Broadcast timeline
Channel 5 — 5 News at Lunchtime
Wednesday 12 August 2026 · 12:45 BST · 5m · 6 stories · 12 annotated moments · 2 of 5 min on news stories (44%)
Broadcast overview
An AI-generated overview based on this broadcast's transcript.
A man who murdered two women and sexually assaulted others was sentenced to a whole life order; the victims were Carmenza Valencia Trujillo and Cheryl Wilkins, and the judge said he ruthlessly exploited his victims while on bail for other offences. The Prime Minister chaired his first COBRA meeting on the UK's response to extreme heat and drought as the fifth heatwave began, with temperatures expected to hit 30 Celsius, and a New Forest wildfire the size of 230 football pitches was on the agenda.
Fifty police chiefs wrote to the Prime Minister calling for a rethink of early release plans to ease prison overcrowding, urging greater consideration for victims and specifically to stop the release of two men convicted of the manslaughter of PC Andrew Harper. President Trump confirmed he secretly switched planes last month after a credible Iranian missile threat, being smuggled off Air Force One in a catering truck before leaving a NATO summit. The government named the households that will receive £250 a year off energy bills as compensation for living near new power pylons.
Tonight's solar eclipse will be the fullest since 1999 and the best the UK will see for 55 years, with advice to use special glasses, a projector, or a live stream rather than looking directly.
- 0:13 Story begins Simon Levy convicted of double murder and rape
- 0:36
- 0:46
Claim PM chairs emergency Cobra meeting over extreme heat and wildfires
Temperatures were forecast to reach 30 to 38 degrees Celsius in parts of the UK.
5 HD, 5 News at Lunchtime, 12 August 2026, 0:46-0:50
- 1:00
Claim PM chairs emergency Cobra meeting over extreme heat and wildfires
A fire in the New Forest, started by a van, spread to protected heathland and led to the closure of the A31.
5 HD, 5 News at Lunchtime, 12 August 2026, 1:00-1:07
- 1:14
- 1:14
Claim Government revises early release scheme after probation warning
Fifty police chiefs signed a letter urging the prime minister to prevent the early release of two of PC Andrew Harper's killers.
5 HD, 5 News at Lunchtime, 12 August 2026, 1:14-1:22
- 1:14
Claim Government revises early release scheme after probation warning
Fifty police chiefs signed a letter urging the prime minister to prevent the early release of two of PC Andrew Harper's killers.
5 HD, 5 News at Lunchtime, 12 August 2026, 1:14-1:22
- 1:22
Claim Government revises early release scheme after probation warning
Fifty police chiefs signed a letter urging the prime minister to prevent the early release of two of PC Andrew Harper's killers.
5 HD, 5 News at Lunchtime, 12 August 2026, 1:22-1:33
- 1:22
Claim Government revises early release scheme after probation warning
Fifty police chiefs signed a letter urging the prime minister to prevent the early release of two of PC Andrew Harper's killers.
5 HD, 5 News at Lunchtime, 12 August 2026, 1:22-1:33
- 1:33 Story begins Trump switches planes over assassination threat
- 1:49
- 1:49
Claim Government confirms £250 discount for homes near new pylons
The government confirmed that households living near new pylons will receive £250 a year off energy bills.
5 HD, 5 News at Lunchtime, 12 August 2026, 1:49-1:58
- 1:49
Claim Government confirms £250 discount for homes near new pylons
The government confirmed that households living near new pylons will receive £250 a year off energy bills.
5 HD, 5 News at Lunchtime, 12 August 2026, 1:49-1:58
- 1:58
Claim Government confirms £250 discount for homes near new pylons
The electricity grid is being upgraded to boost renewable electricity supplies.
5 HD, 5 News at Lunchtime, 12 August 2026, 1:58-2:03
- 1:58
Claim Government confirms £250 discount for homes near new pylons
The electricity grid is being upgraded to boost renewable electricity supplies.
5 HD, 5 News at Lunchtime, 12 August 2026, 1:58-2:03
- 2:03
- 2:06
Claim Total solar eclipse to be visible across Europe and Arctic
The UK will not see a comparable eclipse until 2081.
5 HD, 5 News at Lunchtime, 12 August 2026, 2:06-2:14
- 2:14
Claim Total solar eclipse to be visible across Europe and Arctic
Broadcasters warned that looking directly at the sun can cause instant blindness.
5 HD, 5 News at Lunchtime, 12 August 2026, 2:14-2:23
Source: 5, "5 News at Lunchtime", Wednesday 12 August 2026. Transcript excerpts and stills are shown only to support the analysis annotated alongside them. Search-result excerpts are distinct from the editorial annotations — see our copyright basis. The full broadcast is not reproduced.