Newscast

Adam is joined by Laura Kuenssberg and Hugh Pym to chat the ins and outs of London's move into England’s highest Covid tier this Wednesday. Dr Naomi Forrester-Soto assures us we probably don't need to worry about the “new variant” of coronavirus. And as blood donation rules for gay and bisexual men are to be relaxed across the UK, Dr Joseph Heskin explains why this is a big moment - both as a doctor, and as a new potential LGBT donor.

Studio Director: Emma Crowe

It’s been a year where many of us have lost a loved one. How do you deal with grief, or start to talk about it? Griefcast’s Cariad Lloyd joins Adam to guide us through.

Meanwhile, James drops by with new tier rumours, vaccine news, and the truth about whether Russians are being asked to choose their shots.

Studio director: Emma Crowe

Boris Johnson says there is now a "strong possibility" of a no-deal. The Brexitcasters are back AGAIN, this time joined by former International Trade Secretary, Dr.Liam Fox.

Studio Director: Ged Sudlow

As Boris Johnson's dinner with Ursula von der Leyen risks turning into a Last Supper for UK-EU trade talks, the Brexitcast gang reunite to discuss whether a deal is salvageable.

And as the vaccine rollout continues with new warnings for those suffering severe allergies, Sir Bob Geldof drops in to explain why he's an evangelist for the jabs.

Studio Director: Emma Crowe

A great day for science, a bad day for Covid-19. As the first Pfizer vaccines are given to patients in the UK, the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine publishes its data. Adam and Fergus chat to virologist Dr Elisabetta Groppelli about how the rollout might go - and learn some Italian while they're at it.

Jenny Hill has the latest from the prosecutors in Berlin trying to build a case against the suspect in the case of Madeleine McCann. And in honour of William Shakespeare, whose namesake got the vaccine today, we've rewritten one of his great monologues for the Covid age.

Studio director: Emma Crowe

Boris Johnson will head to Brussels this week to meet European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a last ditch effort to salvage a post-Brexit trade deal. But is a breakthrough possible? Activate Brexitcast!

And could snowy UK winters could become a thing of the past? Justin Rowlatt tells us how the UK’s climate could change where you live.

Studio Director: Emma Crowe

The BBC's Dan Roan joins Adam to discuss the return of football fans to professional games in England as well as the Premier League rescue package for clubs in lower divisions. And James Gallagher provides the latest on testing. Where can people get a test and are rapid lateral flow tests all they’re cracked up to be?

Producers: Alix Pickles, Ben Weisz

The chances of a breakthrough in the post-Brexit trade negotiations are “receding” according to Laura’s secret squirrel source - so we’ve sounded the Brexitcast klaxon!

And Tony Blair joins us to talk Brexit, vaccines and why he doesn’t watch political dramas on TV - especially ones featuring Tony Blair.

Studio Director: William Allott

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine has been judged safe for use in the UK, and will start to be rolled out next week. Adam is joined by BBC Health Editor Hugh Pym, Professor of Immunology Deborah Dunn-Walters and GP Dr Amir Khan to answer Newscasters’ questions.

Studio Director: Emma Crowe

England's national lockdown was, in the end, replaced with the Government's tougher tier system of local restrictions. Restrictions called "stupid" and poorly-targeted by some of its own backbenchers. Vicki and Adam discuss why those rebels spoke up.

Some of those politicians have been throwing around bed occupancy figures - but there are better ways to talk about how full a hospital is. Dr Coralie Carle explains.

And as the BBC reveals that people in deprived parts of England were almost twice as likely to die during the height of lockdown than people in richer areas, Ed Thomas and Father Alex Frost join us to reflect on how those pressures are being felt in Burnley.

If you've been affected by any of what you hear in this edition, help is available. Find out more at bbc.co.uk/actionline

Studio director: Emma Crowe