generation and younger generation to be part of each other. only the choir was allowed to sing. people have had to make special arrangements to make the church look beautiful, just everything's happened but in a different way. last christmas no—one could have imagined the way this year's festival would look or they would be praying for next year's celebrations to be back to normal. judith moritz, bbc news, cheshire. the battle for the top spot in the uk christmas charts is always hotly contested with even successful stars eager to see their name at number one. but this year the youtube star ladbaby outsold both paul mccartney and mariah carey to top the uk chart for the third consecutive year. our entertainment correspondent lizo mzimba reports. # just a sausage roll...

ladbaby, driving his latest charity single into the charts. a tongue in cheek new take on a popular classic. and a third consecutive christmas number one. the first year was actually just completely shocking. i think not only to us but the entire industry. i don't think anyone saw it coming. i think last year was kind of shocking again, a bit unbelievable, nobody thought we would come back. this year is just on another level. hopefully it's really got the message out there about food banks and it's made everyone smile at a time when we all needed it. the last act to produce three christmas chart toppers in a row was the spice girls with 2 become 1... # i need some love like a never needed love before. ..followed by too much... # too much of something... ..and their almost

farewell single, goodbye. now, nearly a quarter of a century later, that achievement has been equalled. #we # we built this city... by ladbaby, with a series of sausage roll—themed charity songs. # i love sausage rolls... the singles have all raised money for the trussell trust charity that supports hundreds of food banks and helps those in greatest need. a christmas message embraced by the thousands who bought the song and helped it to reach the top of the charts. lizo mzimba, bbc news. now, the queen has reflected on the hardships of the coronavirus pandemic in her christmas speech as she and the duke of edinburgh spent

the day apart from their family. we can listen now to her full speech. band plays: god save the queen. every year, we herald the coming of christmas by turning on the lights. and light does more than create a festive mood. light brings hope. for christians, jesus is "the light of the world", but we can't celebrate his birth today in quite the usual way. people of all faiths have been

unable to gather as they would wish for their festivals, such as passover, easter, eid, and vaisakhi. but we need life to go on. last month, fireworks lit up the sky around windsor as hindus, sikhs and jains celebrated diwali, the festival of lights, providing joyous moments of hope and unity despite social distancing. remarkably, a year that has necessarily kept people apart has in many ways brought us closer. across the commonwealth, my family and i have been inspired by stories of people volunteering in their communities, helping those in need. in the united kingdom, and around the world, people have risen magnificently to the challenges of the year, and i'm so proud and moved by this quiet, indomitable spirit.

to our young people in particular, i say thank you for the part you have played. this year, we celebrated international nurses‘ day on the 200th anniversary of the birth of florence nightingale. as with other nursing pioneers like mary seacole, florence nightingale shone a lamp of hope across the world. today, our front—line services still shine that lamp for us, supported by the amazing achievements of modern science, and we owe them a debt of gratitude. we continue to be inspired by the kindness of strangers, and draw comfort that even on the darkest nights, there is hope in the new dawn. jesus touched on this with the parable of the good samaritan. the man who is robbed and left at the roadside is saved by someone who did not share his religion or culture.

this wonderful story of kindness is still as relevant today. good samaritans have emerged across society, showing care and respect for all, regardless of gender, race and background, reminding us that each one of us is special and equal in the eyes of god. the teachings of christ have served as my inner light, as has the sense of purpose we can find in coming together to worship. bagpipes play in november, we commemorated another hero... ..though nobody knows his name. the tomb of the unknown warrior isn't a large memorial, but everyone entering westminster abbey has to walk around his resting place, honouring this unnamed combatant of the first world war, a symbol of selfless duty and ultimate sacrifice.

the unknown warrior was not exceptional. that's the point. he represents millions like him who, throughout our history, have put the lives of others above their own, and will be doing so today. for me, this is a source of enduring hope in difficult and unpredictable times. of course, for many, this time of year will be tinged with sadness, some mourning the loss of those dear to them, and others missing friends and family members distanced for safety, when all they'd really want for christmas is a simple hug or a squeeze of the hand. if you are among them, you are not alone, and let me assure you of my thoughts and prayers. the bible tells how a star appeared in the sky,

its light guiding the shepherds and wise men to the scene ofjesus‘s birth. let the light of christmas, the spirit of selflessness, love, and above all hope, guide us in the times ahead. it is in that spirit that i wish you a very happy christmas. # joy to the world # the lord is come! # let earth receive her king! # let ev‘ry heart prepare him room # and heaven and nature sing and heaven and nature sing # and heaven, and heaven and nature sing # joy to the world

# the saviour reigns # let men their songs employ # while fields and floods # rocks, hills and plains # repeat the sounding joy repeat the sounding joy # repeat, repeat, the sounding joy # he rules the world # with truth and grace # and makes the nations prove # the glories of his righteousness # and wonders of his love and wonders of his love # and wonders, and wonders of his love.#

now it's time for the weather with tomasz schafernaker. as promised, weather was pretty quiet on christmas day across most of the uk, with some sunshine, but now all eyes on the atlantic and the weather is about to turn. storm bella is expected to bring heavy rain and severe gales on boxing day night. in the short term, the weather is actually not too bad. in the small hours of saturday morning it's a case of increasing wind around coastal areas but, yes, some heavy rain already reaching parts of western scotland but for the bulk of the uk i think a fairly calm night. overcast in most areas, just a few showers here and there and not cold at all. mild air is being swept in by the storm. through the course of saturday, the weather is looking pretty decent, especially around eastern parts of england. maybe the midlands, the english channel coast as well.