with princess diana more than 25 years ago — when he was director of bbc news. wider surge testing has been rolled out in five west london boroughs due to a surge in coronavirus cases linked to the indian variant. germany bans almost all travellers from the uk because of the rise in cases of the indian variant of covid—19. the vaccine programme rolls on in england. more than a million 32 and 33—year—olds can now book their jabs. the first convoys of humanitarian aid have arrived in gaza, hours after a ceasefire between israel and palestinian militants came into effect. now an exclusive behind—the—scenes look from bbc radio one's newsbeat at the build—up to this year's eurovision song contest in rotterdam.

i felt anxious all the time, worrying about stuff for no reason, so ijust got up one morning and was like, right, get in the cold water. do my breathing. and, like, laterthat day, it's like my mind just cleared. mr james newman. cheering and applause in 2020, singerjames newman was meant to represent the uk on the world stage at the eurovision song contest. life, but the event was it was meant to be the biggest moment of his life, but the event was cancelled because of coronavirus. now then. fast forward a year, and he's got another chance, eurovision 2021 is on, but so is the pressure. the pressure is a very big moment, going to be anxiety to the max, innit? james isn't the only one getting

ready for the eurovision spotlight. # baby, you're hurting. # are you all right? nearly a0 acts will compete in the dutch city of rotterdam. # to all the wrong places. we will meet some like james who're getting a second chance to compete. i am so happy and so excited. i can't wait. let's get this done! for others, it's their first experience of the contest. ta ke two. action. i know that it will be a crazy, crazy adventure. i think it's going to be huge. # gimme some sugar. and the one big question for everyone — how does the world's most popular live music event go ahead smoothly and safely in the middle of a global pandemic? the ukrainian singer has been feeling unwell.

music plays if you get it right, it can change everything for you. we started following james newman on his eurovisionjourney last year. he is a brit award—winning songwriter with hits for ed sheeran, little mix and rudimental. despite the pandemic, eurovision 2021 got the green light, and we found outjames was coming back to this year's competition. so we decided to pick up where we left off and this time, follow james all the way to the eurovision stage here in rotterdam. we are in greenham common. and this is an old nuclear warhead storage bunker. which is crazy. but they filmed star wars here, which is pretty cool, i think if you like star wars, it's cool. i do. it doesn't scream eurovision yet.

it will later, don't worry. it's all going to go off. and then this is my car. she is called dusty. horn toots # some people let go. last year, james entered a ballad called my last breath. this year, it's something different. i was just thinking every song that is doing well is dance music, everyone wants to have a good time, don't they? even if it's dancing in your kitchen, it's still dancing. it's called embers, so it's about everyone has got that spark still there, it never kind of dies out. when we were writing it, we wanted to write something that kinda felt like people coming back together and those sparks igniting. and the fact that, even though you're not together, there's still that kind of connection that reignites when you see someone. and it's just after six.

and we've got back from this really nice country road where i am driving my mustang up and down, and they had a drone filming me, filming the inside. and i think i broke my car! # light up the room i like to add hope into most songs. people have always said most songs that i write have a feeling of hope, which is kind of good. eurovision is a bit like the olympics — you train for ages for that make—or—break moment on stage. if you get it right, you can go down in eurovision history. get it wrong, well, you might need to rethink things. there is the release date of my single embers. which is, i can't believe it's actually happening.

yeah, it's like when you buy someone a gift and you're really worried that they are not going to like it, it's kind of like that, a gift for the uk and hopefully they like the present i've bought them! ohhh! james�*s song is getting played on the radio for the very first time. this is a very big moment. see what you think of this. i think it's a banger, - and it's got horns aplenty. yes. the uk's eurovision entry for 2021 is embers byjames newman. - # i know my fire burns low # but as long as you're with me, i'll never get cold i'm absolutely buzzing. i'm, like, shaking a bit, you know, because it's like, it's on the radio right now. # feelings change as seasons fade # but nothing will burn us out # nothing can stop us now # out of the embers # you and i are going to light up the room

there it is, let me know what you think. i didn't realise i was going to get teary, but i think it's a release of, it's been really stressful building up to this, so much going on. planning everything. you jump that first hurdle, the hard bit of getting to that point. after eurovision was cancelled last year, james had to decide whether to devote another year of his life to the contest. ijust was like, i want to do it again, it's such good fun. getting to that end game of being on the stage in front of 200 million people, that's what i got into it for. many of last year's acts made the same decision as james. hi everyone, it's gjon's tears, and i'm representing switzerland at eurovision. # tout l'unive rs when eurovision was cancelled, it was really a big frustration because i didn't know what will happen. i mean, i had to come

back with another song. it's not so easy, because you think because you have time you have inspiration, but that's not the case. because sometimes people give you inspiration. dealing with this corona thing was kind of difficult, because as an artist, you need to see people, you need to have contact, meet new artists, other people for the concerts, for everything. so you need contact, so it was pretty hard just to be in front of a computer, zoom all the time. so i really hope that this situation is going to end as soon as possible because we need that contact. 0ne singer who cannot make it to the netherlands as a singer from australia. she will be using online

content performance because travel restrictions mean she cannot make it to rotterdam. not idealfor the not ideal for the competition aspect of things, but i'm proud of the song and am glad people still get to see me perform. and am glad people still get to see me perform-— and am glad people still get to see me erform. ., , ., , ,, , me perform. countries are in bubbles that cannot mix, _ me perform. countries are in bubbles that cannot mix, the _ me perform. countries are in bubbles that cannot mix, the access - me perform. countries are in bubbles that cannot mix, the access for - me perform. countries are in bubbles that cannot mix, the access for most | that cannot mix, the access for most of the time in their hotel room or in special areas backstage, everyone working he has to be tested every 48 hours. as you can imagine, avoiding covid is an everyone's minds. irate covid is an everyone's minds. we have to covid is an everyone's minds. - have to make sure it is as safe as possible. have to make sure it is as safe as ossible. �* , , i. ., ., possible. but simple, your original be the biggest _ possible. but simple, your original be the biggest gig _ possible. but simple, your original be the biggest gig of— possible. but simple, your original be the biggest gig of james's - possible. but simple, your original be the biggest gig of james's life. | be the biggest gig ofjames's life. and he has a tactic to deal with that pressure, and it is cold.

it's 6:45am. we are at parliament hill lido. we've had to go for a swim and it's currently zero degrees. i think the water is going to be like, i reckon it is going to be eight degrees. why do we do this? because you tell us to. james newman's rules. it definitely is. what was it like when you did it? it took five or six attempts until you started to think, this is actually amazing. the first few, they were horrible. mental health thing, i noticed even more, this lockdown, anxious all the time. worrying about stuff for no reason. and feeling depressed.

i got up one morning, i was like, do the breathing, get in the water, it was just before lockdown. this was still open. get in the cold water. do my breathing. and later that day, like, my mind just cleared. i think we've been in forfive minutes or so? it feels great. it is the best buzz. it is amazing. how do you describe anxiety? for me, it is like worry, i worry about stupid stuff all the time. and ifind myself in my own head, take myself down a spiralling path and the next thing, i'm stressed. it consumes me. when i realised that was a thing, for me, just accepting i needed to work out ways to get around it, you know?

is this how you will deal with the eurovision stage? that is going to be anxiety to the max, isn't it? one of the positives of being locked in the hotel all the time is that i can do loads of breathing in the morning, meditating, stuff like that. in a few days' time, james has to go into isolation before travelling to rotterdam. final rehearsals in the uk are crucial. # i know, my fire burns low # as long as you are with me, i will never get cold # feelings change, seasons fade # nothing will bring us out # nothing can stop us now

the song is like a proper work—out to sing it. these are the important parts for me now, vocally, you are out of breath and tired and you are exposed, but everything else sounds amazing. you are performing for the room, i want you to feel like _ you can imagine the arena. it is a big stage, and things might not go to plan. i am trying not to put too much pressure on myself. have you talked to your team about if on the night things don't go to plan and you don't see the scores coming in? the uk is down near the bottom? i am trying not to focus on that, it has to be my best performance ever. it is one shot. but the way i feel, after rehearsals today, i know i will have so many rehearsals on stage when i get there, i feel like i will nail it. if you get it right, it can change everything for you. for some of this year's contestants, 2021 is the first time they are experiencing the eurovision whirlwind. it feels, like, amazing.

and crazy responsibility. sorry. i am going to throw it away. my parents moved to russia because of war. and we were refugees. and now, well, lam going to represent russia at the eurovision song contest. i am happy that this year finally, the performance is back and no. i am happy that this year finally, the contest is back, and no- matter what the restrictions, we will do the best _ because the eurovision fans love is unconditional. - this show will be watched by 180 million people. which is a lot of people! eurovision offers a bigger stage, i think, you know, the greatest production in europe. and maybe in the world. i can't wait to spend time . on stage with the audience. we want to feel, i want to feel the energy from the people. .

we are super excited to be part of eurovision this year, and we cannot wait to bring rock music back to the mainstream. because of covid and everything, it is very hard to practise music, i last year and this year. we don't have shows. i need to be very concentrated, and i need a lot of energy, - positive energy to sing it and to bring it and share| it with the public. all the restrictions, it's going to be weird. but we are a year in now, this very peculiar situation so it's going to be all fun from here. we are a little bit, how can i say, sad and worried, yes, _ to go to participatei in these conditions, but it is what it is. i am an actor, all myjobs got cancelled, and i used that free time to create a music video.

produced by myself with my money. and i spent about 10,000 euros on that music video project. the situation in italy is still very tough, but we all have - to keep hoping for the best. i think we are really happy to be back and playing - in front of an audience - because of this tough year. say hello, hello baby! i am ready to perform live with no stress. just to have my time and having fun. with all of you guys. l it feels like every artist this year. isn't necessarily going to rotterdam to compete for themselves, rather as a joint mission to entertain 200 million people, watching from home.

i thinkjames's bus is coming in. hello, everyone. how is it going? sorry we're late! you made it! yes! how are you feeling? absolutely buzzing, i cannot believe we are here. how was the trip? it was great, 40 minutes on the plane, straight in. i cannot believe we are here. two years in the making. i have got to go and get tested again.

i have had two tests before we got here. so, should be fine. you have to do this breathing in thing, didn't work. then up the nose job and then, you had to sit and wait, come on but its negative. now you can properly start your dutch experience. the dutch adventure begins here! james heads off to his hotel where we are guessing he will have a lot of time to check out his competition. # we've been together for a decade now... coming back this year is a fan favourite from 2020, the icelandic supergroup. our approach to eurovision is more is more. if there is something that is classic eurovision, we definitely want to try to squeeze that into a performance. all of the lights, the colours, all of the assassin is.

all of the lights, the colours, all of the sassiness. the song is ten years, an ode to your wife who is currently sitting behind you. how does she feel about the song? i feel good about the song. he asked for permission first. that was good. it's nice. she thinks it's nice. eurovision has always been a massive event to organise, add covid into the mix and you have a huge logistical challenge. how do you feel now eurovision is up and running, taking place after the cancelled event last year? it's a great feeling to be here, we worked so hard for this for such a long time and so many participants have. and it's been two years preparing for this. i think everyone is feeling really happy to be here. considering we are in a global

pandemic, is it responsible to be putting on an event of this size where people are coming in from across the world? we have testing for everyone every 48 hours. no—one will be let in unless they can provide a recent negative covid—19 test. that is actually connected to your accreditation — you can't get in if you don't have this. it's all part of getting back to normal, i think it's something we would like to do as much as possible. was there any point of your leadership when you thought, "you know what, things don't look safe and we need to canvass "you know what, things don't look safe and we need to can this for another year come up on hold?" cancelling for another year was never a consideration. as soon as i started, i was sure it would come back, we have held onto that promise. and that's also why we introduced the live on tape back—up to say, no matter what happens with the pandemic, we will have a contest. but i won't completely relax until the credit list is rolling on the grand final night. so, ukraine rehearsed

without their lead singer today, she's been feeling unwell, she has taken a pcr test, we are waiting for the result. the rest of the band will do their press conference at any second. let's open up to ukraine! please, take a seat. the protocol says the person must first take a pcr test and only when the result is negative, any person can come back so that is why we did it. one day later, the lead singer gets a negative test, so she is free to come back to the arena. there will be an audience to watch the live shows here — the dutch government is allowing a maximum of 3,500 people to watch as long as they can show a negative test. the singers keep arriving in rotterdam from across europe. what's up? iam benny, representing

the czech... czech republic at the eurovision this year. i cannot believe i am here. i bet you thought the day might not come? there's been so many restrictions and confusions. and dramas coming here. all the way from prague, all the quarantine that we had to do. two weeks i didn't see my friends and family, to be able to make the final test and get on a special bus that did not stop at the gas stations because we wanted to be super safe. hello, ladies, you are smiling so nicely. yes, being here, it'sjust great. what does it mean to perform to an audience? it's energy, seeing positive people, seeing that they enjoy what you're doing, they reflect your energy. i think that is why we do music. let's get this done! at 18, destiny from malta is one of the younger singers taking part.

how does it feel to be one of the favourites? because you are. i mean, ifeel good, obviously. people follow me and love my song, it's something i have been working for. i wanted that to happen, i feel grateful that it has. # i am not your honey. you have got a big voice and a loud voice, how are the other hotel guests feeling about your singing? it's a good question, today i was with my vocal coach and i was doing my warm—up. and i was like, do we annoy people around us? and i was like... and it is like irritating, listening to it over and over. what do they think about it? my three inspirations in life

are beyonce, aretha franklin... they inspire me to feel confident and to own myself. when i see them performing on stage, when i see them on stage, they bring such a positive vibe. james is about to do his first rehearsal in the arena. i thinkjust stop talking now, we will run it again, - and then stop talking. for each rehearsal, every country is given a 30—minute time limit. and this is the momentjames will first step onto the eurovision stage.

# light up the room! i mean, that was the most amazing experience i've ever had. when it first went pitch black and i was standing there, i was like, "oh my god!" we did the sound check, getting such a vibe going in the room, getting everyone buzzing. good feeling, so now my challenge is to get that to the audience at home. i've got to remember that feeling. there is a big difference between performing for six people in a room to 200 million. just a little bit! honestly. i cannot believe i am here, i have made it, still loads of work to do but bring on the grand final!

this was the view from a few hours ago in church in streatham, some sunshine but also some showers. not as wet as it was yesterday. the rains finally clearing away from the south coast would still be a scattering of showers. likely we will have cloudy skies with fair weather cloud. this low pressure through the space of 48 hours brought over 100 millimetres in some places. behind it, we have been plunged into a northerly wind. although that is easing, it is chilly air. temperatures around the 12 or 14 mark, the showers around.

the odd one will be heavy, but by and large it will be well scattered. some places will escape with spells of brightness or even strong sunshine. through the following evening, the temperatures will fall away. chilly air, so we will see a colder night on the cards. there could well be some frost again as we had in scotland last night. ground frost in a central and northern areas, not the west because as you can see, by morning, we have the next band of rain moving into northern ireland. that will push its way eastwards during the day. it will be quite windyjust on that weather front for an hour or two because it is this area of low pressure driving it in. you can see that area of rain, it will be three orfour that area of rain, it will be three or four hours of that area of rain, it will be three orfour hours of rain for that area of rain, it will be three or four hours of rain for most of us. and the winds will pick up for a time. but in brightness and eastern areas, it may well stay quite fine and right as we saw yesterday across the northern isles for most of the day. some showers ahead of the rain but dry and bright weather as well. that rain clearing to sunshine and showers in northern ireland. for

many, will be fairly active weather for a few hours. the temperatures will be much of a muchness, 11—14. by will be much of a muchness, 11—14. by monday, the rain stopped across northern and western parts of scotland. having had a couple of decent and drier days, we have the rain to come. slow moving showers elsewhere. it is back to that sunshine and showers and scenario. between us the winds start to ease off through the week, we will start to feel the warmth of that may sunshine. we are not exciting temperatures to get much of the mid to high teens. the low pressure just starting to move out of the north sea, so that's the focus of the shower will be. just a hint that we may see pressure building later in the week which will quiet the weather down. it still looks as though we will at times of showery rain and quite a bit of cloud. as ever, you can find out more details, particularly regional, on the website.

this is bbc news, i'm martine croxall. the headlines at 2... fomer bbc director general lord hall resigns as national gallery chairman, saying continuing in the role would be a "distraction", following the inquiry in to panorama's interview with princess diana. wider surge testing has been rolled out in five west london boroughs due to a surge in coronavirus cases linked to the indian variant. germany bans almost all travellers from the uk because of the rise in cases of the indian variant of covid—19. the first convoys of humanitarian aid have arrived in gaza, hours after a ceasefire between israel and palestinian militants came into effect. animal rights protesters have been blockading four mcdonald's distribution centres in the uk.