The Standard

Health experts and community leaders are joining forces to urge Londoners to get the Covid-19 jab after a shocking poll suggested a quarter of Londoners are unlikely to have it. The YouGov survey for the Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London, asked more than 1,000 Londoners in mid-November how likely or unlikely they were to have the Pfizer vaccine, which the pharmaceutical giant had recently announced was effective. We speak to Sophie Harman, professor of international politics specialising in global health at Queen Mary University, who tells us vaccines are safe and more must be done to ensure people trust them. Also, it's reported Arcadia Group, behind high street chains including Topshop and Burton, is facing collapse within days and is preparing to appoint administrators from Deloitte. Our deputy business news editor Joanna Bourke says the company's issued a statement saying it intends to open its stores next week, but has been hurt badly by lockdowns. She also says this year's Black Friday may not have been the revenue bonanza some retailers had been hoping for.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

London has escaped the toughest Covid-19 restrictions with cases now falling in more than two-thirds of boroughs, according to official figures. But our deputy political editor, Nicholas Cecil, says it was a "borderline decision" that politicians and health officials debated until the last moment. He takes us behind closed doors to reveal what was behind the judgement call, and just how close the capital was to being put into Tier 3.And, the Evening Standard has joined forces with TikTok to launch a £120,000 fund to support the next generation of theatre stars, who are struggling under the impact of Covid-19. Our arts editor, Nancy Durrant, tells us high-profile figures including award-winning actress Helen McCrory, theatre supremo Andrew Lloyd Webber and Young Vic boss Kwame Kwei-Armah have joined the panel to help decide who receives the 12 grants, each of £10,000.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Duchess of Sussex has described her “unbearable grief” after she suffered a miscarriage. In a moving account written for the New York Times, Meghan reveals how she lost her unborn baby in July while she and husband Harry were living in Los Angeles. We talk to Ruth Bender Atik, National Director at the Miscarriage Association, who tells us why it's important to break the taboo of talking about miscarriage, and praises the Duchess for coming forward. Also, our political reporter Sophia Sleigh on the "ominous" spending review announced by the Chancellor. Rishi Sunak's unveiled his vision for post-Covid Britain with a £4 billion "levelling-up" fund — but warned unemployment could first hit 2.6 million and borrowing more than £760 billion over four years.And, Katie Rosseinsky gives us her top tips to watch Netflix as the streamer announces its Christmas line-up, including Chadwick Boseman's final movie Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Politicians and business leaders are pleading for London to stay out of Tier 3, as the number of covid-19 cases falls in the city as a whole. The Evening Standard's Lizzie Edmonds explains the "crippling" effect it could have if the capital faces the highest post-lockdown restrictions. She talks about the devastation live performance would face, with indoor events continuing to be banned.Also, football correspondent Dan Kilpatrick tells us why clubs are celebrating fans being allowed back into the grounds, even though the limited numbers will mean bigger teams could face financial losses. The new tier system will allow up to 4,000 people into stadiums, and is being seen as the first step towards larger groups of spectators at sports events, as the Evening Standard has been campaigning for.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The UK’s home-grown Covid vaccine is “highly effective” — and the first Britons are expected to receive it by the end of the year. Oxford University says its vaccine was found to be up to 90 per cent effective in preventing people falling seriously ill with coronavirus. Our deputy political editor says rollout is due to begin "within weeks" but the government has a job on its hands to make sure everyone who should take it actually does. Also, London appears to be heading for a return to Tier 2 restrictions when lockdown ends - but it'll feel like Tier 3. Pubs and restaurants are still due to face strict new measures, with businesses in Tier 2 having to serve sit-down meals with any drinks. That's not good news for bars like the Dodo Micropub in Ealing, which doesn't serve meals. Its bos, Lucy Do, tells us that it's "the worst" outcome for them at the end of a heartbreaking year.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leading music industry figures are issuing an urgent plea to protect small venues facing collapse amid the pandemic. The coronavirus and lockdown measures have forced scores of live music homes in London to temporarily close since March. The CEO of the Music Venue Trust, Mark Davyd, tells us seven sites in London are now on red alert, with permanent closure imminent if action isn't taken. He says they've launched the #SaveOurVenuesCampaign to encourage the public to help. We also speak to Idlewild guitarist Rod Jones, whose band was supposed to be playing in Brixton this month as part of their 25th anniversary tour. He tells us about the London gig that led to them being signed in the first place. He also reveals how he persuaded acts like Belle and Sebastian and the Proclaimers to let their out of work crews re-record classic hits for the "Whole Lotta Roadies" album, which is raising awareness and money for a hardship fund to help the behind-the-scenes gig workers who haven't had a job for nearly a year.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Covid vaccine being made by Oxford university is safe and works well in older adults most likely to become seriously ill or die from the virus, its creators revealed today. In another major boost for hopes of bringing the pandemic to heel, they said the preliminary results for the UK’s main vaccine hope were “encouraging”. Our health editor Ross Lydall says there's optimism it will lead to elderly people currently forced to shelter finally getting to see their families again. He also says the injection seems to hurt older people less than younger ones. And, we speak to tech reviewer Tomi Adebayo - Gadgetsboy - about the new PS5 which has finally hit the shops, with the rush so great some stores saw their websites crash. He tells us how the new console is a huge leap in graphics, but you might have to shell out a small fortune on a TV to see all their benefits.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Families may be able to mix in “bubbles” at Christmas under plans for a brief relaxation of coronavirus restrictions over the festive period, according to reports. It comes as data shows the number of new cases in London appears to be stabilising and the R transmission figure heads towards 'one' in parts of England. But how would it work and would the risk of a post-festive season spike be worth it? We speak to MIND's CEO Paul Farmer who is imploring the government to consider the nation's mental health when making decisions, as he reveals the toll two lockdowns have had on the country. Also, it's emerged Dolly Parton is one of the funders behind the Moderna coronavirus vaccine, which has a 95% efficacy rate. Country music columnist Shiona McCallum tells us it's just one of the many philanthropic acts the singer performs every year from book donations to secretly producing the Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV show.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mouthwash can kill coronavirus within 30 seconds of being exposed to it in a laboratory, a scientific study has found. The preliminary result comes ahead of a clinical trial into whether using over-the-counter mouthwash could to reduce the levels of Covid-19 in a patient's saliva. We speak to Professor Damien Walmsley, from the British Dental Association, who says the latest research from Cardiff University now joins a growing body of evidence that mouthwash can kill coronavirus. He explains how it works, and why the government should include dental hygiene in its anti-Covid messaging. Also, Barack Obama's revealed the 'Presidential Playlist' he says he used to get him through his time in the Oval Office. With tracks like Aretha Franklin's 'The Weight' and BB King's 'The Thrill is Gone' has he revealed what it's really like to be President? We talk to Professor John Street who has written a book on the connection between music and politics. He tells us how global leaders use their favourite tunes to help shape their public brand, and has anything like that Love Actually scene with Hugh Grant dancing in Downing Street ever really happened?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Crown is already a huge success for Netflix, but the drama's being criticised for taking liberties with the truth. Some leading historians are concerned about how Prince Charles is being portrayed as the drama moves into the 80s and the arrival of Princess Diana. The Evening Standard's Katie Rosseinsky has watched all of season 4, and says the writers definitely use artistic license but argues they've never claimed to be making a documentary, and that's why it's such a hit.Also, half a million children in London will go hungry in the run up to Christmas if nothing is done to help them, according to researchers at London South Bank University. The Evening Standard's launched a campaign to make sure everyone gets fed this festive season. Working with charity partners Food for London Now is getting hot meals to the capital. Leon Aarts, from the With Compassion charity, tells us how they saw huge demand for help when they set up just two days after the first lockdown began.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.