it's really liberating to be able to have the right and the privilege, in some ways, to be able to say, "yes, i'm ready to talk." and to say it for yourself. to say it for yourself. and not to have to consult with anybody at this point. yeah, to be able tojust make a choice on your own and just be able to speak for yourself. meghan and harry are just the latest in a long line of high—profile confessionals. when people make up stories that i don't want to be - who i am, it hurts me. oprah winfrey got cyclist lance armstrong to finally come clean. yes or no, did you ever take banned substances to enhance your cycling performance? yes. and she's previously persuaded royalty to bear their soul. it was so hard because the last bride up that aisle was me. - news anchor and war correspondent christiane amanpour has been interviewed by oprah winfrey. she says her interview style is perfect for drawing out royal revelations. there's been a bit of chat that perhaps she isn't going to be

the most challenging interviewer for harry and meghan, particularly cos there is a sort of friendship, a personalfriendship, there. but i wonder if that's underestimating oprah a bit. she's not an investigative reporter, she's not a pit bull, she's not massively aggressive. but if you look back and see the interviews she's done, oprah has been able to get the answers. and i think it's unfair to suggest that sitting down with her for two hours is an easy ride. we're going to the show! oprah winfrey is a media powerhouse. for 25 years, the oprah winfrey show was a phenomenon, the most—watched chat show in tv history. we're going to take a break! she is now a media executive worth an estimated £1.8 billion. and that oprah brand provides meghan and harry with an influential platform. oprah is the most powerful woman in america. - she's also the wealthiesti black woman in america. it's great for them to be aligned - with her because she can really give

a lot of guidance to them | in navigating life as public figures in america. you wanted a—list, we're going to give you a—list. oprah winfrey was a guest at harry and meghan�*s wedding, so there will be a familiarity to this interview. the timing is also sensitive, with the duke of edinburgh still in hospital and royal relationships strained. but oprah is an expert at dealing with family dramas. daniela relph, bbc news. newsnight�*s coming up on bbc two, here's kirsty. exactly a year since the first recorded death from covid here, and newsnight special asks why the uk was so badly hit and how we move forward and rebuild, and what memorials we should create to those who have died. join me in a few minutes on bbc two.

hello and welcome to our look ahead to what the papers will be bringing us tomorrow. with me are the economics correspondent at the spectator, kate andrews and the author and journalist, rachel shabi. lovely to have you both with us on this friday night. let's get started with the papers. the i says that nurses are preparing to ballot for strike action over the government's proposed 1% pay rise. there's a play on words on the same story in the mirror, along with an image of the prime minister clapping for carers earlier in the pandemic. and it's the same story on the express, who say nursing unions have branded the 1% rise as �*pitiful�*. the times leads on comments from the head of the scientific body, covid—i9 genomics uk, who says new variants are unlikely to delay the lifting of restrictions. the telegraph goes on the covid travel permits, where passengers

will have to prove they're on essential travel, while holidays are still not permitted. allegations in the mail that borisjohnson persuaded tory party chiefs to cover a large part of a £200,000 bill to decorate his official flat. brexit had an impact on cross—channel trade, according to the ft. our final ourfinal paperfor our final paper for tonight. so, let's ourfinal paperfor tonight. so, let's have a look at some of the papers in more detail. as always, it's lovely to have you with us on a friday evening. i know we're not doing anything, but let's mark that for the time being. let's start with the i, because the conversation about this suggested pay rise of i% is not going away. rachel, it's somewhat escalated with this fund for a

potential strike action. that's what the i is focusing on.— the i is focusing on. well, that's ri . ht, the i is focusing on. well, that's right. and _ the i is focusing on. well, that's right. and it's — the i is focusing on. well, that's right, and it's hardly _ the i is focusing on. well, that's right, and it's hardly surprising. right, and it's hardly surprising that strike action is now a possibility. this absolutely is a slap in the face for norse nurses. —— for nurses. nurses have been interviewed on media describing it as a kick on the teeth. shut awe such a shoddy way to award all the incredible hard work over the past year, and let's not forget this is professionals working in positions that are likely to have induced extreme stress, anxiety, burn—out, a lot of nurses are dealing with working in conditions where they already have an eight year pay freeze. so, to have i% as a pay rise in that context where the government

is purposely capable of rustling up another 15 billion for test and trace, bringing the total figure of 37 billion to test and trace, which has consistently failed even by a sage analysis last year. it rather looks like a heist of public funds in front of our very eyes, and all the while, nurses offered this i%, it doesn't look good. matt the while, nurses offered this 196, it doesn't look good. matt hancock, ve much it doesn't look good. matt hancock, very much defending _ it doesn't look good. matt hancock, very much defending it _ it doesn't look good. matt hancock, very much defending it as _ it doesn't look good. matt hancock, very much defending it as you'd - very much defending it as you'd expect, but he's underlining that nhs staff are exempted from that wider pay freeze on public—sector pat’- wider pay freeze on public—sector pay. so, loads ofjustification going around, but how are you reading what this conversation has been? there was so much reaction yesterday. been? there was so much reaction esterda . ., yesterday. the feeling of frustration _ yesterday. the feeling of frustration is _ yesterday. the feeling of frustration is completely| frustration is completely understood, and it's not surprising to see _ understood, and it's not surprising to see there seems to be public

support— to see there seems to be public support for a bigger pay increase. when _ support for a bigger pay increase. when we — support for a bigger pay increase. when we break the finances down and we look— when we break the finances down and we look at _ when we break the finances down and we look at who had the most difficult _ we look at who had the most difficult year last year, it was not public—sector workers, it was private — public—sector workers, it was private sector workers. you are more likely— private sector workers. you are more likely to _ private sector workers. you are more likely to have — private sector workers. you are more likely to have job security. the private — likely to have job security. the private sector, you have mass redundancies, many people on the furlough _ redundancies, many people on the furlough scheme. much more difficult atmosphere to be operating in, so when _ atmosphere to be operating in, so when we _ atmosphere to be operating in, so when we look at the state of public finances. _ when we look at the state of public finances, the biggest economic contraction in 300 years, times are very tough — contraction in 300 years, times are very tough. it's very important to distinguish — very tough. it's very important to distinguish between... which rachel was talking about, furlough, covid reiief _ was talking about, furlough, covid relief and — was talking about, furlough, covid relief and day—to—day spending. and that seems— relief and day—to—day spending. and that seems like pay raises for years to come. _ that seems like pay raises for years to come, and when we're talking about— to come, and when we're talking about spending, we have to find the money— about spending, we have to find the money somewhere to account for that.

we as— money somewhere to account for that. we as a _ money somewhere to account for that. we as a public may decide we want to prioritise _ we as a public may decide we want to prioritise certain kind of pay increases, and that's a very legitimate thing to do, but we have to talk— legitimate thing to do, but we have to talk about the trade—offs where that money is coming from. having borrowed _ that money is coming from. having borrowed £355 billion this year to tackle _ borrowed £355 billion this year to tackle co—good —— covid, let's not pretend _ tackle co—good —— covid, let's not pretend they _ tackle co—good —— covid, let's not pretend they can... it's a really difficult — pretend they can... it's a really difficult situation for so many people — difficult situation for so many people across the uk, but as you nrention. — people across the uk, but as you mention, that 1% pay increase is more _ mention, that 1% pay increase is more for— mention, that 1% pay increase is more for other people in the public sector, _ more for other people in the public sector, and — more for other people in the public sector, and there are plenty of key workers _ sector, and there are plenty of key workers in — sector, and there are plenty of key workers in the private sector and they've _ workers in the private sector and they've been in a very vulnerable position— they've been in a very vulnerable position indeed. it they've been in a very vulnerable position indeed.— position indeed. it looks like this conversation _ position indeed. it looks like this conversation will _ position indeed. it looks like this conversation will continue, - position indeed. it looks like this conversation will continue, i'm . conversation will continue, i'm sure, throughout the week and as well. we move on to the times, and rachel, it's variants. we've been in a difficult situation, but experts are optimistic that this summer, we should be ok despite these new variants. , �* .,

variants. yes, we're hearing the times reporting _ variants. yes, we're hearing the times reporting scientists - variants. yes, we're hearing the times reporting scientists are i times reporting scientists are saying that the emergence of these new variants is unlikely to alter our timetable, the road map for coming out of lockdown. they're quite optimistic that it won't. that's great news. i'm not a scientist, so i'm a bit cautious about counter arguing with one. however, independent sage for instance, which is a body of scientist, had said we do need to be very, very careful about this. this isn't... the vaccine roll—out, which isn't... the vaccine roll—out, which is a huge achievement, hopefully will continue. it's not as though that alone will suppress the virus. we do still need suppression measures in place simultaneously, especially when we still have a big chunk of the population not vaccinated, and remember that most of the people that we're seeing in

hospital and intensive care units are in the age groups that have yet to be vaccinated. so, we do need to keep looking at what is happening with test and trace. why is it still not working, why did rishi sunak and his budget not give more money for people who need to self—isolate so that they financially able to do so? that is one of the mayjewellery —— major reasons why people are not self—isolating and driving infections. we have increasing inequalities as the numbers decrease. they're not decreasing at the same rate and some of the most deprived parts in the country, so it looks like people in the most are still paying a high price for this pandemic. so, while this scientist is very optimistic, and that's always to be welcomed, i do think we should inject the big dose of caution into that mix as well. i

should inject the big dose of caution into that mix as well. i see what ou caution into that mix as well. i see what you did _ caution into that mix as well. i see what you did there. _ caution into that mix as well. i see what you did there. nicely - caution into that mix as well. i see what you did there. nicely done. a lot of points that rachel makes. kate, pick up on some of them. talking in particular on people staying at home, self—isolating and not having been included in the budget amongst many points that rachel made. i’m budget amongst many points that rachel made-— budget amongst many points that rachel made. �* , , , ., rachel made. i'm surprised that the government — rachel made. i'm surprised that the government has _ rachel made. i'm surprised that the government has it _ rachel made. i'm surprised that the government has it properly - rachel made. i'm surprised that the l government has it properly addressed this point, _ government has it properly addressed this point, actually, given how much money— this point, actually, given how much nronev thev— this point, actually, given how much money they have been able to spend from an— money they have been able to spend from an emergency perspective. as rachel— from an emergency perspective. as rachel said, the very big reason that people don't stay home if they have symptoms or avoid getting a test is _ have symptoms or avoid getting a test is because they need to go to work— test is because they need to go to work and — test is because they need to go to work and they're afraid they might lose their— work and they're afraid they might lose theirjob and they need to pay their bills — lose theirjob and they need to pay their bills. one of the most important things in this crisis, you need _ important things in this crisis, you need to— important things in this crisis, you need to stay at home. i think that's been _ need to stay at home. i think that's been wearing out for quite some time _ been wearing out for quite some time i_ been wearing out for quite some time i like — been wearing out for quite some time. i like to see the optimism on the front— time. i like to see the optimism on the front page of the times. the head _ the front page of the times. the head of— the front page of the times. the head of the covid unit saying actuallv, _ head of the covid unit saying actually, if we look at these new variants. — actually, if we look at these new variants, there's good reason believe — variants, there's good reason

believe certainly we can't be sure of anything, but there's reason to believe _ of anything, but there's reason to believe when we look at the preliminary preliminary data, some aren't— preliminary preliminary data, some aren't as _ preliminary preliminary data, some aren't as effective. they still cover— aren't as effective. they still cover the _ aren't as effective. they still cover the crucial thing, severe illness, — cover the crucial thing, severe illness, hospitalisation and death, so that— illness, hospitalisation and death, so that something positive as well. if so that something positive as well. if there's _ so that something positive as well. if there's one thing in government that they— if there's one thing in government that they are terrified of right now, _ that they are terrified of right now. it — that they are terrified of right now. it is _ that they are terrified of right now, it is that a variants could get through— now, it is that a variants could get through that could undermine the huge _ through that could undermine the huge success story. so, no doubt this will— huge success story. so, no doubt this will be — huge success story. so, no doubt this will be on the minds of officials _ this will be on the minds of officials across whitehall. but it's important — officials across whitehall. but it's important to remember that this does need to— important to remember that this does need to be _ important to remember that this does need to be data driven, and the evidence — need to be data driven, and the evidence we have around vaccines is that it _ evidence we have around vaccines is that it comes at... they do appear to be _ that it comes at... they do appear to be doing — that it comes at... they do appear to be doing theirjob. that it comes at. .. they do appear to be doing theirjob.— to be doing their 'ob. we've been heafina to be doing their 'ob. we've been hearin: in to be doing their 'ob. we've been hearing in the — to be doing theirjob. we've been hearing in the news _ to be doing theirjob. we've been hearing in the news this - to be doing theirjob. we've been hearing in the news this mystery | hearing in the news this mystery person with the covid variant has now been traced. a lot of relief will happen due to that. you are touching upon the vaccine,

the yorkshire post has an interesting take because we know that 40% of the uk's adult population has been vaccinated, which is comparing to some other countries across europe, it's quite a feat. but the yorkshire post is talking about the number of people with both injections, both vaccinations.— with both injections, both vaccinations. , . , vaccinations. yes, which it reports to be at1 million, _ vaccinations. yes, which it reports to be at1 million, which _ vaccinations. yes, which it reports to be at1 million, which again - vaccinations. yes, which it reports to be at1 million, which again is. to be ati million, which again is more encouraging news. it now looks as though the roll—out is starting to administer those second doses to some of the population, which again is great. it's great news to keep hearing about how fast the vaccine roll—out is going. it has to be said that we can credit the government for its initial procurement decisions, which it turns out where the right ones. we also need to credit the nhs and all the hundreds and thousands of volunteers, countries that are doing well with

the vaccine roll—out or countries that have a centralised, interconnected public health since some. look at israel as well as the uk. it's very easy in terms of the bureaucracy to do a roll—out in a way that countries with privatised health care, such as the us, are really struggling with. so, that's one more case for public health system of the nhs. let's have a look at the telegraph, which is looking at what potential he is going to happen in the near future when it comes to holidays —— potentially is going to happen. i've lost track of time when they will help happen, but talk about these travel permits. this help happen, but talk about these travel permits.— travel permits. this is a big scoop on the front _ travel permits. this is a big scoop on the front page. _ travel permits. this is a big scoop on the front page. it _ travel permits. this is a big scoop on the front page. it suggests - on the front page. it suggests people — on the front page. it suggests people who try to leave the uk will

have to _ people who try to leave the uk will have to share a permit proving their travel— have to share a permit proving their travel is _ have to share a permit proving their travel is for — have to share a permit proving their travel is for essential reasons. it has been — travel is for essential reasons. it has been illegal to travel. you can be facing — has been illegal to travel. you can be facing severe fines if you try to hop a _ be facing severe fines if you try to hop a hotel— be facing severe fines if you try to hop a hotel quarantine. you can even be facing _ hop a hotel quarantine. you can even be facing jail — hop a hotel quarantine. you can even be facing jail time. it's not to say the uk _ be facing jail time. it's not to say the uk has — be facing jail time. it's not to say the uk has very strict rules around travel— the uk has very strict rules around travel right — the uk has very strict rules around travel right now, but i think for many— travel right now, but i think for many people, this is going to be a step too— many people, this is going to be a step too far. you can see it reflected _ step too far. you can see it reflected on the front page of the telegraph. it says this comes as a backlash— telegraph. it says this comes as a backlash from tory mps. they are calling _ backlash from tory mps. they are calling it — backlash from tory mps. they are calling it bizarre and meticulous, this idea — calling it bizarre and meticulous, this idea that you know how to apply to get— this idea that you know how to apply to get permission to travel. it feels — to get permission to travel. it feels like _ to get permission to travel. it feels like asking for papers. it is an uncomfortable treading into territorv — an uncomfortable treading into territory that'sjust an uncomfortable treading into territory that's just deeply illiberal. we have to see the details — illiberal. we have to see the details of this. these are very strange — details of this. these are very strange times and we already have a lot of— strange times and we already have a lot of measures in place, but to actually — lot of measures in place, but to actually go and get permission from the statem —

the state... sound cutout. we're