one, some showers coming down the east coast of scotla nd showers coming down the east coast of scotland getting down the north—east coast of england as well and we are more likely to have a widespread frost tonight across many areas away from where we have the cloud hanging on. the other thing about tonight is we might see some mist and fog patches forming, slow to live tomorrow, some of them hanging around all day. some cloud on the charts and a weather front in the south as well with a view show‘s coming in northern ireland, western scotla nd coming in northern ireland, western scotland and down the east coast of scotland. temperatures tomorrow 6-12. and, scotland. temperatures tomorrow 6—12. and, naga and dan, getting colder the rest of the week!

it feels now it should be crisp and cold. as long as you are appropriately dressed, it is ok. and double layer woolly hat. two hats? i have done. one hat under the other? they are all small hats, look at the size of my head.” other? they are all small hats, look at the size of my head. i didn't wa nt to at the size of my head. i didn't want to say anything... we balance each other out! let's take a look at today's papers. all today's front pages focus on the annoucement that three households will be able to get together for five days at christmas. the telegraph claims the prime minister had originally hoped to allow families a full week of relaxed rules, but had to "slim down" the plan following opposition from leaders in scotland and wales. the times says government scientific advisers have warned that the relaxation of covid—19 restrictions over christmas will cost lives and risk a third lockdown in january, but that ministers believe families'

need for contact outweighs this. prime minister boris johnson is transformed into slade frontman noddy holder for the sun's front page take on the new festive rules, which its headline suggests will give families a "mini christmas". i want to show you the front page of the daily telegraph. the chancellor rishi sunak is here. sartorial question, hoodie and tie combination, people question whether thatis combination, people question whether that is acceptable. i don't have a problem with it but do you have a view? i don't have a problem with it but i think it is an odd combination. either go casual or smart. i'm not quite sure why the hoodia is there. maybe it was cold in the room and he thought i'd better throw a jumper on but i've only got a hoodie. was that how the room was prepped for that photo opportunity, do you think? i don't think i want to answer that question. any disastrous first or

second date is in your history? i'd rather not comment. what have you got there? i tell you, rather not comment. what have you got there? itell you, one rather not comment. what have you got there? i tell you, one of my boyfriends was desperate to not see my mum, he was standing at the front door, he walked down the stairs and fell right down to the bottom. grabbed his coat and ran out. my mum was very mean to him. this is a second date disaster. emma hunt and alec maguire went for a walk, they'd met on a dating up, they went hiking and he fell down a sharp ledge. he got stuck and it took an hour to get rescued, he was stretchered off by emergency services. the idea was when they got to the top they were going to have a selfie and have their first kiss. didn't

going to have a selfie and have theirfirst kiss. didn't happen! she did give him a kiss while on a stretcher. you will now have to recuperate for two weeks. she told him when she kissed him, he probably won't remember this because of all the morphine. he is moving in with herfor two the morphine. he is moving in with her for two weeks the morphine. he is moving in with herfor two weeks while the morphine. he is moving in with her for two weeks while he recuperate so it'll work! talking about christmas, chocolates, will eat a lot of those. quality street, the number one has been voted by the british people, do you know what colour it is? i am amazed because you told me already. it is the purple one. naga is annoyed because she likes the blue one.|j purple one. naga is annoyed because she likes the blue one. i get upset there is no dark chocolate in it. the green triangle is number two. strawberry delight is third place. orange cream in fourth, caramel swirl... the one disappointing thing, iam swirl... the one disappointing thing, i am a big toffee fingerfan although i've lost a few teeth to

them in the past. shambles! it is in sixth place! you should have learnt after the first tooth disaster not to eat toffee! it is 6:17am so... no hugging grandparents, no playdates with friends, and months off school — children have had so much to contend with during this confusing and worrying year. now schools are using art, music and drama, to help support young people through the biggest upheaval to a generation since since world war two. breakfast‘s tim muffett reports. one, two, three... cheese! generation covid, a photography and art projects across eight london schools, aimed at capturing a unique moment in time. we want to know the impact. what has this pandemic hard on our children? so we'll be taking a photo, getting some reflections every year, how the children are progressing, what they're enjoying at school and how it's affected them. it's a very different time. so it's good to take a snapshot of that. it's been challenging. we've had to learn a new way of working. but something that i've noticed is that the children are so resilient and they've really enjoyed being back to school.

things like art and photography, why are they useful, do you think? how can they help? i think it's a way of children expressing their creativity, and a way of them understanding the world. so in their art, they'll draw people with wearing masks and that's their way of understanding. i like making pictures of my mummy. what was it like having your photograph taken? it was so good, because... ..i keep onjumping. a number of research studies have explored how covid—19 is affecting the well—being of children. some have highlighted their resilience. others have raised huge concerns about anxiety, physical fitness, even the loss of basic skills, such as using a knife and fork. i did notice that he's regressed a little bit in terms of like, his independence. because he's quite young still. he was starting to gain independence in terms of doing things for himself, doing his jacket up, feeding himself. and when he had to stay at home, he just went backwards. lockdown was very difficult for us.

and i think being able to go back to school has definitely been good. i don't think she was in a good place. laverne is a child psychologist. she's relieved she's able to work in schools once more. the first lockdown was so difficult for a lot of children, because it was something that couldn't be predicted. you know, lots of children have talked about feeling like they fell off a bit of a cliff edge. you know, one minute they were in school, the next minute they were being told that they had to be at home. i've been talking to parents about, you know, children who they felt were really well ahead in being potty trained, for example, could do things for themselves, suddenly needing a bit more help. # put down your phone and have a covid game plan...# music can help. this song was written by 16—year—old river. at his school in mansfield, other students are being encouraged to use music to express themselves. we've had a significant increase in students opting

for music lessons this year. so we're up around 40, 50% on last year. students' mental health at the moment is a real concern. and learning an instrument, being creative, investing in the arts, i think — we think as a school — is a key factor in sustaining positive mental health. so when i feel down, ijust start playing on my saxophone, just learning new notes, learning new tunes. it has helped me. so i'm not bored and i can learn a new skill, because music's awesome in my opinion. until one day everything changed. polka theatre company has been running well—being workshops in primary schools. they focus specifically on stories and characters, to explore the situations and emotions that children may experience during the pandemic. what can we do to help us stop feeling worried? we can talk to other people about it.

of course — we can talk to other people about it. performing arts are an essential message of communication. it allows us to understand and express ourselves, and theatre can help children learn important values, such as respect, such as tolerance. and it allows children to put themselves in the shoes of the characters. i think we should all be very worried. be worried as parents that all children have been affected in one way or another, to varying degrees. it will continue to affect children for quite some time. the biggest upheaval faced by a generation of children since the second world war. understanding the full impact of covid will take many, many years. tim muffett, bbc news. rishi sunak says he will make jobs his "number one priority" when he sets out his spending plans later today. the chancellor will announce a £2.9 billion programme to help

those who have become unemployed during the pandemic, but there could also be a pay freeze for some public sector workers. let's speak to paul nowak from the tuc, which represents 48 workers' unions in the uk. thank you for your time with us this morning. have you heard anything in terms of the pay freeze, the proposed pay freeze, as to who might be affected? there has been no formal confirmation or contact with government around any talk of a pay freeze or pay cap, naga. the reports we re freeze or pay cap, naga. the reports were some workers would be exempt, for example those working in the nhs. our messages you do need to invest injobs nhs. our messages you do need to invest in jobs and nhs. our messages you do need to invest injobs and in peoples livelihoods. an arbitrary pay freeze on millions of key workers, teaching assistants, refuse collectors, benefits agency workers wouldn't be a good way to start that effort to kick—start our economy and keep people in employment. there's been a

lot of money pumped into the economy so farand lot of money pumped into the economy so far and it's got to be trimmed somewhere, hasn't it? absolutely it has an absolutely rightly because the priority has been protecting peoples lives and their livelihoods and things like thejob retention scheme have been crucial in keeping millions of people in work but now is not the time to make cuts to public services or to freeze the pay of key workers. now is the time to invest in our economy now is the time to invest in our public services and to invest in jobs and there are things the chancellor can do to make a big difference. we are very worried about the impact of the pandemic on peoples jobs very worried about the impact of the pandemic on peoplesjobs but mass unemployment is not inevitable and he could announce something today to make a big difference. there will be some people in the private sector, and you will be well aware of those people, nearly 3 million who have had no help from the government scheme, the self—employed, who will say at least you have a secure job in the public sector, you might not

get a pay rise but you have the advantage of a job. and many people haven't. but, you know, we represent millions of people across the private as well as the public sector and the starting point is what can the chancellor do to help secure jobs and livelihoods in the public and private sector and there is no value in that, cutting the pay in public sector will have a counter effect. if you take money out of the pockets of public sector workers, that has an effect on the private economy. we want the chancellor to boost jobs economy. we want the chancellor to boostjobs in economy. we want the chancellor to boost jobs in the economy. we want the chancellor to boostjobs in the public and private sector which means investing in green infrastructure, and there have been some moves on this but it falls well short of what countries like germany and france are doing. we need more investment in our public services. and crucially we need the government to think about how it does invest injobs, particularly reaching out to young people who are

at risk of unemployment. public borrowing is at levels we haven't seen since the second world war and, understandably so, but how much more should be borrowed ? understandably so, but how much more should be borrowed? is it about a bottomless pit because you're absolutely not but a recognition governments all around the world are in the same position, they all investing to keep the economy is going and keep people in employment and that is the right thing to do. mass unemployment doesn't come at no cost and if the government are serious about staving off mass unemployment, serious about living ling up across the country which is what they went into the election last december on, then they have to continue to provide support to people in work, they have to continue to invest in public services. there are so many needed jobs out there. we have 200,000 agencies on our health and social ca re agencies on our health and social care plans. the situation in our ca re care plans. the situation in our care homes has been exposed over the

last nine or ten months and we need more people with the right skills and being paid fairly to fill those vacancies in social care. so i'd hope the government does the right thing today, decides to invest in our economy, invest in public services and invest in jobs. paul nowak, tuc deputy general secretary, thank you very much for talking to us thank you very much for talking to us this morning. one of the other things we are talking about this morning is great british bake off. we won't tell you who won but we will talk to last yea r‘s who won but we will talk to last year's winner later on in the programme. before then, find out what is happening where you are this morning. good morning from bbc london. i'm sonja jessup. a woman from west london, whose husband, a human rights worker, has been detained in egypt, is calling on the government to do more to secure his release. karim ennarah is being held, along with two colleagues, on charges of spreading fake news, and belonging to a

terrorist organisation. his wife, who's dismissed those charges, says she's growing increasingly worried. i'm very worried about karim's safety. i know that he's very strong and very resilient, but it's not something that anyone should have to go through, especially not him. the foreign office says it's deeply concerned about the arrests. the advertising watchdog has found an ad for london black cabs exaggerated how much they could reduce the spread of coronavirus. it featured the voice of a passenger describing how being in the back of the vehicle was like "her own bubble". but the advertising standards authority said that was misleading. the licensed taxi drivers association says it's another blow for drivers, and insists black cabs are one of the safer ways to travel. a pest control firm claims lockdown's led to a rise

in london's rat population. they estimate there's now twice as many rodents in the capital than there are people. it's thought quieter urban areas, and plenty of food waste lying around, has helped them flourish. the advice is to clear your cupboards and block up holes in your home, to stop them coming indoors this winter. let's take a look at the travel situation now. the dlr has severe delays. the piccadilly line does too, westbound between cockfosters and hammersmith. this is how the m25 looks. slow clockwise from junction 5 for the m26 to clackett lane services. there's a broken down vehicle adding to the usual delays. and there's a burst water main in stamford hill. amhurst park is closed eastbound from seven sisters road now the weather with kate kinsella. good morning. well, it's another mild start, temperatures well above zero. but with this mild air comes the cloud. it is going to stay largely

grey throughout today. that cloud staying with us. it's a cold front that's brought the cloud overnight and into this morning. with it, we'll see some light patchy rain and some drizzle. you mightjust get one or two heavier bursts, but it should stay mainly light. the temperature today, it is going to feel quite mild, especially where we are in november. we're looking at a maximum of a potential 1a celsius. overnight tonight, you'll notice that cold front gradually starts to sink away, taking the cloud, any remnants of rain with it. further north and west, likely to see clear skies. temperature drops — perfect recipe for some mist and fog, but also a bit of frost in the morning. but you'll notice, down in the south east that cloud starts to linger, and it's going to linger right the way into tomorrow morning. now underneath that tonight, the temperature will be milder. the same goes for tomorrow. so, cloudy in the south east, but sunshine further north and west. there's more from me in half an hour. do take a look at our facebook and instagram for more. now it's back to dan and naga. bye for now.

hello, this is breakfast with dan walker and naga munchetty. coming up on breakfast this morning: from family gatherings to christmas travel, we'll have all the latest guidance and advice for the festive period throughout the morning on breakfast. and the turkey dinner might be on, but is carol singing still off? we'll find out about a campaign calling for the safe return of choir services. after ten weeks of much—needed escapism, the winner of this year's great british bake off was crowned in last night's finale. we'll find out more just before nine o'clock. we will give you a warning, fear not.

what is the warning about, nice food alert? no, in case you want to turn it off. ordo alert? no, in case you want to turn it off. or do that thing. people get very angry. they do. also because they are watching things in different ways. my children would be very annoyed. they watch it on a wednesday. if i was to announce it today without them knowing, they would be very miffed. i would be in trouble. we now have a plan for christmas. restrictions will be eased over a five—day period, allowing up to three households to mix and people will be allowed to travel to see their loved ones. but the prime minister has warned families would need to make a personal judgement about visiting elderly relatives and the vulnerable. breakfast‘s jayne mccubbin has been looking at how people across the uk are feeling about the new festive plan. # last christmas... christmas is all about making memories and after a year of some of the worst we now have a choice — rejoin some of our families and make

more or stay away to guarantee we keep people safe. hello, robertsons! give me a big wave, kids. for the robertsons in scotland, the numbers just don't work. well, all our family are down in the central belt, edinburgh, so we might be the household that doesn't get into the three, if that makes sense. you'll be out on your own. we will be out on our own this year. for you, christmas is huge but hug me is even bigger, isn't it? —— hogmanay. yes, that'll mean... but, hey, one year off, we will hit it hard next year. hello, family. hello, jane. hi! how are you all feeling about christmas now? now excited, definitely excited.

forjane and her daughters, the offer of a christmas together after almost one year apart is a gift. i've seen siobhan once since the beginning of lockdown in march sojust nice to... i'll see two daughters and their families all together at christmas. for you three is the magic number, isn't it? absolutely. you don't take this lightly, do you? not at all, not at all. we have abided by the rules that we were given because we genuinely believe that it's what needs to be done. but it has been very difficult because of the welsh and english gap between. i'm asthmatic, my mum is asthmatic so we are not taking anything lightly. when it comes to the day, if any of us have got any kind of symptoms, then we will not do it. hello jodie's family! the last hellojodie's family! the last time i saw you, jodie, was when you are

waving goodbye to your family at the first term of university. that's crazy. since then jodie and much of her halls of residence have had covid. now she is weeks away from being tested, so she can come home, but not to a traditional christmas. we usually do christmas eve, the italian version, and we usually go to my grandparents to sit round a table and eat and eat. eat, drink, be mad, like we are! this year the six families will salivate apart. it's upsetting but we will get through it. some of us will get together and the others will get together and the others will get together and the others will get together and we will zoom each other. and it is only one christmas out of 80, maybe 90 christmases. other. and it is only one christmas out of 80, maybe 90 christmasesm you felt you were going to do this for three to four christmases, i would be a bit worried. but, you

know... would be a bit worried. but, you know. . . we would be a bit worried. but, you know... we have the leader of the family here. who is the leader of the family? grandpa. hello, grandpa. the virus doesn't care whether it's christmas or not. would you happily sacrifice this year then? not happily, but sensibly. stephen lives near hull but comes from a huge extended family in northern ireland and this year is one of the first he will spend apart. it's knowing when to visit. everybody wants to see you, in france on that. i decided not to go back to northern ireland. i currently live in an area with the highest infection rate in the country. the guidance is there. but for us as a family we decided not to do it. they understand. we will see them again. as we say in northern ireland, we will have great crack when we meet up. it will happen.

christmas 2020 will be like none that have gone before. memorable for all the wrong reasons. but family, together or apart, is still likely together or apart, is still likely to be the very thing that keeps us going. i imagine that's like your family with you doing the dancing at christmas. ido like christmas. i do like to get dressed up and have a bit ofa i do like to get dressed up and have a bit of a shindig. a few years ago our little one wanted me to dress the same as him, so i had to find a pairof green the same as him, so i had to find a pair of green trousers and a red top. you would have been like a ridiculously big health! i will find a picture. how are you going to do with christmas this year? do let us know. you can find us on year? do let us know. you can find us on e—mail. get in contact on social media. dr rachel ward is one of our regular breakfast gps. she joins us from newbury. lovely to have you. how do you feel

about these relaxing of the restrictions over christmas, with yourgp restrictions over christmas, with your gp hat restrictions over christmas, with yourgp hat on restrictions over christmas, with your gp hat on and then with your normal hat on? yes! good morning. obviously i think with my gp hat on, ican obviously i think with my gp hat on, i can see that there are a lot of people who have had a really tough year. i can see this is offering a little bit of relief for people who have had huge amounts of stress and heartache this year. however, i also have some apprehension, if i'm honest. your clips then were absolutely brilliant. they highlighted that when we think about the three household rules, it sounds very simple to start with, but when we try to apply that to life and families, which are not simple, suddenly very complicated. and what iam suddenly very complicated. and what i am concerned about is that people are going to start flexing those rules to fit in with their households, with their families, rules to fit in with their households, with theirfamilies, and i worry that more people are going to end up getting together than is

intended by those rules. from my personal perspective, my family, some of my family live abroad, who i haven't seen for many months. that is the way things are. i am disappointed about that, but as one of your clips just disappointed about that, but as one of your clipsjust said, disappointed about that, but as one of your clips just said, when we get together, whenever that will be, we will have a great time. but at the moment we have to accept that is not now and that is very disappointing. i think overall if we really, really have to be sensible with this. we will speak to the first minister of wales in about an hour. it does seem that there was almost a feeling it would happen anywhere, and therefore there has been this relaxation to make sure that it is within sort of certain restrictions. do you fear that in the same way we saw beaches filled when things were relaxed a little bit, we will see the same issue over christmas? and as many scientists are saying, we will see the consequences of that injanuary and february next year? yeah. the

beachesis and february next year? yeah. the beaches is exactly the analogy i was going to give. of course, we are humans. we have been cooped up and we have had a tough time. when people get given the opportunity to do stuff, sometimes it is in the nature of people to take it a step too far. you are absolutely right but if these rules were put in place people were openly saying, i am going to see people anyway, that's what people are planning to do. hopefully this will keep things in a sensible manner. but yes, what we have to really worry about is january. we have to worry about spikes in cases. we also have to worry about the people whose businesses have really been struggling and if they are faced with a further lockdown, if they are going to survive, for the sake of a few days of letting your hair down, we really have to reflect on whether thatis we really have to reflect on whether that is fair on those people. and what sort of discussion are you having with your patients about this? you, as gps, get asked all

sorts of questions. i wonder what the topic of conversation is about with your patients at the moment? yeah, i've had some interesting questions, people kind of saying, if i take my temperature and i don't have a cough and i can smell things on christmas morning, and my ok to see my family? sadly, there is no fail—safe method of meeting safely, because we know that the really difficult feature of this virus is that you can be completely asymptomatic in spreading it. so people, understandably, are looking ata people, understandably, are looking at a safe ways of doing things. really the safest way, especially if you are at risk, is to minimise the amount of people you see. i'm not saying don't see family and friends. of course. i just try and do saying don't see family and friends. of course. ijust try and do it in a safe way. try to keep the social distance and going, as difficult as that is. we want to get together. we will want to give our family a hog christmas. but just try and will want to give our family a hog christmas. butjust try and keep it

sensible. can you give us an idea about the vaccination programme and where you are up to? in terms of your own understanding? we spoke to matt hancock on monday about the oxford university and astrazeneca vaccine. what are you been told about when that might happen and your involvement in that? yeah, huge news. very, exciting. massive congratulations to the oxford team. we don't have many more, much more information at the moment than we did a week ago. we are still basically looking at working in our areas, working with other practices, to deliver the vaccine. we know that we are going to be targeting the most vulnerable groups first. so we're most vulnerable groups first. so we' re really most vulnerable groups first. so we're really looking at things like ha rd we're really looking at things like hard work. in my area we are looking at roping and lots of volunteers to be marshall's, people to be phoning people, we are looking at the fact that we may have to deliver the

vaccine at quite short notice and it is going to be all hands on deck. cani is going to be all hands on deck. can ijust is going to be all hands on deck. can i just say one thing is going to be all hands on deck. can ijust say one thing that people can do, which would be incredibly useful, is make sure that your contact details are up to date with yourgp and make contact details are up to date with your gp and make sure they have your mobile number. because if we have to roll this out quickly we want to be texting people, phoning people, and we really need mobile numbers, so that would be very useful. very helpful advice. rachel ward, have that would be very useful. very helpfuladvice. rachel ward, have a great day. see you soon. so smiley. ido great day. see you soon. so smiley. i do love our gp charts. i feel like i learn something every day. when you watch a football match, are you like me, if there are no goals it isa you like me, if there are no goals it is a dull match? no. one of the best matches i've ever seen was a scoreless draw between manchester united and real madrid a few years ago. a tactical masterclass. but you

don't get to shout! it's all about the goals, isn't it, john? we have lots of goals this morning. good morning. remember a few weeks ago when manchester united lost in istanbul? it was slightly embarrassing. there were some defensive issues. a slightly embarrassing defeat. they desperately needed a win last night to get their champions league hopes back on track against the same team, and they duly won. ole gunnar solskjaer will be happy this morning. watch out for that cracker. a point from united's two remaining games will see them qualify. in a game that had a bit of everything, keep your eyes peeled for bruno fernandes' brilliant strike. chelsea beat rennes 2—1 to reach the last 16. here's ben croucher. rennes couldn't quite grasp it. they're heading for the champions league exit. for chelsea, safe passage with a couple of games still to play. the win in north—west france was made in chelsea, as academy products mason mount and callum hudson—odoi combined for their opener. going down and out, but not without a fight,

rennes made a game of it. but olivier giroud rose from the bench, leapt above the defence and powered frank lampard's side into the last 16. we have a busy schedule coming up, and the way we play means that i will rely on players. so, thankfully for me, he's a player that always keeps the right attitude if he's not playing regularly, and i know when i call on him, he comes in as he did today. speaking of relying on players, bruno fernandes has become quite the hit for manchester united. commentary: what an unbelievable hit from bruno fernandes! scorer of the spectacular and the simple. mert gunok will not want to see this one again. but we'll show you anyway. it set united on the way to a 4—1 win over istanbul basaksehir, rounded off by danjames in stoppage time. just a point from their last two games should be enough to join chelsea in the knockout stages. ben croucher, bbc news. one point from their remaining two

games should be enough. there's been a maximum break at the uk snooker championship in milton keynes. world number four kyren wilson knocked it in during his first round match against ashley hugill. he went onto win the match 6—4. it's his third career maximum and the 17th in the tournament's history. it's all very english — the tea interval at cricket. that fine selection of cakes and sandwiches. well, it's no more in the sussex cricket league, for next season at any rate, clubs voting to stop. the league calls itself the world's biggest recreational league with 140 clubs and 335 teams — and the home side will no longer have to provide food during the break. part of it is down to a fall in the number of volunteers during the pandemic. former england captain michael vaughan isn't happy. he tweeted: clearly not happy but i guess that

is the issue with numbers at the moment are being allowed in to watch. that could be the case again next season. talking of cricket, before we go, we have a moment of magic from the former england captain kevin pietersen. here he is during a round of golf in south africa. and, off the second tee, he produced a hole in one. i presume it has gone in. look at him! typical professional sportsman. of course. i've had two. did you celebrate like that? yes. mind you, the first time it happened i didn't know. i spent ages looking for the ball! it was a terrible shot? ! i had just started playing golf. i hit the ball andi started playing golf. i hit the ball and i thought there was a date in the middle of the green. i said, it has gone and the date. i'd only been

playing for two and a half months. i find it in the hole. i have done that my kids before. when they have lost enjoyment, i have put the ball in the hole. it's gone in, it's gone in! they do watch, you know. so yes. a special moment. thank you, john. see you later. i don't now how carroll is going to top it. we had goals galore, we had a hole in one. how can you beat this? gorgeous view, by the way will stop with a pretty nifty weather forecast, i think. this morning is a chilly start for many of us. particularly in scotland and northern ireland. for england and northern ireland. for england and wales there is more cloud. as the rain moves away we will see a return to sunshine and showers. we have a cold front producing the rain. behind it we have the colder air. not much in the way of winter.

the isomer well sped out. that's where the isobars well spread out. you can see this rain coming out of gold in scotland. moving down into england and wales. showers in the north and west. we will see those continue today. some of those will be heavy across northern and western scotland. some getting into northern ireland. meanwhile, the band of rain pushes into the south—east. temperatures today lower than they we re temperatures today lower than they were yesterday. we've got eight to ten, 11 in the south—west. where we have got the weather front producing the cloud and rain, temperatures at 13 and 1a. this evening and overnight at the weather front will become ensconced in the south—eastern corner, the channel islands. a fair bit of cloud. the rain pulled singalong. showers down the north sea coastline, eastern

scotla nd the north sea coastline, eastern scotland and north—east england. some showers in cheshire. colder thanit some showers in cheshire. colder than it has been of late. a widespread frost. patty mist and fog forming. some of it will be slow to clear tomorrow. some of it will lift up clear tomorrow. some of it will lift up into low cloud. here is the cloud resting across the channel islands and kent. and again it is that weather front. it will have spots of rain ona weather front. it will have spots of rain on a at times. some sunshine to look forward to. some showers down the north—east coastline of the uk. later, we will see this weather front arrive. temperatures continuing to fall across the board. still hanging on though where we have got the cloud and rain. overnight on thursday into friday again we will have some frost. a cold night. there will be some fog forming more readily. during the course on friday that will take time to live it. some of it lifting into low cloud. quite a bit of cloud on the chart. nonetheless, we are also

seeing some sunny skies develop. remember the weather front i pointed out in the north—west? it is producing some rain from the northern isles across western scotland. eventually getting into northern ireland. the rain not particularly heavy. temperature wise, six in aberdeen, ten in st helier. as for the weekend, well, that of dry weather around. a fair bit of cloud. and it will be cold by day and night, with mist and fog that will be slow to clear. rain in the north—west on sunday. sunday my prince will come! that was good for you, dan! i'd like to report a burn! can you come and help me, please? i was trying to be nice! do you know what? it so makes a

change! see you later. goodbye! rishi sunak will set out how he hopes to protectjobs and help the economy recover from the impact of the pandemic, in today's spending review. the chancellor has promised there will not be a return to austerity, but labour and the snp have criticised an expected freeze on public sector pay. let's speak to the snp's treasury spokesperson, alison thewliss. lovely to have you with us. thank you for your time. what are you expecting, what do you need out of this? well, for us, the chancellor has the wrong priorities. we should be looking at making sure those in the public sector who have worked so ha rd the public sector who have worked so hard through this pandemic, are rewarded for those efforts rather than having their pay frozen this winter. we also think it's important that wages, more generally, are boosted. the chancellor is talking about young people and getting young people into work. what still remains is that young people are not

entitled to a full living wage to make sure they can see through the winter as well. they are struggling on low pay and low wages and in precarious work. how would you fund a big spending package? public sector borrowing at its highest since the second world war. the crisis we face is probably the biggest crisis we have faced since world war ii. the spending has to meet the challenges we face. the government can borrow and should be borrowing to meet these demands, as governments are doing around the world. we look to germany and france and new zealand, and we think a stimulus package of 98 billion, akin to what they are putting into their economies to make sure they get through this crisis. how would that be paid for? much in the same way as war debt was paid for. this is something we would pay back over time. through taxes? i don't think

it would be right to raise taxes just now because so many people are out ina just now because so many people are out in a difficult time. government can put these debts into the future and we can pay this over time. it will take time to pay down. but of the government is able to do that. irresponsible government needs to look at the issues today. if the government doesn't look after people today, it will call —— cause greater economic scarring in the future. and by addressing this today, at some point in the future it will have to be paid for. what would be your time frame? it's all very well laying out the plans for now, but we, the public, have to know how this is going to affect us in the future, how it is going to affect us in five yea rs, how it is going to affect us in five years, ten years. who is going to be paying for this? well, we will pay for this in the future. that is the way that government debt works. we need to work —— look at the here and

now. if we don't they will be people unemployed through the winter. the government will be paying this to unemployment benefits rather than having people out earning and bringing money back into the economy. the most important thing is to make sure the people are secure and working and we have had record job losses during the course of the pandemic. 782,000 people have lost theirjobs over the course of the past few months. interesting you bring up that figure. the number of people who have lost theirjobs is also unfortunately related to the industries that are failing and that have collapsed because of the pandemic. when you want more jobs created, where would they go when we have so much industry failing?|j think the important thing is to keep people injobs. what has happened because of the chancellor's dithering over thejob because of the chancellor's dithering over the job support scheme is, lots of people were laid off. that was in september and october. we know many industries cannot come back at the moment. if

you look at a theatre and the arts, and lots of hospitality and tourism and lots of hospitality and tourism and travel, they can't come back at the moment, but they are viable jobs and we will need them in the future. what many people believe is important would be to give those people for the support through the furlough scheme. the government acknowledge the follow scheme is important. they've got it back. ok, we know that's happened. time is or was against us. i apologise for this. i do want a word from you on christmas. we've heard that plans for christmas, the five—day break almost, relaxation of rules, it's being reported the plans are to be slimmed down because of opposition from various nations, including scotland. can you tell me how, what compromise has been made?” scotland. can you tell me how, what compromise has been made? i can't tell you what has gone on in the intergovernment negotiations on this, but nicola sturgeon has been very clear on the risks that we face in terms of people mixing. and

while, if it is possible to come together with family you haven't seen for a while, please do it carefully, please do it as sensibly as you can do. to stick to the rules and try to prevent the spread. as the first minister has said, if you don't need to meet somebody, please think about not doing that. because the risks are significant still and we need to mitigate that as best we can. people are sacrificed so much in this country. —— people have sacrificed so much. we can get through this. there is the prospect ofa through this. there is the prospect of a vaccine on the horizon. i would ask people to be sensible and i think of other people and make sure we can get through the christmas period as safely as possible. and all the other religious festivals through the year. everybody has made sacrifices. we should do our very best to try to stop the spread of this infection. thank you. time now to get the news, travel and weather where you are.

good morning, i'm sonja jessup. a woman from west london, whose husband, a human rights worker, has been detained in egypt, is calling on the government to do more to secure his release. karim ennarah is being held along with two colleagues on charges of spreading fake news, and belonging to a terrorist organisation. his wife, who's dismissed those charges, says she's growing increasingly concerned. i'm very worried about karim's safety. i know that he's very strong and very resilient, but it's not something that anyone should have to go through, especially not him. the foreign office says it's deeply concerned about the arrests. the advertising watchdog has found an ad for london black cabs exaggerated how much they could reduce the spread of coronavirus. it featured the voice of a passenger, describing how

being in the back of the vehicle was like "her own bubble". but the advertising standards authority said that was "misleading". the licensed taxi drivers association says it's another blow for drivers and insists black cabs are one of the safer ways to travel. a pest control firm claims lockdown's led to a rise in london's rat population. they estimate there's now twice as many rodents in the capital than there are people. it's thought quieter urban areas and plenty of food waste lying around has helped them flourish. the advice is to clear your cupboards and block up holes in your home to stop them coming indoors this winter. let's take a look at the travel situation now. the dlr has minor delays now and problems on the piccadilly line have cleared up, just that ongoing closure of the waterloo & city line. this is how the m25 looks, slow clockwise from junction five for the m26 to clackett lane services. there's a broken down vehicle adding to the usual delays.

and there's a burst water main in stamford hill. amhurst park is closed eastbound from seven sisters road. now the weather with kate kinsella. good morning. well, it's another mild start, temperatures well above zero. but with this mild air comes the cloud. it is going to stay largely grey throughout today. that cloud staying with us. it's a cold front that's brought the cloud overnight and into this morning. with it, we'll see some light patchy rain and some drizzle. you mightjust get one or two heavier bursts, but it should stay mainly light. the temperature today, it is going to feel quite mild, especially where we are in november. we're looking at a maximum of a potential 1a celsius. overnight tonight, you'll notice that cold front gradually starts to sink away, taking the cloud, any remnants of rain with it. further north and west, likely to see clear skies. temperature drops — perfect recipe for some mist and fog, but also a bit of frost in the morning. but you'll notice, down in the south

east that cloud starts to linger, and it's going to linger right the way into tomorrow morning. now underneath that tonight, the temperature will be milder. the same goes for tomorrow. so, cloudy in the south east, but sunshine further north and west. there's more from me in half an hour. do take a look at our facebook and instagram for more. now it's back to dan and naga. good morning, welcome to breakfast with dan walker and naga munchetty. our headlines today. warnings over the five days of christmas. leaders of all four uk nations come together and urge caution over the relaxation of covid restrictions. we can't afford to throw caution to the wind. the virus doesn't know it is christmas and we must all be careful. some scientists say easing the rules could cause a fresh spike

in infections and cost lives. effectively what this would be doing is throwing fuel on the covid fire. i think it will lead to increased transmission that is likely to lead toa transmission that is likely to lead to a third wave of infection with hospitals overrun. good morning. the chancellor's chance to prove he's committed to levelling up the country, and creating jobs. the spending review will give a boost to the nhs but expect a sting in the tail for public sector workers and private pensions. coming up in sport, we'll look at the link between football and dementia with some researchers concluding that former female players could be affected more than men. #he # he came down to earth from heaven #... campaigning to keep carols at christmas. we'll hear how festive sing—songs

are under threat from the pandemic. good morning! a band of rain is moving across england and wales today and behind it some cooler conditions, some sunshine and showers. all the details in ten minutes. it's wednesday the 25th of november. the leaders of all four uk nations are urging us all to think carefully as virus restrictions are relaxed over christmas. from the 23rd of december, people from three different households will be allowed to spend time together indoors for five days and northern ireland gets an extra day either side for travel. scientists have warned the relaxation will cause a fresh spike in infections. keith doyle reports. the 12 days of christmas have been reduced to five. restrictions on travel and mixing will be lifted from the 23rd to december 27th, after leaders across all four uk nations agreed on a common plan to allow families and friends to meet each other. but it's not going to be a christmas

as normal this year. this year christmas will be different. many of us are longing to spend time with family and friends, irrespective of our faith or background, and yet we can't afford to throw caution to the wind. the virus doesn't know it's christmas and we must all be careful. the christmas rules are up to three households will be able to meet up during this five day festive period. and while people can mix in homes, places of worship and outdoor spaces, they can't visit pubs and restaurants together. and the three—household christmas bubble you make must be exclusive. that means no chopping and changing — your christmas bubble will stay the same throughout. whether it's say, three households, four households, five households i think extended families are mostly going to try and meet up, no matter how many households they come from. i'm really against it. i really don't think it should be happening. i think they should have locked us down, keep us locked down, because we all want to get

back to normal. further details for scotland and wales will be published tomorrow. but even with the relaxed rules, people are being asked to make a personaljudgement about the risks they take over the festive period, for themselves and those vulnerable around them. the virus is not going to be taking christmas off. so although we want to give a little bit of flexibility for christmas, we are still urging people to be very cautious and to use this flexibility responsibly and only if you think it is necessary. northern ireland has an extra day either side of the five days to allow for travel. across the uk these measures will give people more of a christmas than might have been. but it will still be far from the christmas most would wish for. keith doyle, bbc news. we can speak now to our political correspondent jonathan blake. good morning to you. so, i mean, inevitably mixed reviews about this before the decision was made but it

feels as if the government has made this decision because it knew or suspected that people were not going to stick by the rules if the rules we re to stick by the rules if the rules were not relaxed. good morning, naga, andi were not relaxed. good morning, naga, and i think that is exactly right. with these relaxations we will be able to do things over that five—day period at christmas that we haven't done for a long time — mixed with a larger number of people indoors for extended periods of time, staying overnight in other peoples houses as well which will allow people to plan for a christmas which will not be anything like normal but will be perhaps a little better than some had feared. but we know those conditions are exactly the ones which allow the spread of coronavirus. so, whilst many people are welcoming the relaxation of the rules at christmas, this is coming with a lot of caution and some concern as well. this was the warning from one scientist advising

the government, professor anthony hayward of university college london last night. effectively what this will be doing is throwing fuel on the covid fire. it'll definitely lead to increased transmission that is likely to lead to a third wave of infection with hospitals being overrun and more unnecessary deaths. covid is a disease that thrives on social contact, especially the sorts of close proximity long duration contact that you have in relaxed circumstances within a household. so, while the rules are being relaxed over christmas, it is coming with a message of caution from the prime minister, boris johnson, with a message of caution from the prime minister, borisjohnson, first minister of wales mark drakeford, nicola sturgeon in scotland and michelle o'neill and arlene foster in northern ireland, that people shouldn't take this as a green light to let their guard down and throw caution the wind over the festive period but even if people stick to the slightly relaxed rules there is

an acceptance cases will rise as a result of this and it is something ofa result of this and it is something of a gamble. definitely something we will talk about throughout the programme! thank you forjoining us, jonathan. we will hear a lot more from rishi sunak over the course today. the chancellor rishi sunak will set out the government's spending plans for the coming year, as public borrowing rises to levels not seen since the second world war. the spending review will include details on public sector pay and nhs funding, as well as revealing the extent of the damage done to the economy by the pandemic. our economics correspondent andy verity reports. we promised to level up with new roads, railways, broadband and homes! this budget gets it done! in march, when coronavirus was coming but no lockdown had yet been announced, the new chancellor, rishi sunak, promised a comprehensive review of government spending byjuly. long before then, he had embarked on the biggest spending spree in peacetime, almost all of it funded by borrowing. in the march budget, the official forecast was the chancellor would have to borrow £55 billion this financial year.

by august, the huge cost of the government's antivirus policies meant he was expected to borrow nearly seven times that figure, £372 billion. now in the midst of a second wave and renewed support measures, that figure's expected to jump even higher. that doesn't mean now is the time for cuts. with renewed restrictions pushing down consumer spending and few businesses investing, it's only higher government spending that's preventing the double dip we are in getting even deeper. the government's already promised to spend £4 billion a year extra on defence and about £1 billion a year on a restart scheme to help unemployed people find work. and it is under pressure to prevent millions slipping into poverty by extending a £20 a week boost to benefits beyond march. to try to show it can rein back spending, the government's floated the idea of cutting overseas aid and freezing or capping the pay rises of 5 million public sector workers outside the nhs. that's prompted unions to accuse the government of a return

to the same austerity it promised one year ago to end. but with the pandemic still set to last months and the shape of a brexit deal still unknown, any forecasts for government spending remain deeply uncertain. andy verity, bbc news. a shortage of personal protective equipment during the early months of the coronavirus pandemic led to the government paying £10 billion more for ppe than if they'd bought it a year earlier. a report from the public spending watchdog, the national audit office, found that not enough ppe had been stockpiled before the pandemic to meet demand. that drove up prices. our special correspondent lucy manning reports. as nurses and doctors risked their lives to save others, they should have been protected. but a shortage of personal protective equipment left many feeling vulnerable. the report from the spending watchdog found in the early months of the pandemic, not enough ppe, huge increases in prices and orders that failed

to meet specifications. at the start of the pandemic the government hadn't built the stockpile up enough. there were only nine days' worth of goggles, seven days' worth of protective aprons, and not enough gowns to even last a day. so they were forced to buy as prices rocketed. the cost of body bags and gowns went up by more than a thousand percent. gloves went up by 500%. more than £12 billion was spent buying ppe. if it had been bought at the prices a year before, £10 billion could have been saved. your masks and your two boxes. dan archer runs an in—home care company in sheffield. the report highlights how care companies came close to running out of ppe. we support vulnerably placed adults in the community. i'm not a procurement expert, but we were finding ourselves in a position, with a little bit of work, a little bit of desk research, where we were able to find these face masks for better value

than we were being offered by government sanctioned providers. in august, the bbc revealed 150 million face masks with ear loops, supplied by ayanda capital couldn't be used in the nhs. and similar masks from pestfix also didn't meet the safety specifications. pestfix agreed to supply other ppe instead. ayanda said it had met the requirements at the time. the report says there could be millions of other items of ppe, totalling hundreds of millions of pounds, that are potentially unsuitable. we're suggesting that there is a comprehensive lessons learned exercise that should be undertaken, that should involve local stakeholders, staff, representatives and care providers, to look at how we prepare for future emergency pandemics, orjust emergencies generally. the department of health said during this unprecedented pandemic, all the nhs providers audited

were always able to get what they needed in time, thanks to the herculean effort of government, nhs, armed forces, civil servants and industry. at the start of the pandemic, huge effort was made, but prices were high and supplies were low. lucy manning, bbc news. the us president—elect, joe biden, has stressed the importance of keeping the border between northern ireland and the republic of ireland open after the uk leaves the eu. mr biden has previously said that brexit must not endanger the good friday agreement and the peace process. the uk government has threatened to overrule the brexit withdrawal agreement, which is committed to keeping the border open. we do not want a guarded border. we want to make sure. we worked too hard to get ireland worked out. and i've talked with the british prime minister. i've talked with the taoiseach. i've talked with others,

and talked to the french. the idea of having the border north and south once again being closed, and require... ..it‘s just not right. we just got to keep the border open. north wales police are investigating i'm a celebrity... get me out of here following reports that bugs could have escaped into the welsh countryside during bushtucker trials. the show is currently being filmed in wales rather than australia because of coronavirus. a spokesperson for the itv show said the non—native creatures are only ever released in a contained area and collected immediately after filming. iam i am intrigued just as to how that investigation would go, intrigued how your search for bugs. do you see any bugs talking of bugs, carol, good morning! that was unnecessary, carol, wasn't it? you are a lovely lady bug, there you go.

good morning, it is a chilly start to the day where we have had clear skies across scotland and northern ireland, and for england and wales a band of rain is moving across and behind it you will find some brighter skies but there is a lot of cloud in england and wales, taking this rain turning patchy towards the east and the channel islands and look at all that sunshine coming out behind with a peppering of showers in the north—west of scotland and also northern ireland. some of those could be heavy. temperatures today, lower than they were yesterday with the top temperature yesterday in real was 15 but we are looking at 8-11 real was 15 but we are looking at 8—11 behind the weather front. ahead of it, still in the milder conditions, 12—14. this evening and overnight we still have that weather front across east anglia, the south—east and channel islands, still pulses of rain moving along it, clear skies for many with showers coming down the north sea

coastline, a few getting into cheshire, some in northern ireland as well. a colder night, more widespread and colder field to the weather with more in the way a frost. the other thing we find is some patching mist and fog forming. that mist and fog will be slow to lift with some of it lifting into low cloud hanging around for match of the day. we still have our weather front across the channel islands and the southeast with a fair bit of cloud with the odd spot of rain and showers coming down this north sea coastline with a view getting into western scotland and northern ireland. temperatures 7—11. still 12 in st helier. i'll have more than half an hour and i will look at the forecast further ahead. i will persuade her to be nice to you for the rest of the morning. good luck with that, dan! it wasn't me who got banned half an hour ago. we have a very strong relationship,

carol, we will survive far more than that. you didn't hear what he said about you earlier. there were tissues, tears and tantrums. see you later, carol. iwill tissues, tears and tantrums. see you later, carol. i will ring you after the show, all right? more chocolate, dan? soundproof room, that is we needed. a promise to help people out of work, more cash for infrastructure projects and help to get the nhs through the pandemic. those are the likely headlines from today's spending review but, as ever, the devil is in the detail and nina is looking at one area which will be a big deal for people with pensions. you're right about those headlines on what to expect. inflation. and the chancellor will want to sell his spending — onjobs, the nhs and defence. but keep an eye out for an announcement which will affect something important to millions of us — pensions. welcome to behind the scenes — the bbc breakfast kitchen.

dan's porridge is cooking on the stove over there and i've ordered a full english. hold the beans! you may be wondering why we're here? so, today it is all about chef sunak. what has the chancellor been cooking up? well... here are some of the things on the menu — money for big road projects. reduction in overseas aid. cash for rough sleepers. and there could be inflation reform. mm, doesn't sound too tasty — stay with me. inflation measures how quickly prices go up. it's really important because that's a key ingredient when cooking up things like interest rates, train ticket prices, student loans and pensions. inflation is measured two ways — cpih and rpi. without going in to too much detail, rpi isn't considered accurate any more. and it's seen as being high compared to other measures. so the chancellor may stop using that. that is quite boring — here's the interesting bit. if you were a chef with a £20,000

pension linked to rpi, over a 30—year retirement you'd have a total income of 947k. change the link to cpih and, well you can see the cake doesn't rise as much, you'd only end up with 828k. a big change for those with pensions so why is the chancellor considering it? we have known for sometime the way the rp! is calculated is actually flawed, it is a mathematical error in the way it is used and the government has been consulting about how to move away from it for some time. so it is something that has been planned. the exact timing when it happens might the important thing is it is a flawed measure of inflation and we shouldn't use it. it is the case that lots of pension schemes, the government bond market, student loa ns, government bond market, student loans, train ticket prices, they are all attached to rp! and it takes time to make the shift but it is a matter of when, not if because the

rpi is flawed. let's delve into what that could meet all of us with and investments. baroness ros altmann. explain how this could affect pensions, even if they are private. many private pensions are still guaranteed to increase every year by the rp! measure of inflation, which is typically higher than cpih, which means is typically higher than cpih, which m ea ns every is typically higher than cpih, which mea ns every year is typically higher than cpih, which means every year your pension will go means every year your pension will 9° up means every year your pension will 9° up by means every year your pension will go up by less than it would if it was tied to rp! instead of cpih. over a long period of time, although you get a little bit less every year, that mounts up and the total value of the pensions that you've been guaranteed will end up lower thanit been guaranteed will end up lower than it otherwise would. people are suggesting there is an ulterior

motive to this, that the government is doing it to save themselves cash. explain why that might be the case. in some ways, that is true. the government, when it borrows on an inflation linked measure, will borrow at rpi. all indexed linked government bonds are linked to the rpi measure of inflation so the interest rate on those is higher thanif interest rate on those is higher than if the inflation measure used was cpih. that means that every year the government pays a bit more in interest tha n the government pays a bit more in interest than it otherwise would. on the other hand, in terms of pensions, public sector pensions have all now being linked to only the cpih, not rpi. so that will save the cpih, not rpi. so that will save the government some money. student loa ns the government some money. student loans and train tickets and other administered prices do increase every year in line with rpi. so, for

consumers and students, changing the measure of inflation will actually save them money. and for employers in the private sector, who still have to increase the pensions in line with rpi, by allowing them to have a lower inflation and uplift every year, that'll save employers money, too. this is all quite complicated and, as your previous commentator suggested, the government was always expected to change the inflation measure in 2030. but we might see the chancellor bring that forward by a few years. chancellor bring that forward by a few yea rs. we chancellor bring that forward by a few years. we will see later if he does so. it will save the government some money on its borrowing because if it changes the inflation measure, it'll pay back less on the borrowing than issues. bad news long term if

you have a private pension, potentially. good news for the government because they will pay less interest and so we pay less back. good news for student loans and rail passengers. talk to me about the triple lock, then, because potentially that might be shifted at some point. at the moment pensions are linked to inflation, wage growth, 2.5%, whichever is highest, but as long as the government is committed to that triple lock it is costing the taxpayer a fortune so might that change? costing the taxpayer a fortune so might that change ?|j costing the taxpayer a fortune so might that change? i don't expect it will change today. but the chancellor might announce there will be some adjustment next year and we will see. i think today we are most likely to see the triple lock will stay in place which means from next april state pensions will increase by the 2.5% minimum the triple lock guarantees and for next year there isa guarantees and for next year there is a problem potentially because earnings have been very depressed

this year due to the pandemic and furlough. it may be they bounce back sharply next year which could see earnings increased by 5%—10% even. if the triple lock stays in place and there is a guarantee that pensions have to increase in line with earnings as well, then there may be a bumper year next year for pensioners but that of course will mean bumper extra costs for taxpayers who have to foot the bill for the pensions and the chancellor might say he wants to smooth the increase. obviously we have to increase. obviously we have to increase pensions. we have to make sure that we don't plunge pensioners backin sure that we don't plunge pensioners back in to poverty because they could never make up that lost income. but i think the chancellor might look at the triple lock or announce some kind of review perhaps. i don't expect him to abolish it. ok, a decision for

another date, baroness ros altmann, many thanks for joining another date, baroness ros altmann, many thanks forjoining us this morning. it's similar with taxation. we don't expect an announcement on that but expect taxes to go up next year. we are hurtling towards hundred % debt on our gdp and one way the chancellor might make savings today is by freezing public sector pay. 5 million people who work in prisons, police forces, support centres for people, they feel like they've had a tough year so they might not feel it is fair for them and we will talk to them later. nina, thanks very much. we've talked a lot about the closure of restaurants, theatres and gyms during the pandemic, but in some rural areas, it's one place, the village hall, that fills that gap in people's lives. jon kay has been to maiden bradley in wiltshire to find out how the community has been affected by the closure of their hall. brenda still comes to check every day but it isn't the same. it is cold, it is empty.

it is sad. it just needs people. it needs people in here. for the first time in 100 years, maiden bradley village hall is silent. covid means nojumble sales, no exercise classes and, without a shop or pub right now, the village hall was everything. people just used to come and mix, and quiz nights... all sorts of things. it's just sad and it isn't being used and it is a building that needs to be used. it was all so different one year ago when bbc countryfile filmed here. the hall fizzing with festive activity, and, at its heart, edna. i used to love the coffee mornings and of course all the bingos and things that went on. widowed and 92, she says the community is going to need this place more than ever after covid.

how much do you miss it right now? when you are on your own, you can't just get out and meet people, like, you know, but if we didn't have a hall, i think the village would be dead. many halls across the uk are now worried about their future. although some grants have been available this year, it's not clear what help there will be if the pandemic continues. and empty halls mean empty bank account. all their income comes from hiring the space and fundraising. if they are not hiring out space, and they are not fund—raising, then they don't have any funding coming in. and neither are they building up the reserves to be able to put money aside forfuture repairs and maintenance. as you can see, it is all moving. just down the road, it is horningsham village hall. ken normally deals with bookings. now he's dealing with cracks.

how are they going to pay for repairs? the guttering, the roof leaks, the building itself is still deteriorating. it is like the forth bridge, all these things need to be addressed and they need to be addressed almost immediately, as far as the leaks and roof are concerned. and without the income, it'll fall down, simple as that. really? that serious? it is that serious. back in maiden bradley, they've opened a shop inside the hall so villagers can buy essentials during lockdown. and they think this could be the future. village halls diversifying... £9.20, please, madame. ..to bring them back to life and bring in money. bye — bye! jon kay, bbc news, wiltshire. you were saying you like a village hall, the hub, if you live in a small town or village, they are the hub of all things. i went to one of the best cakes i've ever had in the

village hall at a scarecrow festival in... north yorkshire somewhere. scarecrow festival sounds more scary but i am more interested in the cake, what was it? it was a home—baked is gone. cake, what was it? it was a home-baked is gone. let's not do that. 0k. home-baked is gone. let's not do that. ok. the news, travel and weather wherever you are. good morning from bbc london, i'm sonja jessup. a woman from west london whose husband, a human rights worker, has been detained in egypt, is calling on the government to do more to secure his release. karim ennarah is being held, along with two colleagues, on charges of spreading fake news, and belonging to a terrorist organisation. his wife, who's dismissed those charges, says she's growing increasingly concerned. i'm very worried about his safety. and i know that he is very strong and are very resilient. but it's not

something that anyone should have to go through. especially not him. the foreign office says it's deeply concerned about the arrests. the advertising watchdog has found an ad for london black cabs exaggerated how much they could reduce the spread of coronavirus. it featured the voice of a passenger describing how being in the back of the vehicle was like her own bubble. but the advertising standards authority said that was misleading. the licensed taxi drivers association says it's another blow for drivers, and insists black cabs are one of the safer ways to travel. a pest control firm claims lockdown's led to a rise in london's rat population. they estimate there's now twice as many rodents in the capital than there are people. it's thought quieter urban areas, and plenty of food waste lying around, has helped them flourish. the advice is to clear your cupboards, and block up holes in your home, to stop them coming indoors this winter. let's take a look at the travel situation now.

he dlr has minor delays— there's been a signal systems failure— and the waterloo & city line still closed as planned. the overground the overg round has the overground has severe delays. we will bring you more on that soon. this is how the m25 looks, slow clockwise from junction 5 for the m26 to clackett lane services. there's a broken down vehicle, adding to the usual delays, and there's a burst water main in stamford hill. amhurst park is closed eastbound from seven sisters road. now the weather with kate kinsella. good morning. well, it's another mild start, temperatures well above zero. but with this mild air comes the cloud. it is going to stay largely grey throughout today. that cloud staying with us. it's a cold front that's brought the cloud overnight and into this morning. with it, we'll see some light patchy rain and some drizzle. you mightjust get one or two heavier bursts, but it should stay mainly light. the temperature today, it is going to feel quite mild, especially where we are in november. we're looking at a maximum

of a potential 14 celsius. overnight tonight, you'll notice that cold front gradually starts to sink away, taking the cloud, any remnants of rain with it. further north and west, likely to see clear skies. temperature drops — perfect recipe for some mist and fog, but also a bit of frost in the morning. but you'll notice, down in the south east that cloud starts to linger, and it's going to linger right the way into tomorrow morning. now underneath that tonight, the temperature will be milder. the same goes for tomorrow. so, cloudy in the south east, but sunshine further north and west. there's more from me in an hour. now it's back to dan. bye— bye. hello, this is breakfast with dan walker and naga munchetty. let's ring you up to date with some of the main stories. all four leaders across the uk are urging people to think carefully before taking advantage

of the relaxed rules over christmas. from the 23rd of december, people from three different households will be allowed to spend time together indoors for five days — northern ireland gets an extra day either side for travel. but scientists have warned this will cause a fresh spike in infections. the chancellor rishi sunak is due to outline the government's spending plans for the coming year, as public borrowing rises to levels not seen since world war two. the spending review will include details on public sector pay and nhs funding, as well as revealing the extent of the damage done to the economy by the pandemic. a shortage of personal protective equipment during the early months of the coronavirus pandemic, led to the government paying 10—billion—pounds more for ppe than if they'd bought it the year before. a report from the public spending watchdog, the national audit office, found that not enough ppe had been stockpiled, and unprecedented demand meant the government had to pay high prices. the department of health says during the pandemic "all the nhs providers audited were always able to get what ppe they needed in time".

we have got the first minister of wales coming shortly. by the way, the name of that village, kettlewell. the scarecrow festival. always worth a visit. always full of information here on breakfast! music and news! john actually does has —— we re and news! john actually does has —— were might have some of that. if you have the chance to score a hat—trick, would you give the ball to one of your team—mates? yes, i'm a team player. not a chance. it's about scoring the goal. it is not about who scores it. he has faith in his team—mates. marcus rashford took it and scored. teamwork makes the dream work. certainly doing that for manchester united. yes, bruno fernandes fast becoming manchester united's main man, and so it proved again last night. he scored a brilliant first on their way to victory — beating istanbul basa ksehir 4—1. he scored a second, had the chance

to complete his hat trick when united won a penalty. but gave the ball to marcus rashford. what generosity. unsurprisingly ole gunnar solskjaer was been full of praise for fernandes. he's a player who likes to take risks, he likes to create chances, he likes to score goals. he's a winner, he wants the team to win. and he wants the team to do well. and it shows today that can do more than just take penalties. chelsea booked their place in the last 16 with a 2—1win over rennes. callum hudson odoi opened the scoring for chelsea with olivier giroud coming off the bench to put frank lampard's side through with two games to spare. liverpool and manchester city could join them there later. now there's been a huge amount of discussion around the growing link between dementia and football. but a new study has found the risk could be greater for women

who play the game than men. michael grey from the university of east anglia is behind the study and we're also joined by the former england goalkeeper rachel brown—finnis this morning. good morning. michael, we will start with you. we have heard a lot about the study from the university of glasgow which found that male players are 3.5 times more likely to develop dementia than the general population. what he said then in your study that found there seems to bea your study that found there seems to be a greater risk to women? well, we're just be a greater risk to women? well, we'rejust beginning be a greater risk to women? well, we're just beginning this study. one of the reasons that we are reaching out now to get more women in the study is that it is so important that women come forward. we know, for example, alzheimer is uk suggests 61% of the women in the country, sorry, 61% of women with

dementia... rachel, what have you made of this finding? this must be concerning use for you as a former player with more than 80 caps for england? yeah, i read the brief of the study and absolutely, it is massively concerning. it's been well documented over the last few years that the 1960 team players, players from that era, the link between alzheimer's, dementia and head injuries, or the repetitive alzheimer's, dementia and head injuries, orthe repetitive heading in football from that era. it's obvious. i lived in the states. the study has been drawn between head injuries and concussion. further down the line, alzheimer's, there already been so much research into that and it has already been accepted by the sport. that is a real problem. we will be coming to the same conclusions in our sport. it's no different from men to women.

whoever you are, playing football, growing up as a youngster, the repetitive element of that. it is disconcerting to hear that women are even more prone to this disease in the long run. as michaelwas even more prone to this disease in the long run. as michael was saying, there seems to be a lack of female players, current and former, who have made up this research group. is there something you would be willing to put yourself forward for? well, having seen the brief last night i signed up. i have e—mailed. so check yourjunk mail, signed up. i have e—mailed. so check your junk mail, michael, signed up. i have e—mailed. so check yourjunk mail, michael, please! 440—year—old and above, last year i got into category, unfortunately. —— 40—year—old. that's worrying. i am always a believer that if you can do something about something, do it. if you can't don't worry about it. in this case i feel that the likes of

myself have been given an opportunity to potentially do something about whether it's prevented, whether it's understand it better, learn what i can do to help myself for the future, then, absolutely, i would love to join that study and i would encourage any of my former team—mates from previous eras, as well as my own, to get involved in such a study. they can only be benefits. yeah. it is going to be vital going forward. and michael, i guess the most important thing here is research. obviously growing concerns now. a fifth member of that successful 1966 world cup winning team has been diagnosed with dementia. it's not something that is just affecting players from the past but players in the here and now as well. i guess the key thing really is more research in this area? yes, absolutely. we are really pleased this morning that the league managers association has now come on board and is going to be supporting us. they feel very strongly about

supporting the study, particularly now that we are encouraging women to come forward. they have a long tradition of supporting the game, their members and their families. it's really important for us because we needed to raise £1 million to run this study over the next ten years. we are looking for anybody who might wa nt to we are looking for anybody who might want to help, any individual or company, please contact us, we would love to work with you. fascinating stuff. we will keep a close eye on your research. great to speak to you. doctor michael gray and rachel brown—finnis, many thanks for speaking to us. i think this will be a discussion we will carry on with. we have had so much on the programme already from chris sutton about the concerns that he has for his father. geoff hurst as well. i think what he was saying, when they were training backin was saying, when they were training back in the day, he would be heading a football between 20 and 30 times in the space of half an hour. that is the real concern. i think the key

thing is we need more research in this area. absolutely. john, thank you. it is 20 minutes to eight. thank you for being with us. we've been hearing this morning how the leaders of all four uk nations have made a joint decision to relax coronavirus restrictions during the festive period. but people are being urged to act responsibly, with a reminder that this cannot be a normal christmas. mark drakeford, the first minister of wales, was involved in making the decision. hejoins us now. good morning. lovely to have you on the programme. give us an idea of what your thinking is about this five day relaxation? are you concerned about it this morning, but what might happen? well, of course i am concerned that people might think that this is somehow an instruction to get together. rather than permission to get together. permission that needs to be used sensibly and responsibly. i still hope that people will think carefully about who they will meet

over christmas, how far they decide to travel, because coronavirus has not gone away. although christmas is a very special time, and it's important to give people a sense that there was some modest relaxation, it's still relaxation to be used carefully and responsibly. we know this was a compromise. reports in the papers this morning that boris johnson reports in the papers this morning that borisjohnson wanted it to be a week. i suppose at the other end of things is the cancellation of christmas. what would have been your ideal relaxation, if at all, over christmas? well, i think this is about as good as we could make it. it was very clear to me, and i think two others in the meeting, that the choice was not between no restrictions or restrictions. because had we asked people simply to live with a current level of restrictions, there was a real risk that people simply wouldn't be able to go along with that. so creating a

set of rules that will allow people to celebrate christmas, but to do so ina way to celebrate christmas, but to do so in a way that is still respectful of the fact that coronavirus remains amongst us, is a real threat, particularly to elderly people living with underlying health conditions, i think this is a sensible and modest way of allowing people a sense of how you can celebrate christmas, but to do so responsibly. i don't expect you to tell us what was said at the meeting, but give us an idea of how the decision has been made? there has been a lot of talk about following the science. was that a big consideration here, or was it more a fact of may be an understanding that this was expected to happen anyway, people getting together over christmas, so therefore something had to be done? yesterday's meeting was led by the science. the first people we heard from where the chief scientific

officer and the chief medical officers of all four nations. they set out of the context within which the decisions that we were being asked to reach, were made. it was very much bound bite science and the clinical advice that we had. we then pulled information. explained the different circumstances that we were all facing. and then worked our way through the different decisions that have led to the announcement he would have seen yesterday. some of the science, and there are prominent scientists saying this, so this will lead to another wave and of the problems will be seen injanuary and february. how do you react to that? well, the choice we faced yesterday was not between a risk—free option, saying to people, i'm sorry, christmas is cancelled, there is nothing you will be able to do during that period, because it was very clear to us, and we had behavioural science information about this as well, that too many

people simply would not have been prepared to have gone along with such an instruction. so the decision was not between a risk—free option and allowing some freedom. it was between organised freedom, rules that people can understand and go along with, or a free for all. and a free for all would have created more risk, more hospitalisations, and we decided the right course of action was to recognise a very special nature of christmas in so many people's lives, but to offer a set of rules that still allow us to not face a situation in which coronavirus has simply taken off again. everybody watching and listening, i'm sure they are making their own plans about what they will and won't do a christmas, how concerned are you that in the same way we saw beaches around the uk, that will —— we will see for the

full dinner tables and full living rooms over christmas? well, my message to people is absolutely this. that we can use this brief period of additional relaxation in a sensible way. in a way that we have thought about carefully, where we don't look to meet with people who are particularly vulnerable, where we do get an opportunity to meet with people who are really special to us in our lives at the end of this dreadful year. but we have to do it in this dreadful year. but we have to do itina this dreadful year. but we have to do it in a way that continues to be cautious, that continues to be careful, but thinks about the risks we are posing to ourselves and others. and provided people are willing to use that in that way, then we have been able to offer a relaxation that doesn't lead to an exponential rise in risk, but that first part of the message, using this period sensibly, thinking carefully about it in advance, i

know there will be many families in wales who will choose not to use any of these freedoms, because they will think this is not the year to put themselves under those bad risks. —— at risk. but for people who do want to meet others i christmas, please, think carefully, use it responsibly and then we will, all of us, not face consequences in the new year that could overwhelm our nhs and lead to real consequences in the lives of people who matter the most to you. i am sure you, like the rest of us, i consider in your own options. have you decided what your family are going to be doing at christmas? yes, we will use the freedoms in the most modest sort of way. we will see some people who we have not been able to see at all, but we will do it for a short period of time under very careful conditions. personally, iwill of time under very careful conditions. personally, i will be at the very precautionary end of this spectrum. and i think there will be many, spectrum. and i think there will be any

spectrum. and i think there will be many, many thousands of families in wales, who will want to do it in the same way. i'mjust wales, who will want to do it in the same way. i'm just interested really. your family will get together on christmas day for a short period of time and that's it, is that what you are thinking? well, we have five days available to us. and i certainly don't think that i'm suggesting to people they should meet for the whole of the five days together. in my own circumstances we will use that bit of flexibility to see some family members who we haven't been able to be with. but we will do it in a very thoughtful way. we will not be meeting people who are vulnerable, because of their age or underlying health conditions. and we will use the modest freedoms we have in a very modest way. can i ask you about one of the story of the other end of things today? police a p pa re ntly other end of things today? police apparently are investigating i'm a celebrity get me out of here over concerns about non—native wildlife being released into the welsh countryside. is that a concern of

yours? how do you even start to investigate that? well, we worked carefully with the production company to make sure that all the rules are being observed. if there have been some infringements, it is right they are investigated. we would be concerned about non—native species being released. your viewers will have seen the stories recently about mink and coronavirus crossing species. we wouldn't want to speak —— would seem non—native species being released in wales because of the risk that could pose to the health of other wildlife, but potentially, as in the danish situation, you risk to human health as well. overall have you been happy with the extra attention? yeah, there is no doubt at all that the programme has brought the eyes of people outside wales to wales. i know that there was an enormous upsurge in the number of people

visiting our visit wales website and seeing the wonderful things that are on offerfor people seeing the wonderful things that are on offer for people who are able to come to wales when conditions allow. looking ahead to next year, of course. we look forward very much to being able to welcome people back here to wales. good to talk to you as ever. thank you very much. ten minutes to eight. here's carol with a look at this morning's weather. morning. beautiful sunrise, sunset? ican morning. beautiful sunrise, sunset? i can never tell. sunrise this morning. thank you, naga! one of our weather watchers centre thatin. the forecast today, we have got a band of cloud and rain across england. it will get across norfolk through the day. but later on. behind it, cooler conditions with some showers. it is all conditions with some showers. it is a ll courtesy conditions with some showers. it is all courtesy of this weather front. a cold front drifting eastwards. not point in the way of winter. a lot of

dry weather. a few showers. some of the showers could be heavy in western scotland and northern ireland. the radar picture shows you the progress the rain is waking out of wales and will continue across the west of england through the rest of the day. brightening up in south—west england, wales, eastern scotla nd south—west england, wales, eastern scotland and northern ireland. the showers in the north and west. they could get into north—west england in the afternoon. temperatures today are coming down. yesterday the top temperature was in rail in north wales. 15 degrees. today, generally, nine to 11. where we have the cloud across the south—east and the channel islands, temperatures will be that little bit higher. that weather front will still be with us in the south—east and the channel islands tonight. it will help maintain the temperature level. still patchy rain. a lot of clear skies. a few showers in the north west of england, coming down the north sea coastline as well. a cold

at night more widely tonight than it was last night. —— a colder night. most of us will see frost. some may stand fog patches forming, tomorrow they will be stoked to clear. for some, they won't clear at all. they we re some, they won't clear at all. they were left into low cloud. a weather front draped across the channel islands and parts of south east england. showers will be of the exception rather than the rule. the colder air getting that bit further south. again, where we have a weather front, we are looking at 11 to grande 12s. weather front, we are looking at 11 to grande12s. this weather front is waiting in the wings. by the time it comes are way it would be fairly weak. first thing tomorrow morning you can expect frost and amazed and some fog. rather like ensuing days, the mist and fog will be slow to left. if you are stuck under that, it will depress the temperature. they will be some sunshine around on friday. here is the weather front.

it isa friday. here is the weather front. it is a weak affair introducing some rain. temperature wise we are looking at six in aberdeen, newcastle and cardiff, st helier getting up to 10 degrees. back to you two. before you go, we had some carol singing earlier when we we re had some carol singing earlier when we were doing the headlines. i heard dan beautifully harmonising. i did it quietly. it wasn't that quiet, u nfortu nately. it quietly. it wasn't that quiet, unfortunately. carol, italk it quietly. it wasn't that quiet, unfortunately. carol, i talk about all of this because of carol‘s carols. are we going to get a sing along with you this year? yes, we are going to do it again this year. it's very much in the planning process at any moment. obviously we will have to adhere to all the rules and regulations that are out there. we probably won't be telling —— travelling as far as we have done in the past and observing social distancing. but absolutely they will be some carol singing.

certainly this week. i'm sure some of our regular viewers will appreciate. we have put this together. this is a slice of some of your best bits. this is carols carols. good morning from beautiful windsor castle. we are here all morning with the sing healthy choir, who will be singing carols. # we wish you a merry christmas. # we wish you a merry christmas. # and a happy new year. good morning, everyone. you're quite right, look at winchester cathedral — isn't it beautiful? all lit up this morning. it's a great one, this building. one of the largest cathedrals in europe and we are going to be hearing from the choristers very shortly. # he came down to us from heaven. # who is god and lord of all.

# run, run rudolph, i'm reeling like a merry—go—round. # well run, run rudolph, i'm reeling like a merry—go—round. which is your favourite carol, carol? oh, the traditional version of silent night. i love carol smiling. gotta you! you're in big trouble now, dan, that's all i'm saying! you so are. quick escape! let's talk to gyles brandreth. good morning. you are our favourite giles. thank you very much indeed. i'm getting in the mood. look. he has gone early. we

are talking to you about the singing of carols. lovely to have you on brea kfast. of carols. lovely to have you on breakfast. why do you think it is important, even though as carol has been talking about, we are under very tight restrictions at the moment, why is it an important part of the christmas tradition?m moment, why is it an important part of the christmas tradition? it is so important because carols are part of the tradition of christmas, they are about community, continuity and charity. carol singers raised in excess of £10 million a year collecting when they sing carols. and the reason i am a little bit concerned is that we don't quite know what the rules are going to be. understandably the government has had a lot to think about. and i downloaded the 56 pages of regulations yesterday, and i couldn't find any mention of carol singing. they may not have got around to thinking about it, but i am hoping the organised freedom, mark drakeford am hoping the organised freedom, mark dra keford was am hoping the organised freedom, mark drakeford was talking about a few moments ago, will include allowing carol singing, because it's so popular. there are 7000 named acquires like the one that carol

visits every year. there are 40,000 singing groups that sing regularly in schools and churches around the country. some 2 million people take pa rt country. some 2 million people take part in singing in this country. it's very, very popular. and it's a time of year when we want to be out there doing it. i am saying, come all ye faithful and he pagans, sing all ye faithful and he pagans, sing all your carols, obviously safely, but have a go. you have written an open letter to do the government asking for socially distanced carol services to be allowed. i have two questions. what part do you sing?” am now a sort of poor man's baritone. i can only sing in the choir because singing solo, even the cat goes high. it's good to know your strengths. i was a choir in my youth. that was because i liked the costu me.

youth. that was because i liked the costume. takes all sorts. tell me, what does a socially distanced choir look like? there are also to have things when you are singing. spitting, the acoustics of the sound... we are not necessarily talking about beautiful... this is not king's college cambridge. we are talking about ordinary people alike to get together in the run—up to christmas and sing carols in the street as a group. of course, indoors there are risks because of the aerosols hanging around. we know that. but out of doors the risks are minimal. masked socially distanced group of people singing carols, nicely organised, i can't see the harm of it and i am wanting the government to say, ding—dong, merrily on high, you can go for it. it's the stuff that goes with it as well that i would imagine people have to be careful about this year. the handing out of mince pies and of the collections and things like that. if things can be done

carefully a nd that. if things can be done carefully and people can look after those obvious concerns, hopeful it can go ahead? absolutely. theatres can go ahead? absolutely. theatres can be open now. football crowds can get together. so i really think run requires a pretty organised. usually asa requires a pretty organised. usually as a conductor there is some discipline by virtue of singing together. the way you sing so beautifully. it is quite organised and quite control. i don't think we need to be frightened of the carol singers. they are the people actually you are going to bring us i°y actually you are going to bring us joy this christmas. and my goodness, we needed. thank you. always joyful speaking to you. thank you. i love jen's comment. she says, communities doing kerb—side carols. tis the season to be jolly careful. we are going to miss our carol concerts around the church this christmas. they are a highlight every year. headlines coming up.

good morning, welcome to breakfast with dan walker and naga munchetty. our headlines today: warnings over the five days of christmas. leaders of all four uk nations come together and urge caution over the relaxation of covid restrictions. we can't afford to throw caution to the wind. the virus doesn't know it is christmas, and we must all be careful. some scientists say easing the rules could cause a fresh spike in infections and cost lives. effectively, what this would be doing is throwing fuel on the covid fire. i think it will lead to increased transmission that is likely to lead to a third wave of infection with hospitals overrun.

good morning. the chancellor's chance to prove he's committed to levelling up the country and creating jobs. the spending review will give a boost to the nhs, but expect a sting in the tail for public sector workers and private pensions. on the verge of the knockouts, manchester united bounce back in the champions league, as olivier giroud sends chelsea into the last 16 with two games to spare. morning. we have a band of weakening rain moving across england and wales, behind pressure under sunshine, some showers and feeling cooler. i will have all the details in ten minutes. it's wednesday the 25th november. our top story. the leaders of all four uk nations are urging us to think carefully as virus restrictions are relaxed over christmas. they have agreed to ease the rules

so families can be together, but there's warnings from scientists this will cause a fresh spike in infections. let's take a look at the measures. up to three households will be able to mix in each other‘s homes, but you can't go to pubs and restaurants together. you will be allowed to travel to see family, and you can go anywhere in the uk. the new rules cover just five days from the 23rd to the 27th of december, but in northern ireland that period is extended by a day either side to give extra time for travelling. the prime minister has said people still need to think carefully about mixing with family members over the festive period. but wherever you are in the country, i urge you to keep up the incredible effort that you and everyone else have been making to keep pushing the virus down. of course, all this means that this year christmas will be different, many of us are longing to spend time with family and friends, irrespective of our faith background, and yet we can't afford to throw caution to the wind. the virus doesn't know it's christmas,

and we must all be careful. a member of the government's scientific advisory group for emergencies, otherwise known as sage, has warned the relaxation of coronavirus restrictions over christmas could lead to unnecessary deaths. i mean, what this would be doing is throwing fuel on the covid fire. i think it will definitely lead to increased transmission that is likely to lead to a third wave of infection, with hospitals being overrun and more unnecessary deaths. covid is a disease that thrives on social contact, especially the sort of close proximity, long duration contact that you have in relaxed circumstances within a household. that is one of the concerns over the relaxations over christmas. let's speak to our political correspondent jonathan blake. morning to you. we we re jonathan blake. morning to you. we were speaking to the first minister of wales about 20 minutes ago, and

he gave an insight into those discussions between the four nations. yes, he said they were bound by the medical and scientific advice that the governments of all four nations of the uk had received, and he was also clear that there was and he was also clear that there was a feeling among all four governments that if someone wasn't done, if special limitations and guidance we re special limitations and guidance were not put in place over christmas, then people would take things into their own hands and effectively disregard the restrictions that would have otherwise been in place and make up their own rules. so i think we have had a sense this morning, from all four governments in the uk, that something had to be done over christmas. the question was what and how far restrictions would be relaxed during that period, and we now have these five days over christmas, during which three households will be able to gather indoors and stay for extended periods of time. social distancing

rules will not apply in those cases, but we know that those are the circumstances and conditions under which the coronavirus will thrive, so there is an acceptance that this will lead, inevitably, to a rise in covid cases. but as you say, mark dra keford, speaking covid cases. but as you say, mark drakeford, speaking on breakfast in the last hour, suggesting that not eve ryo ne the last hour, suggesting that not everyone will take up the opportunity of the rules being relaxed. i know there will be many families in wales who will choose not to use any of these freedoms because they will think that this is not the year to put themselves and others at risk. but for the people who do want to meet others at christmas, please think carefully, use it responsibly, and then we will, all of us, not face consequences in the new year that could overwhelm our nhs and lead to real consequences in the lives of people who matter the most to you. his words have been echoed by the

leaders of other nations in the uk, urging caution, as people look ahead to christmas and plan for that festive season, and i will be difficult days and weeks between now and then as england emerges from its national lockdown in a week or so's time, much of the country will still be under strict restrictions before christmas. ok, jonathan, thank you very much for that. the chancellor, rishi sunak, is due to outline the government's spending plans for the coming year, as public borrowing rises to levels not seen since world war ii. the spending review will include details on public sector pay and nhs funding, as well as revealing the extent of the damage done to the economy by the pandemic. a shortage of personal protective equipment during the early months of the coronavirus pandemic led to the government paying £10 billion more for ppe than if they'd bought it the year before. a report from the public spending watchdog, the national audit office, found that not enough ppe had been stockpiled and unprecedented demand meant the government had to pay high prices. the department of health says

during the pandemic "all the nhs providers audited were always able to get what ppe they needed in time." the us president—elect, joe biden, has said the trump administration is co—operating "across the board" with the formal transition of power. mr biden has been outlining his plans for government after unveiling his choice for senior positions in his administration. our north america correspondent peter bowes reports. building a new team with a new slogan, formally unveiling his choice for some of the top positions in government, relying heavily on former colleagues from the obama administration, joe biden signalled administration, joe biden signalled a new town for the white house and its world—view. a new town for the white house and its world-view. this team behind me, they embody my core beliefs that america is strongest when it works

with its allies. tell about in his first major interview since winning the election, joe biden said the trump administration was finally cooperating with the transition process. he would soon be getting the daily presidential briefings, and he said plans were being made to meet the white house covid team for discussions about the distribution ofa discussions about the distribution of a vaccine. i think we are going to be so far behind the curve as we probably might not be in the past, and there is a lot of immediate discussion, and i must say, the outreach has been sincere. it has not been begrudging so far. he also expanded on his vision for a first term in office and said he hadn't ruled out appointing a republican into his administration. we still have a lot more appointments to make. i want this country to be united. the purpose of our administration is to unite it, we can't keep this political dialogue going, it has to end. donald trump

is still not conceded the election, but he has made two brief appearances at the white house.” hereby grant you a full pardon! one for the traditional pardoning of a turkey ahead of the thanksgiving holiday. he also gave a one minute news co nfe re nce to holiday. he also gave a one minute news conference to take credit for the stock market reaching a record high. the dow jones the stock market reaching a record high. the dowjones industrial average just hit 30,000... high. the dowjones industrial average just hit 30,000. .. reporters had plenty of questions, but the president took none of them and left the room. peter bowes, bbc news, los angeles. north wales police are investigating i'm a celebrity get me out of here following reports that bugs could have escaped into the welsh countryside during bushtucker trials. the show is currently being filmed in wales rather than australia because of coronavirus. a spokesperson for the itv show said the non—native creatures are only ever released in a contained area and collected immediately after filming.

the idea of how you investigate that! has anyone seen this missing bug? description and age? if you are watching about an hour ago, carol gave me a deep burn, i think i have watched till it worked out what the problem was with my pan. line like it was two hours ago! carol had a very bad's night sleep. sometimes you just can't get back to sleep, you are awake for hours. look at the bags! ididn't want at the bags! i didn't want to say, they are worse than usual! this morning we have got rain moving out of wales and across england, turning increasingly light and patchy. behind it, cooler, looking

at sunshine and showers. this is the band of rain, a cold front taking this cloud and rain into the south—eastern corner, look at the sunshine following behind, and also some showers. the heaviest showers across the north and west of scotland, some get in northern ireland, one or two in north—west england by the afternoon. temperatures lower than yesterday for most, 8—11, but where we have got cloud from the weather front and the rain, temperatures will be that little bit higher. as we head through the evening and overnight, we still have that weather front rain pulsing up through eight, and then behind that still some showers, some of them coming down the north sea coastline, if you get in and across north—west england and north west wales, but a lot of clear skies, a cold night for more of us than last night, and more of us will see frost as well. the other thing happening tonight is mist and fog patches forming. now, tomorrow some of them will be slow to clear, some

will only lift into low cloud and linger all day, if that happens where you are, it will hold the temperature down. and we still have a weather front across the channel islands at the far south—east with spots of rain. but in between, a lot of dry weather, very few showers, temperatures — seven in lerwick to ten in cardiff, 11 in plymouth, 12 in st helier, where we have got that weather front, but coloured in st helier, where we have got that weatherfront, but coloured by in st helier, where we have got that weather front, but coloured by day and by night in the ensuing few days. —— but i hope you sleep better tonight, carol! last one of the day and half an hour, then you can go and have a lie down! we now have a plan for christmas. restrictions will be eased over a five day period allowing up to three households to mix and people will be allowed

to travel to see their families. the new rules have been welcomed by those who are desperate to spend time with their loved ones. but for others, the measures are causing concern. # last christmas... christmas is all about making memories, and after a year of some of the worst, we now have a choice — rejoin some of our families and make more, or stay away to guarantee we keep people safe. hello, robertsons! give me a big wave, kids. for the robertsons in scotland, the numbers just don't work. well, all our family are down in the central belt, edinburgh, so we might be the household that doesn't get into the three, if that makes sense. you'll be out on your own. we will be out on our own this year. for you, christmas is huge, but hogmanay is even bigger, isn't it? yes, that'll mean... but, hey, one year off,

we will hit it hard next year. hello, family. hello, jane. hi! how are you all feeling about christmas now? now excited, definitely excited. forjane and her daughters, the offer of a christmas together after almost one year apart is a gift. i've seen siobhan once since the beginning of lockdown in march sojust nice to... i'll see two daughters and their families all together at christmas. for you, three is the magic number, isn't it? absolutely. you don't take this lightly, do you? not at all, not at all. we have abided by the rules that we were given because we genuinely believe that it's what needs to be done. but it has been very difficult because of the welsh

and english gap between. i'm asthmatic, my mum is asthmatic so we are not taking anything lightly. when it comes to the day, if any of us have got any kind of symptoms, then we will not do it. hello, jodie's family! the last time i saw you, jodie, was when you were waving goodbye to your family at the first term of university. that's crazy. since then, jodie and much of her halls of residence have had covid. now she is weeks away from being tested, so she can come home, but not to a traditional christmas. we usually do christmas eve, the italian version, and we usually go to my grandparents to sit round a table and eat and eat. eat, drink, be mad, like we are! this year, the six families will celebrate apart. it's upsetting but we will get through it. some of us will get together and the others will get together and we will zoom each other.

and it is only one christmas out of 80, maybe 90 christmases. if you felt you were going to do this for three to four christmases, i would be a bit worried. but, you know... we have the leader of the family here. who is the leader of the family? grandpa. hello, grandpa. the virus doesn't care whether it's christmas or not. would you happily sacrifice this year then? not happily, but sensibly. stephen lives near hull, but comes from a huge extended family in northern ireland, and this year is one of the first he will spend apart. it's knowing when to visit. everybody wants to see you. i decided not to go back to northern ireland. i currently live in an area

with the highest infection rate in the country. the guidance is there. but for us as a family we decided not to do it. they understand. we will see them again. as we say in northern ireland, we will have great crack when we meet up. it will happen. christmas 2020 will be like none that have gone before. memorable for all the wrong reasons. but family, together or apart, is still likely to be the very thing that keeps us going. i love the grandpa in that vt. you are always criticising your parents for not getting into the zoom shot. i end for not getting into the zoom shot. iend up for not getting into the zoom shot. i end up looking after my dad's chin. grandpa ended up in the shot there. grandpa ended up in the shot there. we're joined now by virologist chris smith.

one of the things that struck me from that video, and it is something we have heard, the virus doesn't ca re we have heard, the virus doesn't care it is christmas, so what do you make of these five days, this five day kind of respite? well, i'm delighted that people will be given the chance to get together, because i think that like the forthcoming vaccine, that will be a shot in the arm against coronavirus, this will bea arm against coronavirus, this will be a shot in the arm for the country's morale. i hope that people are responsible and appreciate a lot is being done to make this five days possible. so let us make the most of it but do it in a responsible way. have a common—sense christmas. it but do it in a responsible way. have a common-sense christmas. one of the feelings is the decision was made to relax the restrictions because there was a fear that people we re because there was a fear that people were going to break the rules any way, and you know, make sure they got see their family because the period is such an important period for so many. what is the guarantee that people aren't going to break the rules further now, you know, you

know, give them an inch take a mile so to speak. people will probably bend the rules, it is like the motorway speed limit where we all know you should drive at not more than 70mph on the motorway but we all have been overtaken by people going way in excess of this. some of the leaders of some of the devolved nations have said, this is a limit, it isn't a target. and it means that what we can do over christmas there is an opportunity for people to get together. it doesn't mean you have together. it doesn't mean you have to and it means if people think they are vulnerable, if people would rather not take the chance, if people have got family members who are higher risker, then, perhaps make a plan for next summer when the risk we anticipate will be much lower and do something smaller scale or with fewer people this christmas. there is no obligation to get together, but yes, there is an opportunity for people who want to do that to do it and do it in a what theyis do that to do it and do it in a what they is sensible. low risk, if you

have symptoms of any kind, have a low threshold for calling it off because at the end of the day what you don't want for christmas is coronavirus, let us face it. you know what is interesting is people will be listening today, and, we will be listening today, and, we will be listening today, and, we will be thinking carefully and thinking about the safety of their loved one, in practical terms, you have grandparents, parents, kids, grand kids, great grandchildren, how do you safely mix regardless, indoor, outdoors, what is the practical solution to those who are concerned about keeping particularly the vulnerable safe? as you mentioned earlier viruses don't care it is christmas, they don't have tape measures, calendarser or stop watches so they don't know how far away you are from people but all of those factors make a difference and it is very difficult to control the spread of diseases indoors in a

domestic setting when people have enjoying the social lube captain of the festive period. that is why we anticipate we will see more cases off the back of the mixing that goes on, because the viruss exploit the things we enjoy doing to spread. if you want to have a purely safe christmas hand had no friend you would be fine, you have to catch it from someone and if you have something you can't give it to somebody you are not meeting. we anticipate there will be more cases, but it's a question of how much that happens and to what extent we can mitigate it. if the levels are really low before christmas because eve ryo ne really low before christmas because everyone is careful and responsible, it reduces the risk and it may well be that we end up paying the price after christmas for longer because we have to have more restrictions to make sure that the surge doesn't continue having been seeded by the christmas period. because we will have to wait and see. in a way, so the target bring the r number below

one, let us say across the whole of the uk, for example, let us hope. below one before christmas, people mix, over five days, below one before christmas, people mix, overfive days, in terms below one before christmas, people mix, over five days, in terms of modelling, you are a scientist and you have heard, know sage members saying there will be a third peak after christmas, how soon after and to what severity do we see cases rise and when do we know? well, first of all on the r number, the r number is the rate at which the pandemic is growing or shrinking but it doesn't give you a reflection on how many cases there are already. you may have a negative r number, the outbreaks may be getting smaller, the problem is if there is already a very large number to start with, so the absolute number of cases is high you are starting from a high point and cases is high you are starting from a high pointand bringing cases is high you are starting from a high point and bringing people together, from a high point, means there is a high likelihood that lots of people who have got it will get together and cause cases. one of the difficulties with this is that there is often a lag between the time that

people are exposed to the infection and then they become a statistic, this is because there is an incubation period for the virus, it is variable. it could be up to two week, people don't catch it and immediately become a statistic, they catch it, deteriorate, feel unwell and then eventually a week or two later, might come to the attention of the hospital or their local doctor and at that point they might be admitted to hospital, deteriorate further and then become an itu case and worse potentially. so the lag time between what we do today, and theout come, is as long as a month. the numbers today we are living a legacy of what we are doing three or four weeks' ago, one would anticipate the effect of christmas we won't see until the middle of january and anticipating that we have to have some caution beforehand, which is why i am saying we need low levels before christmas, otherwise, of the virus in total, otherwise, of the virus in total, otherwise we will see a lot more cases in mid—january, compared to if

we start from a high point, we will see even more cases. brief one chris, now the restrictions have been eased, have you changed your plans for christmas? well, i have only just started making plans for christmas? well, i have onlyjust started making some, we weren't sure whether we would be able to get together at all, so, i think probably in my household like many across the uk, people are beginning to have the sort of discussion what do we want to do, what can we safely do, what can we put off till next year. safety first still, i am assuming. chris it is good... we will wait and see how it goes. i think many people are thinking that way. thank you very much. it is good to talk to you. it is good to talk to you. as well as mixing indoors, rules around travel have also been relaxed for the set christmas period. we're joined now by the independent‘s travel editor, simon calder. lovely to have you on the programme. it isa lovely to have you on the programme. it is a bit to talk to you about. as naga was saying there, people are planning, beginning to think about

how they might get to where they wa nt to how they might get to where they want to go, what are the general things to think about in the build up things to think about in the build up to this christmas? well, as we we are hearing from chris smith just now, is your journey are hearing from chris smith just now, is yourjourney really necessary? it has to be the watch word but also, i am necessary? it has to be the watch word but also, iam here necessary? it has to be the watch word but also, i am here in kings cross station in central london, is your journey even cross station in central london, is yourjourney even possible? what is happening here, is that lner the main operator which runs from here to scotland, is, isn't selling tickets for christmas yet. they will go on sale in, on friday we hope, and that will be all the way up until christmas eve. at the moment you can't buy them at all. they are trying to lay on extra service, bear in mind that social distancing means that the capacity of trains is going to be limited, particularly those long distance trains, to round about half the normal levels so it is going to be pretty tough, and then specifically, you can hear the work

going on, the entire station is going on, the entire station is going to be closed from the last train on christmas eve, until the morning of new year's eve, so there will be an awful lot of people who normally travel up and down the east coast main line who will not be able to do that, of course lots of people going by train but still 19 million of us who don't have, many people going by car, 19 million of us don't have access the a car so we are wondering what to do. there will be other engineering problems elsewhere, normally of course this time of year very low demand but it is those five days from the 23rd to 27th, no trains anywhere on christmas day and on boxing day there is just a christmas day and on boxing day there isjust a handful of christmas day and on boxing day there is just a handful of training and nothing going long distances. talking to the transport secretary on the programme yesterday, and he was asking people to use their common—sense when thinking about travel, but also talking about you know, trying to start to prebook tickets, you have talked about this morning some of the difficulties trying to do that. do you think we

will see a rise in prices? we are already seeing that but that is partly because the train operators haven't put their tickets, their advance tickets on sale, so i have been having a look cardiff to holyhead, the only tickets on sale any time tickets, £86. glasgow to inverness, same thing, that is £46. manchester to london, £64. and yes, hopefully there will be some advance tickets, coming up with the essential reservations that come with them but at the moment it is very difficult. i was so interested to watch that interview and the reference to alternative forms of transport, the trouble is, of course, for many people they do rely on the railways, particularly at christmas. long distance, buses will be running, i would like to say as normal but of course, national express megabus have had an awful year and they won't be putting on lots of speculative service, although boxing day fantastic

service, megabus for instance newcastle to manchester, plenty of availability, about 23 £ one way. appreciate you doing your research for us simon. that is simon calder. live from king's cross. i know you have been getting in contact with us about your plans and many of you have taken the decision to quieten things down. as chris smith was saying and mark drakeford said earlier, first minister of wales, people, yes, we have freedom but, i think the message is still clear, we want to keep our loved ones safe. regardless, so i think people will be thinking carefully. regardless, so i think people will be thinking carefully. time now to get the news, travel and weather where you are. good morning, i'm sonja jessup. a woman from west london, whose husband, a human rights worker, has been detained in egypt, is calling on the government to do more to secure his release. karim ennarah is being held, along with two colleagues,

on charges of spreading fake news and belonging to a terrorist organisation. his wife, who's dismissed those charges, says she's growing increasingly concerned. i'm very worried about his safety. and i know that he is very strong and very resilient. but it's not something that anyone should have to go through. especially not him. the foreign office says it's deeply concerned about the arrests. a report by the equalities watchdog has found the home office unlawfully ignored warnings that changes to immigration rules would create serious injustices for the windrush generation. the equality and human rights commission found the hostile environment policy had harmed many people already living here. the home office says it's "determined to right the wrongs suffered".

the advertising watchdog has found an ad for london black cabs exaggerated how much they could reduce the spread of coronavirus. it featured the voice of a passenger describing how being in the back of the vehicle was like "her own bubble". but the advertising standards authority said that was "misleading". the licensed taxi drivers association says it's another blow for drivers, and insists black cabs are one of the safer ways to travel. let's take a look at the travel situation now. this is how the m25 looks — slow clockwise from junction 5 for the m26 to clackett lane services. there's a broken down vehicle adding to the usual delays. and there's a burst water main in stamford hill — amhurst park is closed eastbound from seven sisters road. now the weather, with kate kinsella.

good morning. well, it's another mild start, temperatures well above zero. but with this mild air comes the cloud. it is going to stay largely grey throughout today. that cloud staying with us. it's a cold front that's brought the cloud overnight and into this morning. with it, we'll see some light patchy rain and some drizzle. you mightjust get one or two heavier bursts, but it should stay mainly light. the temperature today, it is going to feel quite mild, especially where we are in november. we're looking at a maximum of a potential 14 celsius. overnight tonight, you'll notice that cold front gradually starts to sink away, taking the cloud, any remnants of rain with it. further north and west, likely to see clear skies. temperature drops — perfect recipe for some mist and fog, but also a bit of frost in the morning. but you'll notice, down in the south east that cloud starts to linger, and it's going to linger right the way into tomorrow morning. now underneath that tonight, the temperature will be milder. the same goes for tomorrow. so, cloudy in the south east, but sunshine further north and west.

hello, this is breakfast with dan walker and naga munchetty. straight after brea kfast on bbc one is morning live with kym marsh and gethinjones. i have got to ask you, i was watching the one show last night, you are sneaking in christmas tunes without kym knowing! what have you got planned for today? that was so good!| got planned for today? that was so good! i wondered what you are talking about! we will be showing you that on the show! can't wait to see you all straight after breakfast. we've got a show packed full of advice, some of which could even save your life! as the nation starts getting the christmas decorations out, and with more of us working from home, rav wilding is here with a fire safety warning we all need to listen to.

also this morning, a story we've had so many comments about — disposable facemasks and the terrible impact they're having on the environment. well, today we search for a solution. plus, with millions of us missing out on dentist appointments this year, one of the uk's leading dentists is here to help, with advice on what we can do in an emergency right now and give us tips on how we can keep our teeth healthy. and from dentists to doctors, we're joined by a man who walked away from stitching us all up as a junior medic, to have us all in stitches instead. comedian and best—selling author adam kay tells us how he's now using his funny side to help teach kids. and the italian strictly star giovanni is here. we'll be asking him all about that tense tango moment from saturday night. plus, we uncover his dancing roots and just why he left his parents' home at just 14 years old. we'll see you at 9:15. white see you then, guys! did you hear that, teeth tips?

i have lost three teeth to toffees over the years! workers in hospitals, schools and the police service have been praised for their efforts during the pandemic. but reports that the chancellor is considering freezing public pay in today's spending review has come as a shock to some. nina's looking into this one for us. good morning, iam back in good morning, i am back in the kitchen. we're talking about public sector workers — civil servants, teachers, police officers. lots of them were busier during the pandemic. so why might the chancellor be considering a freeze on their wages? welcome back to our spending review kitchen to explain. because in order to work out what the chancellor might be cooking up, we need to consider what ingredients he has. the size of the economic pie is shrinking. covid has claimed lives. but it's also made the country poorer — much poorer. some estimate the value of all we make and do will be 10% smaller than before the pandemic. that's a problem.

because the chancellor's already promised big slices of the pie for hospitals, schools and defence. in fact, two thirds of what he can dish up has already been dished out. there's not a lot left to go round. what can he do? one way to save might be to freeze public sector pay. this year, growth in public sector pay has been much higher than in the private sector — it makes sense with retail, hospitality, construction all taking massive hits. public sector pay is always more stable. if that pay is frozen, the chancellor could save £15 billion over two years. almost a million public sector workers did get a pay rise earlier this year, but that's after a decade of austerity. in real terms, most of their wages are lower. so you can understand the anger that even considering this freeze has created. here's the view from the classroom. hello, iam

hello, i am a head teacher of saint richard's catholic primary school in chichester. i have been head teacher forfour chichester. i have been head teacher for four years now. i am richard, i have been teaching languages for 29 years. i am head of music, i have been teaching for 20 years, and i think that teachers all over the country are going to be extremely disappointed with the possibility of a pay freeze. delivering lessons this year has been challenging for all teachers. a lot of our families are key workers, so we stayed open all through lockdown, all over the half term, easter holidays, and we also provided childcare over the summer holidays to make sure that our families could go to work. we educate pupils during the day, but much of our work is done after hours. it does seem incredibly unfairand hours. it does seem incredibly unfair and unimaginative to target those working on the front lines, you know, as a way of getting the

economy back on track. the consequence of this will be that people choose to leave the profession, while we will not be so attractive to those who want to join us. teachers need to feel valued during this pandemic. anyone who had kids at home during lockdown has a new—found respect for teachers, don't they? worth saying that there is an economic case against a freeze too. public sector workers spend their wages in private businesses, so that money is shared. plus, these are often difficultjobs. make the salaries less attractive, and recruitment becomes tougher. we've been hearing from public sector workers. thank you to everyone who got in touch. rachel wrote to us that she was in tears. "i looked after key worker children and vulnerable children during lockdown." "i have put myself at risk every day — no recognition or thanks, as usual." damen writes, "i'm a public sector worker and a pay freeze makes perfect economic sense."

plus, another comment on the same lines on twitter. "i'm a public sector worker and i've worked hard since march, but that doesn't entitle me to a pay rise when others are losing theirjobs." was really difficult for the chancellor, he will be up after prime minister's questions today. nobody denies that public sector workers are doing a brilliantjob, and without them, life couldn't continue, even in a odd form, but then there is the opposite, so many have lost their jobs, then there is the opposite, so many have lost theirjobs, let then there is the opposite, so many have lost their jobs, let alone having a pay freeze as well. and the fact that the chancellor has had to borrow unprecedented amounts just to get over this, and those savings have to come from somewhere. it is likely that the bulk of the savings will be put off to next year, but we do expect to see that pay freeze today. no hugging grandparents, no playdates with friends, and months off school — children have had to get used to big changes this year.

now schools are using art, music and drama to help young people cope with the upheaval. breakfast‘s tim muffett reports. one, two, three... cheese! generation covid, a photography and art project across eight london schools, aimed at capturing a unique moment in time. we want to know the impact. what has this pandemic hard on our children? so we'll be taking a photo, getting some reflections every year, how the children are progressing, what they're enjoying at school and how it's affected them. it's a very different time. so it's good to take a snapshot of that. it's been challenging. we've had to learn a new way of working. but something that i've noticed is that the children are so resilient and they've really enjoyed being back to school. things like art and photography, why are they useful, do you think? how can they help? i think it's a way of children expressing their creativity, and a way of them understanding the world. so in their art, they'll draw people with wearing masks, and that's their way of understanding. i like making pictures of my mummy. what was it like

having your photograph taken? it was so good, because... ..i keep onjumping. a number of research studies have explored how covid—19 is affecting the well—being of children. some have highlighted their resilience. others have raised huge concerns about anxiety, physical fitness, even the loss of basic skills, such as using a knife and fork. i did notice that he's regressed a little bit in terms of, like, his independence. because he's quite young still. he was starting to gain independence in terms of doing things for himself, doing his jacket up, feeding himself. and when he had to stay at home, he just went backwards. lockdown was very difficult for us. and i think being able to go back to school has definitely been good. i don't think she was in a good place. laverne is a child psychologist. she's relieved she's able to work in schools once more. the first lockdown was so difficult for a lot of children, because it was something that couldn't be predicted. you know, lots of children

have talked about feeling like they fell off a bit of a cliff edge. you know, one minute they were in school, the next minute they were being told that they had to be at home. i've been talking to parents about, you know, children who they felt were really well ahead in being potty—trained, for example, could do things for themselves, suddenly needing a bit more help. # put down your phone and have a covid game plan...# music can help. this song was written by 16—year—old river. at his school in mansfield, other students are being encouraged to use music to express themselves. we've had a significant increase in students opting for music lessons this year. so we're up around 40%, 50% on last year. students' mental health at the moment is a real concern. and learning an instrument, being creative, investing in the arts, i think — we think as a school — is a key factor in sustaining positive mental health.

so when i feel down, ijust start playing on my saxophone, just learning new notes, learning new tunes. it has helped me. so i'm not bored and i can learn a new skill, because music's awesome, in my opinion. until one day everything changed. polka theatre company has been running well—being workshops in primary schools. they focus specifically on stories and characters, to explore the situations and emotions that children may experience during the pandemic. what can we do to help us stop feeling worried? we can talk to other people about it. of course — we can talk to other people about it. performing arts are an essential message of communication. it allows us to understand and express ourselves, and theatre can help children learn important values, such as respect, such as tolerance. and it allows children to put themselves in the shoes of the characters.

i think we should all be very worried. be worried as parents that all children have been affected in one way or another, to varying degrees. it will continue to affect children for quite some time. the biggest upheaval faced by a generation of children since the second world war. understanding the full impact of covid will take many, many years. tim muffett, bbc news. so interesting how children's lives have changed and, you know, i think before this it was really to say, oh, they are adaptable, they bounce back — and they are not always, they have to be thought about carefully, it is good to see that people are thinking of different ways of helping. it is going to be a strange old day to remember in days to come, isn't it? 8:43am, john is here.

talk about making an impact, bruno fernandes has had a hand in 34 goals. not with his hand! that would be breaking the rules, wouldn't it?! 16 more assists than any other united player, a huge impact. good one for yourfantasy team, if you play! iam team, if you play! i am currently being beaten by my eight—year—old niece, she is very proud, i have done that terrible thing, i had mo salah as captain, and he is not playing, i need to lift my game! iam lift my game! i am bottom of every league i play on at the moment, because i don't have bruno fernandes in my team! bruno fernandes fast becoming manchester united's main man, and so it proved again last night. he scored a brilliant first on their way to victory, beating istanbul basa ksehir 4—1. he scored a second and had the chance to complete his hat trick when united won a penalty. but he gave the ball to marcus rashford.

tell about it all turned out well for united in the end, nice girl from rashford in the end. unsurprisingly, ole gunnar solskjaer was been full of praise for fernanades. he's a player who likes to take risks, he likes to create chances, he likes to score goals. he's a winner, he wants the team to win. and he wants the team to do well. and it shows today that can do more than just take penalties. chelsea booked their place in the last 16 with a 2—1win over rennes. callum hudson odoi with their first. olivier giroud then came off the bench to score late on with the scores level. liverpool and manchester city could join them teher later. we knew a draw wasn't the worst result, but to have players with a push and desire to turn it around shows a little bit of strength for the group. that has to continue, we can't claim a one off result like that. january's australian open —

the first tennis grand slam of the year — is likely to be delayed by at least a week, a government spokesman has said. the tournament is due to start on 18th january, but with players unable to enter the state of victoria until the first of the month, and then having to quarantine for two weeks, that's affecting warm—up events and the players' ability to train and prepare. martin pakula, the state's sports minister, suggesting it will be a delay of a week or two. and finally, how do you get the best of your players? make a bet they won't want to lose. jose mouirnho promised spanish defender sergio reguillon he would buy him a ham — jamon iberica — if he stopped riyad mahrez getting past him last weekend. and he did. £500? £500 ? that is £500? that is serious ham. that is

interesting, an interesting approach from a manager. brings new meaning to the car rots and stick. it worked here. i would do anything for a cake of any description if you are ever wondering. anything? most things. do you know... a cake is cheaper. do you know... a cake is cheaper. do you know... a cake is cheaper. do you know what i am doing next tuesday? baking. i'm on next wednesday. only because you said you would do anything. bring it in. i will have a think about it. make shire you are working next week, could be fun. thank you very much. brea ks much. breaks news for you this morning, megan, the duchess of sussex has written an article in the new york times on the issue of miscarriage, it has been published and come out. it isa it has been published and come out. it is a very personal article. she asked —— writes about what happened during a tourof asked —— writes about what happened during a tour of africa. it is a deeply personal article and she has written actual changing his dier and she is referring to archie her son,

i felt a she is referring to archie her son, ifelt a sharp she is referring to archie her son, i felt a sharp cramp. i she is referring to archie her son, ifelt a sharp cramp. i drop she is referring to archie her son, i felt a sharp cramp. i drop odd the floor with him in his arms, humming a lullaby, the cheerful tune stark contrast to my sense something wasn't right. i knew as his clutched my first born child i was losing my sec. she is talking about the issue of miscarriage and the fact she experienced one in july of miscarriage and the fact she experienced one injuly i think it was. deeply personal insight. she says hours later i late lay in a hospital bed, i fell the clamminess of miss husband's hand. staring at the cold white walls my eyes glazed over. i tried to imagine how we would heal. ill mensually personal details which is a touch on something i know so many people go through isn't it but something you would not expect her to be so detailed about. she makes it clear, as well, that she has been learning from the experience and she said that her husband and her discovered that her husband and her discovered that in a room of 100 women, ten to 20 will have suffered from miscarriage and so, she is talking

about the issues of morning and just —— mourning and the simplicity of asking if someone is ok. we will keep you up—to—date with that as well, but, quite surprised seeing that out there and obviously her way of getting that news out there, but in the bigger context of loneliness and just caring for each other. it is under the title of the losses we share. we will have more on that. but more on that throughout the day across the bbc. we can now speak to carol for the final time today. who can tell us, oh, hold on. we are going to talk to nicholas witchell our royal editor. good to have you with us, our royal editor at the moment. nicholas witchell, can we say this has come out, noted in the new york times, no real indication of this you know happening and no hint of this happening and it is intertwined, a delicate subject of miscarriage, very personal but with a bigger message. yes, this is an

article the duchess —— sussex has written in the new york times, and in it she disclosed that she had a miscarriage lastjuly, she says that she was changing her, their young son, ifelt a she was changing her, their young son, i felt a sharp cramp, i she was changing her, their young son, ifelt a sharp cramp, i dropped to the floor. i knew as i clutched my first born child that i was losing my second. and she then describes how hours later in hospital, with her husband, they had to come to terms with this miscarriage, and the article is really about how, in these dreadful circumstances of this year, people are dealing with tragedy and disruption within their lives, but certainly, a tragedy for them, the loss of a much sought after second baby, a miscarriage, which as she december closes in this article and the new york times, she suffered lastjuly. and, perhaps it is not entirely surprising there was something such at this happening

because you will recall that a few wykes ago, she applied to the high court to adjourn her privacy case against the mail on sunday for undisclosed private reasons and there was speculation, private speculation at the time perhaps she was pregnant. well we now know that tragedically she was but lastjuly but she lost this second child. tragedically she was but lastjuly but she lost this second childm is interesting many terms of the subject matter, that you know, the royal family decide to talk about because she and her husband will know that having written this article, they will be a lot said and written, and i would imagine as well, a lot of people who maybe haven't spoken about this sort of thing before, going through a miscarriage who will feel able to talk about it now. yes, and i am sure that perhaps was in her mind, in disclosing this very personal news, in this way, through the medium ofan news, in this way, through the medium of an article in the new york times. the focus of which is equally on others, and how are they coping.

she builds it all around that question, do you remember she was asked in that itv documentary are you ok by tom bradbury, the thesis in the new york times article is we need ask each other much more, look each other in the eye and take an interest in each other, and seek confirmation, are you ok? and so that really is the thread round which she writes this article but in the course of developing that thread, as i say she discloses she suffered a miscarriage lastjuly. nick, it is very clear isn't it, that this is an announcement that megan and —— meghan and harry have agreed to put out off their own back, what happens in terms of support from the royal family or public support because there is a division now, isn't there? well, one must assume that though i don't know, we clearly don't know at all, that this may have been known about

within the family, but it is something that is very private, and it was clearly a matter for them to decide whether to disclose it, and if so, in what form, and this is how they have chosen to do so. but, clearly, as for any couple, any young couple who have suffered a miscarriage, such as this, there will be support from within the family, and given the position they occupy, from a much wider constituency, and it will, as you have said, encourage others perhaps to talk about it and to deal with the feelings of loss that a situation such as this engenders, but yes, i am quite sure they will be be being supported by their family, friends and most importantly of course, by each other. nicholas witchell, our royal editor, thank you very much. we are talking about and article in the new york times written by the duchess of sussex, talking about the issue of

loneliness, caring about each other but also in that, the revelation she suffered a miscarriage injuly and her description of that as that happened. it is a reminder that some of the things you are tempted to say and write about people, you never know what they are going through in their own lives. of course you don't. time now is six minutes to time. much more on the news channel. if you're yet to watch last night's final of the great british bake off — and you don't want to find out who the winner is — then this is your spoiler alert. maybe make yourself a cup of tea and have a slice of cake for your breakfast, as we take a look at how peter, laura and dave's multi—layered show stopper desserts turned out — and see the moment the winner was crowned.

welcome back for your final show stopper challenge. you have just four—and—a—half hours. on your marks... get set... bake! i'm pleased with how it came out. it's too big. argh! well done, peter. thank you. yourtime is up. well done, bakers, you did it. cheering and applause. the winner of the great british bake off 2020 is... peter. cheering and applause.

we're joined now by the 2019 bake off winner, david atherton. hejoins us from he joins us from the kitchen. good morning, lovely to you on the programme. good morning. great to have you on. we should say it has been a remarkable series given all the restrictions that they have been able to put on gathered together a really great bunch of bakers who enjoyed themselves. yes, it is interesting because all of the auditions i presume that all happened before coronavirus hit, so they were all ready to do a normal regular series and then had to change it up a bit. give us an idea then, what peter is going to be in for now as a former bake off winner yourself, what happens? oh, i mean it's a whirlwind, you have been given a lot of time to prepare because obviously there is the filming and then it's a time before it is transmitted but still it is a whirlwind, there is so many things that come at once and you have to

roll with the punches and enjoy it. what do you think the trick was for this winner? what made him, you know, the one that was picked because there was interesting personalities this year, wasn't there? yes, i think once again he was like the steady guy, he knew his stuff. i mean i can't believe he is so young. it seems like he has been studying bake off. like he has been watching it for a number of years and was ready for it. he was very calm, just, was solid all the way through. what happens, obviously peter will get a lot the attention, but what about dave and laura as well, because there are many people who have not won bake off but who have gone on to change their careers, launch successful social media accounts, write books, television programme, all sorts of opportunities. yes for sure. it is a baking show but it is also a tv show, and the public, it is about the public vote as well. so there is people who are, yeah, often way more popular than the winner themselves

so, yes, not the end for dave and law. what is like -- laura. what is life like for you a year on? it has been a strange year for everyone. it has been very strange for me. there has been very strange for me. there has been very strange for me. there has been so many opportunities, it is hard to pick. i have continued working in myjob part—time because i want to is a good grounding, but the rest has, it has been a whirlwind, but very exciting. not so much sleep! david, can i ask you a non—serious question, that gold thing hanging up, is thatjello mould and have you ever used it? that is a buntd tin. i did use it. have you used it since? yes, twice. it's a really good tin. you say you are still doing work. do you get pestered all the time, not at the moment but to take food in? yes, thatis moment but to take food in? yes, that is why, because i don't like eating a whole cake myself, it is about taking it to work, that is

what i used to do all the time. but recently, it has not been as easy, i have had to eat it myself. a pleasure to talk to you. congratulations on your win from last year, i am sure peter will enjoy the spoils of being a champion as well. good to talk to you. do you eat a whole one by yourself? i have been known. you're watching bbc breakfast. it's 8:59.

this is bbc news with the latest headlines. warnings over the five days of christmas. leaders of the four uk nations come together and urge caution over the relaxation of covid restrictions, but scientists say easing the rules could cause a fresh spike. effectively, what this would be doing is throwing fuel on the covid fire. i think it will lead to increased transmission that is likely to lead to a third wave of infection with hospitals overrun. whether it is safe, three, four, five households, most people are going to try and meet up no matter how many households they come from. lam how many households they come from. i am really against it, i don't think it should be happening. they

should have kept us locked