these books are by me. this is fantastic. how many? run through. give me the catalogue. well, there are 37 books but these are all the different translations and additions and, as you can see, it starts with eye of the needle. and comes up all the way to this 1's. 37 books — and how many languages? 40 books — and how many languages? a0 languages altogether. total number of company sold around the world? as an author who is very proud of the fact that i have sold one—minute i have got an awful lot to go. just making me a littlejealous, can. you have written though 11 books before you had a bestseller. yes, well, eye of the needle was my first bestseller. you did not start out writing books though, that was not your firstjob. out writing books though, that was not yourfirstjob. i was out writing books though, that was not your firstjob. i was a newspaper reporter. you wrote your first novel while you had your first novel while you had yourjob on the newspaper and yourjob on the newspaper and you wrote flat in london london in the evening. as a kind of sidejob. you had a young child at the time though. we had two at the time though. we had two at the time though. we had two at the time. you had two young children, a full—time job and decided to write a novel that was published but did not go very far. most people would think at that point i will focus on the dayjob and quit that. ratherthan focus on the dayjob and quit that. rather than sticking at it. it is your confidence to keep going that is interesting. i guess so. don't you need that to finish your first book? i mean, you, you — so many journalists have 50 pages or 100 pages of a novel in a drawer. what happens is when you begin writing your first novel, it is quite exciting. you can make stuff up and think of neighbours or characters... so much better thanjournalism. so much better than journalism. yes. so much better thanjournalism. yes. and then after a few weeks you begin to think, well, tonight i think i will go down the pub. and it begins to get boring and you think about while nobody is going to read it anyway. and that is how the 50 or 100 pages and up in the draw for the rest of the journalist's life. and i really - i journalist's life. and i really — i suppose and i think everybody who actually finishes a book, has a grain of obstinacy and thinks, oh, hell, i've started the thing and i'm jolly well going to finish it. i certainly felt that and i think most people who end up as novelists have that streak. so, wait, this one, you mentioned eye of the needle. this was your 11th book.— your 11th book. and my first success- — your 11th book. and my first success- i _ your 11th book. and my first success. i look _ your 11th book. and my first success. i look at _ your 11th book. and my first success. i look at it - your 11th book. and my first success. i look at it now - your11th book. and my first| success. i look at it now and there was a lovely interview with paul mccartney on the radio and he was asked, when you listen to those she loves you and i want to hold your hand back how do you feel about it? he said i listen to those tracks and think about clever boys. i look at this book which i wrote 50 years ago and i think did i really write that when i was 27? i mean, it is really good and the fact people are still buying it all these years later, i think back did i do that when i was 27? what a clever boy! mi do that when i was 27? what a clever boy!— clever boy! ali copies has this old? i do _ clever boy! ali copies has this old? i do not _ clever boy! ali copies has this old? i do not know— clever boy! ali copies has this old? i do not know offhand. l old? i do not know offhand. probably — old? i do not know offhand. probably 10 _ old? i do not know offhand. probably 10 million. - old? i do not know offhand. probably 10 million. white i old? i do not know offhand. i probably 10 million. white glo — probably 10 million. probably 10 million. white glo — probably10 million. quickly, because i have it here and then we will sit down, but i want to ask about this when because this is your best, bestseller and it was a departure for you. yes. it and it was a departure for you. yes. ., , and it was a departure for you. yes. . , , ., , yes. it was your first mediaeval _ yes. it was your first mediaeval historical | yes. it was your first - mediaeval historical novel about the building of a cathedral. when you went to your publisher said you were known for a certain genre and you said i will buy this book about the building of a cathedral, what did they say? , they said, so, can, it is about building a church? yes. and it's in the middle ages quest yes. are you sure? and 21 of the publishers actually approach my wife barbara and said that you have got to stop him writing this book. it is going to ruin his career. i wonder if the publisher still has a job?— wonder if the publisher still has a “ob? ~ ,, ~ ., has a “ob? well, you know, i felt has ajob? well, you know, i felt very _ has ajob? well, you know, i felt very strongly _ has ajob? well, you know, i felt very strongly that - has ajob? well, you know, i felt very strongly that there | felt very strongly that there was a terrific popular novel to be written about building a cathedral in the middle ages. and that came as a bit of a surprise to my publisher. i had written these thrillers and they said you have done so well that the nazis and the kgb, why don't you just carry on with that. but i thought this could be better and i think it is the only time in my life when i have been right and everybody else has been wrong. but have been right and everybody else has been wrong.- have been right and everybody else has been wrong. but it was a creative _ else has been wrong. but it was a creative risk _ else has been wrong. but it was a creative risk you _ else has been wrong. but it was a creative risk you took? - else has been wrong. but it was a creative risk you took? yes, i a creative risk you took? yes, i did take every. and now to someone that has sold more than any other book. , 29 million. i do know that. i will put that back. it is fantastic. what a great wall and what a great this is how i have spent my life in this is what i have been doing. lets go and take a seat. so, in the course of writing are so many books, can, you have come to ideas about what makes a book a novel, a successful novel. you sort of developed tricks of the trade, i guess? developed tricks of the trade, i ruess? ., developed tricks of the trade, i ruess? . ., , developed tricks of the trade, | iuess? ., ., , i guess? there are many tricks of course _ i guess? there are many tricks of course but _ i guess? there are many tricks of course but there _ i guess? there are many tricks of course but there is - i guess? there are many tricks of course but there is 1's - i guess? there are many tricks of course but there is 1's key . of course but there is 1's key factor which is that the reader must share the emotions of the characters. , so that when a characters. , so that when a character is frightened, the reader is tense like this and if something sad happens the reader has a tear in their eye or his eye. and when something spooky happens, the reader might actually get up and go and make sure he really did lock the back door. that kind of thing. because that is what — we turn the pages because we care about what is happening to these people. and if you think about it, it is a very odd thing because you know i am making it up, sitting at my desk, and yet, when something sad happens, you are thinking, oh dear! and that is really the magic of literature and if you can do that, then really nothing else matters. and you are very clear— nothing else matters. and you are very clear about _ nothing else matters. and you are very clear about the - nothing else matters. and you are very clear about the genre | are very clear about the genre of book that you are writing. you would call it popular fiction. , yes, and it is what i always wanted to write. it is mainly what i have read most of my life, although i am actually quite interested in other kinds of novel. but it has been the kind of fiction that has given me the mostjoy in my life. plot is fundamental in popular fiction because something has got to keep the story turning over constantly. there must never be a moment when the reader thinks, this is a good moment to put the book down. 0r moment to put the book down. or this is a good moment to put the light out. and it is a plot that does that. it is the plot that does that. it is the plot that keeps the story interesting and turning and changing all the time, but the involvement comes from the emotion. so, istart involvement comes from the emotion. so, i start by working on the plot but the most important thing is the reader caring about what's happening. talk about your heroes and your villains and how you choose them, and do your heroes have little bits of bell and in them or do your villains have little bits of heroism them?- bits of heroism them? well, sometime- _ bits of heroism them? well, sometime. but _ bits of heroism them? well, sometime. but i _ bits of heroism them? well, sometime. but i don't - bits of heroism them? well, sometime. but i don't think| bits of heroism them? well, | sometime. but i don't think it is a rule. when i was writing the pillars of the earth, i have this character william hamley and he is the worst villain — and there are seven villains in that story but he is the worst of the mall — and i thought, you know, should is the worst of the mall — and ithought, you know, should i try and give him some saving grace and then i thought, the heck with it, he is going to be absolutely out and out as black as call. and, interestingly enough, of all my characters, he is the ones most mentioned in conversations with readers and they say — that william hamley — i wanted you to kill him off earlier! with a character that good i was not going to kill him off until the end of the book. but isn't it interesting that the readers did not say to me, surely he should have had some saving grace, they ought to have been something nice about him? they just totally responded to him. you deal with big questions and big actions and big, often brave, bold characters. and i imagine that is no co— coincidence, that in a novel you need mousy wallflower is not could be very interesting, it does not pay big decisions? absolutely. cautious, timid people never get in trouble a story story to tell about them. a new start with the very first eyed dalic line which poses a big question and some of it goes from there and it is big and bold and its... i goes from there and it is big and bold and its...— goes from there and it is big and bold and its... i do think first lines— and bold and its... i do think first lines are _ and bold and its... i do think first lines are important - and bold and its... i do think first lines are important and | first lines are important and if i can i want to write a first line or maybe a first paragraph that makes the reader want to read the next sentence of the. that is quite important. people in bookshops opening the book and saying, what is this about? so, yes, i like a dramatic first line and actually i probably— best is in the pillars of the earth, it is the small boys came early to the small boys came early to the hanging. that is a good first line because you do not expect small boys to be at a hanging and it also gives you the feeling, which i wanted to give, that this story is taking place in a society that is quite cool.— place in a society that is quite cool. and then you connect _ quite cool. and then you connect with _ quite cool. and then you connect with the - quite cool. and then you connect with the armour quite cool. and then you i connect with the armour of light, you touch on themes that i think are overtly political. be labour rights — which actually feel like very modern theme. i think often your books have modern theme so maybe that is part of why we love them because it is the universality of falling in love and loss and grief, but this one — the theme of labour rights and depression and people who are sort of pushed down by the era that they are in, i don't know, it felt to be, can, particularly apt of ourtime felt to be, can, particularly apt of our time somehow. irule]!!! apt of our time somehow. well there certainly _ apt of our time somehow. well there certainly are _ apt of our time somehow. -ii there certainly are parallel so most important point is the technical revolution. and the armour of light is about a time when new machinery turned the lives of ordinary people upside down. and, actually, new machinery has been doing that ever since the 18th century really, hasn't it? and the current thing that has people worried is artificial intelligence and the worry that it will take away their jobs and their livelihoods and so on. and exactly the same thing was going on in the 18th century. there was also in the 18th century a terrible european war and it actually went on for 23 years. please, god, the war in ukraine would go on for 23 years, but it is possible. finally there was a cost—of—living crisis in the 18th century. 0n the 18th century it takes the form of the price of bread doubling and in those days most families would buy the standard loaf, which was a £a loaf, and at the beginning of the story it is 7p and by the end of the story it is double that. so, there were those three similarities — new technology, a terrible war and inflation. and, as you rightly say, that is exactly what we're at today's. say, that is exactly what we're at todav's-_ at today's. sale is wanted by favourite _ at today's. sale is wanted by favourite characters - at today's. sale is wanted by favourite characters and - at today's. sale is wanted by l favourite characters and when at today's. sale is wanted by i favourite characters and when i was reading it, the heroine of the armour 0f was reading it, the heroine of the armour of light, who is this wonderfully strong woman who starts at the beginning of the book losing her husband and takes on all of these challenges with her young son and forms a union and makes the best of these very difficult circumstances, but i found myself wondering what history have had a sale? would you have had a heroin? would women have beenin had a heroin? would women have been in that kind of position in the middle ages? find been in that kind of position in the middle ages?- been in that kind of position in the middle ages? and i am asked that — in the middle ages? and i am asked that question _ in the middle ages? and i am asked that question a - in the middle ages? and i am asked that question a lot - asked that question a lot because i do always write about women like this but i think in every period of history, there are people who refuse to take on the identity that society is trying to give them. a small number of people, of course, they are the rebels. they are they are the rebels. they are the ones that say everybody says to them, oh, you — a typical example would be saying to a girl pushing 30, you really ought to get married, you know? and she might say, heck, no. i'm not going to do that. now, most girls in the victorian era did not say heck, no, of course. but one or two dead and they are the interesting ones. the ones who do exactly what is expected of them are not worth writing a story about. it is too predictable. so i like those kind of characters and i think a few of them exist in every period of history. can, we have something to show you. a better check we have the right things. this is a ken follett, this is your life moment. follett, this is your life moment-— follett, this is your life moment. , , moment. yes, that's me. they must be six — moment. yes, that's me. they must be six there, _ moment. yes, that's me. they must be six there, i _ moment. yes, that's me. they must be six there, i think. - must be six there, i think. this is you right here, your mum and your dad and your... my sister hannah. your sister hannah. and this is in wales we grow? it hannah. and this is in wales we crow? , , , , grow? it is in definitely, yes, live there _ grow? it is in definitely, yes, live there until— grow? it is in definitely, yes, live there until over - grow? it is in definitely, yes, live there until over ten - grow? it is in definitely, yes, | live there until over ten years old. so that is definitely where that is. your family was very religious.— very religious. deftly, extremely _ very religious. deftly, extremely religious. i very religious. deftly, - extremely religious. middle class? yes. _ extremely religious. middle class? yes, basically. - extremely religious. middle class? yes, basically. they| class? yes, basically. they didn't have much money at that point, but basically they were middle—class. my dad worked for the inland revenue and eventually became a tax inspector. eventually became a tax inspector-— eventually became a tax insector. �* ,, , eventually became a tax insector. �* , ., inspector. and you grew up in a household _ inspector. and you grew up in a household where _ inspector. and you grew up in a household where there - inspector. and you grew up in a household where there was - inspector. and you grew up in a household where there was not| household where there was not television. household where there was not television-— television. there was no tv, wasn't allowed _ television. there was no tv, wasn't allowed to _ television. there was no tv, wasn't allowed to go - television. there was no tv, wasn't allowed to go to - television. there was no tv, wasn't allowed to go to the l wasn't allowed to go to the movies, because that was part of their religion, it was a very puritanical set that they belonged to. but every cloud has a silver lining, so on saturday morning the cinemas used to show movies for kids. and everybody i knew went on saturday morning. it was the only one who wasn't allowed to go. and of course it was absolutely furious about it. but instead they went to the public library and that probably helped me. what did our probably helped me. what did your parents _ probably helped me. what did your parents make _ probably helped me. what did your parents make of - probably helped me. what did your parents make of your- your parents make of your success as a novelist? they had very mixed _ success as a novelist? they had very mixed feelings _ success as a novelist? they had very mixed feelings because, i very mixed feelings because, of course, in my stories people say things like "oh my god" and my parents think that is wrong. there is a verse in the bible does not take the name of the lord in vain. and they hated the fact that peoples and things like that and of course there are very explicit love scenes in my books and they found that very disagreeable. my found that very disagreeable. my dad read the books. he was a bit more broadminded than my mum. my mum eventually discovered the reader's digest condensed book. in one volume they would put shortened versions of four books, four novels. and being the reader's digest they would take out all the love scenes and all the swearing and so on. the sanitised _ swearing and so on. the sanitised version. - swearing and so on. the sanitised version. it - swearing and so on. the sanitised version. it was swearing and so on. the i sanitised version. it was a sanitised _ sanitised version. it was a sanitised version - sanitised version. it was a sanitised version and - sanitised version. it was a sanitised version and my. sanitised version. it was a - sanitised version and my mum love those. sanitised version and my mum love those-— love those. this is you as a cub reporter, _ love those. this is you as a cub reporter, the - love those. this is you as a cub reporter, the ken - love those. this is you as a i cub reporter, the ken follett that could have been.- that could have been. that's riaht, that could have been. that's right. yes. _ that could have been. that's right, yes, that's _ that could have been. that's right, yes, that's right. - right, yes, that's right. that's about the time that i was writing eye of the needle. why was working as a report in the day and then writing eye of the day and then writing eye of the needle in the evening. that was the best typewriter you could get, think, at the time. did you find it easy to write on a typewriter they didn't have a delete button? a have to do where i am completely reliant on the delete button to write anything. i mean, the only way you can get my mind to allow me to put anything on the page is no way can get over it and with that you had to tip exit out or white pasted out or whatever it was.— exit out or white pasted out or whatever it was. and of course ou whatever it was. and of course you didn't _ whatever it was. and of course you didn't dream _ whatever it was. and of course you didn't dream of _ whatever it was. and of course you didn't dream of the - whatever it was. and of course you didn't dream of the way i whatever it was. and of course l you didn't dream of the way you can delete on modern computers. that hadn't even been thought of. , ., ., , ., of. ken, if you had been a writer. — of. ken, if you had been a writer, clearly _ of. ken, if you had been a writer, clearly you're - of. ken, if you had been a| writer, clearly you're going of. ken, if you had been a - writer, clearly you're going to be a rock �*n' roll star. laughter. you know, it's hard to know, isn't it? i've been playing the guitar since i was 1a and they play the bass guitar now, which is what i'm playing there. it's always been something that i've felt relaxed about because they don't have to be the best in the world that it. so a play simple lines on the bass guitar and i don't care if anybody is impressed, so long as the bad light is what i'm playing, that's the main thing. i think ou look that's the main thing. i think you look very _ that's the main thing. i think you look very relaxed. - that's the main thing. i think you look very relaxed. yes, | you look very relaxed. yes, really enjoying _ you look very relaxed. yes, really enjoying it. _ you look very relaxed. yes, really enjoying it. yes. - you look very relaxed. yes, really enjoying it. yes. a i really enjoying it. yes. a secret door! into the den. that's right.— secret door! into the den. that's right. this is where it all happens- _ that's right. this is where it all happens. i— that's right. this is where it all happens. i love - that's right. this is where it all happens. i love this, - that's right. this is where it all happens. i love this, by| all happens. i love this, by the way. all happens. i love this, by the way-— the way. they're not real books- — the way. they're not real books. they _ the way. they're not real books. they are - the way. they're not real books. they are not - the way. they're not real books. they are not real| the way. they're not real- books. they are not real books. this is where all the magic happens. yeah. but you can write anywhere, ken.- write anywhere, ken. that's ri . ht, write anywhere, ken. that's right. and — write anywhere, ken. that's right, and the _ write anywhere, ken. that's right, and the departure - right, and the departure lounge, monoplane, in the car. have to say, this is a spot is not bad. have to say, this is a spot is not bad-— have to say, this is a spot is notbad. ,, ,, not bad. this is the best ways. we're going — not bad. this is the best ways. we're going talk— not bad. this is the best ways. we're going talk about - not bad. this is the best ways. we're going talk about the - we're going talk about the process. so, ken, you've got your three screens, and avoids beenin your three screens, and avoids been in the process. you described it to me a in washington years ago but you have a very methodical approach to how you do the books stop describe the process. 50. to how you do the books stop describe the process. so, this screen shows _ describe the process. so, this screen shows the _ describe the process. so, this screen shows the first - describe the process. so, this screen shows the first draft, i screen shows the first draft, draft a. on the right—hand side are notes from various people who have seen the first draft and you will see here somebody who works for me said "it was not drawn in as quickly nor did they read it as fast as the last two books." so that is interesting, isn't it? that suggest that the first chapter might be a bit ponderous. so maybe you haven't got your plot twist every 3— four pages that you like to have. twist every 3- four pages that you like to have.— twist every 3- four pages that you like to have. yes, yes. so that commenters _ you like to have. yes, yes. so that commenters write - you like to have. yes, yes. so that commenters write up - you like to have. yes, yes. so that commenters write up at i you like to have. yes, yes. so i that commenters write up at the top of the list of comments because that was quite important one. 50 because that was quite important one.- because that was quite imortant one. ,, ., �* important one. so you wouldn't read that and _ important one. so you wouldn't read that and think _ important one. so you wouldn't read that and think to - important one. so you wouldn't read that and think to hell- read that and think to hell with that, i'm ken follett, what would they know? talc! you what would they know? no! you would what would they know? fir?! you would read that think what can i learn? i'll take that back? absolutely, absolutely, yes. and then in the middle this is the second draft, but watto would be doing is writing this second draft and eye type, i.e. key is, don't type it and edit it and make marc soler, take a blank sheet of paper in the middle and then i start writing the whole book again.- the whole book again. which must take — the whole book again. which must take longer _ the whole book again. which must take longer than - the whole book again. which must take longer than going | the whole book again. which i must take longer than going of the first draft and editing it. absolutely. it takes a full year. planning is here, first doctors here, second draft of the year. it sounds as if it is a draw that might —— make sure that my not be essential, summarised by publishers want to publish the first draft, because that's —— this because the standards aren't as high as mine. and generally after the second draft these cic which means by the new thing by writing the second draft from scratch she was at it with a better product. definitely, no question. i'm totally convinced of that. do question. i'm totally convinced of that. do you ever get banks did about _ of that. do you ever get banks did about writing, _ of that. do you ever get banks did about writing, do - of that. do you ever get banks did about writing, do you - of that. do you ever get banks did about writing, do you ever| did about writing, do you ever suffer writer's block or feel what my doing and have an existential crisis about it? i never have a crisis, but there is a moment in every book, and they have talk to other writers about this you have the same thing. there is a moment in every book where you are deep into it and you've written several hundred pages and you look at it and you think "why the heck would anybody want to read this? “ �* , read this? "laughter. what is _ read this? "laughter. what is - _ read this? "laughter. what is - watto - read this? "laughter. what is - watto is - read this? �*laughter.| what is - watto is so... read this? "laughter. - what is - watto is so... and what is — watto is so... and know what you have to do is press on, you have to put that thought aside and you have to say things like "if it's not good enough then i will rewrite it and it will be better." and thatis it and it will be better." and that is the nearest icon. you could call it an existential crisis, it isjust could call it an existential crisis, it is just a could call it an existential crisis, it isjust a moment could call it an existential crisis, it is just a moment of severe doubt. i crisis, it isjust a moment of severe doubt.— crisis, it isjust a moment of severe doubt. i think you are the least _ severe doubt. i think you are the least tanks _ severe doubt. i think you are the least tanks did _ severe doubt. i think you are the least tanks did right - severe doubt. i think you are the least tanks did right eye | the least tanks did right eye have ever met.— have ever met. that's quite likel . have ever met. that's quite likely- -- — have ever met. that's quite likely. -- writer. _ have ever met. that's quite likely. -- writer. early - have ever met. that's quite likely. -- writer. early my i likely. —— writer. early my career and agent and he said the only problem with you as a writer is you are not a tortured soul.- writer is you are not a tortured soul. you love it. you love the _ tortured soul. you love it. you love the whole _ tortured soul. you love it. you love the whole process. - tortured soul. you love it. you| love the whole process. unlike the whole _ love the whole process. unlike the whole thing. _ love the whole process. unlike the whole thing. i'm _ love the whole process. unlike l the whole thing. i'm completely absorbed by it. to say i like my work is like saying a like my work is like saying a like my wife, i don'tjust like my wife, a adore my wife, that is how i feel about the work. i'm absolutely into it. hi! i'm ellis with the catch up! tonight: a famous poet dies. cash use rises. and chanel takes over manchester. but first to the war in israel and gaza. tens of thousands of palestinians are continuing to move into rafah, a city near the egyptian border, trying to escape the intense fighting elsewhere in the southern gaza strip. meanwhile, the bbc�*s been hearing from young people who survived the attack on a music festival in israel back in october. more than 360 young people were killed there and thousands who survived are now facing mental health challenges. trained volunteers have set up their own centres to offer the help that's needed. lior is 2a. she's one of the people using the service. it's almost been two months and i only feel comfortable hearing music with the concerts and with the artists that come here. i really feel that the therapists are here to help and to listen. some other stories now: one of the uk's most influential modern poets, benjamin zephaniah, has died. he was also a star in peaky blinders. born in birmingham, he wrote and recited poetry in a caribbean dialect which reflected his family's immigrant background. and cash use has gone up for the first time in ten years, retailers say. it's cos shoppers are keeping a closer eye on their budgets while prices rise. time now to leave you with ten seconds of chanel in manchester. part of the city's northern quarter has been taken over by the french fashion brand and used as a catwalk tonight. you're all caught up. bye for now! hello there. thursday's weather was pretty wet for many of us, and we're going to see further bouts of heavy rain moving their way in over the next few days. but i think for many there'll be a brief respite in the really wet conditions on friday with some sunnier spells. but we've still got this area of low pressure into friday, and that's going to keep things pretty unsettled. but the bulk of the rain that we had on thursday has cleared away to the north and the east. and as we start off on friday, temperatures for many of us positive, so about 6—8 degrees celsius. still quite wet and windy in the northern isles throughout the day, and we'll see these showers moving their way in from the west. but there will at least be some sunny spells, particularly towards eastern and south—eastern areas for much of the day. one or two showers eventually moving in, and temperatures probably getting into double figures for many of us. about 6—8 celsius across scotland. now, the winds will strengthen for a time around the irish sea and the north channel coasts. with that, some further heavy rain spreading through, and then into saturday morning, another band of very heavy rain will slowly move its way in, making it a very wet start to saturday morning. but again, overnight temperatures into saturday staying up into positive figures. now, for the weekend, it will stay unsettled. there'll be rain at times, but it's not going to be a complete wash—out. there'll be some sunshine around for a time as well. but a very wet start, as i mentioned, for many on saturday. some pulses of heavy rain spreading its way north and eastward. by lunchtime, spreading into central parts of scotland, northern ireland. for england and wales, there'll be a few showers towards northern and western areas. 0therwise, though, a drier afternoon with some sunny spells. and again temperatures 11—13 degrees in the south, 7—8 degrees further north. that area of rain will continue to move to the north with that area of low pressure, and then another area of low pressure develops as we head into sunday. that's one to watch. we could see some pretty strong winds linked in with that, with again rain spreading its way in from the south—west, pushing north and eastwards. so, yes, a spell of rain for a time before it clears, and there'll be something a bit brighter towards england and wales into the afternoon. just eastern areas staying on the wet side, and temperatures once again about 6—12 degrees celsius. into next week, it starts to calm down a little bit from mid—week onward with something a bit drier. bye— bye. live from washington, this is bbc news. images emerge from gaza, which appear to show palestinian men on their knees, stripped to their underwear, being held by israel defence forces. the uk foreign secretary warns that russia will win the war, unless ukraine receives more funding. the us reaffirms its unwavering backing for guyana's sovereignty after venezuela announces plans to annex one of its oil—rich regions. iamat i am at the cop 28 climate conference in dubai where week two begins and conflict over a final takes still hangs in the balance. hello, i'm helena humphrey. good to have you with us. we begin with the situation in gaza. some of the latest images appear to show dozens of palestinian men, stripped to their underwear, with their hands tied behind their back, being held by israel defence forces. it's not clear if they have surrendered or if they have been taken by the military. israel has not said who the men are, but it has confirmed that israeli forces are making arrests in gaza. the new images come as tens of thousands of palestinians are streaming into rafah city, near the gaza strip's southern