Questions over independence of Sage group come as UK death toll nears 20,000
- Coronavirus – latest global updates
- See all our coronavirus coverage
- Revealed: Cummings is on secret scientific advisory group for Covid-19
- Case for transparency over Sage has never been clearer
10.47am BST
Coronavirus tests for key workers through the government’s new booking website have run out in England and Wales for a second day in a row.
More than 10 million key workers and their households are now eligible for Covid-19 tests as officials race to hit their 100,000-a-day testing target by next Thursday.
Coronavirus test website slots unavailable within hour of site reopening https://t.co/7et9PDMzjD
10.32am BST
Killing Eve writer Luke Jennings, actor Robert Webb and Booker prize winner Bernardine Evaristo are to take part in a virtual book festival to be broadcast over three days during the first bank holiday weekend in May.
The Big Book Weekend will during 8-10 May “bring together the best of the cancelled UK literary festivals”, organisers said. It will feature video interviews, panel discussions and “in conversation” sessions.
It has been a joy working with so many of the literary festivals around the UK in bringing some of their events to an online audience.
I’m particularly excited by our opening event on Friday, with Maggie O’Farrell in conversation with Damian Barr on why books festivals are so important, particularly at a time like this.
The full #BigBookWeekend programme is here! Watch @arobertwebb, @BernardineEvari, @neilhimself, @MarianKeyes, @SirTimRice, @McCallSmith, @AdamJKucharski & more, brought to you by the UK’s amazing literary festivals. Sign up now to watch on 8-10 May https://t.co/WFpwMgv0pv pic.twitter.com/k48ErhyZKh