today at one... 48 hours of disruption on the railways. train drivers from the aslef union have walked out today, and tomorrow, it's members of the rmt union, in their long—running disputes over pay. we have to look after the people we represent so we don't want to hurt anybody, we don't want to disadvantage anybody but there is no good day for a strike. mat disadvantage anybody but there is no good day for a strike.— good day for a strike. not only as a cenerous good day for a strike. not only as a generous pay _ good day for a strike. not only as a generous pay rise _ good day for a strike. not only as a generous pay rise and _ good day for a strike. not only as a generous pay rise and bear - good day for a strike. not only as a generous pay rise and bear in - good day for a strike. not only as a generous pay rise and bear in mindi generous pay rise and bear in mind their— generous pay rise and bear in mind their pay— generous pay rise and bear in mind their pay has gone up almost 40% since _ their pay has gone up almost 40% since 2011, — their pay has gone up almost 40% since 2011, they've had the highest pay rise _ since 2011, they've had the highest pay rise in— since 2011, they've had the highest pay rise in that category since then — these latest rail strikes are the first for two months, and the unions say they could escalate their action. also this lunchtime... wet weather, strikes and the cost of living all contribute to weak economic growth in the first three months of the year. pakistan's former prime

minister imran khan is freed from custody, a day after it was ruled his arrest on corruption charges was illegal. the fan of the royal family who came to see the coronation and ended up in handcuffs. and we're live in liverpool — as the city prepares to host the eurovision song contest on behalf of ukraine. we now know which countries will be performing tomorrow. last night's semifinal saw australia and austria among those to go through. and the city does feel like it's embraced eurovision, there is already quite a party going on behind me in the fan zone! coming up on bbc news, david moyes praises his west ham side as they come from behind to beat az alkmaar in the first leg of their europa conference league semifinal.

good afternoon. train passengers across the country are facing a wave of cancellations. it's the start of two days of disruption on the railways, which will hit thousands of passengers, some of them trying to get to the final of the eurovision song contest in liverpool. today, members of the aslef train drivers�* union are on strike over pay and conditions. tomorrow, the rmt rail union will also take industrial action. passengers are being advised to check before they travel. our business correspondent marc ashdown has the latest. train drivers on strike yet again, for the seventh time in this dispute. frustration in lincoln from passengers dealing with more disruption. well, i think it's gone on for too long. it's about time they did

something, you know, i mean, you know, everybody�*s short of money, aren't they? it's not a good situation, but i understand it. for people it's important to strike, it's very good for people. 16 rail operators are affected including transpennine express, northern, avanti, east midlands, thameslink and southern. the length and breadth of britain, services have ground to a near standstill. eurovision fans in full voice, but some now look destined to miss out. devoted fan harry cunningham was due to travel up to liverpool, but he's stuck in london because of the strikes. we had planned, like, this, months in advance, so the build—up was really exciting and obviously the fact that we had to cancel two weeks prior to the event after months of waiting is really, like, crushing.

the government has accused the unions of cynically targeting the event, which britain is hosting on behalf of ukraine, a claim union leaders strongly refute. we have to look after the people we represent, so we don't want to hurt anybody, we don't want to disadvantage anybody, but there is no good day for a strike. if you pick any one day in any given week you will hit some event and there will be somebody else saying, what about this, and that's not where we want to be. but how else do we express our displeasure? how else do we voice it to the people we are dealing with and how else do we move this on? the rail delivery group, which represents the operators, insists the offer of a 4% backdated pay rise plus another 4% this year depending on certain reforms being agreed, is fair and reasonable. ministers too are pushing the unions to settle. at the moment a train driver is paid an average ofjust shy of £60,000 for a 35 hour week. this would take their pay up to £65,000. there's no change to the hours so i believe that not only is it

a generous pay rise and bear in mind their pay has gone up almost 40% since 2011, they've had the highest pay rise per employment category since then. tomorrow, rmt members will strike for 2h hours in their latest walk—out. they've rejected a similar pay offer. it's the reforms to working practices, around sunday working, ticket offices and who operates train doors which remain thorny issues. after almost two years of industrial action on britain's railways, one union leader said he thinks they are now further away from an agreement than when they first started. i'm afraid this is not over. today, the first of four strike dates over the first of four strike dates over the next three weeks. tomorrow the rmt union walks out for 24—hour is, bad news for anyone looking to rush up bad news for anyone looking to rush up to liverpool for eurovision and aslef will be out on wednesday the sist aslef will be out on wednesday the 31st of may. bad news for football fans, saturday during the third,

thatis fans, saturday during the third, that is fa cup final day at wembley. in terms of this being solved any time soon, it's looking quite tricky. on the one hand the unions say they haven't had meaningful negotiations this year, for four months now, and the rmt say their members want to escalate it, they want to go stronger and faster. on the other side of the table you've got the rail operators and the government. the operators say they were blindsided when the rmt turned down the latest offer especially of the network rail union members accepted something similar and they say they have to strike a deal between fair pay offers and getting value for the taxpayer. incidentally the rmt has a mandate for another six months of strike action if it needs it. i'm afraid this disruption for passengers looks set to continue. marc ashdown reporting there. and strike action was one of the factors contributing to weak economic growth during the first three months of the year. the uk economy grew byjust 0.1% between january and march, according to the office for national statistics, though it did avoid recession.

our economics correspondent andy verity reports. from alex's business, to barry's fruit and veg, in grainger market in the heart of newcastle, over 80 small businesses here are struggling like the rest of the economy to grow their businesses has consumers face food price inflation of 19.2% rein in their spending on everything else. sara lee started selling gifts just one week before lockdown. the last three years have been a struggle, she says, with expansion plans on hold. struggle, she says, with expansion plans on hold-— plans on hold. with everything happening _ plans on hold. with everything happening in _ plans on hold. with everything happening in the _ plans on hold. with everything happening in the last - plans on hold. with everything happening in the last three - plans on hold. with everything i happening in the last three years it's held us back slightly so we are hopefully maybe next year or the year after thinking of a larger unit to have things like that but we've got to wait and see.— got to wait and see. nearby is matthews _ got to wait and see. nearby is matthew's coffee _ got to wait and see. nearby is matthew's coffee shop. - got to wait and see. nearby is matthew's coffee shop. he's l got to wait and see. nearby is - matthew's coffee shop. he's recently had to put his prices up but says his customers are supportive. people want to start —

his customers are supportive. people want to start saving _ his customers are supportive. people want to start saving money, - his customers are supportive. people want to start saving money, they - his customers are supportive. people want to start saving money, they cut| want to start saving money, they cut out, face, _ want to start saving money, they cut out, face, it's— want to start saving money, they cut out, face, it's a luxury item but what _ out, face, it's a luxury item but what the — out, face, it's a luxury item but what the pandemic is people are a little bit _ what the pandemic is people are a little bit more confident spending local little bit more confident spending tocat now — little bit more confident spending local now because they realise they are supporting their own communities -- they— are supporting their own communities -- they cut _ are supporting their own communities —— they cut out coffees. paul are supporting their own communities -- they cut out coffees.— -- they cut out coffees. paul says more peeple _ -- they cut out coffees. paul says more peeple are _ -- they cut out coffees. paul says more people are coming - -- they cut out coffees. paul says more people are coming in - -- they cut out coffees. paul says more people are coming in for - more people are coming in for repairs on hisjewellery more people are coming in for repairs on his jewellery shop, more people are coming in for repairs on hisjewellery shop, but the gold he buys has doubled in price and he's not optimistic about the economy. price and he's not optimistic about the economy-— price and he's not optimistic about the econom . ., �* ., ., , the economy. people haven't got any money step — the economy. people haven't got any money step i'm _ the economy. people haven't got any money stop i'm not _ the economy. people haven't got any money stop i'm not loaded. - the economy. people haven't got any money stop i'm not loaded. since - the economy. people haven't got any money stop i'm not loaded. since i. money stop i'm not loaded. since i started this business i pay myself not much more than the minimum wage. across the way, alex has had to adapt but he's more optimistic. i’m adapt but he's more optimistic. i'm auoin to adapt but he's more optimistic. i'm going to keep pushing on with what i'm going to keep pushing on with what i'm doing _ going to keep pushing on with what i'm doing and make my business more efficierrt— i'm doing and make my business more efficient and _ i'm doing and make my business more efficient and if anything i've learned _ efficient and if anything i've learned from this crisis and i've had to— learned from this crisis and i've had to rethink what i'm doing. with consumer facing _ had to rethink what i'm doing. tn consumer facing services like this shrinking by 0.8% in march, the economyjust grew by one tenth of

i%. in economyjust grew by one tenth of i%. in over three months the uk remains below its pre—pandemic level now three and a half years ago but there are some grounds for optimism. surveys are pointing to an acceleration of growth, business confidence, even the housing market, some of the indicators are starting to look a bit better so perhaps, yes, the second half of the second quarter might be a little bit stronger than the first. it gives eo - le stronger than the first. it gives peeple more — stronger than the first. it gives people more hope _ stronger than the first. it gives people more hope for- stronger than the first. it gives people more hope for back - stronger than the first. it gives people more hope for back at i stronger than the first. it gives i people more hope for back at the market. — people more hope for back at the market, tien is fashioning a charm for wealth. — market, tien is fashioning a charm forwealth, hoping inflation market, tien is fashioning a charm for wealth, hoping inflation comes down _ for wealth, hoping inflation comes down so _ for wealth, hoping inflation comes down so consumers don't have to keep trimming _ down so consumers don't have to keep trimming their spending. for down so consumers don't have to keep trimming their spending.— trimming their spending. for now, we're all stuck _ trimming their spending. for now, we're all stuck in _ trimming their spending. for now, we're all stuck in a _ trimming their spending. for now, we're all stuck in a long _ trimming their spending. for now, we're all stuck in a long period - trimming their spending. for now, we're all stuck in a long period of. we're all stuck in a long period of stagflation meaning rampant inflation and stagnant growth where consumers leaving luxuries on the shelf. andy verity, bbc news. our economics editor faisal islam joins me. recession avoided but still very weak, very fragile growth was yellow

yeah, we've had some responses from the politicians. yeah, we've had some responses from the politicians-— the politicians. from jeremy hunt, the politicians. from jeremy hunt, the chancellor, _ the politicians. from jeremy hunt, the chancellor, growth _ the politicians. from jeremy hunt, the chancellor, growth is - the politicians. from jeremy hunt, the chancellor, growth is picking i the politicians. from jeremy hunt, | the chancellor, growth is picking up much faster than anyone thought possible and from keir starmer, nothing to celebrate, yet low growth after years of low growth. you can reconcile both those facts because 0.i% reconcile both those facts because 0.1% is low growth and it comes after a year off those sorts of figures, 0.1 or —0.1, but at the same time given the energy shock that had been expectations that would be in a lengthy recession by now. that's not now happening because the economy is growing a little bit. there are some one off macro factors too, you mentioned the strikes, there is the weather as well, but now if you like the economy, well, it'sjust started going. we are not at take—off point yet and there are some of the headwinds for example, like the full effect of those interest rate rises the majority of which hasn't hit households yet.— the majority of which hasn't hit households yet. faisal islam, our economics _ households yet. faisal islam, our economics editor, _ households yet. faisal islam, our economics editor, thank - households yet. faisal islam, our economics editor, thank you. -

and if you're struggling with the cost of living, there's advice on a special section on the front page of our website called tackling it together. just head to bbc.co.uk/news. pakistan's former prime minister imran khan is to be freed from custody a day after the supreme court ruled that his dramatic arrest on corruption charges was illegal. —— he has been freed. that arrest has sparked a wave of protest and violence, with several people killed and nearly 2,000 arrested. live now to our pakistan correspondent, caroline davies, in islamabad, who gave us this update. after hours inside the courtroom, imran khan has nowjust left. he has been granted bail both in the corruption case he was originally arrested for when he arrived here on tuesday inside this court complex, and he has also been given bail against the cases that arose against him while he was within custody since tuesday. the sort of cases because of the violence that erupted after imran khan was arrested

on tuesday, which we saw across pakistan. so as you can see, security here is building. as mr khan came out of court, he was met with cheers. many of his supporters have been waiting here, waiting to find out any form of news, but we now understand mr khan has gone inside another court room, just to make sure he's got bail in all cases, so that when he leaves this court complex, he can't be arrested. caroline davies, our pakistan correspondent. the warring military factions in sudan have reached an agreement to protect civilians caught up in their power struggle. the deal includes commitments to allow people to escape the fighting and to protect humanitarian workers. it's hoped the agreement will help pave the way for a ceasefire. for months now, ukrainian and russian troops have been locked into a bloody battle around the eastern city of bakhmut — a battle which has cost thousands of lives. well, now ukraine claims its soldiers have advanced there, though only by around

one and a half miles. russia denies the claim. it comes amid speculation the ukrainians are about to launch their long awaited spring offensive. let's get the latest from our ukraine correspondent, hugo bachega, who's in the capital kyiv. it's difficult to get a clear picture of what's happening especially in the east of the country. now, here in kyiv the authorities are saying that ukrainian forces have made some gains around the city of bakhmut, which has been a key target for russian forces in the donetsk region. but now this morning the russian authorities are saying that the ukrainians have carried out an offensive operation near bakhmut, near the town of soledar, which was captured by russian forces in january. they say this operation was carried out by 1000 ukrainian forces

and up to a0 tanks, but i think what's interesting is that in this statement by the russian authorities but they've admitted that, they've suggested that russian forces have fallen back in one area near bakhmut, so a confusing picture there in the east of the country. now, obviously this happens amid speculation that the ukrainians are about to launch this counteroffensive. earlier this week president zelensky told me that ukraine still needs more time before this operation happens, but i think the reality is that we'll probably only know that the counteroffensive has started when it's already fully under way. hugo bachega kyiv. the time is 1.15. our top story this lunchtime... a8 hours of rail disruption is under way as train drivers in the aslef union hold their first strike since march, in an ongoing dispute about pay and conditions.

and to give mae muller a big piece of love on this big night and we hope... {3h of love on this big night and we hoe... , ., ~ the beatles legend with some warm words for the uk's eurovision entry ahead of tomorrow night's grand final. coming up on bbc news: former ryder cup captain henrik stenson resigns from the dp world tour after it imposed further sanctions on 26 players who competed without consent in liv golf events. now, alice chambers is a big fan of the royal family who travelled to the mall on saturday, hoping to catch a glimpse of king charles on the day of his coronation. instead, she was arrested by police and detained for 13 hours. she'd been standing near protestors from thejust stop oil group and ended up in handcuffs.

police say they are reviewing the case, as aruna iyengar reports. this is alice chambers, an aussie and a fan of the royal family. and here she is at a buckingham palace garden party in 2017. on the day of the coronation, she was expecting to see this. she arrived at the mall at seven to get a good spot. the excitement was building, but two hours later, everything changed. i was just sitting there waiting for the coronation to begin, and next minute, i realise that the police had just swooped in and started grabbing a whole heap of people. this is alice, on the mall, being detained with just stop oil protesters. they handcuffed me straight away and then pulled me out of the crowd and put me against a barrier with a whole heap of other protesters.

not my king, not my king! last saturday, police made 6a arrests during the coronation. 52 were related to concerns that people were going to disrupt the event. we have the right to free speech! alice gave her contact details and shared her id. it took four hours before she got to a police station. i kept trying to explain that ijust wasn't part of this group. i always tried to just think, well, surely, there is going to be someone soon that i can talk to that willjust understand that this is all a misunderstanding. and thatjust didn't come, you know? i was detained for 13 hours. whilst all this was going on in london, alice was giving police her dna. her photo and fingerprints were taken. it wasn't until seven o'clock that evening that she was interviewed and released. an officer from lincolnshire police made the arrest. the force said:

i mean, it hasjust been... so shocking. i think about, you know, all the things i could have done that day. all the parties i could have gone too. all the parties i could have gone to. but i chose to attend the coronation, and i got to see none of it. aruna iyengar, bbc news. a lawyer for mirror group newspapers has said prince harry and other claimants in the trial over unlawful information gathering are "a very long way" from proving their case. the trial at the high court is now in its third day. let's go live to the court now, and join our legal affairs correspondent dominic casciani. dominic.

yes, andrew green casey, who opened the case of mirror group newspapers today frankly wasn't prepared to roll over in the face of the majesty of royalty. he hit hard back against the duke of sussex, basically accusing the claimants of constructing a case which is deeply unreliable, full of overreach, with evidence slim to nonexistent. he saysin evidence slim to nonexistent. he says in essence that the duke is simply not a victim of the illegal activity which has been alleged, interception of voicemails going back an awful long time, use of private investigators to intrude into his life. he said that mgn had settled more than 600 allegations of phone hacking and unlawful gathering of information since 2012 and paid out £100 million to those alleged victims, but he said the duke was not one of them, and crucially, also, he said that the duke's team were involved in publicly smearing board members of mirror group newspapers. this is a really important part of the case, because

prince harry's team want to show that editors and executives knew and covered up hacking. the company today are heading back very, very hard. this will be fought tooth and nail in the weeks to come. thank you, dominic, live at the high court. there are fears of chaos at the border between the united states and mexico after a change in immigration rules. this is the scene at the crossing between california and mexico, where people are waiting in no man's land trying to get into the us. last night saw the expiry of legislation introduced in the trump era known as title a2. that allowed illegal migrants to be swiftly removed. tens of thousands of people are expected to attempt the crossing into the united states over the next few days. our correspondent, sophie long, sent this report from el paso. in downtown el paso, just a stone's throw away from one of the many border crossings,

you can see it is very quiet here at the moment. in recent months, there have been hundreds of migrants living in the streets here, but they have been cleared now, and that's all part of the efforts to prepare for the surge in numbers of people coming across. the problem is, when there is a change of policy or rumour of a change of policy at the border, there's a huge amount of confusion on the other side, where tens of thousands of people are waiting to come in. in recent days, we've seen a spike in the numbers already, with customs and border patrol saying that they've encountered more than 10,000 people per day this week trying to get across. we've been speaking to a few of those who made it this far. translation: the government thinks i am art of translation: the government thinks i am part of the — translation: the government thinks i am part of the gangs. — translation: the government thinks i am part of the gangs, and _ translation: the government thinks i am part of the gangs, and the _ translation: the government thinks i am part of the gangs, and the gangs - am part of the gangs, and the gangs think i have been snitching on them to the government. i left because my life was in danger. if i had to go back home, i don't know what would happen to me. all i know is i need to work to have a better future for my family.

well, as title a2 is lifted, different rules and restrictions will come into play, one of which is, if migrants are found to have entered the united states illegally and don't have a credible case for seeking asylum here, they won'tjust be deported, they will be banned from re—entering for some five years. now, these rules have attracted criticism from both sides. republicans say there are so many exceptions to the rules that they are in effect like laying out a welcome mat for illegal immigrants to come into the country. others, though, immigrants' rights organisations, say they are so harsh that they are actually worse than the policies that we saw introduced under the trump administration. this isn'tjust a humanitarian situation confronting president biden. it's a political issue as well, as he seeks re—election next year. so whatever happens in el paso and other border communities, they will be subjected to some intense scrutiny. sophie long reporting. it's the final countdown to the grand final of the eurovision song contest in liverpool tomorrow night, the first to be held in the uk for quarter of a century. well, the line—up is now complete, the stage is set, and my colleaguejane hill

is there for us in liverpool. jane. hello, ben. yes, welcome to the waterfront in liverpool on a glorious, vibrant day. this city really has embraced eurovision. that is very much the sense i have got ever since i have arrived here. you might be able to work out, we are right by the fan zone, which is right by the fan zone, which is right behind me. the party is very much under way. quite loud here this lunchtime. but there has been live music on this stage for days now, and what a day for it today. of course, this lunchtime, we know who will be performing at the grand final tomorrow night, because last night saw the last semifinal, at the arena just a few minutes away from where we are here on the waterfront. the final ten acts were voted through, including australia, estonia and austria. our entertainment correspondent was

there watching. arms in the air! fans flocking to the second eurovision semifinal. ukraine! there are 16 countries competing for the final ten places in saturday's contest, and there are lots of belgians. cheering they will definitely go to the finals and will end up second. that's a confident and very specific prediction! absolutely. experts said this was by far the weaker of the two semis, but belgian's gustaph did prove to be particularly popular in the arena. greece's victor vernicos is only 16, but his khaki clothes brought back memories of steve irwin. god, you're such a good writer. it's not me, it is edgar! austria's teya and salena sang about the ghost of the gothic writer edgar allan poe... # there is a ghost in my body and he is a lyricist...# ..and the royalty rates writers receive from streaming services.

# zero, zero, zero...# # promise me it's going to...# while the frontman of australia's entry voyager, daniel estrin, combines being a rock god with his dayjob as an immigration lawyer. # promise me it's going to be all right.# the last act through to the grand final... and when it came to the results, which included from the votes of people in the uk... ..slovenia! ..meaning it was farewell to romania, san marino, georgia, iceland, greece and denmark, despite their entry reiley�*s 10 million followers on tiktok. now to the real business, tomorrow's grand final. colin paterson, bbc news, liverpool. flying the flag for the uk this year is the singer—songwriter mae muller, who'll be performing i wrote a song. our arts correspondent david sillito

met her on liverpool's albert dock for a quiet chat. well...that was the plan. oh, my god. yes. there she is. cheering the original plan was for a quiet chat. really sorry. we were waiting and a crowd is built up. that's ok! i don't know what's got out here. they're in a quiet spot. i was going to take this off, because this isn't part of the looke. in because this isn't part of the looke. , , however, the british weather intervened. thank goodness for the albert dock. welcome to eurovision. i know! i feel so welcome. look at all these lovely people. cheering this is what eurovision does. i love it. i love the whirlwind. i love that it's quite chaotic. i feel like i thrive in chaos. and each and every person that i've come across is so, like, lovely and warm. so it's all...it�*s very,

very...i'm having a great time. were you prepared for this? no, of course not. i feel that you can never be 100% prepared for eurovision. you know, ifeel like it's a one in a million lifetime experience, so... but it's exceeded my expectations. what's it like when you walk into the... oh, they wanted to come along. 0h! no! little surprise. 0h, no! little surprise. oh, my god! # you said _ no! little surprise. oh, my god! # you said you _ no! little surprise. oh, my god! # you said you were _ no! little surprise. oh, my god! # you said you were leaving - # you said you were leaving # you said you were leaving # to work on your mental health... this is the over the water eurovision choir. we met earlier in the week, and they thought they would come along as well. and mae rather took to the impromptu singalong. # all yourfriends... i am so # all your friends... i am so pleased. # all yourfriends... i am so pleased. i # all your friends... i am so pleased. i was welling up. # all yourfriends... i am so pleased. i was welling up. i was, like, oh, my god. ifeel like moments like that kind of remind you why eurovision is so amazing.

it's amazing, isn't it? i would have never thought that. like, that's something i've never experienced. yeah, that was nice. there's a lot of love here. i really feel it. i'm overwhelmed. i really didn't expect it. like, oh, that was so special. i completely forgot to show you something. and then it was time for another little surprise. i'm scared. good evening, everybody. yes, that's ringo starr. i'm here to congratulate liverpool, because _ i'm here to congratulate liverpool, because they are hosting the eurovision song contest. no because they are hosting the eurovision song contest. and eurovision song contest. no way! and to rive mae eurovision song contest. no way! and to give mae muller _ eurovision song contest. no way! and to give mae muller a _ eurovision song contest. no way! and to give mae muller a big _ eurovision song contest. no way! and to give mae muller a big piece - eurovision song contest. no way! and to give mae muller a big piece of- to give mae muller a big piece of love on— to give mae muller a big piece of love on this big night. 0h. _ love on this big night. oh. my— love on this big night. oh, my god! peace and love. peace and love. he said peace and love. peace and love. said peace peace and love. peace and love. he: said peace and love! oh, my gosh! thank you!

well, it is so noisy here, as you might have gathered! let's head if we possibly can to the fan zone behind me, because our eurovision reporter daniel rosney is there. this is one of my favourite places to be, _ this is one of my favourite places to be, covering the song contest. it is to be, covering the song contest. it is about— to be, covering the song contest. it is about 15,000 people who will be watching tomorrow's grand final on those _ be watching tomorrow's grand final on those big screens. there is a stage _ on those big screens. there is a stage at— on those big screens. there is a stage at the back where some of the artist _ stage at the back where some of the artist have _ stage at the back where some of the artist have been performing this week _ artist have been performing this week it — artist have been performing this week it is — artist have been performing this week. it is like a festival has descended on the city, all being overlooked by those two flags there, flyin- overlooked by those two flags there, flying in _ overlooked by those two flags there, flying in the wind. the union flag of the _ flying in the wind. the union flag of the uk, — flying in the wind. the union flag of the uk, and the unmistakable blue and yellow _ of the uk, and the unmistakable blue and yellow. sarah is with me. you have _ and yellow. sarah is with me. you have joined — and yellow. sarah is with me. you have joined them together and you are making me feel slightly underdressed! how long of this take? about _ underdressed! how long of this take? about a _ underdressed! how long of this take? about a day— underdressed! how long of this take? about a day to do, and i trained in fashion, _ about a day to do, and i trained in fashion, so — about a day to do, and i trained in fashion, so it— about a day to do, and i trained in fashion, so it is— about a day to do, and i trained in fashion, so it is cheating - about a day to do, and i trained in fashion, so it is cheating a - about a day to do, and i trained in fashion, so it is cheating a bit - fashion, so it is cheating a bit realty! — really! are i really! i are you really! _ are you enjoying reauyr — are you enjoying the song contest in liverpoot— are you enjoying the song contest in liverpool came? i think liverpool has just got it liverpool came? i think liverpool hasjust got it in the back — i think liverpool hasjust got it in the back. there _ i think liverpool hasjust got it in the back. there is— i think liverpool hasjust got it in the back. there is a _ i think liverpool hasjust got it in the back. there is a great- the back. there is a great atmosphere. _ the back. there is a great atmosphere. if— the back. there is a great atmosphere. if only- the back. there is a great atmosphere. if only we i the back. there is a great- atmosphere. if only we could just stop work. — atmosphere. if only we could just stop work, come _ atmosphere. if only we could just stop work, come down _ atmosphere. if only we could just stop work, come down with - atmosphere. if only we could just stop work, come down with the i stop work, come down with the families — stop work, come down with the families. loads _ stop work, come down with the families. loads of— stop work, come down with the families. loads of kids- stop work, come down with the families. loads of kids here, i stop work, come down with the families. loads of kids here, it| stop work, come down with the i families. loads of kids here, it is realty— families. loads of kids here, it is really family _ families. loads of kids here, it is really family friendly— families. loads of kids here, it is really family friendly and - families. loads of kids here, it is

really family friendly and safe. i really family friendly and safe. such _ really family friendly and safe. such a — really family friendly and safe. such a fun _ really family friendly and safe. such a fun environment, - really family friendly and safe. i such a fun environment, meeting really family friendly and safe. - such a fun environment, meeting so many— such a fun environment, meeting so many people — such a fun environment, meeting so many people from _ such a fun environment, meeting so many people from europe, - such a fun environment, meeting so many people from europe, and - such a fun environment, meeting so. many people from europe, and taking loads of— many people from europe, and taking loads of photographs. _ loads of photographs. welt, _ loads of photographs. well, it— loads of photographs. well, it is— loads of photographs. well, it is all- loads of photographs. well, it is all building| loads of photographs. . well, it is all building up loads of photographs. - well, it is all building up to the grand _ well, it is all building up to the grand final tomorrow. 160 million will be _ grand final tomorrow. 160 million will be tuning in and around the world — will be tuning in and around the world all— will be tuning in and around the world. all eyes on one city, the glorious — world. all eyes on one city, the glorious liverpool. and _ glorious liverpool. and it _ glorious liverpool. and it really is looking glorious today, and let us not forget, of course, the uk is hosting eurovision on behalf of ukraine, and the city of liverpool has done a really good job of continually reminding us of that. the colours of the ukrainian flag really are here across the city. we will have much more on the 6pm news, and of course, you can watch the song contest final tomorrow night on bbc one at 8pm. back now to ben in the studio. jane, many thanks indeed. lovely weather there in liverpool. let's take a look at the forecast for the whole country. here's tomasz schafernaker. how does it look for eurovision? it is looking really good. i'm pleased to say, for once it is not going to rain.

sunny skies on saturday.