Broadcast timeline
BBC News and Weather
Sunday 20 September 2026 · 22:00 BST · 25m · 7 stories · 13 annotated moments · 21 of 25 min on news stories (85%)
Broadcast overview
An AI-generated overview based on this broadcast's transcript.
The broadcast led with Earl Spencer telling the BBC that he omitted many details from his book about the King. He repeated a claim, disputed by the palace, that the then Prince of Wales said after Diana's death that she would be forgotten soon enough, and said his nephews William and Harry would not be surprised by it. He described the book as a historical record and personal memoir and as his swan song, while a BBC royal correspondent said publication on Tuesday and another US interview tomorrow were likely to prompt further coverage, with Buckingham Palace, William and Harry not commenting further.
It then reported that President Zelensky had announced he would meet Donald Trump in New York, saying there was diplomatic momentum towards ending the war. This followed what Moscow's mayor called the city's biggest ever drone attack, in which at least two people were killed and a major oil facility and apartment blocks were hit; the report also described Russian strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure and civilian sites. In Germany, Chancellor Friedrich Merz called his party's state election result a disaster but said he would stay on, with exit polls suggesting the CDU could be wiped out in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and the far-right AfD set to win most votes there, while his party was also expected to be beaten in Berlin. Ed Sheeran apologised on stage in Philadelphia for mistakes amid controversy over his world tour, after support act Macklemore was removed over pro-Palestinian remarks and other support acts dropped out; Sheeran set out his position on Gaza and Israel, became emotional, and said he worried about venues pre-approving content or performers.
Later, the Liberal Democrats called for an immediate 10p-per-litre cut in fuel duty to help with rising petrol and diesel costs, which they linked to attacks on Middle East refineries limiting global supplies. At their Brighton conference, Sir Ed Davey promised a temporary cut and set out a growth plan including rejoining the EU single market and backing freedom of movement, while some attendees questioned his leadership. Scientists in Scotland warned that new illegal and potentially deadly drugs, especially synthetic opioids such as nitazenes, were appearing at an alarming rate and being mixed with other substances, with fears of a rise in drug-related deaths; police had seized £80m of street drugs last year and £78m this year, and raids on suspected nitazene labs in Ayrshire and Midlothian led to five arrests. The broadcast also reported that a Chinese fishing boat collided with a 200-metre cargo ship, First Margo, off Singapore, causing the fishing boat to tip and take on water, with it unknown if anyone was injured.
- 2:19
- 8:57 Story begins Drone strikes on Moscow kill two and close airports
- 8:57
Claim Drone strikes on Moscow kill two and close airports
Zelensky announced he would meet Donald Trump in New York and said there was diplomatic momentum towards ending the war.
BBC One, BBC News and Weather, 20 September 2026, 8:57-9:05
- 9:06
Claim Drone strikes on Moscow kill two and close airports
The drone attack on Moscow was described as the largest ever, with over 1,000 drones launched and hundreds downed.
BBC One, BBC News and Weather, 20 September 2026, 9:06-9:15
- 10:02
Claim Drone strikes on Moscow kill two and close airports
The drone attack on Moscow was described as the largest ever, with over 1,000 drones launched and hundreds downed.
BBC One, BBC News and Weather, 20 September 2026, 10:02-10:08
- 11:20
- 11:20
Claim German state elections held in two states as Merz faces pressure
Merz said he would carry on and planned to meet senior party figures.
BBC One, BBC News and Weather, 20 September 2026, 11:20-11:29
- 11:30
Claim German state elections held in two states as Merz faces pressure
Exit polls and projections reported heavy CDU losses in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, with the AfD strong in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Die Linke projected first in Berlin.
BBC One, BBC News and Weather, 20 September 2026, 11:30-11:39
- 11:40
Claim German state elections held in two states as Merz faces pressure
The CDU is at risk of losing power in Berlin.
BBC One, BBC News and Weather, 20 September 2026, 11:40-11:47
- 14:07
- 14:07
Claim Ed Sheeran apologises on stage as solo Philadelphia show addresses Macklemore row
Sheeran apologised on stage in Philadelphia and acknowledged mistakes amid the tour controversy.
BBC One, BBC News and Weather, 20 September 2026, 14:07-14:15
- 14:16
Claim Ed Sheeran apologises on stage as solo Philadelphia show addresses Macklemore row
The withdrawals left Sheeran with no support acts for the tour.
BBC One, BBC News and Weather, 20 September 2026, 14:16-14:25
- 16:12
Claim Ed Sheeran apologises on stage as solo Philadelphia show addresses Macklemore row
Sheeran expressed concern about venues pre-approving performers or content.
BBC One, BBC News and Weather, 20 September 2026, 16:12-16:17
- 17:02 Story begins Liberal Democrats call for 10p fuel duty cut
- 19:31
- 22:46
- 22:46
Claim Rangers win at Celtic to cut Premiership lead to two points
Rangers beat Celtic 3-0
BBC One, BBC News and Weather, 20 September 2026, 22:46-22:56
- 22:46
Claim Rangers win at Celtic to cut Premiership lead to two points
Rangers beat Celtic for the second time in eight days, cutting the gap at the top of the Scottish Premiership to two points.
BBC One, BBC News and Weather, 20 September 2026, 22:46-22:50
- 22:51
Claim Rangers win at Celtic to cut Premiership lead to two points
Rangers beat Celtic for the second time in eight days, cutting the gap at the top of the Scottish Premiership to two points.
BBC One, BBC News and Weather, 20 September 2026, 22:51-22:56
- 23:42
Claim Rangers win at Celtic to cut Premiership lead to two points
Celtic did not score at home against Rangers for the first time in nearly six years.
BBC One, BBC News and Weather, 20 September 2026, 23:42-23:49
Source: BBC ONE West, "BBC News and Weather", Sunday 20 September 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.