nicholas witchell, bbc news. well, as you heard there, pope francis has delivered his christmas address from the apostolic palace in the vatican city instead of st peter's square, and his speech was streamed online, due to covid restrictions. 0ur rome correspondent, mark lowen, has been following the story. well, this time last year, there were 50,000 people in st peter's square watching the pope's christmas urbi et 0rbi to the city and the world christmas message from the balcony of st peter's basilica. this year, st peter's square is completely cornered off by police. we are in the middle of a christmas lockdown and the pope spoke from inside the apostolic palace. the world has changed and many people's faith has been shaken and coronavirus was very much at the heart of the pope's christmas message. he called on people to care for and offer generosity to the victims of the pandemic. he also called on world leaders to cooperate, so that there should be access to vaccines for all countries. he said we cannot erec

nicholas witchell reports. from windsor castle, on a christmas day without the customary companionship of families coming together, a christmas broadcast in which the queen reflected on a time of exceptional difficulty. for christians, jesus is the light of the world. but we can't celebrate his birth today in quite the usual way. the pandemic had disrupted so much for people of all faiths and yet, the queen said it had also brought us closer. in the united kingdom and around the world, people have risen magnificently to the challenges of the year and i'm so proud and moved by this quiet, indomitable spirit. to our young people in particular, i say thank you for the part you have played. she expressed gratitude to front—line workers and for the amazing achievements of modern science. and she'd found encouragement in the way people had supported each other. we continue to be inspired by the kindness of strangers and draw comfort that even on the darkest nights, there is hope in the new dawn. she recalled that t

nicholas witchell reports. from windsor castle on a christmas day without the customary companionship of families coming together, a christmas broadcast in which the queen reflected on a time of exceptional difficulty. for christians, jesus is the light of the world, but we can't celebrate his birth today in quite the usual way. the pandemic had disrupted so much for people of all faiths and yet the queen said it had also brought us closer. in the united kingdom, and around the world, people have risen magnificently to the challenges of the year and i am so proud and moved by this quiet, indomitable spirit. to our young people in particular, i say thank you for the part you have played. she thanked front line workers and the amazing achievements of modern science. "we owe them a debt of gratitude," she said. she recalled that this year was the centenary of the burial of an unknown serviceman in westminster abbey, an unnamed hero from an earlier generation who had become a symbol of selfless duty. he represents

nicholas witchell has more. christmas 2020, a quiet day at home. this was the queen with members of her family at windsor castle just over two weeks ago, before the tier 4 covid restrictions were announced. there will be no family gatherings at the castle today. instead, the queen will spend christmas day at windsor castle with the duke of edinburgh and a small group of staff. it'll be the first time she's spent christmas at the castle since the 1980s. back then, the castle was where the family gathered every year for christmas. but for the past 30 years or so, they've spent christmas at sandringham. those plans were abandoned several weeks ago. so there will be no visits to church for morning service, though the queen will probably attend a private moment of worship inside the castle. one thing that will take place as normal, the queen's christmas broadcast, which at the end of such a difficult year, will have an added significance. no details have been made public in advance, but the broadcast will be an opportunity for the queen to offer a messa

nicholas witchell, bbc news. this christmas is, of course, one like no other — with many families unable to be together because of the global pandemic. so how have we adapted our plans? judith moritz has been finding out. for so many, covid means christmas behind closed doors, this boy was born during the pandemic, he has a hearts condition and his grandparents are vulnerable. even though rules mean the family could get together they have chosen to keep it virtual and open presents via video call. there was a points where we were thinking about having pa rents where we were thinking about having parents up on christmas day, but following the recent raise, you know, raising cases, and just the general uncertainty, we have decided to avoid it this year. how are you raymond and olwen. 0k. happy christmas. coronavirus has changed christmas. coronavirus has changed christmas for church goers too. the congregation of this church in carlisle met on zoom instead of in person, though the sense of community was no less h

nicholas witchell, bbc news. 0ur royal correspondent daniela relph is at windsor. beautiful daniela relph is at windsor. morning there. but nt public beautiful morning there. but no public site, even socially distance, of the queen or any members of the royalfamily this of the queen or any members of the royal family this year. that's right. no plans for any public sightings come at all, which of course is very different from what we normally see for a royal christmas. that would normally be up at sandringham led by the queen and the duke of edinburgh with their widerfamily all the duke of edinburgh with their wider family all in attendance, going to church on christmas morning and then a christmas lunch at the main at sandringham. not this year. just the queen and the duke of edinburgh here behind the castle walls at windsor. we are told by royal officials they will be spending christmas quietly, just the two of them, like so many other families this christmas. they have had to make the compromises, difficult decisions. they were made at the beginning of this mont

our royal correspondent nicholas witchell reports. edinburgh‘s waverley station, the first stop for the rail train on a 1200 milejourney first stop for the rail train on a 1200 mile journey around the first stop for the rail train on a 1200 milejourney around the uk first stop for the rail train on a 1200 mile journey around the uk to give the duke and duchess of cambridge a chance to meet different groups of key workers, and in the words of kensington palace, to pass on the nation‘s sincere thanks and gratitude for all their efforts to keep people safe and keep the country going during the pandemic. the scottish ambulance service handles more than 1.5 million emergency calls every year, and like ambulance services everywhere there‘s been considerable extra pressure on it caused by covid—19. william and catherine met members of the ambulance service staff in newbridge. the visit fell on a day when the service was remembering a member of staff who died recently from coronavirus. the cambridge journey began last night with a mus

nicholas witchell, bbc news. the mobo awards — the uk's biggest celebration of black music and culture — take place tomorrow, online though, because of the pandemic. the awards for music of black 0rigin started nearly a quarter of a century ago. but this year has proved more challenging for artists than ever before as colleen harris explains. a warning — her report does contain flashing images. it's been going for nearly 25 years, celebrating some of the biggest names in music of black origin. make some noise explanation unlike previous years, tomorrow's event is a briefing on the virtual ceremony. thank you from the bottom of my heart again. thank you to eve ryo ne of my heart again. thank you to everyone that voted for me, to my brothers that support me. there is no live audience but they are train new technology to bring an immersive experience. it is a year like no other, so we are producing a show like no other. and so, for us, it was about using the power of black culture to bring people together. its

nicholas witchell, b news. jane: after histori brexit trade deals, michael barneier has been briefing officials about the details. the document runs to 12 pages. the prime minister, in downing street yesterday when the deal was confirmed, has also received a copy. here is ourpoolitical corrent. >> i ha small present for anyone who might be looking for something to read in post-christs lunc moments, and here it is. tydings. glad tidings of great joy, because this is deal. layla: some light reading, the post brexit deal between britain and the eu runs to more than 1200 pages. this morning, the man who negotiated it fothe use side -- eu side briefed ambassadors on its detail. what is in thatet blue folder out how the eu and u.k. will trade and cooperate from the new toyear n have something oper is a success for th side. theransition arrangements are expiring within days, and mps and peers will have until wednesday to digest the detail before being called back to nlrliament for a debate. there are uely to be any ho

our royal correspondent nicholas witchell reports. edinburgh‘s waverley station, the first stop for the royal train on a 1,200—mile journey around the uk to give the duke and duchess of cambridge a chance to meet different groups of key workers, and in the words of kensington palace, to pass on the nation‘s sincere thanks and gratitude for all their efforts to keep people safe and keep the country going during the pandemic. the scottish ambulance service handles more than 1.5 million emergency calls every year, and like ambulance services everywhere, there‘s been considerable extra pressure on it caused by covid—19. william and catherine met members of the ambulance service staff in newbridge. the visit fell on a day when the service was remembering a member of staff who‘d died recently from coronavirus. # ‘tis the season of love and understanding. ..# the cambridges‘ journey had begun last night with a musical send—off from london‘s euston station. the duke and duchess met transport workers who‘d kept services r

nicholas witchell, bbc news, at windsor. now on bbc news... tom brook marks the 40th anniversary of former beatle john lennon's murder in new york on december the 8th 1980, and assesses his powerful legacy a0 years on. archive: any doubts about the beatles‘ reception in america were dispelled the moment they touched down. friday, february 7, 1964. a pan am boeing 707 jet called clipper defiance from london taxis to its destination, a terminal atjfk airport in new york. there to greet the beatles — the biggest pop act of the 20th century — were more screaming fans than the airport had ever seen before, 4,000 of them. screeching and screaming to americans, the spirit of the most outspoken beatle, john lennon, was evident the moment he arrived, as he jousted with reporters and fans at an airport press c0 nfe re nce . for lennon, that february gave him his first taste of new york, a city he grew to really love and moved to live in permanently in august 1971. photographer bob gruen took countless images of lennon in new york. the two men grew

nicholas witchell reports. christmas 2020, a quiet day at home. this was the queen with members of her family at windsor castle just over two weeks ago, before the tier 4 covid restrictions were announced. for christians, jesus is the light of the world, but we can't celebrate his birth today in quite the usual way. the pandemic had disrupted so much for people of all faiths, and yet the queen said it had brought us closer. in the united kingdom and around the world, people have risen magnificently to the challenges of the year and magnificently to the challenges of the yearandl magnificently to the challenges of the year and i am proud and moved by this quiet, indomitable spirit. to oui’ this quiet, indomitable spirit. to our young people in particular, i say thank you for the part you have played. she thanked front line workers and the achievements of modern science. we owe them a debt of gratitude, she said. she also acknowledged that this was the centenary acknowledged that this was the ce nte nary of acknowledged that this was the centenary

nicholas witchell, bbc news. a group of former professional rugby players are planning legal action against the sport's governing bodies, claiming that rugby has left them with permanent brain damage. they include 42—year—old steve thompson, who can't remember being part of england's 2003 world cup triumph. he is one of eight former players — all diagnosed with early onset dementia — who are taking part in the legal action. if successful, it could change the way the game is played. governing bodies world rugby and the rfu said they take player safety very seriously, and have put in place injury prevention strategies. 0ur correspondent chris mcclaughlin has more. australia, 2003, and english rugby's greatest triumph. i can't remember any of the games whatsoever, anything that happens in those games. former hooker steve thompson is 42. this month, he was diagnosed with early—onset dementia. he blames repeated blows to the head. they were in scrummage sessions on the scrum machine and you're passing out, p

nicholas witchell, bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather with darren brett. hello there. there was some sunshine earlier today through the midlands, southeast england and east anglia. it's still quite a cold day, an awful lot colder though where the fog persisted here and there. there wasn't too much of that around this afternoon, but over the past few hours, it has been thickening up. further north, a good day to have an umbrella handy, really, with rain tumbling down. it's been quite wet, actually, across the northwest of england, north wales, showers in scotland and for a while in northern ireland. that wetter weather is moving southwards into the midlands. heading towards the southeast, where ahead of that rain, we have got some fog and an early frost, perhaps, across parts of east anglia and the southeast of england. but that will tend to lift as that rain comes in, washing things away, the rain could be quite heavy for a while. showers then do follow on behind, but we will get some clearer skies for northern ireland, wales and the southwest. maybe a few

nicholas witchell, bbc news. the first concert to be held inside notre dame cathedral in paris since it was partially destroyed by a fire last year, has been broadcast on french television. there was no audience for the performance, which was recorded earlier this month. the socially distanced singers wore hard hats and boiler suits, because the gothic cathedral is still a construction site. they performed works by mozart and schubert, as well as light—hearted pieces includingjingle bells. # 0h, # oh, what fun it is to ride in a one—horse open sleigh. #jingle bells, one—horse open sleigh. # jingle bells, jingle one—horse open sleigh. #jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way. that's got to cheer you up on christmas morning. i am aware that lots of you will be not having the christmas you planned. but as ever on breakfast, we are here. what a year it's been for captain sir tom moore, and here at breakfast, we've been with him every step of the way. john maguire has been to catch up with him, to find