hello, as governments around the world race to sanction associates of vladimir putin, the british media is turning its attention to the role russian oligarchs have played in public life. this week, an edition of panorama aired allegations about the source roman abramovich�*s wealth. at the weekend, the sunday times reported that newspaper owner evgeny lebedev was made a peer despite the concerns of the security services. and the gossip sites are all over the gilded lifestyles of the oligarch kids and their swanky homes around the world. but why is it only now that the mainstream press has put the oligarchs in the spotlight? what has stopped them before? just some of the big questions for my guest today. they are, paul caruana galizia, who is a generalist behind a new podcast for tortoise media called lebedev: lord of siberia. adam bienkov is political editor at the byline times.

laura kayali is tech corresponded at politico. natalia antelava is a journalist and co—founder of the news site coda story. and lionel barber was editor of the financial times from 2005 to 2020. he is now an investor in the new european. and lionel, just if we start with you, the last time you were on the media show, you had just been to interview vladimir putin. what chance today, do you think, that a journalist could get an audience with that president? extremely limited payment under 1%. —— extremely limited. under 1%. may be in seven weeks if this is over, he they might do something, staged event. but a one on one like the financial times did in 2019, very unlikely. and by the way, it did take five years to get there, to the kremlin for the post midnight meeting. and when you did get there, what did you talk about? we talked about everything

from the failed assassination of sergei skripal, which he dismissed, mr putin. to the relations with china, the intervention in syria and notably two stories that came out. one was about when he declared under questioning the idea that liberalism, he said it was obsolete. he really felt the west was in decline, decadent, preoccupied by secondary questions of gender fluidity. he also said that his risk appetite had gone up because he who does not dare to risk quoting a russian proverb does not get to drink the champagne. d0 russian proverb does not get to drink the champagne.— drink the champagne. do you recognise _ drink the champagne. do you recognise the _ drink the champagne. do you recognise the man _ drink the champagne. do you recognise the man you - drink the champagne. do you recognise the man you see i drink the champagne. do you i recognise the man you see now, drink the champagne. do you - recognise the man you see now, do you think he has changed? i see recognise the man you see now, do you think he has changed? i see him a lot more puffy- _ you think he has changed? i see him a lot more puffy. he _ you think he has changed? i see him a lot more puffy. he looks— you think he has changed? i see him a lot more puffy. he looks like - you think he has changed? i see him a lot more puffy. he looks like he's. a lot more puffy. he looks like he's put on a bit more weight. the effects of two years isolation

during covid has got to have had some effect. i think the circle has gotten narrower and i can exclusive delete exclusively reveal that when we sat down, the table was a bit shorter than the one he is currently using. i shorter than the one he is currently usina. . , shorter than the one he is currently usina. ., , ., shorter than the one he is currently usina. .,, ., ., shorter than the one he is currently usin. ., ., using. i was going to say you were not at the end _ using. i was going to say you were not at the end of— using. i was going to say you were not at the end of a _ using. i was going to say you were not at the end of a very _ using. i was going to say you were not at the end of a very long - using. i was going to say you were | not at the end of a very long table. it was the same room, though. with all of the great russian historical figures. all of the great russian historical fiaures. ., , ., all of the great russian historical fiaures. . , ., , ., all of the great russian historical fiaures. ., ., , ., ., figures. there was a question about wh ed figures. there was a question about why ed give — figures. there was a question about why ed give me _ figures. there was a question about why ed give me lebedev _ figures. there was a question about why ed give me lebedev seem - figures. there was a question about why ed give me lebedev seem to i figures. there was a question about i why ed give me lebedev seem to have such good access to borisjohnson. paul, you have explored this question. take us back to the beginning. in 2009, alexander lebedev bought the paper for £1. beginning. in 2009, alexander lebedev bought the paperfor £1. and

then a year later they bought another one. tell us a little bit more about that. 50 another one. tell us a little bit more about that.— another one. tell us a little bit more about that. so we release the odcasts more about that. so we release the podcasts before _ more about that. so we release the podcasts before the _ more about that. so we release the podcasts before the sunday - more about that. so we release the podcasts before the sunday times | podcasts before the sunday times released _ podcasts before the sunday times released their article. it was commissioned in december. back then we thought— commissioned in december. back then we thought it was going to be a colourful— we thought it was going to be a colourful profile of evgeny lebedev and his_ colourful profile of evgeny lebedev and his father and how they use the papers _ and his father and how they use the papers and — and his father and how they use the papers and how they use it to build friendships with celebrities. and politicians as well like boris johnson _ politicians as well like boris johnson. it was kind of an influence machine _ johnson. it was kind of an influence machine that they ran with these newspapers. but of course the reporting _ newspapers. but of course the reporting change character in february— reporting change character in february when russia invaded ukraine — february when russia invaded ukraine. we started looking more closely— ukraine. we started looking more closely at — ukraine. we started looking more closely at other aspects of this family —

closely at other aspects of this famil . ~ . ., , closely at other aspects of this famil . ~ _, , ., family. when it when it comes to the ownin: of family. when it when it comes to the owning of these _ family. when it when it comes to the owning of these newspapers. - family. when it when it comes to the l owning of these newspapers. lebedev senior owned media bids in russia. is that more than just a business decision and how did you read the way they bought into the british media? it way they bought into the british media? , . ., ., ., media? it is much more than a business _ media? it is much more than a business decision. _ media? it is much more than a business decision. as - media? it is much more than a business decision. as a - media? it is much more than a business decision. as a kind i media? it is much more than a business decision. as a kind ofj business decision. as a kind of strategy— business decision. as a kind of strategy survival for oligarchs. you need _ strategy survival for oligarchs. you need some — strategy survival for oligarchs. you need some way of buying influence and promoting yourself as a liberal to western leading places. that's what _ to western leading places. that's what a _ to western leading places. that's what a lot — to western leading places. that's what a lot of oligarchs did. in russia — what a lot of oligarchs did. in russia alexander bought a large chunk_ russia alexander bought a large chunk of— russia alexander bought a large chunk of a paper with gorbachev. and he also _ chunk of a paper with gorbachev. and he also bought a smaller tabloid. there _ he also bought a smaller tabloid. there is— he also bought a smaller tabloid. there is some irony in that tabloid because _ there is some irony in that tabloid because in— there is some irony in that tabloid because in 2008 it reported allegations that a putin was having an affair— allegations that a putin was having an affair with allegations that a putin was having an affairwith a allegations that a putin was having an affair with a young gymnast and in a few_ an affair with a young gymnast and in a few days the tablet was shut

down _ in a few days the tablet was shut down it— in a few days the tablet was shut down. it was in a couple of weeks of that that _ down. it was in a couple of weeks of that that alexander and his son started — that that alexander and his son started the process of purchasing the newspapers in written. —— in the uk. the newspapers in written. —— in the uk the _ the newspapers in written. —— in the uk the then — the newspapers in written. —— in the uk. the then owner of the newspaper was looking _ uk. the then owner of the newspaper was looking to off—load it because it was _ was looking to off—load it because it was a _ was looking to off—load it because it was a losing enterprise. i think it was a losing enterprise. i think it is also— it was a losing enterprise. i think it is also significant that the deal was set — it is also significant that the deal was set up — it is also significant that the deal was set up by another newspaper editor~ _ was set up by another newspaper editor~ it— was set up by another newspaper editor~ it is— was set up by another newspaper editor. it is a story about how closely — editor. it is a story about how closely bound up all of these people are with _ closely bound up all of these people are with the oligarchy. i�*m closely bound up all of these people are with the oligarchy.— are with the oligarchy. i'm going to brina in are with the oligarchy. i'm going to bring in adam _ are with the oligarchy. i'm going to bring in adam now— are with the oligarchy. i'm going to bring in adam now because - are with the oligarchy. i'm going to bring in adam now because he - bring in adam now because he published a big piece on saturday called the johnson published a big piece on saturday called thejohnson lebedev letters. what did you find? i called the johnson lebedev letters. what did you find?— what did you find? i first became aware of the _ what did you find? i first became aware of the relationship - what did you find? i first became aware of the relationship of - what did you find? i first became | aware of the relationship of about ten years ago in 2012 when i spotted

on a register that they declared a trip to italy paid for by lebedev. i thought it was very curious at the time. it had not been announced in any way. i started to ask questions about it, but it was not really picked up by anyone even when later it appeared that this was an annual enterprise. he kept being sent out there and several years after that when we learned about his trip in 2018 when he ditched his security detail to attend a party. it was not picked up by many other news organisations and i was interested in it and did some freedom of information act request. ijust wanted to see what the relationship was between borisjohnson and lebedev. and i've got some

correspondence from their time. it follows on from what paul was saying, it kind of gives you the nuts and bolts of how these influence operations work and they work both ways. by buying the newspaper, that is the only paper covering the mayor election and so for borisjohnson it was important to have a good relationship. and heal talked about the pet projects that he would be thrilled to have lebedev�*s support for. and then it works both ways. the purpose of the festival is to transform russia's global perceptions in london. what is interesting is lebedev in these

minutes it is just is interesting is lebedev in these minutes it isjust him, he's going to reach out to the kremlin to secure funding for it. let to reach out to the kremlin to secure funding for it.- to reach out to the kremlin to secure funding for it. let me 'ust read ou secure funding for it. let me 'ust read you what i secure funding for it. let me 'ust read you what evgeny * secure funding for it. let me just read you what evgeny lebedev . secure funding for it. let me just i read you what evgeny lebedev has said in response to all of this. he wrote i am not a security risk to this country which i love. my father a long time ago was a foreign intelligent officer of the kgb, but i am not some agent of russia. he obviously ads as well i have called on president putin to end the invasion of ukraine in the most public way possible. paul, i wanted to bring you in because mr lebedev is now a peer sitting in the house of lords. he was deemed a security risk in the process and boris johnson ignored that. we risk in the process and boris johnson ignored that. we know that reall 'ust johnson ignored that. we know that really just a — johnson ignored that. we know that really just a few _ johnson ignored that. we know that really just a few weeks _

johnson ignored that. we know that really just a few weeks within - johnson ignored that. we know that really just a few weeks within boris| really just a few weeks within boris johnson being elected prime minister in december 2019, he decided to make lebedev a member of the house of lords, it was a personal nomination. we know through documents we got that the house of lords, the semi—independent board that can that but not veto nominees was chasing lebedev for information or information that is routinely asked for. the difference in his case is that they turn to the security services for advice. it was only on the 17th of march that they finally got that advice and they met to discuss it in a committee room in parliament and were so disturbed by it, they immediately wrote to the prime minister saying that they feel deeply uncomfortable about this

nomination, will you please reconsider or would you consider an alternative which they propose. bud alternative which they propose. and he did indeed end up becoming a peen he did indeed end up becoming a eer. ., , he did indeed end up becoming a eer. . , ., , he did indeed end up becoming a eer. ., , ., , ., peer. that is right. two days after that report _ peer. that is right. two days after that report was — peer. that is right. two days afterj that report was discussed, evgeny lebedev met with boris johnson that report was discussed, evgeny lebedev met with borisjohnson in downing street. and borisjohnson pushed his name through an evgeny lebedev took his seat later that year. lebedev took his seat later that ear. ., ., lebedev took his seat later that ear, ., ., ., lebedev took his seat later that ear. ., ., ., ., . year. you would have watched the entrance into _ year. you would have watched the entrance into the _ year. you would have watched the entrance into the lebedev - year. you would have watched the entrance into the lebedev ofs - year. you would have watched the entrance into the lebedev ofs into high society what did you make of it at the time and what do you think about it now? i at the time and what do you think about it now?— about it now? i had lunch with even about it now? i had lunch with evgeny lebedev _ about it now? i had lunch with evgeny lebedev when - about it now? i had lunch with evgeny lebedev when he - about it now? i had lunch with. evgeny lebedev when he asked about it now? i had lunch with - evgeny lebedev when he asked me about— evgeny lebedev when he asked me about what he should be doing as a proprietor— about what he should be doing as a proprietor as well as with the evening — proprietor as well as with the evening standard. i also met the father— evening standard. i also met the father in— evening standard. i also met the father in moscow in 2008 on a trip where _ father in moscow in 2008 on a trip where he — father in moscow in 2008 on a trip

where he was very much the man in jeans _ where he was very much the man in jeans with— where he was very much the man in jeans with the very expensive leather — jeans with the very expensive leather shoes. nothing wrong with that, _ leather shoes. nothing wrong with that, but— leather shoes. nothing wrong with that, but you could feel ex kgb. we need to— that, but you could feel ex kgb. we need to be — that, but you could feel ex kgb. we need to be clear about a few things here and _ need to be clear about a few things here and i— need to be clear about a few things here and i do not want to discredit the reporting, but first of all, proprietors, that is what they do. they— proprietors, that is what they do. they want— proprietors, that is what they do. they want to ingratiate themselves with the _ they want to ingratiate themselves with the establishment and they often _ with the establishment and they often get things like knighthoods. and prime ministers use patronage. i am not _ and prime ministers use patronage. i am not surprised that he he wanted to give _ am not surprised that he he wanted to give him — am not surprised that he he wanted to give him a peerage. but first of all, lebedevs were very proud of the money— all, lebedevs were very proud of the money they— all, lebedevs were very proud of the money they raised for a cancer foundation. they had gorbachev in the evening standard. and putin

despises — the evening standard. and putin despises gorbachev mac it is a strange — despises gorbachev mac it is a strange thing to have that kind of close _ strange thing to have that kind of close relationship. third, iwould draw— close relationship. third, iwould draw a _ close relationship. third, iwould draw a distinction between the father— draw a distinction between the father and the son. the son always struck— father and the son. the son always struck me — father and the son. the son always struck me as — father and the son. the son always struck me as a bit of a hedonist. i didn't— struck me as a bit of a hedonist. i didn't go— struck me as a bit of a hedonist. i didn't go to — struck me as a bit of a hedonist. i didn't go to the parties. i... i just— didn't go to the parties. i... i just think— didn't go to the parties. i... i just think that we need to be careful— just think that we need to be careful about adopting a kind of mccarthy a st attitude towards all russiahs— mccarthy a st attitude towards all russians and also understand, who was going — russians and also understand, who was going to buy it? newspapers are not football clubs. the lebedevs put in money _ not football clubs. the lebedevs put in money and from what i could tell and i_ in money and from what i could tell and i have — in money and from what i could tell and i have had conversations he did

not feel_ and i have had conversations he did not feel the — and i have had conversations he did not feel the heavy hand of evgeny lebedev— not feel the heavy hand of evgeny lebedev on his shoulder, the editor when _ lebedev on his shoulder, the editor when he _ lebedev on his shoulder, the editor when he was making editorial decisions. �* when he was making editorial decisions-— when he was making editorial decisions. �* . , ., decisions. and i have spoken to other editors _ decisions. and i have spoken to other editors who _ decisions. and i have spoken to other editors who have - decisions. and i have spoken to other editors who have said - decisions. and i have spoken to other editors who have said the j other editors who have said the same. j other editors who have said the same. ~' other editors who have said the same. ~ ., ., ., ~ , same. i think we need to look very clearl . same. i think we need to look very clearly- 0ne _ same. i think we need to look very clearly. one other— same. i think we need to look very clearly. one other thing _ same. i think we need to look very clearly. one other thing about - same. i think we need to look very clearly. one other thing about the | clearly. one other thing about the intelligence services. the sunday times— intelligence services. the sunday times has— intelligence services. the sunday times has done great reporting, made a bi- times has done great reporting, made a big deal— times has done great reporting, made a big deal of— times has done great reporting, made a big deal of the fact that the boss of mi _ a big deal of the fact that the boss of mi six— a big deal of the fact that the boss of mi six had raised objections to evgehv_ of mi six had raised objections to evgeny lebedev attending lunch with the editor. i went to lunch is at mi six. the editor. i went to lunch is at mi six~ i_ the editor. i went to lunch is at mi six~ iwoutd — the editor. i went to lunch is at mi six. iwould never the editor. i went to lunch is at mi six. i would never have dreamt of brihgihgm — six. i would never have dreamt of bringing... i'm the one who is making— bringing... i'm the one who is making the— bringing... i'm the one who is making the decisions about who comes to my— making the decisions about who comes to my lunch, _ making the decisions about who comes to my lunch, and i think that was why he _ to my lunch, and i think that was why he did — to my lunch, and i think that was

why he did not want evgeny lebedev. not that— why he did not want evgeny lebedev. not that he _ why he did not want evgeny lebedev. not that he thought he was some kind of... hoe— not that he thought he was some kind of... ~ , ., ., of... we should say that we invited even of... we should say that we invited evgeny lebedev — of... we should say that we invited evgeny lebedev to _ of... we should say that we invited evgeny lebedev to join _ of... we should say that we invited evgeny lebedev to join us - of... we should say that we invited evgeny lebedev to join us on - of... we should say that we invited evgeny lebedev to join us on the i evgeny lebedev to join us on the programme, but we have not heard back. but someone who has worked with him is natalia. you made of film for bbc news night back in 2012. mr lebedev had secured an interview. what was he like two he was very polished and very underwhelming, i would say. he came across as a rich _ underwhelming, i would say. he came across as a rich man's _ underwhelming, i would say. he came across as a rich man's son. _ underwhelming, i would say. he came across as a rich man's son. i _ underwhelming, i would say. he came across as a rich man's son. i did - across as a rich man's son. i did not hang out with him. we had one meeting ahead of time. we did not start off very well because he approached newsnight and it was part of his transformation of a party boy into a much more serious figure in the british public life. he

approached us with a suggestion for approached us with a suggestion for a collaboration and they called me “p a collaboration and they called me up and asked if i wanted to do a collaboration who had secured a incredible interview with the belarusian president. who doesn't normally do interviews. i thought it was... i had no desired to do a collaboration with evgeny lebedev. to cole valley mayor putin himself he once said in one of his famous press conferences, he said once a spy press conferences, he said once a spy always aspired.— press conferences, he said once a spy always aspired. whether or not that is the case, _ spy always aspired. whether or not that is the case, that _ spy always aspired. whether or not that is the case, that was - spy always aspired. whether or not that is the case, that was the - that is the case, that was the father not the sign and we are talking about the son.-

talking about the son. evgeny lebedev had _ talking about the son. evgeny lebedev had just _ talking about the son. evgeny lebedev had just taken - talking about the son. evgeny lebedev had just taken over l talking about the son. evgeny l lebedev had just taken over the newspaper and it was very clear about his reputation, him trying to come across as a different kind of figure and i knew that he had gone to mac on various reporting trips and also cutting jobs at the independent. it and also cutting 'obs at the independent.— and also cutting 'obs at the independent. and also cutting 'obs at the inde endent. , ., ., ., ., independent. it will be good to hear a cli from independent. it will be good to hear a clip from it- _ independent. it will be good to hear a clip from it. were _ independent. it will be good to hear a clip from it. were going _ independent. it will be good to hear a clip from it. were going to - a clip from it. were going to hear about his expectations for the interview. about his expectations for the interview— about his expectations for the interview. , interview. one interesting thing about this is — interview. one interesting thing about this is i _ interview. one interesting thing about this is i don't _ interview. one interesting thing about this is i don't know - interview. one interesting thing about this is i don't know how l interview. one interesting thing about this is i don't know how it interview. one interesting thing i about this is i don't know how it is going _ about this is i don't know how it is going to _ about this is i don't know how it is going to go — about this is i don't know how it is going to go. i think it is the first one that — going to go. i think it is the first one that i — going to go. i think it is the first one that i have done where i really do not _ one that i have done where i really do not know what to expect. apparently according to his press secretary— apparently according to his press secretary he is up for a fight. as ou secretary he is up for a fight. you were secretary he is up for a fight. is you were saying, he was the boss of the independent not a journalist. i wonder what you made of him as a interviewer in that situation. he was

interviewer in that situation. he: was terrible, he was terrible! it was terrible, he was terrible! it was a four hour interview. it went on and on forever, he asked terrible questions and very weird questions. there was a bizarre moment in the interview when he turned to lukashenko and said what do you think about group sacs. —— group sex. and lukashenko looked at me and i had to kind of move in. he sex. and lukashenko looked at me and i had to kind of move in.— i had to kind of move in. he secured the interview. _ i had to kind of move in. he secured the interview, and _ i had to kind of move in. he secured the interview, and you _ i had to kind of move in. he secured the interview, and you were along i the interview, and you were along for the ride to film it. i think we will move on from there. and move away from evgeny lebedev and back to the question that i asked at the star of the show why is it only now

that we are reading investigations into russian influence into the uk and i'm thinking particularly about roman abramovich. line oh, you will know about the legal perils of writing about oligarchs. has the risk of litigation from london's top law forms suppress reporting about them? j law forms suppress reporting about them? ., law forms suppress reporting about them? . ., , ., ., them? i am not carrying water for them? i am not carrying water for the the financial _ them? i am not carrying water for the the financial times, - them? i am not carrying water for the the financial times, but - them? i am not carrying water for the the financialtimes, but i - them? i am not carrying water for the the financialtimes, but i can| the the financial times, but i can assure you that we did write about influence of russians in the uk and i still have letters from the law firms threatening us. this was literally putin's... we've seen the names of the law firms. we heard this and the testimonyjust this week. crucially, the problem is this is a very interesting question about

the word oligarchs. some of these people sent a very tough letters insisting they were not oligarchs because this refers to the late 19905 because this refers to the late 1990s were some people became very, very rich very quickly, gaining control of natural resources in the 19905 control of natural resources in the 1990s when we basically had the wild west out in russia. some of them have since become great philanthropists. the crucial point is some of... i think you've got to distinguish between groups of oligarchs. some have become great philanthropists. they've given money. some of them are ukrainian, some of them own a football club like mr abramovich. he also happened to be a governor and a siberian province. he does give money to

charity. he does not sponsor art museums. there are others who are much darkerfigures. and i interviewed one of them in russian. these are different categories of people. bottom line, the law is not in favour of investigating, public service investigations because the balance of libel. this service investigations because the balance of libel.— balance of libel. this is what was bein: balance of libel. this is what was being said _ balance of libel. this is what was being said in _ balance of libel. this is what was being said in the _ balance of libel. this is what was being said in the foreign - balance of libel. this is what was being said in the foreign select i being said in the foreign select committee this week. the government was told that the london lawyers apply psychological pressure to journalist. do you recognise that? i journalist. do you recognise that? i do, actually. not on the level of some others because i was never threatened. but in general all lot of the most aggressive libel lawyers

are sent in london and they target journalists notjust in this country in this jurisdiction, journalists notjust in this country in thisjurisdiction, but journalists notjust in this country in this jurisdiction, but overseas. a people from india on behalf of president modi for example. yes. president modi for example. yes, it is never easy _ president modi for example. yes, it is never easy with _ president modi for example. yes, it is never easy with the _ president modi for example. yes, it is never easy with the oligarchs. - president modi for example. yes, it is never easy with the oligarchs. i i is never easy with the oligarchs. i suspect— is never easy with the oligarchs. i suspect that there is a lawyer tistening _ suspect that there is a lawyer listening to this conversation as wett~ _ listening to this conversation as well. �* , ., ., . ., well. i'm 'ust going to change direction well. i'm just going to change direction now _ well. i'm just going to change direction now because - well. i'm just going to change direction now because i - well. i'm just going to change direction now because i want | well. i'm just going to change i direction now because i want to well. i'm just going to change - direction now because i want to pick up direction now because i want to pick up on something we talked about a few weeks ago which is the crackdown on russian back channels. laura is tech correspondent at politico based

in paris. it turns out blocking russian back channels is not as simple as the eu hoped for. why not? it was not very easy because it was a political decision. it was unprecedented, so the first question that needed to be answered was what legal grounds do you use to forbid media organisations from broad casting —— from broadcasting in europe? and of course these are not your normal media organisations, but they use journalists with actual press cards and press credentials. so what happened is european leaders realise that the legal framework was not going to cut it. and so they went the economic sanctions route. but that is being challenged in front of eu courts to mac and we

will see if that is legally solid or not. is will see if that is legally solid or not. , ., , ., . not. is the onus on the tech companies _ not. is the onus on the tech companies to _ not. is the onus on the tech companies to block - not. is the onus on the tech companies to block these i not. is the onus on the tech - companies to block these channels? they were in the scope of the sanctions, so the online channels and telegram channels, youtube, facebook, all of that was in the scope, so they have been removed. it was legally binding for them to do so. but we are seeing a mirror websites which are websites that show the same information but with different urls. you can still find rt on a website that has a very fringe conspiracy theory type content. j

fringe conspiracy theory type content. ., ., fringe conspiracy theory type content. ~ . , ., , ., content. i think a few people have not ve content. i think a few people have got very rich. _ content. i think a few people have got very rich. but _ content. i think a few people have got very rich, but i _ content. i think a few people have got very rich, but i will— content. i think a few people have got very rich, but i will not - got very rich, but i will not mention— got very rich, but i will not mention them on this programme. they appear— mention them on this programme. they appear on— mention them on this programme. they appear on these kinds of shows and our apologists. appear on these kinds of shows and ourapologists. having appear on these kinds of shows and our apologists. having an english reporter, — our apologists. having an english reporter, an english voice on rt which _ reporter, an english voice on rt which has — reporter, an english voice on rt which has a _ reporter, an english voice on rt which has a tiny audience i don't think— which has a tiny audience i don't think is— which has a tiny audience i don't think is that influential. i do think is that influential. ! do think— think is that influential. i do think there was important influence in other— think there was important influence in other areas particularly on brexit — in other areas particularly on brexit. and in america... i�*m in other areas particularly on brexit. and in america... i'm sorry i'm brexit. and in america... i'm sorry i'm going — brexit. and in america... i'm sorry i'm going to _ brexit. and in america... i'm sorry i'm going to have _ brexit. and in america... i'm sorry i'm going to have to _ brexit. and in america... i'm sorry i'm going to have to stop - brexit. and in america... i'm sorry i'm going to have to stop you - brexit. and in america... i'm sorry. i'm going to have to stop you there. because we have run out of time. i want to say thank you to all of our guests. the media show will be back at the same time next week. for now, thank you for watching. goodbye.

despite the sunshine, many of us would agree that it does feel on the cold side particularly in the win. the skies are clear. lots of fine weather around and that's going to lead to a touch of frost tonight thanks to this high pressure which will stick around through the weekend and into next week. around this area of high pressure, the winds are pretty strong. they are blowing in from the east and the sea is very chilly this time of the year. the temperatures around coastal areas are seven or 8 degrees. think about the wind it blows off the sea and it will drag the chilly air off the water and land. it feels cold. of course it does warm up a little bit to around 13 or 1a, it is the wind—chill that is noticeable. in western parts of scotland, we've got a lot more

shelter, temperatures are up to about 17 degrees. a hint of spring across this part of the world. this is what we have got tonight, clear skies, nagging winds, but where the wind does fall lightly, it will be a little bit of frost. probably around freezing or so in rural areas. and city centres maybe two or three degrees above freezing. high pressure is still with us tomorrow. were going to focus on this little bit of cloud and it is heading our way. it means that it will be a little bit more cloudy on sunday, maybe even a few showers around, particularly in east anglia in the southeast. it will be sunny and breezy and chilly first thing, and then there is that area of cloud from belgian and the netherlands that will move in and bring some showers. many essential areas will have lots of sunshine. chilli on the north sea coast. 9 degrees in newcastle. that is the wind blowing

off of north sea. monday and tuesday —— monday into tuesday a different feel. the wind is coming from the south, it is going to be milder and i would even say warm. are really promising outlook for the second half of the week. temperatures up to 17 or 18. we might touch 20 degrees fingers crossed, first time this year. goodbye.

this is bbc news. i'm matthew amroliwala. russian forces advance into mariupol with fighting now reported in the centre of the city. 80% of buildings in the port city — have been damaged by the russian assault. those who've managed to get out — describe what they've fled. translation: there is no mariupol. we sat in a cellar for ten days and did not leave once. we neither had water or electricity. dozens have been killed in an attack on a ukraine military base, as president zelensky urges russia to join meaningful peace talks. translation: | want - everyone to hear me now, especially in moscow. it's time to meet. time to talk. it is time to restore territorial integrity and justice for ukraine. and i'm james reynolds live in the city of lviv with the latest

from inside ukraine.