this programme may contain some strong language. as ground fighting intensifies in southern lebanon, will israel respond to iran's missile assault with a direct attack of its own, and when? plus we'll talk live to actor amanda abbington in her first interview after the bbc apologised to her and upheld some of her complaints about her strictly dance partner. good evening. welcome to newsnight, with insights and interviews. israel, lebanon, iran, syria,

gaza and the west bank — these are volatile times across the middle east with devastating consequences for millions of people. these are live pictures of smoke bllowing from the beirut skyline as we come on air. a witness has told reuters that a massive blast has been heard across the city in the last ten minutes. in fact, we've just this picture in of the strike, which is what you're seeing now. no, we will bring that to you and just a moment. a security source has told reuters that a strike�*s hit the centre of the city. tonight, everyone is waiting to see what israel will do in response to iran's missile attack and when. here with us is matthew savill, director of military sciences, at the royal united services institute and formerly of the ministry of defence, and he is going to guide us through what might happen next. first, let's talk about today.

israeli soldiers pushed further into southern lebanon? we israeli soldiers pushed further into southern lebanon?— israeli soldiers pushed further into southern lebanon? we saw the first re orts of southern lebanon? we saw the first reports of them _ southern lebanon? we saw the first reports of them taking _ southern lebanon? we saw the first reports of them taking casualties i reports of them taking casualties which were sadly inevitable given this is hezbollah�*s home turf and they have probably been preparing for a ground operation by israel like this for several years. as your report suggested strikes are still going on further north because it's well is looking to deal with hezbollah�*s longer range rockets and ballistic missiles. this operation onlyjust ballistic missiles. this operation only just over the ballistic missiles. this operation onlyjust over the border is focusing on hezbollah�*s bunkers, infrastructure and other firing points. the question is how limited will it remain, particularly as hezbollah contests then? will the idf decide they need to push further north to cover this area? the israeli soldiers _ north to cover this area? the israeli soldiers in _ north to cover this area? the israeli soldiers in this - israeli soldiers in this demilitarised sort of buffer zone and you are asking whether they will go further? and you are asking whether they will no further? ,., ., , ., ., go further? hezbollah is meant to have left the _ go further? hezbollah is meant to have left the south _ go further? hezbollah is meant to have left the south after - go further? hezbollah is meant to have left the south after the - go further? hezbollah is meant to| have left the south after the 2006

war and moved north of the litani river to give israel a buffer zone. but as hezbollah�*s weakness give the israelis an opportunity or some kind of encouragement to try to push them all the way back on the ground —— but does hezbollah�*s weakness? hater but does hezbollah's weakness? how different was — but does hezbollah's weakness? how different was iran's attack on israel last night compared to the one in april? it israel last night compared to the one in april?— israel last night compared to the one in aril? , ., , ., ., one in april? it used a combination of ballistic missiles, _ one in april? it used a combination of ballistic missiles, drones - one in april? it used a combination of ballistic missiles, drones and . of ballistic missiles, drones and cruise missiles. last night's attack appeared only to have used ballistic missiles but considerably more, between 180 and 200 as opposed to 100 or 110 last time. but more of them had seemed to get through. it is difficult to know exactly how many and some might have hit open ground that the number of impacts seems to have been greater and i think this is... it has to be seen as a pretty significant attack given the scale and the fact there has

been damaged on the ground. who; been damaged on the ground. why miaht iran been damaged on the ground. why might iran want to carry out this attack? ., ., , might iran want to carry out this attack? . . , . ., ., ., attack? iran has created a dilemma of its own choice _ attack? iran has created a dilemma of its own choice here, _ attack? iran has created a dilemma of its own choice here, it _ attack? iran has created a dilemma of its own choice here, it has - of its own choice here, it has sponsored and supported groups like hezbollah and hamas which are now employing —— embroiled in conflict with israel but it has not come to their defence. hamas is pretty close to a military defeat in gaza and the israelis have eviscerated the leadership of hezbollah and iran plus my credibility appears to be on the line. it does not want war with israel over those proxies, they are there as a deterrent against it to be on the line. it does not want war with israel over those proxies, they are there as a deterrent against it being attacked, but it feels it needs to respond to the death of the hezbollah leader hassan nasrallah, and previously x factor�*s leader, ismail haniyeh. 50 and previously x factor's leader, ismail haniyeh.— and previously x factor's leader, ismail haniyeh. so what might israel be considering _ ismail haniyeh. so what might israel be considering in _ ismail haniyeh. so what might israel be considering in response _ ismail haniyeh. so what might israel be considering in response to - ismail haniyeh. so what might israel be considering in response to what l be considering in response to what iran did last night? i be considering in response to what iran did last night?— iran did last night? i would generally _ iran did last night? i would generally say _ iran did last night? i would generally say that - iran did last night? i would generally say that if - iran did last night? i would. generally say that if damage iran did last night? i would - generally say that if damage on the

ground was lightened by one were no casualties then it's would be satisfied with a fairly small demonstration of its conventional superior city. —— if the damage on the ground was light and there were no casualties than israel would be satisfied. however, the scale of the attack i think it leaves many in israel to say they cannot accept that the scale of threat from iran as normal business and they now have to do more to create a greater deterrent of future such attacks. i think we can bring up this from a former israeli prime minister, naftali bennett, we must act now to destroy iran's nuclear programme, its essential energy facilities and to fatally cripple this terrorist regime. what things might be be considering in terms of what they go for? test considering in terms of what they go for? �* ., ., for? at the lower end of the spectrum — for? at the lower end of the spectrum they _ for? at the lower end of the spectrum they might - for? at the lower end of the spectrum they might be - for? at the lower end of the - spectrum they might be satisfied with demonstrating how much better they are conventionally, hitting

radar sites, they are conventionally, hitting radarsites, perhaps they are conventionally, hitting radar sites, perhaps larger revolutionary guard facilities, but they could escalate into things like oiled production facilities, really hurt the regime, senior leadership figures or even the nuclear programme. figures or even the nuclear programme-— figures or even the nuclear rorramme. , . . ., programme. these are the nuclear facilities? it _ programme. these are the nuclear facilities? it isn't _ programme. these are the nuclear facilities? it isn't right _ programme. these are the nuclear facilities? it isn't right -- - facilities? it isn't right -- unlikely _ facilities? it isn't right -- unlikely this _ facilities? it isn't right -- unlikely this israelis - facilities? it isn't right -- unlikely this israelis can l facilities? it isn't right -- - unlikely this israelis can destroy the iranian nuclear programme because these are dispersed and at least two of them are deep buried basically under mountains and it would probably take american weapons dropped from american aircraft to guarantee destroying them. but the temptation will be there because of the circumstances in the region at the circumstances in the region at the moment. the circumstances in the region at the moment-— the moment. talking of the us, obviously the _ the moment. talking of the us, obviously the white _ the moment. talking of the us, obviously the white house - the moment. talking of the us, obviously the white house is i obviously the white house is watching very, very closely? i think joe biden watching very, very closely? i think joe biden today _ watching very, very closely? i think joe biden today said _ watching very, very closely? i think joe biden today said they _ watching very, very closely? i think joe biden today said they would - watching very, very closely? i think| joe biden today said they would not joe biden today said they would not support an attack on nuclear facilities and have moved more forces in the region to act as a deterrent. i think the israelis will consider whether they have a generational opportunity to reset

the balance of power in the region. at the moment it seems the way us politics is going, that is interfering or inhibiting, in truth, us willingness to exert influence on israel. i us willingness to exert influence on israel. ~ .. ., ,, ., israel. i think we can take our viewers to _ israel. i think we can take our viewers to live _ israel. i think we can take our viewers to live pictures - israel. i think we can take our viewers to live pictures from i viewers to live pictures from beirut. writers are reporting a massive blast and those are the pictures at the last few minutes. —— reuters are reporting a massive blast. reuters are reporting witnesses who say there is a massive blast. there is a huge clouds of billowing smoke but this is the actual moment of impact in the beirut city centre around ten or 15 minutes or so ago. israeli strikes hitting beirut. you can find out more on the bbc

website, which updates you all the time. here, the four contenders who want to be the next tory leader gave speeches to the party conference today — a significant moment which could make or break their campaigns. have a listen to their final pitches in birmingham. sorry. sorry on behalf of the conservative parliamentary party, who let you down. we are going to have to build something new. a new conservative party. that is what i call for today. now, my vision of a conservative | britain is a britain where people| are trusted and free. for too long, politicians have hidden behind spin. for too long politicians have told the public what they wanted to hear, and then done their own thing. well, i say "enough."

nick listened to them all — who won? james cleverly knocked it out of the park. that is not me speaking, that is the assessment from a senior figure in a bible camp, although they added that because james cleverly has held so many senior positions at recent cabinet he would be more of the same. the big question going into this conference is would their pa speech that change the contours of this leadership contest? would you get the type of speech david cameron delivered in 2005? everyone agrees you had a very impressive speech by james cleverly and he now hopes that when there are two ballots amongst mps next week, he will make the final two that will go before the party membership which would probably mean it would be him and robertjenrick. how did james cleverly do this? in that speech it was very upbeat, he talked about ronald reagan as his hero, not

margaret thatcher, ronald reagan, and but. he talked about how he was and but. he talked about how he was an army reserve, he got the call and he said, and i being sent to basra or baghdad? no, i was sent to luton. and there was substance on the issue of whether they go after reform or the liberal democrats and he said no, let's be the best version of ourselves, win back voters from other parties and crucially win back people who stuck on the sofa. he had a bit of an encounter with george osborne. an interesting conversation! and more developments in labour, keir

starmer and the controversy over freebies? ,., ,, ., , freebies? downing street has announced — freebies? downing street has announced that _ freebies? downing street has announced that the _ freebies? downing street has announced that the prime - freebies? downing street has - announced that the prime minister will pay back £6,000 of gifts and hospitality, six taylor swift tickets, four tickets to the races and clothing rentalfor his and clothing rental for his wife victoria. the prime minister has announced that they will tighten the rules around hospitality for ministers. he hopes to draw a line under bits. what does this not cover? all that hospitality before the general election and does not cover the prime minister sitting in the directors box at arsenal, but thatis the directors box at arsenal, but that is about security. he says he is a season ticket holder. which he pays for. he says he would love to be at the stance but it would be a massive policing operation. —— in the standards. next we're going to speak live to actress amanda abbington

in her first interview since the bbc apologised to her and upheld six of the 17 complaints she made against her 2023 strictly dance partner giovanni pernice. bbc news was told this week that while complaints of verbal bullying and harassment were upheld, claims of physical aggression were not. newsnight understands that of the claims that were upheld by the bbc, they include mr pernice gesturing towards his groin in rehearsals when ms abbington got some dance steps right, and making "inappropriate comments of a sexual nature." mr pernice, we understand, denied those claims. he has said on his instagam that he was relieved that "none of the serious allegations have been upheld — all the threatening, abusive, harassment allegations have not been upheld." the bbc says it takes claims of bullying and harassment very seriously. let's hear from amanda abbington now. and the nature of our conversation means it will include some strong language.

yes. thank you for being here. thank ou for yes. thank you for being here. thank you for having _ yes. thank you for being here. thank you for having me. _ yes. thank you for being here. thank you for having me. how _ yes. thank you for being here. thank you for having me. how do _ yes. thank you for being here. thank you for having me. how do you - yes. thank you for being here. thank you for having me. how do you feel l you for having me. how do you feel about the apology _ you for having me. how do you feel about the apology you _ you for having me. how do you feel about the apology you have - you for having me. how do you feel| about the apology you have received from the bbc? it is about the apology you have received from the bbc?— from the bbc? it is nice, it is a relief they _ from the bbc? it is nice, it is a relief they have _ from the bbc? it is nice, it is a relief they have apologised. i'd like to point out that lots of the allegations were upheld and some of them were serious. there has been a lot of misinformation that has been out in the tabloids which is just not true, some of the things that have been printed and search. i have a 30 page report, my lawyer has a 30 page report and of those allegations almost half were upheld and the ones that were not, there is a significant reason for that and we will be investigating further. i am . uessini will be investigating further. i am guessing you _ will be investigating further. i am guessing you cannot _ will be investigating further. i am guessing you cannot tell us the significant reason? hat guessing you cannot tell us the significant reason?— significant reason? not at the moment- _ significant reason? not at the moment. would _ significant reason? not at the moment. would you - significant reason? not at the moment. would you like i significant reason? not at the moment. would you like to i significant reason? not at the i moment. would you like to share at some point? —

moment. would you like to share at some point? i— moment. would you like to share at some point? i think— moment. would you like to share at some point? i think so. _ moment. would you like to share at some point? i think so. what i moment. would you like to share at some point? i think so. what has i some point? i think so. what has been set at the _ some point? i think so. what has been set at the moment - some point? i think so. what has been set at the moment is i some point? i think so. what has been set at the moment isjust . some point? i think so. what has i been set at the moment isjust not been set at the moment is just not true. there were some very serious thing that went on and they were upheld by the bbc. five breaches, there were preachers of all of the codes of conduct within the organisation. —— there were breaches. organisation. -- there were lreaches-— organisation. -- there were breaches. ~ . ., breaches. what has the last almost 12 months been _ breaches. what has the last almost 12 months been like _ breaches. what has the last almost 12 months been like since - breaches. what has the last almost 12 months been like since you i breaches. what has the last almost 12 months been like since you left i 12 months been like since you left strictly last year? {line 12 months been like since you left strictly last year?— 12 months been like since you left strictly last year? one of the worst ears of strictly last year? one of the worst years of my — strictly last year? one of the worst years of my life. — strictly last year? one of the worst years of my life, yeah. _ strictly last year? one of the worst years of my life, yeah. i _ strictly last year? one of the worst years of my life, yeah. i have i strictly last year? one of the worst years of my life, yeah. i have beenj years of my life, yeah. i have been through a lot, women go through a lot, but it has been a very unpleasant, turbulent, relentless time in my life. i have had to deal with myriad horrible things that have continued to happen just for really complaining about... i don't like that word, not complaining, alerting people about what i deemed

and people before me deemed as bad behaviour. in and people before me deemed as bad behaviour. . and people before me deemed as bad behaviour. , ., behaviour. in terms of the complaint made against _ behaviour. in terms of the complaint made against giovanni _ behaviour. in terms of the complaint made against giovanni penny - behaviour. in terms of the complaint made against giovanni penny chi i made against giovanni penny chi which were upheld, what happened at the rehearsal room? against giovanni pernice? it the rehearsal room? against giovanni pernice? ., . the rehearsal room? against giovanni pernice? ., the rehearsal room? against giovanni pernice? . , ., ., ., the rehearsal room? against giovanni pernice? ., ., ., ., , the rehearsal room? against giovanni pernice? ., ., ., ., pernice? it was an ongoing litany of beini pernice? it was an ongoing litany of being verbally _ pernice? it was an ongoing litany of being verbally abused, _ pernice? it was an ongoing litany of being verbally abused, sexual- being verbally abused, sexual innuendo, sexual gestures, there was a 35 minute rant at me for... which went on for 35 minutes with him throwing his hands at the air and calling me names and telling me all sorts of things that i was and how he could not cope with it any more. this went on for seven hours a day for seven weeks. there were pockets of time when it was ok and we got on, which was wrong footing for me because when you are in that room you never really realise... you never knew where you were from one

minute to the next. you felt very on the front foot all the time, not knowing what would happen next, which could make you shut down, and i did, within that room. i was called bad and unstable. hour i did, within that room. i was called bad and unstable. how did you resond called bad and unstable. how did you respond when — called bad and unstable. how did you respond when you — called bad and unstable. how did you respond when you were _ called bad and unstable. how did you respond when you were being - respond when you were being criticised? well, i'm open to criticism. i can be criticised. 50 well, i'm open to criticism. i can be criticised.— well, i'm open to criticism. i can be criticised. so this wasn't normal criticism? i — be criticised. so this wasn't normal criticism? i don't _ be criticised. so this wasn't normal criticism? i don't make _ be criticised. so this wasn't normal criticism? i don't make problems l be criticised. so this wasn't normal| criticism? i don't make problems or trouble where _ criticism? i don't make problems or trouble where there _ criticism? i don't make problems or trouble where there isn't _ criticism? i don't make problems or trouble where there isn't any. i've l trouble where there isn't any. i've worked 32 years as an actress in a job that started the #metoo movement and i've never had to leave a job or experience anything like i did in that rehearsal room. i don't ever make accusations likely and this was one of the hardest things i had to

do. why not only did it for myself but for the contestants who were partnered with him previously. i'd spoken to them, i'd spoken to many people who said the behaviour wasn't dot—macro was not pleasant. 0r appropriate in anyway. i wasn't the only person that complaint.- only person that complaint. you... if --eole only person that complaint. you... if people are _ only person that complaint. you... if people are insulting _ only person that complaint. you... if people are insulting you - only person that complaint. you... if people are insulting you or i if people are insulting you or making derogatory comments towards you because, i don't know, you're not doing something the right way, how do you respond to that? how did you react? how do you respond to that? how did ou react? ~ , ., ., you react? well, i try to debate and if i you react? well, i try to debate and ifi didn't you react? well, i try to debate and if i didn't get _ you react? well, i try to debate and ifi didn't get it _ you react? well, i try to debate and if i didn't get it right, _ you react? well, i try to debate and if i didn't get it right, there - if i didn't get it right, there would be, you know, i get told off about it and i try again and then there would be eye rolling and name—calling and the more i got it

wrong, the more i would be shouted at. and i shuts down. because when you are constantly told you not good enough and what you are doing, you know, you are going to make a full of yourself on saturday night, i don't respond very well to that sort of teaching. and i don't know what many people who do. especially people who aren't dancers, who have no clue about what they are doing. it is reported in some of the papers that there was some kind of crutch incident. —— crotch incident. yes, there were two allegations... two allegations of inappropriate conduct of a sexual nature, and they were upheld. 0ne of a sexual nature, and they were upheld. one of them was physical and one of them was verbal. the physical

one of them was verbal. the physical one is that when i got a dance step right he would outline his erection in his trousers and that is what my dance move... had made it happen, because i got the dance move right. and the other sexual allegation was verbal. and they weren't isolated, one—off incidents. they were over a period of seven weeks. so, there were words. period of seven weeks. so, there were words-— period of seven weeks. so, there were words._ and i period of seven weeks. so, there l were words._ and the were words. and gestures. and the iroin were words. and gestures. and the groin incident. _ were words. and gestures. and the groin incident. how— were words. and gestures. and the groin incident. how did _ were words. and gestures. and the groin incident. how did you - were words. and gestures. and the groin incident. how did you react? | groin incident. how did you react? you kind of... because you are in the bubble of strictly and in a room with someone and because, you know, i didn't really... i was either being called names and worked

without a break or this was happening, so it was very difficult, when you are in the bubble of that was seven hours a day, you lose all sense of reality. it becomes very difficult to focus because you are constantly on the back foot, about what happened then? so ijust kind of looked and sort of... sort of went, 0k, like, you know... 0nly went, 0k, like, you know... only after it happened i thought, wow, 0k. after it happened i thought, wow, ok. you manage... you have to manage an unworkable situation and it becomes incredibly difficult to get any degree of sanity within that. it feels very distorted and you lose all sense of reality in terms of, what do i do with that? in hindsight, you walk out and you

don't look back. i’m hindsight, you walk out and you don't look back.— hindsight, you walk out and you don't look back. i'm going to read giovanni pernice's _ don't look back. i'm going to read giovanni pernice's statement i don't look back. i'm going to read giovanni pernice's statement on i don't look back. i'm going to read l giovanni pernice's statement on his instagram, which he put out on monday. i appreciate dancing is a difficult thing to do and sometimes you get frustrated, as a teacher and dance and perform about the only way you get frustrated is because you care about what you do. his lawyers say they cannot comment further and the bbc has asked both parties to respect confidentiality. when did you first tell someone at the bbc and how did they respond? i told roducers and how did they respond? i told producers i _ and how did they respond? i told producers i think _ and how did they respond? i told producers i think after _ and how did they respond? i told producers i think after three i and how did they respond? i iif7i.i producers i think after three or four days of being in the rehearsal room. , . four days of being in the rehearsal room-_ they - four days of being in the rehearsal room._ they said, | four days of being in the rehearsal. room._ they said, we room. they said what? they said, we are very sorry. _ room. they said what? they said, we are very sorry. we — room. they said what? they said, we are very sorry, we will— room. they said what? they said, we are very sorry, we will monitor- room. they said what? they said, we are very sorry, we will monitor the i are very sorry, we will monitor the situation, we want you to have a nice time. and then the cameras went in quite soon after that. that nice time. and then the cameras went in quite soon after that.— in quite soon after that. that was to help things? — in quite soon after that. that was to help things? yeah, _ in quite soon after that. that was to help things? yeah, this - in quite soon after that. that was to help things? yeah, this wasn't in quite soon after that. that was i to help things? yeah, this wasn't an isolated incident _

to help things? yeah, this wasn't an isolated incident and _ to help things? yeah, this wasn't an isolated incident and i _ to help things? yeah, this wasn't an isolated incident and i know - to help things? yeah, this wasn't an isolated incident and i know that i to help things? yeah, this wasn't an isolated incident and i know that it i isolated incident and i know that it had happened before the other contestants. the had happened before the other contestants.— had happened before the other contestants. ., , ., , ., contestants. the reason you say you know that is — contestants. the reason you say you know that is because _ contestants. the reason you say you know that is because earlier - contestants. the reason you say you know that is because earlier this i know that is because earlier this year you met up with a number of previous dance partners of mr pernice. why?— previous dance partners of mr pernice. why? previous dance partners of mr pernice. wh ? ~ ., .,. pernice. why? well, we found each other and i — pernice. why? well, we found each other and i was _ pernice. why? well, we found each other and i was put _ pernice. why? well, we found each other and i was put in _ pernice. why? well, we found each other and i was put in touch - pernice. why? well, we found each other and i was put in touch with i pernice. why? well, we found each other and i was put in touch with a l other and i was put in touch with a few of them through mutual friends who had also danced on the show. and i invited them over and we just wanted to make sure that we weren't on our own thinking that this had just happened to us. because, you know, we, all of us, all of the people i spoke to who have experienced what i experienced have all said the same thing. that it wasn't pleasant, it wasn't what everybody else was going through in the other rooms and we just wanted to kind of connect with each other and make sure what had happened

wasn't an isolated thing that had just happened to each of us. it had happened to all of us. ihihd just happened to each of us. it had happened to all of us.— just happened to each of us. it had happened to all of us. and when you first met? we _ happened to all of us. and when you first met? we all _ happened to all of us. and when you first met? we all tried, _ happened to all of us. and when you first met? we all tried, burst - happened to all of us. and when you first met? we all tried, burst into i first met? we all tried, burst into tears because _ first met? we all tried, burst into tears because it's _ first met? we all tried, burst into tears because it's something... it is, you know, we all said the same thing, that we manage the room. it was managing the room and having to look after our own mental, physical and emotional well—being in that. can i ask you about something that was written by a columnist in the daily mail today. sarah vine wrote, women like abington are part of the reason other women who find themselves in genuinely awful and much more serious situations don't get taken seriously. what do you say to that? ~ �* get taken seriously. what do you say tothat?~ �* . , to that? well, i'm always shocked when women _ to that? well, i'm always shocked when women throw— to that? well, i'm always shocked when women throw other - to that? well, i'm always shocked when women throw other women | to that? well, i'm always shocked i when women throw other women under the bus for standing up for something that they think is wrong,

but 0k. i've had so many women come up but 0k. i've had so many women come up to me since i made this complaint thanking me for being brave enough to stand up and complain about something that was affecting me in a work situation and they have thanked me and said thank you for giving me the strength to as well. i have had so many women come up to me and say, can i give you a hug, thank you. and also i did it for the women that were before me who had gone through the same thing in that work environment. you know, i'm not the isolated... it hasn't only happened to me. , ., , , isolated... it hasn't only happened tome. ,., _ ,, ~, isolated... it hasn't only happened tome. , . i, isolated... it hasn't only happened tome. ,., _ ,, . , to me. obviously strictly is a family show. _ to me. obviously strictly is a family show. it _ to me. obviously strictly is a family show. it has a - to me. obviously strictly is a i family show. it has a reputation for being wholesome. some of the things you've described this evening do not appear to be very wholesome. ida. you've described this evening do not appear to be very wholesome. no, no. and, ou appear to be very wholesome. no, no. and. you know. _ appear to be very wholesome. no, no. and. you know. i— appear to be very wholesome. no, no. and, you know, i love _ appear to be very wholesome. no, no. and, you know, i love strictly. -

appear to be very wholesome. no, no. and, you know, i love strictly. i - and, you know, i love strictly. i never wanted to cause trouble, i never wanted to cause trouble, i never wanted to bring down a show, ruin anybody�*s career. all i did was experience something in a workplace environment that was actually on a show run by a corporation that is owned by the public. and i didn't want anybody else to go through what i had gone through, what people had gone through in the past before me. and all i did is say, this isn't right. i don't think this behaviour is acceptable, it makes me uncomfortable and feel threatened, i don't like it. it is consistent, happening week after week, please can you do something so it doesn't happen again to somebody else. that's literally all i did. i never set out to ruin anybody�*s career. i experienced something that was deeply upsetting over a prolonged period of time and i asked that it couldn't happen any more. how do you feel ou

couldn't happen any more. how do you feel you have — couldn't happen any more. how do you feelyou have been _ couldn't happen any more. how do you feel you have been treated _ couldn't happen any more. how do you feel you have been treated by - couldn't happen any more. how do you feel you have been treated by the i feel you have been treated by the bbc this process?— bbc this process? well, i don't know, it bbc this process? well, i don't know. it is _ bbc this process? well, i don't know, it is still _ bbc this process? well, i don't know, it is still an _ bbc this process? well, i don't know, it is still an ongoing i know, it is still an ongoing situation. 50 know, it is still an ongoing situation.— know, it is still an ongoing situation. v ., ., well, situation. so it's not over? well, ou situation. so it's not over? well, you know. _ situation. so it's not over? well, you know, there's _ situation. so it's not over? well, you know, there's a _ situation. so it's not over? well, you know, there's a 30 - situation. so it's not over? well, you know, there's a 30 page i situation. so it's not over? well, i you know, there's a 30 page report that me and my lawyers are still digesting. there are still things in there that, you know, that are unresolved.— there that, you know, that are unresolved. ., .., , unresolved. you considering then surely suing _ unresolved. you considering then surely suing the _ unresolved. you considering then surely suing the bbc? _ unresolved. you considering then surely suing the bbc? i'm - unresolved. you considering then surely suing the bbc? i'm taken i surely suing the bbc? i'm taken iuidance surely suing the bbc? i'm taken guidance from _ surely suing the bbc? i'm taken guidance from my _ surely suing the bbc? i'm taken guidance from my lawyer - surely suing the bbc? i'm taken guidance from my lawyer who i surely suing the bbc? i'm taken i guidance from my lawyer who has surely suing the bbc? i'm taken - guidance from my lawyer who has been so amazing throughout this whole thing. you know, she's been the driving force and has helped me. there have been times when i thought, is this worth it? taking advice from her on a day—to—day basis. advice from her on a day-to-day basis. �* �* . advice from her on a day-to-day basis. “ , basis. the bbc says it takes allegations _ basis. the bbc says it takes allegations of _ basis. the bbc says it takes allegations of bullying i basis. the bbc says it takes allegations of bullying and i allegations of bullying and harassment very seriously, adding, we want to apologise to amanda abbington and thank her for coming forward and taking part. we know this wouldn't have been an easy thing to do. " i wanted to ask you,

obviously strictly is one of the crown jewels of the bbc. do you feel that they were as concerned for your well—being as they were for the reputation of the programme? i well-being as they were for the reputation of the programme? i think the tried. reputation of the programme? i think they tried- i'm _ reputation of the programme? i think they tried. i'm sure _ reputation of the programme? i think they tried. i'm sure they _ reputation of the programme? i think they tried. i'm sure they tried. i i they tried. i'm sure they tried. i don't... i think... they tried. i'm sure they tried. i don't... ithink... i they tried. i'm sure they tried. i don't... i think... i wouldn't be sitting here if they had tried harder. i don't want to disparage the show. you know, i got an apology and a lot of the allegations were upheld, which says a lot to me. it says that this was an important thing that i needed to do. but i don't know. i think and if you want to carry on watching newsnight,

please turn over to bbc two or watch on iplayer. do stay with us here on bbc news for all the latest headlines in the us and around the world from the team here in washington. i'm sumi somaskanda in washington and this is bbc world news america. israel launches fresh strikes on beirut, killing dozens more, as president biden urges israel to find a proportionate response to iran. as the dust settles after last night's vice presidential debate, we'll discuss how each candidate fared and whether their performances could impact the election. and president biden surveys the damage left by storm helene, as communities in the us southeast begin to rebuild. welcome to this new, extended hour of world news america — where we'll bring you a full hour

of live news and analysis from here in the us, the uk and around the world. israel and iran have each warned the other against further attacks, after iran launched a massive ballistic missile attack on israel tuesday. israel is vowing consequences for iran, which fired some 180 missiles at israel in its second, and largest, direct attack ever. the majority of projectiles were intercepted, and one casualty was reported, a palestinian man injericho, in the occupied west bank. the strikes impacted several israeli airbases and some civilian areas, including a school in central israel. 0ur middle east corresondent lucy williamson reports. israel's air force was defending other targets when iran's missiles came. slipping through defences to hit several air bases, like this one at nevatim. another narrowly missing an intelligence base in tel aviv.

the crater it left filled with visions of what if.