good morning, welcome to breakfast with rogerjohnson and nina warhurst. our headlines today... the row over schools intensifies — a number of councils join teaching unions in calling for a delay in primary pupils returning on mass in england. but the chair of the education select committee warns children would suffer. good morning. welcome to breakfast with rogerjohnson and nina warhurst. our headlines today: absolutely where possible we should the row over schools — keep our schools open. a growing number of councils urge we are damaging our young the government to rethink its plan child ren's life chances. to open primary schools tomorrow. city leaders in liverpool go one councils join teaching unions step further and demand in calling for a delay a national lockdown. in primary pupils returning on mass in england. city leaders in liverpool go one the race to protect the vulnerable. step further and demand a national lockdown. hundreds of sites across the uk get ready to rollout the oxford vaccine. to curb this virus, particularly with the new strain, it's really have arsenal turned a corner? important that we tackle it head on, that we are proactive rather than a convincing victory at a snowy hawthorns react to when things get really bad. makes it three league wins in a row for mikel arteta's side. the race to protect the vulnerable. good morning. it's a day of sunshine and showers. hundreds of sites across the uk get ready to roll—out and although it's not the oxford vaccine tomorrow. going to feel it, the air‘s the race to protect the vulnerable — a tiny bit less cold today. and that means many of the roll—out of the oxford the showers will come

through as rain. they'll be most frequent for eastern scotland and eastern —— good morning. areas of england. winning in a winter wonderland. arsenal's turnaround continues but i'll have a full forecast coming with a confident victory at west brom — that's three league up a little bit later on. wins in a row for the gunners. good morning. it is a day of it's sunday the 3rd of january. our top story — sunshine and showers. and although some councils and teaching unions it is not going to feel at the air isa it is not going to feel at the air is a tiny bit less cold today so in england are continuing to pile many of the showers will come through as rain. they will be most pressure on the government, calling for primary frequent for eastern scotland and schools to be kept closed to the majority of pupils eastern areas of england. i will after the christmas holidays. have a full forecast coming up a teaching unions have told little bit later on. primary school staff it is unsafe to return to work because of rising coronavirus cases. good morning. but writing in the sunday telegraph, it's sunday, 3january. our top story: some councils the head of ofsted, amanda spielman, and teaching unions in england are continuing to pile warns time away from the classroom pressure on the government, should be kept to the calling for primary schools to be "absolute minimum". our political correspondent, kept closed to the majority of pupils after the chris mason, has more. christmas holidays. teaching unions have told primary school staff it is unsafe to return this is brighton, where primary to work because of rising schools were due to reopen this week coronavirus cases. but writing in the sunday telegraph, after the christmas holidays. the head of ofsted, amanda spielman, warns time away from but now the local authority the classroom should be kept to the "absolute minimum". is advising that they shouldn't, our political correspondent and has asked the education chris mason has more. secretary to intervene too. we've written to gavin williamson

this is brighton, where primary to ask him to close our primary schools were due to reopen this week after the christmas holidays. schools in line with the decision that he's made in london and other but now the local authority areas, but what we've also done is advising that they shouldn't, is written to schools directly ourselves, and asked them to, and has asked the education or advised them, that we think secretary to intervene too. we've written to gavin williamson the right decision is for them to move to remote learning on monday, and only be open to ask him to close our primary for children of key workers and our most vulnerable children as well. and this is birmingham, schools in line with the decision that he's made in london and other where the city council has said it areas, but what we've also done is written to schools directly will support any primary school head ourselves, and asked them to, or advised them, that we think teachers who decide to shift the right decision is for them to learning from home — and this morning, local leaders to move to remote learning in liverpool are calling on monday, and only be open for children of key workers for another national lockdown. and our most vulnerable they argue the current tier system children as well. and this is birmingham, where the city council says it in england isn't working. will support any primary school whose teachers who decide to shift we feel that to curb this virus, to learning from home — particularly with the new strain, and this morning, local leaders in liverpool are calling it's really important for another national lockdown. they argue the current tier system that we tackle it head on, that we're proactive rather than reactive, when things get really bad, and a lockdown would in england isn't working. help to resolve that. the government's default position

is that schools in england should we feel that to curb this virus, remain open wherever possible. particularly with the new strain, but with some local authorities it's really important saying that schools should close and the biggest teaching union that we tackle it head on, telling its members that it's not that we're proactive safe for them to go to work, rather than reactive, what happens next isn't entirely when things get really bad, and a lockdown would in ministers' hands. help to resolve that. the government's default position how many more councils could suggest is that schools in england should remain open wherever possible. schools close for most pupils? but with some local authorities saying that schools should close how many teachers will and the biggest teaching union turn up in classrooms? telling its members that it's not safe for them to go to work, union leaders are in touch with one what happens next isn't entirely another this weekend, in ministers‘ hands. co—ordinating their actions. the department for education says it how many more councils could suggest will only move to remote schooling schools close for most pupils? how many teachers will as a last resort. turn up in classrooms? union leaders are in touch with one another this weekend, the pandemic robbed us of many things in 2020, co—ordinating their actions. the department for education says it not least certainty. will only move to remote schooling as a last resort. it's going to do the same thing again for many parents and pupils — for the first few months of this year, at least. chris mason, bbc news. let's speak now to our political correspondent jonathan blake. the pandemic robbed us we've got some councils of many things in 2020, going against orders not least certainty. to keep schools open, it's going to do the same thing and teaching unions

again for many parents and pupils — for the first few months launching legal action. of this year, at least. chris mason, bbc news. it will be interesting to hear what the prime minister has to say later. he will be facing questions about we talk a lot about the situation this and many things i'm sure and as with england schools during the course of the programme this morning. you say it is a tricky and uncertain let's remind ourselves what's happening with schools in the rest of the uk. in northern ireland, face—to—face teaching situation for children, parents, is being postponed teachers, school staff and more this by at least a week. pupils will be taught remotely until schools start to fully re—open morning as things stand, most from january the 11th. primary schools in england are due many schools in wales are also opting for online learning until 11 january, although some are aiming to open tomorrow to all people's, to fully re—open from tuesday. but as we have seen, the government and in scotland, pupils won't return to the classroom until at least 18 has shifted its position and has now january. most of them will be learning moved to keep all primaries in london closed to most children online from 11 january. whilst the children of key workers and those deemed to be vulnerable will still be able to attend with the nhs is preparing to roll—out the new oxford astrazeneca vaccine tomorrow at a small number most others engaging in online of hospitals around the uk, learning. the union isjoining as the health service begins ramping up the biggest immunisation forces urging the government to make programme in its history. pressure is mounting to protect millions more vulnerable people that the default across england and amid concerns a new variant of coronavirus is spreading out of control. some local authorities taking things our health correspondent into their own hands as well as use are in the report. we have the

timely intervention from the chief katharine da costa reports. inspector of ofsted, england's school inspectorate who is saying we some of the first precious doses of cannot furloug young people's a life—saving vaccine stop the princess royal hospital in west sussexis princess royal hospital in west sussex is one of a small number of learning. another person badly of hospitals that will begin inoculating people with the oxford that opinion is the mp who chairs vaccine inoculating people with the oxford vaccine tomorrow inoculating people with the oxford vaccine tomorrow before the rollout is extended to more than 700 sites late in the week. we are really the house of commons schools select committee. absolutely where possible pleased to be one of the early sort we should keep our schools open. we of areas that will be getting the vaccine because we know it will are damaging ouryoung protect people, protect our stuff, we should keep our schools open. we are damaging our young children's life chances. we know that during and it is the thing that will help us manage and it is the thing that will help us manage this pandemic. unlikely the last lockdown, millions of pfizerjudge, the oxford vaccine can be stored in a frieze, making it children did hardly any learning at much easier to distribute to gp all. whatever remote learning goes on, it is patchy, in parts, hundreds surgeries and care homes. the elderly are most at risk from the virus. that's why the focus is to of thousands of vulnerable children or disadvantaged children do not vaccinate most care home residents have proper computers at home, and staff at the end of the month. nothing as a substitute for being at margaret keenan became the first person in the world to receive the school. the department for education is stressing schools will to delete pfizer vaccine outside of clinical continue to implement measures, but

trials nearly a month ago. applause it says it will move to remote . since then, nearly1 million people have had their first dose. education. is all of the pressure now, armed with the oxford vaccine, now meaning that the government will have no option but to view that last the races on to protect of the most result as the action that it has to vulnerable, including nhs frontline take? as you suggest, the prime workers, many of whom now worn out minister will face questions and having battle b virus for nearly a other topics on the coronavirus year only to see it threatening to response on the andrew marr overwhelm the health service once programme in an hour or so. again. i know it's going to be the nhs is preparing to roll out worse. that's the only thing we the new oxford astrazeneca vaccine know. i know we are massively tomorrow at a small number stressed at the moment. our nursing of hospitals around the uk, as the health service begins ramping up the biggest immunisation numbers are deluded, the staff are programme in its history. exhausted on intensive care and we pressure is mounting to protect have a long way more to go before we millions more vulnerable people hit the peak. for now there is still amid concerns a new variant of coronavirus is no let up inside. yesterday saw spreading out of control. another record high, with more than our health correspondent katharine da costa reports. 57,000 new covid cases recorded. the nhs is bracing itself for even some of the first precious doses of a life—saving vaccine. greater pressure in the weeks ahead. the princess royal hospital vaccine, though, bring hope this in west sussex is one of a small number of hospitals that will begin virus can be defeated. —— vaccines. inoculating people with the oxford

vaccine tomorrow, before the roll—out is extended to more katharine da costa, bbc news. than 700 sites later in the week. the shadow culture secretary, jo stevens, is being treated in hospital for covid—i9. we're really pleased to be a statement about the 54—year—old one of the early sort labour mp was released of areas that will be giving on her twitterfeed last night, the vaccine because we know it where her team thanked people will protect people, for their good wishes. protect our stuff, and it's the thing that will help us sir keir starmer has described her as a "dearfriend manage this pandemic. and colleague" and wished her well. unlikely pfizer jab, the american broadcaster larry king the oxford vaccine can be stored in a fridge, has tested positive for coronavirus. the 87—year—old is being treated making it much easier to distribute at a hospital in los angeles, to gp surgeries, vaccination according to us media. his representatives have not centres, and care homes. publicly commented and details the elderly are most of his current condition are unclear. at risk from the virus. he has faced several health that's why the focus is to vaccinate problems in recent years, including heart attacks. most care home residents and staff by the end of the month. margaret keenan became the first person in the world to receive rescuers in norway have found a fourth body at the site the pfizer vaccine outside of clinical trials nearly a month ago. of a massive landslide near oslo. emergency teams are still searching for several people who've been applause missing since the hillside collapsed in the village of ask on wednesday. since then, nearly freezing conditions are hindering one million people have had their first dose. the progress of the operation. now, armed with the oxford vaccine, a group of us senators say the race is on to protect 30 million they will refuse to certify of the most vulnerable, joe biden's election victory including nhs front line workers,

unless a commission is set up many of whom now worn out having to investigate alleged voter fraud. the 11 senators and senators—elect, battled the virus for nearly a year led by ted cruz, want a ten—day delay to audit the unsubstantiated only to see it threatening allegations, but the move is not to overwhelm the health service expected to succeed. once again. outgoing president donald trump has refused to concede, repeatedly alleging fraud i know it's going to be worse. that's the only thing we know. i know that we're massively stretched at the moment. our nursing numbers are diluted. without providing any evidence. the staff are exhausted on intensive care and we've got a long way more to go before we hit the peak. for now there's still china is celebrating a successful year of breeding pandas no let up in sight. and they've released some yesterday saw another record high, new footage of the animals at play. with more than 57,000 44 giant pandas were bred new covid cases recorded. in captivity in china in 2020, bringing the country's total the nhs is bracing itself for even panda population to 633. these ones were filmed at the wolong national nature reserve greater pressure in the weeks ahead. in sichuan province, vaccines, though, bring hope this virus can be defeated. katharine da costa, bbc news. in south—west china. the shadow culture secretary jo stevens is being treated in hospital for covid—19. a statement about the 54—year—old they are seriously cute and cuddly. labour mp was released on her twitterfeed last night it was another snowy night for some. where her team thanked people for their good wishes. here's chris with a look at the weather. sir keir starmer has

no pandas behind you as far as i can described her as a "dearfriend and colleague" and wished her well. telle. let us know though. i am a rescuers in norway have found a fourth body at the site of a massive landslide near oslo. big snow phone. i thought it would start off with a look at what happened yesterday where we had that emergency teams are still searching for several people who've been heavy snow, particularly across eastern areas of scotland, parts of missing since the hillside collapsed north—east england. some areas had in the village of ask on wednesday. freezing conditions are hindering about five centimetres around. today the progress of the operation. it's cold again particular cross north—western areas of the uk with here's chris with a temperatures down to minus eight celsius in the highlands. but look at the weather. finally enough there is a tiny bit embarrassment of riches with all of less cold for most areas of the uk the weather watcher picture! compared to yesterday. that means many of the showers have switched this is another one from yesterday over from falling as snow to more as where we had snow across parts of scotla nd where we had snow across parts of scotland and northern england in rainfor over from falling as snow to more as particular. i think this one is from rain for most of us with a little sleet mixed in. if you go up eyeing up sleet mixed in. if you go up eyeing up in the mountains, above around near romilly, but looking stunning 300 400m, you'll find snow the high reaches of the pennines and yesterday. it is pretty cold grampians, for many of us it is more likely you will see rain in those outside, particularly through north—west areas with temperatures showers. fog patches around as well. down at —8 at glasgow airport. the east anglia visibility is down to 100 metres. pretty murky conditions. risk of some icy stretches just

the driest weather today will be about anywhere today. for most parts across western scotland and northern ireland where they will keep of the uk, the air is a bit less sunshine throughout. otherwise jobs colder than yesterday and the will work across england and wales, showers that we are seeing coming in southern and eastern areas of scotland, and the temperatures 4— are mostly falling as rain and sleet so are mostly falling as rain and sleet so not as much are mostly falling as rain and sleet six celsius, kind of similar to so not as much snow are mostly falling as rain and sleet so not as much snow out and about as yesterday. there will still be some yesterday, a degree higher. when you snow but i think over higher factor in the brisk north—easterly winds it will feel cold thick lee elevations, probably above 400 around the eastern coast of england metres for the most part, in the and scotland. overnight tonight we grampians, pennines and the high will get cold air coming back in ground in wales as well. some fog to from scandinavia. the showers will probably tend to switch over to be watch out for before the wind blows more of sleet and hills no overnight that out of the way and then it is with the risk of icy stretches to ta ke with the risk of icy stretches to showers that continue to feed and take us into monday with a fairly widespread frost. temperature is the across a good part of eastern scotla nd across a good part of eastern scotland right across england, a lwa ys scotland right across england, lowest in western scotland where i always most frequent in the east, suspect was the temperatures around some showers reaching east wales as -8 suspect was the temperatures around —8 in the highlands of scotland full well. some sunny spells for some but the best of dry weather and sunshine tomorrow we still have an area of will be in northern and western high pressure continuing to feed on scotland, northern ireland and parts these cold north—easterly winds, of north—west england as well. for continuing to feed showers in right the way across the north sea. here anywhere, feeling cold, particularly scotland, eastern areas of england given the onshore winds. overnight, seeing the lion's share of the some slightly colder air coming back showers stop there will probably most gathered together a line of from scandinavia and that may well

more persistent rain into parts of switch the showers back over to more kent. the winds will make you feel chilly. temperature similar to snow over the hills, perhaps some today. 4— six celsius. the rest of getting to low levels, with a wintry the dry weather and sunshine across the dry weather and sunshine across mix. in the highlands, temperatures the north and west of scotland and northern ireland as well. that is down to about —80 degrees or so. how the weather is looking for the next couple of days. roger nina, back to you. i was watching tomorrow, high—pressure feeds in the cold and brisk north—easterly winds yesterday when joe wicks was giving and the winds will be dragging on you advice about your clicky knee. lots of showers. the showers will looking at your twitter feed yesterday, you have more than a start to form into shower stream so some areas will be quite wet, so clicky need to worry about. what happens is what it is a bit sore today. i got attacked by a pheasant. encounter some showers, and in i was riding my bike and it went yorkshire. over the pennines, we straight under my bike wheels. it could see some very localised but was me on my bike at 23 mph. i'm a reasonable falls of snow to watch out for. the shower streams will bit but and so on may need today. i'm afraid the pheasant didn't make continue on into tuesday so we could it. he didn't make it! he is an ex- see some localised files of heavy snow across the eastern pennine pheasant, i'm afraid. looking at the slopes, staying pretty wet in parts picture it is a good job you were of kent as well. some bright and wearing a cycling helmet, it was sunny spells and on tuesday these are the maximum temperatures. as we obliterated. i head my knee, hit my

shoulder. i am ok. obliterated. i head my knee, hit my shoulder. iam ok. if obliterated. i head my knee, hit my shoulder. i am ok. if you look at my look at the weather throughout the helmet, half of it is completely week ahead, that cold weather is caked in mud. they have obviously hit my head on the ground. i did not going to stay put, showers pretty will anything because of the helmet widespread across eastern areas of stop roger, it is definitely worth england initially, later in the week wearing a helmet if you are out on through thursday and friday, we will see a weather system moving from the the bike or skiing, whenever a go skiing. you just have to do it. here north west and it will bring a spell of rain and snow more widely across you are back in work. what a parts of the uk, so that is trooper. did it cure your grisly something to look out for. it looks knee? no. i'm not doing any of the like a cold week ahead. back to you two. joe wicks moves. ikard moved today. thousands more people should be what a star. thank you, chris! —— i receiving a coronavirus vaccination this week, as the nhs ramps up its immunisation programme with the newly approved oxford university and astrazeneca couldn't moved today. jab roll—out starting tomorrow. it follows concerns over how long patients who've let's take a look at some of today's front pages. already had the pfizer the observer leads with that growing vaccine will have to wait row between teachers' unions and the government as to when schools in england for their second dose. should fully re—open. the sunday telegraph weighs in on the same debate. professor of experimental medicine at imperial college london, it quotes the ofsted chief peter openshawjoin us. inspector, amanda spielman, who says that children's time outside the classroom should be kept to a bare minimum. "we must not furlough our children's thank you very much for talking to futures" is the headline. us. the sunday times claims there's thank you very much for talking to us. we are very us. we are thank you very much for talking to us. we are very grateful. could you a postcode lottery when it comes pick up on that first point about

to getting the covid vaccine. the delay. there are some people e—mailing in about this. should it says 13 million people in the uk people be worried that originally live in an area which doesn't they were told it would be a have a vaccination centre. three—week window from the first pfizer jab until the second three—week window from the first pfizerjab until the second one. it will now be 12 weeks for both. will that affect the efficacy the paper also has an interview with the climate activist detrimentally at all? we don't think greta thunberg as she approaches her 18th birthday. she says she doesn'tjudge so. detrimentally at all? we don't think so. i think it is important to people who choose to fly abroad for holidays. emphasise this change has been made and the sunday mirror has caught up with the so—called "jet ski romeo" — a man who travelled to the isle of man byjet ski to meet up in part two extends the vaccine with his new girlfriend. further but based on some good travel to the island was banned at the time because of coronavirus scientific evidence from the trials and 28—year—old dale mclaughlan that have been done of the oxford spent ten days in jail for breaching the rules. astrazeneca vaccine that those on whom the booster was delayed actually got a better immune response and it seems in that case a quick look inside the papers. the effect of the first dose does talking of chris polk macnee. we had last through to 12 weeks so nobody joe on yesterday. as we know, did is missing out on protection by you change your exercise regime having that delay. now, the delay in during lockdown because loi cycle a bit until someone stole my bike. and

rana the administration of the second bit until someone stole my bike. and ran a bit. interesting. this is in dose of the pfizer biontech vaccine the sunday times this morning. for many people it says lockdown will isa dose of the pfizer biontech vaccine is a bit more controversial. it is have been the first time that they took exercise since school and the consequences have been quite painful. they have been speaking very likely that will produce a similar effect and there will be no with physiotherapist and medical experts who have reported a real loss of protection but it art to be rise in exercise —related injuries studied. i think it is so important and, roger, listened with caution, that with this decision being made one trend is middle—aged man buying that with this decision being made that there are scientific studies that there are scientific studies that go on to look at the effect of expensive bikes and setting off for long rides without having them set delaying the second dose. i up long rides without having them set up properly or learning the correct personally think it may well produce posture for cycling, leading to slip as good if not better response, but discs. maybe it was a good job it was nick. maybe someone save me from we have to study it, but we shouldn't make the change without myself. this is a lad called william putting in place with a good plan is in dorset. he does not come from a to investigate the effect. and the best of your knowledge, is anyone farming family. he looks the part, making those plans?” for sure. he is the megabytes of his best of your knowledge, is anyone mates. he has rented a field from a making those plans? i imagine they must be because it is such an obvious thing to do. but i am not neighbour, set up his own flock of sheep. he is selling them when they aware of who would be doing this. come to the end of their lives, but he says he gives them a great life could you explain efficacy rates,

in the field and looks after them because people will see that the all on his own and he has been pfizer biontech has a 90%, 90 plus working on farms since the age of six. but not from farming stock. percent and the oxford is considered lower. explain what that means in william is want to watch for the future for sure. how old is he? 13. terms of how protected you are. the wow. some people arejust future for sure. how old is he? 13. wow. some people are just born with that entrepreneurial spirit. he just looks the part! he looks like efficacy, the way you work it out, in the clinical trial, say there are someone looks the part! he looks like someone who has made a lot of money by the age of 13. a swedish band 100 cases of covid—19 amongst those that get the placebo, and in the have introduced a machine in group that receives the vaccine, there is only ten, so that means stockholm whereby you might have a that 90 out of 100 have been favourite jumper you have had prevented so that is a 90% efficacy. stockholm whereby you might have a favouritejumper you have had for yea rs favouritejumper you have had for years which you will not let go so you can take it into the store, they will clean it down, shredded, to so it is a fairly straightforward calculation and the numbers are usually pretty smile even though the ta ke will clean it down, shredded, to take the fabric out, remove the trials are very large because there are not normally that many cases of dirt, wrist been it, add more cotton covid that occur in any particular and it comes out as a new item. study. that's the way you calculated. and the key thing to obviously it reduces waste. you have point out with regard to the oxford

a pile that is nearly charity shop, astrazeneca vaccine, which people isn't it. £13 fault garment. a see has a lower efficacy, nobody in that trial required, they may have really good story but it is booked had some symptoms, but no one up. the one machine is booked up required hospitalisation? into easter so it has obviously absolutely, vital, so glad you pointed that out. it is 100% against caught on. £30 to recycle it, some people might think you could get the severe disease, so both are extraordinarily effective. from the something new. it would be scandinavia that came up with an vaccine point of view, we are amazed idea like that. and delighted that these vaccines israel has emerged as are so and delighted that these vaccines are so much more effective than we the country leading the way thought they would be. the other on the covid vaccination programme, having given the pfizerjab to more than1 million people — thing to say it is the efficacy, the highest rate in the world. which is measured in a clinical over the last year the bbc‘s middle east correspondent trial, and the effectiveness, and tom bateman has been meeting people there whose lives were hit thatis trial, and the effectiveness, and that is a different thing, that is by the virus now he's gone back when you bring the vaccine out into to hear how much has changed. the public arena and start trying to use it in practical terms. and you you said you felt like superman, can have a really high efficacy but what do you feel like now?|j the effectiveness can be lower if you said you felt like superman, you have something like a really what do you feel like now? i feel like i have lost my superpowers. difficult cold chain or difficulties this man is running again, he was

one of the first to get the virus. with administration which can reduce the effectiveness. a thought on we last met him in the summer, where mixing jabs, there has been some people concerned and have said, if i the recovered help the sick going have the pfizer biontech vaccine into the covid boards. first, there are rumours they would the recovered help the sick going into the covid boardslj the recovered help the sick going into the covid boards. i like volunteering, i saw the impact it get the oxford astrazeneca one second. i appreciate this may not be was making. but he's out of the was your direct line of responsibility. the now and his immunity is can you reassure people about that? dropping. every month i would take a blood test to see what the state of that will not happen at present. my antibodies. i may be down, i there is a clinical trial being planned in oxted of what happens if don't know. in that spring, the you do have an initial prime and then a boost with a different epidemic raged into the vaccine and from the immunologist ultraorthodox neighbourhood of point of view, it makes a lot of jerusalem. police raided, accusing sense because you are getting to people of failing to distance. now i make different injections which both contain the same essence, which is have come back stop this man said he the protein from the coronavirus and so the protein from the coronavirus and so the immune system picks up that similarity and we a response powerfully to just that bit of both

would speak to me. here, in that two vaccines that is shared, which is the coronavirus bit. it makes logical sense that you should be able to mix and match, but this has room house, a family who take it in to be done any clinical trial and turns to sleep. they have 18 there have been no clinical trials so there have been no clinical trials so far with this mix and match children. translation: everybody was approach. and are no plans to do sick. i was one from the start. i that anyway. ? not as routine. just hated likely. my older kids had it asa that anyway. ? not as routine. just was. i asked about the police raids. as a study. just a final thought. what did it feel like for you? just on this new strain, variant we translation: they simply harassed us are hearing about. what is your but we kept fighting and now they understanding about, we are hearing leave us alone. thank god, it is terrible stories from hospitals quiet. the site of our camera causes about the numbers and cases going up heckling. there is a wariness of and schools today. is it as potent as the first strain to the best of our knowledge? the best of our outsiders. it feels a world away in knowledge, it is quite similar, so the disease that has been caused by tel aviv but i hear how yet another this new variant that has come out life has changed. danny was patient of south—east england is very similar. it is not more severe, it 74,

life has changed. danny was patient 7a, back when they were still seems to be very much more counting. she became a social media transmissible, which means it is star in instagram isolation. when i extending in parts of the population that were not infected before and went into the hospital, they was no that were not infected before and thatis that were not infected before and that is the real worry. so it also produces rather higher viral loads lockdown so basically i came out bust up the fact it is not causing into a different world. i felt like everything is crumbling. ifelt like more severe disease makes us think there are things about the virus i cannot see the person that i love and she was supporting me. it took that have lessened its impact in mea and she was supporting me. it took me a few months before i switch my terms of disease causing potential. mind back and got my balance again. so it is quite a complex israel's government set is supported evolutionary pattern that the virus health and business but so many is undergoing. we are very grateful lives are altered and firms have for talking to us. thank you ever so been hit hard. dancing stopped much. professor peter openshaw. months ago at this nightclub. now they pack food rations here instead. let's speak now to gp dr rachel ward, tom bateman, bbc news. who joins us from berkshire. a big week ahead as the oxford we will be talking about the vaccine rolls out. what will it mean on the ground and vaccination programme getting under how will impact a number of people

way tomorrow later in the programme. during last year's lockdowns been this week? it is a big week. we many of us developed new passions, or found ourselves revisiting old ones, and for eight—year—old amari from south lanarkshire that are still working very hard to meant celebrating her love of poetry. immunise people as quickly as amy irons has been possible and get all of our back to catch up with her, vulnerable people immunised because as she looks ahead to what 2021 might bring. thatis vulnerable people immunised because that is so important. we are really finding we are having to put a lot i will tell you all something, i am of our workforce into this immunisation programme, we have a whole team of nurses, doctors, practice managers who are putting an no longer free immense amount of time into this at i will tell you all something, i am no longerfree i i will tell you all something, i am no longer free i will tell you the moment, it takes a lot of something you will not see me for planning and coordination and delivering the vaccine requires a dust. that was amari six months ago lot of manpower. add into that the summing upa dust. that was amari six months ago summing up a lot of ourfeelings fa ct lot of manpower. add into that the fact that we have large numbers of into thousand 20. i have come back to see how she is getting on. hey, covid, we are very busy dealing with that, it is really busy rolling out this programme. we are coping and amy. how are you? i am good. because doing incredibly well, really proud of how my gp colleagues are doing this, but it is a very busy time and of the coronavirus i cannot come out. i will get mum. wait a minute. it is going to continue to be for

several months, i think. presumably that means you are going to have to i have not seen you in over six compromise care in other areas of months. what has it been like?m someone compromise care in other areas of someone is calling up about another illness. what would you say to them? so we are constantly reviewing what has been the absolutely worst because we cannot stay out of the we are offering and how we are managing things. at the moment in my house. ms family, school, my practice, we have changed very little. i think in the coming weeks, with staffing levels being affected friends, ms my wattled. what do you by illness and people being taken away from the immunisation programme, it may be that some of the services we offer, we have to think 2021 is going to be like? you put on hold. however, the facts said 2020 is going to be the worst. still remains that we are there to it will be better. everything will be back to normal. easter i think see people and deal with people, so if you have a health problem, please do not put it off, please contact yourgp. if we because i had that it was coming at do not put it off, please contact your gp. if we think it is something that can be dealt with in a couple a steady vaccine and just need to of weeks or we are happy to deal with things over the phone, we will get some more so everybody can get do that, we happy to make that decision, but don't think that you some. that was 2020. i didn't think shouldn't contact us. that is a

really important message. i want to it was great. just as well i am only get your take on the roll—out is that there is a report on the front of the sunday times, the scale of eight. tell me something, sunshine, the logistical challenge means one in five people will not have access toa in five people will not have access to a vaccination centre in england. do you feel like information has just keep doing what you are doing been clear? that it has been a and it will be back really quick. straightforward process ? been clear? that it has been a straightforward process?m been clear? that it has been a straightforward process? it has been a very, very complex process straightforward process? it has been a very, very complex process because a very, very complex process because this is the biggest immunisation roll—out the uk has a better scene 2021 is going to be my year. logistics have been a challenging and there is going to be teething do you think she has always been problems. some of the centres that that shy! started out had issues with delays that was amy irons reporting and supplies and different things, for the nine for bbc scotland. but overall i think things are going let catch up with the spot and see well, i think we are immunising a what is happening. some mixed bag decent amount of people, and that has to pick up. we need to increase for the family. a great comeback for the rates in which we are doing that arsenal. some postponements. and it looks like this 12 week programme will allow us to immunise for the family. a great comeback for arsenal. some postponementsm for the family. a great comeback for arsenal. some postponements. it was our vulnerable people bass quickly a masterclass of passing from arsenal last night. but the fixtures and that is what we need to do. we

need to have a secure stream of are congested but unfortunately another premier league match vaccines coming through to allow us postponed. to do that. is there any evidence at fulham involved again as their game against burnley tonight will not take place, the moment that children are more following more positive covid tests in their camp and it comes poorly with the current form of amid further allegations of players breaching covid restrictions. covid and they were last year? there four matches did go ahead yesterday in the premier league, is some information? misinformation some great goals coming up, especially from arsenal as their recovery continues, about that. there was talk about was plus tottenham move up to third in the table. austin halewood reports. being full of children with covid andi being full of children with covid and i want to reassure people that a new year, a fresh start and for is not true. the royal college of paediatricians has issued a totte n ha m a new year, a fresh start and for tottenham renewed hope. their eyes statement saying that is not what we set on a first premier league title are seeing. children do get covid and after disappointing end to 2020, this was a welcome start to their first game back against leeds. harry that it still remains, thankfully, incredibly rare for a child to become unwell. most people, most kane from the penalty spot, 1—l. and children will get covid without even if it is not harry kane it is often knowing they have had uncertainty on my experiences, that is what we are son heung—min. son heung—min with

still seeing. so we don't want pa rents to still seeing. so we don't want parents to worry about that. of course that has come into the mix his 100th goal of the leg. for with the discussions about schools, suppose things looking up. across but don't worry about your children london, arsenal had been looking are at increased risk, it is not over their shoulders. the gunners what we are seeing. but we know that are 14th but recently they have found that spa and at west brom it children can spread the virus. what are your thoughts on the difficult decision on whether to compromise came from the left wing. kieren children's education in order to keep to keep the wider community tierney. lot not long after that safe ? keep to keep the wider community safe? i know children are better in arsenal look like the old self. school and that particularly applies to our disadvantaged and vulnerable enter the january snow, their season back on track. under the south children. schools in the uk are an amazing place, they offer so much coast, brighton fans are looking for more than education. for some of our new found inspiration and they got children they really are a safe it. what a way to start 2021. the place, you have seen over recent times unfortunately schools are a captain risking a point in a drawer place where some of our children rely to get their regular meals. so with wolves. sheffield united the schools are crucial. however we have tea m with wolves. sheffield united the to look at the bigger picture at the team is craving the new year. it is a wise start to a season in premier league history so this was the last moment, cases, numbers are very high

and that is concerning. the royal thing they needed. crystal palace i couege and that is concerning. the royal college of paediatricians has issued had after four minutes and after a statement saying they think that that it only got worse. eberechi eze schools should be the last place to close and the first thing to reopen finishing one of the goals of the and if the scientists believe that is the right thing to do, that season. it finished all of sheffield schools do not reopen, then we have united ‘s new year cheer. to have robust plans in place as to austin halewood, bbc news. how we assist those disadvantaged tottenham manager jose mourinho may have been happy children because we know last time with their win over leeds but he was definitely not happy with three of his players — in march, april, may, those children erik lamela, sergio reguilon and giovani lo celso, who were pictured at a party, had very negative experiences. in breach of coronavirus rules. education gaps continue to widen, we the club are investigating. they said they were had increased episodes of mental health issues, problems with child "extremely disappointed". abuse where children are not attending school, so many complex i believe that we do everything to issues. i believe just keep our players safe. i believe attending school, so many complex issues. i believejust having attending school, so many complex issues. i believe just having access for vulnerable children to attend school if their parents choose to that every club also tries to do the send them is not enough, we need to same but we are not in control 2a support them much more a banner ad. doctor rachel ward, many thanks. and hours a day and i think i told you best of luck for the wiest head. —— enough and i told you everything.

in the scottish premiership, rangers and celtic marked for the week ahead. the 50th anniversary of the ibrox stadium disaster, which cost 66 fans their lives. let's return to our main story — both teams laid wreaths before the old firm derby, in memory of the supporters the government faces continued who were killed in a crush pressure from teaching unions on a stairway. who want all schools in england to move to online learning almost half of those who perished for the start of term. were under the age of 20. the national association of head teachers has started legal to the match itself where action to try to force ministers victory went to rangers. to prove that it is safe for pupils celtic had been the better side to return to school. until their defender nir bitton the general secretary of the naht was sent off for that paul whiteman joins us now. foul on alfredo morelos. then a deflection off thank you for taking the time to callum mcgregor was enough to give rangers their third derby win talk to us. our gp were saying, if in a row and a 19—point lead at the top of the table. the scientist think it is safe, schools should be the last places to there was a real shock close because it is so important for in rugby union's premiership, with reigning champions exeter chiefs beaten children to be in school. if the for the first time this season. scientists, government think it is and it was a heavy defeat too — safer schools to start to reopen the wasps winning 34—5, children tomorrow and into the as exeter paid the price for resting following week, why do you think they need to remain closed a little six of their international players. longer, or closed in inverted commas, key workers children can of with the don of 2021, a refreshing

costco. what we're alongside our mix toa collea g u es with the don of 2021, a refreshing mix to a familiar tale. they had to costco. what we're alongside our colleagues in naht is to get underneath why the government says look at for weaknesses. keep looking and wasps found one. even in plain that. there is the overwhelming scientific consensus about safety in schools. i have received letters sight, the reigning champion still from clinicians this morning, could not stop him. ajob well done leading covid units in hospital with three more tries to inflict the saying how dangerous and how the science has changed. we are trying to compel the government why they first defeat of the season but not enough to knock them from top spot. at the other and, from ten points say certain schools should be opened and closed. what we have seen since the new variant came along is the strategies of control we have been using in schools have been ripped down, a great comeback and a apart by the new variant and the infection rates are rising and it is frustrating finish for gloucester. very pleasing to hear that children one taking an out on the water still predominantly deal very well with the virus but it is the carrier. many in gloucester starting tra nsfer with the virus but it is the transfer that is most concerning and over the christmas period the the new year rock bottom. just some reports of deaths of school leaders and teachers have become more and handbags there. more concerning with every day that goes by. there is nobody more

edinburgh narrowly got the better of glasgow warriors in their pro 1a committed to the care and education game at murrayfield, of children next to parents of cast to take the 1872 cup. it was a really tight match than school leaders and their team and it was scoreless for over an hour, before jaco van der walt leaders. anyone trying to paint a got edinburgh's first points picture we are against the care of on the board. a few minutes later they extended their lead, children is simply misleading the when magnus bradbury public for political purposes. but crossed the line. glasgow got a late try we are talking about is but edinburgh held on. understanding the risks, having a there's more on all yesterday's short break so we can agree the games on the bbc sport website. two—time world champion gary ‘the flying scotsman' anderson right mitigations, make sure that will play gerwyn ‘the iceman' staff and teams are vaccinated and price in this evening's we can get a properly supported world darts championship final at alexandra palace. scotsman anderson beat dave chisnall testing regime in schools to make them as safe as possible. and then by six sets to three having ardently returned to school to secure his fifth world championship final, thatis having ardently returned to school that is sustainable rather than be where he will take on welshman price chaos we have experience, making last—minute decisions because they didn't take corrective action. we agree with everybody that school is after he beat stephen bunting 6—4. the best place for children, we just wa nt to the best place for children, we just want to do that well and make it at sustainable return. the labour party do you know, the first price, half was calling before the last lap down £1 million, not bad. they are in november was the two—week circuit break in order to get numbers under control. the numbers we are seeing working really hard to keep the now relate to tests and data that atmosphere without spectators. and

was gathered before the school christmas holidays, so wouldn't the no alcohol either, the singing song two week holiday we have just had with the old alcohol. there is more effectively suffice as one of those circuit breaks for schools and hand gel. and my work in the hopefully children can come back safely. we are not seeing in the pyrotechnics. it looks fantastic. early parts, although we haven't let's have a quick look at pictures seen are early parts, although we haven't seen are the datasets yet, but that has been the success it needs to be fuzzed up the problem is the level of risk that people want to take. we of the weather. a bit of snow around have seen the strategies of control this morning, particularly further blown apart in schools leading to north. i thought we had a picture... the christmas break and when local then we. this is taken by peter authorities and others tried to intervene and take decisions from what they were seen on the ground hunter yesterday by the looks of it, rather than waiting for the delay in the data sets, the government a couple of rogue dears hiding away threatened legal action. what we're saying to the government is we are on side with getting children in in the snow—covered landscape. schools and maintaining children in schools, but what you have to do is a couple of rogue dears hiding away in the snow—covered landscapem bolton as well. let's see how the work with us and those on the ground that see things happen in real time forecast is looking. rather than waiting for the delayed someone who has made a lot of money data sets to come through because by the age of 13. thatis data sets to come through because that is taking far too much risk. we there will be, roger. it is higher are simply saying to government, he up there will be, roger. it is higher up than it was. half a degree isa

are simply saying to government, he is a chart a determined period of time to get some control of this but celsius can make the difference a buy note is the chief inspector is between snow and rain. so i think talking about in different closures really, as we gone through the rest and that is not what we are talking of do you are more likely to see rain mixed in with the showers. about. we talk about getting a grip seems like this we had yesterday and having a safe and prolonged return. just to address the point that some people will make. their pa rents, that some people will make. their parents, may be in primary schools across eastern scotland with the heavy snow coming today, think it if they do not go back, they are will be different today. mind you, we still have colder across the facing, secondary school pupils are north—west of the country for west more able to cope with remote scotla nd north—west of the country for west scotland and northern ireland it is learning, able to sit down and do a cold start to the day, temperatures down to —54 —6, quite what they need to do. but that shift the emphasis on parents who are widely, —7 earlier in the highlands stuck at home trying to hold down a of scotland. it is more likely that you see rain mixed in with those job of their own. it makes it very temperatures. you can see the difficult for them. what would you say to them? showers are widespread. eastern scotland, eastern areas of england, we were one in government weeks they will push westwards with time before the christmas break it was today. there will be a little bit of likely they would have to close sleet mixed in with the showers at secondary schools for a longer period of time, they did not listen. times. fog patches to start off with as well for east anglia and ido period of time, they did not listen. i do not want to be in a position of visibility down to 100 metres in i told you so, but when the places. the heaviest falls of snow profession is telling you, you really need to listen. if you listen early enough, we can make around 300— a00m elevation across

the pennines and the high ground in arrangements early enough so parents scotland, the southern uplands and had not caught on the hop. we are the grampians as well. the showers will continue to feed in across the saying work with us so that we can midlands, wales, southern parts of ta ke saying work with us so that we can take proactive measures that give pa rents take proactive measures that give england. the best of the dry weather parents and carers and others the time they need to make arrangements. and sunshine for northern and western scotland and northern ireland. temperatures for— six we can get the right strategies in place to look after children safely celsius. it might be a smidge upon and keep the teams and school yesterday. it will not feel any communities safe in doing so as warmer because we have stronger well. and thought, again, what some people winds around. overnight we will drab are centres, shops have halved to cold airfrom winds around. overnight we will drab cold air from scandinavia. winds around. overnight we will drab cold airfrom scandinavia. the showers will probably switch back to stay open, why is teaching different? be more sleet and hills no across teaching is asking for something scotla nd be more sleet and hills no across scotland and england. the heaviest unique. we are packing the most falls again across these eastern verdant group of individuals into areas. there could be icy stretches around as we head on into monday. small confined spaces for long periods of time, in very large groups without any ppe, and the monday, the same area of high strategies of control that we did pressure to the north continuing to feed in the cold north—easterly have have been blown apart. the winds. again, it is more likely we levels of risk in school are higher will see the showers be a bit more on the wintry side for tomorrow with than compared to other areas. we are the aira tiny not things close schools done and on the wintry side for tomorrow with the air a tiny bit colder. you could see a little bit of snowjust about keep teachings away, they've been working during any period of anywhere. i suspect across some of restricted access to keep education

the pennines's slopes in yorkshire, going and it is simply shortened the there might be a shower band that doesn't move all day. many places time get the new strategy is better will stay dry but if you are strategies of control into schools underneath the shower band you might to make them covid secure again. if see a zone of fairly heavy snow, but we do not do this, we'll have it will be localised. the same chaotic opening and closing shower band will be around parts of throughout the early part of the year until the vaccine takes hold yorkshire into tuesday, so we could and that is going to be more see very localised balls of damaging to children's welfare and reasonable snow across some of those education than if we have a short pennine areas. —— falls. it looks to period now and are planned and sustained return to school that be with us with monday and tuesday. isn't damaged again going forward. the temperatures continuing to paul whiteman, thank you very much struggle. it's cold for the time of for talking to us. thank you. year. highs of 3— five celsius. stay with us, plenty more looking at the weather throughout the week ahead it says on the cold coming up on the show. side with the temperatures around four degrees for many of us as we go through the rest of the week and weekend. it will not be dry. plenty of showers around, initially across eastern areas and then towards the end of the week we may see low pressure bringing more general rain and, for some of us, maybe heavier snow towards the end of the week as well. there is some uncertainty about that. we know it will be stone

cold. roger and nina, about that. we know it will be stone cold. rogerand nina, back to you. —— staying cold. keeping the thermals out for another week at least. you may be enjoying the final day hello, this is breakfast with of the festive break today, as millions prepare for the first working day of the new year rogerjohnson and nina warhurst. tomorrow. but for many of us, the world of work is very different it is 8.33. to how it was this we've been talking this morning time 12 months ago. about the uncertainty our breakfast colleague ben thompson surrounding the reopening of schools has been reflecting on how the uk and the move to online learning economy, businesses, and jobs have been changed which the government by the pandemic. says is "a last resort." but should these decisions be taken by local council leaders rather than government departments? the mayor of greater manchester, andy burnham, joins us now. good morning. more than 1000 primary schools in the ten boroughs that you ever see, are you advising they reopen tomorrow? it's not my i've struggled getting out of bed some days, because what do you do with yourself decision, is the first thing to say. when your whole world is turned upside down? the second thing is to recognise that there are many parents in we lost 90% of our greater manchester waking up quite anxious this morning. teachers as well, of course, and children. there revenue overnight. 2020 was the year that changed isa well, of course, and children. there is a lot of people who are worried

just about everything. about what is happening and i think the coronavirus pandemic affected the really important thing is this how we live and how we work. does not become a big political row today. we need to find a practical it upended our social lives, changed our shopping way through all of this. i would say habits and impacted how that the current course is not going and where we could travel. to work for the reasons that paul whiteman gave a member to go. it i think this is by far the biggest would be quite a chaotic situation crisis we have ever faced and clearly requires us to take very tomorrow, giving all the anxieties that people have. i think there are quick and deep action. two options in front of the government. one is to give the for the country, it led to the biggest economic slump decision—making to councils working in a generation causing thousands with local schools, so that of people to lose their jobs across the uk. decisions can be made on the reality of what is happening in different communities. the other would be to and so, as we grapple put primary schools and special with its impacts on our lives schools on the same path as and our livelihoods, secondaries, and that would be a we will assess how long it could take for the country to recover. slightly delayed opening. what i would say to the prime minister, who i know it's going to come on the bbc and amid all of this turmoil, this morning, it has to be one of we wonder whether covid has given us reason to stop, to reassess, and perhaps those options, localflexibility to do things differently. this morning, it has to be one of those options, local flexibility or a delay to the opening because i think to plough ahead with cause people realise that they can quite a lot of anxiety amongst actually work from home, they can have a better work—life balance.

people today. it is not your decision, but if i was a local primary teacher and i got in touch with you as my mayor, sweeping and extraordinary measures to deal with coronavirus, andi the forced closure of pubs, got in touch with you as my mayor, and i said i'm worried about the restaurants and gyms and an unprecedented rescue package safety of my staff, i do not want to open tomorrow, what should i do? for workers and businesses. what would you say to me? the prime minister announces i would say to the head teacher, the toughest restrictions on daily life in living memory. contact the director of public health in your local authority. if there are just no easy options. it is trafford or manchester itself, the way ahead is hard. that will be the best thing for people to do. what i'm saying to the and for business it began here. government today is let directors a a national lockdown forced the closure of all but public health working with council essential retailers. leaders and with individual schools make the right decisions for those office workers stayed at home, schools. let the head come to a balancing laptops on kitchen tables. fewer commuters meant empty trains. balanced judgment based on what is happening. greater manchester is below the england average when it comes to the number of cases, so it there was less stress for some, is different in different parts of but more for others. those battling noisy neighbours the country and i think a blanket or even noisier children. approach to either say blanket reopening or blanket closure is what's his name? my name is christian. his name is christian. causing the problem. local flexibility might be the way through this.

video calls became the norm, testing you say you are worried about case in the morning, a patchwork approach our wi—fi and our patience to limit. sounds like it could be chaotic with pa rents sounds like it could be chaotic with parents uncertain what happens next. just talk to me... they could be reassured that this was a judgment taken on the latest ok, can you hear me all right? i was appalled when i kept hearing evidence as it affects their people in government and elsewhere community. everybody wants children saying we have to get back to work to stay in schools, don't they? we as if we have not been working. all want to achieve that, it's got this covid period we've been working to be done as safely as possible. i longer and harder than ever before. think what would reassure parents is information that is specific to the place that they live and a judgment those who couldn't work from home faced entirely different challenges. from professionals in their with their businesses shut, community. the difficulty is the factory workers, shop staff gummed has been trying to run this and those working in bars, restaurants and hotels found top down, telling councils in london themselves out of work. that they could not close schools before christmas and then coming back after christmas and saying they had to be delayed. that approach their wages were paid instead by the government from the support does not build confidence. what i'm scheme we came to know as furlough. saying is that arsenal localise this. if the government says that is too complicated for the reasons you i am placing no limit on the amount of funding available for the scheme. we will pay grants to support have given, delay primary and special schools onto the same path as manyjobs as necessary. the furlough scheme was intended that secondaries are. i think it has to be one of the two options.

to be a temporary fix is that on the danger of unnecessary to a short—term problem, closure ? is that on the danger of unnecessary closure? one of your council says it designed to discourage employers is imperative schools in bolton stay from laying off staff and to see them through the worst open. the head of ofsted, the head of the lockdown. of the select committee, the royal but its extension means couege that the scheme will have been of the select committee, the royal college of paediatrics all saying running for a whole year. that this has to be a last resort because the health implications for young people are massive. since launching in march, more than 9 million workers have iam taking had their wages subsidised young people are massive. i am taking that on body and what through the furlough scheme at a cost of over £40 billion. i'm saying. nobody wants to see schools close unless it is strictly alongside other measures necessary on the approach i'm taking to tackle the crisis, this morning is trying to find a way the total cost has hit more than £200 billion. through that, given council leaders but with government income squeezed like david, working with his as tax receipts from workers director of public health and head and businesses fell, teachers with embleton the ability the government was forced to borrow more to cover the cost. to make the decision for themselves. that would mean —— head teachers the government is likely to borrow more than £370 billion for the whole within bolton. agree a start date of this financial year. it's a level never seen before in within bolton. agree a start date with your council, with the director the uk except during two world wars. of public health. based on local

evidence. i think that is the i've struggled getting out of bed some days because what do you do sensible way through. if it is too with yourself when your whole world late to do that, i would rather is turned upside down? delay the opening of the schools yet despite the cost, rather than russia had tomorrow. those schemes did not help everyone. people like mark whitaker... special schools were only given advice and guidance about how to reopen safely, i'd fight pm on new ..who started a curtain fitting business while still employed, year's eve. that does not create the but he did not earn enough in the last tax year to qualify for the income support conditions for the safe reopening of scheme that was introduced to help self—employed workers. schools —— they were given that information at fight pm on new don't make me beg for it. year's eve. we need to you did not make anybody else beg for it, why among students, parents and are you making me beg for it? teachers. that confidence is not it's not fair, for goodness' sake. there at the moment. people are how important were anxious and the government needs to government measures? things like grants and loans. respond today to their anxiety, either by providing local and of course thatjob scheme, the furlough scheme? the chancellor was very clear flexibility to councils or delaying he could not save every school reopening tomorrow. business or everyjob. if that does not happen, if the the furlough scheme certainly left council says we are having with the a lot of people behind. a lot of people who are self—employed, who did not have status quo, and 24—hour to have enough of a tax return history pa rents status quo, and 24—hour to have parents at this cool gate, they've to submit it, they could not then decided to close the school, should verify their incomes.

that be implications for the head some individuals who are part self—employed also fell teacher? it should be the decision through the cracks and worse of the head teacher, but it should still are the individuals that be rich in partnership with the director of public health on the are still building their business local council. and that is what will and therefore were reinvesting their income into their business and did not have an income happen. councils working that way to declare for themselves. with all of their schools. i would expect very pragmatic decisions to they were also left unsupported. be made, evidence to be given to the and those individual stories pa rents for be made, evidence to be given to the parents for that decision and i tell us what's happening think that is the kind of approach in the wider economy. with businesses closed and workers stuck at home, that will build confidence that is the economy shrank by more than 20% currently lacking at the moment. it in the months after lockdown. it was the biggest is this approach have coming always to ta ke is this approach have coming always to take a top—down position, all schools must open all schools in fall in gdp on record. london must the question does arise is why our schools opening in some by the end of april, of the areas with higher numbers of the economy was a quarter smaller than it was before the crisis began. cases than some of the paris and london? that is causing confusion. unemployment meanwhile began to creep higher. slowly at first, cushioned the position cannot stay at it is by the furlough scheme, but gathered today. we have never changed today speed as a recession took hold. today. we have never changed today to build the confidence i'm talking forecasts say the jobless rate about. —— some areas have higher could hit seven and a half percent, numbers of cases than some of the with more than two and a half

million people out of work by the middle of next year. compared to our peers, especially across europe, burrows in london. the uk has been the second worst the risk is ok if the wider performer in terms of where we are in terms of gdp compared community is seeing a diminished to the precrisis levels. number? a lot of this is to do with the high exposure to services they may make the argument and today and the reliance on household greater manchester is significantly below the england average. we are spending for economic growth. saying and fairly sharp rise in cases in all ten of our boroughs. we are seeing rises again and i in addition, also the length of the lockdown. most european countries had far reported last week that of the new shorter lockdowns but the uk cases we have 25% of the new restrictions lasted well into the summer. that inevitably had variant. we have not seen the spread of the new variant of covid in the a negative impact as well. same way that other parts of the and that could hit younger country have that all the advices we people the hardest. reggie nelson works in the city will see it if we do not take action and mentors people looking to start their careers. and they will say tier 4 alone is but for those aged between 16 not enough. that is why there is and 2a, thejobless rate is three concern about the reopening of times higher than average and particularly affects those schools tomorrow, and that is why it from poorer economic backgrounds. has got to be done in a diary, very careful way. andy burnham, just to paint a picture you've got has got to be done in a diary, very carefulway. andy burnham, mayor

young people living at home, has got to be done in a diary, very careful way. andy burnham, mayor of greater manchester, many thanks. the probably house sharing, department for education is their probably sharing a room with siblings if they have any. children's education has consistently been a national project. they say schools will continue to implement appropriate safety measures and they will only if there's monetary challenges move to remote education as an then their parents are trying to work to keep up with the electric absolute last result with the and wi—fi and all of those things combined. involvement of public health you have to remember some of them officials. might not even have working any decision over school devices or slow devices. closures will, of course, young people are going into a market have a huge impact on businesses, and employers will have that's already competitive, to cope with the extra covid has just made that even more demands on their staff. competitive and trying to navigate let's get more on this that while studying and not having now with craig beaumont that certainty of a career has made from the federation of small it a lot more challenging. where are your hopes for 2021? businesses. i know it's a tough question, isn't it? good morning. at the moment, primary no one knows what's going to happen schools are expected to reopen but what are you advising young people about what next year might look like? tomorrow, if that changes, what so, what i'm telling my young people would that mean for small is this won't last forever but also to use this time to upskill, businesses? use this time to develop your there is of course the direct impact skill set, to find out what you want to do, on children and learning. children are much better off in school. we build your network so that when things do return to a more saw in the first wave a huge impact normal state, you're in the best on development of kids, everything position to leverage off that and utilise that. from falling back on basic learning, i think institutions now some of them forgetting to lift a

are definitely seeing how they can become more agile and nimble, they want different thoughts and they want diversity of thought as well and young people can pencil or a knife and fork. there definitely bring that because they really is an impact. if there is a bring a new dynamic in thinking. butjust how long will it take public health decision to close schools and expands from the current for the economy and jobs to recover? set stew across the country, there that depends on how long it takes isa set stew across the country, there is a huge impact on the workforce for normal life to resume, and the ability to work. there are dictated by the mass roll—out of a vaccine. 22 million people who either run or work ina 22 million people who either run or work in a small business, about 40% and as england, wales, of those have a child under 16. that scotland and northern ireland enforce their own restrictions, firms are learning to respond isa of those have a child under 16. that is a huge part of the workforce. you and adapt on a more local level. can split those into two groups, people who can work from home, who but fears of additional lockdowns not only impact our ability to work, properly are right now, he will have shop and socialise but also our kids running around the house or outlook on the economy flat. we've certainly had people and our willingness to spend again. with their toddlers appearing during the metres. as an employer, you have to be very generous with that and make sure you change your practices so make sure you change your practices so that people can work early or late, or quite often an interaction and that can't come soon enough or two. you can have those who for the ailing hospitality industry. cannot work from home, but are not it's been one of the hardest

hit by the pandemic — featured on the government because pubs, bars, restaurants and hotels my key worker let's say those are people who need to go to work, all bore the brunt of the lockdown restrictions, despite spending millions on new safety measures cleaners, people who provide security. people who cannot do their to protect customers and staff. job from home. it is really tough for them. they do not have a choice and they won't be able to go into work. social settings were still blamed does it reassure you that the furlough scheme has been extended to for helping spread the virus. places relay on a high footfall, the end of april? that is really they have incredibly low margins, and in city centres like london important. that is the back—up. i they struggled to get into double—digit revenues this year. think an employer will do all they kate nicholls represents hospitality can to adapt their work to fit a run firms and says the industry, which employs more than 4 million child care needs and they should ta ke child care needs and they should take a very generous approach if the people in the uk, has been unfairly penalised by the restrictions. school is being closed. the back—up option is that sala is there, it is our stock has gone to waste, better than the first weight because it is flexible furlough,, you can we have literally poured the beer down the drains because it is no longer good to serve. it costs you money in stock every have one or two days of week rather time you open or close those doors, than the full five. —— the back—up so this constant yo—yo costs the industry money. option is that furlough is there. we with the number of hospital admissions and deaths falling by the summer, are asking the government to bars a nd restau ra nts were able to reopen. increase its support not least to those who have missed out on a lot of that about, people aren't actual

but with fewer tables, restrictions on numbers for fellow man, like company and new measures to limit the spread directors, but the newly of the virus, it was not self—employment you do not get business as usual. self—employment you do not get self—employment help either.” can ijust take her temperature? self—employment you do not get self-employment help either. i can't imagine how difficult it is for the government encouraged us back out too with its eat out to help out people who run their own businesses over the last ten months, is the scheme offering cut—price meals. optimism that there is an end in two of these for less than a fiver, two meals for less than a fiver, sight? that is, the two vaccines you can't go wrong. that have been approved, i think you i went back to the manager and said, you've made a mistake here. can see the light at the end of the he said no it's not tunnel. how do we get to that light? a mistake, it's half—price. its success took many by surprise. the month—long programme served up how do we get that bridge across a really difficult christmas parade more than 160 million meals. for businesses to spring, to easter i think the industry sees that that people now think is the recovery? become should be throwing as a good policy that was designed everything it has got at helping to boost consumer confidence, it was not just about eating out small businesses to survive the next but getting people back few months and they will be in the into the high street and getting right place and to recover in march them back to work, getting them on public transport and it worked. and april, ready for easter. the if you look around, consumer confidence has not taken a knock government should get the vaccine during the second lockdown. into everyone as quickly as the only thing they have not been able to do is come possible. that will help the business community to survive and and enjoy hospitality safely. just how angry are the owners create new jobs business community to survive and of pubs and restaurants and bars create newjobs and be forward. i'm sure they will say that is their

that once again they are not able mission. create, thank you very to reopen even though perhaps gyms and conference centres, much. —— craig. and sports venues can reopen? the industry feels hard done by because it is now identified as the only area subject to restrictions as you can go mission. create, thank you very much. -- craig. it is 8:45am. time for a check on the sport. hello. to the gym, you can go shopping and you cannot go to a pub and have a drink with a friend. hello. some goals for you. we know this is the time of year when many businesses make the majority of their money. after a period of poorform, the money that will see them arsenal have won their third league game in a row — through the rest of the year. and it was a ruthless victory over will they all reopen in january struggling west brom. or february if they can? kieran tierney‘s excellent solo it's a very bleak winter run and finish set them on their way to a 4—0 win. for the industry and i think there's and the flow that seems to have been about a million and a halfjobs in hospitality alone that could be at risk missing for so long returned — some stunning passing, because we don't have that cushion rounded off by bukayo saka. of profits from december trading beautiful to watch. to get us through to easter. covid—19 has caused another postponement — fulham's match at burnley is off, there was confusion too after a further outbreak with hairdressers allowed at the london club. to reopen in some parts and tottenham manager of the country in july. jose mourinho was not but nail salons and beauty spas were forced to stay closed for longer. happy with these three players — their close contact treatments erik lamela, sergio reguilon

were deemed too risky, and giovani lo celso — despite screens, masks and visors. who were pictured at a christmas party, in breach of coronavirus restrictions. on the pitch, tottenham's dynamic duo struck again — and by november many were forced after harry kane scored a penalty, to close again as additional he set up son heung—min, restrictions were brought in to stem for his 100th goal for the club, as they beat leeds 3—nil. a growing second wave of infections. a welcome victory, but there was no getting away from mourinho's disappointment at the player's elsewhere, theatres, who broke the rules. music venues, events and exhibitions remain in the dark i believe that we do everything about their chances of reopening. to keep our players safe. most need to sell at least i believe that every club also tries 60% of their tickets just to pay the bills. to do the same but we are not in control of 24 hours per day, but with social distancing, curfews and limits on group gatherings, many warn that's just not viable. and i think i told you enough and i told you everything. we are going to have to save the theatre and save the arts, and save the jobs. applause. it leaves hundreds of thousands of actors, musicians, technicians and backstage staff without work. a government grant worth more than one and a half billion pounds

was designed to offer support, but the industry says more is needed. many smaller regional venues that rely on touring productions have closed for good. and whilst london's theatre land is showing signs of life as restrictions begin to ease, not all the bright lights will come back on. and while the future for places like this remains unclear, for retail there was a reprieve. shops were able to reopen and salvage some of the year in the lucrative run up to christmas. but for others, that came too late. many familiar names disappeared from our high streets this year, and then in december came the collapse of two giants of retail. more jobs at risk on the high street as arcadia's administration leads to more trouble at debenhams. 12,000 jobs are likely to disappear from the high street as debenhams goes out of business. in many ways this is the worst week

for high street retail that we have ever seen. even before the pandemic, high street stores were contending with online rivals, but as covid closed non—essential retail those without a website saw business disappear overnight. it was a painful contrast to the panic buying that emptied supermarket shelves amid soaring sales of toilet roll, flour, eggs and pasta. absolute nightmare to be perfectly honest. not a lot on the shelves left. no toilet roll at all. it's been a roller coaster. i never imagined i would end up doing a story about loo roll, how much we produce of it, for the national news. but in a way, that's how the pandemic, for me, started to unfold. in retail.

because we all knew that the lockdown was brewing so what did lots of people do? they made a dash to the shops to stockpile. when the lockdown came, the high street effectively shut. those town centres so eerily quiet and for the high street retailers, those sales just evaporated. overnight they went into crisis mode. some would say the pandemic has just speeded up change that was happening already. there was a big move online, the high street was already struggling. is that how you see it? has this just brought forward the change? parts of retail were in turmoil before lockdown because of the shift online, but meanwhile they still had the fixed cost of all the shops and if the spending shifted online, the economics of running all the stores they were grappling with. and lots of businesses were either going into administration, doing restructuring, closing shops, but now the pandemic has speeded up what

was already happening. i think a lot of the weaker players, when this pandemic struck, exposed their problems even more. and that's why we have seen a whole string of businesses fall over. emma, is there any reason we can be optimistic or hopeful about retail next year? because things are likely to look very different, aren't they? a lot of people think the high street is dead. it's not. it'sjust changing. we know that there's too much retail space in the uk. we're talking about a reinvention of town centres. but who's going to fill the gaps? residential, workspace, civic community, independent retailers who have tended to do or survive this pandemic a bit better than the big chains. so there is hope there, it's just changing very quickly. i thought that we would be saved, but not this time. sorry. 2020 also disrupted our travel plans. flybe was an early casualty, a sign of the hardship to come across the industry. it collapsed in early march before lockdown even began. it was already struggling, but with travellers put off flying, bookings had slumped and its network of regional connections were severed.

2000 jobs were lost. i thought that we would be saved, but not this time. sorry. 2020 also disrupted our travel plans. flybe was an early casualty, a sign of the hardship to come across the industry. it collapsed in early march before lockdown even began. it was already struggling, but with travellers put off flying, bookings had slumped and its network of regional connections were severed. 2000 jobs were lost. then came cruising. in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. we have not stepped out of this cabin since we were quarantined

on the 11th of february. infections aboard several ships left them turned away from ports, unable to off—load passengers. the diamond princess just one of a0 ships with infected passengers, all of them confined to their cabinets. governments around the world did not know what to do and they didn't want to allow ships to dock and perhaps let passengers off into their communities. so the ships were really put in a spotlight but dealt with that very well. the cruise industry has probably done more than any other sector of travel. more than hotels, airlines etc to make sure it's really safe for health and safety and hygiene, from testing and committed to testing everybody before they board ship. they are ready to restart but unfortunately the foreign office advice is that brits still cannot take an ocean cruise, so very tough times for the cruise industry.

closer to home as the first national lockdown began, so too did a ban on all but essential travel. trains and stations lay eerily quiet. a massive government bailout designed to keep near empty trains running for key workers essentially nationalised the network. restrictions also left holiday plans in ruins. planes grounded, hotels empty. travel firms were deluged with requests for refunds. some offered vouchers instead, prompting fury from customers who demanded their money back. we're just chasing them. we're just asking them, please, please, please will you refund us? they wanted to look after their customers

but theyjust could not. when you buy a holiday you give the money to your travel agent or tour operator and that goes on to the suppliers in the chain. they had to wait for that money to come back down the chain in order to pass it back to the customer, so it was a really, really tough time. even when restrictions were eased at home, foreign getaways remained out of reach. with borders all but closed, the holiday hotspots in spain, italy and greece lay empty as brits holidayed a little closer to home. by july, so—called travel corridors were open between countries with low infection rates. it gave the industry a much—needed boost, but with destinations added and removed from the list every week, booking a trip became a gamble at best. half a million britons are thought to be in france right now, they face a scramble to get home on flights, ferries and trains here at st pancras. it's no wonder that travel firms have struggled. ba, just one of the giants forced

to ground thousands of flights. it laid off 10,000 staff. its boss told me injuly that covid was a crisis never before seen in the industry. it's a very worrying time for everybody, but i think the figures speak for themselves. this is the deepest crisis and by far the biggest loss. british airways will lose or has lost more in one quarter than the record loss in history. these are really extreme times. so what happens next? with more meetings now done online, the days of long—distanced business travel may be over. and with a looming recession, budgets may be squeezed as well. and for consumers, after months of lockdown, demand to get away may bounce back. but with disposable incomes also feeling the pressure, the travel industry is in for a rough ride. how long will it take for things to get back to something resembling normality?

i'm really hopeful it will get back, it's going to take some time. many companies were reporting record years in 2019 and will take a while to get back to that. certainly the signs are strong, demand for the second half of 2021 and beyond. i think people have been cooped up at home and they are now thinking, well when i get out i'm going to do something really good. so they are looking at longer durations with bucket list holidays. it will come back. the problem is which companies are going to be there by that time in order to take them? and could the same be true of our town and city centres? will we ever work in quite the same way again? is the daily commute for office workers really a thing of the past? there's no way we will not have a simple office environment. we will work substantially from home but come into the office a couple days a week because we need to. the notion that it's gone

entirely i think is wrong. and that's because offices are where there's collaboration, where there's teamwork and creativity. our town and city centres need them too. the bars, the shops, the cafes and the restaurants that have sprung up to serve the morning coffee. the lunches with colleagues, and the after—work drinks. psychologists say it's all too easy for working from home to become living at work. we have much more personal disposable time from the two hours or two and a half or three hours a day commuting. that's wonderful to get rid of that. but here's the worry i have. the worry in the future is will people manage their time properly? and i'm just worried. the evidence is if you consistently work long hours you will get ill and be less productive. i have worries about that, that we have to learn how to do this.

yes, we are learning now, covid has forced us into a big learning experiment. however, we have to clock off at some point in time. for many, 2020 was a year to forget. professionally, socially and financially. the vaccine offers a hope of a return to something more normal. but how long does that take? what even is normal anymore? coronavirus has changed the way we live and the way we work. it's made us reassess what's important. but perhaps the true impact of this pandemic will only be felt many, many years from now.

good morning. welcome to breakfast with rogerjohnson and nina warhurst. our headlines today: the row over schools intensifies. a growing number of councils urge the government to rethink its plan to open primary schools in england. city leaders in liverpool go one step further and demand a national lockdown. to curb this virus, particularly with the new strain, it's really important that we tackle it head on, that we're proactive rather than reactive when things get really bad. the race to protect the vulnerable. hundreds of sites across the uk get ready to roll—out the oxford vaccine. good morning. have arsenal turned a corner? a convincing victory at a snowy

hawthorns makes it three league wins in a row for mikel arteta's side. good morning. it's a day of sunshine and showers. and although it's not going to feel it, the air‘s a tiny bit less cold today. and that means many of the showers will come through as rain. they'll be most frequent for eastern scotland and eastern areas of england. but i'll have a full forecast coming up a little bit later on. hello. it's sunday, 3january. our top story: some councils and teaching unions in england are continuing to pile pressure on the government, calling for primary schools to be kept closed to the majority of pupils after the christmas holidays. teaching unions have told primary school staff it is unsafe to return to work because of rising coronavirus cases. but writing in the sunday telegraph, the head of ofsted, amanda spielman, warns time away from the classroom should be kept to the "absolute minimum". our political correspondent chris mason has more. this is brighton, where primary schools were due to reopen this week

after the christmas holidays. but now the local authority is advising that they shouldn't, and has asked the education secretary to intervene too. we've written to gavin williamson to ask him to close our primary schools in line with the decision that he's made in london and other areas, but what we've also done is written to schools directly ourselves, and asked them to, or advised them, that we think the right decision is for them to move to remote learning on monday, and only be open for children of key workers and our most vulnerable children as well. and this is birmingham, where the city council has said it will support any primary school whose teachers who decide to shift to learning from home — and this morning, local leaders in liverpool are calling for another national lockdown. they argue the current tier system in england isn't working. we feel that to curb this virus, particularly with the new strain, it's really important

that we tackle it head on, that we're proactive rather than reactive, when things get really bad, and a lockdown would help to resolve that. the government's default position is that schools in england should remain open wherever possible. but with some local authorities saying that schools should close and the biggest teaching union telling its members that it's not safe for them to go to work, what happens next isn't entirely in ministers' hands. how many more councils could suggest schools close for most pupils? how many teachers will turn up in classrooms? union leaders are in touch with one another this weekend, co—ordinating their actions. the department for education says it will only move to remote schooling as a last resort. the pandemic robbed us of many things in 2020, not least certainty. it's going to do the same thing again for many parents and pupils — for the first few months

of this year, at least. chris mason, bbc news. let's speak now to our political correspondent jonathan blake. an increasing number of councils deciding to go their own way on this. birmingham council saying to schools if you choose to stay close we will support you. in brighton they are telling primary schools to close. where does that leave the government? good morning. it's a very uncertain situation for pa rents, it's a very uncertain situation for parents, for children, teachers, school staff, and many others the day before many children are due to go back to primary schools in england tomorrow. as you heard in chris's report there, you have unions urging, in many cases, the government to keep schools closed for a further two weeks and making it clear that they will not take action against and they will support their members who don't feel it's safe to go into schools as of

tomorrow. you also have councils in some areas taking things into their own hands to make sure schools are closed for another couple of weeks. but then you have the government holding firm for now saying that where possible schools can open they should do. and you have this timely intervention as well from the chief inspector of schools in england, amanda spielman, saying school should only be kept closed as a last resort and the impact of children staying away from schools is all too clear and that governments and local authorities should be doing all they can to avoid that. as they say, it's a very uncertain situation. it does feel like between now and tomorrow morning something will have to give. we will wait and see, jonathan, many thanks. the nhs is preparing to roll—out the new oxford astrazeneca vaccine tomorrow at a small number of hospitals around the uk, as the health service begins ramping up the biggest immunisation programme in its history. pressure is mounting to protect millions more vulnerable people amid concerns a new variant of coronavirus is spreading

out of control. our health correspondent katharine da costa reports. some of the first precious doses of a life—saving vaccine. the princess royal hospital in west sussex is one of a small number of hospitals that will begin inoculating people with the oxford vaccine tomorrow, before the roll—out is extended to more than 700 sites later in the week. we're really pleased to be one of the early sort of areas that will be giving the vaccine because we know it will protect people, protect our stuff, and it's the thing that will help us manage this pandemic. unlike the pfizer jab, the oxford vaccine can be stored in a fridge, making it much easier to distribute to gp surgeries, vaccination centres, and care homes. the elderly are most at risk from the virus. that's why the focus is to vaccinate most care home residents and staff by the end of the month. margaret keenan became the first person in the world to receive the pfizer vaccine outside of clinical

trials nearly a month ago. applause since then, nearly1 million people have had theirfirst dose. now, armed with the oxford vaccine, the race is on to protect 30 million of the most vulnerable, including nhs frontline workers, many of whom now worn out having battled the virus for nearly a year only to see it threatening to overwhelm the health service once again. i know it's going to be worse. that's the only thing we know. i know that we're massively stretched at the moment. our nursing numbers are diluted. the staff are exhausted on intensive care and we've got a long way more to go before we hit the peak. for now there's still no let up in sight. yesterday saw another record high, with more than 57,000 new covid cases recorded. the nhs is bracing itself for even greater pressure in the weeks ahead. vaccines, though, bring hope this virus can be defeated. katharine da costa, bbc news.

the shadow culture secretary, jo stevens, is being treated in hospital for covid—19. a statement about the 54—year—old labour mp was released on her twitterfeed last night where her team thanked people for their good wishes. sir keir starmer has described her as a "dearfriend and colleague" and wished her well. a group of us senators say they will refuse to certify joe biden's election victory unless a commission is set up to investigate alleged voter fraud. the 11 senators and senators—elect, led by ted cruz, want a ten—day delay to audit the unsubstantiated allegations, but the move is not expected to succeed. outgoing president donald trump has refused to concede, repeatedly alleging fraud without providing any evidence. it is eight minutes past seven. our main story this morning, many

primary pupils in england are due back at school tomorrow. but pressure is still growing on the government to close all schools for two weeks — except to vulnerable children and those of key workers. secondary schools will reopen on a staggered basis and the government has said school closures are a "last resort" to curb infections. but for many parents it's another period of uncertainty and a return to home—schooling. breakfast‘s tim muffett has been speaking with two families in different parts of england to see how they are coping. this family assumed homeschooling would remain a strange memory from 2020. not so. carand leia's would remain a strange memory from 2020. not so. car and leia's london primary has just been told it will be shot until 18 january, at least. absolutely flabbergasted. i really was. they was under the impression that primary schools wouldn't be a fa ct that primary schools wouldn't be a fact dead. that was the one thing that was said throughout all of this period over christmas and i think, like the majority of mums, when we

found out, there were plenty of bottles of gin being open straightaway. the last time we did the homeschooling i was all gung ho about, you know, this is a new thing, this is a new chapter, i'm ready to embrace this challenge. ultimately fatigue set in for all of us. ultimately fatigue set in for all of us. i'm certainly more short tempered, ultimately, from being with them all the time and, ultimately, they want their teachers. they need that interaction. but with infection rates being what they are, you presumably appreciate why this has to happen. figures horrifying, really scary, they get it. they really scary, they get it. they really do. but i think we measures we put in place or a school put in place in terms of staggering the pickups and the drop—off times, they handled it really well in the school with the class bubbles and it shouldn't have been interrupted, i don't think. two weeks more at home with mum and dad, what you think about that? i'm a little bit happy and a little bit bad, because they can't see my friends. homeschooling

isa can't see my friends. homeschooling is a lot easier than normal school. the kids might think last summer it was great being homeschooled, the sun was out, there was lots of fresh air, lots of things we could do. but it's not summer anymore. it's winter, it's cold. everyone can handle a week or two of homeschooling. what i'm not convinced of is it's only going to be two weeks. alyce, joe sophia, clara and leia have some certain levels of unlike laura who lives near macclesfield and has three children in three different schools. my children in three different schools. my children need to go back in two days of no don't know if they going back or not. it is not good enough we have not been notified yet as to what's happening. the government says it is having to respond to rising infection rates and changing scientific advice. how do you respond to that was yellow i think that yes, the science is changing, but also the side means that we should be looking at keeping schools closed. if we had been given a

week's notice so we are not scrambling for childcare or devices for children to do remote learning on or how to facilitate remote learning for three children in a small house. i think not knowing is not a good thing. because you just don't know what's going to happen. it's sad because they can't see my friends and stuff. it's also good because it's kind of safer for people. next week should be made pretty busy week with my business. as new year, new planning, and as a fomina see a lot of clients and i'm having to message saying they may have to rearrange your appointment because i don't know if they have got three kids at home yet or not. new year so often represents a fresh start. but for schools, new year so often represents a fresh start. but forschools, pupils, new year so often represents a fresh start. but for schools, pupils, and pa rents start. but for schools, pupils, and parents the uncertainty of 2020 continues. tim muffett, bbc news. teaching unions have told primary school staff it is unsafe to return to work, and called for remote learning. and so the leader of birmingham city council has written to the education secretary to say

he'll support any local head teacher who decides to move to online learning. councillor ian ward joins us now. thanks for your time. we appreciate you getting up early to talk to us on breakfast this morning. are you saying that except for key workers people's children, vulnerable children, you want schools in your area to be shot. well, since we came out of the seven lockdown we have seen a out of the seven lockdown we have seen a rise in cases here in birmingham. we are currently at 358 cases per 100000 and going up. perhaps of even more concern is among the 5— nine age group and e10-14 among the 5— nine age group and e10—14 age group we have seen throughout december rates increasing ina throughout december rates increasing in a pattern we did not see back in november. this is indicative that we have the variant of the virus here in birmingham and london demonstrates once that variant is in schools at will spread. we are saying that schools should carry out

a risk assessment and that risk assessment should take into account the variant and if the risk assessment indicates it is not safe to open schools then we will back schools and head teachers in that decision. in those age groups you have just mentioned, how big decision. in those age groups you havejust mentioned, how big is decision. in those age groups you have just mentioned, how big is the pull of children who has been tested in orderfor you to pull of children who has been tested in order for you to extrapolate that the rates are going up? we are carrying out community testing across birmingham. i don't know the number of young people who have been tested, but i do no al perez amongst the 5— nine is increased from 93 per 100,000 on 7 december two now 174 per 100,000 on the 27th. this is a cause for real concern. it's a pattern we did not see back in november... no, that pattern will have occurred during december, while the schools were in school. you've just had what amounts to a two week circuit rate in the school holiday. so there is a good chance those chains of transmission will have

been stopped so the school should be safe to go back, shouldn't they? we have not seen izzy impact of the festive relaxation of the system. —— the impact. we have also not been told when teaching staff will be immunised and we do not yet have mass testing in schools. that decision came before the school breakfor the decision came before the school break for the holiday period to do mass testing. i do not think the government have covered themselves in glory with this. they have faced teaching staff, pupils and parents at risk by making decisions late in the day. is a government making a sensible decision to keep people safe ? sensible decision to keep people safe? as you said, this situation is changing at a rapid pace. the

government has been clear that it wa nts government has been clear that it wants schools to reopen. what is making things uncertain for schools is the noise from people like you. many parents have to go back to work and they will be dismayed of having to go through two more weeks of remote learning and remote schooling. i do not believe the government following the science. the rate is rising in birmingham. we do not see the rates back in november. what we need now is a government to make a sensible decision, recognise cautious approach to a primary school is neededin approach to a primary school is needed in order to keep people safe. let's see where we go with the data over the next week, allow schools to carry out a risk assessment. if that risk assessment shows schools are not safe, they should remain close. would you like to see routine

testing in primary schools as the government says will happen in secondary schools? that would be the proper approach but schools need to gearup. we did proper approach but schools need to gear up. we did the time to put logistics into place and that is why delaying the opening of schools next week, in the same way as in london, would be the sensible thing to do. you said you would support schools that choose not to open which actually is a way to chaos because there is no direct orderfrom actually is a way to chaos because there is no direct order from the government and you are encouraging them to effectively turn a blind eye. i did not take a more definitive position like brighton and say all schools should do remote learning. what we're saying is all schools should carry out a risk assessment before allowing pupils back into their buildings. the risk

assessment, if it indicates it is not safe to open the schools, we will back those schools. let's be honest, education professionals's response to the epidemic has been exceptional and they deserve the trust as a part of the government — from the government. they do not require a government that is confused and all over the place. we are grateful for you to take time to talk to us. the government says children in school education is a priority and want the schools to reopen wherever possible in the new term. the government says schools should only move to online learning as a "last resort". we're joined now by the chair of the commons education committee, robert halfon. a very good morning to you. growing calls to delay the opening of primary schools. in birmingham, they

say it should be case by case, in brighton they want or schools remain close. has the government got this wrong? i think we should do everything possible to keep our schools open and we need to be very careful about the coronavirus but we also need to worry about the risks to children's mental health, their well—being, academic learning, the pressures put on parents who may have to stay at home, they may lose income because they may not be able to go to work and the royal society of paediatrician, wrote a letter morning of the mental health worries they felt children were undergoing because of being in lockdown and at home. only last week, another senior officer of the royal society said

that child eating disorders had gone up that child eating disorders had gone up by that child eating disorders had gone up by fourfold partly because of school closures and isolation. we need to look at all the risks, not only of coronavirus but to mental health as well. it is difficult striking that balance but we heard fromian ward saying that, seeing the rate double in the space of a fortnight so a risk to safety for teaching staff and the wider community because of the spread. absolutely, we need to be sure we keep our children, teachers and support staff safe and i have been urging the government for quite a bit of time now to make sure teachers are given priorities for vaccinations and that also we have mobile testing and vaccination units going around schools to help to ensure there is regular testing... cani ensure there is regular testing...

can ijust ensure there is regular testing... can i just don't ensure there is regular testing... can ijust don't make sorry, just to finish, we also know from the chief medical officer that there is no evidence that even with the existing strain of coronavirus, there is any greater risk to children. children are still thank goodness is relatively safe from this coronavirus. the chief medical officer said in november that teachers were at no greater risk compared to other professionals and previously we have been told by the government scientists that school closures had little effect on the transmission rate. but we do know that children can pass it on and you know that had teachers know that schools and community. —— had teachers. should they be allowed to make these decisions are some council leaders are calling for. —— head. you may have a school with a

lot of teachers away because of coronavirus, they may be shielding or self—isolating but absolutely where possible we should keep our schools open stop we are damaging our young children's schools open stop we are damaging our young child ren's life schools open stop we are damaging our young children's life chances. we know that during the last lockdown millions of children it hardly any learning at all. whatever remote learning goes on, it is patchy, in part, hundreds of thousands of vulnerable and disadvantaged children still do not have proper computers at home and nothing is a substitute for being at school. we already know that children are months behind in terms of the educational attainment and the impact mental health is huge. we have to do everything possible to keep your children in school but teachers must be made a priority for vaccinations and we should have mobile units going around schools

helping with testing and making sure that teaching and support staff are vaccinated so we have fewer school closures. to be clear, do you think individual head teachers should make a decision to delay reopening?” think schools to be open. it is how to give a definitive answer because they may be particular circumstances where there may be a big covid outbreak in a school but on the whole schools should remain open so we can ensure we do not damage our children's life we can ensure we do not damage our child ren's life chances. we can ensure we do not damage our children's life chances. can i ask about delay examinations. 2000 heads saying exam should not go ahead this summer because that is one of the reasons for justifying summer because that is one of the reasons forjustifying reopening schools and the former education secretary sank school assessment should come from teachers, that is a more accurate date of doing it and relieves the pressure to reopen.

what i would like the government to do first is to collate the data as to how many pupils and exam years are missing schools. 800,000 200 we re are missing schools. 800,000 200 were not at school before christmas but we do not know how many of those we re but we do not know how many of those were in exam years. we need that data because we need to find out how much learning there is and how much catch up is needed. we are moving sadly, in my view, to an inevitable school closure and we need to see what happens to those children in exa m yea rs , what happens to those children in exam years, whether they are in school or not and if they are not in school or not and if they are not in school and if the remote learning is patchy, as it was in the previous lot, despite the efforts of many wonderful teachers and support staff, many schools across the country, then either the government will have to pare down exams, perhaps have them just in the court subjects or move to a centre assessed grade system but i have some exams will take place because

it gives pupils structure and order and every time i go into schools, pupils want to do exams because they know exams have value, employers value them, it helps in get skills and jobs value them, it helps in get skills andjobs in value them, it helps in get skills and jobs in the future but the way we are going it may be that they are either headdown and moving to and assess rate system. can i ask you about friday's decision by the education secretary to delay the opening of schools in those remaining nine borrowers in london. he was firm saying that patrick system could work in the capital. —— nine areas. what did you make of the decision? i want to have our schools open as far as possible. they should not be revolving doors which are open monday and shut the next. we need to have consistency from the government and that gives clarity to

teachers and staff and parents who need to know what is going on. every school that is shut as the chief inspector of schools has said only today in one of the newspapers, potentially damages the life chances of those children. we cannot have a generation of furloughed children. we will be speaking with the mayor of greater manchester andy burnham in aboutan of greater manchester andy burnham in about an hours time. and other authorities to get his take on what should happen. we will be speaking to one of the buses of a teaching union as well. let's go to the weather. this weather watch picture was from yesterday. i reckon it is pumped down the hill. it looks rather stunning. we still have cold

at, particularly in the north—west of the uk with widespread frost. some very cold weather stop generally, across many parts of the uk, the air is a smidge less cold than yesterday and it is important because it means the show as we had yesterday were coming to as snow but will come in as rain with a little bit of sleet. showers are moving westwards with time. fun to watch out for in east anglia. visibility down to 100m in places. there will be some snow but i think you have to get quite high up in the pennines by the grampians and the high ground of wales. mostly 300 metre elevation. another cold day without nationwide. temperatures struggling. factor in

the brisk north—westerly wind, particularly for east scotland and east england and that is what will make it feel cold. overnight, showers could genuine to feeding. cold airfrom showers could genuine to feeding. cold air from scandinavia and showers switching to become more wintry once again. widespread frost. lowest temperatures again probably in scotland with some icy stretches to watch out for, taking us into monday. high—pressure in charge, fitting in the cold north—easterly winds. still bringing in plenty of showers. but they may switch to more ofa showers. but they may switch to more of a wintry mix. snow over the hills. lower down, bit of sleep, maybe a bit of snow at times but a greater chance of happening today. north—west england, north scotland, thatis north—west england, north scotland, that is where the sunny spots will be on monday. a similar pattern on tuesday as well. both monday and

tuesday, probably quite an intense shower stream feeding across the north sea into parts of yorkshire. very likely we could see some heavy files of the snow but that is just underneath this slow—moving shower stream. the other side a lot of dry weather and sunshine but it was a pretty cold and the cold theme continues through the rest of the week. frost and ice will be widespread but i reckon we will be looking at some reciprocation showers in eastern areas. rain living in as we headed through thursday and friday as well. that is the weather. back to you too. the andrew marr show is on bbc one at nine o'clock this morning. andrew is here to tell us what's coming up. primarily the prime minister boris johnson who would join me live in the studio. a lot of talk about. i am alsojoined the studio. a lot of talk about. i am also joined by the mark wahlberg, the former chief science minister. and again from the faculty of

medicine. and arlene foster, the first ministerfrom medicine. and arlene foster, the first minister from ireland. medicine. and arlene foster, the first ministerfrom ireland. most medicine. and arlene foster, the first minister from ireland. most of the programme will be the prime minister. we look forward to that. thank you very much. that is want to look forward to. new year is normally a time for making plans for the year ahead, but as the pandemic continues to affect daily life, setting goals for the next 12 months will not be straightforward. so how do we remain positive during 2021 in the face of continuing uncertainty? dr olivia remes can help us with that. she's a mental health researcher at the university of cambridge and shejoins us now. i guess i havejust post i guess i have just post the first question, really, how, olivia, can we have a positive outlook at the start of this new year with everything going on? good morning. it is indeed difficult to maintain a positive outlook given the anxiety that a lot of people are feeling these days, the depression and sense of helplessness that is sneeringly well. there some strategies we can use to help our mental health and to make us feel better. one of these things is, you know, these days

people are worried so much, they are going back to work and mostly working from home and with this new strain of coronavirus there are a lot of worries going on one of the strategies is next time you get a worry, instead of worrying about that situation then and there, postponed. postponed to a later time period. set aside ten minutes each day during which you can worry. the reason this is so effective is our thoughts actually decay if we don't feed them with energy and when we get back to our worry period later in the day we realise that whatever we were so anxious in the day we realise that whatever we were so anxious about in the first place it doesn't bother us as much anymore and what is interesting is that penn state university did a study on people's worries and asked them to track their worries and they saw that 91% of the time people's worries didn't come true. that is something to keep in mind, whatever worries might be consuming us now, whether that is about getting

infected or, you know, what is going to happen with ourjobs, 91% of the time whatever we are worrying about what true. a family member of mine who works in mental health gave me exactly that advice about postponing it. but it's so much easier said than done, isn't it? it is. you know, you try to do the best that you can and then you just have to let it go. another thing to remember is that our thoughts are mental events. oftentimes we think that whatever goes through our minds will manifest, it will become reality. but our thoughts are just mental events and they will pass, just like many others have done stop and, you know, there are other things as well we can do to help ourselves, to help our mental well—being. in one of these things is writing down each day three things you are grateful for. this is really important because oftentimes we think so much about what's wrong with our day. about what's not going well. but what about what's going right? even

during this pandemic, even during a time of high anxiety and high hopelessness there are still things we can be grateful for and you have to write about three of those things each day and a researcher at the university of pennsylvania who devised this exercise says if you do this now consistently eventually over time you become happier and less depressed. some other strategies in my coping toolbox that i think strategies in my coping toolbox that ithink can strategies in my coping toolbox that i think can really help people as they move into the new year and, you know, as we are going through this pandemic. one of these things is especially pertinent now as people are going back to work and they might be feeling a little bit sad that the holidays are over and they have to gear up for tasks at work again, meaning they are feeling a little bit out of control, they may be struggling with indecision. so whenever you are feeling that lack of control in life there is a strategy for this. it's called do it badly. basically, instead of turning

to perfectionism and worrying so much about doing something perfectly, doing something as best as you can, trying to gather all the knowledge you can on a topic, all the resources before you start, just do it badly. jump right in without worrying about how it is going to turn out. do it however... there are people watching this programme who would say we have made it an art form, to be honestjust having a go matters, doesn't it. olivia, there will be some people watching who find it hard to live there had from the pillow and opened the curtains this morning, what would you say to them, it is not that easy for some people to be optimistic of positive. absolutely. why would say it is important to be kind to yourself and to ta ke important to be kind to yourself and to take it easy. if you feel like you are struggling, you are finding it hard to get out of it in the morning, then don't force yourself to do that. take it easy, take it one step at a time. that is so important because when we are kind

to ourselves, when we have this self compassion, then our mental health and our well—being improves. and something in line with that is this necessity for developing this meaning and purpose in life and this is so important now, you know, as we are going through these tough times. a lot of people may have lost their meaning and purpose and, you know, the scientist victor frankl says purposeis the scientist victor frankl says purpose is the cornerstone to good mental health. so how can we get this back into our lives? well, one of the ways is to take the spotlight off of ourselves and our worries and our anxieties and to place it on to somebody else. and you think about how we can make a difference to them, how we can help another human being. and this can be as simple as just calling someone that might be alone and isolated and just asking them how they are or it could be something a lot more substantial like taking care of a child. you are doing something with somebody else in mind. that is really important.

when you are doing something to help somebody else that's when you started to realise the importance of your own life and the fact that you can makea your own life and the fact that you can make a difference. kindness built on kindness, doesn't it. many thanks, dr olivia remes, from the university of cambridge. what it will take the matter is doing it badly is better than not doing it at all. it is good advice which i have been following for many years. hospitals across the uk are being told to prepare for the same covid pressures that the nhs in london and south—east england are currently facing. new daily cases have reached more than 50,000 for a fifth day in a row, and the uk—wide total for people in hospital with the virus is higher now than at the peak of the first wave last spring. martin berry from the college of paramedics joins us. martin, of paramedicsjoins us. good morning to you. whai are martin, good morning to you. what are your members who are obviously the first responders, very often, having to go out to people when they are unwell. what are they telling you about the situation on the

ground? paramedics, as well as the rest of the nhs having to overcome some elderly overwhelming challenges. the significant increase in the number of individuals accessing the healthcare system, the pressures on services such as intensive care beds, which is backing up into the a&e, and it inevitably backs up to the ambulance service. one of the main concerns are members, and this is something they have experience working frontline of the christmas area, is that increased amount of time waiting outside the a&e. obviously it has an impact on the care of that individual because they are waiting to receive the care that they need, that ambulance is no longer able to respond to other walls and knowing because are coming in, people need immediate assistance. i'm speaking toa immediate assistance. i'm speaking to a colleague of mine only last night was waiting outside and a any the five hours with a covid positive patient. inevitably, that means they are ina patient. inevitably, that means they are in a sealed, locked box with a abbott positive patient for five

hours, which significantly increases their chance of contracting covid—19 themselves... and knowing they would have to stay home and be self—isolating. have to stay home and be self-isolating. did they know that person had covid? have they been able to test them? yes, the patient was covid positive. they were at home following all the advice but u nfortu nately had home following all the advice but unfortunately had deteriorated and therefore had to be conveyed into therefore had to be conveyed into the a&e. regardless, the department was full, there was no way for the patient to go. but the patient did need to be in a hospital unit... crosstalk. sorry for interrupting. could you explain to people who may be, many people will understand but not eve ryo ne people will understand but not everyone will understand why the ambulance has to sit there and wait when you arrive at the hospital, you know, with someone on board, why you are not able to just drop them off. just explain. very simply, that person needs to have somewhere to go. they have been taken to hospital because they do need, they do need a place to receive that treatment in a

bed, cubicle, the they receive staff observation to make sure they are stable. we can't simply drop them off on the pavement outside the a&e abbey on our merry way. that is not we could possibly do. so we are having to be quite creative. i think the real message that we need to be a trustee is it is really important to get those paramedics as well as other healthcare professionals vaccinated as soon as turrbal. u nfortu nately, vaccinated as soon as turrbal. unfortunately, ambulance officers do tend to be missed, they are forgotten, they are outside of the co re forgotten, they are outside of the core healthcare forgotten, they are outside of the core healthca re system forgotten, they are outside of the core healthcare system in the minds of many of these strategic planners... crosstalk sorry to interrupt. they have a friend who works in the call centre and she has had her vaccination, she is not even necessarily on the frontline, are you saying ambulance crews are not getting vaccinated, because surely they are on the list was yellow you raise a very interesting point. while it is great your friend to have been vaccinated in the call centre, they are not patient facing, they are not dealing with government positive patients. often these

vaccines arrive at notjust hospital trusts but ambulance trusts and they start getting distributed among the administration staff. but it's a little bit challenging to vaccinate those out on the front line so they often those out on the front line so they ofte n get those out on the front line so they often get delayed... that seems crazy. it absolutely is. what i would plea to all organisers and those organising the distribution of vaccines is let's vaccinate the people patient facing first, to ensure. . . people patient facing first, to ensure... crosstalk. isn't that an ambulance service issue, to realise they have people coming in to do vaccines at a certain time and energy of the ambulance crews in first? we have paramedic members who are working on hospital trust or a anning and other bubbles of the hospitals and they are reporting the same thing, that background administrative staff are often first in line to get these vaccinations and the healthcare professionals a re vaccinations and the healthcare professionals are appearing further down the list. and that really is quite worrying. it is a problem and it does need to be addressed.

martin, we are grateful to you for your time this morning. thank you for talking to us. martin berry from the college of paramedic. the complexities of rolling out this vaccine are incredible. it is hoped within 12 weeks or so everybody was vulnerable or everybody over 55 has been immunised. as we know, it is not going as smoothly everywhere across the country. we will talk to peter openshaw at imperial college in london a little late in the programme, just after eight o'clock on that very subject, the vaccination, the oxford astrazeneca vaccination, the oxford astrazeneca vaccination is not to be administered tomorrow. if you have any questions we will be talking to ourgp, any questions we will be talking to our gp, rachel ward from newbury, just after eight o'clock. at eight, 30 we be talking to the mayor of greater manchester, andy burnham, on his thoughts on whether the full reopening of primary school should be delayed. that is all to come. we're on the bbc news channel until nine o'clock this morning. i hope you can follow us over there.

but this is where we say goodbye to viewers on bbc one. you have some foot poll heading away. join us on the news channel. goodbye for now. —— football. you have some football here as well. you have some football here as well. you probably do not want to watch the football if you want to watch much of the day. i have distilled the best bits out. another premier league match postponed, fulham involved again. their match against tottenham was called off on the 30th, now today's game against burnley will not take place, following more positive covid tests in their camp and it comes amid allegations of players breaching covid restrictions. four matches did go ahead yesterday in the premier league, some great goals coming up, especially from arsenal as their recovery continues, plus tottenham move up to third in the table. austin halewood reports.

so a new year, a fresh start and for tottenham renewed hope. their eyes are firmly set on a first premier league title and, after disappointing end to 2020, this was a welcome start to their first game back against leeds. harry kane from the penalty spot, 1—0. and usually for spurs, if it is not kane then it is often son heung—min. commentator: the double act are at it again. son with his 100th goalfor the club. a shaky start, then, to the new year for leeds, but for spurs things are looking up. well, meanwhile, across london, arsenal had been looking over their shoulder. after the bleakest of mid—winters, the gunners are 14th but recently they've found their spark, and at west brom it came from the left wing. commentator: brilliant play from kieren tierney. that's a blast and it's an absolutely sensational goal! and not long after that, arsenal looked like their old selves again. two before half time and two more after it. in the january snow,

their season back on track. on the south coast, brighton fans were looking for some new found—inspiration too and they got it. commentator: what a way to start 2021! captain lewis dunk rescuing a point in a 3—3 draw with wolves. but the team most craving the new year was sheffield united. with only two points so far, it is the worse start to a season in premier league history so this was the last thing they needed. palace ahead after just four minutes. and after that it only got worse. eberechi ezejinking his way through the defence and finishing one of the goals of the season. a strike that quickly finished all of sheffield united's new year cheer. austin halewood, bbc news. in the scottish premiership, rangers and celtic marked the 50th anniversary of the ibrox stadium disaster, which cost 66 fans their lives. both teams laid wreaths

before the old firm derby, in memory of the supporters who were killed in a crush on a stairway. almost half of those who perished were under the age of 20. to the match itself where victory went to rangers. celtic had been the better side until their defender nir bitton was sent off for that foul on alfredo morelos. then a deflection off callum mcgregor was enough to give rangers their third derby win in a row and a 19—point lead at the top of the table. there was a real shock in rugby union's premiership, with reigning champions exeter chiefs beaten for the first time this season. and it was a heavy defeat too — wasps winning by 34 points to five, as exeter paid the price for resting six of their international players. lima sopoaga there with the pick of the tries — he also kicked nine points. edinburgh narrowly got the better of glasgow warriors in their pro 14

game at murrayfield, to take the 1872 cup. it was a really tight match and it was scoreless for over an hour, before jaco van der walt got edinburgh's first points on the board. a few minutes later they extended their lead, when magnus bradbury crossed the line. glasgow got a late try but edinburgh held on. there's more on all yesterday's games on the bbc sport website. british boxer luke campbell said he was "heartbroken" after his hopes of another world title shot suffered a severe blow. in the early hours of this morning, campbell was beaten on a technical knockout by the rising american star ryan garcia in dallas. campell, the olympic champion from london 2012, posted this photograph on social media. he's on the left, with four—weight world champion ‘canelo' alvarez in the middle and garcia on the right. campbell wrote, "have to take my hat off to ‘king ryan g'. well done and a massive future ahead of him". campbell is 33 now, so he's running

out of time to try to claim that elusive world crown. campbell, floored gussie in the second round. garcia got back up again and went on to when —— floored garcia. 33 and almost over the hill, very upsetting. well, in sporting terms! that has cheered me up. time now for the latest technology news — here's this week's edition of click. we've been live in the uk, india and around the world and for this year, we went live in your living room. joined by click fans from across the globe and masterminded by a director... and his assistant. i thought i'd prepared for everything. but not for the cat.

hello! real people! you're the first people i've seen nine months! applause hello! normally at this time of year, we like to look back at our best bits from the past 12 months. but around the summer it became obvious that no one wants to look back at 2020 ever. so, we're not going to look back at 2021 because fortunately this is the year were click turned 20. so with that we'll look back at some of our favourite moments ever. lara, of all the places that you have got to go, can you just say one place that really sticks out, possibly one place?

yes, it's difficult but it has to be my trip to norway. we did a sustainability special. i think this shoot is something that will stick with me forever. we went out with an underwater drone and you're there in the boat with the most stunning surroundings and then you see what's going on under the water. it was really quite something. if you want to see what goes on beneath the surface where everything looks completely immaculate above it, this is a real eye—opener because this underwater could see plastic all of the surface, there are apparently cars under there as well. we did not see any on our trip, but the people outside with said that they had said cars had just been dumped on the ice and the ice broke and the cars just fell into it. really an incredible site. we asked each member to pick the most memorable click moments

and first up, the man with the reputation for breaking everything that he touches, case in point, the unbreakable phone in 2010. dan, you broke the unbreakable phone and you're given something something even more spectacular to try to break. we travelled to china, where they were busy making a glass bridge. unlike me, they hope the thousands of visitors that come here will not be too scared to look down. 300 metres through the world's highest glass walkway. each panel of the walkway has three layers of toughned glass held together by glue. the president has given me an hammer and said if i get through three layers of glass, i would not fall through and here it goes.

it is absolutely incredible. it's stunning. those pictures look stunning, it's a stunning part of the world but, yes. it did not break, it was fine and i did insist that the president of the bridge stand on the same bit of glass, just in case. back in 2007, we went to san francisco looking for start ups they're going to change the world. yeah, we did. we took a few quid with us to find a start—up to invest in because that's how it was done back in 2007. who did we see and who did we not give money to? we didn't give the money to twitter. you saw a start—up of electric cars and electric motors really just meant golf buggies. it was a small start up and it was called tesla and they invited us along and for me to try

literally the third car that they made and we took it for a spin. the roadster has a good pedigree, its ultralight carbon fibre body is designed by lotus, based on the elise, and thanks to new battery technology, it can go three times as fast as the car wally built. the first hundreds of these will be rolling silently off the production line in october. did you have any idea of the success of the tesla ? i had an inkling and i'll tell you why you did, because the performance. tesla always went out from the get—go to say, we're not talking about golf carts, we are talking serious performance cars and they captured the imagination of the public. dan, thank you forjoining us.

after dan, tj. she has done a lot of stuff for us, but her favourite moments that time she went on a vr roller coaster while on a real roller coaster. seriously, do not ask. she has been spending locked down as only lj could. hello, everyone! i've been immersed in music among other things, i got really into style transfer where you mix two songs together and i can do it without computers and so how would an aldo. i programmed ai queen to sing let it go from frozen and ai beatles to sing call me maybe. so, hang on, this is the beatles doing that? sampling tiny parts of audio for moving the beatles ever made and then picks out things it thinks fits and it's based

on training models and it takes up to nine hours to make this one minute of music and so i was heavily supervising the model every four seconds into the early hours of the morning and it was also an exercise in endurance. that's brilliant! it's so you — ai and music, how more you could that be? it has been said that once you join click, you never really leave and that means that a couple of the newest members of our team have actually been with us for quite a while. let's cross to them now, please welcome omar and paul carter. hello. paul, something from all the way from 2018? yes, me and omar went to switzerland to check out some new technology around fire—fighting. a device to help detect heating

buildings and i was really pleased to see the firefighting train. switzerland might not be the first to come to mind when thinking of fire. but it's surprisingly advanced when it comes to firefighting technology. for example, it's only country in europe to have a firefighting train. the cabin is actually pressurised in the event of a fire, the operators have safe breathing environment. i was over there, working my socks off and i turn around to see him grinning from ear to ear. just loving being on the train, it was the

most wholesome thing ever. let's turn to omar! the love tinkering with with all technology and he has been about speakers, game boys and also a furby organ, he has like 30 of them playing music — it was really weird. this is 30 game boys and it sounds like an orchestra for instance... but after a quick modification, this doesn't play game boys anymore. i was very close! did you squeal there? we were testing out the flame—thrower and it went so big that it singed his hair and i was genuinely fearful like, ok, let's calm down a little bit.

so it's amazing to think, really, isn't it, 15 years ago, youtube was already a thing but the concept that that people could carve out huge careers online just didn't seem real at the time, did it? no, it didn'tand, you know, i mean, we've gone from people making online videos and showing them, you know, around the world to now, you know, people's careers getting so big — i mean, we've got floyd mayweather junior fighting a youtuber soon and that's it's based off the back of his fame that he's put up online. so you can actually build a real, proper career out of this, and it's only going up and up. seems like there's no end. totally. omar, paul, thank you so much! cheering and applause. thank you. next up isjen copestake! jen, welcome! jen, good to see you. jen joined click back in 2013 and has been super busy over the last year especially, covering health tech pieces during the pandemic. she's been all over the world for the show as well — to israel, las vegas, china.

how has it all been for you, jen? it's been absolutely amazing and it's so lovely to see everybody today. my favourite times i think on the show, though, have been in china. there's been some incredible technology that i've seen there, and one of the most amazing things was actually getting to play sport with robots. whoa! laughs. the robot is designed to be as much like a human player as possible. its eyes are the hd cameras at the back of the court. these computers send prediction data on where the shuttlecock will fall back to the robot via bluetooth. is there any more news on that badminton robot? yeah, they're still — they're all taking part in competitions and there's different companies and universities across china who are developing these robots and they're winning competitions. it'sjen copestake, everybody! cheering and applause. nice to see you. this has been a blast! we have made it well past our 20th birthday and through the toughest time i think any of us have ever seen. lara, thank you. you're, like, the best co—host i could've wished for. lara lewington, everybody. lara lewington.

thanks, everyone, for coming! cheering and applause. this is just this isjust a this is just a very short taste of a live show. you can get a full show on iplayer. i hope that you have a restful and peaceful time off, if you can. here's to 2021. thanks for watching and we will see you soon. bye! 01:59:19,180 --> 4294966103:13:29,430 cheering and applause.