good morning, welcome to breakfast with ben thompson and mega munchetty. our headlines today. one direction star liam payne has died after falling from the third floor of a hotel in argentina. fans gather outside the hotel in buenos aires to pay tribute to the singer. the communications regulator ofcom warns social media firms they will face punishments if they fail to ensure children are kept safe on their platforms. a car crash which killed four teenagers could have been avoided. we speak to the mother of one of the boys who is campaigning for changes to licences for young drivers. the rise in cases of dine and dash. hospitality firms say an increasing number of people are ordering meals and leaving without paying we talk to sir lenny henry about his new children's book on haircuts and heritage, and how humour helped him combat school bullies.

the people that were gathered round said, "oh, leave him alone, he's funny." and suddenly, i realised that humour could be my sword and my shield. after that people left me alone because i was lenny, the funny one. and it kind of saved me, really. good morning. all aboard, we make hundreds of millions ofjourneys by coachin hundreds of millions ofjourneys by coach in the uk every single year and it is worth billions to the towns and cities we visit. i have come to this family run coach firm in lancashire to find out more. good morning. rain to clear the east and then a day of sunshine with scattered showers in the north and west. windy weather on the way on friday and sunday accompanied by some heavy rain. all of the details shortly. it's thursday 17th october.

the singer and former one direction member liam payne has died in argentina, aged 31. police in buenos aires said he fell from a balcony at a hotel in the palermo area of the city. a large group of fans has gathered outside the building. our culture correspondent, charlotte gallagher reports. liam payne, a music superstar who found fame whilejust a teenager. he lived his entire adult life in the spotlight. sometimes struggling with the pressures of celebrity. this is the hotel in buenos aires where police say the singer fell to his death from a third—floor balcony. officers were already on the scene, following reports of an aggressive man who may have been under the effect of drugs and alcohol. outside the hotel, fans were in disbelief. i needed to be here, present, and to know this is real, to know this is real.

when i read about this, like, my heart stopped for a second. i couldn't believe it. like, i felt really saddened by the news. one direction has been a part of me since i was eight years old. - they meant, they mean, they meant a lot to me, every one of them. - morning, everybody... he had posted on social media that it was a lovely day in argentina. this was liam payne at 14, auditioning on x factor in 2008 for the first time. # fly me to the moon... two years later, he was back again. # cry me a river... and soon to become one fifth of a pop music phenomenon. # you don't know you're beautiful! one direction.

liam, zayn malik, harry styles, louis tomlinson and niall horan, released hit after hit, toured the world and had millions of devoted fans. in 2016, they went on and indefinite hiatus. liam, like his bandmates, launched a solo career. and had a child with the girls aloud singer cheryl. to the outside world he was living the pop star dream but liam also struggled with his mental health and addiction to alcohol. it feels to me like when we were in the band the best way to secure us because of how big it got was just lock us in our rooms and of course, what is in our rooms, mini bar. so at a certain point i thought, i will have a party for one. and thatjust seemed to carry out throughout many years of my life. and then you look back how long have you been drinking, and you are like, jesus christ, that's a long time, even for someone as young as i was. he remained close to his bandmates. just a few weeks ago he was pictured dancing at a niall horan concert.

one direction fans longed for a reunion. today those fans are mourning the death of their music icon. charlotte gallagher, bbc news. our music correspondent mark savage joins us now. good morning, mark. many people reflecting on the impact not only of one direction but of liam payne and his life now. one direction but of liam payne and his life "ow-— his life now. yes, absolutely. it's eas to his life now. yes, absolutely. it's easy to forget — his life now. yes, absolutely. it's easy to forget just _ his life now. yes, absolutely. it's easy to forget just how _ his life now. yes, absolutely. it's easy to forget just how big - his life now. yes, absolutely. it's easy to forgetjust how big one l easy to forgetjust how big one direction were in that period from 2010 to 2015. they were the biggest band in the world, they sailed 70 million records, many of which liam payne co—wrote. 50% of their final two albums, he had credits on massive hits. and he continued that into his solo career. he had a huge hit that he co—wrote with ed sheeran in 2018. fans around the world loved

him, he was so down to earth, so humble, so approachable, despite his stardom. and i think that is one of the reasons why everyone is so devastated by what has happened this morning. we devastated by what has happened this morninu. ~ ., devastated by what has happened this morninu. ~ . , ., , ., morning. we have seen fans gather and many will _ morning. we have seen fans gather and many will be _ morning. we have seen fans gather and many will be taking _ morning. we have seen fans gather and many will be taking a _ morning. we have seen fans gather and many will be taking a look- morning. we have seen fans gather and many will be taking a look at i and many will be taking a look at the band which was on hiatus, but never really wear far away from each other. ., , ~' , never really wear far away from each other. ., , ~ , ., . ., other. no, they kept in touch, and as ou other. no, they kept in touch, and as you had — other. no, they kept in touch, and as you had in _ other. no, they kept in touch, and as you had in the _ other. no, they kept in touch, and as you had in the report, - other. no, they kept in touch, and as you had in the report, liam - other. no, they kept in touch, and as you had in the report, liam was in argentina to go and watch his band—mate nile horan play concert there. he had been in touch with the others over the years. i think people had always held out hopes for a reunion which will never be able to take place now.— a reunion which will never be able to take place now. thank you very much, to take place now. thank you very much. mark- _ much, mark. seven minutes past eight. when we talk about social media, the

conversation of late particularly has been how can younger people be protected from the things that they see that they should not be seeing. and whether social media firms should be doing more to protect those young people. the head of the communications watchdog ofcom has warned social media companies that they will face punishments if they fail to comply with legal safeguards to ensure children are kept safe on their platforms. the changes come into force in the spring, and could mean fines being imposed. our technology editor zoe kleinman has this report. graphic violence, sexual abuse, grooming and self—harm. just some of the types of horrendous content children have been exposed to on the world's most popular online platforms. in some cases, it has resulted in tragedy. he was 1a and a normal child and didn't have any mental health, or not that we knew of. he was just a regular, happy, normal child. and in april 20, sorry, 2022,

two years ago, um, i came home and our world had changed. sophie died by suicide at 13. when i went on to her social media, there was a barrage of really distressing material on her ipad and on her phone. from december, it will be the responsibility of the tech firms to try to put a stop to that here in the uk. what we're aiming for is for younger children not to experience what some of today's teenagers and indeed, you know, adults in their early 20s have experienced over the last ten, 15 years. and i can just assure you that at ofcom, we are so intent on making a difference here, we are going to use all the powers we have at our disposal. those powers include large fines and even banning services in the uk, which fail to accurately risk assess how much harmful content

is on their platforms, whether any children at all might see it, and then implement changes, including age verification for all, to ensure that they don't. the online safety act doesn't come into effect until the spring, but some tech firms have already sprung into action. instagram, for example, has limited interactions on its teen accounts, and both snapchat and tiktok say they've clamped down on age verification. and today, ofcom has brought forward consultations on addressing harmful material towards women and girls. specifically, data from an online abuse helpline found that nearly three quarters of all threats to share intimate images affected women. but some would like to see the online safety act go further. i'd like to see ofcom change its approach to be far more ambitious in what it's expecting of these platforms. the online safety act provides a minimum, but we must interpret that in a way that focuses on the systems that these platforms are using, notjust individual pieces of content. it took years to draft

the online safety act, and some argue that it's already out of date. ofcom will now have to move fast to keep up with the rapidly evolving tech sector. zoe kleinman, bbc news. the us envoy to the united nations says washington is monitoring israel's actions in gaza, to ensure its not pursuing what she called "a policy of starvation". some aid has now reached the north of the region, for the first time in two weeks. our middle east correspondent, yolande knell, sent this report from jerusalem. definitely we were hearing that there were improvements, un officials saying to me that it is still not enough. even if you look at what the us was demanding in a strongly worded letter sent on sunday from top biden administration officials, linking aid going into gaza to us weapons funding, they are asking for a minimum of 350 lorry loads of aid going into gaza every day. if you look at the official figues, we are not up to even half of that.

that said, we did hear yesterday that 50 lorry loads of aid went in from jordan into gaza, in line with another us demand that that route from jordan should be reopened. in the north, which has been the worst affected part of the gaza strip, there was a two—week stretch at the start of the month when the un is said that no aid was going in there at all. we are hearing that tens of thousands of people are stuck injabalia in the north of gaza, where israel has been carrying out a ground offensive encircling an urban refugee camp, saying it is fighting with hamas operatives who are trying to regroup but people inside say they are desperate and they are have completely run out of food. the disasters emergency committee, which is made up of 15 british aid agencies, is appealing for funds to help millions of people affected

by the escalating crisis in the middle east. the charity says humanitarian needs in gaza and elsewhere are overwhelming. the uk government says it will match the first £10 million of donations made by the public. women between the ages of 50 and 70 are being urged to attend their breast—screening appointments after it has emerged more than a third did not take up the offer last year. more than two million eligible women have not been screened in the last three years, according to nhs england. a number of cabinet ministers have written to the treasury to express concern about spending cuts to their departments, which could be included in the budget later this month. the chancellor, rachel reeves, is understood to be looking to raise £40 billion. our chief politcal correspondent henry zeffman is in westminster. morning, henry. iguess morning, henry. i guess the question at this stage is, do we know where the axe may fall? it is

at this stage is, do we know where the axe may fall?— the axe may fall? it is normal for cabinet ministers _ the axe may fall? it is normal for cabinet ministers to _ the axe may fall? it is normal for cabinet ministers to protest - the axe may fall? it is normal for cabinet ministers to protest and | cabinet ministers to protest and discuss what is going to be in the budget in the run—up to the budget which will have been finalised behind closed doors yesterday. it is unusual to protest to the prime minister rather than the chancellor. what is definitely abnormal is the amount of money that this government is trying to find, £40 billion. that will mostly come in the form of tax rises, it could be the biggest tax—raising budget in 30 years. but some of it will come in spending cuts. it is not being denied, reports that ageing —— angela rayner, the deputy prime minister, louise haigh, the transport secretary, and shabana mahmood, the justice secretary, are protesting, which suggest that that is where the areas where could be cut. we will find out in two weeks what is going to be in the budget. this isjust a negotiation over the next year of spending. in the spring, another

negotiation will begin over the next three years of spending which will likely be even more fraught. henry, thank yom — likely be even more fraught. henry, thank yom if— likely be even more fraught. henry, thank you- if you — likely be even more fraught. henry, thank you. if you had _ likely be even more fraught. henry, thank you. if you had an _ thank you. if you had an architecture prize to a ward, what you think is going to win? normally it aoes to you think is going to win? normally it goes to cool _ you think is going to win? normally it goes to cool building _ you think is going to win? normally it goes to cool building or _ it goes to cool building or something. but this time it is a bit different. it something. but this time it is a bit different. . ~ , , ., ~ something. but this time it is a bit different. .~ , ~ ., different. it makes you think about what architecture _ different. it makes you think about what architecture is, _ different. it makes you think about what architecture is, it _ different. it makes you think about what architecture is, it is _ what architecture is, it is designed. britain's top architecture award, the stirling prize, has been given to the designers of the elizabeth line in london. the railway network was opened in 2022 and runs across london, between its suburbs in the east and west. the royal institute of british architects called it a "flawless, efficient, beautifully choreographed solution to inner—city transport". there is the perfect link to carol. this is what we expect, flawless, efficiency, beautiful choreography of the weather. not much to ask for!

no pressure at all!— good morning. i'll start to the day, rain will clear and then we sunny spells and scattered showers. —— it will be a mild start to the day. we have got a week by the front doing the same thing, weak weather front crossing across. showers in the north here and there. the rain in shetland fizzling. it will be a mild day generally. temperatures 13 to 18 degrees north to south. we will see

fog patches and but then dry weather and sunshine. i am talking about the night! we have got strong winds coming to the irish sea and the outer hebrides where we will have some gales. tomorrow we will see the sunshine! mist and fog will be lifting quite quickly. the first weather front brings in lifting quite quickly. the first weatherfront brings in rain, behind it the wind will pick up and we have heavy rain coming in and gusty winds, you will really notice this. temperatures still on the mild side, 12 to 17 degrees. worth mentioning that on sunday, it looks like it is going to be particularly wet and windy. the strongest winds across the north west. here we could have cost as much as 70 or 80 miles an hour so something to bear in mind. i failed miserably, it was not flawless or beautifully gary graphed!

flawless or beautifully gary u-rahed! �* flawless or beautifully gary ”rahed! ., , flawless or beautifully gary u-rahed! ., , ., , graphed! don't worry! that is the weather, graphed! don't worry! that is the weather. not _ graphed! don't worry! that is the weather, not your _ graphed! don't worry! that is the weather, not your performance. | graphed! don't worry! that is the | weather, not your performance. i graphed! don't worry! that is the - weather, not your performance. i was auoin to weather, not your performance. i was going to say. — weather, not your performance. i was going to say. i — weather, not your performance. i was going to say, i didn't _ weather, not your performance. i was going to say, i didn't really _ weather, not your performance. i was going to say, i didn't really expect that carol would be flawless. i am outraaed, that carol would be flawless. i am outraged. naga! _ that carol would be flawless. i am outraged, naga! flawlessly- that carol would be flawless. i am - outraged, naga! flawlessly outraged, carol. see outraged, naga! flawlessly outraged, carol- see you — outraged, naga! flawlessly outraged, carol. see you later. _ we will get sport later on with the news of the england manager in the next 20 minutes. a crash that killed four teenage boys from shrewsbury, who drowned in an overturned car, could have been avoided an inquest has heard. the coroner is now writing to the government raising concerns about newly qualified drivers being able to carry passengers. hugo morris, harvey owen, wilf fitchett, and jevon hirst died when their car left a rural road in snowdonia while they were on a camping trip last november. our wales correspondent hywel griffith has more. the sharp, sweeping bend where last november, four lives ended suddenly when a car

left the road. 16—year—old jevon hirst, harvey owen and wilf fitchett, both 17, and 18—year—old hugo morris, were college friends who'd come to north wales for a weekend in the mountains. when the boys didn't arrive home, a search was launched. their car was eventually spotted overturned in a flooded ditch two days after it had crashed. the conditions on that day were wet, there were leaves on the road, but a crash investigator told the inquest that the accident had been avoidable. he believed the driver, hugo morris, had been going around the bend too quickly and lost control, even though he well below the speed limit of 60 miles an hour. harvey owen's mother told the inquest her son had been flourishing in life, loving music and playing his guitar. crystal owen says she's tried to channel her grief into searching for change. it's a journey which has taken her to westminster as she campaigns for a graduated

driving licence to be introduced. the coroner said she, too, was worried about the laws for young drivers and their passengers and would write to the department of transport to raise her concerns. hywel griffith, bbc news, caernarfon. we're joined now by harvey owen's mum, crystal. good morning. morning. you were at the inquest — good morning. morning. you were at the inquest yesterday, _ good morning. morning. you were at the inquest yesterday, how _ good morning. morning. you were at the inquest yesterday, how is - good morning. morning. you were at the inquest yesterday, how is that? i the inquest yesterday, how is that? it was a long and exhausting day, but i'm glad it is over, now. what but i'm glad it is over, now. what did ou but i'm glad it is over, now. what did you hope _ but i'm glad it is over, now. what did you hope to — but i'm glad it is over, now. what did you hope to hear? _ but i'm glad it is over, now. what did you hope to hear? we - but i'm glad it is over, now. what did you hope to hear? we were . but i'm glad it is over, now. what - did you hope to hear? we were hoping to net a did you hope to hear? we were hoping to get a preventing _ did you hope to hear? we were hoping to get a preventing future _ did you hope to hear? we were hoping to get a preventing future deaths - to get a preventing future deaths report. i had a barrister representing me, luckily. and we were happy with the outcome that we got from the coroner. and were happy with the outcome that we got from the coroner.— got from the coroner. and you have been speaking _ got from the coroner. and you have been speaking very _ got from the coroner. and you have been speaking very vocally, - got from the coroner. and you have been speaking very vocally, or- got from the coroner. and you have j been speaking very vocally, or been very vocal, i should say, about different licences or graduated licences. because of the age and the

inexperience of those in that car, inexperience of those in that car, in that car crash. how has that inquest finding helped you in terms of your quest to that? it inquest finding helped you in terms of your quest to that?— inquest finding helped you in terms of your quest to that? it has backed u . of your quest to that? it has backed u- what of your quest to that? it has backed up what many _ of your quest to that? it has backed up what many organisations - of your quest to that? it has backed up what many organisations and - up what many organisations and expert playback have been saying. the coroner had concerns that younger drivers are at risk when they take passengers when they are newly qualified. there are concerns that there will be future deaths which we know happen daily as a result of younger drivers. hoop which we know happen daily as a result of younger drivers. how would it work, result of younger drivers. how would it work. what — result of younger drivers. how would it work, what you _ result of younger drivers. how would it work, what you are _ result of younger drivers. how would it work, what you are proposing? - it work, what you are proposing? talk us through what it might look like and what those graduated licences would be.— like and what those graduated licences would be. very soon after what happened — licences would be. very soon after what happened to _ licences would be. very soon after what happened to harvey, - licences would be. very soon after| what happened to harvey, because licences would be. very soon after. what happened to harvey, because of the circumstances of me not knowing that his plans for that weekend, and me having no say over him being in that car, a friend of mine told me about the graduated licences that has been in place for decades in other countries and save up to 40% of lives. as soon as i delved into it and realised how much it has been

discussed in this country, i was so fired up to do something. i knew there was a lot of press attention on the story and i thought if anything it was going to come of this, it is highlighting what is 1425 0