furthersouth scotland. it stays cold on the far north.es. through the night, we could see the rain turning to snow above 200 metres in scotland. behind it, it's a drab, dreary night with patchy mist and fog forming, still relatively mild here but fog could be an issue first thing on christmas morning. if you are off early to visit friends and family, it's worth bearing that in mind. it will lift to low cloud to a rather dreary christmas eve for many. the rain becomes light and patchy in scotland but through southwest england, wales and eventually into northern ireland, we will see some wet and windy weather arriving here. milder into the south, staying colder in the north. this is bbc news broadcasting to viewers in the uk and around the world. i'm martine. our top stories... scientists cautiously welcome uk studies suggesting that the highly—contagious omicron covid variant is milder than previous versions. britain's health secretary warns that the sheer number of infections could still lead to hospitals being overwhelmed. we do know wit

brightness, northern ireland and the very far north of england and part of scotland will still see heavy showers. furthersouthne. # ellie goulding - how long will i need you? # chrisette michele - like a dream. 0h! # coldplay - higher power. # argentine tango. that dance belongs in the final. we're joined now by former strictly professional dancer, flavia cacace—mistry. first of all, let's cover how tricky is it to fit two dances into your training schedule, because so far it has just been one. they all talk about how hard it is on the first couple of days and something mid week clicks but you don't have to do that in the semifinal because you have to learn to. the that in the semifinal because you have to learn to.— have to learn to. the funny thing last niiht have to learn to. the funny thing last night as _ have to learn to. the funny thing last night as the _ have to learn to. the funny thing last night as the quality - have to learn to. the funny thing last night as the quality of i last night as the quality of routines went up, even though they were doing to routines and that is because in the quarterfi

scotland. furthersouth northern england in southern scotland.ay northwards and eastwards meaning that wilder air. whether to ms as a meeting that is where we see outbreaks of rain and health know as well particularly for the pennines and the southern upland. it will ease off towards the east, that mix of rain and sleet and some sunny skies working in four parts of england and wales and northern ireland as a scattered shower. it will also be quite windy. blizzard conditions for a time across the pennines and the southern upland, wendy along the east coast is well with outbreaks of rain and temperatures only four or five degrees across parts of northern scotland and england. 12 degrees towards the south—west. a mix, a contrast in temperature and weather type today. in the evening and overnight, rain and health know will ease towards the north, still a little damp overnight you will see mist and extensive fog patches coming through into monday morning. a touch of frost across parts of scotland and northern england but milder with a low cloud with f

evening and overnight the cold air in scotland filters further south. the cold air in scotland filters furthersouthratures still on the mild side in the south—west, but cold as we push further north. wherever you are on christmas day, it is going to be blustery. the costliest winds will be in the north—west. that leads us into boxing day. snow in the hills across northern england, into south—west scotland, pushing steadily northwards. it would be fairly cloudy for most but it should brighten up across the south—west later and also part of south wales. mild in the south—west, cold as we push towards the north. that's it from me for today. all that is left for me to do is wish you all a very happy and healthy christmas. thank you so much, carol. you too. and of course, santa is listening. i've had on the phone already. he is becoming a nuisance. it is important. you should be listened to. if only i took my own words seriously throughout the year. rudolph has been polishing his nose because of the fog, so he can see where he's going. there you go. carol, have a lovely christmas. you too. if you were w

scotland. furthersouth, it of england and then to scotland.all trophy is in touching distance for strictly come dancing's four remaining couples, as they take to the ballroom for the semifinal later this evening. tonight, they'll face an added challenge, with not one, but two dances to perform. let's take a look at the contestants left in the running. # we are family, yeah, yeah, # i got all my sisters and me # yeah, yeah, yeah, now— # we are family # get up everybody and see... # i can feel it coming in the airtonight # hold on, hold on # # i #ican # i can feel it coming in the air tonight. # rhythm is going to get you tonight. # more than i ever dreamt of # more than i ever dreamt of # and no one can take me away from you. # this will be, this will be... # watching closely. joining us now is former strictly professional, ian waite. some would say that i don't know what i'm talking about but hopefully i do, when we are talking about dancing, of course. i i do, when we are talking about dancing, of course.— i do, when we are talking about danc

scotland. it stays cold in the far north and further south, stays cold in the far north and furthersouth, it'ses here. as we go through the night still with that cold air, we could see the rain turned to snow. behind it, it's a drab, dreary night with patchy mist and fog forming, still relatively mild but fog could be an issue first thing on christmas morning. if you're up early, that's worth bearing in mind. it will lift to low cloud to a rather dreary christmas eve for many. the rain becoming light and patchy in scotland, but through southwest england and wales, eventually northern ireland, we will see wet and windy weather arriving here. milder into the south, stakeholder in the north. —— staying colder. hello this is bbc news. the headlines: for a second day in a row, the uk tops 100,000 daily covid cases — making it a record high since the pandemic. people catching omicron are 50% to 70 % less likely to need hospital care compared with previous variants — that's according to the uk health security agency. the new analysis also shows the vaccine's ability to stop you catching omicron start

scotland, in fact several centimetres building up overnight. it could be a little bit icy and wintry over the tops here. further south, icy and wintry over the tops here. furthersouth the risk of ice and snow further north where the cold air stays with us. it is a drier picture tomorrow for parts of scotland and you have that cold air coming into the north, some brightness and sunshine. the fog takes a while to clear elsewhere, then we have our next weather front coming in across the south—west, moving in later in the south—west, moving in later in the afternoon to the evening, and thatis the afternoon to the evening, and that is with our milder atlantic air. further north though it is still pretty chilly so we have the battleground going on, but at the moment it looks as if the white christmas may be reserved for the tops of the pennines and the hills of scotland because the mild air is still enveloping most as we go into christmas day. there could be some smattering of rain across the pennines and north wales mountains, the best of the brighter weather likely to be further north and east and that is where it likely to be further north and east and that is where i

scotland and northern england. here a touch of frost, just like last night. furthersouth a touch of frost, just like last night. as well. sunshine as well for parts of scotland, northern ireland, western england, and wales. further is the figure cloud, thick enough for the odd spot of drizzle here or there. temperatures 5— 10 degrees for the top on sunday. monday look similar again. degrees for the top on sunday. monday look similaragain. hope register with us. could be some breaks in the cloud compared to what we will see through the weekend. but some mist and fog again. a lot of low cloud around in general. it will turn colder over the next few days. perhaps 4— 10 degrees our top temperatures on monday. what about the week ahead? heading towards the festive period, it looks like high—pressure will start to gradually slip away. we will start to see a cold front moving on from the north. a bit more broken cloud for a time during the week. waiting on the winds, low pressure. it looks like as we head to the end of this coming week into the festive weekend you can see some rain symbols, perhaps sleet and snow symb