this is bbc news. i'm rebecca jones. the headlines at 5pm: former chancellor rishi sunak confirms he's in the race to be the next conservative leader. suella braverman, the former home secretary, is backing his bid. former prime minister borisjohnson is reported to have asked fellow leadership hopeful penny mordaunt her to drop out of the race and to back his campaign. she is said to have refused. so penny mordaunt is still in the running — with 23 backers. she told the bbc she believes in cabinet led politics. i have my views, but i won't be endorsing policy that ijust made up by myself. in other news, headteachers in england say nine in ten schools will have run out of money by the next school year due to the cost of living crisis.

good afternoon. rishi sunak has formally entered the contest to become the next conservative leader and prime minister. the former chancellor says he wants to lead the country with integrity, professionalism and accountability. he already has the required backing of more than 100 fellow tory mps. this afternoon suella braverman, the former home secretary became the lastest high profile mp to endorse him. writing in the telegraph ms braverman says the tories all need to compromise but that rishi is the only candidate that fits the bill to deliver unity,

stability and efficiency. meanwhile the foreign secretary james cleverly is backing boris johnson. in a tweet he said that mrjohnson had learned lessons from his time in number 10 and will focus on the needs of the country. mrjohnson has yet to declare his candidacy but held talks with mr sunak last night. penny mordaunt is also running but like mrjohnson has yet to achieve the required number of backers. here's our political correspondent helen catt. three potential prime ministers. two of them have officially said they want the job. the former chancellor rishi sunak has confirmed he is running, after getting more than the 100 backers he needs. in a tweet, he said he was standing because he wanted to fix the economy, unite the party and deliver for the country. penny mordaunt had already said she was in the race and is the only contender so far to go in front of the cameras. but she wouldn't be drawn on the detail

penny mordaunt had already said she was in the race and is the only contender so far to go in front of the cameras. but she wouldn't be drawn on the detail of the policy she would pursue. you stand by what you said a couple of weeks ago? you are trying very hard, laura. she insisted she hasn't done any deals to drop out. i am very confident about the progress we are making and i will say to you that i am in this to win it. it is important for our party, we have a contest and i am very confident about our numbers. the reason why i am doing this is because i think i am best placed to bring the party together. which just leaves borisjohnson to say what he plans to do. allies say he will run and insist he does have the numbers, despite the figure of public backers being just over half of what is needed. clearly, he's going to stand, there is a great deal of support for him. people have a choice whether to make their names public or not. but the people doing the numbers for boris�* campaign tell me they have the numbers, so the hundred that is necessary are there.

another supporter said borisjohnson had promised to run a tighter ship if he went back to downing street. an investigation by mps is due to start soon about what he told parliament over the covid rule—breaking last time he was in charge. boris is an amazing figure in our party, an incredible campaigner, he lights up any room and if he was in charge of the campaigning, he could be an incredible asset, but as prime minister, we would be absolutely shackled to somebody who was bound to bring us down. the labour leader again said there should be a general election to let the public decide. there are worries among tory mps that mr sunak would not be able to win votes in the same way as mrjohnson when the next election is called. but for now, he is the only declared candidate who is certain of a place on the ballot tomorrow. helen catt, bbc news. rishi sunak is the second candidate to declare, following penny mordaunt,

who announced her candicacy on friday. mr sunak held talks with borisjohnson last night, who has yet to publically declare that he'll be entering the race. the bbc�*s tally indicates that mr sunak has already received the backing of 146 mps. that's significantly more than the 100 needed, to enter the ballot. borisjohnson has 57 and penny mordaunt has 24. 0ur correspondent damian grammaticas has been following proceedings in westminster, and has the latest on who's taking part and who's backing who. that is question hanging in the air now, is borisjohnson going to officially enter this race? why hasn't he done so so far? the other candidates say he hasn't got the numbers and doesn't want the humiliation of putting himself forward and falling short. we know

he's a showman, likes to be the ringmaster, perhaps he is waiting to do a big reveal or perhaps things are still in play. it's reported he has met with penny mordaunt or had talks with woman—macro. we know that she is in no mood to stand aside. he clearly is going ahead. somebody you think might back him, the home secretary suella braverman. she warned that the conservative party is divided and heading towards a wipe—out. she said we need unity and stability and rishi sunak fits the bill. borisjohnson needs 100 names by2p bill. borisjohnson needs 100 names by 2p tomorrow. so how is this playing out with grassroots tory supporters? sally—ann marks is chair of maidstone and the weald conservative association in kent. shejoins us now. good to have

she joins us now. good to have you with us. who in your view should be the next leader of your party? weill. the next leader of your party? well, so far we have _ the next leader of your party? well, so far we have two _ the next leader of your party? well, so far we have two candidates. - the next leader of your party? .11 so far we have two candidates. we have a potential third candidate. we are not quite sure if borisjohnson is going to make the cut. whether he does or not, time will tell. of the two who have currently declared, i could be happy with either. i did vote for rishi sunak last time and i am minded to do that again. i think woman—macro is a fantastic politician. she is confident and extremely clever. she's very able and she presents extremely well. she's a very good communicator. i would be very happy if she was our prime minister. for the moment, i think rishi sunak is the one who i think rishi sunak is the one who i think we'll deal with this incredibly difficult economic crisis

that we've got. i have a lot of confidence in him. i think a lot of the things that he was talking about during the last leadership campaign have indeed come to pass. i don't think that we would be in the same situation if indeed he had won. i am struck by some _ situation if indeed he had won. i am struck by some of _ situation if indeed he had won. i am struck by some of your _ situation if indeed he had won. i am struck by some of your language. you said you were minded to back him at the moment. what if borisjohnson was to receive the number of mps he needs, 100, as you know, and then he would be put forward to a vote of party members? would you then be minded to back him? i’m party members? would you then be minded to back him?— party members? would you then be minded to back him? i'm a democrat, so i will follow _ minded to back him? i'm a democrat, so i will follow however _ minded to back him? i'm a democrat, so i will follow however is _ minded to back him? i'm a democrat, so i will follow however is the - so i will follow however is the leader. whoever is chosen and elected through our democratic process. i know not everybody is happy with that, but that is the system we have at the moment. i

think he is very... ifeel very strongly that the party, the voluntary party and indeed the parliamentary party, and probably more importantly the parliamentary party at the moment, all get behind whoever is elected. i think like many people, of my fellow members, we've been frustrated with the lack of support shown in the last... not just the last few weeks but few months towards the leader and that is really cute to me. you asked me a question, whether boris would put himself forward. if he does make the cut, and indeed he is one of the two that comes forward, i would still vote for rishi sunak.— vote for rishi sunak. that's interesting. _ vote for rishi sunak. that's interesting. how— vote for rishi sunak. that's interesting. how widely - vote for rishi sunak. that's interesting. how widely are vote for rishi sunak. that's - interesting. how widely are your views shared by other conservative party members. there is a conception that at the party names that went forward to the conservative party election, of rishi sunak and boris johnson, borisjohnson would win.

lets wait and see, let's wait and see what happens. there's no doubt he is an extraordinary campaigner. he delivered the most wonderful election as far as i can see of course speaking as a conservative member at the last general election. he is such an asset in many ways to the party. however, ithink he is such an asset in many ways to the party. however, i think he has proved to be unreliable in certain circles circumstances. i heard someone on the radio or television saying that hopefully over the last boris has gone away, reflected, and tried to understand what he's done wrong. i believe very firmly people are allowed a second chance, there allowed to redeem themselves. it would be a terrible world if we didn't offer second chances to people. however, in this

circumstance, personally, istill think i'm going to vote for rishi sunak. 0f think i'm going to vote for rishi sunak. of course, i have members who are very keen on boris. 0f sunak. of course, i have members who are very keen on boris. of course there are. i met one or two today. i also met one or two rishi sunak supporters. i have three sons, all grown up. at least two of them are great borisjohnson supporters and i suspect a lot of young people like his difference, his otherness. but what we are talking about is a role thatis what we are talking about is a role that is so important for our government, foreign country that is really going to take us forward and just sort out what is so important. the economy. that's what it is. we have to leave it there. really good to talk to you. thank you.- to talk to you. thank you. thank ou. to talk to you. thank you. thank yom whoever — to talk to you. thank you. thank you. whoever wins, _ to talk to you. thank you. thank you. whoever wins, we - to talk to you. thank you. thank you. whoever wins, we will - to talk to you. thank you. thank j you. whoever wins, we will have to talk to you. thank you. thank - you. whoever wins, we will have the cost of living — you. whoever wins, we will have the cost of living crisis _ you. whoever wins, we will have the cost of living crisis at _ you. whoever wins, we will have the cost of living crisis at the _ you. whoever wins, we will have the cost of living crisis at the top - you. whoever wins, we will have the cost of living crisis at the top of - cost of living crisis at the top of

her mind. this morning there was a stark warning from the former governor of the bank of england, lord king, he said whoever is in power will need to impose public spending cuts or tax rises in order to tackle inflation. mervyn king said central banks had got it wrong by printing money — to support people during the pandemic. i think all central banks made the mistake during the lockdown period of thinking that they should print a lot of money to support the economy. whereas in fact, with the economy contracting under lockdown, that was the wrong policy. and all central banks, not just ours, but the federal reserve, the european central bank are all facing now, very high inflation rates of close to 10%. head teachers in england say nine out of ten schools will have run out of money by the next school year due to the cost—of—living crisis and spiralling energy prices. the teaching profession is calling on the government to stand by its 2019 election pledge to restore education spending to what it was in 2010, before public spending was cut under austerity. kathryn stanczyszyn reports.

an unprecedented funding crisis in education as the everyday gets more expensive. that's the warning from many who work in schools who say the reality is stark. a recent survey indicates the burden of rising energy costs as well as salary increases means nine out of ten schools could run out of money by next september. i know of one colleague who has been round his school and taken out all of the light bulbs that he doesn't think are essential. i have talked to school leaders that are not putting their heating on until absolutely necessary. things like trips and visits and all the extra things that sometimes schools put on are not going to be happening this year. it comes as 13 education bodies have written an open letter to conservative mps urging them to put the issue at the forefront of their minds when choosing a new prime minister. they say current forecasts show a £2 billion black hole by 2024, a desperate situation that will severely impact the quality of education. steve chalke says energy costs for the 52 schools in his academy

chain havejumped from £26,000 a year to just under 90,000. we are paying three times as much for our energy, even after government support, three times as much as we were this time last year. that means we are spending through our reserves so that the situation cannot continue forever. you cannot do that and survive. the department for education says it is increasing budgets this year and that all schools will benefit from the government scheme to discount energy costs. the national association of head teachers has announced it is balloting members for strike action over funding for the first time in its 125—year history. as the cost of living crisis deepens, schools are finding their financial balancing acts even more precarious. kathryn stanczyszyn, bbc news.

ukraine's army claims that russian forces are continuing to retreat from the city of kherson in the south. defending troops are maintaining their counter—offensives towards the west of the regional capital — and they say that invading forces are setting up new positions across the dnipro river. moscow has been accused of placing explosives on a key dam as it pulls out, which it denies. 0ur ukraine correspondent james waterhouse has been to some of the recently liberated villages in the area. so the one at the front, the bnp one... in the kherson region, there is activity, military movements back and forth from ukraine's counter—offensive, a logistical artery weaving

through recently liberated villages after months of shelling. it's finally quiet. ukraine is back in control. but of what? communities like this one looted and destroyed. there have been times when 69—year—old fedor thought he was going to starve to death. translation: we lived under explosions and shelling, he says. but those russians said they were liberators. in reality, they started robbing us. it's not why i'm crying. i'm crying because we spent half a year under explosions. outside the nursery, there are holes, one from a shell and more from shrapnel. all that's left of the pupils are their names. they left long ago.

translation: when i came here for the first time after liberation, i just stood here and cried. it is really hard. so there's nothing left. her home was looted after she escaped. they took almost everything. you learn a lot about the russian occupiers just by looking around. this school was their headquarters. supplies and rubbish scattered everywhere. not the footprint of a disciplined force, but of one fighting in squalor which left in a hurry. there are endless moments when this war feels pointless, and this is one of them. whether villages like this are occupied or liberated, the result is the same. communities are destroyed. but there is relief here and a belief that people can one day heal. and those are the reasons why ukraine continues to fight. liberation in this region is fiercely contested. if achieved, it doesn't bring

instant normality either. but in the words of one ukrainian soldier, what choice do they have? james waterhouse, bbc news, kherson region. now a time for a look at the sport with gavin. england are through to the quarterfinals of the rugby union world cup after comprehensive 75—0 win against south africa. the women's side extending their winning streak to 28 games. jo currie is in new zealand. stepping out in the autumn sunshine. the place already secured, this match was all about winning the group, and such was their strength in depth, they made their teens changes to their starting 15. england got off the mark early on. driving and eventually crashing over the line. south africa would be no pushovers. their big hits reminding england they were in a big clash.

england they were in a big clash. england started to pull away in the first half, jotting down four more times, secured as they headed into the break. after the restart, there was no letup from the world number ones as their try count continue to top up. gallagher touching down, a hat—trick on her world cup debut and a moment to remember. she wasn't only want to impress, connie powell also notching up three tries. pele-“e"- whistle. relentless until the final whistle. england pushing their opponents. that's the 28th consecutive win and form they will need to continue heading into the knockout stages. england have cruised through their group stages. standing on their way next is a familiar foe as they australia in the quarterfinals. they will start as favourites, but it is a rivalry where sparks always fly. southampton came back to draw with premier

league leaders arsenal, the gunners missing the chance to pull further clear at the top. granit xhaka gave arsenal the lead, scoring for the second consecutive game, converting ben white's cross. the gunners had only dropped points in one game this season before today. but southampton improved in the second half. stuart armstrong finishing off the move for the equaliser, the result moving them three points clear of the relegation zone. arsenal nowjust two points ahead of second placed manchester city. aston villa beat brentford 4—0, following the sacking of steven gerrard. the pressure's onjesse marsch at leeds — they were beaten 3—2 by fulham at elland road to drop into the bottom three. and a huge win for leicester, who also move out of the drop zone — they hammered wolves 4—0 at molineux. third—placed spurs currently in action against newcastle and are a goal down. nothing can separate arsenal and manchester united at the top of the womens super league. the gunners won 2—0 at liverpool earlier this afternoon. lia walti fired the gunners into the lead

after a quarter of an hour. frida maanum added another goal soon after. it's arsenal's 12th straight league win. manchester united won 1—0 away at leicester. lebanon are on course to make the quarter—finals of the rugby league world cup after a comfortable win over ireland. michael cheika's side produced a dominant display in leigh, running in five tries as they won by 32 points to 1a. both sides have two points in pool c, but lebanon face the bottom side jamaica in theirfinal game, whilst ireland take on new zealand. ireland have been hammered by sri lanka in their opening super 12s match at the t20 world cup. they could only manage 128 from their innings, with the wicket of harry tector a big one for si lanka. and the irish struggled with the ball too, with kusal mendis reaching an unbeaten 68 — including a 6 to finish off the chase — with sri lanka winning by nine wickets. and there was a thriller india and pakistan at the mcg.

batting first, pakistan stuttered early on but recovered well thanks to half centuries from shan masood and iftikar ahmed. in reply, india lost early wickets but virat kohli's brilliant unbeaten 82 kept his side in the hunt. a dramatic final over saw two wickets, a six off a no—ball and two wides, as ravichandran ashwin struck the winning runs to seal an incredible win for india against their fierce rivals. that's all the sport for now. back to our top story and the conservative leadership race. what do voters make of the turmoil in westminster? danjohnson has been speaking to people in the conservative consituency of peterborough. here are some alternative candidates who are being put up for election. i quite like that one. i love that

one. i quite like that one. i love that one. ., ., ., , ., one. i would love that your prime minister, one. i would love that your prime minister. he _ one. i would love that your prime minister, he would _ one. i would love that your prime minister, he would be _ one. i would love that your prime minister, he would be like - one. i would love that your prime minister, he would be like boris. | minister, he would be like boris. torrential rain disrupted this morning scarecrow contest and politics has also been overshadowed by the new search for another figurehead. i by the new search for another figurehead-— by the new search for another fiaurehead. ~ �*, ., ., , figurehead. i think it's an absolute shambles and _ figurehead. i think it's an absolute shambles and really _ figurehead. i think it's an absolute shambles and really i'd _ figurehead. i think it's an absolute shambles and really i'd like - figurehead. i think it's an absolute shambles and really i'd like to - figurehead. i think it's an absolute shambles and really i'd like to seej shambles and really i'd like to see a general— shambles and really i'd like to see a general election so that we can choose _ a general election so that we can choose because i think to continually have new prime minister is that— continually have new prime minister is that nobody... well, apart from a minority— is that nobody... well, apart from a minority have — is that nobody... well, apart from a minority have voted for, is grossly unfaih _ minority have voted for, is grossly unfair. ., . , , , unfair. the np of the city says his constituents _ unfair. the np of the city says his constituents want _ unfair. the np of the city says his constituents want boris _ unfair. the np of the city says his constituents want boris johnson | unfair. the np of the city says his . constituents want boris johnson back constituents want borisjohnson back and loved or loathed, he is the name and loved or loathed, he is the name and many let's hear.— and many let's hear. boris got us throu~h and many let's hear. boris got us through covid _ and many let's hear. boris got us through covid and _ and many let's hear. boris got us through covid and people - and many let's hear. boris got us through covid and people have i and many let's hear. boris got us - through covid and people have mixed feelings— through covid and people have mixed feelings but— through covid and people have mixed feelings but at— through covid and people have mixed feelings but at the _ through covid and people have mixed feelings but at the end _ through covid and people have mixed feelings but at the end of _ through covid and people have mixed feelings but at the end of the - through covid and people have mixed feelings but at the end of the day, i feelings but at the end of the day, ithink_ feelings but at the end of the day, ilhink he's— feelings but at the end of the day, i think he's good. _ feelings but at the end of the day, i think he's good. igirlho— feelings but at the end of the day, i think he's good.— i think he's good. who should be prime minister? _ i think he's good. who should be prime minister? rishi _ i think he's good. who should be prime minister? rishi sunak. - i think he's good. who should be | prime minister? rishi sunak. tell i think he's good. who should be - prime minister? rishi sunak. tell me wh ? we prime minister? rishi sunak. tell me why? we don't _ prime minister? rishi sunak. tell me why? we don't want _ prime minister? rishi sunak. tell me why? we don't want boris _ prime minister? rishi sunak. tell me why? we don't want boris back, - prime minister? rishi sunak. tell me why? we don't want boris back, do i why? we don't want boris back, do we? we've — why? we don't want boris back, do we? we've been _ why? we don't want boris back, do we? we've been through _ why? we don't want boris back, do

we? we've been through a - why? we don't want boris back, do | we? we've been through a financial crisis in the — we? we've been through a financial crisis in the world _ we? we've been through a financial crisis in the world and _ we? we've been through a financial crisis in the world and we _ we? we've been through a financial crisis in the world and we need - crisis in the world and we need someone — crisis in the world and we need someone with that thought process and someone who can get us through the financial crisis. 30 and someone who can get us through the financial crisis.— the financial crisis. so who should it be? rishi _ the financial crisis. so who should it be? rishi sunak. _ the financial crisis. so who should it be? rishi sunak. this _ the financial crisis. so who should it be? rishi sunak. this woman i the financial crisis. so who should it be? rishi sunak. this woman isj it be? rishi sunak. this woman is auainst it be? rishi sunak. this woman is against the _ it be? rishi sunak. this woman is against the idea _ it be? rishi sunak. this woman is against the idea of _ it be? rishi sunak. this woman is against the idea of a _ it be? rishi sunak. this woman is against the idea of a boris - it be? rishi sunak. this woman is | against the idea of a boris johnson against the idea of a borisjohnson comeback. he against the idea of a boris johnson comeback. ., , ., ., comeback. he lied to us and had arties at comeback. he lied to us and had parties at westminster - comeback. he lied to us and had parties at westminster and - comeback. he lied to us and had parties at westminster and we i parties at westminster and we weren't— parties at westminster and we weren't allowed _ parties at westminster and we weren't allowed to. _ parties at westminster and we weren't allowed to. because . parties at westminster and we| weren't allowed to. because of parties at westminster and we - weren't allowed to. because of that i weren't allowed to. because of that i never_ weren't allowed to. because of that i never got — weren't allowed to. because of that i never got to — weren't allowed to. because of that i never got to say— weren't allowed to. because of that i never got to say goodbye - weren't allowed to. because of that i never got to say goodbye to - weren't allowed to. because of that i never got to say goodbye to my i weren't allowed to. because of that i i never got to say goodbye to my dad when _ i never got to say goodbye to my dad when he _ i never got to say goodbye to my dad when he died~ — i never got to say goodbye to my dad when he died. it's— i never got to say goodbye to my dad when he died. it's not— i never got to say goodbye to my dad when he died. it's not fair. _ i never got to say goodbye to my dad when he died. it's not fair. i- i never got to say goodbye to my dad when he died. it's not fair. i don't - when he died. it's not fair. i don't like him _ when he died. it's not fair. i don't like him and — when he died. it's not fair. i don't like him and i_ when he died. it's not fair. i don't like him and i don't _ when he died. it's not fair. i don't like him and i don't like _ when he died. it's not fair. i don't like him and i don't like the - like him and i don't like the conservatives. _ like him and i don't like the conservatives.— like him and i don't like the conservatives. ~ ., conservatives. mark runs a window cleanin: conservatives. mark runs a window cleaning business _ conservatives. mark runs a window cleaning business and _ conservatives. mark runs a window cleaning business and wants - conservatives. mark runs a window cleaning business and wants to - conservatives. mark runs a windowj cleaning business and wants to see conservatives. mark runs a window l cleaning business and wants to see a fresh start, and a general election. yes, and i would vote labour this time and i have been a conservative for most of my life.— for most of my life. opinion polls say conservative _ for most of my life. opinion polls say conservative should - for most of my life. opinion polls say conservative should be - for most of my life. opinion polls| say conservative should be scared for most of my life. opinion polls . say conservative should be scared of losing this area and that's why the fear a general election and why one may not be forthcoming. jodie whittaker will make her final doctor who appearance in a 90—minute

special on bbc one later. the actress made history in 2017 as the first woman to take on the lead role in the long—running sci—fi drama. her last epsiode airs at 7:30pm this evening — and here's a snippet of the trailer. welcome to the end of your existence. a dozen of the world's leading - seismologists have gone missing. 15 of the world's most valuable paintings have disappeared. i what a landing! 9.9! can i let you in on a little secret? a dalek incursion - on earth is imminent. has it never occurred to you that it could be a trap? josh rom is a freelance entertainment correspondent — and a fan of the programme. i take it you're looking forward to this eveningmike i take it you're looking forward to this eveningmik— this eveningmike absolutely, i'm ve much this eveningmike absolutely, i'm very much looking _ this eveningmike absolutely, i'm very much looking forward - this eveningmike absolutely, i'm very much looking forward to - this eveningmike absolutely, i'm| very much looking forward to this evening. this last episode will see

jodie whittaker go up against alex, cyber men and also the master. three of the most iconic villains of the franchise. i'm expecting big things from the episode tonight. h0??? franchise. i'm expecting big things from the episode tonight. how would ou assess from the episode tonight. how would you assess her? _ from the episode tonight. how would you assess her? i _ from the episode tonight. how would you assess her? i think— from the episode tonight. how would you assess her? i think she's - from the episode tonight. how would you assess her? i think she's done i from the episode tonight. how would you assess her? i think she's done a | you assess her? i think she's done a remarkable — you assess her? i think she's done a remarkable job. _ you assess her? i think she's done a remarkable job. before _ you assess her? i think she's done a remarkable job. before her, - you assess her? i think she's done a remarkable job. before her, there i remarkablejob. before her, there were 12 incarnations of the doctor. even though there were plot points in the series for the doctor to be a female character, we saw this with... it was always open for the doctor to be a female. butjodie made it possible. jodie was the one that broke that barrier, broke that glass ceiling and said two girls up and down the country, yes, i can play a male dominated character. that has been male dominated for

generations, decades back. she was the first female. she had a good tenure. if we compare it to other doctors. very similar to david tennant who played the doctor from 2010 to 2015. he is widely considered to be one of the most popular doctors of all time. the longest serving doctor was tom baker who plagued him for seven years, so even comparatively, jodie has had a very good run. lats even comparatively, jodie has had a very good run-— very good run. lots of people think she's great- _ very good run. lots of people think she's great. there _ very good run. lots of people think she's great. there are _ very good run. lots of people think she's great. there are some - very good run. lots of people think. she's great. there are some armchair critics and critics who are paid for a living history she hasn't necessarily been helped by the storylines and also having a lot of different companions she had to juggle. what are your thoughts on that? ., ., ~ ., juggle. what are your thoughts on that? ., .,~ ., , juggle. what are your thoughts on that? ., ., , ., that? you make a very valid point. some of the _ that? you make a very valid point. some of the companions - that? you make a very valid point. some of the companions are -

that? you make a very valid point. j some of the companions are some that? you make a very valid point. i some of the companions are some of the most important characters in doctor who franchise. in my formative years i remember catherine tate playing donna noble and she was one of my favourites. they are very important figureheads in the franchise itself, but we are seeing the return to native to historical companions. we are seeing ace and tegan returning to the franchise. they haven't appeared since the 19805. they haven't appeared since the 1980s. we are going to see some throwbacks to salvage our into episode. listen, the choice to cast a female lead in the role of the doctor which was previously, historically played by men, that was always going to be a controversial move. this is a franchise that a lot of people care very passionately about. as i said before, jodie whittaker has had a very good run of

five years, broken down barriers for girls up and down the country, and i think she gave the franchise a much—needed boost. brute think she gave the franchise a much-needed boost. ~ ., ., ., much-needed boost. we have to leave it there, much-needed boost. we have to leave it there. but — much-needed boost. we have to leave it there, but good _ much-needed boost. we have to leave it there, but good to _ much-needed boost. we have to leave it there, but good to talk— much-needed boost. we have to leave it there, but good to talk to _ much-needed boost. we have to leave it there, but good to talk to us - much-needed boost. we have to leave it there, but good to talk to us and - it there, but good to talk to us and enjoy the programme tonight, i have a feeling you will. enjoy the programme tonight, i have a feeling you will. king charles and the queen consort have sent their first ever cards to hundreds of people celebrating their 100th and 105th birthdays across the united kingdom. ruth park—pearson, who served in the women's royal naval service, celebrated her century on friday. the tradition dates back to 1917, when those celebrating big life milestones were sent a telegram of good wishes from king george v. now it's time for a look at the weather with alina. hello. two areas of rain to look out for.

much of the thundery element now pushing into scotland and northern ireland, so heavy, thundery showers pushing up from the south and those will continue to murk their way north and eastwards through england and wales for this evening and overnight. that band of rain weakening as it pulls its way northwards. clear spells developing behind that band of rain and quite gusty showers per channel because. reaching 55 mph. another mild night. showers will clear through the morning to leave sunshine behind, some showers pushing in for the west is the day moves on. hit and mist. not everyone will see them. filling mild if not warm in the sunshine, 15 up mild if not warm in the sunshine, 15 up to 18 celsius. staying mild day and night. drierand sunnierspots but also further spots of rain for many of us. hello, this is bbc news. the headlines...