�* starting to see, you know, already starting to see, you know, people within government who have beenin people within government who have been in government, like dominic cummings, line there are sort of alibis and stories, and to assign blame and take credit. we are already seeing people start to do that, and dominic cummings was very much an actor in all this. sol think you can't take his account as red as being right. he would say that, wouldn't he, about the department of health? lots of people have been massively critical about the way the government handled the procurement around ppe, it was disastrous, tens of millions of pounds spent and sometimes the ppe didn't even work or wasn't good enough quality. but cummings has tried to say that was the bureaucracy�*s fault, and i can take credit for some of the vaccine stuff perhaps. but dominic cummings was a part of that problem, he was the prime minister's senior adviser and

he probably has to shoulder some of the blame for some of the things that got wrong. some might think it's a bit rich, given the fact that he was thought to have broken the spirit of lockdown rules at a really critical point in the first lockdown, and that sent out a particular message to the public. so i'd do think some of this is just people lining themselves up, you know, putting blame on other people, taking some of the credit for themselves. i think coming back to themselves. i think coming back to the idea of the inquiry, there are some really important things to balance here, and there's so much that an balance here, and there's so much thatan inquiry balance here, and there's so much that an inquiry could achieve. and i think you absolutely have to have a post hoc, judge led inquiry with the power to summon people, compelling them to give evidence, the guardian says there's a lot public support for it, only 18% are opposed to it. but there is a time and place for

that sort of inquiry, and i do have some sympathy from whatjonathan van tam said today, which is that if there was that sort of inquiry right now while we are in it, that might distract from thejob now while we are in it, that might distract from the job we are trying to do. and i think there's another type of inquiry that you do need, which is a rapid investigation of what went right and what went wrong. so people can learn the lessons in real time. so people can learn the lessons in realtime. i so people can learn the lessons in real time. i don't think that would be a distraction, but that probably isn't the sort ofjudge led long—term inquiry that you want after the fact. so i think there's quite a lot to juggle here. after the fact. so i think there's quite a lot tojuggle here. you quite a lot to “uggle here. you mentioned _ quite a lot tojuggle here. you mentioned jonathan van tam, i know you're a big fan of his, tom, he came out with the superb line about where it vaccines should be and shouldn't be to be helpful — remind us what he said. shouldn't be to be helpful - remind us what he said.— shouldn't be to be helpful - remind us what he said. there were several, there was a — us what he said. there were several, there was a football— us what he said. there were several, there was a football team _ us what he said. there were several, there was a football team and - us what he said. there were several, there was a football team and algae, trainer_ there was a football team and algae, trainer analogy, there was a football team and algae, traineranalogy, it there was a football team and algae, trainer analogy, it was all about not leaving people on the pitch, so rather_ not leaving people on the pitch, so rather than — not leaving people on the pitch, so rather than rushing ahead into the

lower_ rather than rushing ahead into the lower down vaccine groups, the 40s and 305, _ lower down vaccine groups, the 40s and 305, he — lower down vaccine groups, the 40s and 30s, he wanted to hang around on the pitch— and 30s, he wanted to hang around on the pitch and _ and 30s, he wanted to hang around on the pitch and pick up the stragglers, those who hadn't been reached _ stragglers, those who hadn't been reached in — stragglers, those who hadn't been reached in what's known as group six with underlying health conditions, and there — with underlying health conditions, and there are 7 million of them. i'm still trying _ and there are 7 million of them. i'm still trying to — and there are 7 million of them. i'm still trying to find... so jonathan van tam — still trying to find... so jonathan van tam did it again, he needs to do press _ van tam did it again, he needs to do press conferences on a daily basis, trying _ press conferences on a daily basis, trying to— press conferences on a daily basis, trying to explain brussels's predicament as well, trying to get themm _ predicament as well, trying to get themm he — predicament as well, trying to get them... ., ., �*1 ., ,, them... he gave the line that "jabs to be helpful _ them... he gave the line that "jabs to be helpful need _ them... he gave the line that "jabs to be helpful need to _ them... he gave the line that "jabs to be helpful need to be _ them... he gave the line that "jabs to be helpful need to be in - them... he gave the line that "jabs to be helpful need to be in arms, l to be helpful need to be in arms, not in fridges," which ijust thought was brilliant. tomorrow, all eyes will be on the eu medical regulator when they give their assessment of the astrazeneca vaccine, but we shall await that. we will be back with you, sonya and tom, very shortly and about half an hour's time. thank you very much,

don't go away from your computers. stay with us and, as always, thank you for the time being, and we will be back with you in around half an hour's time for the second edition of the papers. thanks for watching. good evening, i'm tulsen tollett, and this is your sports news — where we start with football, and there'll be three english sides in the quarterfinals of the champions league. chelsea made sure all the premier league clubs left in the tournament made it to the next knockout stage, with a convincing 2—0 win over the spanish league leaders, atletico madrid. hakim ziyech opened the scoring in the first half. atletico had a man sent off in the second half, and emerson made sure of chelsea's place in the last eight in stoppage time. it was 3—0 on aggregate, and chelsea still haven't lost in any competition since appointing thomas tuchel as manager.

to the championship now, where lee bowyer was in charge of birmingham city for the first time as they beat reading 2—1. and it didn't take the home side long to get on the scoresheet, lukas jutkiewicz after just four minutes with his 50th goalfor the club. reading replied with an equaliser — yakou meite on target before half time. but harlee dean was the difference between the two sides with this header. 2—1 the final score. elsewhere, league leaders norwich won for the ninth time in a row, extending their lead to ten points with a 2—0 victory over nottingham forest. qpr were 3—2 winners over millwall, and barnsley beat wycombe wanderers 3—1. sheffield wednesday drew 1—1 with huddersfield, and blackburn against bristol city ended goalless. women's super league leaders chelsea won 3—0 at everton. melanie leupolz made amends for missing an early penalty by scoring the blues' third goal, as chelsea made it a sixth consecutive away victory in the wsl.

elsewhere, second—placed manchester city were 3—0 winners over bristol city. brighton won for the fourth time in a row, beating aston villa 2—0, while west ham and birmingham city played out a 2—2 draw, taking west ham off the bottom of the table. now to the second day of action at cheltenham, where two—time grand national winner tiger roll cruised to victory in the cross country chase for his fifth career win at the festival. it was the second winner of the meet for trainer denise foster, who's stepped in while gordon elliott serves a six—month ban. joe lynskey reports. tiger roll makes each jump despite his size. he's one of racing's smallest champions, but may lead its greatest legacy. he's now won two grand nationals and five times at cheltenham. this horse takes on the cross country marathons, butjust reaching the start lines being a challenge. tiger roll was trained by gordon elliott, who's now suspended from the sport.

the horse's age and form meant few thought he'd win win — but in the twilight of his career and perhaps his last race in the uk, they couldn't catch him. tiger roll! heading for a fifth success at the cheltenham festival! in the end, tiger roll won by 18 lengths. he may not race this year, but still, this horse inspires. keith donohue said tiger roll was all that kept him in the sport. that race would have heard cheltenham roar — as it is every win between horse and jockey. in the champion chase, coleman said he rode the toughest mare in the sport. the horse's call put the kettle on. it never looked like running out of steam. we'll follow up! this was a race win for henry. he's now won two out of two. put ina

put in a week when the sport looks to save its reputation, it's still the horse's names that are most revered. tiger roll could just be cheltenham's most popular champion. joe lynskey, bbc news. england can wrap up the t20 series with victory against india tomorrow. they lead the five match contest 2—1 with the game in ahmedebad, once again being played without a crowd. speaking to the bbc�*s kal sajad, bowler mark wood says it was something that affected their performance yesterday. there was positives and negatives both ways. i do miss the crowd, it's great to have people in the stadiums, it gives you the adrenaline rush. but at the same time, you know, hitting a few runs didn't quite have that same edge, and it meant that maybe we were a bit more relaxed.— and it meant that maybe we were a bit more relaxed. there's been a lot of talk around _ bit more relaxed. there's been a lot of talk around the _ bit more relaxed. there's been a lot of talk around the tasks, _ bit more relaxed. there's been a lot of talk around the tasks, around - bit more relaxed. there's been a lot of talk around the tasks, around the pictures— of talk around the tasks, around the pictures - _ of talk around the tasks, around the pictures - do — of talk around the tasks, around the pictures — do you think that takes away— pictures — do you think that takes away from — pictures — do you think that takes away from some of the performances on both— away from some of the performances on both teams? i away from some of the performances on both teams?— on both teams? i think that's being made a bigger— on both teams? i think that's being made a bigger issue _ on both teams? i think that's being made a bigger issue than _ on both teams? i think that's being made a bigger issue than what - on both teams? i think that's being made a bigger issue than what it i made a bigger issue than what it actually is. i think if any team has to go first and they think they can

win the game, i don't see that is a huge disadvantage. i think both teamsjust prefer the huge disadvantage. i think both teams just prefer the cheers, because they know exactly what they've got. so no, i think it's been made a bigger deal out of the 20 205 been made a bigger deal out of the 20 20s and it needs to be. i think both teams just prefer to play that way. henry slade appears to be winning his fitness battle for england's six nations finale against ireland. the centre picked up a calf problem in training on monday, but forwards coach matt proudfoot says his rehab is going well. meanwhile, proudfoot has been talking up sale flanker tom curry, comparing him to the all—black legend richie mccaw. having worked with him and met him, it'sjust astounding me how he has an appetite to improve, how he wants to get better every day, every session. he is developing great leadership capabilities, and he isjust an unbelievable team—mate, and that bodes well for his future,

that he'll be a big part of the english pack, going forward. lauren smith and marcus ellis got their all england badminton championships campaign under way earlier today. the delayed start to the event didn't affect them in their first round mixed doubles match in birmingham. seeded fourth, they beat the irish pair of rachael darragh and paul reynolds. everything else, of course, you can go to the bbc sport website. but that's all the sport for now. hello there. there's going to be very little change with the weather for the end of the week and into the weekend and indeed into next week. high pressure will hold on to bring pretty benign weather. thursday looks generally cloudy, i think, for much of the country, and we'll have some patchy rain across more eastern parts of england. high—pressure sits to the west of the uk bringing northerly winds to most areas, north or northeasterly winds, that is.

a lot of cloud around generally, limited spells of brightness, early showers will clear from the southeast, but more rain will arrive across eastern england, east anglia on the southeast through the afternoon. probably the best of the sunshine will be through the central belt of scotland where we could see 15 celsius. some sunshine for southwest, southwest england, highs of ia celsius. but elsewhere, io—ii celsius and cooler along north sea coast of england where we have that area of rain and onshore breeze. it will stay damp through thursday night. elsewhere, generally dry, a few spots of drizzle here and there, but because of the cloud cover, it won't to be too cold anywhere. lows of 4—8 celsius. so into friday, similar story, high—pressure dominating the scene. but we will start to tap into some colder air across the near continent in the southeast, so here, with that cooler air, it will actually be drier air, so we should see the clouds breaking up to allow some sunshine here. but elsewhere, another rather cloudy day, some spots of light rain or drizzle, particularly into northern england through the midlands, up towards the southwest. and it will feel cooler as well across the southeast, despite the sunshine,

that onshore northeasterly breeze will bring temperatures back to around 7—8 celsius. you will have to head further west to see slightly higher values. again, bit of brightness through the central belt, 13 celsius, i think io—ii celsius will be the high for most areas, which is around the seasonal average. as we move out of friday into the weekend, we still have high pressure with us, but we will see this weather for them to move into the north of the uk. that could bring some stronger winds across shetland later on on saturday, and outbreaks of rain. we could see some rain pushing to the north and west of scotland later on, but elsewhere, it's generally, again, a dry day with some spots of drizzle, quite a bit of cloud around, limited sunshine, and those temperatures around the seasonal average, 11—12 celsius will be the high. a similar story on sunday, and in fact, as we head on into next week, we dominate the weather scene with high—pressure, generally light winds, quite a lot of cloud around, temperatures around the seasonal average.

this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. our top stories. a fresh standoff developing between the eu and the uk over vaccine supplies. as the bloc struggles to vaccinate its own citizens, the eu commission president threatens to withold exports of covid vaccine to countries not supplying them. if the situation does not change, we will have to reflect on how to make exports to vaccine producing countries dependent on their level of openness. the uk, which is facing its own supply shortages in the coming weeks, says it expects all signed contracts to be fulfilled. the supply of vaccines from eu production facilities to the uk is indeed fulfilling contractual responsibilities and we fully expect

those contracts to be delivered on.