mr james newman. cheering and applause.2020, singer james newman was meant to represent the uk on the world stage at the eurovision song contest. it was meant to be the biggest moment of his life but the event was cancelled because of coronavirus. now then. fast forward a year, and he's got another chance, eurovision 2021 is on, but so is the pressure. the pressure is a very big moment, going to be anxiety to the max, innit? james isn't the only one getting ready for the eurovision spotlight. # baby, you're hurting. # are you all right?# nearly a0 acts will compete nearly a0 acts will compete in the dutch city of rotterdam. # to all the wrong places~# - we will meet some like james who're getting a second chance to compete. i am so happy and so excited. i can't wait. let's get this done! for others, it's their first experience of the contest. ta ke two. action. i know that it will be a crazy, crazy adventure. i think it's going to be huge. # gimme some sugar.# and the one big question for everyone, how does the world's most

from the winners to james newman, for the first time in a long time, the fans were allowed to removessentially eurovision range. she sings in ukrainian. watching the contest in the stadium or on screen, eurovision's taste of togetherness offered some escapism from the virus that's dominated our lives for so long. # here in the dark. # inside a hole in my heart #. many hope the way in which this event has been made possible could help to make live entertainment a reality around the world once again. anna holligan, bbc news, rotterdam. let's speak to the music reporterfor bbc newsbeat steve holden. you could almost forget covid was a thing watching the audience and performances. it is thing watching the audience and performances.— thing watching the audience and performances. thing watching the audience and erformances. , . ., , ., ~ performances. it is amazingly got 26 countries and _ performances. it is amazingly got 26 countries and iceland _ performances. it is amazingly got 26 countries and iceland was _ performances. it is amazingly got 26 countries and iceland was the - performa

so, james has done an absolutely _ james newman, embers. done an absolutely amazing job. this . done an absolutely amazing job. this is the _ done an absolutely amazing job. this is the first— done an absolutely amazing job. this is the first time we have tried this new bbc— is the first time we have tried this new bbc partner with bmg to send an artist he _ new bbc partner with bmg to send an artist he was recognised and has a record _ artist he was recognised and has a record deai~ — artist he was recognised and has a record deal. he is an award—winning songwriter— record deal. he is an award—winning songwriter who has been nominated for grammys and we should be really, really _ for grammys and we should be really, really proud _ for grammys and we should be really, really proud of the song he has put forward _ really proud of the song he has put forward it — really proud of the song he has put forward. it is a phenomenal song, he has done _ forward. it is a phenomenal song, he has done very, very well. this is the first— has done very, v

from the winners to james newman. room. from the winners to james newman- who — room.s newman. who secured his - room. from the winners to james newman. who secured his place | room. from the winners to james. newman. who secured his place in history with nul pointe. for the first time in a long time, the fans were allowed to remove their face masks and forget about social distancing inside. to sing and dance along to a quintessentially eurovision range. watching the contest in the stadium or on screen, eurovision�*s taste of togetherness offered some escapism from the virus that has dominated our lives for so long holding this event which has made pop —— possible can help to make live music and events around the world once again. anna holligan, bbc news, rotterdam. let's speak to the bbc�*s steve holden now, who watched the night unfold in rotterdam. steve, it was a very disappointing night for the uk's entry. yes, the dreaded nul points. from thejury and the yes, the dreaded nul points. from the jury and the public was not the second time it has happened in the 65 ye

we uk's james newman, who is staying in a different hotel, explains.— a different hotel, explains., explains. we have to isolate when we get _ a different hotel, explains. we have to isolate when we get there - a different hotel, explains. we have to isolate when we get there and i a different hotel, explains. we have| to isolate when we get there and we io to isolate when we get there and we go straight _ to isolate when we get there and we go straight to the hotel and we get tested _ go straight to the hotel and we get tested constantly, obviously, it is all covid—safe, with social distancing and everything, and we are not— distancing and everything, and we are not allowed to meet at the hotel at all. _ are not allowed to meet at the hotel at all, unless we go into the arena and then— at all, unless we go into the arena and then we — at all, unless we go into the arena and then we get picked up and we are not allowed _ and then we get picked up and we are not allowed to travel with anyone else and — not allowed to travel with anyone else and we get separately taken there _ else a

the uk's chances this year with james newman.— year with james newman. year with james newman. we are all keeping our fingers crossed, - year with james newman. we are all keeping our fingers crossed, we - year with james newman. we are all keeping our fingers crossed, we got| keeping our fingers crossed, we got an up—tempo numberand keeping our fingers crossed, we got an up—tempo number and in the semifinal yesterday, an up—tempo number and in the semifinalyesterday, he an up—tempo number and in the semifinal yesterday, he is certainly loving the experience and i think his enthusiasm is infectious, it's about staging of the sun, as well. so i think we are hoping for a better performance than we have had in the last couple of years. lloathe better performance than we have had in the last couple of years.— in the last couple of years. who are our to in the last couple of years. who are your top tips? _ in the last couple of years. who are your top tips? this _ in the last couple of years. who are your top tips? this year _ in the last couple of years. who

from the winners to james newman... # light up the room! # ..who secured his place in history with nul points. # this ain't the end, _ no # it's the birth of a new age #. for the first time in a long time, the fans were allowed to remove theirface masks and forget about social distancing inside... she sings in russian. ..to sing and dance along to a quintessentially eurovision range. she sings in ukrainian. watching the contest in the stadium or on screen, eurovision�*s taste of togetherness offered some escapism from the virus that's dominated our lives for so long. # here in the dark # inside a hole in my heart...# many hope the way in which this event has been made possible could help to make live entertainment a reality around the world once again. anna holligan, bbc news, rotterdam. # by dancing on my own...# the lead singer of eurovision�*s winning group maneskin has said he will undergo a voluntary drugs test, after footage from last night's show prompted speculation that he may have been taking drugs. eurovision has released a state

every country is told to remain in a bubble, as the uk's james newman, who is staying in a differentto the hotel and we get tested constantly, obviously, and it is all covid—safe, social distancing and everything. and we are not allowed to leave the hotel at all, unless we go into the arena, and then we get picked up and we are not allowed to travel with anyone else, and we get separately taken there. and then, you know, in the arena it is all totally kept separate. every one of the 39 acts competing has a backup recording in case they are unable to perform on the night. the organisers pointed out, the event is taking place with the support of the dutch government and in a statement said: but across this host nation, there's a growing concern about the wisdom or otherwise of putting on the world's biggest televised singing competition, designed to unite a continent on one stage, in a time of covid—19. and when there are now approximately 5,000 new infections recorded every day here, in the netherlands. and this second positive test is evidence eurovision is not immune. anna holligan,

james newman was cheered by the live audience in rotterdam — and by other contestants — but his song,on fan club. i asked him for his reaction to this year�*s competition. that was one of the best eurovision song contest finals we�*ve ever had. much needed after two years, so good to have eurovision back and just an incredible show, fantastic songs, great staging, great presenters, great production, and very exciting results at the end there. it was quite tense at the end, wasn�*t it? we are just seeing the moment again, italy did perform pretty well, and what do you make of the act itself? yeah, a very good song, it had been leading the betting in the last few days, it had really come up the rails in the last week or so. very visually strong performance, very distinctive, unlike anything else on show tonight, a great place in the running order, quite near the end, and these days you need a song that cuts through, and that�*s what they had, a very lively performance, a visual performance, something very different to what has gone before in eurovision. there is no point trying to copy

from the winners to james newman... # light up the room!n't the end, _ no # it's the birth of a new age #. for the first time in a long time, the fans were allowed to remove theirface masks and forget about social distancing inside... she sings in russian. ..to sing and dance along to a quintessentially eurovision range. she sings in ukrainian. watching the contest in the stadium or on screen, eurovision�*s taste of togetherness offered some escapism from the virus that's dominated our lives for so long. # here in the dark # inside a hole in my heart...#

from the winners to james newman, who secured his place in history with nil points. # this ain't the, the fans were allowed to remove theirface masks and forget about social distancing inside. she sings in russian. to sing and dance along to a quintessentially eurovision range. she sings in ukrainian. watching the contest in the stadium or on screen, eurovision's taste of togetherness offered some escapism from the virus that's dominated our lives for so long. # here in the dark. # inside a hole in my heart #. many hope the way in which this event has been made possible could help to make live entertainment a reality around the world once again. anna holligan, bbc news, rotterdam. now, stand by for some amazing pictures. this is virgin galactic�*s latest test flight, as it took another step closer to taking paying passengers to space. traveling at more than 2,300 miles per hour, the aircraft took about 50 minutes to reach the edge of space — before gliding back down to earth. the company has some 600 paying customers — including movie and music stars — waiting to take the same ride.

. # from the winners to james newman... # light up the room!ul points. # this ain't the end, no. # it's the birth of a new age #. for the first time in a long time, the fans were allowed to remove their face masks and forget about social distancing inside... she sings in russian. ..to sing and dance along to a quintessentially eurovision range. she sings in ukrainian. watching the contest in the stadium or on screen, eurovision�*s taste of togetherness offered some escapism from the virus that's dominated our lives for so long. # here in the dark # inside a hole in my heart... # many hope the way in which this event has been made possible could help to make live entertainment a reality around the world once again. anna holligan, bbc news, rotterdam. the lead singer of the winning italian group maneskin has said he will undergo a voluntary drugs test when he returns home. eurovision has released a statement in which it says it is aware of a video clip of the winners in the green room last night. the band have strongly refuted the allegations of

every country was told to remain in a bubble, as the uk's james newman, who is staying in a different with social distancing and everything. and we are not allowed to leave the hotel at all, unless we go into the arena, and then we get picked up and we're not allowed to travel with anyone else, and we get separately taken there. and then, you know, in the arena, it's all totally kept separate. every one of the 39 acts competing has a back—up recording in case they are unable to perform on the night. the organisers pointed out the event is taking place with the support of the dutch government and, in a statement said... but across this host nation, there is a growing concern about the wisdom or otherwise of putting on the world's biggest televised singing competition, designed to unite a continent on one stage, in a time of covid—19. and when there are now approximately 5,000 new infections recorded every day here in the netherlands. and this second positive test is evidence eurovision is not immune. anna holligan, bbc news, in the hague. you can reach me on twitter — i'm @philippabbc.

this year we had a guy called james newman enter with a song called embers. e has embraced the contest. i have interviewed him a lot over the last couple of months, he knows how important it is. he has said he has full enthusiasm for the uk in this contest. i imagine the uk will win again one day, just might take a more years. we will win again one day, 'ust might take a more years.— will win again one day, 'ust might take a more years. we have en'oyed our take a more years. we have en'oyed your enthusiasm i take a more years. we have en'oyed your enthusiasm this i take a more years. we have en'oyed your enthusiasm this evening _ take a more years. we have enjoyed your enthusiasm this evening as - take a more years. we have enjoyed| your enthusiasm this evening as well and i will let you turn to the results coming in. thank you. now it is time to take a look at the weather. the morning is not looking bad across most of the uk but it is not going to last. we are expecting rain and gales especially across western part of the uk. you can see this swell across the

the uk, on the other hand, james newman, zero points. ary with him. how is he feeling? i haven't heard from james since last night but i think a lot of people in the british delegation will now see the only way they can go is up. i was singing about this earlier. there has to be a different strategy now for the uk. if you look at the top five in last night's eurovision, you had rock, ukrainian techno, you had a french ballad. you had genres of music that a lot of people don't necessarily associate with eurovision, it's not the eurovision pop a lot of people think the contest is. so maybe, going forward for the uk, it's time the music has to change in what we put in. bell—ringers returned to durham cathedral's tower for the first time in more than a year after coronavirus restrictions were eased. the cathedral has 10 bells in its tower but since march 2020 only one has been rung before services. there was one small difference today though, in order to maintain social distancing, instead of the usual ten people, only six were allowed to cli

disappointing resultjames disappointing result james newman, no disappointing resultjames newman, nost but he was not way off at the bottom, three other countries got zero votes for the teller vote, germany got a couple more points than us in the jury. it's a shame, he is a good singer, it's a good song, but you need to have that special something that really stands out in and amongst all the other performances, and that's probably what was lacking, it's the sort of song that nobody disliked, he didn't sing badly at all, he did a very good performance in contemporary song, but itjust needed something different, and if you look at the songs that came in the top five, they all had that. ., , ., the top five, they all had that. . , ., . ., , that. finally, not huge crowds inside, that. finally, not huge crowds inside. do _ that. finally, not huge crowds inside, do you _ that. finally, not huge crowds inside, do you think _ that. finally, not huge crowds inside, do you think it - that. finally, not huge crowds inside, do you think it made l that. finally, not huge crowds inside, do you t

disappointing result james newman, no points with both the jury and the televote, but yes, he has comeother countries got zero votes for the televote, germany got a couple more points than us in the jury. it's a shame, he is a good singer, it's a good song, but you need to have that special something that really stands out in and amongst all the other performances, and that's probably what was lacking, it's the sort of song that nobody disliked, he didn't sing badly at all, he did a very good performance in contemporary contemporary song, but itjust needed something different, and if you look at the songs that came in the top five, they all had that. interesting. finally, not huge crowds inside, do you think it made a difference? it made less of a difference than i expected. i expected it might lose some atmosphere but it was one of the most exciting eurovision is i have watched for many years. here in the uk, the queen has been meeting the crew of the royal navy's new flagship, hms queen elizabeth, as the carrier prepares for its first major deployment. here's our defence corresponden

every country is told to remain in a bubble, as the uk's james newman, who is staying in a different we get tested constantly, obviously, and it is all covid—safe, social distancing and everything, and we are not allowed to leave the hotel at all, unless we go into the arena, and then we get picked up and we are not allowed to travel with anyone else, and we get separately taken there. and then, you know, in the arena it is all totally kept separate. every one of the 39 acts competing has a back—up recording in case they are unable to perform on the night. the organisers pointed out, the event is taking place with the support of the dutch government and in a statement said: you are watching bbc news. hello. it may come as a shock to those of you who sat under sunny skies on sunday, some flash flooding and also this was sent into us from one of our weather watchers, a funnel cloud, the early stages of a tornado, on the west coast of somerset. and the turbulent atmosphere which brought those conditions still with us through the next few days. more thundery downpours to come, nice in th

from the winners to james newman, # light up the room!allowed to remove theirface masks and forget about social distancing inside. she sings in russian. to sing and dance along to a quintessentially eurovision range. she sings in ukrainian. watching the contest in the stadium or on screen, eurovision's taste of togetherness offered some escapism from the virus that's dominated our lives for so long. # here in the dark. # inside a hole in my heart #. many hope the way in which this event has been made possible could help to make live entertainment a reality around the world once again. anna holligan, bbc news, rotterdam. hello there. some strengthen the forecast that things are to turn a little bit via enter little bit warmer in this coming week for the here and now it is still unsettled so some sunshine in the east for some of us today but rain and weaving its way west to east. some of the rain on this front in the system quite heavily especially for parts of wales, south england, with squally winds as well. she was returned some squally

uk though — for only the second time in eurovision history, the uk entrant — this year it was james newmanband maneskin — as they prepared to fly back to rome. no, not at all! no. so, what have you been doing? drinking. just celebrating and drinking with the cyprus team. it was a bit of a nailbiter, wasn't it, actually, because it wasn't clear initially that you were going to win, but then when the popular vote came through it was absolutely massive for you. just talk through how you were feeling at moment. well, that was the thing that matters the most was, because, like, the audience is the one that are going to come to our gigs and listen to our music, so the fact that they voted for us, it's so important, it makes us feel, like, unbelievably happy. and what was it like being able to perform in that environment after the year that we've had, the year of lockdown? it was incredible. we want to thank all the organisations that made this event possible, because i think they took a huge responsibility, but they did everything really well and we were on time and all the things, so we're real

countries in total he - of the 39 countries in total he performed all week were coming back, not least james newman the evasion of don't suggest that we're going to get a uk winner tonight, but strangerthings that we're going to get a uk winner tonight, but stranger things have happened. ifollowed james tonight, but stranger things have happened. i followed james and spoken to him a lot over the last couple of months and he has the power of positive thinking, so we will see what happens. i mean, in 2019, the uk came last the last time this contest was on, so we can do any worse than last time, so anything above that they might see it as a successful season!— it as a successful season! letters are a positive _ it as a successful season! letters are a positive refrain. _ it as a successful season! letters are a positive refrain. thanks. i it as a successful season! letters i are a positive refrain. thanks. have are a positive refrain. thanks. have a good evening. —— the very positive refrain. animal rights protesters have been blockading four mcdonald's distribution centres in the uk to stop deliveri

james newman representing the uk.o switzerland. —— —— malta. it will be eight o'clock in the uk and asked that the public will have the chance to vote. 180 million people watching around the world that this is huge. the fact it can actually go ahead is really something but also the fact that people have tested positive here is evidence that even the world was my biggest singing contest can't escape, isn't immune to the effects of covid. �* ., ., ~ escape, isn't immune to the effects of covid. �* . ., ~ . of covid. anna, thank you so much wisdom i'm sure _ of covid. anna, thank you so much wisdom i'm sure all of the fans - wisdom i'm sure all of the fans and everyone will be watching, thank you. two chimneys at a former brickworks that have dominated the skyline of fenland in cambridgeshire for the last 50 years, have been demolished. the 85 metre tall structures at saxon pits in whittlesey were deemed too unsafe to remain standing. i always like seeing this... controlled explosions were carried out to topple the chimn

we need more artists like james newman going into the first of the — like james newman going into the and ultimately going on believing they can — and ultimately going on believing they can wih _ and ultimately going on believing they can win. the _ and ultimately going on believing they can win-— and ultimately going on believing the can win. ., ., they can win. the uk need to let go of all of those _ they can win. the uk need to let go of all of those rules _ they can win. the uk need to let go of all of those rules and _ they can win. the uk need to let go of all of those rules and formulas i of all of those rules and formulas and have more fun with it and maybe to tell more personal stories through the song as well. fine to tell more personal stories through the song as well. one thing about eurovision _ through the song as well. one thing about eurovision has _ through the song as well. one thing about eurovision has not _ through the song as well. one thing about eurovision has not changed i through the song as well. one thing i about eurovision has not changed and thatis about e

ti9: uk, on the other hand, james newman, zero points.rd from james since last night _ is he feeling? i haven't heard from james since last night but - is he feeling? i haven't heard from james since last night but i - is he feeling? i haven't heard from james since last night but i think l is he feeling? i haven't heard from james since last night but i think a j james since last night but i think a lot of— james since last night but i think a lot of people in the british delegation will now see the only way they can _ delegation will now see the only way they can go is up. i was singing about— they can go is up. i was singing about this _ they can go is up. i was singing about this earlier. there has to be about this earlier. there has to be a different— about this earlier. there has to be a different strategy now for the uk. if a different strategy now for the uk. if you _ a different strategy now for the uk. if you took— a different strategy now for the uk. if you look at the top five in last night's — if you look at the top five in l

of something so huge like the eurovision song contest, and this year, the 65th year, we've got james newmant those marks, which i think is unfair. when me and bleu represented the country ten years ago, i think we got the highest score that has ever happened in the last ten years. we did the best. but there is a thing where the judges have a score and then, of course, the phone vote has a score, and the judges penalised course, the phone vote has a score, and thejudges penalised us because they didn't think it was fair a band of our stature were in the competition, but the phone votes came in and we were top five. so it was one of those things. but we still had a really good time and really glad we got to represent our country at eurovision. we do end up talking about the politics of a year now, don't we? it's been like that for a few years, and it's a shame, because as you say, it'sjust and it's a shame, because as you say, it's just a and it's a shame, because as you say, it'sjust a big glorious evening of fun. i mean, dare i say, it's not really to be taken so seriously, but it is to be

he james newman from the uk, who took his zero points rather well.— his zero points rather well.among the items taken is a set of gold rosary beads carried by mary queen of scots to her execution in 1587. the burglary happened on friday night. a spokesman for the castle said the pieces were of priceless importance. it was another wet weekend for many of us. i'm fed up with the weather. it is too wet. , ., , ., too wet. there might be hope on the horizon. let's talk to carol. id -- where there is- _ let's talk to carol. id -- where there is. good _ let's talk to carol. id -- where there is. good morning. - let's talk to carol. id -- where there is. good morning. the i let's talk to carol. id -- where l there is. good morning. the first half is unsettled, the second half is more subtle. temperatures will be up. today we have some heavy, thundery, blustery showers interspersed with sunny spells. we have also got some rain. that is largely across parts of northern and western scotland. not showing up in the western isles. we have also got some showers in wales and the south—west, nor