live from london. this is bbc news. tv presenter holly willoughby says she is hurt after phillip schofield's admission about a relationship with a younger itv colleague, which he previously denied to her. passport e—gates are now working normally at the uk's ports after a breakdown caused long queues for thousands of arrivals. the post office here in the uk apologises for using racist language to describe branch managers who were wrongly prosecuted for theft. ukraine's most senior security official tells the bbc the country is ready to launch its long—expected counter—offensive against russian forces. it's the final day of campaigning in turkey ahead of one of the country's most

divisive presidential elections. hello, i'm lucy grey. british tv presenter holly willoughby has reacted to phillip schofield's admission about a relationship with a younger employee, saying she is hurt. on friday, mr schofield resigned from itv, saying he had lied to cover up the relationship, which he described as �*unwise, but not illegal�*. itv has said it investigated rumours of the relationship but both men repeatedly denied it. our correspondent katherine da costa has the latest on holly willoughby�*s reaction. she's been responding to the news that phillip schofield had had a relationship with a younger man on the show this morning in 2020. and in a statement on her instagram account, holly said...

it's taken time you betterjust remind us how big a name tv in tv phillip schofield is, particularly for people watching around the world who may not know him. yeah, that's right. so, he is a household name in the uk. he started out as a children's tv presenter. he went on to host a string of high profile programmes, including dancing on ice. he's perhaps best known for hosting itv�*s this morning programme, a show he's been on for more than 20 years. he's worked with holly willoughby since 2009. the audiences really like the chemistry of them both. but for months there's been speculation online about his personal relationships. last week he left this morning following reports of a rift with holly, which he says was unrelated to this latest revelation. and then yesterday, he admitted that he did have an affair with a younger man that he'd worked on...

he said that relationship was unwise but was not illegal. he was still married to his wife at the time of the affair. they separated in 2020 when he came out as gay. schofield said in a statement that he was very sorry for being unfaithful to his wife and to lying to colleagues and the media and the public about the relationship. and he also said he would now reflect on his very bad judgements in both participating in the relationship and then lying about it. so we've heard from holly in the last hour or so. itv also earlier released a statement, didn't they? what did they say? yeah, that's right. itv says it investigated rumours that phillip schofield had had an affair with an employee when they first started circulating in early 2020. the broadcaster said that both parties had repeatedly denied the rumours, and a number of people who worked at this morning were also spoken to. but no evidence of a relationship was found apart from hearsay. itv says it's deeply disappointed.

it says that the statement confirms he lied to people at the company, both a senior management level and to fellow presenters. and some have suggested that the revelations raise questions about how much the network's managers knew about it at the time. the home office says all e—gates at uk airports are working again after a nationwide it issue left passengers facing long queues at passport control. in a statement, it said that following a technical border system fault, all e—gates are now operating as normal. it went on to thank travellers who were impacted and staff for their work in resolving the issue. graham satchell has been looking at the impact on passengers. gatwick airport — described by one passenger today as an utterjoke. this is manchester, where again there were huge queues for passport control. and at heathrow, arriving passengers were forced to wait more than three hours. there was absolutely chaos at passport control,

i waited something like 2.5 hours to get out of the airport. this is wayne fenton at luton airport. already been in the queue now for about 1.5 hours, nearly two hours. the home office said the problem was with the whole uk border system, in particular e—gates, where passengers scan their own passports, stopped working. this is one of the worst outages concerning the e—gates system. in the past when we have seen the odd outage, it has been for two or three hours and fixed fairly quickly, but already we are seeing the scale of this particular outage. the timing of this disruption couldn't be worse, the start of a busy bank holiday weekend, and for many the spring half term. the home office have been saying that they have been trying to fix this problem as a matter of urgency, but when i asked them exactly what the problem is that they're trying to fix, they said it was too sensitive to say.

it is now nearly five to three, we landed at five to 12. three hours waiting. it was an absolute nightmare. wayne finally made it, and is on his way home. but this was luton airport this afternoon, and this was bristol. the home office says that the idea she has now been resolved. to turkey now and that big presidential election happening tomorrow — sunday. it's a two—way runoff between the current presdient recep tayyip erdogan, who has been in powerfor two decades, and his main rival, the secular opposition leader, kemal kilicdaroglu. in the first round of the elction earlier this month, president erdogan won 49.5% of the vote — just over 4% more than his rival. both candidates are now chasing support from nationalist voters. 0ur middle east correspondent anna foster is in istanbul. both of these contenders have really squeezed every last drop out of theircampaigning.

they've been out in public — kemal kilicdaroglu in the capital, ankara, recep tayyip erdogan here in istanbul — bringing people around them, really both trying to win those crucial votes that they need for one of them to push over the 50% mark, because that is the key. it's now come down to a straight run—off between these two candidates. the expectation is that we will this time we will find out who turkey's next leader will be. let's look in a little more detail at who the turkish people are choosing between. recep tayyip erdogan, in power here for 20 years, first as prime minister, then as president. he has been accused of becoming an increasingly authoritarian leader, changing the rules to keep himself in power. he brought in this executive presidency. also making this a much more deeply religious country, certainly in terms of civil society, the rule of law, than it was was beforehand. he and his supporters say

he is a strong leadership candidate, that he is the sort of man that turkey needs to really cement its position in the world and deal with some of the problems in turkish society, like the economic crisis, for example. he has been calling just today on his supporters not to be complacent, i think, not to look back at the fact he was so close last time round, to go out today and keep voting. translation: are we running to the polls tomorrow? - cheering. will we cast our votes from the early hours of the morning? we will not lose anyone who voted in the first round. do we agree on that? and for whatever reason, if anyone can't go to vote, we will encourage them as well. cheering. that is what president recep tayyip erdogan has had to say. the challenger, kemal kilicdaroglu, is a very different character. he is a quietly spoken former civil servant.

he spent a lot of his campaign talking about his vision of a more secular future for turkey, talking about a more democratic country, saying that he would improve things like free speech. but his critics say that he would not be strong enough on the world stage. that he has not got the leadership experience to really provide a contrast to mr erdogan, to really push things forward in the way that he could. but kemal kilicdaroglu has been saying to his supporters and to some of these floating voters that he can solve some of the problem is that turkey has been suffering. translation: the situation that our l country is in right now is not good, l turkey needs to get out of this. to be able to do that, we need to put up a fight together. no matter how we look at the conditions that we are in, a pessimistic atmosphere has been created for everyone. today, turkey has some serious economic problems. we will go to the polls

and cast our votes, we will replace an authoritarian government through democratic means. so, how have voters right across the country responded to that? what do they think about the issues that the contenders have really been talking about? the economy is certainly one of the biggest things that people so, how have voters right across the country responded to that? what do they think about the issues that the contenders have really been talking about? the economy is certainly one of the biggest things that people have been considering, turkey's economic crisis has been a long and is deep, people really feeling it in their pockets here. things like the country's response, and particularly the government's response to those devastating earthquakes back in february, so, how have voters right across the country responded to that? increasingly, the issue around refugees, mainly syrian refugees, there are around three million in the country, and immigration has become a hot topic. both sides have been trying to outdo each other in terms of how many

refugees they can remove from this country and how quickly. so what do people in istanbul think about all this? they will spend the whole day until 5pm casting their votes. this one is simple, one ballot paper, two candidates. when the polls close at five accounting will start immediately. we expect that as people here in turkey are starting to think about going to bed, a lot of that counting will have been done and we will start to have a clear idea of who turkeys next president will be. moscow is blaming ukraine for multiple attacks in russia. the governor of kursk region said cross—border mortrar fire had killed a construction worker in a border village. the russian defence military also said that they have intercepted two long—range missiles supplied by britain, and shot down 12 drones in the last 2a hours. ukraine's most senior security official has said the country is ready to launch its long—expected counter—offensive against russian forces. in a rare interview,

oleksiy danilov told the bbc the planned assault was an "historic opportunity" — but the government had "no right to make a mistake" — when making such an important decision. james landale reports from kyiv. this is what's left of bakhmut in eastern ukraine. images filmed by russian forces of the ruins they now largely control. mercenaries from the wagner group claimed they're withdrawing, being replaced by regular russian troops. but ukraine insists its forces are still engaged on the ground in the outskirts, as the country's most senior security official told us. translation: we controljust a small i part of the city, and we admit that. l but you have to keep in mind that bakhmuy has played a big role in this war. are the wagner mercenary group withdrawing, as their leader, prigozhin, says? yes, that is happening. but it doesn't mean

that they will stop fighting us. they're going to concentrate more on other fronts. our intelligence is following that. we understand where they will appear next. they are regrouping to other free locations and we're following that. voiceover in ukrainian. and all the while, ukraine is preparing a counter—offensive. this propaganda video broadcast by military commanders to raise morale and encourage what they called a decisive offensive. but when might it begin? translation: we will figure out | when that will start so that we can have the best result at that point of war. it could happen tomorrow, the day after tomorrow or in a week. it would be strange if i were to name dates or the start of that or another event. that cannot be done. but you're ready. we're always ready.

the same as we were ready to defend our country at any time. and it is not a question of time. we have to understand that that historical opportunity that is given to us by god, to our country, we cannot lose. so we can truly become an independent, big european country. but, until that happens, ukraine will remain vulnerable to attacks like this. a hospital in dnipro destroyed by a russian missile that air defences this time failed to stop. james landale, bbc news, kyiv. live now to california where i'm joined by military expert retired colonel brendan kearney who served 31 years with the us marine corps. he's also worked extensively with nato in europe. thanks to you forjoining us. what wejust heard on thanks to you forjoining us. what

we just heard on that report there, that very senior ukrainian officials saying they are ready for this counteroffensive. what do you think�*s counteroffensive. what do you think' ., ., , think's thanks, good to be with you, lu . that think's thanks, good to be with you, lucy. that commentary _ think's thanks, good to be with you, lucy. that commentary was - think's thanks, good to be with you, lucy. that commentary was spot - think's thanks, good to be with you, | lucy. that commentary was spot on. mr general off clearly, as you would expect, knows exactly what he is talking about. so there is no real surprise. the ukrainians are going to pick a place and a time that is of their choosing, hopefully it's a place along a very narrow front against a russian unit, that they have figured out this weekend, and there will be a narrow front. they will hit it with artillery, with the air, with mortars, and their plan will probably be to overwhelm those defensive positions the russians have with overwhelming force. he not committin: have with overwhelming force. he not committing to — have with overwhelming force. he not committing to a _ have with overwhelming force. he not committing to a timescale, _ have with overwhelming force. he not committing to a timescale, is - have with overwhelming force. he not committing to a timescale, is he's - committing to a timescale, is he's he didn't say when it might start. but we've talked a lot over the past year about the weather, and then

needing to get on with it, really, i suppose, before winter starts coming around the corner. you suppose, before winter starts coming around the corner.— around the corner. you are exactly riuht. around the corner. you are exactly right- the — around the corner. you are exactly right. the weather _ around the corner. you are exactly right. the weather plays _ around the corner. you are exactly right. the weather plays a - around the corner. you are exactly right. the weather plays a critical. right. the weather plays a critical role in all offence of operations. further ukrainians to have attacked some point say three weeks ago when the ground was still very muddy, from the rains, and the thaw from their winter, your tracked vehicles, even your wheeled vehicles, they road phone. and when they are road bound they become nothing more than targets. if you think back to what we saw in late february, and early march of last year, when the mark russians were advancing on keefe, those long columns of vehicles that the ukrainians were just picking those long columns of vehicles that the ukrainians werejust picking off one by one, utter destruction. so ukrainians don't want to repeat that mistake. so they are waiting for the good rather so they can spread their forces out, get those vehicles off

the road, and attack again where they want to. we the road, and attack again where they want t0-_ the road, and attack again where they want te— the road, and attack again where they want to. we are also hearing today from _ they want to. we are also hearing today from russia's _ they want to. we are also hearing today from russia's ambassador i they want to. we are also hearing l today from russia's ambassador to britain. he has been talking to the bbc and sort of saying to the effect that the west is escalating things. and that this escalation is risking levels not seen before. what do you read into that because mark it’s levels not seen before. what do you read into that because mark- read into that because mark it's the same story that _ read into that because mark it's the same story that they _ read into that because mark it's the same story that they have - read into that because mark it's the same story that they have been - same story that they have been repeating since right after the invasion, their invasion stalled last year. they want to take advantage of this situation where they think they still retain some type of military power in ukraine. and they do. but they also want to paint themselves as not being the aggressor, which is utterly, i mean, we are all incredulous whenever we hear those type of words from the russians. they are the aggressors. they like to blame the west who are

prompting the ukrainians in prolonging this war and for the west also to be giving the high tech weaponry and the ammunition supplies that russia is having trouble meeting their own requirements with. so, this is nothing more than a blame game, and there is not a single thing with the ambassador has uttered that is new. this is old, old verbiage. from the ambassador. really good to talk to you. thank you so much. it is now time to get a round up of all the days sports news with ali foster. luton town are heading back to the top division of english football for the first time in 31 years. their championship play—off final against coventry city at wembley was 1—1 after 90 minutes and with no more goals in extra time, they won 6—5 on penalties.

nine years after they were a non league side, luton will be in the premier league next season. our reporter joe lynskey was at the match the championship play—off final is perhaps the match with the highest stakes in english football. the lucrative prize at the end of it as premier league football and that £170 this year the team to win it a luton town. an extraordinary story from the team who are ten years ago were non—league. now they have risen all the way through the divisions and in august, will start their campaign in the top—flight of english football. they did this by beating coventry city in a tense and nervous final. they went all the way to penalties and then to suddent death, where the unfortunate coventry player missed the only kick. six perfect penalties for luton at the end of a match that finished 1—1 in normal time then went through a cagey extra time period, still level at the end. and so, in a few months' time,

remarkably, luton town will start theirfirst premier league campaign. chelsea women are super league champions for the fourth year in a row after getting the win they needed on the final day of the season. they beat reading 3—0, sam kerr scoring twice, guro reiten with the other. that result also measns that reading are relegated. they finish the season two points clear of manchester united who won i—0 at liverpool. there was a thrilling finish to the german bundesliga, with borussia dortmund handing the title to bayern munich. borussia dortmund went into the final match of the season two points clear, but could only draw 2—2 at home to mid—table mainz. and that opened the door for bayern munich — who beat cologne 2—i, thanks to jamal musiala's 89th—minute winner — and they finished above dortmund on goal difference for their 11th title in a row. slovenia's primoz roglic produced a stunning ride in the penultimate stage of cycling's giro d'italia to put himself on course for victory.

geraint thomas had led the standings by 26 seconds going into the final competitive stage, a mountainous time—trial, but the welshman couldn't hold on to the leader's pinkjersey. roglic, who famously lost the 2020 tour de france in the final time trial, was a0 seconds faster and will be confirmed as the race winner after the largely processional final stage into rome on sunday. heartbreak for thomas who had led the race for the last week. i am pretty gutted, but i said earlier if i had been told this back in february, march, i probably would have bit your hand off but now i am devastated. but once it sinks in i can be proud of what we did. i can be proud. it's been a day of mixed fortunes for red bull in qualifying for the monaco grand prix. max verstappen claimed pole in what his boss christian horner said was one of the best qualifying

laps of the world champion�*s career. but the dutchman's team mate, sergio perez will start from the back of the grid after this crash in the opening session. aston martin's fernando alonso had been quickest until verstappen produced a sensational final lap to take pole byjust eight hundredths of a second. and ukraine's elina svitolina celebrated her first title since becoming a mother, and then donated her prize winnings to help children in her homeland. svitolina beat russia's anna blinkova in straight sets to win the strasbourg open — with the victory coming just seven months after she gave birth to her daughter, skai. she only returned to the tour last month. it's her 17th title of her career and first since 2021. the french open, the second grand slam of the year starts in 30 hours. starts in 30 hours. and that's all the sport for now.

here in the uk, it's emerged that hundreds of sub—postmasters were racially profiled using racist terms, as part of the post office investigation into its failed �*horizon�* it system. more than 700 sub—postmasters were prosecuted for false accounting, based on information from a flawed system — in what's been described as "the most widespread miscarriage ofjustice in uk history". the post office has apologised. our business correspondent, peter ruddick, reports. more than 700 post office branch managers were wrongly prosecuted when faulty software made it look as though they had taken money. now, they've discovered they were also being classified and logged along racial lines, using outdated and racist language. an internal document, which has been made public after a freedom of information request, shows fraud investigators were asked to give all potential suspects a number relating to their racial background. the number categories included

the terms chinese/japanese types, dark—skinned european types, and an offensive colonial term that refers to people of african descent. bajit ran two post offices in east london with his wife for more than 20 years. he lost his business and was declared bankrupt. after giving evidence to the inquiry into the scandal, he now finds it too traumatic to discuss what he's been through. his son said his family were disappointed but not surprised by the document. it was quite disturbing, and itjust goes to show that the post office has had a rotten culture at its core for a number of years and this information wasn't made available by the post office. it came about because of campaigners and people fighting forjustice from the post office, so this is how it came to light, otherwise it would have been buried for a long time. a spokesperson said:

several sub postmasters have now had their convictions overturned. however, there are many, like baljit, who are still waiting for compensation. peter ruddick, bbc news. in cannes, the french film anatomy of a fall — directed byjustine triet has won this year's palme d'or award at the cannes festival. triet becomes the third female director to have won the prestigious prize. the film tells the story of the trial of a widow accused of murdering her husband. the director slammed the french government during her acceptance speech over the pensions reform protest. the best actor award went to japan's koji yakusho for his part in perfect days from director wim wenders.

turkey's merve dizdar won best actress for "about dry grasses," stay with us here on bbc news. hello, good evening. the sunshine has been passed today across england and wales. this was captured by our weather watch earlier today. claudia from many parts of scotland with a weaker weather front sinking southwards. high pressure except to stay with us. it will keep us dry unsettled as we head through the bank holiday weekend, warm sunny spells, don't forget the sun is strong at this time of year and uv levels will be high. as we head through this evening and overnight it will cloud over across parts of northern island and western scotland, clear skies first, and here, temperatures in cologne could drop very close to freezing. it's

milder across england and wales, some cloud just moving into the sunday morning. sunday is looking claudia, pretty much across the border, cold front is still sinking its way southwards as we had throughout the day, just introducing a lot more cloud, onshore breeze. claudia across northern island and much of western scotland, the best of the sunshine on sunday will be across western wales and southwest of england. devon and cornwall, temperatures will peak at 22, 20 three celsius, always cooler towards the coast. bank holiday monday, high pressure still very much in control, but you can see the wind starting to pick up, isobar squeezing together towards the south of the uk and channel islands and parts of kent and sussex as well. there will be some more cloud moving into north sea coast to so generally when beer and cooler across the south sunshine west of wales, and the sunshine

won't be too badly either over scotland where we can see highs of around 21 celsius in the central belt on bank holiday monday. let's take a look at the rest of the week. the high pressure is going nowhere. it is set to keep us dry unsettled. there will be variable amounts of sunshine, always with this onshore easterly wind, there will be more cloud towards eastern coastal areas, and the best of the sunshine will be further west but temperatures gradually will pick up into the mid—20s, one or two showers during the week.

this is bbc news, the headlines: tv presenter holly willoughby says she is hurt after phillip schofield's admission about a relationship with a younger itv colleague, which he previously denied to her. the home office says e—gates are now operating as normal after long delays for some passengers travelling to uk airports. the disruption, which began on friday night, was due to an it issue which is now resolved. it's the final day of campaigning in turkey ahead of one of the country's most divisive presidential elections where the economy and immigration are key voter concerns. huge political rallies have been held to drum up support. ukraine's most senior security official tells the bbc the country is ready to launch its long—expected counter—offensive against russian forces.