inews--2020-04-28--The Village, ITV, review: Series charts a year in Portmeirion and the collection of beautifully musi

The Village, ITV, review: Series charts a year in Portmeirion and the collection of beautifully musical Welsh accents lend it a hypnotic aura

The Village , ITV , review : Series charts a year in Portmeirion and the collection of beautifully musical Welsh accents lend it a hypnotic aura Everybody has an almost mystical devotion to the place A new series , The Village , will chart a year in Portmeirion , and the opening episode was like following the postman round the houses ( Photo : ITV ) Although it resembles an opium dream of doll ’ s houses and fairy-tale landscapes , Portmeirion – an Italianate village created in north Wales by architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis on the River Dwyryd estuary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its hotels and self-catering cottages , it functions well as a holiday destination .
A new series , The Village , will chart a year in Portmeirion , and the opening episode was like following the postman round the houses , being introduced to the locals .
Painter and decorator Martin has lived there for 42 years and is permanently employed , keeping every building looking identical to the way Sir Clough designed it .
Delyth the wedding planner hand-holds her happy couples with obsessive attention to detail , while Gwynnedd is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gwynnedd ’ s here , things get done , ” said the venerable Nigel , the local artist who restores the murals originally created by German artist Hans Feibusch .
Everybody has an almost mystical devotion to the place , and the collection of beautifully musical Welsh accents helped to lend the programme a hypnotic aura , as if the viewer were being gently absorbed into the village ’ s mysterious ambience .
With its 70 acres of woodland and its subtropical microclimate , where exotic shrubs will grow like nowhere else in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Scenes of cavorting Morris dancers , and a Bollywood film crew shooting a video in the street , enhanced its feeling of otherness .

The Village, ITV, 8pm ★★★★
Although it resembles an opium dream of doll’s houses and fairy-tale landscapes, Portmeirion – an Italianate village created in north Wales by architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis on the River Dwyryd estuary – has proved remarkably sturdy. With its hotels and self-catering cottages, it functions well as a holiday destination.
A new series, The Village, will chart a year in Portmeirion, and the opening episode was like following the postman round the houses, being introduced to the locals.
Painter and decorator Martin has lived there for 42 years and is permanently employed, keeping every building looking identical to the way Sir Clough designed it.
Delyth the wedding planner hand-holds her happy couples with obsessive attention to detail, while Gwynnedd is the gardens and maintenance supremo.
“Now Gwynnedd’s here, things get done,” said the venerable Nigel, the local artist who restores the murals originally created by German artist Hans Feibusch.
Everybody has an almost mystical devotion to the place, and the collection of beautifully musical Welsh accents helped to lend the programme a hypnotic aura, as if the viewer were being gently absorbed into the village’s mysterious ambience.
With its 70 acres of woodland and its subtropical microclimate, where exotic shrubs will grow like nowhere else in Wales, Portmeirion is delightful yet disturbing. Scenes of cavorting Morris dancers, and a Bollywood film crew shooting a video in the street, enhanced its feeling of otherness.
THEARTSDESK.COM


inews--2020-04-28--John Torode: MasterChef host keeps calm and carries on after kitchen blaze on This Morning

John Torode : MasterChef host keeps calm and carries on after kitchen blaze on This Morning The presenter was showing Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield how to make McDonald ’ s breakfast McMuffins from his home The television chef and restaurateur John Torode cooked up a storm on ITV ’ s This Morning show on Tuesday when his live segment was interrupted by a fire in his kitchen .
The presenter of BBC ’ s MasterChef was teaching Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield how to make breakfast McMuffins from his home when a tea towel burst into flames on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heard shouting : `` John , your tea towel is on fire !
Turn around !
Turn around ! ''
as Schofield shouted : `` Behind you !
Cooker !
Behind you , John !
You 're on fire !
Fire , John ! ''
The presenter of BBC ’ s MasterChef was teaching Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield how to make breakfast McMuffins ( Photo : ITV/This Morning ) Unflustered , he said `` I will just open the back door ” before returning to his cooking demonstration.A shocked Willoughby said : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sink .
Are you OK ?
No sooner had he returned to his eggs and bacon than the smoke detector went off in his house .
As the 54-year-old disappeared to deal with the latest distraction , the This Morning hosts descended into fits of giggles with Schofield adding : `` Oh my god , I love this show so much . ''
Masterchef presenter had been teaching Phillip Schofield and Holy Willoughby how to make breakfast muffins live from home ( Photo : ITV/This Morning ) Filming for This Morning last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the chef ’ s crab linguine demonstration was interrupted by a helicopter landing right next to him in the same field .

The television chef and restaurateur John Torode cooked up a storm on ITV’s This Morning show on Tuesday when his live segment was interrupted by a fire in his kitchen.
The presenter of BBC’s MasterChef was teaching Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield how to make breakfast McMuffins from his home when a tea towel burst into flames on the stove behind him.
The Australian chef was alerted to the blaze by both presenters.
Willoughby could be heard shouting: “John, your tea towel is on fire! Turn around! Turn around!” as Schofield shouted: “Behind you! Cooker! Behind you, John! You’re on fire! Fire, John!”
Hot and bothered
Cool as a cucumber Torode picked up the tea towel, engulfed in flames, deposited it in his kitchen sink and ran the tap.
Unflustered, he said “I will just open the back door” before returning to his cooking demonstration.
A shocked Willoughby said: ‘You put it out very calmly in the sink. Are you OK?
No sooner had he returned to his eggs and bacon than the smoke detector went off in his house.
As the 54-year-old disappeared to deal with the latest distraction, the This Morning hosts descended into fits of giggles with Schofield adding: “Oh my god, I love this show so much.”
Kitchen sink drama
The events prompted a string of social media posts including one from Springbourne Fire Station in Dorset which tweeted: “Just watching This Morning with John Torode. Please don’t leave tea towels on your hob.
“Accidents can happen to anyone, including professional chefs. His smoke detector did go off which shows the importance of working smoke alarms.”
Last summer, the former owner of restaurant Smiths of Smithfield had to deal with another unexpected event during a live television cooking session.
Filming for This Morning last summer on Chesil Beach in Dorset, the chef’s crab linguine demonstration was interrupted by a helicopter landing right next to him in the same field.
He stopped briefly to ensure the boiling pot of pasta remained on the stove before calmly returning to chop his shallots.
Which goes to show that he is a chef who can stand the heat both in and out of the kitchen.


inews--2020-04-28--Priti Patel 'cleared of bullying allegations against staff'

Priti Patel has been cleared of bullying civil servants following an official Cabinet Office investigation , it has emerged .
The Home Secretary was accused of bullying staff in several Whitehall departments , but an internal review is understood to have found “ no evidence ” of misconduct .
According to the Daily Telegraph , the investigation carried out by the Cabinet Secretary , Sir Mark Sedwill , was completed in the last week and was handed to Boris Johnson on Monday when he returned to work .
Allegations centred around her ministerial posts in the Department of Work and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the Home Office .
A source told the paper : “ They have looked at all the claims and found nothing .
They trawled through lots of material but found no evidence.
” The news comes just days after Sir Philip Rutnam , a former permanent secretary at the Home Office , said he had begun formal legal proceedings after he accused Ms Patel of bullying and launched a claim for constructive dismissal .
He alleged that the Home Secretary waged a “ vicious and orchestrated ” briefing campaign against him .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a senior civil servant at the Home Office , the official collapsed having worked throughout the night and needed hospital treatment .
However , the Prime Minister has repeatedly stated his support for Ms Patel in the face of the allegations .
At the height of the scandal , Mr Johnson told MPs : “ The Home Secretary is doing an outstanding job - delivering change , putting police on the streets , cutting crime and delivering a new immigration system - and I 'm sticking by her.
” Sir Mark told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between the Home Secretary and Sir Philip was “ very regrettable ” .
The Prime Minister later commissioned an investigation to `` establish the facts '' after the highly public resignation of Sir Philip .

Priti Patel has been cleared of bullying civil servants following an official Cabinet Office investigation, it has emerged.
The Home Secretary was accused of bullying staff in several Whitehall departments, but an internal review is understood to have found “no evidence” of misconduct.
According to the Daily Telegraph, the investigation carried out by the Cabinet Secretary, Sir Mark Sedwill, was completed in the last week and was handed to Boris Johnson on Monday when he returned to work.
No evidence
Allegations centred around her ministerial posts in the Department of Work and Pensions, the Department for International Development and the Home Office.
A source told the paper: “They have looked at all the claims and found nothing. They trawled through lots of material but found no evidence.”
The news comes just days after Sir Philip Rutnam, a former permanent secretary at the Home Office, said he had begun formal legal proceedings after he accused Ms Patel of bullying and launched a claim for constructive dismissal.
He alleged that the Home Secretary waged a “vicious and orchestrated” briefing campaign against him.
During a heated exchange between Ms Patel and a senior civil servant at the Home Office, the official collapsed having worked throughout the night and needed hospital treatment.
PM’s support
However, the Prime Minister has repeatedly stated his support for Ms Patel in the face of the allegations.
At the height of the scandal, Mr Johnson told MPs: “The Home Secretary is doing an outstanding job – delivering change, putting police on the streets, cutting crime and delivering a new immigration system – and I’m sticking by her.”
Sir Mark told MPs at the time that the clash between the Home Secretary and Sir Philip was “very regrettable”.
The Prime Minister later commissioned an investigation to “establish the facts” after the highly public resignation of Sir Philip.


inews--2020-04-28--The Book of Hopes: 100 children's authors write stories for children stuck at home — and they are al

The Book of Hopes: 100 children's authors write stories for children stuck at home — and they are all free

The Book of Hopes : 100 children 's authors write stories for children stuck at home — and they are all free Katherine Rundell asked fellow children ’ s authors and illustrators to come up with life-affirming stories and The Book of Hopes was born In just the past week , I ’ ve listened to my young daughter pretend to cancel a holiday , and watched her attempt to hug the laptop from which her best friend blew kisses .
Children live so much in the moment that it is hard for them to see beyond this new life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promise that the world will be the same when all this is over .
Indeed , we can not make any promises at all .
What we can give children , though , is hope .
Hope for something better , for something curious and wonderful ; to light the great beyond .
And into this space has stepped Costa Prize-winning children ’ s author Katherine Rundell .
A few weeks ago , she wrote to me , and to more than 100 other children ’ s authors and illustrators , names as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Sophie Dahl , Axel Scheffler , Anthony Horowitz and Lauren Child , with a request : write something – anything – that will offer children hope .
“ I started the project because I found myself in urgent need of hope , and I thought a lot of people might be in a similar position , ” says Rundell .
“ And because it can be such a galvanic respite to step , just for a second , into the imagination of someone else .
One of the great joys was seeing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for something that will kick-start hope : some are about outer space and the infinite ; others , the natural world .
Some are about moments of bone-deep human love ; others are excellently revolting jokes.
” Catherine Rayner 's illustration for The Book of Hopes The stories are short , fewer than 500 words each .
As someone struggling with homeschooling , I can attest that brevity is good .
Real life is more than enough of a cliffhanger right now .
It is not just children who are finding that concentration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , author of 43 books , says : “ I ’ ve found it almost impossible to do any useful work .
It ’ s that sense of us all hanging around , the universal loose-endedness .
This project has been a godsend.
” Piers Torday , whose award-winning work includes The Last Wild and The Lost Magician , agrees .
“ I have found it very hard to write during the crisis – to focus , essentially , ” he says .
“ But writing this story for Katherine was a joy.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his writing , is about nature .
“ I wrote about the hare .
They are splendid creatures , and the heroes of my next book , but crucially , they have long been associated with renewal .
Life continues .
The natural world carries on as it always has .
It will still be there when we emerge.
” Katherine Webber Tsang and her husband Kevin Tsang , the creative couple behind the bestselling Sam Wu series , wrote their story together .
Webber Tsang says : “ We have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us pretty busy in lockdown .
I think she probably subconsciously inspired our story about a baby dragon flying for the first time , as she ’ s just started taking her first steps.
” Catherine Doyle , author of the Blood for Blood trilogy , says : “ I ’ ve been struck , in particular , by the distance the pandemic has created between grandparents and their grandchildren .
I wanted to shine a beam of hope on this special bond , so I wrote about a whimsical grandmother who may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certainly with her grandchildren in spirit.
” The Book of Hopes , compiled by Katherine Rundell , is free to download Hope is not without complication .
As I found when I wrote my own story ( below ) , it can be painful , especially when twined with love .
But it is sustaining the ability to look past the here and now and into whatever comes next.As Rundell says : “ There are hard , strange days ahead : stories alone won ’ t be enough , but we will need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than ever .
I hope so much that children might find the collection a place to go and hunt for hope , and come away with their pockets full.
” Sila liked running and climbing and examining the grazes on her knees .
Which was why , when the people came to her village , she did not like the look of Yasmin .
Although she had been walking for many miles , Yasmin was perfectly neat and noticeably tidy .
Unlike Sila .
It had been a four-scab day and Sila was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ share her bed with someone who tossed and turned .
“ Try remembering something nice , ” said Sila .
“ That ’ s what I do when I can ’ t sleep.
” Then , when Yasmin went quiet , she couldn ’ t help but ask : “ What are you thinking of ?
” Only , when she woke , Yasmin had gone .
It was then that Sila knew she would never see Yasmin again .
And that she would never stop looking , even when she found grey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were done .
Sila was sitting in a sunny café .
She told herself she was resting her legs , which hurt more with every winter that passed , but really , she was watching , as she always did , in case she saw a woman with noticeably neat clothes , drinking iced coffee .
Like the woman who had taken the seat at her side .
One lump , two lumps .
Three , four .
Five .
Hope is a dragon .
It can sleep for thirty years .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roar .
Which was why Sila ’ s voice shook when she said : “ During the war ... there were refugees ... and a family stayed in our house .
It was just one night .
And I– ” But the woman had put down her cup and walked away .
How stupid , to think that Yasmin would remember !
Or maybe this wasn ’ t Yasmin at all .
Perhaps there no longer was a Yasmin .
So many people never made it back to this smart , new city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and glass .

In just the past week, I’ve listened to my young daughter pretend to cancel a holiday, and watched her attempt to hug the laptop from which her best friend blew kisses. Children live so much in the moment that it is hard for them to see beyond this new life of isolation. And we cannot promise that the world will be the same when all this is over. Indeed, we cannot make any promises at all.
What we can give children, though, is hope. Hope for something better, for something curious and wonderful; to light the great beyond. And into this space has stepped Costa Prize-winning children’s author Katherine Rundell. A few weeks ago, she wrote to me, and to more than 100 other children’s authors and illustrators, names as illustrious as Michael Morpurgo, Mark Haddon, Sophie Dahl, Axel Scheffler, Anthony Horowitz and Lauren Child, with a request: write something – anything – that will offer children hope.
The resulting collection of stories, poems and illustrations has just been made available online, hosted by the Literacy Trust. It is called The Book of Hopes, and you can download it as a PDF, for free.
“I started the project because I found myself in urgent need of hope, and I thought a lot of people might be in a similar position,” says Rundell. “And because it can be such a galvanic respite to step, just for a second, into the imagination of someone else. One of the great joys was seeing what people produce when you ask them for something that will kick-start hope: some are about outer space and the infinite; others, the natural world. Some are about moments of bone-deep human love; others are excellently revolting jokes.”
The stories are short, fewer than 500 words each. As someone struggling with homeschooling, I can attest that brevity is good. Real life is more than enough of a cliffhanger right now. It is not just children who are finding that concentration is in short supply. Anthony McGowan, author of 43 books, says: “I’ve found it almost impossible to do any useful work. It’s that sense of us all hanging around, the universal loose-endedness. This project has been a godsend.”
Piers Torday, whose award-winning work includes The Last Wild and The Lost Magician, agrees. “I have found it very hard to write during the crisis – to focus, essentially,” he says. “But writing this story for Katherine was a joy.” His contribution, like so much of his writing, is about nature. “I wrote about the hare. They are splendid creatures, and the heroes of my next book, but crucially, they have long been associated with renewal. Life continues. The natural world carries on as it always has. It will still be there when we emerge.”
Katherine Webber Tsang and her husband Kevin Tsang, the creative couple behind the bestselling Sam Wu series, wrote their story together. Webber Tsang says: “We have a very active one-year-old daughter, who keeps us pretty busy in lockdown. I think she probably subconsciously inspired our story about a baby dragon flying for the first time, as she’s just started taking her first steps.”
Catherine Doyle, author of the Blood for Blood trilogy, says: “I’ve been struck, in particular, by the distance the pandemic has created between grandparents and their grandchildren. I wanted to shine a beam of hope on this special bond, so I wrote about a whimsical grandmother who may not be close at hand but is certainly with her grandchildren in spirit.”
Hope is not without complication. As I found when I wrote my own story (below), it can be painful, especially when twined with love. But it is sustaining the ability to look past the here and now and into whatever comes next.
As Rundell says: “There are hard, strange days ahead: stories alone won’t be enough, but we will need them, quite wildly, more now than ever. I hope so much that children might find the collection a place to go and hunt for hope, and come away with their pockets full.”
Yasmin and Sila by Marianne Levy
Sila liked running and climbing and examining the grazes on her knees. Which was why, when the people came to her village, she did not like the look of Yasmin. Although she had been walking for many miles, Yasmin was perfectly neat and noticeably tidy. Unlike Sila.
It had been a four-scab day and Sila was tired. And now she had to share her bed with someone who tossed and turned. “Try remembering something nice,” said Sila. “That’s what I do when I can’t sleep.” Then, when Yasmin went quiet, she couldn’t help but ask: “What are you thinking of?”
“Sitting in a café and drinking tea in the sun.”
“But tea is so hot and slow,” said Sila.
“Iced coffee, then. But only if I can have it with sugar.”
“Five lumps is best,” said Sila.
Yasmin’s smile shone through the dark. And as they talked, it seemed to Sila that Yasmin’s words built a whole city, stone by stone; palm trees and minarets and shining squares. “The swimming pool, Sila. It’s enormous. You should see it!”
“We go swimming,” said Sila. “I’ll take you to the river tomorrow. It’s better than any pool. We swim with fish.” And snakes, she thought, but decided not to say.
“I would like that,” said Yasmin. And Sila realised that she would like it, too.
Only, when she woke, Yasmin had gone. It was then that Sila knew she would never see Yasmin again. And that she would never stop looking, even when she found grey in her hair and her climbing days were done.
* * *
Sila was sitting in a sunny café. She told herself she was resting her legs, which hurt more with every winter that passed, but really, she was watching, as she always did, in case she saw a woman with noticeably neat clothes, drinking iced coffee. Like the woman who had taken the seat at her side.
One lump, two lumps. Three, four. Five. Hope is a dragon. It can sleep for thirty years. But give it a poke and it will roar. Which was why Sila’s voice shook when she said: “During the war… there were refugees… and a family stayed in our house. It was just one night. And I–”
But the woman had put down her cup and walked away. How stupid, to think that Yasmin would remember! Or maybe this wasn’t Yasmin at all. Perhaps there no longer was a Yasmin. So many people never made it back to this smart, new city, its bullet holes hidden behind metal and glass.
Only, then, the woman returned, leading a little girl, with scruffy clothes and messy hair, whose knees were scabbing up nicely.
I’m sorry,” said the woman. “But there’s someone I wanted you to meet. This,” she said, addressing the girl, “is a dear friend of mine. And this young lady,” and now she looked up and smiled. “This is my daughter, Sila.”
The Book of Hopes is available to download now as a free PDF from the Literacy Trust’s website: literacytrust.org.uk/family-zone/9-12/book-hopes/


inews--2020-04-28--iPhone SE 2020 review: Apple’s small, cheap no-brainer

Apple ’ s latest iPhone is incredible value for money When Apple discontinued the first iPhone SE in 2018 , fans of smaller phones let out a collective howl of disbelief .
Released two years previously , the iPhone SE may have been diminutive but it was also powerful - with an extremely attractive £359 price tag .
While you ’ d be hard-pressed to ever describe an Apple product as cheap , the iPhone SE was the closest the company had come to it , and went on to sell in its millions .
Fast-forward to 2020 and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a lot more powerful than its predecessor .
Although there ’ s a good chance Apple ’ s decision to resurrect it to appease the vocal consumers who prefer smaller handsets , the absence of the more affordable , entry-level iPhone has been sorely felt in the close to three years since iPhones have been able to command upwards of £1,000 .
So what ’ s changed , and how does the iPhone SE 2020 compare to its competition ?
The most important thing to bear in mind about the iPhone SE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at people who want the fundamentally great bits of an Apple phone without the eye-watering price and features they just wo n't use .
In this respect , Apple has completely nailed all the arguably best parts of what makes an iPhone quintessentially an iPhone , coupled with an incredibly compelling price .
First up , design .
Measuring in at 4.7-inches , the new handset is marginally larger than the 2016 SE ( 4-inches ) , but still significantly smaller than the 6.1-inch iPhone 11 or the whopping 6.5-inch iPhone 11 Pro @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it comes in a choice of three glossy finishes ( black , white and red ) and doesn ’ t have a headphone jack ( bad luck to anyone hoping for a return ) .
The iPhone SE 2020 has the majority of the iPhone 11 Pro 's best bits - but costs a whole lot less ( Photo : Rhiannon Williams/i ) If that sounds familiar , it ’ s because it is .
Looking at the new device , you could be forgiven for mistaking it for an iPhone 8 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close resemblance to the iPhone 5S before it , the 2020 SE has all the physical hallmarks of 2017 ’ s iPhone 8 - complete with single rear-facing lens and TouchID home button .
This means you ’ ll have to rely on your fingerprint or passcode to unlock it , rather than FaceID facial recognition ( FR ) .
Given that more recent iPhones have done away with both the home button and just the one camera , in favour of two or even three , the new SE 's design does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The presence of the home button and lack of forward-facing FR camera means the display is bordered by thick black bezels , which invariably makes it look less sophisticated than the sleeker design consistent in the more expensive end of the iPhone line up .
The LCD screen is not as sharp or bright as the higher-end OLED displays the flagships have , but is perfectly adequate .
It ’ s a fine-looking handset , but there ’ s nothing innovative or unexpected to see here .
What about underneath the chassis ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to verify its user 's identity ( Photo : Rhiannon Williams/i ) Where the iPhone SE 2020 really starts to impress is underneath the aluminium .
It ’ s powered by an A13 Bionic chip - the same processor as the highest-specced Apple handset money can buy , the iPhone 11 Max Pro - putting it in the same relative speed camp as a phone that costs £730 more .
That same chip enables the single rear-facing camera ( 12MP ) to take bokeh-style pictures separating the subject from a blurred background , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Portrait Mode camera features as the iPhone 11 Pro Max ( which , lest we forget , has three rear cameras ) Given how much cheaper the new handset is , it makes a decent fist of producing Portrait pictures on a comparable level to the Pro models .
The Pros are better at picking out the defining edges of a person when blanking out the background in a Stage Light or High Key Mono shot , but the difference is not huge .
The SE ’ s camera is at its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subjects with warmth and detail without veering into the overly-saturated territories Samsung handsets are often dogged by .
However , it struggles to generate well-defined photos in low light ( it doesn ’ t have a Night Mode , like the iPhone 11 series ) and tends to wash out its subjects in the dark .
The front-facing camera is a modest 7MP and tends to pick up on the reds in skin tones rather than the more balanced , true-to-life shades higher-specced lenses are capable of , but it ’ s still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What else is worth knowing ?
Like Apple 's other handsets on sale at the moment , the iPhone SE 2020 runs iOS 13 .
Its battery life lasted around 11 hours on a single charge while sending and receiving emails , WhatsApps and other notifications , alongside web browsing , listening to music and general app use .
I 'd say the average user would be able to make it through to the end of the working day on the one charge , although you may be hard-pressed to go on in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wo n't go flat .
So , should you buy the iPhone SE 2020 ?
In a world where Apple helped to normalise dropping more than £1,000 on a smartphone , the new iPhone SE is a timely reminder that you do n't always have to .
While a subset of people are always going to want to buy Apple 's latest and greatest , there are also those who want an iPhone that 's simply good enough - and with a flagship-standard processor , near-par camera system and low price , 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this respect .
For £419 , the iPhone SE 2020 is an absolute bargain ( Photo : Rhiannon Williams/i ) For its price , its downsides are clear but negligible : lower capacity battery , smaller , duller display , reliance on fingerprint rather than facial scanning .
It 's also worth noting that the device will keep running for at least the next four years or so thanks to its new processor supporting future software upgrades well into the future - something that ca n't be said for every phone in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if you 're using an old iPhone that 's slowly grinding to a halt but have been reluctant to commit to buying a newer , more expensive model , the second generation SE is a no-brainer purchase .
It 's fast , reliable and efficient , with a great camera system and an even better price .
Others will prefer the fancier , more sophisticated upgrades but if you simply want an affordable iPhone that 'll last , this has everything you 'll need and more .

When Apple discontinued the first iPhone SE in 2018, fans of smaller phones let out a collective howl of disbelief. Released two years previously, the iPhone SE may have been diminutive but it was also powerful – with an extremely attractive £359 price tag. While you’d be hard-pressed to ever describe an Apple product as cheap, the iPhone SE was the closest the company had come to it, and went on to sell in its millions.
Fast-forward to 2020 and the iPhone SE is back – slightly larger and a lot more powerful than its predecessor. Although there’s a good chance Apple’s decision to resurrect it to appease the vocal consumers who prefer smaller handsets, the absence of the more affordable, entry-level iPhone has been sorely felt in the close to three years since iPhones have been able to command upwards of £1,000. So what’s changed, and how does the iPhone SE 2020 compare to its competition?
The iPhone SE 2020 has a 4.7-inch display (Photo: Rhiannon Williams/i)
iPhone SE resurrected — looks familiar
The most important thing to bear in mind about the iPhone SE 2020 is that it’s aimed squarely at people who want the fundamentally great bits of an Apple phone without the eye-watering price and features they just won’t use. In this respect, Apple has completely nailed all the arguably best parts of what makes an iPhone quintessentially an iPhone, coupled with an incredibly compelling price.
First up, design. Measuring in at 4.7-inches, the new handset is marginally larger than the 2016 SE (4-inches), but still significantly smaller than the 6.1-inch iPhone 11 or the whopping 6.5-inch iPhone 11 Pro Max. Made from aluminium and glass, it comes in a choice of three glossy finishes (black, white and red) and doesn’t have a headphone jack (bad luck to anyone hoping for a return).
The iPhone SE 2020 has the majority of the iPhone 11 Pro’s best bits – but costs a whole lot less (Photo: Rhiannon Williams/i)
If that sounds familiar, it’s because it is. Looking at the new device, you could be forgiven for mistaking it for an iPhone 8. While the first SE bore a close resemblance to the iPhone 5S before it, the 2020 SE has all the physical hallmarks of 2017’s iPhone 8 – complete with single rear-facing lens and TouchID home button. This means you’ll have to rely on your fingerprint or passcode to unlock it, rather than FaceID facial recognition (FR).
iPhone SE 2020 specs
4.7-inch Retina HD LCD display
12MP rear-facing camera, 7MP front-facing lens
64GB / 128GB / 256GB
3GB RAM
Runs Apple’s iOS13 software
Dual SIM (nano-SIM and eSIM)
A13 Bionic chip
Dimensions: 138.4mm x 67.3mm x 7.3mm
Weighs 148g
Water resistant IP67 up to one metre for 30 minutes
Three finishes: Black, white and red
Given that more recent iPhones have done away with both the home button and just the one camera, in favour of two or even three, the new SE’s design does look a bit dated in comparison. The presence of the home button and lack of forward-facing FR camera means the display is bordered by thick black bezels, which invariably makes it look less sophisticated than the sleeker design consistent in the more expensive end of the iPhone line up. The LCD screen is not as sharp or bright as the higher-end OLED displays the flagships have, but is perfectly adequate. It’s a fine-looking handset, but there’s nothing innovative or unexpected to see here.
What about underneath the chassis?
The TouchID home button uses fingerprint scanning to verify its user’s identity (Photo: Rhiannon Williams/i)
Where the iPhone SE 2020 really starts to impress is underneath the aluminium. It’s powered by an A13 Bionic chip – the same processor as the highest-specced Apple handset money can buy, the iPhone 11 Max Pro – putting it in the same relative speed camp as a phone that costs £730 more. That same chip enables the single rear-facing camera (12MP) to take bokeh-style pictures separating the subject from a blurred background, giving it access to the same range of Portrait Mode camera features as the iPhone 11 Pro Max (which, lest we forget, has three rear cameras)
iPhone SE 202o pricing:
£419 for 64GB
£469 for 128GB
£569 for 256GB
Given how much cheaper the new handset is, it makes a decent fist of producing Portrait pictures on a comparable level to the Pro models. The Pros are better at picking out the defining edges of a person when blanking out the background in a Stage Light or High Key Mono shot, but the difference is not huge. The SE’s camera is at its best in brightly-lit environments and captures its subjects with warmth and detail without veering into the overly-saturated territories Samsung handsets are often dogged by. However, it struggles to generate well-defined photos in low light (it doesn’t have a Night Mode, like the iPhone 11 series) and tends to wash out its subjects in the dark. The front-facing camera is a modest 7MP and tends to pick up on the reds in skin tones rather than the more balanced, true-to-life shades higher-specced lenses are capable of, but it’s still pretty impressive given its hardware limitations.
What else is worth knowing?
Like Apple’s other handsets on sale at the moment, the iPhone SE 2020 runs iOS 13. Its battery life lasted around 11 hours on a single charge while sending and receiving emails, WhatsApps and other notifications, alongside web browsing, listening to music and general app use. I’d say the average user would be able to make it through to the end of the working day on the one charge, although you may be hard-pressed to go on in the evening safe in the knowledge it won’t go flat.
So, should you buy the iPhone SE 2020?
In a world where Apple helped to normalise dropping more than £1,000 on a smartphone, the new iPhone SE is a timely reminder that you don’t always have to. While a subset of people are always going to want to buy Apple’s latest and greatest, there are also those who want an iPhone that’s simply good enough – and with a flagship-standard processor, near-par camera system and low price, 2020’s iPhone SE ticks every box in this respect.
For £419, the iPhone SE 2020 is an absolute bargain (Photo: Rhiannon Williams/i)
For its price, its downsides are clear but negligible: lower capacity battery, smaller, duller display, reliance on fingerprint rather than facial scanning. It’s also worth noting that the device will keep running for at least the next four years or so thanks to its new processor supporting future software upgrades well into the future – something that can’t be said for every phone in the £400 price bracket.
In conclusion, if you’re using an old iPhone that’s slowly grinding to a halt but have been reluctant to commit to buying a newer, more expensive model, the second generation SE is a no-brainer purchase. It’s fast, reliable and efficient, with a great camera system and an even better price. Others will prefer the fancier, more sophisticated upgrades but if you simply want an affordable iPhone that’ll last, this has everything you’ll need and more.
Rating: 4/5
Pros:
Incredible value for money
Camera system replicates most of the best bits of far more expensive iPhones
The perfect solution for people who want an iPhone without paying over the odds
Cons:


inews--2020-04-28--Coronavirus tests rolled out to over-65s and anyone who has to go to work as Government battles to r

Coronavirus tests rolled out to over-65s and anyone who has to go to work as Government battles to reach 100,000-a-day target Matt Hancock is keen to reach the target he set himself by the end of the month Everyone over 65 and all workers who can not stay at home are now eligible for a coronavirus test as the Government battles to push up testing numbers .
All NHS staff and people who live or work in a care home can now get a Covid-19 test , even if they do not show symptoms of the illness .
Doctors are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus undetected , leading to a soaring death toll in the care sector .
The latest data show that 43,453 people received a coronavirus test in the 24 hours to Tuesday morning .
Testing capacity stands at 73,400 after the introduction of home test kits and mobile testing centres run by the military .
Matt Hancock announced another expansion of testing as part of efforts to reach 100,000 tests a day Speaking at the daily Downing Street press conference , Mr Hancock said : `` From now , we 're making testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with symptoms , and to all workers who have to leave home to go to work and their households who have symptoms . ''
He added : `` Building on successful pilots , we will be rolling out testing of asymptomatic residents and staff in care homes in England , and to patients and staff in the NHS .
This will mean that anyone who is working or living in a care home will be able to get access to a test whether they have symptoms or not . ''
Until recently , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were hospital patients , care home residents and NHS or care workers who showed symptoms of Covid-19 .
Last week Mr Hancock said all key workers with symptoms could now seek a test .
Widening the criteria has led to a surge in demand which appeared to overwhelm the Government 's systems , with all available home tests claimed within an hour of being released each morning .
The further expansion means there are 25m people who could be eligible for testing .
Mr Hancock 's move is a further step towards tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which will be a crucial part of the `` test , track and trace '' strategy designed to allow an easing of the national lockdown .
The Health Secretary pledged that by mid-May the NHS would have hired 18,000 professional contact tracers as well as launching a mobile phone app to help track people who get infected .
Speaking to LBC , Mr Hancock acknowledged the challenges of reaching his 100,000 target by the end of the month , but wagered £100 on him succeeding with the winnings being donated to Hospices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on track but it ’ s a big , big task , ” he said .
“ There ’ s a lot of things we need to get right , so there are no guarantees in this life.
” He added : “ The reason I set the target was to radically ramp up the number of tests .
”

Everyone over 65 and all workers who cannot stay at home are now eligible for a coronavirus test as the Government battles to push up testing numbers.
Matt Hancock announced another expansion of testing as part of efforts to reach 100,000 tests a day by his self-imposed deadline of Thursday.
All NHS staff and people who live or work in a care home can now get a Covid-19 test, even if they do not show symptoms of the illness. Doctors are worried that asymptomatic carriers could be spreading the virus undetected, leading to a soaring death toll in the care sector.
The latest data show that 43,453 people received a coronavirus test in the 24 hours to Tuesday morning. Testing capacity stands at 73,400 after the introduction of home test kits and mobile testing centres run by the military.
Test expansion
Speaking at the daily Downing Street press conference, Mr Hancock said: “From now, we’re making testing available to all over-65s and their households with symptoms, and to all workers who have to leave home to go to work and their households who have symptoms.”
He added: “Building on successful pilots, we will be rolling out testing of asymptomatic residents and staff in care homes in England, and to patients and staff in the NHS. This will mean that anyone who is working or living in a care home will be able to get access to a test whether they have symptoms or not.”
Until recently, the only people eligible for a test were hospital patients, care home residents and NHS or care workers who showed symptoms of Covid-19. Last week Mr Hancock said all key workers with symptoms could now seek a test.
Widening the criteria has led to a surge in demand which appeared to overwhelm the Government’s systems, with all available home tests claimed within an hour of being released each morning.
Lockdown strategy
The further expansion means there are 25m people who could be eligible for testing. Mr Hancock’s move is a further step towards tests being available for anyone who shows symptoms, which will be a crucial part of the “test, track and trace” strategy designed to allow an easing of the national lockdown.
The Health Secretary pledged that by mid-May the NHS would have hired 18,000 professional contact tracers as well as launching a mobile phone app to help track people who get infected.
Speaking to LBC, Mr Hancock acknowledged the challenges of reaching his 100,000 target by the end of the month, but wagered £100 on him succeeding with the winnings being donated to Hospices UK.
“We’re still on track but it’s a big, big task,” he said. “There’s a lot of things we need to get right, so there are no guarantees in this life.” He added: “The reason I set the target was to radically ramp up the number of tests.”


inews--2020-04-28--Panic attacks, relationship breakdowns and alcoholism: The mental health impact of money worries dur

Panic attacks, relationship breakdowns and alcoholism: The mental health impact of money worries during the coronavirus crisis

Panic attacks , relationship breakdowns and alcoholism : The mental health impact of money worries during the coronavirus crisis i spoke to people who are suffering panic attacks and relationship breakdowns and turning to drink during the pandemic While it 's too early to know for sure what the impact will be on people 's wellbeing , there are lessons from the past .
Professor Rory O ’ Connor , from the University of Glasgow , a co-author of the study , told The Guardian : “ If we look at the Sars outbreak in 2003 , we know there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rates of anxiety , increased rates of depression and post-traumatic stress and , in some groups , there were also increased rates of suicide . ''
'No money has caused my relationship to breakdown' Graceann Barrins has having therapy for anxiety but this has abruptly stopped ( Photo : Graceann Barrins ) The 24-year-old was seeing an NHS therapist , but she is a doctor who has been called back to work on the frontline .
Now Graceann is n't getting any treatment .
`` A huge trigger for me is stress in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` Previously it was about being on minimum wage and finding enough hours .
Now I have zero pounds coming in . ''
`` I 've been having at least a couple of panic attacks a week , '' she said .
`` I always tried to rationalise any issues to combat anxiety but how can you tell yourself everything will be ok ?
I do n't know when I 'll next have some money .
I tried to apply for Universal Credit but I 'm not entitled because of my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ split up but still live together so I do n't know where I stand . ''
Graceann , who is from Ireland , said the isolation is getting to her .
`` Being away from my family and knowing if anything happens to any of them , I wo n't be able to go home is frightening , '' she said .
`` That 's bad enough without behaving to worry about falling behind on rent . ''
Benjamin Turner missed out on being furloughed ( Photo : Benjamin Turner ) '' I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that 's a lot more , '' he said .
`` This job would have completely changed my life into one really worth living , where I can afford not just to pay bills and food but to be able to do nice things such as to go on holiday .
But due to Covid-19 and the complete neglect of the Government , this has been snatched away from me . ''
Benjamin , who lives with his partner who has lost her job , says he feels powerless and that there 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bolt awake in the night and ca n't breathe , sometimes for hours .
It 's sheer panic , thinking , what can I do to fix this ?
But there 's nothing .
I do n't sleep at all some nights , on a good night I get four hours .
Sarah says stress has triggered her old addiction to alcohol ( Photo : Free Photos by Pixabay ) Sarah has struggled with addictions in the past and had them `` under control '' , but says stress has always been a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not sure my business will survive , '' she said .
`` I 've furloughed 16 of my staff .
I 've had suppliers chasing me for payment , the landlord is not allowing rent holidays and has been aggressive in demanding money , while my income has completely stopped .
I 'm debating if a business loan is worth it or if I should let the business fold . ''
`` So I justify that it 's ok to have a beer in these extreme circumstances .
It feels like a hug @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want more hugs .
I 'm drinking about 10 beers a day .
I 'm trying to keep the amount secret from my husband who is worried sick about my habit , but of course it 's hard to hide anything when you 're stuck in the house together . ''

Experts have called for rapid and rigorous research into the impact of Covid-19 on mental health to limit the impact of the crisis.
“The pandemic is clearly having a major social and psychological impact on the whole population, increasing unemployment, separating families and various other changes in the way that we live that we know are generally major psychological risk factors for anxiety, depression and self-harm,” said Professor Ed Bullmore, head of the department of psychiatry at the University of Cambridge, writing in the journal Lancet Psychiatry.
While it’s too early to know for sure what the impact will be on people’s wellbeing, there are lessons from the past. Professor Rory O’Connor, from the University of Glasgow, a co-author of the study, told The Guardian: “If we look at the Sars outbreak in 2003, we know there is evidence there that there were increased rates of anxiety, increased rates of depression and post-traumatic stress and, in some groups, there were also increased rates of suicide.”
‘No money has caused my relationship to breakdown’
Graceann Barrins was suffering with mental health issues before Covid-19. Now her anxiety and depression have “skyrocketed” having no income. And she says the pressure of losing her job has caused her relationship to breakdown, but she is forced to still live with her ex-partner.
The 24-year-old was seeing an NHS therapist, but she is a doctor who has been called back to work on the frontline. Now Graceann isn’t getting any treatment. “A huge trigger for me is stress in general and financial insecurity,” she said. “Previously it was about being on minimum wage and finding enough hours. Now I have zero pounds coming in.”
Graceann, from Paisley, Scotland, started a job in a bar but is not entitled to be furloughed. She is one of thousands of new starters who have missed out on being furloughed due to the requirement for employees to be on the PAYE payroll on or before 19 March. Graceann was let go.
“I’ve been having at least a couple of panic attacks a week,” she said. “I always tried to rationalise any issues to combat anxiety but how can you tell yourself everything will be ok? I don’t know when I’ll next have some money. I tried to apply for Universal Credit but I’m not entitled because of my partner’s earnings. Now we have split up but still live together so I don’t know where I stand.”
Graceann, who is from Ireland, said the isolation is getting to her. “Being away from my family and knowing if anything happens to any of them, I won’t be able to go home is frightening,” she said. “That’s bad enough without behaving to worry about falling behind on rent.”
‘I’m having panic attacks’
I don’t sleep at all some nights, on a good night I get four hours Benjamin Turner
Benjamin Turner had been struggling in minimum wage jobs for years, but then landed his “dream job” as an estate agent which he was due to start a few weeks ago. He too was not allowed to be furloughed.
The 23-year-old, from Cornwall, says his mental health is suffering due to the insecurity over his job and his finances. As far as Benjamin knows, his new employer still intends to keep him on, but he is aware of the precarious state of the housing market.
“I left a £7.70 reception job for one that’s a lot more,” he said. “This job would have completely changed my life into one really worth living, where I can afford not just to pay bills and food but to be able to do nice things such as to go on holiday. But due to Covid-19 and the complete neglect of the Government, this has been snatched away from me.”
Benjamin, who lives with his partner who has lost her job, says he feels powerless and that there’s nowhere to turn to. “I bolt awake in the night and can’t breathe, sometimes for hours. It’s sheer panic, thinking, what can I do to fix this? But there’s nothing. I don’t sleep at all some nights, on a good night I get four hours.
“I’ve been told I’m not entitled to Job Seeker’s Allowance because I didn’t earn enough last year. I might get a few hundred pounds a month from Universal Credit but it won’t be enough for even half the bills. We are still waiting after having applied a few weeks ago. We will run out of money for food in a few weeks.
“I’m not really getting outside for exercise like I know I should be. I feel like I’m starting to lose pieces of myself.”
‘I’m drinking 10 beers a day’
‘I’ve lost my sense of purpose. The change of routine really throws you’ Sarah
Sarah, who didn’t want her last name used, fears she could lose her events management business. The wife and mother-of-one, who is in her 40s, has turned to alcohol to cope with her anxieties.
She’s sunk into a depression since discovering her company is not entitled to a Government business grant. A loophole means because she rents a serviced office space from a landlord and doesn’t have a business rates account with her local authority, she gets nothing.
Sarah has struggled with addictions in the past and had them “under control”, but says stress has always been a trigger for her. “I’m not sure my business will survive,” she said. “I’ve furloughed 16 of my staff. I’ve had suppliers chasing me for payment, the landlord is not allowing rent holidays and has been aggressive in demanding money, while my income has completely stopped. I’m debating if a business loan is worth it or if I should let the business fold.”
The businesswoman, who owns a £450,000 house, and pays for her child to go to private school, said the thought of losing her “dream life” is overwhelming. “I know there are single mothers out there who won’t know where her kids’ next meal is coming from,” she said. “I know I’m not as unfortunate as some.
“We may have to downsize the house and drastically cut back. Life is worse for many people but this is the life I worked hard for, putting in 12 hour days to achieve, for my family.
“I’ve lost my sense of purpose. The change of routine really throws you. I am the typical workaholic used to being super busy and having people around them.
“So I justify that it’s ok to have a beer in these extreme circumstances. It feels like a hug in a glass, but then I want more hugs. I’m drinking about 10 beers a day. I’m trying to keep the amount secret from my husband who is worried sick about my habit, but of course it’s hard to hide anything when you’re stuck in the house together.”
Read more: Coronavirus furlough scheme: The new starters who missed out on government payments and now face financial ruin
Getting help
Check your benefit entitlement as you may be able to claim Statutory Sick Pay, Universal Credit, or Employment and Support Allowance. The government has made changes to entitlement to these benefits in the current period, which could make it easier for you to claim.
Get in touch with your local authority: You may be entitled to council tax reduction/exemption or housing benefit.
If you’re a homeowner, you may be entitled to secure a mortgage payment holiday from your lender, or switch to an interest-only mortgage for a set period. Find out more here.
The Financial Conduct Authority has instructed banks to support customers affected by the coronavirus by offering interest-free overdrafts of up to £500 for up to three months.
Read more: Coronavirus and your money: How to get your finances in order while in lockdown
Customers with payday loans who are being impacted by Covid-19 will be able to request a payment freeze. People with car loans or lease agreements will be eligible for a three month payment freeze if they are having temporary difficulties meeting payments due to coronavirus.
Those who are in rent-to-own or buy-now pay-later credit agreements should also have their payments frozen for three months and should not have their property repossessed if they fail to make payments, the FCA said.
Free money advice is available from Stepchange and Citizen’s Advice.
If you are struggling to afford food, you can also find local food banks by searching on The Trussell Trust website.
If you have suicidal thoughts, or are struggling with your mental health in other ways, you can contact The Samaritans for free on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org.
Do you have a coronavirus story? Email claudia.tanner@inews.co.uk.


inews--2020-04-28--BBC could quarantine actors to make new drama under lockdown rules

BBC could quarantine actors to make new drama under lockdown rules If social distancing continues through the year , the BBC could ask actors and crew to live under quarantine The BBC could quarantine actors and crews for extended periods to ensure that new drama can be produced under strict social distancing rules .
The measures , also being considered for Strictly Come Dancing celebrities and dancers , would ensure that the BBC had enough “ glossy ” new shows to entertain viewers who are growing tired of “ living room Zoom programmes , ” executives said .
`` Are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crew to allow them to interact in the same space ?
Who knows , it ’ s such an evolving picture.
” Wenger warned that quarantining big name actors for weeks would add significant costs to dramas , often produced with international partners , because they would be contracted for longer periods .
Wenger said he was “ determined to get EastEnders back on screen ” as soon as production can be safely resumed but said actor availability made it hard to reschedule some big budget shows which have been halted .
Kate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the broadcaster was “ looking very carefully at how we can do Strictly this Autumn .
Inevitably , things will have to change . ''
`` Social distancing will be in place for a long time .
We are looking to international versions.
” Strictly will return but show might not have a studio audience ( Photo : Guy Levy ) Germany ’ s version went ahead successfully , with dancers and their partners isolating themselves from their families during the series .
Ms Phillips said Strictly could be broadcast without a studio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Have I Got News For You , aired as a split screen video chat during lockdown , have received a mixed response from viewers .
“ We do want to get back to doing those shows with a studio audience , ” Ms Phillips said .
Charlotte Moore , BBC Director of Content , said the broadcaster was looking to move on from “ Zoom programmes ” which would look outdated in a few months time .
However BBC viewing is up 25 per cent among 16-34 year-olds , who are discovering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , like The Repair Shop and The Great British Sewing Bee .

The BBC could quarantine actors and crews for extended periods to ensure that new drama can be produced under strict social distancing rules.
The measures, also being considered for Strictly Come Dancing celebrities and dancers, would ensure that the BBC had enough “glossy” new shows to entertain viewers who are growing tired of “living room Zoom programmes,” executives said.
Piers Wenger, BBC Controller of Drama Commissioning, told an Edinburgh TV Festival YouTube session: “We’re going to want to start making new drama.”
“Are we going to start quarantining actors and crew to allow them to interact in the same space? Who knows, it’s such an evolving picture.”
Costs could soar
Wenger warned that quarantining big name actors for weeks would add significant costs to dramas, often produced with international partners, because they would be contracted for longer periods.
Insurers might refuse to cover productions deemed to be a high risk.
Wenger said he was “determined to get EastEnders back on screen” as soon as production can be safely resumed but said actor availability made it hard to reschedule some big budget shows which have been halted.
Strictly will return
Kate Phillips, BBC Entertainment Controller, said the broadcaster was “looking very carefully at how we can do Strictly this Autumn. Inevitably, things will have to change.”
“Social distancing will be in place for a long time. We are looking to international versions.”
Germany’s version went ahead successfully, with dancers and their partners isolating themselves from their families during the series. Ms Phillips said Strictly could be broadcast without a studio audience.
Other entertainment shows, such as Have I Got News For You, aired as a split screen video chat during lockdown, have received a mixed response from viewers. “We do want to get back to doing those shows with a studio audience,” Ms Phillips said.
Zoom shows getting stale
Charlotte Moore, BBC Director of Content, said the broadcaster was looking to move on from “Zoom programmes” which would look outdated in a few months time.
She said that Top Gear, Dragon’s Den, Masterchef and The Apprentice are among the shows halted because of the coronavirus.
However BBC viewing is up 25 per cent among 16-34 year-olds, who are discovering programmes they would not normally have watched, like The Repair Shop and The Great British Sewing Bee.


inews--2020-04-28--Unreliable testing kits and club vs country rows: Why rugby's return is fraught with problems

Unreliable testing kits and club vs country rows : Why rugby 's return is fraught with problems The Premiership plans to resume the 2019-20 season by July but there are numerous obstacles to overcome first The Premiership ’ s desire to resume its interrupted season and play it to a finish has seen one club order coronavirus tests before abandoning them as unethical and unreliable , while ideas under consideration include admitting a limited number of spectators who would observe social distancing .
The Premiership has instructed clubs not to publicly set a date for a return to play , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how small-groups training in May might lead to a resumption in July .
The league ’ s chief executive Darren Childs is on a cross-sport working group including football , cricket , rowing and horse racing among others , and led by government advice on any relaxation of the current social-distancing lockdown .
It is widely accepted in rugby that contact training followed by matches can only happen with a guaranteed virus-testing regime , which is not yet in place .
If the preferred method is to test players and coaches very regularly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if someone tested negative .
It is understood one Premiership club ordered a set of Covid-19 tests but cancelled the order because it was not right to use tests while NHS workers were short of them and also it became clear the tests were not 100 per cent reliable .
The hope is for a test delivered in bulk and that gives results quickly , like a pregnancy test .
Players will require fitness conditioning and rugby-specific training which obviously requires contact with people from other households .
England scrum-half Danny Care told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ podcast : “ The props who haven ’ t scrummaged for five or six weeks now , their bodies will have changed and it will take time for them to get used to it again .
`` You are not allowed to speak to your next-door neighbour , let alone hit five scrums with them .
They will need to build up neck muscles , their core , their ankles and calves.
” Care ’ s Harlequins club-mate Chris Ashton said : “ It is not necessarily the fitness… it is the timing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , stepping.
” Danny Care has warned that it will take 'five or six weeks ' for player to regain their fitness levels ( Picture : Getty ) With regards to spectators , the Premiership is seeking to restart behind closed doors , albeit season-ticket holders would need refunding , as long as matches are televised .
Gloucester ’ s chief executive Lance Bradley said this week : “ We are definitely planning that we finish the season ” .
There are nine rounds of regular-season matches outstanding , plus semi-finals and final @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be played at a single stadium across a Friday evening , Saturday and Sunday .
One club told i they had considered a “ halfway house ” of a crowd observing social distancing .
The normal capacity would be significantly reduced , with sanitation stands and no access to toilets , bars with a self-service element , and spectators spaced apart .
Decisions also need to be made over a looming club v country clash of dates .
World Rugby ’ s chairman Sir Bill Beaumont has said a new , single international @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the existing two in July and November as a way out of the perennial fixture pile-up .
This could happen by default this year and the Rugby Football Union ’ s chief executive Bill Sweeney has talked about England ’ s July tour to Japan being made in October , followed by the delayed Six Nations match in Italy .
The EPCR chairman Simon Halliday fired back that two weeks in October are reserved for European Cup club rugby .
And then there are the Premiership ’ s plans .
Beaumont described the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A trade-off could be for the clubs to adjust their calendar to suit , and there happens to be influential support at Premiership board level for summer rugby .
The RFU told i : “ We have taken and continue to take Premiership Rugby input into any calendar discussions with World Rugby and other Unions .
The situation at the moment is very fluid.
” Some players also need reassurance on their contracts , which in some cases have been superseded by furloughs , prompting Leicester ’ s England prop Ellis Genge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Rugby Players ’ Association , and with one eye reportedly on a new investment vehicle for players .

The Premiership’s desire to resume its interrupted season and play it to a finish has seen one club order coronavirus tests before abandoning them as unethical and unreliable, while ideas under consideration include admitting a limited number of spectators who would observe social distancing.
The Premiership has instructed clubs not to publicly set a date for a return to play, but privately there are plans scoping out how small-groups training in May might lead to a resumption in July. The league’s chief executive Darren Childs is on a cross-sport working group including football, cricket, rowing and horse racing among others, and led by government advice on any relaxation of the current social-distancing lockdown.
It is widely accepted in rugby that contact training followed by matches can only happen with a guaranteed virus-testing regime, which is not yet in place. If the preferred method is to test players and coaches very regularly, the relevant fixture would be off if someone tested negative.
It is understood one Premiership club ordered a set of Covid-19 tests but cancelled the order because it was not right to use tests while NHS workers were short of them and also it became clear the tests were not 100 per cent reliable. The hope is for a test delivered in bulk and that gives results quickly, like a pregnancy test.
Players will require fitness conditioning and rugby-specific training which obviously requires contact with people from other households. England scrum-half Danny Care told the BBC’s Rugby Union Weekly podcast: “The props who haven’t scrummaged for five or six weeks now, their bodies will have changed and it will take time for them to get used to it again.
“You are not allowed to speak to your next-door neighbour, let alone hit five scrums with them. They will need to build up neck muscles, their core, their ankles and calves.” Care’s Harlequins club-mate Chris Ashton said: “It is not necessarily the fitness… it is the timing of things – the tackling, passing, stepping.”
With regards to spectators, the Premiership is seeking to restart behind closed doors, albeit season-ticket holders would need refunding, as long as matches are televised. Gloucester’s chief executive Lance Bradley said this week: “We are definitely planning that we finish the season”.
There are nine rounds of regular-season matches outstanding, plus semi-finals and final. One round of six matches would be played at a single stadium across a Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday. One club told i they had considered a “halfway house” of a crowd observing social distancing. The normal capacity would be significantly reduced, with sanitation stands and no access to toilets, bars with a self-service element, and spectators spaced apart.
Decisions also need to be made over a looming club v country clash of dates. World Rugby’s chairman Sir Bill Beaumont has said a new, single international window across October and November could replace the existing two in July and November as a way out of the perennial fixture pile-up. This could happen by default this year and the Rugby Football Union’s chief executive Bill Sweeney has talked about England’s July tour to Japan being made in October, followed by the delayed Six Nations match in Italy.
The EPCR chairman Simon Halliday fired back that two weeks in October are reserved for European Cup club rugby. And then there are the Premiership’s plans. Beaumont described the scenario as a “land grab”. A trade-off could be for the clubs to adjust their calendar to suit, and there happens to be influential support at Premiership board level for summer rugby.
The RFU told i: “We have taken and continue to take Premiership Rugby input into any calendar discussions with World Rugby and other Unions. The situation at the moment is very fluid.”
Some players also need reassurance on their contracts, which in some cases have been superseded by furloughs, prompting Leicester’s England prop Ellis Genge to take legal advice outside the realms of the Rugby Players’ Association, and with one eye reportedly on a new investment vehicle for players.


inews--2020-04-28--When is Captain Tom Moore's 100th birthday? How the fundraising hero is being celebrated - and where

When is Captain Tom Moore's 100th birthday? How the fundraising hero is being celebrated - and where to send a birthday card

When is Captain Tom Moore 's 100th birthday ?
How the fundraising hero is being celebrated - and where to send a birthday card Captain Tom Moore has raised more than £29m for the NHS during the coronavirus pandemic ahead of his 100th birthday on Thursday 'The volume of cards is astonishing' The veteran might have his work cut out sorting though his birthday post on the big day - more than 125,000 cards have been sent to him from well-wishers around the world .
More than 125,000 cards have been sorted and displayed by Bedford School ( Photo : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The volume of cards that have been sent to granddad is just astonishing .
So many of the cards are truly heartfelt with thousands from young children who have taken the time to use their artistic talent and write a personal message .
The Royal Mail has offered its own gratitude to Captain Tom ( Photo : Getty Images ) And even those rare items of mail not being directed Captain Tom 's way will carry a reminder of his fundraising efforts - everything posted between 26 April and 1 May is being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Captain Tom 's big day .
Mr Shapps wrote on Twitter that the aerial salute was `` meant to be a surprise for Tom '' , but confirmed it would be happening after it emerged that his department rejected an earlier plan for a flypast organised by a Spitfire restoration company .
Captain Tom 's fundraising ( and chart-topping ) efforts have earned him a place in the Guinness World Records ( Photo : AFP/Getty Images )

Captain Tom Moore’s extraordinary fundraising efforts have provided the nation with some much needed good news during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Second World War veteran has broken multiple records by raising more than £29m for the NHS by walking laps of his garden in Bedfordshire, becoming a national hero (and landing a number one single) in the process.
Originally, his plan was to complete 100 circuits by his 100th birthday on Thursday 30 April. He completed the challenge two weeks ahead of schedule, overseen by a special military guard of honour.
He was originally planning to mark his centenary with a family party but the celebrations have been put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Now, the UK is getting the chance to say thank you to the man universally known as “Captain Tom” – here’s how the fundraising hero’s birthday is being marked.
‘The volume of cards is astonishing’
The veteran might have his work cut out sorting though his birthday post on the big day – more than 125,000 cards have been sent to him from well-wishers around the world.
Among the famous faces sending their birthday greetings are Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Dame Kelly Holmes and England football captain Harry Kane.
The cards were sent to Bedford School, where Captain Tom’s grandson Benjie Ingram-Moore, attends. The 16-year-old asked his school for help after learning that the local post office was struggling to cope with the deluge.
He said: “The volume of cards that have been sent to granddad is just astonishing. So many of the cards are truly heartfelt with thousands from young children who have taken the time to use their artistic talent and write a personal message.
“Another £60,000 has been generously been donated via his birthday cards.”
A total of 140 members of school staff, parents and pupils past and present spent 1,750 hours opening each card and creating a display in Bedford School’s Great Hall.
Headmaster James Hodgson said: “We are honoured to offer our Great Hall at Bedford School with our team of volunteers to act as both a makeshift sorting office and a place to display the incredible number of 100th birthday cards.”
How to send a card
The Post Office issued guidance for anybody wanting to send their own card to Captain Tom – and there’s a chance for you or your children to get creative, too.
It has created four special card designs which you can print out and colour in, which can be downloaded here.
Then pop it an an envelope and send it to: Captain Tom Moore, C/O Marston Moretaine Post Office, 67 Bedford Road, Marston Mortaine, Bedford, MK43 0LA.
If you’re not able to print out or send a physical card, you can visit the Royal Mail’s Facebook page and leave him a message here.
Royal Mail tribute
And even those rare items of mail not being directed Captain Tom’s way will carry a reminder of his fundraising efforts – everything posted between 26 April and 1 May is being stamped with a special postmark to commemorate Captain Tom’s big day.
The Royal Mail mark reads: “Happy 100th Birthday Captain Thomas Moore NHS fundraising hero 30th April 2020.”
This special postal recognition comes after Royal Mail had to adapt its sorting machines in the South Midlands Mail Centre to re-route all post to Captain Tom into a dedicated collection box.
David Gold, director of public affairs and policy at Royal Mail, said: “What Captain Thomas Moore has achieved is truly phenomenal, and this is reflected in the affection shown for him across the world.”
He added: “We would like to extend our own best wishes and congratulations to him from everyone at Royal Mail.”
RAF flypast
After some speculation, the Transport Secretary Grant Shapps confirmed that Captain Tom’s birthday would also be marked with an RAF flypast.
Mr Shapps wrote on Twitter that the aerial salute was “meant to be a surprise for Tom”, but confirmed it would be happening after it emerged that his department rejected an earlier plan for a flypast organised by a Spitfire restoration company.
He said that the new tribute would ensure that the fundraising veteran would be honoured “in an even more significant way”.
Kent’s Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar had initially organised a flypast involving a Mark 9 Spitfire named The Spirit Of Kent.
But on Monday it revealed it had been denied permission for the flight by the Department for Transport, acknowledging that “current general aviation restrictions are in place to prevent non-essential travel”.
The firm said the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) – which is based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire and includes six Spitfires – is “not bound by the same restrictions”.
It added: “It is our understanding that they are now picking up the baton to provide a flypast for Captain Tom.
“Getting a Spitfire overhead for Captain Tom was always the primary goal and we’re thrilled that this may still be possible.
“We wish the BBMF team the very best of luck and hope that the weather permits a flypast on the 30th of April.”
A senior Ministry of Defence (MOD) source confirmed to i that a variety of MOD personnel and assets are planning to appropriately mark the occasion.


inews--2020-04-28--Never Have I Ever cast: who stars with Darren Barnet in the Netflix drama series narrated by John Mc

Never Have I Ever cast: who stars with Darren Barnet in the Netflix drama series narrated by John McEnroe

Never Have I Ever cast : who stars with Darren Barnet in the Netflix drama series narrated by John McEnroe Mindy Kaling 's coming of age dramedy has received positive reviews since dropping on Netflix Mindy Kaling has come a very long way since finding fame as Kelly Kapoor on the US version of The Office .
First she created and starred in her very own show , The Mindy Project , and now she is back with a new series , which dropped on Netflix on Monday .
Never Have I Ever is a coming of age dramedy which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from both fans and critics .
What is Never Have I Ever about ?
The show focuses on 15-year-old Devi Vishwakumar , a sophomore student at a high school in California , grappling with the same problems many teenage girls face : wanting to be popular ; wanting a boyfriend - but `` not some nerd from one of my AP classes '' .
However , she is also dealing with immense grief .
Devi lost her father - and her best friend - the previous year , after he had a heart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The shock left her paralysed for three months , needing a wheelchair to get around , but her interest in her crush , Paxton Hall-Yoshida , and the promise of a new school year helps her recover .
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan stars as Devi .
This is the 18-year-old Tamil-Canadian actor 's first role , after she was chosen by Kaling from 15,000 candidates who responded to a casting call .
Ramakrishnan and her family moved to Canada after the Sri Lankan civil war , and because of this she identifies as Tamil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Darren Barnet plays Devi 's crush Paxton .
Despite only being a year older in the show ( his character is repeating a year ) , Barnet is 29 , 11 years Ramakrishnan 's senior .
He also has limited prior experience , with a guest role in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D .
under his belt .
Ramona Young plays one of Devi 's best friends , Eleanor .
She is best known for her recurring roles on the television series Man Seeking Woman , The Real O'Neals , and Santa Clarita Diet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mum , Dr Nalini Vishwakumar .
Jagannathan is best known for playing Safar Khan in HBO 's Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated show , The Night Of , and has also appeared in Bollywood movies .
But the two most famous names in the show are the narrators .
Tennis star John McEnroe narrates the series , while Andy Samberg plays himself while narrating the thoughts of Ben Gross , who is played by Jaren Lewison and is Devi 's nemesis at school .

Mindy Kaling has come a very long way since finding fame as Kelly Kapoor on the US version of The Office.
First she created and starred in her very own show, The Mindy Project, and now she is back with a new series, which dropped on Netflix on Monday.
Never Have I Ever is a coming of age dramedy which is already receiving heaps of positive reviews from both fans and critics.
Here is everything you need to know…
What is Never Have I Ever about?
The show focuses on 15-year-old Devi Vishwakumar, a sophomore student at a high school in California, grappling with the same problems many teenage girls face: wanting to be popular; wanting a boyfriend – but “not some nerd from one of my AP classes”.
However, she is also dealing with immense grief. Devi lost her father – and her best friend – the previous year, after he had a heart attack at one of her orchestra concerts.
The shock left her paralysed for three months, needing a wheelchair to get around, but her interest in her crush, Paxton Hall-Yoshida, and the promise of a new school year helps her recover.
Who’s in the cast?
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan stars as Devi. This is the 18-year-old Tamil-Canadian actor’s first role, after she was chosen by Kaling from 15,000 candidates who responded to a casting call.
Ramakrishnan and her family moved to Canada after the Sri Lankan civil war, and because of this she identifies as Tamil and Canadian, but not Sri Lankan.
Darren Barnet plays Devi’s crush Paxton. Despite only being a year older in the show (his character is repeating a year), Barnet is 29, 11 years Ramakrishnan’s senior.
He also has limited prior experience, with a guest role in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. under his belt.
Ramona Young plays one of Devi’s best friends, Eleanor. She is best known for her recurring roles on the television series Man Seeking Woman, The Real O’Neals, and Santa Clarita Diet.
Poorna Jagannathan stars as Devi’s mum, Dr Nalini Vishwakumar. Jagannathan is best known for playing Safar Khan in HBO’s Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated show, The Night Of, and has also appeared in Bollywood movies.
But the two most famous names in the show are the narrators. Tennis star John McEnroe narrates the series, while Andy Samberg plays himself while narrating the thoughts of Ben Gross, who is played by Jaren Lewison and is Devi’s nemesis at school.
Also among the cast are Lee Rodriguez as Devi’s other closest friend, Fabiola, and Richa Moorjani as Kamala, Devi’s cousin.


inews--2020-04-29--When will hairdressers reopen? Latest on UK lockdown closures and if salons could be among first bus

When will hairdressers reopen? Latest on UK lockdown closures and if salons could be among first businesses to reopen

When will hairdressers reopen ?
Latest on UK lockdown closures and if salons could be among first businesses to reopen When will hairdressers reopen ?
Latest on UK lockdown closures and if salons could be among first businesses to reopen .
As hairdressers and barber shops remain temporarily closed , many across the UK have been getting creative with cutting their own hair at home - with some very interesting results .
Schools would also begin to reopen .
This would start with primary , GCSE and A Level students able to go back part-time .
However , the public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travel .
Next in the phase could then be restaurants , with all pupils able to go back to school with social distancing measures in place .
The UK is currently under increasing pressure to lift parts of its current lockdown , with the chancellor , Rishi Sunak , understood to be studying the Czech Republic ’ s current approach to lifting their previously imposed tight restrictions .
It became the first European country to relax its restrictions in early April , firstly by allowing its citizens to jog and walk in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long as they kept 2 metres apart .
The country has a four-stage plan , part of which includes allowing outdoor restaurant and bar areas to reopen from 11 May , along with hairdressers and beauty salons .
Restaurants are then expected to resume indoor service and hotels will be allowed to reopen from 25 May , which is two weeks earlier than the previous date of 8 June .
As Italy slowly eases out of lockdown , various spaces and services are reopening at different periods of times .
The country currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ galleries and retailers on 18 May , with bars , restaurants and hairdressers from 1 June .
In Spain , there will be a preparatory `` phase zero '' from 4-11 May .
This will see hairdressers and other businesses that take appointments reopen , restaurants will be able to offer take-away services , and professional sports leagues will be able to go back to training .
Could salons be shut for a long time ?
It depends what phase of the re-opening they are included in .
According to reports , hair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six months or potentially longer , after government scientists advised that there is not a safe way for them to reopen .
However , other countries that have begun to ease their lockdowns , such as Denmark , have permitted hairdressers to open in the first phase .
They can , however , draw on a second Treasury wage scheme which is for the self-employed .
Self-employed workers do n't need to apply to it , as HMRC will contact those who are eligible for the payout by mid-May .
Citizens Advice explains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of coronavirus , you might be able to get money from the government .
How can I support my local hairdresser ?
Hairdressers will also be very busy when they do reopen , so if your salon does have a waiting list , then it ’ s worth putting your name down now .

Hairdressers and barber shops across the UK are reopening from July 4, amid a raft of changes to lockdown restrictions that include the reopening of museums, galleries and cinemas, plus relief for the hospitality sector, with pubs, restaurants and hotels allowed to start trading again.
Since March, hairdressers have remained temporarily closed, with many across the UK getting creative with cutting their own hair at home – with some very interesting results.
Now they are set to reopen, but with extra security measures in place. Here’s what you need to know.
When do hairdressers reopen?
Hairdressers had been named among the businesses able to reopen from July 4, to the relief of families who have been managing with DIY haircuts and shaggier locks.
This is in line with the government’s “phase three” of lockdown, in which hospitality businesses, some entertainment venues and hairdressers might be able to reopen.
The decision to reopen salons comes as part of Boris Johnsons blueprint for a gradual easing of the coronavirus lockdown in England, which saw primary schools, nurseries and shops partially reopening from 1 June.
Although it was originally thought that hairdressers could be among the first businesses to reopen, Dominic Raab revealed that they will not open until July at the earliest.
This is in line with the plans for some cafes or restaurants with outdoor space, and places or worship and socially distanced cinemas.
When Nicola Sturgeon unveiled a four-phase route map to ease Scotland out of lockdown restrictions, she said retail services including hairdressers are not expected to be allowed to open for bookings again until phase three of the plan.
What safety measures will be in place?
Hairdressers and barbers have been advised to wear protective visors when they reopen after July 4.
Other precautions are expected, such as discussing the appointment in the mirror and avoiding smalltalk during the haircut to reduce the amount of face-to-face time.
The National Hair and Beauty Federation has advised salons to be clear in their messaging to customers about the health and safety measures in place.
What about wages?
It is estimated that 60 per cent of hairdressers are freelance, making them ineligible for the government’s furlough scheme.
They can, however, draw on a second Treasury wage scheme which is for the self-employed. Self-employed workers don’t need to apply to it, as HMRC will contact those who are eligible for the payout by mid-May.
Citizens Advice explains that “if your income has dropped because of coronavirus, you might be able to get money from the government.
“You could get 80 per cent of your average profits up to a maximum of £2,500 per month. This is called the Self-employment Income Support Scheme.”
How can I support my local hairdresser?
A good way to support your local hair salon is to buy a gift voucher now that you can use there when they reopen.
Hairdressers will also be very busy when they do reopen, so if your salon does have a waiting list, then it’s worth putting your name down now.
L’Oréal Professionnel, the British Beauty Council patron, has released a COVID-19 support guide to help salon owners, employees, and self-employed hair stylists who are currently out of work.
The guide includes details on the current government measures, alongside information on how to claim benefits, HR and legal advice.


inews--2020-04-29--Bank holidays 2020: when the next UK bank holiday is, and why it's a Friday

Bank holidays 2020 : when the next UK bank holiday is , and why it 's a Friday The coronavirus lockdown restrictions mean some of this year 's bank holidays will be very different to usual For many people , bank holidays are some of the high points of the year , giving us a few bonus days off to travel down to the beach or to fly off to Prague on a whim .
That 's not to say they wo n't be welcome , though - many will be eagerly counting down the days to get some precious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , even if it 's just for a daily exercise walk and a family Zoom quiz .
Here are all the dates you need to know , and why 2020 's bank holidays are following a slightly different pattern to usual .
When is the next bank holiday ?
One of our two May bank holidays , the early one , known as May Day , was moved by the Government to coincide with the 75th anniversary of VE Day , or Victory Day in Europe .
VE Day marks the the day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Allies in the Second World War .
This was meant to ensure that the long weekend would coincide with the extended 75th anniversary celebrations of the surrender of Nazi Germany , which ended the Second World War in Europe .
As part of the VE Day commemorations , more than 20,000 pubs were going to encourage drinkers to toast the heroes of the war , while churches were set to take part in a Ringing Out For Peace .
However , like all other mass gatherings and general activities involving leaving our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have now been cancelled - so all commemorations will have to be kept indoors .
In total , there are six days in 2020 for those living in England , Scotland , Wales , and Northern Ireland , though some nations have additional holidays .
Here is a list of 2020 's bank holidays : As ever , there are various other key dates to remember in 2020 .
None provide paid , free time off work but all are important nonetheless .
Other dates for your diary :

For many people, bank holidays are some of the high points of the year, giving us a few bonus days off to travel down to the beach or to fly off to Prague on a whim.
However, like everything else, the coronavirus outbreak and ensuing lockdown restrictions mean that the majority of the nation’s long weekends have proved very different so far this year.
That’s not to say they aren’t welcome, though – many will be eagerly counting down the days to get some precious time off work to recharge the batteries, even if they still can’t do absolutely everything they want to.
Here are all the dates you need to know, and why 2020’s bank holidays have followed a slightly different pattern to usual.
When is the next bank holiday?
This year, the next bank holiday for England, Wales and Northern Ireland falls on Monday 31 August – it always coincides with the final Monday of the month.
Therefore last year’s day off was on Monday 26 August, and the 2021 bank holiday falls on Monday 30 August.
Both of May’s long weekends fell during a time when lockdown measures were more universally stringent in the UK, as did the two Easter bank holidays.
However, not only are there far more options available now (except for those people subject to local lockdown rules), there is the added bonus of 31 August coinciding with the final day of the Government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme.
Why was the first May bank holiday moved to a Friday?
One of our two May bank holidays, the early one, known as May Day, was moved by the Government to coincide with the 75th anniversary of VE Day, or Victory Day in Europe.
This was meant to ensure that the long weekend would coincide with the extended 75th anniversary celebrations marking the surrender of Nazi Germany, which ended the Second World War in Europe.
As part of the VE Day commemorations, more than 20,000 pubs were going to encourage drinkers to toast the heroes of the war, while churches were set to take part in a Ringing Out For Peace.
However, like all other mass gatherings and general activities involving leaving our homes, all public VE Day events were cancelled – so all commemorations had to be kept indoors.
Here is a list of 2020’s bank holidays
In total, there are six days in 2020 for those living in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, though some nations have additional holidays.
New Year’s Day: Wednesday 1 January
New Year’s Holiday: Thursday 2 January (Scotland only)
St Patrick’s Day: Tuesday 17 March (Northern Ireland only)
Good Friday: Friday 10 April
Easter Monday: Monday 13 April (England, Wales and Northern Ireland only)
Early May bank holiday: Friday 8 May
Spring bank holiday: Monday 25 May
Battle of the Boyne (substitute day): Monday 13 July (Northern Ireland only)
Summer bank holiday: Monday 3 August (Scotland only)
Summer bank holiday: Monday 31 August (England, Wales and Northern Ireland only)
St Andrew’s Day: Monday 30 November (Scotland only)
Christmas Day: Friday 25 December
Boxing Day (substitute day): Monday 28 December
As ever, there are various other key dates to remember in 2020. None provide paid, free time off work but all carry importance nonetheless.
Other dates for your diary:


inews--2020-04-29--When is Captain Tom Moore's birthday? How the fundraising hero's 100th is being celebrated - and whe

When is Captain Tom Moore's birthday? How the fundraising hero's 100th is being celebrated - and where to send a birthday card

When is Captain Tom Moore 's birthday ?
How the fundraising hero 's 100th is being celebrated - and where to send a birthday card Captain Tom Moore has raised more than £29m for the NHS during the coronavirus pandemic ahead of his 100th birthday on Thursday 'The volume of cards is astonishing' The veteran might have his work cut out sorting though his birthday post on the big day - more than 125,000 cards have been sent to him from well-wishers around the world .
More than 125,000 cards have been sorted and displayed by Bedford School ( Photo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The volume of cards that have been sent to granddad is just astonishing .
So many of the cards are truly heartfelt with thousands from young children who have taken the time to use their artistic talent and write a personal message .
The Royal Mail has offered its own gratitude to Captain Tom ( Photo : Getty Images ) And even those rare items of mail not being directed Captain Tom 's way will carry a reminder of his fundraising efforts - everything posted between 26 April and 1 May is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commemorate Captain Tom 's big day .
Mr Shapps wrote on Twitter that the aerial salute was `` meant to be a surprise for Tom '' , but confirmed it would be happening after it emerged that his department rejected an earlier plan for a flypast organised by a Spitfire restoration company .
Captain Tom 's fundraising ( and chart-topping ) efforts have earned him a place in the Guinness World Records ( Photo : AFP/Getty Images )