at six — the terrorism threat level is raised in northern ireland. mi5 has increased it from "substantial" to "severe", meaning an attack is highly likely following a rise in dissident republican activity. the psni, supported by partners, will relentlessly pursue those who seek to cause harm and terrorise our community. and those who seek to attack police officers and other members of the security services here in northern ireland. also on the programme... william hill — one of the world's biggest betting companies — is told to pay a £19 million penalty — a record — for failing to protect consumers.

more violence in paris tonight — as tens of thousands of people are out on the streets again across france to protest against president macron�*s pension reforms. everyone, say hi to luke! and the 22—year—old singer—songwriter who found himself on stage in front of 20,000 people with ed sheeran. and on bbc london... are billionaire�*s son who fled to yemen after a murder investigation admits to the bbc that he was involved. good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. the terrorism threat level in northern ireland has been raised from substantial to severe — meaning the risk of an attack is now "highly likely". the rating is based on an mi5

intelligence assessment and comes after a rise in activity by dissident republicans, including a gun attack last month on a senior police officer. the northern ireland secretary, chris heaton—harris, says the public should remain vigilant, but not be alarmed. 0ur ireland correspondent, emma vardy, sent this report from belfast. the attack on the senior police officer last month one of the factors that led to the threat level being increased. when dci john caldwell was shot multiple times at this sports ground, while coaching youth football, the incident was claimed by the violent dissident republican group known as the new ira, who oppose northern ireland being part of the uk. were there for you, our community, and in doing so, we need to take measures to protect ourselves because we know there are a small group of people who will be keen to murder police officers. police are often targets.

in november, there was a murder attempt on two officers when their vehicle was damaged in a bomb attack in county tyrone. it is crucial now that the government steps up and provides the additional funding that is needed to enable the police service in northern ireland to recruit the additional police officers that they need, and so they have the resources and the capacity to counter this very serious terrorist threat. but for the wider public, northern ireland's history of conflict means even today, living with security threats is nothing new. does the continued presence of paramilitaries ever concern you? no. it's just idiots that are just trying to cause trouble. everyone here has grew up around that there and they know where to stay away from and they know where to go to, really. i think it's good that it's taken seriously, | but at the same time, it's nowhere near as l bad as it used to be. the threat level has remained at severe in northern ireland for much of the past 13 years. it was downgraded last year, but since then, assessments by security services have shown

an increase in activity by dissident republicans, based on intelligence about their capabilities and intentions. but dissidents make up only a tiny fraction of the political landscape in northern ireland, the new ira's political wing — seen here on parade — the most public of them. groups have been weakened through infiltration by mi5, but today's change in the threat level is a reminder of the danger that still exists. well, there won't be any great alarm here today in response to this announcement, and that is because, of course, many people in northern ireland remember the much darker days of conflict in this place�*s past, which was largely brought to an end by the good friday agreement, the peace agreement 25 years ago. but there is dismay that even a quarter of a century on, there are still groups that recruit young people and are still determined to pursue violence.—

people and are still determined to pursue violence. emma vardy, thank ou. one of the world's biggest betting companies, william hill, has been ordered to pay more than £19 million for failing to protect its customers. that's the largest penalty ever imposed by the regulator. the gambling commission said it had found "widespread and alarming" problems. katie razzall is here to tell us more. katie. thanks, sophie. as you say, it's the largest fine ever handed down by the gambling commission. three companies owned by william hill must pay penalties of £19.2 million after the regulator decided the firm had "insufficient controls in place to protect new customers". in one case, a gambler opened a new account and spent £23,000 in 20 minutes without any checks. some of the worst examples happened during covid lockdowns, when the regulator had told gambling firms they must not exploit vulnerable people stuck inside their homes. william hill was also found to have made "anti—money laundering failures" — allowing customers to deposit huge amounts without the right checks. one person was able to spend and lose more than £70,000 in a month. the breaches were so serious, the commission said it had considered suspending the company's licence to operate. some campaigners think they should have done exactly that.

jack ritchie took his own life in 2017 after battling an addiction to gambling he'd had since his teens. his parents want much tougher penalties. these penalties keep coming and until we — these penalties keep coming and until we get licenses revoked or we have a _ until we get licenses revoked or we have a proper duty of care, than the gambling _ have a proper duty of care, than the gambling companies will not take it seriously _ gambling companies will not take it seriousl . , ., , seriously. fines of this scale will continue to _ seriously. fines of this scale will continue to be _ seriously. fines of this scale will continue to be treated _ seriously. fines of this scale will continue to be treated as - seriously. fines of this scale will continue to be treated as a - seriously. fines of this scale will continue to be treated as a cost| seriously. fines of this scale will. continue to be treated as a cost of doing _ continue to be treated as a cost of doing business _ continue to be treated as a cost of doing business. they— continue to be treated as a cost of doing business. they are - continue to be treated as a cost of doing business. they are making i doing business. they are making billions _ doing business. they are making billions of— doing business. they are making billions of pounds _ doing business. they are making billions of pounds through - doing business. they are making billions of pounds through their. billions of pounds through their operations— billions of pounds through their operations to _ billions of pounds through their operations to be _ billions of pounds through their operations to be find _ billions of pounds through their operations to be find a - billions of pounds through their operations to be find a few- billions of pounds through their i operations to be find a few million isn't going — operations to be find a few million isn't going to _ operations to be find a few million isn't going to change _ operations to be find a few million isn't going to change that. - so what impact will these fines have on william hill? its parent company 888 holdings' revenues for last year were £1.85 billion — the penalties are a tiny

according to the gambling commission — which enforced the £19m fines — more than 22 million people gamble each year, spending on average less than £300 each. but in william hill's case, the company simply didn't protect some customers from gambling huge amounts far too fast. it may be that they can't afford it, but we _ it may be that they can't afford it, but we have to have safeguards in piece. _ but we have to have safeguards in piece. and — but we have to have safeguards in place, and william hill accept that they simply didn't have them at this time _ in response, a spokesperson for 888 holdings said the problems had "after william hill was acquired, the company quickly addressed the identified issues with the implementation of a rigorous action plan". the gambling commission says, more widely, there are now "signs of improvement" in the behaviour of operators. the government is planning to reform gambling laws — including, perhaps, tighter financial checks on customers. with seven culture secretaries in five years, the plans have been long delayed — but they are understood, finally, to be on their way. sophie.

katie, thank you. the new leader of the snp, humza yousaf, has been formally confirmed as scotland's first minister after a vote by members of the scottish parliament. nicola sturgeon's successor will officially be sworn in tomorrow. he's the youngest person to hold the post, and the first from a minority ethnic background. humza yousaf�*s pledged to unite the snp and achieve independence. 0ur scotland editorjames cook reports from edinburgh. in the last hour, the bbc understands kate forbes, who he defeated in the leadership contest, will leave the government. 0ur scotland editorjames cook reports from edinburgh. signing off. eight years after blazing a trail for women and girls as scotland's first female first minister, nicola sturgeon put her resignation in writing with a letter to the king. and striding in, humza yousaf, also breaking down barriers. his election as first minister never in doubt.

the candidate selected as the parliament's nominee for the position of first minister is humza yousaf. ~ . . , position of first minister is humza yousaf. ~ ., . _ ., ., , position of first minister is humza yousaf. . ., . ,, ., ., , ., yousaf. watched by a family full of ride, mr yousaf. watched by a family full of pride, mr yousaf _ yousaf. watched by a family full of pride, mr yousaf told _ yousaf. watched by a family full of pride, mr yousaf told his _ yousaf. watched by a family full of pride, mr yousaf told his story, - pride, mr yousaf told his story, recalling tough years for scottish muslims after the 9/11 attacks. i muslims after the 9/11 attacks. i have lost count of how many times my identity, my loyalty to scotland, the only country i have ever and will ever call home, has been questioned over the years. there was a time not all that long ago when i felt i simply did not belong here in scotland. to go from there to now leading the government as scotland's sixth first minister, i hope sends the strong message to every single person out there who feels that they don't belong. iltiuiith person out there who feels that they don't belong-— don't belong. with both the first minister and _ don't belong. with both the first minister and the _ don't belong. with both the first minister and the prime - don't belong. with both the first minister and the prime ministerl minister and the prime minister representing the uk's diverse communities, it sends a strong, positive — communities, it sends a strong, positive message to everyone that

there _ positive message to everyone that there are — positive message to everyone that there are no barriers to what you can achieve — there are no barriers to what you can achieve in this country, and i think— can achieve in this country, and i think that — can achieve in this country, and i think that is _ can achieve in this country, and i think that is something we can all be proud — think that is something we can all be proud of. that's probably where the consensus is going to end, but it is heartfelt.— it is heartfelt. reaching this historic moment _ it is heartfelt. reaching this historic moment has - it is heartfelt. reaching this historic moment has not. it is heartfelt. reaching this l historic moment has not been it is heartfelt. reaching this - historic moment has not been easy and i know he has faced personal abuse and racism, others have so many others who don't have a platform that he and i are fortunate to have. so i am proud of the work that we have done alongside others to stand against hatred and bigotry, and i will continue to stand alongside you in that fight for all of us. , . , alongside you in that fight for all of us. , ., , ., alongside you in that fight for all ofus. , ., ., of us. this was a day for the history books _ of us. this was a day for the history books here - of us. this was a day for the history books here at - of us. this was a day for the . history books here at holyrood, of us. this was a day for the - history books here at holyrood, but soon it will be down to business for humza yousaf. and for this first minister, there is no business more urgent than tackling poverty was that he says he wants to make scotland a fairer, as well as a wealthier nation. you don't need to go far to understand the urgency of that task. this is another side of

the scottish capital. if you were the scottish capital. if you were the first minister, what would you be doing for the country for people who live around here? do something about the cost _ who live around here? do something about the cost of _ who live around here? do something about the cost of living _ who live around here? do something about the cost of living crisis, - who live around here? do something about the cost of living crisis, i - about the cost of living crisis, i would think. is about the cost of living crisis, i would think.— about the cost of living crisis, i would think. is that the biggest issue? yeah. _ would think. is that the biggest issue? yeah. what _ would think. is that the biggest issue? yeah. what should - would think. is that the biggest issue? yeah. what should he . would think. is that the biggest i issue? yeah. what should he do? would think. is that the biggest - issue? yeah. what should he do? cut down the tax- — issue? yeah. what should he do? cut down the tax. the _ issue? yeah. what should he do? cut down the tax. the tax _ issue? yeah. what should he do? cut down the tax. the tax is _ issue? yeah. what should he do? cut down the tax. the tax is really - down the tax. the tax is really crazy — down the tax. the tax is really crazy and _ down the tax. the tax is really crazy. and try to fix some cost of living, _ crazy. and try to fix some cost of living, and — crazy. and try to fix some cost of living, and make life easy for people — living, and make life easy for peorrie in— living, and make life easy for people in scotland. and living, and make life easy for people in scotland.— living, and make life easy for people in scotland. living, and make life easy for --eole in scotland. �* ., ~' people in scotland. and do you think the new first — people in scotland. and do you think the new first minister— people in scotland. and do you think the new first minister humza - people in scotland. and do you think the new first minister humza yousaf will help? i the new first minister humza yousaf will hel ? ~ ,., ., ., will help? i think so. i have faith and hoe will help? i think so. i have faith and horse in _ will help? i think so. i have faith and hope in him. _ will help? i think so. i have faith and hope in him. will he - will help? i think so. i have faith and hope in him. will he make l will help? i think so. i have faith l and hope in him. will he make the lace and hope in him. will he make the place better? _ and hope in him. will he make the place better? will— and hope in him. will he make the place better? will he _ and hope in him. will he make the place better? will he come - and hope in him. will he make the place better? will he come into i and hope in him. will he make the| place better? will he come into the area and _ place better? will he come into the area and check— place better? will he come into the area and check out _ place better? will he come into the area and check out for— place better? will he come into the area and check out for himself - place better? will he come into thei area and check out for himself what is needing _ area and check out for himself what is needing to — area and check out for himself what is needing to be _ area and check out for himself what is needing to be done? _ area and check out for himself what is needing to be done? i have - area and check out for himself what is needing to be done? i have been| is needing to be done? i have been voting _ is needing to be done? i have been voting snp— is needing to be done? i have been voting snp att— is needing to be done? i have been voting snp all my— is needing to be done? i have been voting snp all my life. _ is needing to be done? i have been voting snp all my life. next time, i is needing to be done? i have beeni voting snp all my life. next time, i don't _ voting snp all my life. next time, i don't think— voting snp all my life. next time, i don't think i'm _ voting snp all my life. next time, i don't think i'm voting _ voting snp all my life. next time, i don't think i'm voting for— voting snp all my life. next time, i don't think i'm voting for the - voting snp all my life. next time, i don't think i'm voting for the snp, i don't think i'm voting for the snp, i'm don't think i'm voting for the snp, i'm going — don't think i'm voting for the snp, i'm going to— don't think i'm voting for the snp, i'm going to vote _ don't think i'm voting for the snp, i'm going to vote for— don't think i'm voting for the snp, i'm going to vote for labour. - don't think i'm voting for the snp, i'm going to vote for labour. but. i'm going to vote for labour. but the are i'm going to vote for labour.

they are against independence. yeah, but they are — they are against independence. yeah, but they are going _ they are against independence. yeah, but they are going to _ they are against independence. yeah, but they are going to get _ they are against independence. yeah, but they are going to get rid - they are against independence. yeah, but they are going to get rid of - they are against independence. yeah, but they are going to get rid of the tories _ but they are going to get rid of the tories. ., . , ., ., , ., ., tories. tonight, celebrations on a day scotland _ tories. tonight, celebrations on a day scotland changed, _ tories. tonight, celebrations on a day scotland changed, although l tories. tonight, celebrations on a i day scotland changed, although for humza yousaf, it has not yet changed enough. and already, the first minister's top team is taking shape in shona robertson, promoted to deputy first minister. 0ut, controversially, mr yousaf�*s leadership rival kate forbes, who turned down a painful demotion to the post of rural affairs secretary, a reminder that governing and reuniting his party will be heard. james, thank you. tens of thousands of protesters are marching through central paris and other french cities on a tenth day of strikes and rallies against the government's pension reforms. people are angry after legislation to raise the retirement age in france from 62 to 64 was forced through by president emmanuel macron's government using a special constitutional power. let's get the latest from our paris correspondent, lucy williamson. lucy.

so these strikes continue? that's riaht, ou so these strikes continue? that's right. you can — so these strikes continue? that's right, you can probably _ so these strikes continue? that's right, you can probably see - so these strikes continue? that's right, you can probably see the i right, you can probably see the protest starting to trickle away behind me. as you said, these protests have been largely peaceful so far, but in the past couple of hours there have been some clashes with police in various cities including here in paris. we have seen police units charge would small groups of masked protesters, used tear gas to try and disperse them, these small groups on the margins of these small groups on the margins of the main protest. we have also seen police units being ordered to retreat to try and keep their distance from protesters, even as they are projecting them with

projectiles, to avoid confrontation, something police officers have told us they find quite frustrating. but police tactics have shifted here in the past couple of years and there is real focus on the kind of tactics being used during these protests, particularly when it comes to this specialist rapid reaction force, whose job it is to go into the protests and try and root out trouble before it starts. and they are the focus of the moment of several allegations saying they have targeted peaceful protesters with intimidation is, with threats, with insults. the paris police chief says they are absolutely indispensable to policing protests like this. meanwhile, for many protesters here, anger towards the government is merging with anger towards the police. merging with anger towards the olice. . , merging with anger towards the olice. , . ., ., ,, ministers are setting out plans to move more than 8,000 afghan refugees out of hotels and into permanent homes.

a shortage of suitable accommodation for often large families evacuated from kabul to escape the taliban in 2021 has meant thousands have been housed in hotels — at a cost of more than a million a day. councils have warned that some refugees may end up homeless. here's our home editor, mark easton. do you feel upset by what is happening? the tears of an afghan mother at what she calls the betrayal of the british government. sara, not her real name, has been living in a home office run hotel in london for over a year after being evacuated from kabul by the british. now she has been told she may be given three months to find somewhere else to live. �* ,, . else to live. translation: the decisions that _ else to live. translation: the decisions that are _ else to live. translation: the decisions that are being - else to live. translation: the decisions that are being taken l else to live. translation: the | decisions that are being taken for the refugees are very upsetting, especially for us. we are homeless and desperate, and they hope we have is for justice and desperate, and they hope we have is forjustice and democracy to prevail, but they are taking that hope away from us too.-

prevail, but they are taking that hope away from us too. more than 24,000 afghans — hope away from us too. more than 24,000 afghans are _ hope away from us too. more than 24,000 afghans are in _ hope away from us too. more than 24,000 afghans are in britain, - 24,000 afghans are in britain, having been evacuated from kabul as the taliban closed in during the summer of 2021. the government promised to help them rebuild their lives in the uk.— lives in the uk. this will krizsan still lies a _ lives in the uk. this will krizsan still lies a reasonable _ lives in the uk. this will krizsan still lies a reasonable time - lives in the uk. this will krizsan. still lies a reasonable time frame in the minds of our afghan friends. but today the government made it clear that operation warm welcome, as it was called, only goes so far for the 8000 afghans still living in hotels at a cost of £1 million a day. hotels at a cost of £1 million a da . ~ , , ., ., , , day. whilst this government realises our significant _ day. whilst this government realises our significant responsibility - day. whilst this government realises our significant responsibility to - our significant responsibility to this cohort, there is a responsibility upon this group to take the opportunities that are offered under these schemes and integrate into uk society.- integrate into uk society. there will be suoport _ integrate into uk society. there will be support and _ integrate into uk society. there will be support and some - integrate into uk society. there will be support and some cash i integrate into uk society. there l will be support and some cash to help, but if the family turns down an offer of accommodation, they will be expected to find something themselves. 0pposition politicians say afghans who risk their lives for the british could end up becoming homeless. he

the british could end up becoming homeless. , , . ., homeless. he is serving eviction notices on _ homeless. he is serving eviction notices on 8000 _ homeless. he is serving eviction notices on 8000 afghans, - homeless. he is serving eviction notices on 8000 afghans, half. homeless. he is serving eviction | notices on 8000 afghans, half of whom are children, with no guarantee that they will be offered a suitable settled place to live.— settled place to live. at this west london girls _ settled place to live. at this west london girls school, _ settled place to live. at this west london girls school, there - settled place to live. at this west london girls school, there are . london girls school, there are refugees from afghanistan. 0ne family is considering declaring themselves homeless rather than move somewhere entirely new. having arrived in the uk 18 months ago, afghan families have put down roots. their kids are in local schools, parents and localjobs, their support network in local neighbourhoods. but finding a suitable and permanent local home is often close to impossible. the government believes self—reliance is part of adapting to a new life in britain, and with around 9000 afghans having already moved into permanent homes, they want to encourage the remaining 8000 to do the same. mark easton, bbc news. the time is 6:17pm. our top story this evening. the terror threat level in northern ireland has been raised from substantial to severe, meaning that an attack is now

judged as "highly likely". and improving london's victorian plumbing. we have rare access to the new supersewer, engineered to cope with modern demands. and on bbc london. and the 170—year—old dinosaurs getting a makeover in south london. police in the united states who are investigating a mass shooting at a primary school in nashville say the attack appears to have been carefully planned and targeted. audrey hale, a former pupil, shot six people dead — including three children all nine years old — before being shot and killed by officers. there've already been 130 mass shootings in the us this year alone. a mass shooting is when at least four people are shot in one attack. since january nearly 10,000 people have died

at the hands of firearms. and more than 400 of those have been children under 18. 0ur north america correspondent nomia iqbal sent this report from nashville. a warning it contains some distressing footage. it's a familiar grief, but also unimaginable. in america, sending loved ones to school doesn't necessarily mean sending them to safety. i just think this is heartbreaking and ridiculous. it should never happen. anything that can be done to prevent this needs to be done. the three children killed were alljust nine years old. evelyn, halle and william. and staff at their school too, cynthia peake, mike hill and their head teacher, catherine. police say the assailant, audrey hale, carefully planned the attack, and that she was born a woman but recently identified on social media as a man.

the 28—year—old drove to the school, shooting the glass to get inside and then stalking the halls with a rifle. within 14 minutes of someone calling for help, hale was shot dead by these police officers inside. let's go! footage released by police shows the moment 0fficer engelbert entered the school with colleagues. after a room to room search of the ground floor, officers hear gunfire upstairs and head to intercept. as he rounds the corner, the officer spots the attacker, takes the shot and hale drops to the ground. police say audrey hale was a former student here with no criminal record, and that resentment may have been a motive. as they piece together what happened, the focus once again turns to the politics of guns in america and who has the right to access them. president biden wants

to ban assault rifles, the type used in the shooting. he and lawmakers from both sides passed major gun safety legislation last year, but many republicans say a ban goes too far. nomia iqbal, bbc news, nashville. jeremy corbyn has been blocked from standing as a labour candidate at the next general election. the labour party's national executive committee has approved a motion from leader sir keir starmer to prevent his predecessorfrom running. mr corbyn cannot appeal against the decision, but the bbc understands he is considering running as an independent candiate. a report into one of england's largest nhs trusts says staff faced a toxic atmosphere, along with bullying which if not addressed would put patient safety at risk.

the report into university hospitals birmingham concluded that while overall, patients could still access care at the trust with confidence, a number of issues required attention. the west midlands trust said it fully accepts all the report's recommendations. the report was launched in response to an investigation by bbc newsnight. david grossman is newsnight�*s chief correspondent and joins me now. david. you've been looking at this trust, what have you found? you hp is not only one of the biggest trusts in england but also one of the worst performing on many measures. —— you hb. many people were told that there were a toxic culture of bullying and that has been vindicated by today's's official review by sir michael perry. it does not mince his words and says the corrosive environment many staff told him they feel is preventing them coming forward with safety concerns. it shouldn't be like this. after the devastating report into the mid staffordshire scandal back in the early 2000 is

where hundreds of patients died in conditions of the most boring neglect, the nhs brought in what they called a duty of candour and trusts were meant to encourage whistle—blowing in the interest of patient safety. to date, the author of the report, published a decade ago, robert francis, told us that he was concerned by what he read today and paytas will not be saved, he said, in any organisation —— patients will not be safe if in any organisation people cannot speak about their concerns and be unafraid of doing so. university hospitals accept the findings and are determined to institute change but one worrying aspect of what was found today was of what he called the old guard today had been pushing back against the idea that anything needed to change, so going forward we are going to have to see evidence that change is happening.— that change is happening. david, thank you- _ more than 150 feet below london,

engineers have been building what they hope will be the solution to the capital's sewage problems. the existing system dates back to victorian times and struggles to cope when there's heavy rainfall, often leading to untreated waste being pumped into the river thames. our environment correspondent, jonah fisher, has been given rare access to the new �*super sewer�* to find out how it's going to help. just looking for history. looking for stories, really. lara is a mudlark, forever searching the brown banks of the river thames. ifound a complete iron age pot, a tudor shoe... but alongside the treasures are more familiar items that have been flushed away. condoms, tampax applicators, sanitary towels, wet wipes. we are spoiling it, you know? we are pouring our waste into it and just destroying it. but deep beneath the river, the clean—up plan is nearly ready to flow. a £5 billion tunnel, the largest and deepest the capital has ever seen.

the reason we are riding on bikes through this tunnel is because it'sjust so big — it's 15 miles long, all the way across london, under the river thames. and the idea behind it is, well, that it will collect the sewage and storm water that at the moment goes into the river, and take it downhill to east london where it can be processed properly. here we are at the victoria interception point, which is this connection tunnel here. we believe that we'll capture 95% of the volume of spills into the river, and that will all be because rather than going into the river it's coming through a tunnel like that into this tunnel. this will clean up the river quite significantly? absolutely. not far upstream, what we throw down the loo is actually changing the course of the river. so this is what we refer to as a wet wipe reef.

a mass of wet wipes and sanitary products nowjut out into the river at several points. all these, what look like leaves, are wipes. the best case scenario for us is that the tunnel reduces or even stops new material coming to a reef like this, and over time, when we start clearing the material, the reef will shrink. it's nice to have something positive to say, isn't it? yeah. after years of abuse, just maybe the tide has turned. jonah fisher, bbc news, on the banks of the river thames. this is 22—year—old luke gittins from wiltshire — a singer—songwriter who posts videos online of himself performing, often other people's songs. on friday, he went to see one of his heroes, ed sheeran, at london's o2 arena. imagine his surprise when he was standing in the front row, and ed sheeran recognised him and pulled him up on stage. yetunde yusuf has the story.

this guy who's front row here, called luke, who covers my songs and i see him on youtube all the time, and i saw you today, man... imagine being at a gig and you get called up on stage by ed sheeran. do you want to come up and sing the a team? everyone, say hi to luke! luke, do you want to see what 20,000 lights looks like from up here? do you want to ask them to get their lights out? can you put your lights out? in the video, you can see where i look up and it hits me. this was the reality for 22—year—old luke gittins. # but lately, her face seems slowly sinking, wasting... # just felt like it was me and ed in a pub. and i could feel, like, a warmth from him, my hero, like, the guy that inspired me to do what i love. luke's been covering songs in his bedroom since he was a teenager. and every friday, he posts content on social media.

but this time, he decided to do something a little different. i said to my mum, "i can't do my cover," and she was like, "just do it there!" i did a cover in the line. and i think ed had seen that cover. after the adrenaline of the night, it was back to his dayjob. i had a gig the next day, and i went from playing the 20,000 people with ed at the 02 — literally, within hours of sleep — to 20 people in a field, a hen party, it was. and it was that evening that i saw that ed had kind of shared it on his socials. it got 3 million views, that video that ed posted. did it? yeah. have you not seen it? i've not been keeping track. 3 million people? # i've been playing in a room to no—one... # luke isn'tjust a cover singer. he's also about to release his first single, called home to no one, about the perils of being a songwriter with no one wanting to listen to you.

but with a big thumbs—up from a pop legend, luke will be hoping that many more people will like and subscribe to his music. yetunde yusuf, bbc news, bristol. everyone make some noise for luke gittins! time for a look at the weather. here's chris fawkes. you don't want to be singing in fields in that kind of weather. you would be fields in that kind of weather. gm, would be singing in the rain, of course. yesterday we had high pressure and it brought us some lovely sunshine and dry weather and we are back to the rain today so scenes like this have been pretty widespread across the country and it's notjust been wet, for many of us it has been a cool day with temperatures below average but tomorrow we see much milder weather pushing in with temperatures jumping by around seven celsius. that process is under way tonight with south—westerly winds dragging milder air in and there will be a lot of cloud over night and the cloud will

bring quite widespread outbreaks of drizzle, so a damp night in prospect for many but it will be mild for most, between eight and 11 celsius and something a bit cooler hanging on into the far north—east of scotland. tomorrow the low pressure is firmly in charge and we have several weather fronts moving their way across the country, each of them bringing zones of rain. so, there will be a lot of cloud around and you might see one or two brighter spells but predominantly quite a wet day with areas of heavy rain extending up from the south—west and potentially some heavy rain to end the day, targeting southern wales and southern areas of england as well. very unsettled, quite windy but pretty mild and temperatures up to 15 or 16 celsius. those brisk south—westerly winds continue through wednesday night blowing the weather fronts clear of the uk and weather fronts clear of the uk and we are looking at something brighter for a time on thursday. it is a day of sunshine and showers. showers through the afternoon will turn heavy with thunder and probably the greatest chance of seeing thunderstorms is this line of

showers extending from south—west england towards past of east anglia. still very