of the country over easter. former formula 1 commentator murray walker has died. he was 97. walker was appointed an obe in 1996 for his services to broadcasting and motor racing. the prime minister says he will do everything he can to make women feel safe on the streets after the kidnap and murder of sarah everard and said he and carrie would light a candle for her tonight. at clapham common, where a planned vigil was to take place, many laid flowers in memory of sarah — among them was the duchess of cambridge. but that memorial has now been cancelled because of covid restrictions and the public are being encouraged to take part in doorstep vigils instead. this morning, wayne couzens, a serving metropolitan police officer appeared in court, charged with her kidnap and murder. sarah everard disappeared while walking home in south london ten days ago, and the 33 year old's body was discovered in woodland in kent on wednesday. our correspondent kathryn stanczyszyn is on clapham common tonight. there was supposed to be an official vigil here at 6:30pm but it was cancelled after the women's safety campaign group reclaim these streets failed to get legal permission to overturn the metropolitan police order that it shouldn't go ahead because of covid—19 restrictions. figs because of covid—19 restrictions. sis you because of covid—19 restrictions. is you can seek many people have gathered tonight. for the afternoon people have come to pay their respects at this central point in clapham common close to where sarah was last seen. many people paying tribute with flowers and coming to spend a moment in silence. as darkness has fallen here it has turned into more of a protest with people chanting reclaim these streets. it has punted a wider conversation about female safety across the country and tonight boris johnson the prime minister has tweeted saying, tonight carry and i will be lighting a candle for sarah everard and thinking of herfamily and friends. i cannot imagine how unbearable their pain and grief is. we must work fast to find all the answers to this horrifying crime. it was confirmed yesterday that it was sarah's body that was found in woodland in ashford in kent and earlier serving metropolitan police officer pc wayne couzens appeared in court charged with her kidnap and murder. arriving at westminster magistrates�* court this morning, pc wayne couzens believed to be in this police van. the 48—year—old met police officer joined the force two years ago. today he appeared in the dock — charges of kidnap and murder were formally put to him. he will next appear at the old bailey on tuesday. it's ten days since sarah everard disappeared in south london. her body was found here in woodland, near ashford, in kent. it was found inside a builder's bag and identified through her dental records. extensive searches are continuing close to where her body was found. 30 miles away, the police officer's house in deal, in kent, is also a focus. and an old garage, in dover, where he used to work is being searched. what happened to sarah everard has started a national conversation about women's safety. here in clapham, close to where she was last seen, a vigil had been planned for people to express their sorrow, but also to send a broader message that many women feel unsafe on the streets. but it has now been cancelled after organisers effectively lost a high court challenge over covid—i9 restrictions. it doesn't end here by any stretch. we are encouraging people to light a candle in their doorstep or in their street at 9:30pm to remember sarah everard and her life, but also the lives of so many women that we've lost to violence of this kind. the case has also become a political issue. the government is seeking further views on how to tackle violence against women and girls. certainly, the messages that i have been having from women have been very powerful and important. the message i am giving back to government is do something, do something meaningful or my committee will be holding your feet to the fire over why not. but for sarah everard's family, what they are dealing with is unimaginable. they will be wanting answers as to what happened to sarah, who they say was bright, beautiful and a shining example. helena wilkinson, bbc news. while the official vigil by reclaim these streets was cancelled, as you can see, many people are here, chanting and putting up banners. there is a police presence here. earlier on there were maybe a handful of officers making sure that people were moving on. they were dropping off flowers and then leaving. now there's a greater police presence here, estimating about 1500 people have gathered although the police presence seems to be fairly hands off at the moment. earlier on the duchess of cambridge visited to pay her respects, and kensington palace said that the duchess wanted to pay her respects to sarah and her family. she remembers what it felt like to walk around london at night before she was married. reclaim the streets has urged people not to come to this point on clapham common tonight. it says it will instead have a doorstep vigil at 9:30pm, says it will instead have a doorstep vigilat 9:30pm, urging people says it will instead have a doorstep vigil at 9:30pm, urging people to come out on their doorsteps and light a candle or shine a torch but it says it will carry out a smaller, unofficial, non—public event later on, on brixton hill. in the past half hour, the metropolitan police has tweeted to say: the gathering at #claphamcommon is unsafe. hundreds of people are tightly packed together in breach of the regulations and risking public health. we are urging people to go home and we thank those who have been engaging with officers and who are leaving. #reclaimthesestreets jamie klingler is from the group reclaim these streets, which was set up this week to raise money for women—focussed charities — the group also organised the vigil on clapham common that was cancelled. we told the met that it would be worse if we didn't have the organisation we had planned which was covid safe and people are angry that we were silenced in this case, about women being silenced and having violence against them pursued. so we did everything we could to make it as safe and silent vigil. clearly that hasn't come out from yesterday and how it was communicated. it’s from yesterday and how it was communicated. �* , ., ., ., communicated. it's unfortunate that the situation — communicated. it's unfortunate that the situation we _ communicated. it's unfortunate that the situation we are _ communicated. it's unfortunate that the situation we are in _ communicated. it's unfortunate that the situation we are in prevents - communicated. it's unfortunate that the situation we are in prevents big | the situation we are in prevents big gatherings like this but the turnout, this unofficial turnout shows the strength of feeling, i suppose. shows the strength of feeling, i su ose. �* ., shows the strength of feeling, i su ose. ~ ., , ., suppose. and also, we started crowdfunding _ suppose. and also, we started crowdfunding at _ suppose. and also, we started crowdfunding at 7am _ suppose. and also, we started crowdfunding at 7am this - suppose. and also, we started i crowdfunding at 7am this morning because we weren't going to pay the fines because we didn't have the protests and it has hit £320,000 which was going to be the title in fines in 11 hours. this is the start of a movement. we are ready and people are showing that we have had enough of the violence. we need to sort this, it needs to be a priority for the government and the met and the need to take us seriously. the current convictions for men, women reporting things, it needs to be taken more seriously.- reporting things, it needs to be taken more seriously. arguably the mone is taken more seriously. arguably the money is going _ taken more seriously. arguably the money is going to _ taken more seriously. arguably the money is going to be _ taken more seriously. arguably the money is going to be better- taken more seriously. arguably the money is going to be better spent. money is going to be better spent anyway on something like fines. —— better spent anyway than on something like fines. 0ur you going to spend it? we something like fines. our you going to spend it?— to spend it? we decided at 2am to start fundraising. _ to spend it? we decided at 2am to start fundraising. we're _ to spend it? we decided at 2am to start fundraising. we're going - to spend it? we decided at 2am to start fundraising. we're going to i start fundraising. we're going to have a meeting and talk to sarah's family and get good guidance and get professionals involved about where it should go, women's charities. we're talking about getting access to legal care and underrepresented women. women of colour who have died have not had this kind of publicity and we need to make sure that women in domestic violence situations, those who don't have a voice, need to have their voices heard by the police and government. we to have their voices heard by the police and government. we have to be careful when — police and government. we have to be careful when we _ police and government. we have to be careful when we talk— police and government. we have to be careful when we talk about _ police and government. we have to be careful when we talk about an - police and government. we have to be careful when we talk about an active . careful when we talk about an active court case. but what it —— what is it about this particular moment that has brought so many people together to say, we've had enough? so has brought so many people together to say, we've had enough?— to say, we've had enough? so many times when — to say, we've had enough? so many times when we _ to say, we've had enough? so many times when we hear _ to say, we've had enough? so many times when we hear about - to say, we've had enough? so many times when we hear about women l to say, we've had enough? so many times when we hear about women it to say, we've had enough? so many i times when we hear about women it is either domestic violence or, she was drunk or she dressed a certain way. the excuses, and this time, she was wearing bright clothes, she did the call home to her boyfriend, she was on a busy road. we were all sarah, we were all possibly that person and by the chance that we weren't out that night, we didn't get snatched off the street and killed. we are desperately sad for her family and friends and it shook us all to the core because it broke the bubble of security that we tend to think we have. and every time it is popped, we are back down to being scared and alone which is why a silent vigil that was covid safe was so important. i could see other women who are grieving like i am, who haven't had someone to look and say that this is horrible and we should not be scared. it's not on the onus for women to stop protecting ourselves but for the men to stop killing and raping us. murray walker, for many, the voice of formula one, has died at the age of 97. he commentated on his first grand prix race for the bbc at silverstone in 19119 and became a full—time f1 commentator in 1978. andy swiss looks back at his life. so, it is ready, it is go, go, go! schumacher leads, brilliant start. exuberance, excitable and utterly unmistakable. murray walker was the high octane voice behind a high octane sport. it was once said that even in his quieter moments, he sounded like his trousers were on fire. that's it, bang, bang, and off! his passion came from his father, graham walker, who raced motorcycles and was himself a commentator, often sharing the duties with young murray. the sensation is that tommy wood went through not on time, not after time, but ahead of time. and after commentating on his first british grand prix in 19119, murray walker became an integral part of formula 1, especially in a double act with former world championjames hunt. but in a sport of inevitable risk, he was faced with tragedy too. world motor racing champion ayrton senna has been pronounced clinically dead. when the great ayrton senna died in a crash in 1984, walker's shock was only too clear. this is the blackest day for grand prix racing that i can remember in the many, many years that i have been covering the sport. walker never hid his emotions. most famously when his friend damon hill won the world title in 1996. damon hill exits the chicane and wins the japanese grand prix and i have got to stop because i have got a lump in my throat. for spectacular driving, watch this! his frenetic style was not without its gaffes... bernie, it is some 17 years since you bought mclaren. you have had some good times and bad times, what do you remember best? i don't remember buying mclaren. but the mistakes only increased his popularity. looking through a completely clean windscreen and that is the big advantage, of course, of being in front. his energy and enthusiasm endeared him to millions and when he covered his final british grand prix in 2001, the affection was plain to see. one of sport's most imitated voices, but there will only ever be one murray walker. the headlines on bbc news. the prime minister borisjohnson says he and his partner will light a candle this evening for sarah everard after an official vigil in south london was cancelled. metropolitan police officer, wayne couzens, has appeared in court after being charged with sarah everard's kidnap and murder. former formula 1 commentator murray walker has died. he was 97. the latest coronavirus figures show infections continuing to fall, though weekend numbers tend to be lower due to reporting delays. there were 5,534 new cases recorded in the latest 24—hour period, which means on average the number of new cases reported per day in the last week is 5,782. the number of hospital patients with coronavirus across the uk is 8,029. there were 121 deaths reported, that's of people who died within 28 days of a positive covid—19 test, which means on average, 149 people died every day in the last week from coronavirus, taking the total to 1251611. nearly 370,000 people have had their first dose of a covid vaccine in the latest 24—hour period, which means a total of 23.6 million people have now had their firstjab, and more than 1.5 million people, have had both doses of the vaccine. the number of new coronavirus cases is increasing in many european countries. health officials in germany say infections could reach peaks seen at christmas by mid—april, while poland has reported its highest infection rate in three months. shops, schools and restaurants will close across much of italy from monday, as mark lowen explains. it's just over a year since italy imposed the world's first national lockdown of the pandemic. now, the first country in the west to be overwhelmed by covid is in a third wave. with cases rising for the past six weeks — exceeding 25,000 a day — italy is closing its doors again. from monday, schools, shops and restaurants will shut in more than half the country. for three days over easter, they will close nationwide. the new prime minister, mario draghi, said urgent action was needed. translation: i am aware that today's restrictions will have _ consequences on the education of your children and the economy and everyone's mental health. but they are necessary to avoid a worsening of the situation that would require even stricter measures. it is a bleak situation in some other parts of europe, too. poland has seen its second highest daily number of cases since november, and germany is reporting a rapid rise among schoolchildren, with new variants to blame. the speed of vaccination programmes in most of the eu remains sluggish. italy has administered just over 6 millionjabs — about a quarter of the doses of the uk, with similar populations. austria's chancellor said vaccines weren't being fairly distributed among member states, with signs that some countries were striking side deals with manufacturers. mark lowen, bbc news, rome. here, as we heard earlier, the number of people in the uk who have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine has risen to over 23.6 million. the government aims to have offered all adults a first jab by the end ofjuly. meanwhile, many eu countries have struggled with the rollout of their vaccine programmes. today, the pharmaceutical giant astrazeneca announced a fresh shortfall in planned vaccine shipments to the european union, citing production problems and export restrictions. i've been speaking to robert yates, director of the global health programme at the international affairs think tank chatham house, and i asked him how proud the uk government should be of its vaccine rollout. i think in administering it so many vaccines are so quickly, extremely proud. i was one of the people to be vaccinated today, so i am personally delighted to have been vaccinated and it has been an amazing achievement, but we should not rest on our laurels and it is absolutely vitally important that the whole world is vaccinated. what we can celebrate, we should also be helping people around the world. how inevitable was it that the roll—out of a vaccine programme was going to become highly political and sensitive? i do not think it had to be like this at all. i think the world health organization set up a fantastic facility in aboutjuly last year called covax, which was all around vaccinating the world equitably and fairly. the whole objective should be about saving lives around the world and i think had some countries been more collaborative in a funding covax properly, humanity as a whole would have suffered fewer deaths. but when politicians have to balance public health with also keeping an economy going, it is naive to think that any government is going to very willingly give away vaccines to other countries before it has dealt with its own population? i think one it looks at objective need and i think clearly there is a drive across the world to protect health workers and elderly people, those with greatest need, but it shouldn't be the case that we are vaccinating teenagers in the uk to go on holiday while health workers are dying in kenya. how important is it for the government here for this vaccine to be so successful, given that there are still a lot of criticisms with the way the pandemic was dealt with this time last year? you are absolutely right, these things are highly political and you can see there is a real attempt for us to do extremely well on vaccines and say that we really conquered covid and perhaps gloss over some of the problems at the beginning of the pandemic. this time last year, a number of our neighbours were locking down much faster than us and had, we had a much worse time, particularly in the first wave. so i think there is a case of some leaders hoping that with a very successful roll—out we can forget what happened before, but we must look at things in its totality right from the beginning of the pandemic. you mentioned you had your first dose of the vaccine today. just tell us briefly about your experience, because we hear so many compliments paid to the vaccinators and how it is organised. it was fantastic, the nhs at its best and i personally like to thank all the staff at the junction health centre in clapham junction for basically potentially saving my life today. that is a truly wonderful thing. and the fact that there were all the races and classes of people there, it really did show the amazing solidarity of our publicly—financed nhs, which is performing extremely well and it is a beacon for the rest of the world. three cheers for the nhs in doing a fabulous job. let's go back to the news that the motorsport commentator murray walker has died. he was 97. let's speak tojen