thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-19--How The Nation Really Did 'Keep Dancing' Through 2020

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“Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room.” This may have been Baz Luhrmann’s instruction to “the class of ’97” in his hit Everybody’s Free ( To Wear Sunscreen), but the advice feels written for 2020.
As the pandemic closed studios across the country, dancers – amateur and professional alike – found ways to keep moving. Or to “keeeeeep dancing”, as Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman have been telling Strictly Come Dancing audiences since October... and forever.
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The BBC show refused to lower its own glitter ball, adapting its usual filming protocols to keep dance – and some much needed glitz – on our screens.
There have been only intermittent live audiences, the judges have all socially distanced – Bruno from as far away as the US – and contestants have formed bubbles with their professional dance partners, with many of the pros living away from the rest of their family for the duration of filming.
The show looked in early danger when contestant Nicola Adams had to drop out after her partner Katya Jones tested positive for coronavirus, and judge Motsi Mabuse was forced to self-isolate. But somehow, we’ve made it to finals week – perhaps because others paved the way for dancing through adversity.
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BBC / Guy Levy
Francesca Velicu, first artist at the English National Ballet (ENB), is accustomed to spending up to eight hours a day rehearsing, so studio and theatre closures in March came as a shock to the system.
“Suddenly not having a space to do all of these things was very challenging,” she tells HuffPost UK. “I guess each dancer adapted in their own way to keep a healthy body and mindset.”
ENB’s studios closed in March and didn’t begin their phased reopening until July. Velicu tried to remain positive, by accepting what she could and couldn’t do in the limited space of her London flat.
“The radiator was my best friend as a substitute to the ballet barre,” she says. “I spent a lot of time working on things that I wouldn’t normally have the time for and I found Pilates, workouts and running outside really helpful.
“It was really interesting for me to find different ways to keep in shape, I think this time off really proved to us that there is always more than one way to go. With ambition and positivity, we can achieve many things.”
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Francesca Velicu Francesca Velicu practising at home thanks to her trusty radiator (left and right), and with fellow dancer Erik Woolhouse (centre).
Amateur dancers also practised at home in their thousands as their favourite studios swiftly moved classes online, via zoom sessions and Instagram live tutorials.
School of SOS, the nationwide dance school chain adapted from the London-based studio Seen On Screen, was among the first to pivot. The teachers – famed for bringing Beyoncé dance workshops to the masses – hosted their first Instagram live class in mid-March, before the official lockdown order. It was a “sort of test”, they say, to see how the classes might adapt if studios were forced to close – and it worked.
Due to demand, they added a few more Instagram classes the following week, increasing to a seven-day online timetable by April. At the peak of the first wave, the 60-minute sessions had 500 people joining live.
“It was incredible, and so unexpected. It felt like we were riding a tidal wave - the demand was explosive,” says the company’s founder, Bonnie Lister Parsons.
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“Even Instagram noticed when they featured SOS in their timetable of the top IG Lives in the world. The creative director contacted me personally, which was surreal – I thought he was joking!”
SOS
The pandemic made SOS a global company overnight, she adds. “Because everything went online so fast, geographic distance became irrelevant, which meant I could bring in my dance network from across London, New York and Los Angeles to create a ‘super timetable’. That was so cool.”
One highlight was inviting her friend, LA-based Randall Watson, to guest teach a special J.Lo class – Watson had performed alongside Jennifer Lopez at the Super Bowl in February 2020.
Another LA-based dancer, Allie Laliberte, who’s danced alongside Drake, Rihanna, Little Mix, Shawn Mendes and Rita Ora, now teaches for the company every Thursday, as part of its weekly digital timetable. “That kind of global operation being ‘the norm’ just wouldn’t have happened pre-lockdown,” says Lister Parsons.
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You only had to join one the live classes early in the pandemic to see the positive impact they’re having on dancers’ mental health. Comments such as “thank you, I really needed this today” were the norm, posted by grateful participants (often with a series of heart emojis).
“Mostly, it felt like our classes had become a lifeline for so many – something to look forward to and a place to connect with a worldwide community who supported them everyday when in reality, everyone was isolated at home,” says Lister Parsons.
As it became clear that studios wouldn’t be reopening any time soon, teachers across the country went above and beyond to get their classes online –especially those catering for kids, who knew parents were desperate for ways to occupy their offspring during school closures.
Strictly’s own Oti Mabuse – reigning champion and finalist again this year with Bill Bailey – even lent a hand, offering free dance classes for children online.
Thank you so much for these routines. My daughter really loved today’s dance and even went to put her dressing gown on after seeing you in your onesies! 😂 pic.twitter.com/J8XwzQgWi9 — Susan Allen (@suze_allen) March 25, 2020
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Charlotte Searle, who usually runs her Dance Fit classes from a church hall and a school hall in Manchester, taught classes on Zoom during the first national lockdown, but the set-up wasn’t ideal.
“It felt weird and there were lots of teething problems,” she says. “Like getting the sound better, getting the sound and picture to be as in sync as possible and adjusting my choreography to be less travelling, no partner work and I had to pay one of my kids to do the modified version next to me.”
Once exercise classes were permitted again, Searle organised to teach her classes outdoors in a private playground. It seemed the best option for her clients, some of whom were hesitant about exercising indoors. She bought new speakers and measured three metres from herself at the front, then kept all participants at least two metres apart, facing forward.
Charlotte Searle Charlotte Searle teaching her Dance Fit classes outdoors, even as evenings grow darker.
“It was lovely at first as the weather was delightful, but as it got darker we had to yet again adapt!” she says. “I bought glow sticks to use as place markers and a mirror ball with LED lights on it, then lots of disco balls and we all wear LED bracelets and fairy lights, light up hats, earrings, tutus and gloves.”
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It’s been tricky to set up in the pitch black, but Searle has managed to acquire a bright workmen’s spotlight to help. The effort has been worth it.
“It’s great fun and even better that we can’t see each other, just lots of pretty lights, great music and a bit of singing laughing and whooping,” she says. “I’m really proud of all my Dance Fit gang for toughing it out in the wind and rain, although actually we have been incredibly lucky with mild weather.”
Searle’s business has so far survived the pandemic, but the year has been challenging for professional dancers, at a time when live performances have been almost obliterated.
As part of its Culture in Quarantine series, the BBC debuted a stunning video extract from Swan Lake in July, performed by prima ballerinas from around the world – in their bathtubs. It was gloriously creative, but with a serious point behind it. Many of the world’s leading dancers could not work.
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In October, more than 100 ballet dancers joined a protest outside the Houses of Parliament in October, to call for better financial support from the government for the arts. Some of the dancers wore “I am Fatima” t-shirts – a reference to the controversial and now-removed government advert, which suggested ballet dancers should retrain in other fields.
The protest was attended by choreographer and former Strictly judge Arlene Phillips, who told The Stage: “Everyone in the performing arts is suffering from a loss of income, loss of respect, loss of performing, and most of all, the loss of the understanding that dance is a passion turned into a career only by years of punishing study harder than most athletes.
“Members from the industry are now being advised to change careers. Dance is my life, and it’s hard to watch as sharp, intelligent dancers are being rejected for a number of retail or support jobs as they are not considered to have the right skills.”
Stefan Rousseau - PA Images via Getty Images Young ballet dancers perform during a protest calling for more funding for the performing arts in Parliament Square, London.
Things did look on the up by late October, when The Northern Ballet returned to the stage, in what was believed to be the first major UK dance performance in front of a live paying audience since lockdown began. The company performed excerpts from a number of ballet classics, including Don Quixote, Swan Lake, Le Corsaire and Giselle at the Leeds Playhouse, but only a handful of other live performances have followed.
English National Ballet relied on a “digital season” with a series of five original dance films made available to rent during autumn, but the company had hoped to be back in the London Coliseum for an abridged version of The Nutcracker with socially distanced audiences by December. With London now in tier 3 – and theatres told they must close – it seems the show must go online, if it is to go on.
Velicu says being back in the studio and rehearsing for the show has been “quite surreal”. “Dancing with a mask is definitely not easy, it makes it very hard to breathe sometimes,” she says. “But I consider it only a little adjustment that allows us to keep doing what we all love.”
Lister Parsons has also had to adapt her business further to make her live online classes profitable and support the dozens of SOS teachers across the country.
She’s now launched ‘SOS On Demand’, with classes taught over Zoom, instead of Instagram Live. It costs dance fans £11.99 a month with a minimum of five new classes added every week.
Searle will continue to teach outside, while her clients are still enjoying the fresh air. And Lister Parsons will continue to build her digital dance business, as long as dancers ask for it. One thing is clear from both: the passion and community spirit among dancers is not easily broken.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-19--How To Support Your Local Pub Or Restaurant If You're In Tier 3

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Almost 40 million people in England will be living under tier 3 restrictions from Saturday, equating to almost two-thirds of the population. It’s a huge blow for the hospitality sector.
Under tier 3 restrictions, pubs and restaurants are allowed to stay open for takeaway only in the run-up to Christmas – one of the most profitable times of the year for the industry in normal times.
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Businesses in places like Greater Manchester and Lancashire – which were already subject to local lockdowns before being placed in tier 3 in October – are really struggling.
UKHospitality, which represents members of the hostility sector, has warned the latest extensions of tier 3 will bring “further despair to already hard-pressed businesses” elsewhere. “Businesses will have bought stock which will now go to waste and more people will lose work at a stressful time,” chief executive Kate Nicholls said in a statement.
“What was already looking like a bleak Christmas is now looking like a total write-off.”
PA
Nicholls has called for further government support to ensure that pubs and restaurants will be able to reopen their doors in the new year.
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But if you’re concerned about your favourite venues closing down, here are a few ways you can offer support:
1. Order a takeaway
Ordering a takeaway will help keep businesses afloat this December and beyond.
Be sure to check out the website or Facebook page of your favourite local restaurant or pub, even if they don’t usually offer takeaways. Many have quickly adapted their businesses to provide online click and collect or telephone ordering services.
2. Buy a beer for the future
Budweiser Brewing Group has launched Save Pub Life to provide an easy way to support your local. The initiative allows you to buy a gift card now and spend at your favourite pub once it re-opens for business as usual. Budweiser will then match the value of the gift card up to a combined total of £1m.
Hundreds of pubs have already registered to be part of the scheme and you can search the website by county to see if your local is taking part.
3. Order a home meal kit
DIY meal kits allow you to easily recreate restaurant-quality food at home. Some involve numbered step-by-step instructions using pre-measured ingredients, others simply require you to put elements together on a plate. Either way, you’ll be giving restaurants a boost.
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We tried a number of the kits available for nationwide delivery, from Michelin-starred feasts to award-winning pasta. Read our reviews to choose something tasty.
Dishoom
4. Purchase a restaurant cook book
A number of restaurants – from Dishoom and Hawksmoor to Mildreds and Wagamama – sell cookbooks revealing (some) of the tricks of the trade.
Admittedly, most cook books are for big, city-based chains, rather than small, local businesses. But those chains still employ thousands of people across the country. They’re worth supporting.
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5. Buy a restaurant gift voucher
Need a last-minute Christmas present? A restaurant gift voucher is a great option and can be easily popped into a card and sent to a loved one if you’ve now cancelled seeing them in-person over the holidays.
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The Dining Out Gift Card can be used at over 1,600 venues in the UK, while Gourmet Guide gift vouchers can be used at 5,000 top UK restaurants. Look out for vouchers for small, independent businesses too, which may be advertised on their website or Facebook page.
6. Leave a positive review
If you can’t support your favourite business financially at the moment, you can still leave them a positive review online.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-19--How To Break Out Of A Relationship Rut During The Pandemic

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You’re reading Relationships DIY, a series full of tips, tricks and perspective on keeping your relationship healthy and happy during the pandemic.
Couples can get stuck in a rut at any point, but during the coronavirus pandemic, cases of the relationship blahs have become especially prevalent.
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When you’re in a rut, things feel stagnant between you and your partner. The spark in the relationship is more like a faint flicker. You just aren’t connecting in the way you used to — and you may be lacking the motivation to work on things.
“Days may feel as though they are beginning to blur together and that the relationship has lost excitement,” Los Angeles marriage and family therapist Abigail Makepeace told HuffPost. “This can then evolve into feelings of resignation, numbness or even indifference towards a partner.”
Or you may notice that you’re easily annoyed by your partner. Things that once rolled off your back may grind your gears these days.
“Regardless of how the unhappiness manifests, it often leads to fantasising about a different life or even a new partner.” - Abigail Makepace, marriage and family therapist
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“This can be accompanied by a quickness to place blame and a tendency to blow otherwise minor inconveniences out of proportion,” Makepeace said. “Regardless of how the unhappiness manifests, it often leads to fantasising about a different life or even a new partner.”
If you’re dealing with some of these feelings, know that it’s quite normal for a couple’s rhythm to be off right now, said San Diego marriage and family therapist Jennifer Chappell Marsh.
“I’m seeing a lot of relationships strained due to the pandemic stress and isolation,” she said. “More couples are coming into therapy seeking support for issues magnified by the pandemic.”
Why Couples Are Feeling Less Connected
Though you may be spending more time with each other these days, it’s not necessarily quality time. If you’re both working from home, you may be in close proximity all the time, rushing through your busy days without having one moment of genuine connection. The concept of alone time, which we all need occasionally to recharge our batteries, is now a distant memory.
What’s more, you and your partner may not have access to many of the stress-reducing activities you usually rely on to feel more in sync.
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“Couples use activities like sports, barbecues, going to a restaurant and going to the movies as coping strategies for stress in their relationship,” said Aaron Anderson, a therapist at the Marriage and Family Clinic in Denver.
“Since these resources aren’t as available, couples feel more stress and difficulty, causing them to feel in a rut with each other.” Nor can you do many of the things that add adventure and novelty to our lives, like traveling, going to concerts or taking a class together.
FilippoBacci via Getty Images During the pandemic, it's not uncommon for couples to feel stuck and out of sync.
And with our social networks limited by public health guidelines, we may end up expecting too much of our partner, adding strain to the relationship.
“Your partner is [now] your lover, best friend, emotional support, housekeeper and child care,” Chappell Marsh said. “These roles used to be filled by various people and roles within the family and community. Pandemic isolation has only magnified how much we are looking to our partners to fulfill these needs. All of these needs and expectations from one person creates pressure, disappointment and resentment.”
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And lastly, you can’t ignore the mental health toll this year has taken on us all. Caring for sick family members, worrying about our job security, managing distance learning for our kids and panicking about the state of the country has used up all of our emotional bandwidth, leaving little time or energy for romance.
“In the pandemic, much feels unsafe and unfamiliar. As a result, we may experience feelings of depression and anxiety, which may further disconnect us from our partners or be misunderstood by them as unease within the relationship,” Makepeace said.
“The stress of the pandemic often disguises itself as stress from work, the kids driving you insane or feeling bored with your partner. It may take some real reflection to get to the root of these negative feelings.”
What To Do If You’re Feeling Out Of Sync
So how can you reconnect when emotionally you feel miles apart? We asked therapists for their advice.
Shake up your routine.
Find creative ways to add some novelty to the monotony of your day-to-day. Your options may be somewhat limited because of Covid, but you can still make small adjustments that will change things up.
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“For example, instead of eating dinner at the dining table, try an indoor picnic. Or if you find yourself watching TV every night, try to incorporate reading the same book,” Makepeace suggested. “These small changes can create a needed change of pace in the relationship and be very healing.”
Create better boundaries between work time and downtime.
If you’re working from home, it’s all too easy for work hours to bleed into your “off” hours. You might be checking email while you eat breakfast in the morning or trying to complete one last task while watching TV at night, leaving very little time for each other.
“The natural lines between work and home, school and home, morning and evening, and together time and separate time have all been blurred,” Chappell Marsh said.
MoMo Productions via Getty Images Log off from work so you can make time for each other.
If you’re able, try to maintain a schedule similar to the one you had when you worked in an office. When 6pm rolls around, close your laptops and put your work materials somewhere you can’t see them — that should help you “psychologically shift from one mode to another,” Chappell Marsh said. Then you can be more present with one another.
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Be the initiator.
“If you feel that something is lacking in your relationship, take the initiative to create change,” Makepeace said. “In my work with couples, I often find that a person may be unhappily waiting for their partner to behave differently or change the monotony of routine. This approach seldom works.”
The takeaway? Don’t be afraid to make the first move. Think about what you wish you were getting from the relationship and do it yourself. For instance, if you’re craving more romance, surprise your partner with their favourite dessert, a heartfelt card or a foot rub before bed. Once you get some positive momentum going, your partner will likely be inspired to reciprocate.
Strike up deeper conversations.
These days, the majority of discussions between couples tend to focus on managing day-to-day responsibilities: Who’s helping the kids with homework?; who’s taking the dog to the vet?; or who’s making a trip to the grocery store? Be sure to carve out time to talk about subjects beyond household operations.
“Changing the script and asking your partner questions that lead to understanding their current mental and emotional state can be transformative for the both of you,” Makepeace said. “Not only does this recognise your partner’s autonomy outside of the role of ‘parent’ or ‘spouse,’ but it gives them an opportunity to share a part of themselves and connect with you on a deeper level.”
For some inspiration, check out The New York Times’ “36 Questions That Lead to Love.” They’re designed for couples getting to know each other but could also generate interesting discussion among partners who have been together awhile.
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Practise self-compassion.
This year has been tough on all of us. So be gentle with yourself instead of beating yourself up. You might find that cutting yourself some extra slack makes you a little easier on your partner, too.
“Research shows that the daily practice of self-compassion helps us to be less critical of our own perceived shortcomings and more accepting of our partner’s limitations, which allows us to focus on what’s good about ourselves and our relationships versus what is flawed,” Chappell Marsh said.
Resist the urge to blame each other for what’s not going well in the relationship. Recognise that any rift right now likely has more to do with this past year than a lack of love between you.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-19--18 Netflix Picks To Get You In The Festive Spirit This Christmas

Netflix/Getty/Shutterstock
Whether it’s festive classics we come back to year after year or brand new originals, Netflix has a wide array of offerings to help spread some cheer this Christmas.
And let’s face it, festive cheer is much-needed this December.
Of course, we all know that scrolling through the streaming service to find something everyone can agree on can sometimes take forever, so we’ve rounded up 18 Christmas films and TV specials made up of the good, the bad and – frankly – the very odd to help make choosing something a little easier...
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Single All The Way (NEW)
Single All The Way Philippe Bosse/Netflix
Undoubtedly one of our most anticipated Christmas films of 2021, Single All The Way has taken the tried-and-tested “will they, won’t they... oh and by the way it’s Christmas” festive formula and run with it.
Single All The Way introduces us to Peter and Nick, two best friends who begin to question whether there could be more between them when they pretend to be in a relationship for the benefit of Peter’s family.
Yes, it’s great that Netflix is giving such a big push to a film centred around an LGBTQ romance, and we love that Single All The Way showcases queer characters with supportive families. But it also looks like a whole lot of fun, helped in no small part by the presence of all-round screen icon Jennifer Coolidge.
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Love Hard (NEW)
Bettina Strauss
Love Hard is very much a modern Christmas romance, telling the story of a woman who travels to her online crush’s hometown over the festive season, only to discover she’s been catfished.
Admittedly, the film didn’t exactly get glowing reviews when it came out, but it did prove popular with Netflix viewers upon its release in early November, so there’s obviously something about it that’s kept people entertained.
The Princess Switch 3: Romancing The Star (NEW)
Netflix
Did you see Vanessa Hudgens’ Parent-Trap-meets-Princess-Diaries-at-Christmas shenanigans in The Princess Switch back in 2018? What about the 2020 sequel that threw a whole new third lookalike into the mix?
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Well, no, us neither – but there’s a third film out now, and we absolutely can’t wait to binge-watch the whole lot and see how they managed to stretch this already paper-thin concept out into an entire trilogy.
Vanessa Hudgens has already proved herself to be the queen of Netflix’s thrown-together festive offerings, appearing not just in this trilogy but also 2019’s The Knight Before Christmas, which is probably the most obvious example of “a board meeting coming up with the film’s title and working backwards from there” we’ve ever come across.
Love Actually
Love Actually Peter Mountain/Universal/Dna/Working Title/Kobal/Shutterstock
Probably the quintessential British Christmas film, Love Actually is finally available to stream on Netflix again.
Love Actually pretty much has it all: laughs, tears, a star-studded cast, cute kids, a great soundtrack, iconic on-screen moments, annual off-screen discourse and, above all, Hugh Grant dancing around 10 Downing Street. Happy streaming, folks.
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The Holiday
The Holiday Zade Rosenthal/Sony/Kobal/Shutterstock
How many times have you carelessly flicked on The Holiday halfway through when they’re showing it on ITV2? And every single time, thought to yourself “oh, I love this film, I’d love to watch it from the beginning some time”?
Well, your Christmas wish has finally been answered, as it’s available to watch on Netflix from the beginning, with no adverts, in all its dancing-to-Mr-Brightside-on-the-bed, wonder-when-the-last-time-Jude-Law-did-Mr-Napkinhead, oh-yeah-I-forgot-Lindsay-Lohan-was-in-this glory.
Every single Friends Christmas special
NBC via Getty Images
Friends’ continued dominance on Netflix means we can still get a big dose of 90s nostalgia this Christmas, with the sitcom’s array of festive episodes.
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The One With The Inappropriate Sister sees Phoebe becoming slowly more jaded while she collects for charity, while series three’s The One Where Rachel Quits sees Lisa Kudrow’s character trying to rehouse some unappealing brown trees after seeing them going into a chipper.
But the definitive Christmas special is unquestionably The One With The Holiday Armadillo, an episode with everything you want from a Friends episode: Ross embarrassing himself, some lovely scenes with Joey and Rachel, plus Monica’s apparent Santa fetish revelation.
What’s not to love?
Bojack Horseman
Netflix
Or, if 90s sitcom Christmas episodes aren’t your thing, how about *checks notes* a parody of 90s sitcom Christmas episodes?
This stand-alone episode of Bojack Horseman focuses mostly on the titular character’s former sitcom Horsin’ Around, with Bojack and Todd sitting down to watch the show’s Christmas special.
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As a result, Sabrina’s Christmas Wish is part parody of the many family-based sitcoms of the 1990s, but also woven throughout are the dark elements that have made Bojack Horseman such a hit.
Probably not one to watch if you’re looking for a bit of thoughtless festive cheer (we know she’s not real, but we still get choked up every time we see childhood Sarah Lynn on screen), but definitely worth checking out if you’re a Bojack fan curious about how the show handled something like a festive episode.
Last Christmas
Universal Pictures
Remember those halcyon days of winter 2019, when Last Christmas got released to cinemas and was absolutely pulled apart by critics? Well, for those put off by all of the reviews, we’ve got something to tell you that might come as a surprise… it really wasn’t all that bad.
True, it was jam-packed with clichés, looked a little bit rough around the edges and included a twist you could see coming a mile off. But as far as Christmas films go, we actually rather enjoyed Last Christmas, so with the film now available to stream, it’s probably time we all give it some festive redemption.
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A Christmas Prince
A Christmas Prince Netflix
Let’s just call a spade a spade here… sometimes at Christmas you really do fancy watching a load of old rubbish while you tuck into the Quality Street, and unlike Last Christmas, A Christmas Prince really is as bad as everyone says.
Initially dreamed up as a Christmas cash-in on royal fever, the film proved popular enough that it spawned two more sequels. Prestige cinema this is definitely not, but pair it with a tasty mulled wine and smiles are guaranteed all-round.
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
Cr. Gareth Gatrell/NETFLIX
Already hailed as a modern Christmas classic as soon as it was released, if you didn’t get the chance to watch Jingle Jangle in 2020 then now’s your moment.
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Not only is the film a festive adventure with a stellar cast (including Forest Whittaker, Anika Noni Rose and Ricky Martin as the voice of a matador doll who comes to life), it’s also a heartwarming musical with songs by John Legend. Once you’ve blown through the usual suspects, this is definitely worth adding to your go-to Christmas films list.
Klaus
Klaus Netflix
Listen, we love what Pixar has managed to do with CGI over the years… but there’s just something about traditional animation, isn’t there? Klaus is proof that there’s still a place for this particular kind of visual today, and the film’s completely unique look mixed with the nostalgia brought about by traditional animation make it a perfect family watch for Christmas.
And clearly we weren’t the only ones who loved it – Klaus did that rare thing for a festive film of landing an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature, though it ultimately lost to Toy Story 4.
The Christmas Chronicles
The Christmas Chronicles 2 JOSEPH LEDERER/NETFLIX
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Another modern family Christmas story, this one sees two precocious children accidentally crashing Santa’s sleigh and having to team up with him to save the big day.
Young fans will enjoy the adventure, festive scenes and Kurt Russell’s take on Father Christmas. Personally, we’ll be tuning in for two reasons: Goldie Hawn… and all of the wigs.
Father Christmas Is Back (NEW)
Netflix
We’re just going to be extremely candid here and say that Father Christmas Is Back looks like complete hogwash, but the exact sort of bizarre campery we wouldn’t miss for anything.
This British comedy actually tells the story of an extended family with the surname Christmas, featuring the acting talents of Elizabeth Hurley, Caroline Quentin and Kelsey Grammer. Tell us you’re not dying to see exactly how all this plays out, but we absolutely won’t believe you.
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Nativity!
Moviestore/Shutterstock
Long before it became one of the UK’s most unlikely omnipresent Christmas franchises, Nativity! made a modest debut in cinemas back in 2008 with little fanfare, but has since gone on to spawn two sequels and a spin-off theatre show.
While we can’t vouch for the quality of what came next, Nativity! is actually a pretty lovely watch, particularly for families, featuring the acting talents of Martin Freeman and Alan Carr.
Krampus
Krampus Moviestore/Shutterstock
Definitely in the running for the weirdest Christmas film ever made, this comedy horror centres around a traditional festive creature from European folklore, who (spoiler alert) comes to life and wreaks havoc.
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If that doesn’t pique horror fans’ interest already, then we’ve got two words that might: Toni. Colette.
Happy (and hopefully not too terrifying) streaming, folks!
Christmas On The Square
COURTESY OF NETFLIX
We should begin by saying that Dolly Parton’s Christmas On The Square is not, by any stretch of the imagination, a good film. But watching is still such a wild ride – beginning with Dolly playing the least convincing homeless person ever committed to the screen, and later floating up on a cloud in Christine Baranski’s living room – that we feel everyone should do it at least once.
And if the mix of Dolly Parton, Christine Baranski, Jenifer Lewis and a whole lot of fake snow doesn’t sound like an irresistible Christmas treat, we truly don’t know what would.
Black Mirror: White Christmas
Channel 4
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Frankly, after the past couple of years, we can’t think of anything worse than ending 2021 by revisiting this one-off Black Mirror special, but it’s there for you if you feel differently.
Dystopian anthology show Black Mirror made its final outing on Channel 4 with this feature-length Christmas episode, featuring not one but three tales that’ll make you think twice before asking Santa for any new technology this year.
This episode tackles online voyeurism, social media blocking and artificial intelligence, while also boasting an appearance from Jon Hamm, and ending on a surprisingly chilling rendition of Wizzard’s I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday that will ensure you never hear that song in the same way again.
RuPaul’s Drag Race: Holi-Slay Spectacular
RuPaul's Drag Race Netflix
Upon its debut in 2018, it quickly emerged that this supposed holiday special was essentially little more than a naff 40-minute advert for RuPaul’s Christmas album and the then-upcoming All Stars 4, complete with impromptu musical numbers and a totally ridiculous “lip sync” between Michelle Visage and RuPaul.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-19--Is It Curtains For Panto? How Struggling UK Theatres Have Been Forced To Adapt As Covid Wreaks Havoc

Is It Curtains For Panto? How Struggling UK Theatres Have Been Forced To Adapt As Covid Wreaks Havoc On Their Busiest Period

This time last year, Jimmy Fairhurst was in the midst of a 12 week showing of Cinderella at The Vaults in London. He’s the Artistic Director of Not Too Tame, a working class theatre company based in Warrington.
They were due to do it all again this year, with another show in Warrington to boot. But, like many theatre companies, their 2020 pantomime season is looking very different.
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After months in limbo, battling with constant movements of the goalpost by the Government, Jimmy and his team decided to cancel this year’s production of Jack and the Beanstalk. “It was saddening,” he says, “because we kept thinking, ‘can we do it, can we push it on?’ but, there was no chance to.”
It just wasn’t economically viable for Not Too Tame, who usually bring the theatre to local pubs and social clubs, and doing it online didn’t sit right with Jimmy. Despite absolutely loving pantomime, it made more sense to focus on making 2021 the theatre company’s best year to date.
For many theatres, it’s pantomime that keeps them afloat. In 2016/17, the total pantomime box office income was £60.2 million, which Jimmy says can “account for a third of a company’s yearly earnings.”
For Oldham Coliseum, this is definitely the case.
“Pantomime is our longest running show,” Chris Lawson, the Coliseum’s Artistic Director, tells HuffPost UK. “It’s a big income source for us so it supports and enables us to do a lot of the work through the rest of the year.”
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““It’s a big income source for us so it supports and enables us to do a lot of the work through the rest of the year.”
Oldham Coliseum cancelled their annual pantomime in August because, even if Oldham wasn’t in Tier 3, social distancing measures meant they wouldn’t have been able to sell enough tickets to break even.
But Chris still felt a social responsibility to put something on for the local community, so they decided to go digital. Local families can tune in to watch a pantomime in the form of a monologue, by either Dame Dotty Trott in Jack And The Beanstalk or Cinderella.
Shorelle Hepkin, this year’s Cinderella, found preparing for the online pantomime pretty strange: “I was having to leave a gap for the call and response aspect and just hope that everybody at home is joining in and not sat there thinking, ‘What on earth is going on?’”
Still, Shorelle thinks it’s “brilliant” that school kids in particular are still getting a taste of Christmas magic this year and she’s extremely grateful for the opportunity.
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Dame Dotty Trott in Oldham Coliseum's virtual production of Jack and the Beanstalk. Oldham Coliseum
But other Coliseum regulars have unfortunately missed out. Mitesh Soni was in the middle of a showing of Oliver when the first lockdown was announced. Although he’s disappointed that he isn’t involved with Oldham’s well-loved pantomime this year, he feels even more sorry for the usual audience.
“It’s a big thing, not just for people like me who are in the shows, but for people that come and see it,” he says. “For a lot of people, pantomime is their family tradition.”
Oldham Coliseum has a stronghold of people that come every year, and it’s the young audience in particular who he’s sorry will miss out. And seeing children in the theatre, especially those who are there for the first time, is something Mitesh, Shorelle and Chris told me they’d miss the most this year.
““You want to be able to make the shows you want to make, but if money is the main thing, then you’re just going to have to be a bit more savvy.”
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For both Not Too Tame and Oldham Coliseum, making the decision to cancel this year’s pantomime was not an easy one. Although he’s looking forward to next year, Jimmy knows a lack of pantomime means the financial aspect will be even more central to their decision making.
“It’s not really what you want to be doing,” he says. “You want to be able to make the shows you want to make, but if money is the main thing, then you’re just going to have to be a bit more savvy.”
Other theatres are still stuck in what feels like permanent limbo.
Greater Manchester has been in Tier 3 since late October, and had been in a local lockdown for two months before then. There had been hope the city might leave Tier 3 meaning there would be a possibility for panto this year. However, it has been announced that Manchester will remain as it is for the next two weeks, at least.
This is a blow for Manchester Opera House, as thanks to support from the National Lottery, they were able to prepare to put on a socially distanced show at less than half their usual capacity.
Members of the public walking past the Opera House theatre, which has been closed during Covid 19 pandemic. SOPA Images via Getty Images
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Speaking prior to the latest announcement of the tiers, Theatre Director Sheena Wrigley said: “We’ve had to completely rethink our operation, so that’s been taking up a big chunk of our time.” Manchester Opera House is a commercial theatre, so it was not eligible for any government funding.
With the show no longer able to go ahead, it’s not just the Opera House who will suffer.
“The restaurants and the bars around the theatres also really notice when we’re not open,” she says. “On a good night you could have 2000 people watching shows, and those people often go somewhere else first for a meal or for some drinks.”
Theatre is a massive part of the night time economy, which has severely suffered as a result of the pandemic.
On the bright side, this year hasn’t meant a premature curtain call for all pantomimes, and for theatres in Tier 2, the show will certainly go on.
The New Victoria Theatre in Woking and Qdos Entertainment will be putting on a socially distanced production of Robin Hood.
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Craig Revel Horwood, who is playing the Sheriff of Nottingham says: “I’m delighted our producers have pulled out all the stops to make it happen. We’re following the latest guidelines regarding safety, distance and hygiene, but still managing to have fun.”
Craig Revel Horwood stars in Robin Hood at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking. New Victoria Theatre
The show this year has been condensed into one single act to limit movement around the theatre. Craig says that rehearsals have been different, too. Cast members are taking separate breaks and keeping their distance both on and off stage. But, they’re still managing to keep some sense of normalcy, causing some socially distanced mischief to keep the Christmas spirit alive.
Craig says the goal with this production is to “help the audience take a break from the difficulties this year has brought, to be with their loved ones and have a much-needed good time.”
And, next year, Craig hopes the arts will be on “a firm track to recovery, with more people coming than ever before.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-19--What It's Like Teaching On Zoom To Students I've Never Met

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I looked on the chat board and saw that one of my 7th-grade students had, once again, posted a picture of a McDonald’s meal. This meant that they needed a break and wanted to tell me about the Travis Scott meal at McDonalds.
Ms. Osman: What did you learn about the Travis Scott meal?
Student: Miss! This meal is craaazy. I heard that people are just going up to the window and telling the workers, “you know what I want.” (poop emoji and laughing crying emoji)
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Ms. Osman: How would the worker know what they want?
Another student: Idk. But I don’t like Quarter Pounders.
Student: I don’t like Big Macs In & Out’s better
I let a few more minutes of this go on. I’ve been trying to build in time for the students to chat with each other, especially since they haven’t seen their peers this whole year. This is a crucial part of the school experience, and as middle-schoolers, a time in their lives to learn how to properly socialise. It also allows me to get to know them as well.
In history, 2020 will probably be remembered as the year of despair. Just in the US, hundreds of thousands of lives have been lost, millions are unemployed, and even getting to spend time with friends and family is severely limited (if even possible).
One of the most affected areas has been education. Every community is handling schooling differently: Classes are in-person in some places, virtual in other areas, and hybrid elsewhere ― the latter a nightmare disguised as “parental choice.”
In Los Angeles, where I reside, we have yet to return to physical school, and I’m not sure we will at all this year. I conduct my 7th and 8th-grade classes on Zoom and use nearpod (a platform similar to PowerPoint that’s interactive), as well as our online curriculum.
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I have been teaching since August and I have yet to meet my students in person. For most of them, I have no idea what their voices sound like, as they rarely come off of mute. I also have no idea what most of them look like, as they do not turn their cameras on. (I do not make it a requirement that they turn on their cameras because this would cause equity issues). Therefore, our primary means of communication is through the chatbox on Zoom and through nearpod.
Through the chat, I have been able to discern some of my students’ personalities. There are some who speak entirely in either emojis, gifs, slang or popular text abbreviations. I have learned that alr = alright, sus = suspicious, ofc = of course, and hbu = how about you. A picture of an avatar from the online game Among Us seems to be a compliment. Pictures will appear that are related to the reading, ranging from ducks to pigs to anime characters. I am still learning this particular language they speak in, but they are quite happy to translate.
Some ask me everyday questions about my life, usually in the middle of a reading, such as, “Do you have any pets?” “What is your favourite Mexican dish?” and “Miss, do you have a spider plant? You should get one. It will bring harmony to your life.”
I have learned which students advocate for themselves, as they privately message me questions. I have learned which students have annoying siblings, as they announce that they yelled at that brother or sister and their phone got taken away. I have learned which horror movies my students love (Halloween, Child’s Play, Train to Busan, and It) and which ones they don’t (The Curse of La Llorona is nowhere near as scary as their abuela’s retelling of the myth).
A few teachers have told me that they shut off the chatbox entirely so that the students cannot talk to one another and are forced to keep their cameras and mics on. This seems, to me, like a way to silence their students.
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Our students are often isolated at home. We don’t know much about their home lives, so school (even online) is designed to be an outlet for them. Many adolescents are conscious of how their voice sounds or what their homes look like. There may be noise in the background from other family members working and attending school. They may be working in the bathroom because it is the only place that is quiet.
To demand that they keep their cameras on is to not take their needs into consideration, and to not provide them another outlet to ask questions, share answers, and chat is cutting off their voices. Neither one is an ideal start to forming a strong relationship, which is necessary for students to succeed.
Our discussions are continuing to evolve past Big Macs (although we recently had an argument about Die Hard being categorised as a holiday movie). I am currently teaching World War II, and had the following conversation with my students:
Student: Miss, how did this happen? How did the Germans just let six million people die?
Student 2: I can’t believe so many people went along with the Nazi Party.
Student 3: America wasn’t much better. Look at Japanese internment camps. Are we going to learn about those Miss?
Ms. Osman: We are going to study those. And the questions you are asking are ones that are still being asked and studied today.
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Student 2: This is making me so sad, Miss. It’s like nothing has changed.
Student: Me too.
Ms. Osman: Let’s take a quick break. Why don’t you tell me what’s been on TikTok lately?
While I do not know what so many of my students sound or look like, I do have a sneaky feeling that I would be able to tell who most of them are if we were to go back to physical class tomorrow. One of my students has told me multiple times that he is a “baddie,” even though he has admitted that he is polite to everyone he meets.
Another student requests that I play 90s R&B every time I ask if they would like some background music. Others have a continuous banter about the pieces we read, often commenting when they feel bad for a character or feel that an ending is “messed up.”
One student is rather bleak, once remarking at the end of The Tell-Tale Heart, “Well, at least the narrator only killed the old man. He didn’t try to eat him.”
I wish that we were in person. I would love to be able to have a holiday party with my students. I would love to be able to have them visit during lunch and regale me with tales of their day or give me a rundown of what’s cool (TikTok) and what’s not (Twitter. That’s for old people).
Instead, I learn these things through a chatbox. I am sure that being exposed to and using apps such as Twitch, Instagram and their beloved TikTok has better prepared them to form relationships through text, but it’s still quite new for me.
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I often wonder how this year will affect my students. Are they learning? How will not socialising in person affect their social skills? How will students whose only outlet was extracurriculars and who needed school as an escape from their wretched home lives fare? I have to remind myself that not I ― nor any teacher, for that matter ―has the answer to these questions.
What I do have control over is the relationship I build with my students. Throughout the semester, I have had a few students write me thank-you emails, stating that my class has made them better writers and readers. I have one student privately message me every day to see how I am holding up.
We have little celebrations known as Fri-Yays. We occasionally colour online as a form of meditation. My students recently taught me how to play Among Us. Through a mix of emojis, slang, and traditional English, we have formed an entirely new form of communication. And that is helping us get through these perilous times, together.
This article first appeared on HuffPost Personal


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-19--Bill Bailey Wins Strictly Come Dancing 2020 After Emotional Finale

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Bill Bailey has been crowned the winner of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing.
The comedian and his professional partner Oti Mabuse beat fellow finalists Maisie Smith, HRVY and Jamie Laing to win the BBC ballroom competition during Saturday’s emotional live finale.
It also marked the second consecutive Strictly win for Oti, who becomes the first professional to achieve this in the show’s 16-year history.
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Bill Bailey and Oti Mabuse have won this year's Strictly Come Dancing BBC/Guy Levy
After hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman announced the winner, Bill said it “feels surreal, it feels extraordinary, it feels wonderful. I never thought that we would get this far”.
He continued: “I had the most extraordinary teacher, the most extraordinary dancer, who believed in me right from the beginning and she found something in me, turned me into this, into a dancer.”
Praising her “amazing, remarkable” partner, Oti – who won last year’s series with former Emmerdale actor Kelvin Fletcher – said: “You just put your heart into everything, you put your soul into everything. You’re in your world but I love your world…
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“Thank you for being a friend, a father figure to me, a brother and for this,” she said of the Glitterball.
In a year like 2020, Bill and Oti's #Strictly win is so special for so many reasons. Huge congrats @BillBailey and to @OtiMabuse for your second Glitterball trophy in a row! 👏🤩 #StrictlyFinal pic.twitter.com/gHPCQtqOe7 — BBC Strictly ✨ (@bbcstrictly) December 19, 2020
While the judges’ scores were for guidance only, Bill and Oti finished joint first on the leader board after performing three routines, picking up 88 points out of a possible 90.
The final saw them reprise their Quickstep to Talk To The Animals from the musical Doctor Dolittle and their Couple’s Choice Street routine to Rapper’s Delight by Sugarhill Gang.
Both dances picked up 29 points, while their Show Dance – set to Queen’s The Show Must Go On – picked up their first perfect 30 of the series.
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Both Maisie and Gorka Marquez and HRVY and Janette Manrara also netted 88 points after their performances, while Jamie and Karen Hauer finished up with 84.
Bill and Oti want to thank all of you that supported and voted for them, and thank to you to everybody who watched with us this year. 💖 #StrictlyFinal @BillBailey @OtiMabuse pic.twitter.com/ozoxN4an97 — BBC Strictly ✨ (@bbcstrictly) December 19, 2020
There were a number of emotional moments during the finale, which came just hours after Boris Johnson announced a string of new coronavirus measures that cancelled Christmas for millions of people, and disrupted plans of millions more.
Tess Daly opened the show by telling viewers: “If ever people needed cheering up, it’s now.
“After another tough day, we are going to try our very best to keep you entertained with an unforgettable night of dance.”
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Claudia Winkleman later choked back tears as she paid tribute to the extraordinary efforts of the show’s cast and crew to get the show on air and keep in there.
Judge Craig Revel Horwood, known for his sharp tongue, also referenced the prime minister’s announcement, following the rapid spread of the new variant coronavirus.
“In light of the recent news, I’ve decided I’m going to be positive. You may not recognise me,” he said.
Contestant HRVY also burst into tears after reprising his American Smooth to One from the musical A Chorus Line.
“I can’t believe I’m crying in front of millions of people. It was such a moment.”
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Judge Motsi Mabuse was also seen in floods of tears at the end of the show, after watching her sister Oti win the show for the second time.
This year’s finale also saw the return of Nicola Adams and Katya Jones to the dancefloor, as they performed a non-competitive routine.
The power in this partnership. 💪🔥 We're Feeling Good to have Nicola and Katya back in the Ballroom for an extra special last dance. #StrictlyFinal@NicolaAdamsOBE @Mrs_katjones pic.twitter.com/c64V8RDoVh — BBC Strictly ✨ (@bbcstrictly) December 19, 2020
The pair made history as the show’s first same-sex couple but had to withdraw early after Katya tested positive for Covid-19.
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The Duchess of Cornwall made an appearance on the show in a pre-recorded clip speaking about the joy of the BBC show, as part of a video compilation of messages from viewers and celebrities.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-19--Tier 4 And Christmas Rules: What You Can And Can’t Do Now

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A new and more infectious strain of Covid-19 has forced Boris Johnson into a dramatic last-minute rethink of Christmas rules.
London and huge areas of the south east and east of England will face the biggest disruption with a new and tougher tier 4 local lockdown enforced in law from midnight tonight.
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Here’s everything you need to know as head for a very different Christmas.
What are the restrictions in tier 4?
All non-essential shops, gyms and leisure facilities, hairdressers and salons will close from 00.01 Sunday.
This is in addition to hospitality venues already being closed.
People are ordered to stay at home and this instruction is being enshrined in law.
Tier 4 will not be part of the Christmas bubble policy. Household mixing indoors is strictly prohibited and only one person can meet up with one other outdoors.
Travel is also restricted unless for essential work purposes, childcare or healthcare.
Nobody can travel in or outside of tier 4 unless essential. No tier 4 resident can stay overnight away from their own home.
Nurseries and places of worship will remain open. Schools are not affected as they have already closed for the Christmas break.
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The support bubble policy for single person households still applies.
Tier 4 measures will be reviewed after two weeks, so will be in place until at least December 30.
Which areas are in the new tier 4?
All areas of England which were this week moved from tier 2 into tier 3 restrictions will go into tier 4. These are:
All of London
Kent
Buckinghamshire
Berkshire
Surrey (excluding Waverley)
The boroughs of Gosport, Havant, Portsmouth, Rother and Hastings
Bedford
Central Bedfordshire
Milton Keynes
Luton
Peterborough
Hertfordshire
Essex (excluding Colchester, Uttlesford and Tendring).
The area accounts for around 15 million people or a third of the population of England.
Christmas in tiers 1, 2 and 3 – what has changed?
Three households are able to form a Christmas bubble but for just one day on December 25.
Previously this policy had been over five days, from December 23 to December 27, in England.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are reviewing their plans.
Why is this happening?
The government is deeply worried about the spread of the virus and a new and more infectious variant.
Boris Johnson has said the new strain may be up to 70% more transmissible and could increase the R value by 0.
On Friday, the R rate jumped above the crucial number 1 and is now 1.1-1.2, having been 0.9-1 the previous week.
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If Covid-19 is able to spread, it could have a devastating impact it could have on the NHS in the depths of winter.
Chief medical officer Chris Whitty says that the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG) has judged the new strain of the virus to be more infectious.
The new variant accounts for 60% of the disease’s spread in the areas being placed into tier 4.
There has also been a 66% rise in case rates and in London the pandemic has almost doubled in the space of seven days.
Whitty says the World Health Organisation has been alerted to the impact of the new strain, which has so far only been seen in a handful of cases in two other countries.
“There is no current evidence to suggest the new strain causes a higher mortality rate or that it affects vaccines and treatments although urgent work is underway to confirm this,” he said.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-19--Christmas Rules Tightened Nation-Wide And London, South-East And East Put Into Tier 4

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Boris Johnson has announced strict coronavirus restrictions for England over Christmas, with London, the South-East and East also placed under a new tier 4.
It comes amid fears a new variant of Covid-19 is spreading more rapidly across parts of the country.
Speaking at a Downing Street press conference on Saturday, the prime minister said the variant could be “up to 70% more transmissible” than the original variant.
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People living in tier 4 areas will be banned entirely from mixing households over Christmas.
In all other areas of England, Christmas bubbles will only be permitted on Christmas Day itself.
The government had previously told people three households would be allowed to mix for five days between December 23 and December 27.
Under the new tier 4 rules, which came into force on Sunday, people have been ordered to stay at home by law and non-essential retail will shut.
In tier 4 areas, one person is allowed to meet one other person not in their household and it must be outside. Travel is be banned into and out of tier 4 areas.
The new rules will be reviewed after two weeks.
Tier 4 restrictions apply in all previous tier 3 areas in the South-East, covering Kent, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Surrey (excluding Waverley), Gosport, Havant, Portsmouth, Rother and Hastings.
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It also applies in London (all 32 boroughs and the City of London) and the East of England (Bedford, Central Bedford, Milton Keynes, Luton, Peterborough, Hertfordshire, Essex (excluding Colchester, Uttlesford and Tendring).
Chris Whitty, England’s chief medical officer, has said there is no evidence the new variant of the virus is more deadly or will affect the vaccine, but it can spread more quickly.
Johnson, who just three days ago said preventing people spending Christmas with friends and family would be “inhuman”, said he was taking just that action now “with a very heavy heart”.
“I know how much emotion people invest in this time of year, and how important it is, for instance, for grandparents to see their grandchildren, for families to be together,” he said. “So I know how disappointing this will be.
“But we have said throughout this pandemic that we must and we will be guided by the science. When the science changes, we must change our response.”
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Exemptions to the stay at home message which applied in the November lockdown, also apply in the new tier 4 – including support bubbles, childcare bubbles and children whose parents are separated.
People are allowed to travel for education, childcare and to go to work if they cannot work from home and are permitted unlimited outdoor exercise.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-19--Watch Live: Boris Johnson Holds Press Conference Amid Spike In Covid Cases

Watch Live: Boris Johnson Holds Press Conference Amid Spike In Covid Cases
PM holds Downing Street briefing with top scientists amid spike in Covid cases and fears over new variant's "rapid spread".


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-20--How Boris Johnson Spent 9 Months Completely Cocking Up Christmas For Everyone

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On Saturday, Boris Johnson stood in front of the nation and insisted a new and more contagious strain of coronavirus had overtaken the government’s plans to allow some semblance of a normal Christmas in England.
London and huge areas of the south east and east of England woke up on Sunday under tough new Tier 4 restrictions while the rest of the country was told the five-day Christmas bubbles they were promised will only be permitted on Christmas Day itself.
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At a Downing Street press conference, the PM said he was taking the actions with a “heavy heart”, but warned “without action... many thousands more would lose their lives”.
The announcement marked the end of Johnson’s nine-month quest to save Christmas but just how realistic – and responsible – was this in the first place?
Is hindsight a wonderful thing?
Before we get to the government’s specific messaging around Christmas, some context is needed to illustrate just how predictable this has all been.
On Sunday morning Matt Hancock said the “unpredictable” virus and the “unprecedented” scale of the pandemic meant the last minute changes to Christmas rules could not have been foreseen.
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“The whole challenge of dealing with this pandemic, it being unprecedented, [is] we’ve had to learn about the virus all the way through and then we’ve got this new variant which the scientists are still learning about.”
Yet as far back as the summer, scientists were debating second waves and mutations of the virus.
Why? Because science has long known that influenza viruses mutate and evolve, and pandemics tend to come in waves.
Of eight respiratory virus pandemics since the 19th century, five have had two or more waves which usually happen in colder months regardless of when the first outbreak occurs.
In July, England’s deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries told ITV’s This Morning: “Myself and colleagues are very, very concerned about looking out for a potential second peak as we move into the autumn.”
A few days later an even starker warning was issued when a group of 37 experts predicted a “reasonable worst case scenario” in which almost 120,000 people could die in hospital this winter.
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At the time Professor Ravi Gupta, of the Cambridge Institute for Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, told HuffPost UK: “The problem is a few events could lead to significant clusters of cases and we’re not sure how many it would take to lead to something to could get out of control.”
It’s now clear one of these events was a mutation of the virus but again, this was entirely predictable – there have already been mutations of the virus that have led a more virulent strain emerging.
As far back as July it was found there were two strains of the disease, the so-called Wuhan and Italian strains.
Yet despite all the warning signs, Johnson has spent the last nine months peddling a rosy future in which Christmas was more than a distinct possibility.
March
While he didn’t mention Christmas specifically, way back in March Johnson struck an optimistic tone, telling a Downing Street press conference he is “absolutely confident that we can send coronavirus packing in this country”.
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His timeframe? 12 weeks.
At a time when vaccines were still in heir infancy, the crucial tool in the fight against the pandemic in the early days was a viable test and trace system.
The government said there’s would be “world-beating”. It wasn’t and, nine months and billions of pounds later, still isn’t.
WPA Pool via Getty Images
Professor Deenan Pillay, virologist at University College London and member of the Independent SAGE committee, told HuffPost UK on October that the government’s early efforts were “completely wasted time” and “woefully inadequate”.
He said: “Test and trace is most effective when there are lower levels of infection in the community, so you can monitor what’s going on and make sure that you keep a lid on infection.
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“It’s a real shame. The optimal way to use the benefits of the previous lockdown was to make sure that [the system] was in such a good place that we would be able to identify new infections very quickly.
“Now, of course, we’ve lost that time. We’re failing to really deal with the virus primarily through the lack of a functional test and trace.”
June/July
As the first lockdown was eased through June and into July and Johnson’s original 12-week plan expired, he continued to take an optimistic tone and talked of getting back “to something closer to normal life”.
“Even as we plan for the worst, I strongly believe we should also hope for the best,” he said.
“That means looking ahead with optimism – now extending our plan to lift the remaining national measures which have restricted our lives since March so we can get back to something closer to normal life.”
TOLGA AKMEN via Getty Images
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And it was on July 17 that Johnson first mentioned Christmas as he unveiled the next stage of a coronavirus recovery plan.
“It is my strong and sincere hope that we will be able to review the outstanding restrictions and allow a more significant return to normality from November, at the earliest, possibly in time for Christmas.”
The comments were distinctly at odds with much of the scientific community which was, as mentioned above, discussing the prospect of a second wave likely to begin in the Autumn.
September
Remember Operation Moonshot? That was Johnson’s hugely ambitious mass-testing plan that the PM said would allow us “to get some aspects of our lives back to normal by Christmas”.
It was then revealed it would cost a staggering £100 billion and lead to 400,000 people unnecessarily self-isolating during the holiday period.
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Johnson has not mentioned Operation Moonshot since experts warned it would “fail miserably”.
October/November
In autumn, signs of the second wave began to emerge and a four-week national lockdown for England was announced at the end of October, coming into effect on November 5.
Despite this, Johnson kept the hopes of Christmas alive but acknowledged it was “going to be different this year, very different”
He added: “But it is my sincere hope and belief that by taking tough action now, we can allow families across the country to be together.
“Tis the season to be jolly, but tis also the season to be jolly careful.”
Dan Kitwood via Getty Images
This aspiration of “as normal a Christmas as possible” was mentioned on the day Lockdown 2 came into force, while days later and following promising test results from the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, he spoke of the “distant bugle of the scientific cavalry coming over the brow of the hill”.
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December
Earlier this month it was announced three different households would be able to mix from December 23 to December 28 and overnight stays would be allowed as part of the festive changes.
Just last week, Johnson said a “smaller Christmas is going to be a safer Christmas” and also suggested people should cut short their celebrations rather than enjoy the maximum permitted five days in a festive bubble.
It would be “inhuman” to ban Christmas, he added, but there had probably not been similar curbs “since Cromwell’s time”.
He added: “With the vaccine, and all the other measures that we are taking, we do know things will be better in this country by Easter and I’m sure that next year Christmas will be as normal for every family in the country.”
At the same time a number of leading scientists were speaking out against plans. Professor Stephen Reicher, of the University of St Andrews, said: “Right now we are heading towards disaster.”
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David Nabarro, a World Health Organisation (WHO) special envoy working on Covid-19, said the price of such a relaxation “could well be very high”.
Last week
As recently as last week, Johnson was suggesting people could have “a merry little Christmas”, with the proviso: “And I’m afraid this year I do mean little”.
He said it would be “inhuman” to ban Christmas entirely and confirmed the festive bubble policy allowing households to mix would remain in place despite warnings it will lead to more deaths.
Yet two weeks ago, scientists had advised the government that Christmas relaxation rules would hit the elderly worst.
In a set of documents released on Friday, the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) said on December 2 that modelling studies suggest there may be a higher proportion of cases in older and more vulnerable age groups during the festive period, which could lead to an increase in hospital admissions.
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Saturday
Yesterday, Boris Johnson effectively cancelled Christmas for millions of people in England as he announced strict coronavirus restrictions, with London, the South-East and East placed under a new tier 4.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-20--Gemma Collins Leaves Carol Vorderman Stunned With Her Attempts At Matchmaking On The Wheel

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The last few Saturday nights we’ve been watching Michael McIntyre’s celeb-heavy new game show The Wheel after Strictly Come Dancing, and thinking the same thing to ourselves each week.
“Surely Gemma Collins is going to be involved in this at some point”.
Well, we’re happy to report that The GC finally put in an appearance in Saturday night’s edition of The Wheel. And, as ever, she delivered.
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Our favourite moment from her episode came when she and contestant Sean were given a question about baking, which he said he knew the answer to because of the Great British Bake Off.
Gemma Collins on The Wheel BBC
“Well I’m pleased you watched,” Gemma told him. “It’s just, I just can’t take my eyes off Paul Hollywood.”
Apparently fancying herself as something of a matchmaker, The GC then turned to fellow celebrity guest Carol Vorderman and told her: “Carol, he’d be one for you, him. You’d make a nice couple.”
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Carol Vorderman was less than impressed with the GC's suggestion BBC
“No!” the former Countdown star protested, insisting the Bake Off judge was actually “far too old” for her.
Yes, that would be the same Paul Hollywood that is, in fact, five years her junior.
Iconic, tbh.
Paul Hollywood Mark Bourdillion via Getty Images
Gemma’s admissions about her famous crushes didn’t stop there, though, with the reality TV queen later confessing: “Aside from fancying José Mourinho I don’t know nothing about football.”
The Wheel made its debut last month, and sees a panel of celebrity experts trying to win money for members of the public by helping them answer questions about subjects close to each of their hearts.
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So far, the show has featured The GC on Essex, Mel B on the Spice Girls, Alison Hammond on television and Katherine Ryan on the Kardashian family.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-20--Bill Bailey And Oti Mabuse Share Emotional Video Message After Strictly Win

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Bill Bailey and Oti Mabuse have shared an emotional video message recorded just moments after they were announced as this year’s Strictly Come Dancing winners.
The pair triumphed in Saturday night’s live final, and thanked the public for their support in a short clip posted on Strictly’s official Twitter page.
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With both stars appearing teary-eyed and holding the glitterball trophy, the comedian said: “We cannot express in words what this means to us both. To everyone that voted for us, everyone that supported us, any message of support that we received… thank you from the bottom of our hearts. It means the world to us both.”
“It does,” Oti agreed. “And thank you to everyone that supported the show, it means the world to us.
“This show is everything to us, and it gave us hope. And you guys watching and supporting and voting for everyone means a lot.”
Bill and Oti want to thank all of you that supported and voted for them, and thank to you to everybody who watched with us this year. 💖 #StrictlyFinal @BillBailey @OtiMabuse pic.twitter.com/ozoxN4an97 — BBC Strictly ✨ (@bbcstrictly) December 19, 2020
While throughout the series it’s the public vote and judges’ scores that determine who stays and who goes, things are a little different in the Strictly final, as it’s viewers alone who decide who is awarded the glitterball trophy.
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This year’s final saw Bill coming out on top ahead of pop singer HRVY, EastEnders star Maisie Smith and reality TV personality Jamie Laing.
Oti Mabuse and Bill Bailey after winning Strictly BBC/Guy Levy
After being announced as the winner, Bill said: “I never thought we’d get this far, I never thought we’d get to the final.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-20--Strictly Come Dancing Viewers Thrilled As Nicola Adams And Katya Jones Return For One Last Dance

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Strictly Come Dancing viewers were over the moon to see Nicola Adams and Katya Jones return to the dance floor during this year’s live final.
Nicola and Katya made history in 2020, as the first same-sex pairing to ever compete in the BBC reality show.
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However, their time on Strictly was sadly cut short when Katya contracted Covid-19, meaning the duo had to bow out of the series early.
While the BBC has said that the pair would not be given an opportunity to return and compete in next year’s series, they were able to perform together one last time during the live final.
Nicola Adams and Katya Jones during the Strictly final BBC / Guy Levy
Rather than reprising one of their old routines, Nicola and Katya performed a new dance, set to Muse’s cover of Feeling Good, first made famous by Nina Simone.
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And it’s safe to say viewers were over the moon to see the two women back in the Strictly ballroom for one last performance…
Awww I’m so happy Nicola and Katya got to have their final dance man. 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 what a beautiful final touch to this show #StrictlyFinal — al (@alexotalks) December 19, 2020
Thought that was #Katya & #Nicola's best dance, actually. The chemistry was blazing. Great song too. So glad they let them do that. #StrictlyFinal — Alice Stainer (@AliceStainer) December 19, 2020
THIS IS WHAT I WANTED ALL SERIES LONG HELLO (i also did love their other dances) but omfg nicola and katya thank you for this pic.twitter.com/jz51Q2CaCo — ludolf 🦌 (@callumthighway) December 19, 2020
Wow, Nicola and Katya were fab! Glad to see them back on the dancefloor. #StrictlyFinal #scd #strictly — Toni McDonald (@toniearlybird) December 19, 2020
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So happy to see Nicola and Katya back dancing. I got goosebumps watching them 🥰 #StrictlyFinal — Caroline Day (@Caroline_Day) December 19, 2020
Katya and Nicola!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥
It was so amazing to see a same-sex couple this year. And I'm so glad they had their opportunity to perform again! #StrictlyFinal #Strictly — A Partridge in a Paige Tree📚🎄 (@pseveruscarter) December 19, 2020
THIS MAKES ME SO HAPPY! YES Nicola and Katya! This routine is gooorge 🔥🔥🔥 #StrictlyFinal — Sabrina Barr (@fabsab5) December 19, 2020
Great to see you both dancing on tonight's #StrictlyFinal, you looked amazing and now let's hope you have paved the way for more same sex couples to dance together on one of the greatest shows on TV. Go Nicola and Katya...respect! 🥰 — Jenny Fawcett-Gray (@FawcettGray14) December 19, 2020
Nicola and Katya finally got to do their big sexy dance in frame,,, maybe I'm crying, — Cait (@caitf18) December 19, 2020
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Watching Strictly on catch-up (what numpty moved it forward to run over baby bedtime?!)
OMG Nicola and Katya made me cry (we’re all fragile today, right?) — Antonia Bance (@antoniabance) December 19, 2020
So lovely to see Nicola and Katya back on the Dance Floor. Showing us what might have been. Just ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT. Well done to you both💖💖💖💖💖👏👏👏👏👏🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 — Darren Brady (@DarrenB14792865) December 19, 2020
Best #StrictlyComeDancing final ever!
All the finalists brought their A game, what a night.
Congratulations @BillBailey and Oti.
And what a dance by Nicola and Katya! — Wendy Emsen (@Wendxii) December 19, 2020
Recalling the moment she was told she had to leave the competition during a recent interview with Mel B for the Guardian, Nicola said: “Every Saturday, everybody gets tested [for Covid]. But the test results don’t come through till the Tuesday.
“So we were ready to start the new week, we were so excited. Then on the Tuesday we got the test back and Katya tested positive. I just couldn’t believe it. Katya was in tears, and that was it. We had to isolate.”
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During the same interview, Nicola also spoke of how she’d previously turned down the offer to appear on Strictly as she didn’t want to dance with a man.
Nicola and Katya in their Strictly publicity photo BBC
“I’d been asked to do it since 2012 and I’ve always said no, because I don’t like wearing dresses and I didn’t want to dance with a man,” she explained.
“This year, I was supposed to go to Tokyo for the Olympics to do some commentary, then some presenting for the boxing. That didn’t happen and Strictly got in touch again.
“I was like, ‘You know what? I’ll do it. But I’m not wearing a dress, and I want to dance with another woman’.
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“And on the call they asked me three times, ‘Are you sure you won’t dance with a man?’ And I said no, either I do it this way or I don’t want to do the show at all. It took a couple of weeks. But they came back, and they said, ‘Yeah, we’re going to do it. We’re going to support you the whole way’. I never saw two women dancing on TV growing up, so I never thought that would happen.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-20--Matt Hancock Suggests Tier 4 Restrictions Could Last Until Vaccine Rollout Takes Effect

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Matt Hancock has suggested Tier 4 coronavirus restrictions could last for “the next couple of months” until the vaccine rollout becomes effective.
Speaking to Sky News on Sunday morning, the health secretary was asked how long the new rules would be in place.
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He said: “We have really got to get this under control. The cases in the Tier 4 areas have absolutely rocketed in the last few days – the last two weeks or so. We have got a long way to go to solve this
“Essentially we have got to get that vaccine rolled out to keep people safe. Given how much faster this new variant spreads it is going to be very difficult to keep it under control until we have the vaccine rolled out.”
Ministers and scientists have previously said they hope the rollout of a vaccine and improved testing availability will help life return to something closer to normal in the spring.
The rollout of the vaccine will be a huge logistical undertaking and it could take several months to get those priority groups fully vaccinated.
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“There’s no way we’re going to achieve that before spring,” says Professor Linda Bauld, a public health expert at the University of Edinburgh told HuffPost UK earlier this month.
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It comes amid fears a new variant of Covid-19 is spreading more rapidly across parts of the country.
Dr Susan Hopkins, of Public Health England, said that while many regions had cases of the new strain, these were in much smaller numbers than in London, Kent and parts of Essex.
She told Sky’s Sophy Ridge On Sunday: “It has been detected in many other parts of the country. Every region has cases but with very small numbers.
“It has also been detected in Wales, in Scotland, we have not had any detected in Northern Ireland.”
Hancock said: “What is really important is that people not only follow them (the new rules) but everybody in a Tier 4 area acts as if you have the virus to stop spreading it to other people.
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“We know with this new variant you can catch it more easily from a small amount of the virus being present.
“It is an enormous challenge, until we can get the vaccine rolled out to protect people. This is what we face over the next couple of months.” She added that there was no evidence that the new variant of coronavirus was causing a disproportionate number of hospital admissions.
On Saturday Boris Johnson announced strict coronavirus restrictions for England over Christmas, with London, the South-East and East also placed under a new tier 4.
Under the new tier 4 rules, which came into force on Sunday, people have been ordered to stay at home by law and non-essential retail will shut.
In tier 4 areas, one person is allowed to meet one other person not in their household and it must be outside. Travel is be banned into and out of tier 4 areas.
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The new rules will be reviewed after two weeks.
Tier 4 restrictions apply in all previous tier 3 areas in the South-East, covering Kent, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Surrey (excluding Waverley), Gosport, Havant, Portsmouth, Rother and Hastings.
It also applies in London (all 32 boroughs and the City of London) and the East of England (Bedford, Central Bedford, Milton Keynes, Luton, Peterborough, Hertfordshire, Essex (excluding Colchester, Uttlesford and Tendring).
In the rest of England, Christmas easing has been severely curtailed, with households allowed to gather for just one day – Christmas Day itself – rather than the five days previously planned.
Scotland and Wales are also restricting Christmas “bubbles” to a single day, while people in Northern Ireland have been asked to consider forming a bubble for Christmas Day only.
Wales has also mirrored the Tier 4 restrictions in England by bringing forward Alert Level 4 measures to Sunday, while Scotland has said its travel ban with the rest of the UK will now remain in place right throughout the festive period.
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The new regulations creating a Tier 4 in England came into force at 7am on Sunday and will be laid before Parliament, which is in recess, on Monday.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-20--Strictly Come Dancing Judge Motsi Mabuse's Proud Tears For Sister Oti Had Viewers Crying Along At Ho

Strictly Come Dancing Judge Motsi Mabuse's Proud Tears For Sister Oti Had Viewers Crying Along At Home

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We have to be honest, our emotions were already pretty near the surface during this year’s Strictly Come Dancing, and there were a fair few teary moments for us throughout the live show.
There was eventual winner Bill Bailey’s explanation of how his performance was a tribute to the arts, which have been badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. There was Claudia Winkleman’s heartfelt speech about the crew who made this year’s series such a success. There was the return of Nicola Adams to the dance floor, after having to bow out of the series early when dance partner Katya Jones contracted coronavirus.
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Oh, and of course, there was the fact the whole thing aired just hours after this bleak address from Boris Johnson.
What really sent us over the edge, though, was seeing Strictly judge Motsi Mabuse’s tears of pride after her sister Oti was crowned this year’s winner by viewers.
There were plenty of tears during this year's Strictly final BBC
As Bill and Oti celebrated their Strictly victory and paid tribute to one another, the camera briefly panned to Motsi, who had been moved to tears by her sister’s win.
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It’s fair to say the moment gave Strictly viewers the feels as well...
seeing how proud motsi is of oti 🤚🏽 i cant handle this i love them so much 💗 #strictlycomedancing #strictly pic.twitter.com/oOMa1wHcN9 — s (@kamswiIIiams) December 19, 2020
That cut to Motsi crying has finished me off 😢 — Katie Rosseinsky (@Katierosseinsky) December 19, 2020
💜💜💜I’m crying like Motsi and the winner isn’t even my sister 💜💜💜 — Tom Thorogood (@TomThorogood) December 19, 2020
It’s the pride Motsi has for her sister Oti for me. Omg 🥺🥺🥺 https://t.co/xGePmMLwco — Tobí Rachel (@TobiRachel_) December 19, 2020
Also Motsi crying in happiness for her sister just a LOT Y’KNOW — Hannah (@hahahanners) December 19, 2020
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MOTSI'S CRYING! IT'S TOO MUCH!!!! I DON'T WANT THIS SHOW TO END! MY GOD, i've cried for what seems like hours! What a triumph. CONGRATS and thanks to everyone involved in @bbcstrictly #Strictly #BillandOti — Sharon Hanley (@sharonlhanley) December 19, 2020
Was holding it together then they showed Motsi crying!!!! 😭😭😭 #Strictly pic.twitter.com/h9a044rI4I — Richard Keeling (@KeelingRichard) December 19, 2020
Motsi crying tears of joy for her sis is melting my heart 🥺 — t (@theresa_hxn) December 19, 2020
@OtiMabuse is a fantastic teacher and it shows👏🏾👏🏾 Motsi crying for her siss winning two years in a row🥺❤ #StrictlyFinal pic.twitter.com/yKOC5WJmIB — Henjoymenttt (@Ghanaian_Queen) December 19, 2020
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Motsi crying at the strictly final is my whole mood right now. Gosh I love her. pic.twitter.com/jwzh0zXCU0 — anja madhvani (@anja_madhvani) December 19, 2020
Just caught up on #Strictly final. It was joyous! Bill went on an amazing journey & is a deserving winner. Oti is an amazing dancer & teacher but what broke me was Motsi's look of absolute pride & her tears watching her little sister win! 😭 👏 #StrictlyComeDancing #Strictly2020 — MissPagetEnglish (@MissPaget) December 19, 2020
It was so nice to see Oti's sister Motsi .. crying with pride as @BillBailey and @OtiMabuse won the Strictly Ball! .... Well done Oti and Bill ❤💃🕺❤💃🕺❤💃🕺❤💃🕺❤💃🕺❤ — Lisa (@Lisa39504384) December 19, 2020
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Motsi crying tears of happiness at the end of #Strictly is too much! — Louise Robertson (@LouiseRob54) December 19, 2020
While throughout the series it’s the public vote and judges’ scores that determine who stays and who goes, things are a little different in the final, as it’s viewers alone who decide who is awarded the glitterball trophy.
After being chosen as this year’s winner, Bill admitted: “I never thought we’d get this far, I never thought we’d get to the final.
“I have the most extraordinary teacher, the most extraordinary dance partner, someone who believed in me right from the beginning, and she found something in me, that turned me into this, turned me into a dance, thank you Oti. Thank you so much.”
In a year like 2020, Bill and Oti's #Strictly win is so special for so many reasons. Huge congrats @BillBailey and to @OtiMabuse for your second Glitterball trophy in a row! 👏🤩 #StrictlyFinal pic.twitter.com/gHPCQtqOe7 — BBC Strictly ✨ (@bbcstrictly) December 19, 2020
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Oti’s win is a particularly special one, as it marked the first time a Strictly professional has won the show two years in a row.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-20--Chaos As Hundreds Ignore Scientists And Flee London Ahead Of Tier 4 Coronavirus Restrictions

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JUST IN: Matt Hancock Suggests Tier 4 Restrictions Could Last Until Vaccine Rollout Takes Effect
Hundreds of people packed onto trains out of London last night as they attempted to flee the capital ahead of Tier 4 coronavirus restrictions being imposed from Sunday morning.
Travellers were told that social distancing “will not be possible” due to the volume of people on board, and those that felt “uncomfortable” should not stay on the train.
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It came after Boris Johnson made the shock announcement that large parts of eastern and south-east England, including London, would be placed under Tier 4 restrictions.
England’s chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty was asked at Saturday’s press conference what anyone who had already packed a bag ahead of heading out of the capital for Christmas should do.
He said: “My short answer would be ‘please unpack it’.”
Yet by 7pm on Saturday evening, there were no spaces on trains available online from several London stations including Paddington, Kings Cross and Euston, PA Media reports.
"England’s chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty said people considering leaving Tier 4 areas now should unpack their bag and stay at home."
Tier 4 Londoners in St Pancras right now: pic.twitter.com/tOQ39RT4ei — Sean Spooner (@spoonersean) December 19, 2020
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Footage online showed large crowds at St Pancras station waiting to board trains to Leeds.
Harriet Clugston said that people on board the trains had attempted to secure space for themselves, but that there was not enough room to do so.
“As expected, train is crammed,” she wrote on Twitter.
“Announcement on Tannoy says social distancing ‘will not be possible’ due to volume and to get off if you are not comfortable with that.
“People have tried to secure social distance by placing on seats but being asked to remove them by other passengers as the train is so full.”
Train delayed because of overcrowding. Social distancing not possible so wear a mask at all times is the message. pic.twitter.com/MQwjmfaYVt — Harriet Clugston (@HarrietClugston) December 19, 2020
Another woman, who did not wish to be named, said she and her partner had made the “split decision” to take their young son to her parents’ home on the coast.
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“We just made the decision to leave based on the fact that my parents said come, and we couldn’t bear the thought of no fresh air and a toddler going rogue round a small flat for the foreseeable,” she told the PA new agency.
“We also really just felt we wanted to get the baby somewhere a bit safer with a garden, though we know a lot of people won’t have that luxury.”
She added: “The grandparents are just desperately happy they’ll see their grandson.
“We obviously worry about taking something down to them, but they seem happy to take the risk.”
Izzy, 22, from Bristol, said that she wanted “the security of being home for Christmas” and that her parents had come to collect her before the restrictions came into effect.
“I have a slight nervousness that they might block the roads or something stopping me going home,” she said.
“I’m moving out of my flat so I need my dad to come and get me and he feels more comfortable doing it before Tier 4 kicks in.”
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Asked about the scenes, London mayor Sadiq Khan told BBC Breakfast on Sunday morning: “What you saw yesterday was a direct consequence of the chaotic way the announcement was made.
“I understand why people want to return to see their mums, dads, elderly relations, but I think it’s wrong.
“Let me tell you why I think it’s a mistake either going yesterday or thinking about going today. Yesterday, technically speaking, you may not have been breaking the rules but you may well have the virus and not realise you have got the virus.
“You may be taking that virus with you from London to your mum, dad, elderly relations.