voice—over: this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines and all the main news stories for you at the top of the hour, straight after this programme. oh yes. hello. 0h oh yes. hello. oh my goodness, hello! the _ oh yes. hello. oh my goodness, hello! the shy _ oh yes. hello. oh my goodness, hello! the shy schoolboy - oh yes. hello. oh my goodness, hello! the shy schoolboy who i hello! the shy schoolboy who became a _ hello! the shy schoolboy who became a global _ hello! the shy schoolboy who became a global celebrity. i hello! the shy schoolboy who i became a global celebrity. sir richard branson is a very british bundle of contradictions. the dyslexic who set up a student magazine. the record label founder who didn't listen to music. the 60s hippie who became a multibillionaire. today he's got his own island, and his

brand has dozens of companies to its name, from virgin atlantic to galactic. but, after five decades in atlantic to galactic. but, afterfive decades in business, reinventing whole industries, sir richard branson has been tested as never before, both financially and emotionally. the pandemic left the 72—year—old fighting to save his empire and his reputation. he faced questions over how he has used women to promote his brand, and sceptics have asked why someone who campaigns on climate change is sending rockets into space. the original rebel entrepreneur continues to grab the headlines and confound his critics. i've come to miami to hear the whole story. sir richard branson, thank you so much for speaking to me and to the bbc. how are you? l’m

to the bbc. how are you? i'm aood. i to the bbc. how are you? i'm good- i always _ to the bbc. how are you? ii"fl good. i always think sitting down to do interviews like this is a bit like — i've never been a psychiatrist�*s chair, but it's a bit like being in a psychiatrist�*s chair. of course i'm nervous. psychiatrist's chair. of course i'm nervou— i'm nervous. we will see how ou are i'm nervous. we will see how you are in — i'm nervous. we will see how you are in an _ i'm nervous. we will see how you are in an hour. _ i'm nervous. we will see how you are in an hour. just- i'm nervous. we will see how you are in an hour. just to . i'm nervous. we will see how you are in an hour. just to be i you are in an hour. just to be clear, you have not seen or approved of the questions in advance. nothing is off the table, right?— advance. nothing is off the table, right? afraid that's the case. table, right? afraid that's the case- you'd — table, right? afraid that's the case. you'd be _ table, right? afraid that's the case. you'd be much - table, right? afraid that's the case. you'd be much less - case. you'd be much less nervous _ case. you'd be much less nervous if _ case. you'd be much less nervous if it _ case. you'd be much less nervous if it wasn't - case. you'd be much less nervous if it wasn't the i case. you'd be much less . nervous if it wasn't the case. if you google sir richard branson, the thing that comes up branson, the thing that comes up in the auto search is net worth. people are obsessed with the fortunes of the rich and famous and it is very rude to ask a man what he has worked, so i am not going to do that. but how much did you lose from the pandemic is elected you lose a lot of money personally? so the answer is yes, cost us a big percentage of our network, may a big percentage of our network, maybei billion one half, and there was a time when it really look like we were going to lose everything. we had 50 or 60 planes all on the ground at heathrow and gatwick,

and in sydney and melbourne and brisbane, and the health clubs all closed, the hotels all closed. and the worst would have been 60,000 people out in the streets. we sold shares in companies that were public, and that was one way we manage to find money, and mostjobs were saved as a result. but personally, i was fortunate in that our kids manage to get to the island and our grandkids got to the island, and so although i experienced maybe a couple of months of what people must feel when they are pretty low, and i've never experienced that before in my life... do ou that before in my life... do you mean _ that before in my life... do you mean that _ that before in my life... do you mean that for the first time in your life you are depressed?— time in your life you are deressed? , . ., , depressed? yes, i was certainly a little depressed. _ depressed? yes, i was certainly a little depressed. but - depressed? yes, i was certainly a little depressed. but talking l a little depressed. but talking about net worth, one of the things, i suppose, about net worth, one of the things, isuppose, if about net worth, one of the things, i suppose, if i about net worth, one of the things, isuppose, if i resent anything in life is the tag billionaire. i think people

don't dress you by your net worth. they call you by your name. and what i've spent my life time doing is building ventures that hopefully will make a really positive difference to people's lives. and you've written in your book that reputation is everything, and your reputation took a bit of a hit during that early phase in the pandemic, because senior members of your team had written to the government saying that they needed hundreds of millions of pounds in a government loan to save the company and save your airline, and yet there was coverage, people saying, hang on, branson is a billionaire. he lives on an island in the caribbean. surely he can find the money. it! caribbean. surely he can find the money-— caribbean. surely he can find the mone . �* ., , ., the money. i'd never really had any coverage — the money. i'd never really had any coverage quite _ the money. i'd never really had any coverage quite as - the money. i'd never really had any coverage quite as painful. any coverage quite as painful as that. ., , any coverage quite as painful as that.- and - any coverage quite as painful as that.- and is - as that. really? and is complicated. - as that. really? and is complicated. so - as that. really? and is complicated. so it's i as that. really? and is - complicated. so it's difficult to explain to people when everybody�*s hurting. they were pretty well know families that weren't hurting, but what we weren't hurting, but what we

were concerned to do was try to get government support, as happened in america, as happened in america, as happened in america, as happened in france, as happened in italy. not gifts from government, but underwriting loans so that the cost to the airline going forward was not going to be prohibitive. i5 going to be prohibitive. is interesting, given your very interesting, given your very interesting relationship with the media over 50 years, that you should say you've never had such a sort of negative coverage. do you think that's just because you are the face of your airline in a way that british airways doesn't have a face? do you think that's why they say let's go after richard? i they say let's go after richard?— they say let's go after richard? ~ �* , they say let's go after richard? ~' �* , ., richard? i think there's an element — richard? i think there's an element that. _ richard? i think there's an element that. i _ richard? i think there's an element that. i would - richard? i think there's an element that. i would say| richard? i think there's an - element that. i would say that 99% of the coverage i've had in my lifetime has been fair. i mean, i've occasionally had criticisms, but i would say they were fair criticisms, and it's quite rare to have had a major knock. but i think... i remember sir freddie laker once saying to meet the way to deal with press backlash is prove them wrong, and so basically what we ended up doing was just

getting on and proving that our teams were good enough to come bouncing back.— bouncing back. someone who i soke to bouncing back. someone who i spoke to he — bouncing back. someone who i spoke to he worked _ bouncing back. someone who i spoke to he worked with - bouncing back. someone who i spoke to he worked with said l bouncing back. someone who i spoke to he worked with said if you hadn't called the company virgin you might have called it phoenix, because like a phoenix from the ashes, you have bounced back. and you flew into space. bounced back. and you flew into sace. ., ., space. three, two, one... release- _ space. three, two, one... release. fire. _ space. three, two, one... release. fire. fire. - space. three, two, one... release. fire. fire. in- space. three, two, one... release. fire. fire. in a. space. three, two, one... i release. fire. fire. in a life full of extraordinary - full of extraordinary experiences, where did that sit? i experiences, where did that sit? ., ., experiences, where did that sit? . . . ., experiences, where did that sit? . ., ., ., ., experiences, where did that sit? . . . ., ., . sit? i have had a lot of pinch me moments _ sit? i have had a lot of pinch me moments in _ sit? i have had a lot of pinch me moments in my - sit? i have had a lot of pinch me moments in my life, - sit? i have had a lot of pinch me moments in my life, but| sit? i have had a lot of pinch - me moments in my life, but that definitely culminated them all. that incredible moment where you just unbuckled. bud that incredible moment where you just unbuckled.— you 'ust unbuckled. and you 'ust you just unbuckled. and you 'ust drift you just unbuckled. and you just drift out _ you just unbuckled. and you just drift out of _ you just unbuckled. and you just drift out of your- you just unbuckled. and you just drift out of your seat. you just unbuckled. and you | just drift out of your seat and float up to the ceiling, and looked down and there are other young peoplejust looked down and there are other young people just going swimming young peoplejust going swimming through the air beneath you. and then beneath them is earth, and that spectacular view through those spectacular view through those spectacular windows. and obviously, look, we had 18 years to get to that point. we

had tears, but this was definitely a day ofjoy, and incredible moment. having spent so many years building it, one realises that there will be over the next hundred years, thousands of people are going to be able to have that same experience. is to be able to have that same exoerience-_ experience. is that thing? i was going _ experience. is that thing? i was going to _ experience. is that thing? i was going to ask— experience. is that thing? i was going to ask you, - experience. is that thing? i was going to ask you, why| experience. is that thing? i l was going to ask you, why is space travel a good use of your time and money? prince william says we need some of the world's greatest brains and minds fixed on trying to fix this planet, not finding the next place to live. i have just been to kenya with bill gates, your dear friend, been to kenya with bill gates, your dearfriend, who been to kenya with bill gates, your dear friend, who was quoted your dearfriend, who was quoted on the your dear friend, who was quoted on the front of your book, and he said that spending a lot of money on space travel when he could save a kids life who has got malaria with $1000 is not a good use of money. what would you say to them, and what would you say also to those who say that given that climate change is one of your top priorities, way of sending rockets into space? element by 100% agree with them that we have to concentrate on dealing with a whole lot of issues in this world, and most of my life is now spent on tackling a

whole raft of different issues in the world. and i think some of those issues are made easier to deal with by the fact that i have been displaced, so i can now pick up the phone to pretty well anybody in the world, get through, cut through the red tape and hopefully get things sorted. �* ., tape and hopefully get things sorted. �* . ., sorted. and having said that, sace sorted. and having said that, space travel _ sorted. and having said that, space travel itself _ sorted. and having said that, space travel itself is - space travel itself is incredibly important. there is communication between people. it has been transformed because of space travel and satellites out there. monitoring things like the depredation of the rainforests or illegal fishing has been transformed by satellites up there. all these other kinds of benefits that come space travel.- other kinds of benefits that come space travel. critics say the environmental _ come space travel. critics say the environmental impact - come space travel. critics say the environmental impact ofl the environmental impact of space tourism could undo decades of work to repair the ozone layer and have a greater effect on the climate than the aviation industry.— aviation industry. what virgin and our principal— aviation industry. what virgin and our principal competitors| and our principal competitors have managed to do is bring the environmental cost of space

travel down dramatically in terms of carbon cost. now, that is 1000 times less than it used to take nasa to put people into space, that will come down even further. you can't and shouldn't stop progress. through progress you get the breakthroughs. you can never be quite sure what breakthrough you are going to get, but you get these breakthroughs, and that will benefit the earth. let's come down to earth, then, go back in time to your childhood. you have often talked about its comfort, and i think maybe it's because you don't want to hide the fact that you were born into a comfortable and bucolic childhood. but your childhood did have huge challenges, didn't it? and you were sent away to boarding school at seven. my son winston is seven in a few months, and he could barely tie his shoelaces. he is a great kid, but the idea of him going off to boarding school at seven seems rather cruel in retrospect, doesn't it? i cruel in retrospect, doesn't it? 4' ., ., cruel in retrospect, doesn't it? ~ ., ., , , cruel in retrospect, doesn't it? a, ., ,, it? i know that my parents sent me to boarding _ it? i know that my parents sent me to boarding school - it? i know that my parents sent me to boarding school because| me to boarding school because they thought that that was the best thing for me and that was the way to bring us up tough, and my mother would say not to

molly collier at home. but i think it was wrong. i mean, we would never do it with our kids or our grandkids. i remember distinctly i was 7.5, throwing up distinctly i was 7.5, throwing up the first night, and the matron coming in and telling me i had to mop up the sheets myself. and ijust think that is a bit much for a 7.5 year old. , ., ' is a bit much for a 7.5 year old-- yes. - is a bit much for a 7.5 year old.- yes, not - is a bit much for a 7.5 year. old.- yes, not good. old. is awful. yes, not good. fortunately _ old. is awful. yes, not good. fortunately i _ old. is awful. yes, not good. fortunately i think _ old. is awful. yes, not good. fortunately i think things - old. is awful. yes, not good. i fortunately i think things have changed a little bit since those days.— changed a little bit since those da s. , ., ., , those days. they have, not 'ust in terms of fl those days. they have, not 'ust in terms of when i those days. they have, not 'ust in terms of when we * those days. they have, not 'ust in terms of when we send h those days. they have, notjust in terms of when we send kids| in terms of when we send kids away, but also our understanding of minds. when you were growing up, the word entrepreneur had barely entered the lexicon, and the word dyslexia even less so. you talk now about your dyslexia as a superpower, which we will get onto. just before we talk about it as a superpower, people should understand when they think about your story that at school, you were beaten. you know, you received corporal punishment and beatings for

being stupid. what happened exactly? being stupid. what happened exactl ? , ., exactly? oh... yes, we got beaten all _ exactly? oh... yes, we got beaten all the _ exactly? oh... yes, we got beaten all the time, - exactly? oh... yes, we got beaten all the time, and i exactly? oh... yes, we got beaten all the time, and as exactly? oh... yes, we got. beaten all the time, and as a dyslexic, i thought i must be stupid because they'd never heard of... the word dyslexia didn't exist. you hit those beatings from your mum, didn't you? i don't know, i your mum, didn't you? i don't know. i may _ your mum, didn't you? i don't know, i may have... - your mum, didn't you? i don't know, i may have... yes, - your mum, didn't you? i don't know, i may have... yes, i. know, i may have... yes, i don't think i would have mentioned it to her most likely. mentioned it to her most likel . , ., mentioned it to her most likel . , . , ., likely. greta thunberg told me that her as _ likely. greta thunberg told me that her as big _ likely. greta thunberg told me that her as big as _ likely. greta thunberg told me that her as big as was - likely. greta thunberg told me that her as big as was her - that her as big as was her superpower. why is dyslexia your superpower?— superpower. why is dyslexia your superpower? when people are dyslexic. — your superpower? when people are dyslexic, they _ your superpower? when people are dyslexic, they are _ your superpower? when people are dyslexic, they are able - your superpower? when people are dyslexic, they are able to i are dyslexic, they are able to succeed at things that they are

good at, and they become very good at, and they become very good delegate is of things that they are not good at. for me, one of the best things about being dyslexic was that the things that i was good at, like finding out what was going on in the world, reading about the vietnamese war, the biafran war, led me to decide to start a magazine, which was quite strange for a dyslexic person to have done.— strange for a dyslexic person to have done. ., . " ~j~ to have done. launched in 1968, student was _ to have done. launched in 1968, student was a _ to have done. launched in 1968, student was a national— to have done. launched in 1968, j student was a national magazine for young people. to help overcome his dyslexia, so richard would interview some of the most particular people in the most particular people in the world, from jean—paul sartre to james baldwin, and then publish those recordings word for word.— word for word. when the headmaster _ word for word. when the headmaster said - word for word. when the headmaster said to - word for word. when the headmaster said to me, | word for word. when the - headmaster said to me, you're either going to to run the magazine and leave the school or not run the magazine and get on with your schoolwork, it was an easy decision, and i decided to say thank you very much, i'm off. so if i hadn't been dyslexic, i most likely wouldn't have left school at 15 or16 wouldn't have left school at 15 or 16 years old, and my life would have been very different stock dyslexia has become a

superpower because, i think, i've become a really good delegator. ifind great people, i surround myself with wonderful people. hello, how are you? nice to see you. more than 1000 — are you? nice to see you. more than 1000 of— are you? nice to see you. more than 1000 of branson's - are you? nice to see you. more than 1000 of branson's people| than 1000 of branson's people were on board one of his cruise ships, the valiants lady, when wejoined him hours before the boat set up for the caribbean. nice to see you. 5ir boat set up for the caribbean. nice to see you.— nice to see you. sir richard entered the _ nice to see you. sir richard entered the cruise - nice to see you. sir richard entered the cruise ship - nice to see you. sir richard entered the cruise ship is l nice to see you. sir richard l entered the cruise ship is this in 2021 on the first sailing of virgin voyages. 0ne in 2021 on the first sailing of virgin voyages. one of the things you have spoken about throughout your career is about hiring — well, bringing together the right people. and you've got a very particular have and i can see it walking around here. you've got a very particular philosophy of hiring. you hire from within. why do you do that?- hiring. you hire from within. why do you do that? well, first of all, why do you do that? well, first of all. we _ why do you do that? well, first of all, we look _ why do you do that? well, first of all, we look for _ why do you do that? well, first of all, we look for character - of all, we look for character rather than somebody�*s cv. obviously if you hire from within, you are going to know somebody�*s good points and bad points before you take them on, and there is the danger that if

you bring someone in his so—called expert from outside, they will be a horrible mistake and they will be bad with people, and they will mess up a happy company, and that has lasted me well. it happy company, and that has lasted me well.— lasted me well. it so interesting - lasted me well. it so interesting you - lasted me well. it so interesting you say l lasted me well. it so i interesting you say that lasted me well. it so - interesting you say that about cvs, because i think you may know, i've got a big interest in social mobility and helping kids from poorer backgrounds try and get into elite professions. and the story they are all... they all feel that they are sold is that if you really want to make it as an entrepreneur, if you want to come to a place like miami, you need to pass ever more exams. you need to go to university, you need to graduate. that's not true, is it? i you need to graduate. that's not true, is it?— not true, is it? ithink it depends— not true, is it? i think it depends what _ not true, is it? i think it| depends what profession not true, is it? i think it - depends what profession you are trying to get into. obviously if you want to become a doctor, you know, you have to go to university. but if you want to be an entrepreneur, being an entrepreneur is simply coming up entrepreneur is simply coming up with an idea to make other people's lives better and then getting on and doing it, and trying it. and universities are

not going to be able to teach you that that well. so people who can't get into university — a really good alternative for them is to try setting up a small business, see how it goes. if it doesn't work out, try again, until they succeed. and the young people from all around the uk who say to me, because they are not from london and have strong accents and are paranoid about their accents, they may come from rural areas, they save you sound like them it will hold you back, honestly, will it hold them back?- you back, honestly, will it hold them back? no, really don't think— hold them back? no, really don't think so. _ hold them back? no, really don't think so. my - hold them back? no, really don't think so. my wife's i don't think so. my wife's accent is half of what i've found so attractive about. the other half are won't go into details about. honestly, it shouldn't matter. i don't think it does generally matter. there might be some snotty british companies left where it might make a difference, i'd doubt it.

hello. em. eng. it. hello. howr are ou? nice to hello. how are you? nice to meet you- _ hello. how are you? nice to meet you. nice _ hello. how are you? nice to meet you. nice to _ hello. how are you? nice to meet you. nice to meet i hello. how are you? nice to| meet you. nice to meet you. this guy — meet you. nice to meet you. this guy is — meet you. nice to meet you. this guy is a _ meet you. nice to meet you. this guy is a rock— meet you. nice to meet you. this guy is a rock star. i meet you. nice to meet you. this guy is a rock star. and l meet you. nice to meet you. | this guy is a rock star. and is it any wonder, he has learned from the bus. by the early 19705 from the bus. by the early 1970s sir richard was immersed in the music world, first with a mail order record business and then a virgin store. your four long he had his own label and recording studio. michael oldfield's tubular bells was the first big hit, selling more than 5 million copies. music plays. in the following years, everyone from the rolling stones to culture club to janet jackson were laying down tracks for virgin records. just evoke that error for us, what was it like, michael oldfield turns up in the sex pistols walk in and phil collins in genesis at unley road,it collins in genesis at unley road, it must have been exhilarating. it road, it must have been exhilarating.—

road, it must have been exhilarating. road, it must have been exhilaratina. ., exhilarating. it was, it was a wonderful — exhilarating. it was, it was a wonderful era, _ exhilarating. it was, it was a wonderful era, bounce i exhilarating. it was, it was a | wonderful era, bounce would come and record all night and sleep all day and that was just tremendously exciting, it was great to be young and alive at that time. great to be young and alive at that time-— that time. music plays. it was at _ that time. music plays. it was at the _ that time. music plays. it was at the manner i that time. music plays. j it was at the manner that that time. music plays. - it was at the manner that the met his first future wife joan with whom he would have children holly and sam. living on a houseboat to save because she was on the hunt for something bigger, much bigger. in 1978 he brought neck island in the caribbean sea for $180,000. it would eventually become his home and a holiday resort. but has proved controversial, with some claiming that by making it his place of residence sir richard has been able to avoid taxes his critics argue he should pat’- his critics argue he should pay. you have lived in the caribbean on your own island for some of the for many years, you've also been open about using richard —— legal means to

keep the bills down and be competitive, you have contributed tax to many different areas, tax avoidance, which is legal, may not be illegal, but is it immoral? your question, slightly resent. i will tell you exactly as it is. i started with £200 from a necklace that my mum found and we sold. i have paid literally billions, and our company has paid billions in taxes over the years and we have created over the whole time maybe 1.5 millionjobs, obviouslya the whole time maybe 1.5 millionjobs, obviously a lot of those people are moved on to otherjobs, but a lot ofjobs. the reason i'd live on necker island's because they fell in love with a lovely lady when i was 28, joan, and fell in love with a beautiful island and a live there because it is the most people place in the world to live. they have worked extremely hard for many years and i now use necker island as

and i now use necker island as a base. the personal money that i own a give all to charities. all they can say is we have paid billions and billions in taxes over the years and will continue to do so and our companies pay taxes in whichever country and whichever jurisdiction they are based. you have taken us a very powerful figures, you have taken us a very powerfulfigures, how does somebody know if you dislike them, is it that richard branson comes after their business and pursues them very questionably, how does someone know when richard branson is pursuing them? we know when richard branson is pursuing them?— know when richard branson is pursuing them? we are a fairly 0 en pursuing them? we are a fairly open book. _ pursuing them? we are a fairly open book, think _ pursuing them? we are a fairly open book, think they - pursuing them? we are a fairly open book, think they know i pursuing them? we are a fairly i open book, think they know when coming. generally speaking, you will find that the bigger business benefits from the small competitor coming after them because they have to respond, they have to react. i remember british airways once sent out a memo saying "whatever virgin does, we must copyit "whatever virgin does, we must copy it within a month." and a respect that, that is good business sense, because we were innovating all the time, cpac videos, we were the first to

put cpac videos in our plans. music plays. but it wasn'tjust innovation that got sir richard branson attention.— innovation that got sir richard branson attention. tonight with richard branson _ branson attention. tonight with richard branson back _ branson attention. tonight with richard branson back in - branson attention. tonight with richard branson back in london after his record—breaking transatlantic run, the virgin publicity bandwagon is under full steam.— full steam. from speedboat crossings — full steam. from speedboat crossings to _ full steam. from speedboat| crossings to record-breaking crossings to record—breaking balloon attempts, as adventures are secured him headlines and more than a few brushes with death. , ., ., more than a few brushes with death. ,., ., . ., death. good evening, richard imanson's— death. good evening, richard branson's transatlantic i death. good evening, richardl branson's transatlantic balloon flight has ended in hydrometer night. he and his cope pilot, pere lindstrom, abandon the giant virgin galactic fly and landed in the sea of the west coast of scotland. i landed in the sea of the west coast of scotland.— landed in the sea of the west coast of scotland. i owe you so addicted to _ coast of scotland. i owe you so addicted to danger? _ coast of scotland. i owe you so addicted to danger? i'm i addicted to danger? i'm certainly _ addicted to danger? i'm certainly not _ addicted to danger? ii'fl certainly not addicted to danger and i'm certainly not craving death. sir danger and i'm certainly not craving death.— danger and i'm certainly not craving death. sir richard, how can i craving death. sir richard, how can! ut craving death. sir richard, how can i put this — craving death. sir richard, how can i put this to _ craving death. sir richard, how can i put this to you, _ craving death. sir richard, how can i put this to you, it - craving death. sir richard, how can i put this to you, it was i can i put this to you, it was at the back of your book you have got 75, no, 17 a near death experiences. the first thing you say that i'd disagree

with. they will correct you on that. someone who flies hot air balloons across oceans, i daly, some of the things that you have done and are famous for is a bit addicted to danger, with all due respect. 50 a bit addicted to danger, with all due respect.— all due respect. so i will still take _ all due respect. so i will still take issue. - all due respect. so i will still take issue. i'm i all due respect. so i will still take issue. i'm not| still take issue. i'm not addicted to death and i'm not addicted to death and i'm not addicted to death and i'm not addicted to danger. what am addicted to danger. what am addicted to danger. what am addicted to is to actually say yes to things and i'm addicted to challenging myself and seeing what i'm capable of. if somebody comes along to me and says "nobody has crossed the atlantic in a hot air balloon before. there are not many world records left. and, you know, i've neverflown a hot air balloon before, what fun it would be to learn to fly a hot air balloon and then to see if we could fly across the atlantic ended then you try to work out all the things that can go wrong and you try to make sure that you can come back to tell the tale.- back to tell the tale. today itranson's _ back to tell the tale. today branson's adventures i back to tell the tale. today | branson's adventures might back to tell the tale. today i branson's adventures mightjust bra nson's adventures might just

be branson's adventures mightjust be fine but for they played a vital role in promoting and growing the virgin brand. as to did women. his publicity stunts often involving women partially clothed or highly effective at getting him immediate attention. at times have changed. just recently you said in the early days of virgin society was very different, i'd doubt you will see me turning girls upside down or picking up blidi survey, was 38 years ago if they didn't do that i wouldn't get in the newspaper, when you look back at some of these campaigns, it is very jarred —— dangerous tojudge historic action through present was, do some of those things make you cringe when you look back? i make you cringe when you look back? ~' ., . ~' back? i think it would make me wince ifi back? i think it would make me wince if i felt _ back? i think it would make me wince if i felt that _ back? i think it would make me wince if i felt that the _ back? i think it would make me wince if i felt that the women i wince if i felt that the women were uncomfortable at all. i don't think i've ever made anybody feel uncomfortable. it was just, anybody feel uncomfortable. it wasjust, in those anybody feel uncomfortable. it was just, in those days, anybody feel uncomfortable. it wasjust, in those days, in those days it made them smile, like kate moss, for instance, she loved, she knew what was

coming. but today, obviously, i think people would feel uncomfortable with something like that. so it has changed. and ifully like that. so it has changed. and i fully except that. and i've changed alongside everybody else.- i've changed alongside everybody else. i've changed alongside eve bod else. . ., . everybody else. and what advice would ou everybody else. and what advice would you give _ everybody else. and what advice would you give to _ everybody else. and what advice would you give to a _ everybody else. and what advice would you give to a billionaire i would you give to a billionaire in his 70s who is having trouble slowing down? mr; in his 70s who is having trouble slowing down? my own feelin: is trouble slowing down? my own feeling is that _ trouble slowing down? my own feeling is that i _ trouble slowing down? my own feeling is that i am _ trouble slowing down? my own feeling is that i am in - trouble slowing down? my own feeling is that i am in an i feeling is that i am in an extraordinary position and not to waste the position i find myself in. there are a lot of issues this world needs dealing with. you've got politicians who can do so much, but then there may be only two years maximum in a particular department before they are moved on to something else. i've had 55 years of experiences in entrepreneur twitter and businessmen and travelled the world and i think i'm in a position to help politicians and try to address some of the bigger issues of the world and thus would they enjoy doing and i'm not going

to sit back and not make the best of that position. i’tre best of that position. i've heard you're _ best of that position. i've heard you're quite i best of that position. i've heard you're quite competitive. is that vaguely true?— is that vaguely true? let's see... you _ is that vaguely true? let's see... you are _ is that vaguely true? let's see... you are quite i is that vaguely true? let's see... you are quite into i is that vaguely true? let's i see... you are quite into jess, aren't you? — see. .. you are quite into jess, aren't you? i— see... you are quite into jess, aren't you? i enjoyed - see... you are quite into jess, aren't you? i enjoyed a - see... you are quite into jess, aren't you? i enjoyed a gamel see... you are quite into jess, i aren't you? i enjoyed a game of aren't you? i en'oyed a game of chess. if aren't you? i en'oyed a game of sessh .fyo._ aren't you? i enjoyed a game of chess. if you offer _ aren't you? i enjoyed a game of chess. if you offer a _ aren't you? i enjoyed a game of chess. if you offer a game i aren't you? i enjoyed a game of chess. if you offer a game of. chess. if you offer a game of chess, chess. if you offer a game of chess. you — chess. if you offer a game of chess, you don't _ chess. if you offer a game of chess, you don't have i chess. if you offer a game of chess, you don't have to i chess. if you offer a game of chess, you don't have to let| chess. if you offer a game of. chess, you don't have to let me win, let me ask you one final thing, for 50 years you've been so synonymous with virgin for so synonymous with virgin for so long, probably more than any of know with any company in the world, where is and what is virgin after sir richard? you must think about succession planning. must think about succession ”lannin. . must think about succession ”lannin. , ., ~ must think about succession planning-— planning. yes, i do. and we have serious _ planning. yes, i do. and we have serious discussions i planning. yes, i do. and we have serious discussions as | planning. yes, i do. and we. have serious discussions as a family about how the company can transform hopefully thousands of people's lives in years to come, hopefully over centuries to come. the years to come, hopefully over centuries to come.— centuries to come. the chest, seriously. _ centuries to come. the chest, seriously. i'm _ centuries to come. the chest, seriously, i'm worried - centuries to come. the chest, seriously, i'm worried i've i seriously, i'm worried i've said this thing up and you have smashed —— will smash me to

pieces. i smashed -- will smash me to ieces. ., �* ., ., , ., , pieces. i don't read any moves. you can be _ pieces. i don't read any moves. you can be white, _ pieces. i don't read any moves. you can be white, if— pieces. i don't read any moves. you can be white, if you - pieces. i don't read any moves. you can be white, if you like. i you can be white, if you like. you can be white, if you like. you can be white.— you can be white, if you like. you can be white. now, where are we? i'm — you can be white. now, where are we? i'm going _ you can be white. now, where are we? i'm going to - you can be white. now, where are we? i'm going to distract i are we? i'm going to distract ou with are we? i'm going to distract you with some _ are we? i'm going to distract you with some quickfire i you with some quickfire questions. who is your greatest hero, living or dead? aha, questions. who is your greatest hero, living or dead?— hero, living or dead? a cross between _ hero, living or dead? a cross between mandela _ hero, living or dead? a cross between mandela and i hero, living or dead? a cross i between mandela and archbishop tutu. it was a mandela. favourite film? it has to be the godfather.— the godfather. laughter. which one. _ the godfather. laughter. which one, part _ the godfather. laughter. which one, part one, i the godfather. laughter. which one, part one, two, | which one, part one, two, three? part one.— which one, part one, two, three? part one. what you fear most? ithink— three? part one. what you fear most? i think a _ three? part one. what you fear most? i think a family - three? part one. what you fear most? i think a family memberj most? i think a family member being unwell. it most? i think a family member being unwell.— being unwell. it is not a cheque _ being unwell. it is not a cheque yet- _ being unwell. it is not a cheque yet. 0h, - being unwell. it is not a cheque yet. 0h, maybe| being unwell. it is not a i cheque yet. 0h, maybe it is. cheque yet. oh, maybe it is. oh. cheque yet. oh, maybe it is. 0h. laughter. thank you. well played. oh dear. beaten. we will have to have a rematch. i dear. beaten. we will have to have a rematch.— have a rematch. i would look forward to — have a rematch. i would look forward to that. _ have a rematch. i would look forward to that. oh - have a rematch. i would look forward to that. oh dear. i have a rematch. i would look i forward to that. oh dear. thank you so much. it has been a

pleasure. hello. for the vast majority of places saturday turned into a mostly sunny and very warm day. many parts of western england, wales, northern ireland, and scotland saw temperatures up to 21 degrees. however, in eastern england underneath this stubborn area of cloud some places only got to ten degrees. now, that stubborn area of cloud still with us for sunday morning, but it should break up a little more

effectively through the day had to allow more sunshine and warmth. at the same time this cold front pushing in from the north—west will bring rain into part of scotland and northern ireland first thing and as that front pushes southeastwards through the day it will introduce something a little bit cooler to the north and the west of the uk. so through sunday morning this cloud to start off across central and eastern england should break up a little more effectively, rolling back out into the north sea. but this frontal system pushing southeastwards out of scotland and northern ireland and into northern england and west wales by the mid afternoon and behind that things certainly will be a good deal cooler. 1a for aberdeen, for glasgow, for belfast, but a warmer day in eastern england, 20 or 21 degrees. as we head through sunday night this weather front will push a little further southeastwards and we will see this little clump of showers drifting across eastern scotland and down into north—eastern england. actually quite chilly for monday morning across northern and western parts of the uk, four degrees there in glasgow, for example. because as we head into monday and this frontal system clears through we will be left in some cooler air, in fact quite

a chilly north—westerly wind around the top of an area of high pressure. that wind will be noticeable through the day. it will certainly make it feel chillier. we will see some showers running down the east coast of england and more generally some scattered showers breaking up, particularly across central and northern parts of the uk, not as many down towards the south, but lower temperatures, 12—15 degrees, actually a little disappointing, or at least below the norm for this time of year. now, into tuesday there will still be some showers around, not as windy. so it won't feel quite as chilly. 11 degrees there for aberdeen. 17 the high in cardiff. there will be some spells of sunshine. and as we head deeper into the week, well, a fair amount of dry weather, high pressure never too far away, but there will be some weather systems bringing a bit of rain at times and it is set to turn a little warmer.

live from washington, this is bbc news after days of deadly exchanges, a ceasefire between israel and islamichhad militants in the gaza strip appears to be holding. volodymyr zelensky and the pope hold talks at the vatican, but the pontiff stops short of directly condemning russia's invasion of ukraine. 21t3 points — we have a winner! a historic end to eurovision, with sweden's loreen becoming the first woman to win the contest twice. hello, i'm carl nasman. palestinians poured out on the streets in gaza city as a ceasefire between israel and the militant islamichhad

went into effect.