news--2020-04-13--Pharrell William's Happy is most played song of the decade

When Pharrell Williams wrote the worldwide hit Happy , he could n't have imagined that people would be using it to help wash their hands amid the coronavirus outbreak seven years later .
Now , the song Pharrell penned for the soundtrack of Despicable Me 2 has topped a list of the most played songs of the decade .
The earworm spent four non-consecutive weeks at the top of the UK charts back in 2013 and went on to win a Grammy .
And it 's not Pharrell 's only appearance in the list compiled by music licensing company PPL @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an appearance in fourth place , featuring on Daft Punk 's hit Get Lucky , along with Nile Rodgers .
Two British stars - both London-born - made the list , Adele with Rolling In The Deep making number two , and Mark Ronson with Uptown Funk , which featured Bruno Mars getting to number seven .
Adele was the only solo female to feature as a main artist rather than a featured artist in the top ten .
Showing the trend for tracks attached to big movies getting plenty of airtime , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't Stop The Feeling !
which he wrote for the film Trolls .
Timberlake also performed in the 2016 animation , playing a troll called Branch , and served as the executive music producer for the movie .
Moves Like Jagger by Maroon 5 , featuring Christina Aguilera , took the third spot .
Black Eyed Peas , OneRepublic , Kings Of Leon and CeeLo Green also made the Top 10 .
PPL and Listen compiled the list from UK music usage and airplay data supplied by its licensees , including radio stations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PPL Peter Leathem said : `` The top 40 most played songs are the sounds that radio producers and broadcasters have consistently played throughout the last decade and will evoke many memories for all of us . ''
The top 40 `` absolute bangers '' will be played on Scott Mills ' Most Played Songs Of The Decade show on Easter Monday , between 2-5pm on BBC Radio 2 .
Top ten most played songs of the 2010s :

When Pharrell Williams wrote the worldwide hit Happy, he couldn't have imagined that people would be using it to help wash their hands amid the coronavirus outbreak seven years later.
Now, the song Pharrell penned for the soundtrack of Despicable Me 2 has topped a list of the most played songs of the decade.
Image: Thanks to Adele, the top ten is not made up of male acts alone
The earworm spent four non-consecutive weeks at the top of the UK charts back in 2013 and went on to win a Grammy.
And it's not Pharrell's only appearance in the list compiled by music licensing company PPL.
The hat-loving US rapper also makes an appearance in fourth place, featuring on Daft Punk's hit Get Lucky, along with Nile Rodgers.
Two British stars - both London-born - made the list, Adele with Rolling In The Deep making number two, and Mark Ronson with Uptown Funk, which featured Bruno Mars getting to number seven.
Adele was the only solo female to feature as a main artist rather than a featured artist in the top ten.
Showing the trend for tracks attached to big movies getting plenty of airtime, Justin Timberlake claimed fifth place with Can't Stop The Feeling! which he wrote for the film Trolls.
Timberlake also performed in the 2016 animation, playing a troll called Branch, and served as the executive music producer for the movie.
Advertisement
Image: Justin Timberlake performs his hit during Super Bowl halftime
Moves Like Jagger by Maroon 5, featuring Christina Aguilera, took the third spot.
Black Eyed Peas, OneRepublic, Kings Of Leon and CeeLo Green also made the Top 10.
PPL and Listen compiled the list from UK music usage and airplay data supplied by its licensees, including radio stations and TV channels.
Chief executive at PPL Peter Leathem said: "The top 40 most played songs are the sounds that radio producers and broadcasters have consistently played throughout the last decade and will evoke many memories for all of us."
The top 40 "absolute bangers" will be played on Scott Mills' Most Played Songs Of The Decade show on Easter Monday, between 2-5pm on BBC Radio 2.
Top ten most played songs of the 2010s:
1. Happy - Pharrell Williams
2. Rolling In The Deep - Adele
3. Moves Like Jagger - Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera
4. Get Lucky - Daft Punk featuring Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers
5. Can't Stop The Feeling! - Justin Timberlake
6. I Gotta Feeling - Black Eyed Peas
7. Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars
8. Counting Stars - OneRepublic
9. Forget You - CeeLo Green
10. Sex On Fire - Kings Of Leon


news--2020-04-09--Markets don't think UK is acting like Zimbabwe - but will need reassuring

Markets do n't think UK is acting like Zimbabwe - but will need reassuring Markets do n't think UK is acting like Zimbabwe - but will need reassuring It is a little-known fact that even the UK government has an overdraft facility .
It 's called the Ways and Means Facility and it resides at the Bank of England .
Ordinarily , the government would finance its borrowings either by selling gilts - UK government IOUs - or by raising money from savers via National Savings & Investments .
Anyone who buys a premium bond is , effectively , loaning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are times when the government needs to bypass the sterling money markets or gilt markets , as is the case at present .
Accordingly , the Treasury and the Bank of England announced today that if necessary , the facility would be extended .
Typically , the facility stands at £370m , as it has since April 2009 .
It can , though , be increased rapidly should the government need cash urgently on a short-term basis to meet its outgoings .
At the height of the financial crisis , from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it shot up to £19.9bn .
Disclosure today that the facility could be extended , if necessary , has raised eyebrows because the Bank of England is owned by the government .
It will raise concerns that the Bank of England is engaging in so-called `` debt monetisation '' or `` monetary financing '' , in other words , effectively printing money to pay the government 's debts .
This is something that is synonymous with the hyper-inflation suffered by Germany during the 1920s or , more recently , in Zimbabwe .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ some quarters because the new governor of the Bank , Andrew Bailey , said only last month in a phone call with reporters that the facility was just a `` historical feature '' .
He followed that up with an article for the Financial Times , earlier this week , in which he was at pains to stress that the Bank was not engaging in 'monetary financing ' .
He wrote : `` Using monetary financing would damage credibility on controlling inflation by eroding operational independence .
`` It would also ultimately result @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and is incompatible with the pursuit of an inflation target by an independent central bank .
`` But the UK 's institutional safeguards rule out this approach . ''
Has the chancellor , Rishi Sunak , suddenly turned into Robert Mugabe ?
The answer is no .
If markets thought otherwise , news that the facility may be extended would have been greeted by a big sell-off in the pound , which instead remained more or less unchanged .
The lack of panic is because both the Treasury and the Bank have stressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ short-term expedient - a way around the fact that , during the next few weeks , the government 's spending requirements may become so great that it would not be possible to raise the sums it needs via the gilt and sterling money markets without causing disruption to them .
This measure will prevent any instability .
As Allan Monks , economist at JP Morgan Securities , put it : `` The Ways and Means facility extension will almost certainly be temporary - it is essentially dealing with a bottleneck in the gilt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to view this facility as doing anything other than ensuring that the government is able to deliver the emergency support it has promised in the most timely and cost effective way . ''
John Wraith , strategist at UBS , pointed out that the Bank and the Treasury had stressed that any drawings under the facility would be repaid as soon as possible before the end of the year .
He added : `` The announcement comes against the backdrop of the government 's Covid-19 fiscal package , which is adding up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GDP ) and likely significantly more when taking into account the cost of the job schemes , which we think could cost around 1.5-2.4 % of GDP .
`` Raising such a large amount of money in a very short timeframe through the usual gilt market route would have risked market disruption , spikes higher in yield and possibly uncovered auctions [ where investors fail to buy gilts being sold by the UK 's Debt Management Office ] if the DMO had tried to supply more debt than the market could readily absorb @ @ @ @ @ @ @ constant reassurance that the facility is only being expanded on a very temporary basis , rather than representing a permanent rise in borrowing .
Moyeen Islam , economist at Barclays investment bank , said : `` Recent experience tells us that what is temporary can often become permanent and expand - we need only to look at [ the Bank 's ] asset purchase [ scheme ] to see this . ''
And Neil Williams , senior economic adviser to the international business of fund manager Federated Hermes , added : `` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the current environment , given that there is limited monetary ammunition left , the UK 's fiscal gun is now firmly on , and this tool has been used as a last resort in the past , as we saw in 2008 .
`` What would be telling now , is if it 's extended indefinitely , which might further blur the operational distinction between the fiscal and monetary authorities , a demarcation that may inevitably be brought into question as gilt issuance escalates and QE moves toward infinity and beyond .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Mr Bailey stressed in his FT article this week , is that the Monetary Policy Committee `` remains in full control '' of the Bank 's balance sheet .
It means that , if the MPC becomes concerned that another emergency measure , the Bank 's asset purchase scheme ( quantitative easing in the jargon ) , threatens its ability to hit its inflation target , it can unwind the scheme .
So savers , investors and businesses can relax for now .
On this evidence , the UK is not about @ @ @ @ @ @

The Bank of England's new governor appears to have done a U-turn over its agreement to extend the Treasury's credit facility.
Markets don't think UK is acting like Zimbabwe - but will need reassuring
Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey recently described the facility as a 'historical feature'
It is a little-known fact that even the UK government has an overdraft facility.
It's called the Ways and Means Facility and it resides at the Bank of England.
Ordinarily, the government would finance its borrowings either by selling gilts - UK government IOUs - or by raising money from savers via National Savings & Investments.
Anyone who buys a premium bond is, effectively, loaning money to the government.
However, there are times when the government needs to bypass the sterling money markets or gilt markets, as is the case at present.
Accordingly, the Treasury and the Bank of England announced today that if necessary, the facility would be extended.
Typically, the facility stands at £370m, as it has since April 2009.
It can, though, be increased rapidly should the government need cash urgently on a short-term basis to meet its outgoings.
At the height of the financial crisis, from the end of December 2008 to February 2009, it shot up to £19.9bn.
Advertisement
Disclosure today that the facility could be extended, if necessary, has raised eyebrows because the Bank of England is owned by the government.
It will raise concerns that the Bank of England is engaging in so-called "debt monetisation" or "monetary financing", in other words, effectively printing money to pay the government's debts.
Image: Investors do not think that Rishi Sunak is acting like Robert Mugabe
This is something that is synonymous with the hyper-inflation suffered by Germany during the 1920s or, more recently, in Zimbabwe.
The move has also caused surprise in some quarters because the new governor of the Bank, Andrew Bailey, said only last month in a phone call with reporters that the facility was just a "historical feature".
He followed that up with an article for the Financial Times, earlier this week, in which he was at pains to stress that the Bank was not engaging in 'monetary financing'.
He wrote: "Using monetary financing would damage credibility on controlling inflation by eroding operational independence.
"It would also ultimately result in an unsustainable central bank balance sheet and is incompatible with the pursuit of an inflation target by an independent central bank.
"But the UK's institutional safeguards rule out this approach."
So does today's news represent a u-turn?
Has the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, suddenly turned into Robert Mugabe?
The answer is no.
If markets thought otherwise, news that the facility may be extended would have been greeted by a big sell-off in the pound, which instead remained more or less unchanged.
The lack of panic is because both the Treasury and the Bank have stressed today that the move is merely a short-term expedient - a way around the fact that, during the next few weeks, the government's spending requirements may become so great that it would not be possible to raise the sums it needs via the gilt and sterling money markets without causing disruption to them.
This measure will prevent any instability.
As Allan Monks, economist at JP Morgan Securities, put it: "The Ways and Means facility extension will almost certainly be temporary - it is essentially dealing with a bottleneck in the gilt market - and so it is hard to view this facility as doing anything other than ensuring that the government is able to deliver the emergency support it has promised in the most timely and cost effective way."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:10 Banks raise interest on many mortgages
John Wraith, strategist at UBS, pointed out that the Bank and the Treasury had stressed that any drawings under the facility would be repaid as soon as possible before the end of the year.
He added: "The announcement comes against the backdrop of the government's Covid-19 fiscal package, which is adding up to at least £70bn (3.2% of GDP) and likely significantly more when taking into account the cost of the job schemes, which we think could cost around 1.5-2.4% of GDP.
"Raising such a large amount of money in a very short timeframe through the usual gilt market route would have risked market disruption, spikes higher in yield and possibly uncovered auctions [where investors fail to buy gilts being sold by the UK's Debt Management Office] if the DMO had tried to supply more debt than the market could readily absorb."
However, investors will need constant reassurance that the facility is only being expanded on a very temporary basis, rather than representing a permanent rise in borrowing.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:35 Workers laid off despite furlough scheme
Moyeen Islam, economist at Barclays investment bank, said: "Recent experience tells us that what is temporary can often become permanent and expand - we need only to look at [the Bank's] asset purchase [scheme] to see this."
And Neil Williams, senior economic adviser to the international business of fund manager Federated Hermes, added: "The overdraft extension is only to be expected in the current environment, given that there is limited monetary ammunition left, the UK's fiscal gun is now firmly on, and this tool has been used as a last resort in the past, as we saw in 2008.
"What would be telling now, is if it's extended indefinitely, which might further blur the operational distinction between the fiscal and monetary authorities, a demarcation that may inevitably be brought into question as gilt issuance escalates and QE moves toward infinity and beyond."
Another key point to make, as Mr Bailey stressed in his FT article this week, is that the Monetary Policy Committee "remains in full control" of the Bank's balance sheet.
It means that, if the MPC becomes concerned that another emergency measure, the Bank's asset purchase scheme (quantitative easing in the jargon), threatens its ability to hit its inflation target, it can unwind the scheme.
So savers, investors and businesses can relax for now.
On this evidence, the UK is not about to turn into Weimar Germany.


news--2020-04-13--Robert Webb: Peep Show star reveals secret addiction and the urgent heart surgery that saved his lif

Robert Webb: Peep Show star reveals secret addiction and the urgent heart surgery that saved his life

Robert Webb has said it was a total shock to discover he was suffering from a serious heart condition that needed urgent surgery to save his life .
The Peep Show star , who made his name as unemployed musician Jez in the cult comedy , put feeling tired all the time down to treating his body `` like a skip '' , and a growing dependence on alcohol and cigarettes .
It was during a routine medical test last year , while on the set of Channel 4 sitcom Back , that he discovered he was suffering from a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prolapse .
`` I did n't realise how unwell I was .
I had no idea , '' Webb told The Sunday Times .
While not caused by his drinking and smoking , both are likely to have exacerbated his condition .
In the run up to heart surgery Webb says he was `` literally just walking around trying not to have a heart attack '' .
When there was talk of delaying the procedure , the cardiologist told the surgeon : `` You ca n't send him home for five days , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days . ''
And when he finally got into surgery in November , he lost two-thirds of his blood cells , a situation Webb describes `` a bit touch and go '' .
In hindsight , Webb says of his undiagnosed condition : `` I think part of my subconscious must have been aware that my heart was having to do really , really weird things to keep the show on the road . ''
While his recent surgery does n't put him in the high-risk category for coronavirus , his cardiologists have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him for six '' .
Speaking about his dependency on cigarettes and alcohol , Webb admits : `` The drinking crawled up so gradually that I was slow-killing myself .
`` It was certainly an addiction at the end , a dependency .
I drank a lot of beer , during the day , on my own . ''
Now five months after his operation , Webb is seeing a therapist and has quit drink and cigarettes .
However , he admits that alcohol is proving harder to leave behind than nicotine .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Twitter interaction since his operation , which he describes as leaving him feeling `` fragile '' .
Joking about the success of his Peep Show colleagues following the show , Webb says there 's `` a bit '' of rivalry between him and comedy partner David Mitchell .
But he says he ca n't resent Olivia Colman 's Oscar win , or Peep Show writer Jesse Armstrong 's success in America with drama Succession as they are `` the nicest people in the business '' .
Webb says now , rather than acting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ author .
Describing it as `` the job I always wanted to do '' , he is also currently home-schooling his two daughters due to coronavirus .
Webb 's debut novel Come Again , following his 2017 memoir How Not To Be A Boy , is published on 23 April .

Robert Webb has said it was a total shock to discover he was suffering from a serious heart condition that needed urgent surgery to save his life.
The Peep Show star, who made his name as unemployed musician Jez in the cult comedy, put feeling tired all the time down to treating his body "like a skip", and a growing dependence on alcohol and cigarettes.
Image: Webb as Jez Usborne and David Mitchell as Mark Corrigan in Peep Show
It was during a routine medical test last year, while on the set of Channel 4 sitcom Back, that he discovered he was suffering from a heart murmur caused by a mitral valve prolapse.
"I didn't realise how unwell I was. I had no idea," Webb told The Sunday Times.
While not caused by his drinking and smoking, both are likely to have exacerbated his condition.
In the run up to heart surgery Webb says he was "literally just walking around trying not to have a heart attack".
When there was talk of delaying the procedure, the cardiologist told the surgeon: "You can't send him home for five days, he isn't going to last two days."
And when he finally got into surgery in November, he lost two-thirds of his blood cells, a situation Webb describes "a bit touch and go".
Image: Webb on the set of Peep Show in 2017
In hindsight, Webb says of his undiagnosed condition: "I think part of my subconscious must have been aware that my heart was having to do really, really weird things to keep the show on the road."
Advertisement
While his recent surgery doesn't put him in the high-risk category for coronavirus, his cardiologists have warned him that COVID-19 would "knock him for six".
Speaking about his dependency on cigarettes and alcohol, Webb admits: "The drinking crawled up so gradually that I was slow-killing myself.
"It was certainly an addiction at the end, a dependency. I drank a lot of beer, during the day, on my own."
Now five months after his operation, Webb is seeing a therapist and has quit drink and cigarettes.
However, he admits that alcohol is proving harder to leave behind than nicotine.
He has also cut down on his Twitter interaction since his operation, which he describes as leaving him feeling "fragile".
Joking about the success of his Peep Show colleagues following the show, Webb says there's "a bit" of rivalry between him and comedy partner David Mitchell.
Image: Peep Show co-stars Mitchell And Webb on the BAFTA red carpet in 2010
But he says he can't resent Olivia Colman's Oscar win, or Peep Show writer Jesse Armstrong's success in America with drama Succession as they are "the nicest people in the business".
Webb says now, rather than acting, his principal career is as an author.
Describing it as "the job I always wanted to do", he is also currently home-schooling his two daughters due to coronavirus.
Webb's debut novel Come Again, following his 2017 memoir How Not To Be A Boy, is published on 23 April.


news--2020-04-13--Man jailed for assaulting doctor outside A&E

A homeless man has been jailed for six months after assaulting a doctor .
Gareth Rudge , 34 , attacked the emergency worker outside the A & E at Royal Gwent Hospital , Newport , at around 12.50am on 10 April .
The doctor suffered injuries to their head and face but went on working after the incident .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker It follows an outpouring of for support for NHS workers by many across the country as they tackle increasing numbers of coronavirus patients .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of an emergency worker after appearing at Newport Magistrates Court .
PC Sam Louros , of Gwent Police , condemned the assault as `` totally unacceptable '' .
`` Emergency service personnel come to work to protect and help those in need - not to be assaulted , '' the officer said .
`` The doctor is working in the middle of a pandemic , helping those in our society who desperately need medical assistance .
`` He was assaulted while carrying out his public duty and continued his shift after the incident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''

A homeless man has been jailed for six months after assaulting a doctor.
Gareth Rudge, 34, attacked the emergency worker outside the A&E at Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, at around 12.50am on 10 April.
The doctor suffered injuries to their head and face but went on working after the incident.
Podcast Podcast , which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Podcast cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the This content is provided by, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enablecookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Podcast cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Podcast cookies for this session only. Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
It follows an outpouring of for support for NHS workers by many across the country as they tackle increasing numbers of coronavirus patients.
Rudge pleaded guilty to assault by beating of an emergency worker after appearing at Newport Magistrates Court.
PC Sam Louros, of Gwent Police, condemned the assault as "totally unacceptable".
"Emergency service personnel come to work to protect and help those in need - not to be assaulted," the officer said.
"The doctor is working in the middle of a pandemic, helping those in our society who desperately need medical assistance.
Advertisement
"He was assaulted while carrying out his public duty and continued his shift after the incident, caring for those who require it."


news--2020-04-13--Huawei warns cutting its 5G role would be 'disservice' to Britain

Chinese tech giant Huawei has urged ministers not to restrict its involvement in rolling out 5G services across Britain .
In January , the firm got the green light to supply `` non-core '' elements of the network in a move that stoked tensions with US President Donald Trump .
But senior Tories have threatened a Commons showdown this summer to try to limit the company 's access to the end of 2022 .
Critics claim using its technology would be a security risk and could facilitate spying by the Chinese government - a claim the company strongly denies .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in which it says it is keen to keep Britons connected during the coronavirus outbreak .
Its UK chief , Victor Zhang , said there had been a 50 % boost in home data use during the outbreak in Britain .
He wrote : `` There are those who choose to continue to attack us without presenting any evidence .
`` Disrupting our involvement in the 5G rollout would do Britain a disservice . ''
The conditions for Huawei 's involvement in expanding the 5G network in Britain include it being excluded from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as nuclear sites and military bases , as well as it having a 35 % cap in non-sensitive parts of the 5G network .
Mr Johnson managed to see off a bid by rebel Tories to limit its involvement further just over two months ago - including from former leader Iain Duncan Smith and former cabinet ministers .
But some of them warned the real battle would come later this year .

Chinese tech giant Huawei has urged ministers not to restrict its involvement in rolling out 5G services across Britain.
In January, the firm got the green light to supply "non-core" elements of the network in a move that stoked tensions with US President Donald Trump.
But senior Tories have threatened a Commons showdown this summer to try to limit the company's access to the end of 2022.
Critics claim using its technology would be a security risk and could facilitate spying by the Chinese government - a claim the company strongly denies.
Huawei has now published an open letter in which it says it is keen to keep Britons connected during the coronavirus outbreak.
Its UK chief, Victor Zhang, said there had been a 50% boost in home data use during the outbreak in Britain.
He wrote: "There are those who choose to continue to attack us without presenting any evidence.
"Disrupting our involvement in the 5G rollout would do Britain a disservice."
The conditions for Huawei's involvement in expanding the 5G network in Britain include it being excluded from all safety-related networks and sensitive geographic locations such as nuclear sites and military bases, as well as it having a 35% cap in non-sensitive parts of the 5G network.
Advertisement
Mr Johnson managed to see off a bid by rebel Tories to limit its involvement further just over two months ago - including from former leader Iain Duncan Smith and former cabinet ministers.
But some of them warned the real battle would come later this year.


news--2020-05-14--Coronavirus: The UK's top civil servant had COVID-19 at the same time as the PM. The public weren't

Coronavirus: The UK's top civil servant had COVID-19 at the same time as the PM. The public weren't told

Downing Street has confirmed Sir Mark Sedwill , the cabinet secretary and arguably the second most important person in government , had coronavirus at the same time as the prime minister .
Sir Mark had symptoms from around 2 or 3 April , the government revealed on Thursday .
A source said the symptoms were only ever `` very mild '' .
This overlapped with the prime minister being in a critical condition .
Boris Johnson was announced to have coronavirus on 27 March and was taken to hospital on 5 April where he stayed until 12 April - a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health secretary , and Chris Whitty , chief medical officer , out of action .
Number 10 may hope this is glossed over as a fact of history - a month being an eternity in this pandemic - rather than an urgent piece of news .
And it is something that Number 10 clearly does not want us to dwell on beyond confirming the information first revealed by ITV 's Robert Peston three days ago .
Yet this matters a huge amount , alongside the repeated claims that Boris Johnson was `` in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intensive care and facing death , by his own admission subsequently .
That is because it goes to the heart of whether we can trust officials in the most deadly crisis this country is facing .
Sir Mark , who stepped into the most senior job in Whitehall after the untimely and tragic death of his predecessor Sir Jeremy Heywood , guides the ship of state for the prime minister , wielding enormous formal power and informal influence .
And it appears that because he holds this position , Whitehall decided to keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the disease a secret , with someone somewhere judging it too sensitive a piece of news for the public to handle .
Throughout late March and April , journalists asked almost every day after Sir Mark 's condition , after rumours circulated that he was unwell .
Number 10 responded he was `` fine '' and was working as normal .
It is hard to see that as an accurate answer .
Indeed Mr Johnson 's spokesman said he too only found out from a journalist , itself an eye-watering admission , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being fine at the time .
Number 10 insists this is n't a big deal since he was `` working as normal '' , just from home despite the symptoms .
There will be differing views about this .
But Sir Mark 's job is uniquely important , now more so than ever , and the idea he even might be incapacitated at the same time as the prime minister is a game-changing , serious proposition that needs to be planned for .
The justification that Sir Mark only had `` mild symptoms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the disease takes some days before you know how severely it hits you .
During this period , the fact he contracted the condition meant it was always possible that Sir Mark might have to be replaced if his symptoms got worse - yet it seems that even many officials in the Cabinet Office where his office sits were unaware of his condition .
The Cabinet Office maintains it did not lie to journalists - saying that , when reporters asked whether Sir Mark was infected on 27 March , he had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this does not exculpate Downing Street , who were actively answering questions about Sir Mark 's health and fitness through his period in question in the daily briefings , yet now claim they were unaware of his illness until a few days ago .
We know very little beyond this .
Sir Mark was last pictured in the cabinet room on 31 March - when he may have had the condition asymptomatically , and was back at the prime minister 's side on 28 April , according to pictures released by the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Perhaps Sir Mark managed to catch it from the same source as the prime minister - is this evidence of the reckless personal approach in Number 10 towards the disease ?
The fear is that keeping Sir Mark 's illness private this is another example of an endemic and kneejerk secrecy in our political culture .
It is this secrecy , in a different context , that Jeremy Hunt argued in the Commons this week may have cost lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offered by the secret SAGE body whose minutes are kept from the public domain and whose names have only just been made public .
It feels entirely possible that Sir Mark , a securocrat used to working in the shadows as national security adviser , Number 10 or a combination of both decided this was too sensitive a fact to make public .
Which prompts the question : what other pieces of `` too hot to handle '' information fall into the category of things that the public ca n't be trusted with @

Downing Street has confirmed Sir Mark Sedwill, the cabinet secretary and arguably the second most important person in government, had coronavirus at the same time as the prime minister.
Sir Mark had symptoms from around 2 or 3 April, the government revealed on Thursday.
A source said the symptoms were only ever "very mild". This overlapped with the prime minister being in a critical condition.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:20 PM pressed over 10,000 'unexplained deaths'
Boris Johnson was announced to have coronavirus on 27 March and was taken to hospital on 5 April where he stayed until 12 April - a period which also saw Matt Hancock, health secretary, and Chris Whitty, chief medical officer, out of action.
Number 10 may hope this is glossed over as a fact of history - a month being an eternity in this pandemic - rather than an urgent piece of news. And it is something that Number 10 clearly does not want us to dwell on beyond confirming the information first revealed by ITV's Robert Peston three days ago.
Yet this matters a huge amount, alongside the repeated claims that Boris Johnson was "in good spirits" while he was in intensive care and facing death, by his own admission subsequently.
That is because it goes to the heart of whether we can trust officials in the most deadly crisis this country is facing.
Sir Mark, who stepped into the most senior job in Whitehall after the untimely and tragic death of his predecessor Sir Jeremy Heywood, guides the ship of state for the prime minister, wielding enormous formal power and informal influence.
And it appears that because he holds this position, Whitehall decided to keep the news that he had gone down with the disease a secret, with someone somewhere judging it too sensitive a piece of news for the public to handle.
Advertisement
Throughout late March and April, journalists asked almost every day after Sir Mark's condition, after rumours circulated that he was unwell. Number 10 responded he was "fine" and was working as normal.
It is hard to see that as an accurate answer.
Indeed Mr Johnson's spokesman said he too only found out from a journalist, itself an eye-watering admission, despite happily answering the questions about him being fine at the time.
Number 10 insists this isn't a big deal since he was "working as normal", just from home despite the symptoms.
There will be differing views about this.
But Sir Mark's job is uniquely important, now more so than ever, and the idea he even might be incapacitated at the same time as the prime minister is a game-changing, serious proposition that needs to be planned for.
The justification that Sir Mark only had "mild symptoms" is an odd one, given that the disease takes some days before you know how severely it hits you.
During this period, the fact he contracted the condition meant it was always possible that Sir Mark might have to be replaced if his symptoms got worse - yet it seems that even many officials in the Cabinet Office where his office sits were unaware of his condition.
The Cabinet Office maintains it did not lie to journalists - saying that, when reporters asked whether Sir Mark was infected on 27 March, he had no symptoms at that point.
But this does not exculpate Downing Street, who were actively answering questions about Sir Mark's health and fitness through his period in question in the daily briefings, yet now claim they were unaware of his illness until a few days ago.
We know very little beyond this.
Sir Mark was last pictured in the cabinet room on 31 March - when he may have had the condition asymptomatically, and was back at the prime minister's side on 28 April, according to pictures released by the government on social media.
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
Perhaps Sir Mark managed to catch it from the same source as the prime minister - is this evidence of the reckless personal approach in Number 10 towards the disease?
The fear is that keeping Sir Mark's illness private this is another example of an endemic and kneejerk secrecy in our political culture.
It is this secrecy, in a different context, that Jeremy Hunt argued in the Commons this week may have cost lives, with potentially disastrous scientific advice being offered by the secret SAGE body whose minutes are kept from the public domain and whose names have only just been made public.
It feels entirely possible that Sir Mark, a securocrat used to working in the shadows as national security adviser, Number 10 or a combination of both decided this was too sensitive a fact to make public.
Which prompts the question: what other pieces of "too hot to handle" information fall into the category of things that the public can't be trusted with?


news--2020-05-14--Coronavirus: Father dies from cancer after surgery delayed - as expert warns of 'surge' in new cance

Coronavirus: Father dies from cancer after surgery delayed - as expert warns of 'surge' in new cancer cases

A father of four who died after his cancer surgery was postponed due to the pandemic had the chance to spend more time with his family `` snapped away from him '' , his daughter has said .
Pete Sharp , 60 , was diagnosed with lung cancer in January and was due to have surgery .
But the day before his operation , he was told it would have to be cancelled as the intensive care bed he would need for recovery was being used to treat COVID-19 patients .
There are fears the coronavirus pandemic could result in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many are facing delayed treatments and fewer cancers are being diagnosed .
Figures released by NHS England today show urgent referrals by GPs for suspected cancer cases in March dropped by 8 % on the same month in 2019 .
Professor Karol Sikora , a former World Health Organisation director , told Sky News the drop in referrals will `` come back to haunt us '' .
Although NHS figures show there has not been a significant increase in waiting times for cancer treatment in March , Professor Sikora said the figures appeared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significantly .
`` There will be a surge of new cancer patients when we get started again , '' he warned .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker There is also the concern that those who have already received a diagnosis could have their treatments affected .
Mr Sharp 's daughter , Tayler , 23 , said the surgery scheduled for 30 March may have given her father more time with his family .
`` It was hard for him , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was heartbroken , '' she said .
`` Obviously it really annoyed him but I explained that they were n't doing it to be horrible , they were doing it because they wanted him to come out the other side of the operation . ''
She added : `` He had been given a 98 % chance of pulling through the operation and living for however long , and it was just snapped away from him just like that because of coronavirus . ''
Mr Sharp , whose cancer had reached stage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , celebrated his 60th birthday on 26 February with Tayler , his two other daughters Elisha , 31 , and Hayleigh , 40 , as well as his son PJ , 27 .
He was described as `` a bit of a joker '' who `` loved to play pranks '' and was `` always ready to put people before himself '' .
Miss Sharp said her father would be happy he did not spend time in pain , adding : `` A part of me is like this was probably the best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to go being happy and the best that he can . ''
Another cancer patient whose treatment has been paused due to coronavirus is single mother Daloni Carlisle .
She told Sky News that although she was pleased with the treatment she had received with the NHS so far , she needs chemotherapy and does n't know when it will happen .
`` I have cancer in my lungs , in my liver , in my spine .
It 's all progressing , '' she said .
`` I 'm a single mum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have is not curable and I need to stay alive . ''
Cancer charities and experts have warned that cancer patients should not be left behind during the pandemic .
Lynda Thomas , chief executive of Macmillan Cancer Support , told Sky News : `` Cancer has n't gone away in this pandemic but it 's become the slightly forgotten C . ''

A father of four who died after his cancer surgery was postponed due to the pandemic had the chance to spend more time with his family "snapped away from him", his daughter has said.
Pete Sharp, 60, was diagnosed with lung cancer in January and was due to have surgery.
But the day before his operation, he was told it would have to be cancelled as the intensive care bed he would need for recovery was being used to treat COVID-19 patients.
Image: The 60-year-old was due to have an operation
He died on 27 April.
There are fears the coronavirus pandemic could result in a crisis for cancer patients, as many are facing delayed treatments and fewer cancers are being diagnosed.
Figures released by NHS England today show urgent referrals by GPs for suspected cancer cases in March dropped by 8% on the same month in 2019.
Urgent breast cancer referrals showed a bigger drop, falling by 28%.
Professor Karol Sikora, a former World Health Organisation director, told Sky News the drop in referrals will "come back to haunt us".
Although NHS figures show there has not been a significant increase in waiting times for cancer treatment in March, Professor Sikora said the figures appeared better because the referral rate has slowed significantly.
Advertisement
"There will be a surge of new cancer patients when we get started again," he warned.
Podcast Podcast , which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Podcast cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the This content is provided by, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enablecookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Podcast cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Podcast cookies for this session only. Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
There is also the concern that those who have already received a diagnosis could have their treatments affected.
Mr Sharp's daughter, Tayler, 23, said the surgery scheduled for 30 March may have given her father more time with his family.
"It was hard for him, he hid it very well but I knew he was heartbroken," she said.
"Obviously it really annoyed him but I explained that they weren't doing it to be horrible, they were doing it because they wanted him to come out the other side of the operation."
She added: "He had been given a 98% chance of pulling through the operation and living for however long, and it was just snapped away from him just like that because of coronavirus."
Mr Sharp, whose cancer had reached stage four and spread to his lymph nodes, celebrated his 60th birthday on 26 February with Tayler, his two other daughters Elisha, 31, and Hayleigh, 40, as well as his son PJ, 27.
He was described as "a bit of a joker" who "loved to play pranks" and was "always ready to put people before himself".
Miss Sharp said her father would be happy he did not spend time in pain, adding: "A part of me is like this was probably the best time for Dad and he would want to go being happy and the best that he can."
Another cancer patient whose treatment has been paused due to coronavirus is single mother Daloni Carlisle.
Image: Daloni Carlisle says she needs to 'stay alive' for her teenage children
She told Sky News that although she was pleased with the treatment she had received with the NHS so far, she needs chemotherapy and doesn't know when it will happen.
"I have cancer in my lungs, in my liver, in my spine. It's all progressing," she said.
"I'm a single mum with teenage children. The cancer I have is not curable and I need to stay alive."
Cancer charities and experts have warned that cancer patients should not be left behind during the pandemic.
Lynda Thomas, chief executive of Macmillan Cancer Support, told Sky News: "Cancer hasn't gone away in this pandemic but it's become the slightly forgotten C."


news--2020-05-14--Coronavirus: A dig at Trump? Guns N' Roses release Live And Let Die T-shirts

Guns N ' Roses have released a Live And Let Die coronavirus T-shirt to raise funds for musicians , in an apparent dig at Donald Trump .
Emblazoned with the words `` Live N ' Let Die with COVID 45 '' , the garment was unveiled on the band 's website and social media on Wednesday .
It comes a week after Mr Trump , the 45th president of the United States , visited the Honeywell factory in Arizona , where masks are being made to help during the coronavirus pandemic , but did not wear one himself - despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them .
As the president looked quizzically at N95 masks , a Guns N ' Roses cover of Live And Let Die blared out of the speakers , apparently played by factory workers .
Mr Trump said he had been advised that he did not need to wear a mask , and others were also pictured without them while on the visit .
Guns N ' Roses have now launched their T-shirts , priced at $ 25 ( £20.50 ) , which will be ready in June .
They say all proceeds will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involved in the music industry in times of need .
Singer Axl Rose has been outspoken about his disdain for Mr Trump 's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic .
This week he retweeted a post from presidential candidate Joe Biden , saying : `` Donald Trump just does n't understand : We have an economic crisis because we have a public health crisis - and we have a public health crisis because he failed to act . ''
Earlier in May , he described US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin as an `` a****** @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Backstage podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Guns N ' Roses recently announced they would be rescheduling European tour dates due to the coronavirus pandemic , writing on social media : `` Sadly , the upcoming European tour will not be happening .
`` Things are changing daily and we want to keep our fans , crew members and band safe .
`` We are working hard with our promoters , venues and cities/countries on next steps and will make further announcements as soon as we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patience , we will get through this together and look forward to seeing you all very soon… ''

Guns N' Roses have released a Live And Let Die coronavirus T-shirt to raise funds for musicians, in an apparent dig at Donald Trump.
Emblazoned with the words "Live N' Let Die with COVID 45", the garment was unveiled on the band's website and social media on Wednesday.
It comes a week after Mr Trump, the 45th president of the United States, visited the Honeywell factory in Arizona, where masks are being made to help during the coronavirus pandemic, but did not wear one himself - despite requirements at the plant that workers use them.
Twitter Twitter , which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Twitter cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the This content is provided by, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enablecookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Twitter cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Twitter cookies for this session only. Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once
As the president looked quizzically at N95 masks, a Guns N' Roses cover of Live And Let Die blared out of the speakers, apparently played by factory workers.
Mr Trump said he had been advised that he did not need to wear a mask, and others were also pictured without them while on the visit.
Guns N' Roses have now launched their T-shirts, priced at $25 (£20.50), which will be ready in June.
They say all proceeds will go to MusiCares, which helps people involved in the music industry in times of need.
Singer Axl Rose has been outspoken about his disdain for Mr Trump's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:20 Live And Let Die plays during Trump factory visit
This week he retweeted a post from presidential candidate Joe Biden, saying: "Donald Trump just doesn't understand: We have an economic crisis because we have a public health crisis - and we have a public health crisis because he failed to act."
Advertisement
Earlier in May, he described US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin as an "a******" on Twitter.
:: Listen to the Backstage podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
Guns N' Roses recently announced they would be rescheduling European tour dates due to the coronavirus pandemic, writing on social media: "Sadly, the upcoming European tour will not be happening.
"Things are changing daily and we want to keep our fans, crew members and band safe.
"We are working hard with our promoters, venues and cities/countries on next steps and will make further announcements as soon as we can.
"Thank you for your patience, we will get through this together and look forward to seeing you all very soon…"


news--2020-05-14--Coronavirus: More Tubes and buses are coming after TfL bailout, but bad news for commuters

Transport for London ( TfL ) has secured a £1.6bn government bailout after the coronavirus pandemic caused its income to fall by 90 % .
London Mayor Sadiq Khan had been warning that services on Tubes and buses would have to be cut if a financial injection was n't agreed by the end of the day .
A source close to his office told Sky News that fares would have to rise under the terms of the deal , which would also see government officials join TfL 's board .
The settlement - £505m of which is in the form @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sky News revealed TfL was facing the prospect of a £4bn loss .
Stay-at-home orders have seen TfL passenger numbers collapse during the COVID-19 outbreak .
The transport authority has furloughed 7,000 staff in order to access government money to subsidise their wages and save cash - and despite halting 300 construction projects , its costs have still been running at £600m a month .
Any cuts to Tube or bus services would have threatened efforts to get key sectors of the economy back to work following seven weeks of coronavirus hibernation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ government has belatedly agreed financial support for TfL to deal with COVID-19 - as they have for every other train and bus operator in the country .
`` But they have forced ordinary Londoners to pay a very heavy price for doing the right thing on COVID-19 by hiking TfL fares , temporarily suspending the Freedom Pass at busy times and loading TfL with debt that Londoners will pay for in the long run . ''
The source said a further condition was a guarantee that full services would return to London 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the visibility of government information advertisements on the coronavirus crisis .
It is unclear whether any fare increases would be above or below the rate of inflation .
Full details are expected to be confirmed to the City on Friday morning .
Meanwhile , train companies are urging people to avoid non-essential travel after journey planning increased by nearly a quarter this week .
Rail services will increase from around 50 % of the normal timetable to 70 % from Monday as coronavirus lockdown restrictions continue to be eased .
But even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for social distancing if demand is high .
Industry body the Rail Delivery Group said 3.7 million journeys were planned between Sunday and Thursday , compared with three million over the same period one week earlier .
The RDG warned that the capacity of trains will be restricted to as little as 10 % of the normal number of people who travel .

Transport for London (TfL) has secured a £1.6bn government bailout after the coronavirus pandemic caused its income to fall by 90%.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan had been warning that services on Tubes and buses would have to be cut if a financial injection wasn't agreed by the end of the day.
A source close to his office told Sky News that fares would have to rise under the terms of the deal, which would also see government officials join TfL's board.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 8:11 Khan wants face masks on the Tube
The settlement - £505m of which is in the form of a loan - emerged days after Sky News revealed TfL was facing the prospect of a £4bn loss.
Stay-at-home orders have seen TfL passenger numbers collapse during the COVID-19 outbreak.
The transport authority has furloughed 7,000 staff in order to access government money to subsidise their wages and save cash - and despite halting 300 construction projects, its costs have still been running at £600m a month.
Any cuts to Tube or bus services would have threatened efforts to get key sectors of the economy back to work following seven weeks of coronavirus hibernation.
The mayoral source said: "The government has belatedly agreed financial support for TfL to deal with COVID-19 - as they have for every other train and bus operator in the country.
"But they have forced ordinary Londoners to pay a very heavy price for doing the right thing on COVID-19 by hiking TfL fares, temporarily suspending the Freedom Pass at busy times and loading TfL with debt that Londoners will pay for in the long run."
Advertisement
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:12 Tube crammed with unmasked workers
The source said a further condition was a guarantee that full services would return to London's transport network in future.
Another related to the visibility of government information advertisements on the coronavirus crisis.
It is unclear whether any fare increases would be above or below the rate of inflation.
Full details are expected to be confirmed to the City on Friday morning.
Meanwhile, train companies are urging people to avoid non-essential travel after journey planning increased by nearly a quarter this week.
Rail services will increase from around 50% of the normal timetable to 70% from Monday as coronavirus lockdown restrictions continue to be eased.
But even this may not be enough to allow for social distancing if demand is high.
Industry body the Rail Delivery Group said 3.7 million journeys were planned between Sunday and Thursday, compared with three million over the same period one week earlier.
The RDG warned that the capacity of trains will be restricted to as little as 10% of the normal number of people who travel.


news--2020-04-23--Coronavirus loans to small and medium-sized firms accelerate - bank figures

More than 16,000 companies have now received emergency loans under a government scheme to support businesses affected by coronavirus .
Business secretary Alok Sharma told a parliamentary select committee that loans worth a total of £2.8bn had been successfully processed since the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme ( CBILS ) was launched on 23 March .
More than 9,000 loans were processed in the last week , double the number completed in the previous three according to the minister , whose statistics were based on an update from banking industry lobby group UK Finance .
Under CBILS , the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loans of between £25,000 and £45m .
The scheme has been heavily criticised for the slow pace at which banks have processed loans to companies facing devastating disruption to trade .
Many firms have complained that their initial applications went unanswered for weeks , and others have found banks applying normal commercial terms despite the extraordinary circumstances .
More than 300,000 companies have enquired about loans but Mr Sharma referred only to a total of 36,000 `` completed applications '' having been made .
Some businesses have expressed disquiet about being asked to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than receiving direct grants , or finance being offered in a similar way to student loans , which are only repaid when recipients are financially able to do so .
The minister also said that HMRC has received applications from 387,000 companies to furlough staff since the system opened on Monday .
Under the furlough scheme , the government will pay 80 % of staff wages up to a maximum of £2,500 a month .
The system is considered vital to protect individual incomes and ensure that when lockdown restrictions are lifted companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ properly , are able to resume .
Responding to the update Rain Newton-Smith , the CBI 's chief economist , said : `` These figures show that much needed finance is reaching more and more businesses , particularly larger firms .
`` The government and the banks are putting the shoulder to the wheel in unprecedented times .
`` But while the pace is picking up , many firms are still missing out .
More loans must get out the door faster for the businesses facing distress , especially smaller businesses . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be far more cost effective in the end than trying to replace jobs lost . ''

More than 16,000 companies have now received emergency loans under a government scheme to support businesses affected by coronavirus.
Business secretary Alok Sharma told a parliamentary select committee that loans worth a total of £2.8bn had been successfully processed since the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) was launched on 23 March.
More than 9,000 loans were processed in the last week, double the number completed in the previous three according to the minister, whose statistics were based on an update from banking industry lobby group UK Finance.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:14 NatWest advances £1bn to firms under govt loan scheme
Under CBILS, the government has committed to guarantee 80% of loans of between £25,000 and £45m.
The scheme has been heavily criticised for the slow pace at which banks have processed loans to companies facing devastating disruption to trade.
Many firms have complained that their initial applications went unanswered for weeks, and others have found banks applying normal commercial terms despite the extraordinary circumstances.
More than 300,000 companies have enquired about loans but Mr Sharma referred only to a total of 36,000 "completed applications" having been made.
Some businesses have expressed disquiet about being asked to borrow their way through this crisis rather than receiving direct grants, or finance being offered in a similar way to student loans, which are only repaid when recipients are financially able to do so.
The minister also said that HMRC has received applications from 387,000 companies to furlough staff since the system opened on Monday.
Advertisement
Under the furlough scheme, the government will pay 80% of staff wages up to a maximum of £2,500 a month.
The system is considered vital to protect individual incomes and ensure that when lockdown restrictions are lifted companies currently unable to trade, or trade properly, are able to resume.
Responding to the update Rain Newton-Smith, the CBI's chief economist, said: "These figures show that much needed finance is reaching more and more businesses, particularly larger firms.
"The government and the banks are putting the shoulder to the wheel in unprecedented times.
"But while the pace is picking up, many firms are still missing out. More loans must get out the door faster for the businesses facing distress, especially smaller businesses."
She added: "Saving jobs now will be far more cost effective in the end than trying to replace jobs lost."


news--2020-04-23--Coronavirus: Shearings owner in race to avoid becoming crisis casualty

The owner of Shearings , the coach holidays provider for over-50s , is racing to avoid becoming the next corporate casualty of the coronavirus pandemic .
Sky News has learnt that Specialist Leisure Group ( SLG ) , which also owns the Bay Hotels chain , is in advanced talks with several potential buyers as it tries to avoid falling into administration .
If SLG is forced into insolvency , its collapse could put 2,600 jobs at risk .
The company , which traces its origins back to the establishment of the Happiways escorted tours operation in 1903 , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ future as soon as Friday .
It is understood to be working with PricewaterhouseCoopers ( PwC ) , the accountancy firm , on efforts to secure a future for the business .
One insider said that SLG and its controlling shareholder , the US-based private equity investor Lone Star Funds , were hopeful of finding a buyer imminently .
If a solvent sale proves impossible , a pre-pack administration may be another option , enabling parts of the business to emerge under another owner , they added .
PwC is likely to handle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can not be avoided .
The source said there had been several `` credible '' expressions of interest in acquiring SLG , raising hopes that the business can be salvaged .
It has also been exploring the possibility of utilising any of the emergency loan schemes established by the government in recent weeks to help mitigate the economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic .
Companies including Carluccio 's , the restaurant chain , and Debenhams , the department store operator , have been unable to avoid administration , despite the provision of that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been furloughed under the government scheme which provides up to 80 % of employees ' wages , with its operations having been shut down since last month .
Shearings Holidays is one of the most prominent coach tour operators in the UK , serving more than 170 destinations in the UK , Europe and further afield .
The business was set up by Herbert Shearing , and marked its centenary last year .
SLG also owns UKBreakaways.com , which operates self-driving tours , and Sportingbreaks.com , which was due to launch last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to events including the British Grand Prix at Silverstone , and Wimbledon .
In Scotland , the company also trades under the name Caledonian Travel , another coach holiday operator .
Lone Star became the owner of the group through a wider portfolio of assets it took control of in 2015 .
The Texas-based private equity firm has explored a sale of the business on at least two previous occasions .

The owner of Shearings, the coach holidays provider for over-50s, is racing to avoid becoming the next corporate casualty of the coronavirus pandemic.
Sky News has learnt that Specialist Leisure Group (SLG), which also owns the Bay Hotels chain, is in advanced talks with several potential buyers as it tries to avoid falling into administration.
If SLG is forced into insolvency, its collapse could put 2,600 jobs at risk.
The company, which traces its origins back to the establishment of the Happiways escorted tours operation in 1903, is expected to make a decision about its future as soon as Friday.
It is understood to be working with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), the accountancy firm, on efforts to secure a future for the business.
One insider said that SLG and its controlling shareholder, the US-based private equity investor Lone Star Funds, were hopeful of finding a buyer imminently.
If a solvent sale proves impossible, a pre-pack administration may be another option, enabling parts of the business to emerge under another owner, they added.
PwC is likely to handle any insolvency process if such an outcome cannot be avoided.
The source said there had been several "credible" expressions of interest in acquiring SLG, raising hopes that the business can be salvaged.
Advertisement
It has also been exploring the possibility of utilising any of the emergency loan schemes established by the government in recent weeks to help mitigate the economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic.
Companies including Carluccio's, the restaurant chain, and Debenhams, the department store operator, have been unable to avoid administration, despite the provision of that support.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:35 Workers laid off despite furlough scheme
Most of SLG's workforce has been furloughed under the government scheme which provides up to 80% of employees' wages, with its operations having been shut down since last month.
Shearings Holidays is one of the most prominent coach tour operators in the UK, serving more than 170 destinations in the UK, Europe and further afield.
The business was set up by Herbert Shearing, and marked its centenary last year.
SLG also owns UKBreakaways.com, which operates self-driving tours, and Sportingbreaks.com, which was due to launch last year as a hub for organised trips to events including the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, and Wimbledon.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 4:20 How house building giant is getting back to work
In Scotland, the company also trades under the name Caledonian Travel, another coach holiday operator.
Lone Star became the owner of the group through a wider portfolio of assets it took control of in 2015.
The Texas-based private equity firm has explored a sale of the business on at least two previous occasions.
A spokeswoman for Lone Star Funds declined to comment.


news--2020-04-23--Coronavirus: 'I was by his side for three nights': Boris Johnson nurses speak

Two nurses praised by Boris Johnson for helping save his life when he was struck down with coronavirus have spoken about what it was like treating the prime minister .
Jenny McGee , from New Zealand , and Luis Pitarma , originally from Portugal , were both namechecked by the leader after he left critical care as he recovered from COVID-19 .
Speaking about the experience for the first time , Mr Pitarma said he was `` nervous '' upon learning the PM would be his patient .
`` The responsibility I was going to hold in my hands was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I did n't really know how to address him - should I call him Boris , Mr Johnson or Prime Minister ?
My matron reassured me and said to be myself like I am with any other patient . ''
He said that upon meeting Mr Johnson moments later , the PM told him to call him Boris .
`` That made me feel less nervous because he took away any formality , '' he said , '' Knowing that I was watching over the prime minister felt quite strange because I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I was by his side for the three nights he was in ICU .
We had some conversations , including about where I was from .
I told him how I 'd dreamed about working at St Thomas ' since my first day of training in Portugal in 2009 , when I learned about Florence Nightingale and her connection to the hospital .
`` He said it was amazing that I wanted to work here for so long and was glad I was there when he needed our care .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Ms McGee said she was `` shocked '' when she heard the PM had singled her out for praise .
`` My first reaction was that it was a joke !
I thought my friends were playing a joke on me .
I was n't expecting it ... it was totally out of the blue and it was just shock .
I could n't believe that was what he said on TV . ''
She says she was getting ready for a night shift when she first heard .
`` Someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' and I was like 'wow I think that 's me ' , '' she said .
Ms McGee refused to comment on details of the treatment she provided to the PM , but rejected any notion he was moved into the intensive care unit when his symptoms did not warrant it .
`` We take it very seriously who comes into intensive care , these patients who come into us it 's a very scary thing for them so we do n't take it lightly and he absolutely needed to be there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hearing reports of his time in hospital were `` surreal '' and that the widespread coverage had been the most challenging aspect of the period .
`` All our intensive care shifts are tough for whatever reasons , '' she said .
`` I think there was a lot of media interest about him being in hospital and to be honest that was the toughest of the lot , as a unit he was just another patient , we were trying to do our best for ... so it was business as usual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you I 've worked in intensive care for 10 years , I 'm a Sister I 've been in charge for five years and I 've been in stressful situations and I was not fazed by this , it was just another day at the office .
`` When I got in the car after work each night and I could hear things about Boris Johnson on the news that was very surreal because I thought 'wow !
I 've been looking after him ! '
but I really was n't fazed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Ms McGee said her home country had come up in conversation with Mr Johnson .
`` We just chatted away and it just naturally came up , '' she said .
`` He was interested in where I came from and what my story was and we spent a lot of time together and we talked away about New Zealand . ''
Asked why she had chosen not to return home in the face of the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New Zealand as the outbreak began sweeeping the globe in February , she said : `` I have a sense of duty , I have lived here for 10 years and I have worked in NHS for that amount of time and I 'm one of the Sisters on the unit , a leader on the unit .
`` I just feel a real sense of duty over here helping fight this crisis and it was n't an option not to come back . ''
Mr Johnson had praised the `` exemplary '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the hospital during his coronavirus treatment , saying : `` I owe them my life . ''
`` I ca n't thank them enough , '' he said .
`` I hope they wo n't mind if I mention in particular two nurses who stood by my bedside for 48 hours when things could have gone either way . ''
He named `` Jenny from New Zealand and Luis from Portugal '' - Ms McGee , and Luis Pitarma , from Aveiro on the west coast of Portugal .
`` The reason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get enough oxygen was because for every second of the night they were watching and they were thinking and they were caring and making the interventions I needed , '' he said .
Mr Johnson is currently staying at Chequers , where Number 10 said he was making `` good progress '' in his recovery .

Two nurses praised by Boris Johnson for helping save his life when he was struck down with coronavirus have spoken about what it was like treating the prime minister.
Jenny McGee, from New Zealand, and Luis Pitarma, originally from Portugal, were both namechecked by the leader after he left critical care as he recovered from COVID-19.
Speaking about the experience for the first time, Mr Pitarma said he was "nervous" upon learning the PM would be his patient.
"The responsibility I was going to hold in my hands was quite overwhelming," he said.
"I didn't really know how to address him - should I call him Boris, Mr Johnson or Prime Minister? My matron reassured me and said to be myself like I am with any other patient."
He said that upon meeting Mr Johnson moments later, the PM told him to call him Boris.
"That made me feel less nervous because he took away any formality," he said,
"Knowing that I was watching over the prime minister felt quite strange because I've never looked after someone high-profile before.
"I was by his side for the three nights he was in ICU. We had some conversations, including about where I was from. I told him how I'd dreamed about working at St Thomas' since my first day of training in Portugal in 2009, when I learned about Florence Nightingale and her connection to the hospital.
Advertisement
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:15 The Prime Minister Boris Johnson thanked the NHS and the nurses who looked after him
"He said it was amazing that I wanted to work here for so long and was glad I was there when he needed our care. It was a pleasure to look after him."
Ms McGee said she was "shocked" when she heard the PM had singled her out for praise.
"My first reaction was that it was a joke! I thought my friends were playing a joke on me. I wasn't expecting it... it was totally out of the blue and it was just shock. I couldn't believe that was what he said on TV."
She says she was getting ready for a night shift when she first heard.
"Someone texted me saying 'Jenny from New Zealand' and I was like 'wow I think that's me'," she said.
Ms McGee refused to comment on details of the treatment she provided to the PM, but rejected any notion he was moved into the intensive care unit when his symptoms did not warrant it.
"We take it very seriously who comes into intensive care, these patients who come into us it's a very scary thing for them so we don't take it lightly and he absolutely needed to be there," she said.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:54 Two nurses praised by the Prime Minister for their care of him, have been hailed by their home nations - New Zealand and Portugal.
She said hearing reports of his time in hospital were "surreal" and that the widespread coverage had been the most challenging aspect of the period.
"All our intensive care shifts are tough for whatever reasons," she said.
"I think there was a lot of media interest about him being in hospital and to be honest that was the toughest of the lot, as a unit he was just another patient, we were trying to do our best for... so it was business as usual.
"To be completely honest with you I've worked in intensive care for 10 years, I'm a Sister I've been in charge for five years and I've been in stressful situations and I was not fazed by this, it was just another day at the office.
"When I got in the car after work each night and I could hear things about Boris Johnson on the news that was very surreal because I thought 'wow! I've been looking after him!' but I really wasn't fazed by looking after Boris Johnson."
Podcast Podcast , which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Podcast cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the This content is provided by, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enablecookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Podcast cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Podcast cookies for this session only. Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
Ms McGee said her home country had come up in conversation with Mr Johnson.
"We just chatted away and it just naturally came up," she said.
"He was interested in where I came from and what my story was and we spent a lot of time together and we talked away about New Zealand."
Asked why she had chosen not to return home in the face of the pandemic, despite having been on holiday in New Zealand as the outbreak began sweeeping the globe in February, she said: "I have a sense of duty, I have lived here for 10 years and I have worked in NHS for that amount of time and I'm one of the Sisters on the unit, a leader on the unit.
"I just feel a real sense of duty over here helping fight this crisis and it wasn't an option not to come back."
Mr Johnson had praised the "exemplary" care he received from doctors and nurses at the hospital during his coronavirus treatment, saying: "I owe them my life."
"I can't thank them enough," he said.
"I hope they won't mind if I mention in particular two nurses who stood by my bedside for 48 hours when things could have gone either way."
He named "Jenny from New Zealand and Luis from Portugal" - Ms McGee, and Luis Pitarma, from Aveiro on the west coast of Portugal.
"The reason in the end my body did start to get enough oxygen was because for every second of the night they were watching and they were thinking and they were caring and making the interventions I needed," he said.
Mr Johnson is currently staying at Chequers, where Number 10 said he was making "good progress" in his recovery.


news--2020-04-21--Coronavirus: Human trials of a UK COVID-19 vaccine get under way

Human trials of a vaccine against coronavirus have started in Britain .
Scientists at the University of Oxford say a COVID-19 jab they are developing has an 80 % chance of success .
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said the Oxford trial - and another at Imperial College London - will each get at least another £20m of public money .
An urgent appeal has been issued for volunteers to take part - with those who do so being offered up to £625 .
People coming forward must be aged 18 to 55 and in good health .
Professor Sarah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Oxford , told Sky News the time it will take to determine if the vaccine is effective is `` heavily dependent '' on how much virus transmission there is in the community .
If the volunteers do not come into contact with the virus , researchers can not test if the vaccine has protected them .
`` If there 's very low virus transmission in amongst all the volunteers that we 've vaccinated , we just have to wait a long time to get the result , '' Prof Gilbert said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to test healthcare workers , in hospitals , people who are more likely to be exposed , so that we can get this result more quickly . ''
The Jenner Institute team at Oxford is starting production before the trial is complete and wants to have about a million doses ready to be sent out by September .
`` We really do n't want to find ourselves in a situation where the vaccine can show it 's safe , it gives strong immune responses and it protects people , but we have n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with , '' Prof Gilbert said .
Andrew Pollard , professor of infection and immunity at the University of Oxford , said producing very large numbers of doses is a `` big technical hurdle '' that is `` not achievable within six months and may not be achievable within a year '' .
But he added that for `` smaller scale it could be possible with an effective vaccine to get there rather sooner '' .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is made from a harmless chimpanzee virus that has been genetically engineered to carry part of the coronavirus .
The technique has already been shown to generate strong immune responses in other diseases .
Deals have been done with three UK manufacturers , and several more abroad , to make the vaccine .
Prof Gilbert said she hoped `` up to 500 people '' would be part of the trial by the middle of May .
She said it would be a `` randomised control trial '' and half of the people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We will be monitoring them asking them to contact us if they have any symptoms of coronavirus and then we will find out who is getting infected , '' she added .
The trial will involve healthy volunteers and take place in Oxford and Southampton , with three other sites to be added later .
Meanwhile , the Imperial College London team has been testing its vaccine on animals since February and clinical trials are expected to start in June .
Mr Hancock said developing a vaccine is an `` uncertain science '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` rapid progress '' and would be backed `` to the hilt '' .
He said : `` At the same time we 'll invest in manufacturing capability so if either of these vaccines safely works then we can make it available for the British people as soon as humanely possible . ''
However , he cautioned that `` nothing about this process is certain '' .
More than 70 vaccines are in development around the world but - alongside the US and China - the UK is one of the few involved @ @ @ @

Human trials of a vaccine against coronavirus have started in Britain.
Scientists at the University of Oxford say a COVID-19 jab they are developing has an 80% chance of success.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said the Oxford trial - and another at Imperial College London - will each get at least another £20m of public money.
Image: An Oxford University scientist with some of the vaccine doses
An urgent appeal has been issued for volunteers to take part - with those who do so being offered up to £625. People coming forward must be aged 18 to 55 and in good health.
Professor Sarah Gilbert, from the Jenner Institute team at Oxford, told Sky News the time it will take to determine if the vaccine is effective is "heavily dependent" on how much virus transmission there is in the community.
If the volunteers do not come into contact with the virus, researchers cannot test if the vaccine has protected them.
"If there's very low virus transmission in amongst all the volunteers that we've vaccinated, we just have to wait a long time to get the result," Prof Gilbert said.
"So we're looking at trying to test healthcare workers, in hospitals, people who are more likely to be exposed, so that we can get this result more quickly."
The Jenner Institute team at Oxford is starting production before the trial is complete and wants to have about a million doses ready to be sent out by September.
Advertisement
Image: Dr Paul McKay working on a COVID-19 vaccine at Imperial College
"We really don't want to find ourselves in a situation where the vaccine can show it's safe, it gives strong immune responses and it protects people, but we haven't got any doses to vaccinate anyone else with," Prof Gilbert said.
Andrew Pollard, professor of infection and immunity at the University of Oxford, said producing very large numbers of doses is a "big technical hurdle" that is "not achievable within six months and may not be achievable within a year".
But he added that for "smaller scale it could be possible with an effective vaccine to get there rather sooner".
Podcast Podcast , which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Podcast cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the This content is provided by, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enablecookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Podcast cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Podcast cookies for this session only. Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
The Oxford vaccine, called ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, is made from a harmless chimpanzee virus that has been genetically engineered to carry part of the coronavirus.
The technique has already been shown to generate strong immune responses in other diseases.
Deals have been done with three UK manufacturers, and several more abroad, to make the vaccine.
Image: A 'Lysogeny broth' used for growing bacteria at Imperial College
Prof Gilbert said she hoped "up to 500 people" would be part of the trial by the middle of May.
She said it would be a "randomised control trial" and half of the people would get a different vaccine.
"We will be monitoring them asking them to contact us if they have any symptoms of coronavirus and then we will find out who is getting infected," she added.
The trial will involve healthy volunteers and take place in Oxford and Southampton, with three other sites to be added later.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:34 'I am throwing everything at it' - Matt Hancock
Meanwhile, the Imperial College London team has been testing its vaccine on animals since February and clinical trials are expected to start in June.
Mr Hancock said developing a vaccine is an "uncertain science" but that the two teams were making "rapid progress" and would be backed "to the hilt".
He said: "At the same time we'll invest in manufacturing capability so if either of these vaccines safely works then we can make it available for the British people as soon as humanely possible."
However, he cautioned that "nothing about this process is certain".
More than 70 vaccines are in development around the world but - alongside the US and China - the UK is one of the few involved in human trials.


news--2020-04-23--Coronavirus: Marianne Faithfull thankful for NHS staff who 'without doubt, saved her life'

Marianne Faithfull has thanked NHS staff for saving her life after being discharged from hospital following treatment for COVID-19 .
The 73-year-old singer songwriter had been in hospital for just over three weeks , after being diagnosed with coronavirus .
Her recovery was confirmed in two posts on her official Twitter page on Wednesday night .
The first told her 10,000 followers : `` We are really happy to say that Marianne has been discharged from hospital today , 22 days after being admitted suffering from the symptoms of COVID-19 .
`` She will continue to recuperate in London .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ all those who have wished Faithfull well , and the frontline medical staff who looked after her .
It said : `` Marianne thanks you all for your kind messages of concern which have meant a great deal through what is a such a difficult time for so many .
`` She is also very grateful to all the NHS staff who cared for her at the hospital and , without doubt , saved her life . ''
Faithfull was well known in the 1960s for dating Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As Tears Go By , which was written by the two rock stars .
: : Listen to the Backstage podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Her latest studio album was Negative Capability in 2018 , which was her 21st collection .
Faithfull has also acted in theatre productions and films , including Girl On A Motorcycle .

Marianne Faithfull has thanked NHS staff for saving her life after being discharged from hospital following treatment for COVID-19.
The 73-year-old singer songwriter had been in hospital for just over three weeks, after being diagnosed with coronavirus.
Image: Faithfull performing at Le Trianon in Paris in 2015
Her recovery was confirmed in two posts on her official Twitter page on Wednesday night.
The first told her 10,000 followers: "We are really happy to say that Marianne has been discharged from hospital today, 22 days after being admitted suffering from the symptoms of COVID-19.
"She will continue to recuperate in London."
The second message paid tribute to all those who have wished Faithfull well, and the frontline medical staff who looked after her.
It said: "Marianne thanks you all for your kind messages of concern which have meant a great deal through what is a such a difficult time for so many.
Image: Pictured at a Stones concert with her son Nicholas in Hyde Park in 1969
"She is also very grateful to all the NHS staff who cared for her at the hospital and, without doubt, saved her life."
Faithfull was well known in the 1960s for dating Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards.
Advertisement
Her hits include As Tears Go By, which was written by the two rock stars.
:: Listen to the Backstage podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
Her latest studio album was Negative Capability in 2018, which was her 21st collection.
Faithfull has also acted in theatre productions and films, including Girl On A Motorcycle.


news--2020-04-23--Val Kilmer: 'I didn't want to be in Top Gun, but begged to appear in reboot'

Val Kilmer says he did n't want the Top Gun role that made him famous and was `` tortured '' to audition by his agent .
The 60-year-old star played Tom 'Iceman ' Kazansky in the 1986 film alongside Tom Cruise .
In his memoir , I 'm Your Huckleberry , Kilmer admits : `` I did n't want the part .
I did n't care about the film .
The story did n't interest me .
`` My agent , who also represented Tom Cruise , basically tortured me into at least meeting Tony Scott saying he was one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Kilmer says he even tried to self-sabotage the audition , by `` looking like a fool or the goon '' .
He says : `` I read the lines indifferently and yet , amazingly , I was told I had the part .
I felt more deflated than inflated . ''
It was Kilmer 's third feature-length film role , following after 1984 's Top Secret !
and 1985 's Real Genius .
The film went on to become a worldwide box office hit , making stars of its young cast .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ completely turned all these years later , admitting he begged to be part of the reboot , Top Gun : Maverick .
Despite not being approached for the new film , he took matters into his own hands .
Kilmer says : `` I 'd not only contacted the producers but created heartrending scenes with Iceman .
`` The producers went for it .
Cruise went for it .
Cruise could n't have been cooler . ''
Top Gun : Maverick was due to be released in cinemas in June but following the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the screen at the end of the year .
Kilmer 's memoir also details his colourful dating past , going out with Hollywood stars including Cindy Crawford , Angelina Jolie and Carly Simon .
Kilmer , who dated Cher for a year , admits he initially did n't want to meet her as he thought she was a `` less-than-fascinating character out of the gossip rags '' .
However , after getting to know the pop star , he declared her the `` funniest woman I ever met '' .
The pair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kilmer throughout his 2015 throat cancer diagnosis .
The actor was staying at her guesthouse when he realised he was seriously unwell and began `` vomiting blood that covered the bed like a scene out of The Godfather '' .
: : Listen to the Backstage podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker He says Cher accompanied him in the ambulance and was with him when he underwent his tracheotomy and chemotherapy sessions .
Kilmer , who described his split from actress Daryl Hannah in 2001 as the `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now been single for 15 years .
Val Kilmer 's memoir I 'm Your Huckleberry is out now , and Top Gun : Maverick will be released on 23 December .

Val Kilmer says he didn't want the Top Gun role that made him famous and was "tortured" to audition by his agent.
The 60-year-old star played Tom 'Iceman' Kazansky in the 1986 film alongside Tom Cruise.
Image: Kilmer with Cruise as Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell. Pic: Paramount /Kobal/Shutterstock
In his memoir, I'm Your Huckleberry, Kilmer admits: "I didn't want the part. I didn't care about the film. The story didn't interest me.
"My agent, who also represented Tom Cruise, basically tortured me into at least meeting Tony Scott saying he was one of the hottest directors in town."
Kilmer says he even tried to self-sabotage the audition, by "looking like a fool or the goon".
He says: "I read the lines indifferently and yet, amazingly, I was told I had the part. I felt more deflated than inflated."
It was Kilmer's third feature-length film role, following after 1984's Top Secret! and 1985's Real Genius.
The film went on to become a worldwide box office hit, making stars of its young cast.
However, Kilmer says the tables have completely turned all these years later, admitting he begged to be part of the reboot, Top Gun: Maverick.
Advertisement
Despite not being approached for the new film, he took matters into his own hands.
Image: Kilmer had a tracheotomy in 2015 to treat throat cancer
Kilmer says: "I'd not only contacted the producers but created heartrending scenes with Iceman.
"The producers went for it. Cruise went for it. Cruise couldn't have been cooler."
Top Gun: Maverick was due to be released in cinemas in June but following the coronavirus outbreak is now due to come to the screen at the end of the year.
Kilmer's memoir also details his colourful dating past, going out with Hollywood stars including Cindy Crawford, Angelina Jolie and Carly Simon.
Image: Kilmer said he didn't want to go out with Cher to start with
Kilmer, who dated Cher for a year, admits he initially didn't want to meet her as he thought she was a "less-than-fascinating character out of the gossip rags".
However, after getting to know the pop star, he declared her the "funniest woman I ever met".
The pair have remained close, with Cher supporting Kilmer throughout his 2015 throat cancer diagnosis.
The actor was staying at her guesthouse when he realised he was seriously unwell and began "vomiting blood that covered the bed like a scene out of The Godfather".
:: Listen to the Backstage podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
He says Cher accompanied him in the ambulance and was with him when he underwent his tracheotomy and chemotherapy sessions.
Kilmer, who described his split from actress Daryl Hannah in 2001 as the "most painful", says he has now been single for 15 years.
Val Kilmer's memoir I'm Your Huckleberry is out now, and Top Gun: Maverick will be released on 23 December.