this is bbc news, the headlines at seven: doubts over power sharing in northern ireland — sinn fein are in line for the first minister's role at stormont, but the democratic unionists say they won't take part unless new brexit trading rules are scrapped. what we're hearing is the eu is already saying it will not show flexibility and that is absolutely why we as a uk government are very clear, we want to get a resolution on this with the eu but we have never taken anything off the table in terms of resolving this issue for the of northern ireland. —— for the people of northern ireland. labour hits back at fresh claims over keir starmer�*s lockdown meal with colleagues — saying he didn't break covid rules.

more than sixty people are thought to have been killed after a russian bomb hit a school in eastern ukraine. meanwhile the us first ladyjill biden has made a surprise trip to the country. she's visited a temporary shelter in a school and met olena zelenska — the wife of the ukrainian president. stars have been gathering on the red carpet for the bafta television awards in london. the channel 4 drama it's a sin leads the nominations. and actor ncuti gatwa has been announced as the new doctor in doctor who. he'll take over from jodie whittaker next year. it feels really amazing. it's a true honour, this role is an institution. it's so iconic and it means a lot to so many people, including myself. and the actor dennis waterman, star of minder, the sweeney and new tricks has died at the age of 7a.

hello. the northern ireland secretary brandon lewis says he'll be at stormont tomorrow to meet party leaders, to urge them to get a power sharing government back up and running. results from the northern ireland assembly elections made sinn fein the largest party — the first time that has been the case for a nationalist party. but the second largest party, the democratic unionists, say they are not prepared to go into government with sinn fein unless new post—brexit trading rules are scrapped. our correspondent emma vardy reports from stormont. the last couple of days have been monumental for northern ireland but actually, the problems here remain largely the same. the dup's opposition to that new trading border in the irish sea means next week there will not be a new first and deputy first minister here, despite that sinn fein victory.

the balance of power between the two different visions for this island has shifted, symbolically, at least. what do you think it means for northern ireland? it means maybe stormont will get back together and maybe it won't. this is what we have been living with for years now, dysfunctional politicians, and dysfunctional systems. the immediate challenge is to heal the divisions caused by the brexit arrangements, the anger over a new border down the irish sea which splits the unionist vote. it places us under the jackboot of the eu and we are effectively held hostage in an economic united ireland _ goods carried over the irish sea on ferries from britain undergo new checks when they reach these shores, which is perceived by some unionists as severing northern ireland's place in the uk. and is disrupting the functions of many businesses. attempts to make the arrangements similar has put the uk government

——simpler has put the uk government at loggerheads with the eu. the eu has shown no flexibility, land it's very disappointing that| what we're hearing is the eu is already saying it will not l show any flexibility, and that's why it is absolutely right _ that we as a uk government are very i clear, we want to get a resolution i ion this with the eu but we have. never taken anything off the table l in terms of resolving this issue l for the people of northern ireland. while this persists, the dup said it will not go back into the power—sharing executive, which sinn fein argues holds everyone to ransom. a fundamentalist approach that it's either an executive or the protocol but you can't have both, that is not helping with the cost of living. the dup are committed devolutionists but it can only be on sound, stable footing, which means consent for both unionists and nationalists. hi, guys, cani hi, guys, can i get you the watermelon— hi, guys, can i get you the watermelon or— hi, guys, can i get you the watermelon or the - hi, guys, can i get you the i watermelon or the coconut? sinn fein�*s victory also raises new questions over what it says about the choices voters are making for northern ireland's future.

the party strongly believes in holding a border poll, a vote on whether northern ireland should remain part of the uk. there's only one person that can call a border poll and that's the secretary of state for northern ireland. he is obliged to call a border poll if it appears to him there is a majority in favour of a united ireland within northern ireland. at the moment opinion polls suggest support for a united ireland is within the 30% to 40% range, so it's still got considerable distance to travel before we get to that point. sinn fein is pushing for the governments in belfast and dublin to plan for what a united ireland might look like, fleshing out the details on things like health care and the economics of it all. and although there does not appear to be a majority here for it right now, sinn fein�*s electoral success will give more prominence to their campaign. for now, the problem for sinn fein is how to translate their victory into real power. because unless there is agreement between the parties, northern ireland remains in deadlock. the uk government says it is keeping all options on the table when it

comes to resolving those problems with the brexit arrangements, the northern ireland protocol. we may see some indication in the queen's speech next week that there might be a willingness to override parts of the protocol using new legislation, but of course, this is not going to please the eu. but unless we get some kind of breakthrough, we are going to see months of uncertainty here, too. and we'll find out how this story and many others are covered in tomorrow's front pages at 10:30 and 11:30 this evening in the papers. our guests joining me tonight are author and journalist emma woolf and the ft�*s whitehall editor sebastian payne. the deputy prime minister, dominic raab, has accused sir keir starmer of "complete hypocrisy" after durham police re—opened an investigation into claims the labour leader broke lockdown rules last year. sir keir has strongly criticised borisjohnson about parties in downing street, and has denied doing anything wrong

himself during a campaign trip before the hartlepool by—election. an itinery leaked to a sunday newspaper suggests sir keir�*s beer and curry had been planned in advance. 0ur political correspondent, damian grammaticus has more he's always styled himself a man of probity — mr rules, one of his shadow cabinet put it today. and sir keir starmer would like the focus to be on the election results, yesterday celebrating advances in scotland. this was sir keir in april last year on the campaign trail. covid rules said you could gather indoors if it was reasonably necessary for work, but not to socialise outside your household or bubble. so was he breaking the law? durham police investigated and said no. they're reconsidering. a labour party schedule for the visit leaked to the mail on sunday shows the dinner was planned. that doesn't mean it broke regulations, but mr starmer is now in the spotlight and this makes

it more awkward. a tweet sir keir sent when it emerged borisjohnson was under investigation, saying honesty and decency matter, calling on the prime minister to "do the decent thing and resign". when we called for borisjohnson to resign, he was under investigation for 12 gatherings that he said simply never happened, that he denied that he was at, that we now know included karaoke, bring your own bottle, garden parties. that was clearly not allowed under the rules. they made those rules. they broke the rules. they lied about it and they laughed about it. keir starmer has done not a single one of those things. borisjohnson, after months under pressure, may now be enjoying labour's discomfort. the conservatives' losses in the elections are not the story now, but the fact mrjohnson has already been found to have broken the law and remains under investigation means tory attacks are muted. the prime minister refused to resign when he was fined breaking lockdown rules. so keir starmer doesn't have to resign even if he's fined, does he?

look, keir starmer has clearly got a bunch - | of questions to answer in terms| of how straightforward he's been with the public in his answersl to beergate and also, frankly, the rank double standards. that's for him. the liberal democrats, who would love to be talking about their electoral gains, the most of any party feel on firmer moral ground here. if he's found to have broken the law, does he have to resign? well, as i made really clear, no politician is above the law. so that's a yes? if any politician, be it keir starmer or borisjohnson, if they get a fixed penalty notice after a police investigation, it's extremely difficult for them to continue. so this could get even more difficult for sir keir and that won't change until durham police complete their investigation into his behaviour. damian grammaticus, bbc news. in ukraine, more than sixty people are feared to have died after the bombing of a school where civilians had been sheltering. the russian attack took place in the village of bilohorivka

in the donbas region of eastern ukraine — as our correspondent laura bicker reports. this was a school in the village of bilohorivka. it was being used as a shelter when it was hit by an air strike. around 60 people are feared dead under this rubble. russia is stepping up its assault on eastern and southern ukraine. in mariupol, they seek out the last ukrainian fighters held up in the vast azovstal steel plant. "keep watching and see how they move," is the command made of this russian drone operator. there are thought to be around 2000 ukrainian soldiers still determined to make one last stand. we don't have high chances of survival while we would be captured. and surrender for us is unacceptable because we cannot grant such

a big gift to the enemy, because every person who is captured is the exchange fund. all the women and children who'd used this plant as a refuge for more than two months have been rescued according to ukrainian officials, but daily shelling has decimated their once thriving city. the mayor claims those still there are being forced to carry permits to move around, and some men are even being held in camps. translation: this means the russian i occupying forces are holding captive l more than 100,000 people. they are using them to clear rubble and dead bodies. our local population is now forced to work for food in the city that has been turned into a ghetto in my opinion, established by the russian army. centres have been set up to help the tens of thousands of mariupol families trying to rebuild their shattered lives. this eight—year—old loves it here, but her mum is struggling to forget those harrowing last moments

in her hometown. translation: planes, missiles, then ships, i everything was on fire around you. people in the streets, torn off limbs, it was tough. it was frightening. i don't want to recall any of that. those left behind in mariupol must make what they can of their war—torn lives, and even amid the scattered ruins of their school, some have found a place to play. 0ur correspondentjoe inwood is in lviv in western ukraine. we were getting a sense of the situation in the east, what's your assessment of what's going on there? in the east, you've got a number of

different theatres. 0ne in the east, you've got a number of different theatres. one that is really worth mentioning is kharkiv in the north, ukraine's second city, a crucial bastion of resistance that has never been conquered but has been subject to incredible levels of bombardment, artillery fire, since the start of the war. we understand the start of the war. we understand the ukrainians have been conducting quite a successful counteroffensive there over the last few days, pushing russian forces back, even trying to threaten their supply lines of the reason this matters is because if they can push the russian forces back, it will free the people of the city, formerly a city of 1.5 million people, from the threat of artillery fire, which will be really important. secondly you've got the donbas, the main front of the russians have been advancing on. there we understand in eight how much is quite important, they have pushed ukrainian forces back, but this could be the sort of strategic withdrawal we have seen. the sort of tactical withdrawal with the ukrainian forces conducting. but i think the most important area to look at now is the one laura was

talking about in her report, in mariupol, the siege of the azovstal steelworks, which has been going on for so long now. the interesting press conference we heard from the commanders of the azov brigade and some of the marine commanders there, saying they are still in the fight, there are still a number of men, they did not say how many but they do have people still there. they've got ammunition. they've got food and water still, which we thought they were running out of. so a number of theatres all the way across the east. ~ �* ., , ., , theatres all the way across the east. �* ., ., , ., east. we've also seen a number of high-profile _ east. we've also seen a number of high-profile visits _ east. we've also seen a number of high-profile visits to _ east. we've also seen a number of high-profile visits to ukraine - high—profile visits to ukraine today, including the american first ladyjill biden, and also the canadian prime minister, justin trudeau, i think he has been speaking in the last hour or so, hasn't he?— speaking in the last hour or so, hasn't he? , ., , hasn't he? yes, there have been takin: hasn't he? yes, there have been taking part _ hasn't he? yes, there have been taking part in — hasn't he? yes, there have been taking part in this _ hasn't he? yes, there have been taking part in this g7 _ hasn't he? yes, there have been taking part in this g7 meeting, i taking part in this g7 meeting, there's been a reiteration of support by the developed, by the kind of industrial nations of the g7 for ukraine. they've also announced some more sanctions that are going to be put upon russia, russian

oligarchs, russian business people, gazprom bank executives as well. but the one, i think the other kind of eye—catching meeting you mentioned isjill biden, doctorjill biden, the first lady of the united states. and she visited a children's centre, but was interesting as she was accompanied there by the first lady of ukraine, 0lena zelenska. and what's interesting about that, i think particularly, as well as the warm words between the two, is the fact that this is the first time that ukraine's first lady has been seen since the start of the war, at the beginning we understood she was on a russian kill list along with herfamily, so for her to on a russian kill list along with her family, so for her to finally be out in public again shows i guess the confidence they have in being able to keep her safe. we the confidence they have in being able to keep her safe.— the confidence they have in being able to keep her safe. we will leave it there. able to keep her safe. we will leave it there- very _ able to keep her safe. we will leave it there. very good _ able to keep her safe. we will leave it there. very good to _ able to keep her safe. we will leave it there. very good to hear- able to keep her safe. we will leave it there. very good to hear from - able to keep her safe. we will leave | it there. very good to hear from you from ukraine, thank you. a reminder of our top stories this hour. doubts over power sharing in northern ireland — sinn fein are in line for the first minister's role at stormont, but the democratic unionists say

they won't take part unless new brexit trading rules are scrapped. labour hits back at fresh claims over keir starmer�*s lockdown meal with colleagues — saying he didn't break covid rules. more than sixty people are thought to have been killed after a russian bomb hit a school in eastern ukraine. easyjet is to remove seats on some of its planes in the summer, so that flights can operate with fewer cabin crew. six seats on the back row of its airbus a319 fleet will go — which it says complies with civil aviation authority guidelines. easyjet and other airlines have been battling covid—related staff shortages in recent months, affecting flights just as travel bookings started to come back. 0ur correspondent simon browing is with me now. tell us a bit more about what easyjet has been saying and why they are doing this. the

easyjet has been saying and why they are doing thie— easyjet has been saying and why they are doing this-— are doing this. the a319 by easyjet is one of the _ are doing this. the a319 by easyjet is one of the workhorses _ are doing this. the a319 by easyjet is one of the workhorses of - are doing this. the a319 by easyjet is one of the workhorses of the - is one of the workhorses of the easyjet fleet, taking passengers to sunny climes across europe. this morning i had a little look on easyjet's website, the a319 was going to malaga, berlin, dubrovnik, amsterdam. but as you said, lots of airlines, ba and others, are currently recruiting cabin crew because they laid off so many during the pandemic was a big impact for these stock shortages on the airlines' ability to operate punctual flights and get back to their busy summer schedule is as demand has researched. easyjet cancelled a whole load of flights last month, as did ba. it battled against covid shortages, and basically took the decision to cancel flights. as summer approaches, it cannot be caught in that same situation, where it is short—staffed, so it has told us today in a statement that it has had today in a statement that it has had to do quite a lot of resilience planning and one idea is to come up with is the removal of that last line of seats on board the a319, the

back row, which would be next to the toilets, where the cabin crew are hanging out, making tea and coffee, that row of seats will be removed set number of passengers on board the flight wilful below 250, which allows easyjet to operate those flights on the a319 with just three cabin crew, effectively meaning the crew it has got the number of staff it has got, can go further and service more flights. 0bviously it has got, can go further and service more flights. obviously not needing as many staff. a lot of airlines are trying to recruit but as i say, this is easyjet doing a bit of resilience planning to get through that busy summer schedule. i wonder if other airlines will follow suit. easyjet, as you touched on, is by no means the only airline having problems recruiting staff. absolutely. there have been reports of other airlines, effectively trying to steal their airline staff. the big problem is that airline staff and cabin crew need a certain amount of... certain degrees of clearance to work with in airports, and security clearance, and

basically there are delays in getting new recruits by airlines security clearance to be able to work within airlines immediately. so there have been some adverts from airlines where they have gone out and try to appeal to current staff of other airlines to come and work for us, we will give you a certain signing on bonus, such as the one for cabin crew, and it all comes down to the fact that travel has researched in an enormous way since the uk government removed travel restrictions, everyone is wanting to travel again and we want to get back to the beach, go back and see our families in warmer climes, and all of a sudden, we are flooding airports and a lot of them are not ready. so this is one way of easyjet, as i say, resilience planning to get us back on those planes. planning to get us back on those lanes. ., ., ., the actor ncuti gatwa will become the next doctor in the programme doctor who. the 29—year—old is the first black actor to take the lead role in the popular science fiction show. the scottish actor — born in rwanda — is best known for starring in netflix's sitcom, sex education. 0ur entertainment correspondent lizo mzimba caught up with him

on the bafta tv awards red carpet. the future time lord on the red carpet, hours after his casting as the doctor was revealed. his emotions on taking on the role — excitement, nervousness? joyous. it feels really, really exciting, being a part of a programme that pushes the narrative and makes people feel seen, but also really funny. so it feels nice to be back, and nice that people receive it, so, yeah, feels good. doctor who's returning head writer russell t davies says they've been keeping the news secret since february. completely surprised and completely thrilled, and it's so nice to see the cast being recognised tonight. and of course it was made on a channel that the government's going to sell off! and they are also planning to get rid of the bbc licence fee. so if you like shows like this, go and vote differently, that's what i say. ncuti gatwa's success on sex education has already helped him become one of tv�*s newest stars as the irrepressible eric. i like your moves. thank you. here. let me fix your...

he was born in rwanda and came to the uk as a refugee when his family fled the genocide there. he grew up around edinburgh and ended up studying drama. ah, what is this called, mum? today he's up for a best comedy performance bafta for the series sex education for the third year in a row. ncuti gatwa appeared in black and scottish — a film that brings together diverse voices to build a picture of the black community of scotland. stewart kyasimire is the bafta—nominated director of that documentary. hejoins me now from glasgow. it's great to have you with us, thanks forjoining us on bbc news. you know ncuti gatwa well, what do you think of the choice for him as doctor who?—

you think of the choice for him as doctor who? ~ ., ., ,., doctor who? when i heard about the news, i doctor who? when i heard about the news. i was — doctor who? when i heard about the news, i was shocked, _ doctor who? when i heard about the news, iwas shocked, i— doctor who? when i heard about the news, i was shocked, i couldn't - news, i was shocked, i couldn't believe it. i interviewed ncuti about two years ago, and just watching him excel as a black scott in the industry was fascinating, and now that he is playing doctor who, it's just opened up a whole new narrative, relief of —— a black scot in the industry. a black man, black scotsmen playing that role, itjust shows you that it doesn't really matter where you're from, it's about the skills of your acting skills. so i am very surprised and very proud of him. �* , , , ., ., of him. it's interesting you mention that it doesn't _ of him. it's interesting you mention that it doesn't matter— of him. it's interesting you mention that it doesn't matter where - of him. it's interesting you mention that it doesn't matter where you're | that it doesn't matter where you're from because his story actually is incredible, isn't it? he's the son of rwandan refugees, i think he was homeless until he landed the role in sex education, and you got to know him well in this documentary, i was shocked reading it, he said, "i

thought at 1.1 was the only black person in the world." and he suffered terrible abuse in school from his classmates?— from his classmates? yes, unfortunately _ from his classmates? yes, unfortunately that's - from his classmates? yes, unfortunately that's a - from his classmates? yes, - unfortunately that's a conversation we had to have, it wasn't the best. but he kept... he was the kind of person that's very resilient. at the racism that he received was harrowing. and some of the stories, you know, things like, "get the n word out of our school." he worked in edinburgh and when he went back to five, that's when he received this racism. but in edinburgh, he had no issues. —— when he went back to fife he received this racism. but unfortunately he did have these harrowing stories that he's managed to overcome. being black in scotland, there's not many black

people appear, so, you know, people aren't used to us. but hopefully, now that this has come out, a lot more people will know about us black scottish people. more people will know about us black scottish people-— scottish people. russell t davies, who has cost _ scottish people. russell t davies, who has cost him _ scottish people. russell t davies, who has cost him is _ scottish people. russell t davies, who has cost him is doctor - scottish people. russell t davies, who has cost him is doctor who, i scottish people. russell t davies, i who has cost him is doctor who, said that he dazzled in his audition. you have worked with him and got on him. tell is a bit more about the sort of person he is. i tell is a bit more about the sort of person he is— tell is a bit more about the sort of person he is. i remember when we were working _ person he is. i remember when we were working on — person he is. i remember when we were working on black— person he is. i remember when we were working on black and - person he is. i remember when we l were working on black and scottish, he was shooting sex education in wales, and a researcher contacted his agent asking if he wanted to come to scotland to feature in the documentary, and he had said to me that this is the second time, working in scotland, he had not worked in scotland before. so netflix fortunately allows him to fly up to glasgow for the day, take a day of filming. and you know, a lot of people talk about his accent, however, when he was speaking to me, that's when i could hear the kind of broad scottish accent. and he was really excited and happy to feature

in the documentary, and he's a very sweet, very kind, very open... you know, hejust basically sweet, very kind, very open... you know, he just basically took over the show. but he was more than happy to take his time at, to come up and tell his story for the band from getting to know ncuti, i was fortunate enough to be nominated for a bafta, and he went on to get a nomination, and also won a bafta, as well. so he's the kind this ever meet, he really is. unfortunately we have to leave _ meet, he really is. unfortunately we have to leave it _ meet, he really is. unfortunately we have to leave it there _ meet, he really is. unfortunately we have to leave it there but _ meet, he really is. unfortunately we have to leave it there but with - meet, he really is. unfortunately we have to leave it there but with a - have to leave it there but with a great to talk to you, thanks for joining us. thank you. and the winners at the baftas are starting to come through. ant and dec�*s saturday night takeaway claimed the first award of the evening for best entertainment programme. it's the fourth time they've won this award. succession star matthew macfadyen has won the tv bafta for best supporting actor.

succession creatorjesse armstrong collected the award on macfadyen s behalf. rose ayling—ellis and giovanni pernice won the must—see moment at the bafta tv awards for their silent dance on strictly come dancing, the only award voted for by the public. itv�*s coronation steet has the best soap and continuing drama category. and mo gilligan has won best comedy entertainment for his channel 4 show, the lateish show. the actor, dennis waterman has died at the age of 7a. he was best known for his roles in tv shows like minder, new tricks and the sweeney. his family released a statement saying he had passed away peacefully at home in spain. i'm joined now by tv critic toby earle. good to have you with us. a sad day, i think, because dennis waterman had many fans. he was such a big star,

wasn't he, in the 1970s and 1980s? and i was reflecting on his career and i thought, he made it look very easy. he had a kind of affable charm, didn't he? what are your reflections? ii charm, didn't he? what are your reflections?— charm, didn't he? what are your reflections? if you would imagine someone like _ reflections? if you would imagine someone like raymond _ reflections? if you would imagine someone like raymond chandlerl someone like raymond chandler writing in south london, you could imagine a character the likes that you so in minder or the sweeney popping up in those kind of works. and even though he was meant to be ostensibly a heavy, particularly in minder, there was a sort of vulnerability to him and almost sometime as an exasperation, really, at what life was throwing at him at all times. and he inhabited those rules to such a degree of success. and such authenticity, as well. of course, his career continued on the small screen with the success of new tricks and even little britain recognised, or celebrated, sort of the influence he had on them, david

walliams and matt lucas, by spacing with the writing and singing the theme tune. and matt lucas tweeted today that he joined them onstage when they were on tour, basically the greatest moment of his entire career! and he worked on stage, too, he was an accomplished actor and starred in films, comedy is... his work spanned multiple genres it of course he was i was i was going to be remembered, i suppose, for those rose in minderand be remembered, i suppose, for those rose in minder and the sweeney and later in his career new tricks —— he was always going to be remembered for those roles. i think what's interesting is that the sweeney and minder revolved around his rapport with his fellow actors, didn't it? and that's not easy. you've got to be a certain kind of actor who is not wanting to be the big i am, haven't you, to make that kind of relationship work?— relationship work? they clearly complemented _ relationship work? they clearly complemented each _

relationship work? they clearly complemented each other, - relationship work? they clearly complemented each other, his| complemented each other, his co—stars in minder and the sweeney, they clearly complement it one another terribly well. and of course the success of those shows met the more time they spent together, of course, the chemistryjust only ever increased and improved. and as a consequence, you could argue perhaps equal billing, really, but they, i think, in both of those shows, it was sort of mini ensemble if you like. but certainly he stood out in both those shows. but certainly wasn't dominating to the point where everyone else was being pushed the shadows. unfortunately we are at a time, but really hello. there's been a lot of fine and warm weather around for the uk through the weekend. high pressure is what's been holding the forecast steady. it still hangs around for england and wales into monday, but to the northwest of the uk, we'll see weather fronts approaching as a low rolls in further north. and those weather fronts will kick up the winds for the small hours

for northern ireland and western scotland and eventually will usher rain in by dawn. overnight for england and wales, it stays fine, clear spells, the odd patch of mist and fog possible in one or two spots. quite chilly, actually, across east anglia and the far southeast, lows ofjust 2 or 3 degrees. much milder under the cloud and rain to the northwest of the uk. that rain a pretty persistent feature through the day across western scotland, spreads out across northern ireland. as we go into the afternoon, perhaps we'll see some brighter skies and showers following. wet by the afternoon for eastern scotland, parts of northwest england and north wales, but warm as the sunshine continues further south. hello, welcome back to bbc news. the headlines. doubts over power sharing in northern ireland. sinn fein are in line for the first minister's role at stormont, but the democratic unionists say they won't take part unless new brexit trading rules are scrapped. labour hits back at fresh

claims over keir starmer�*s lockdown meal with colleagues, saying he didn't break covid rules.