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BBC Two — Newsnight, followed by Weather

Tuesday 11 August 2026 · 22:30 BST · 35m · 3 stories · 10 annotated moments · 27 of 35 min on news stories (77%)

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Broadcast overview

An AI-generated overview based on this broadcast's transcript.

The Prime Minister said today he is confident that the killers of PC Andrew Harper can be excluded from an early release scheme, and the broadcast traced the government's evolving position over three weeks, from a review to exclusions for certain offences, and then to today's announcement asking the Justice Secretary to present a plan in September to reduce early releases, including returning foreign national offenders and addressing IPP sentences. The panel debated whether this was a listening PM or a U-turn, with criticism from police and the victim's commissioner, and figures showed the original scheme to free 6,000 prison spaces had been reduced to around 5,000 after exclusions, with about 1,000 more places needed.

The programme also previewed tomorrow's partial solar eclipse, interviewing Sir Brian May from Spain. May, a self-confessed eclipse anorak, discussed the experience and safety, advising against looking at the sun without proper equipment and recommending a pinhole projector, while noting the UK will see only partial phases and he is positioned for totality.

Later, the discussion turned to politics and polls, noting that Labour has inched ahead in recent surveys since Andy Burnham took over, with pollster John Curtice calling the "Burnham bounce" real but not massive. The panel debated whether Burnham should call an early election, with arguments about needing a bigger lead and a narrative, and some suggesting a spring election remains possible.

  1. 1:41
    Story begins Government revises early release scheme after probation warning
  2. 14:36
    Story begins Total solar eclipse to be visible across Europe and Arctic
  3. 15:47

    Claim Total solar eclipse to be visible across Europe and Arctic

    Brian May is in eastern Spain to view the eclipse.

    BBC TWO HD, Newsnight, followed by Weather, 11 August 2026, 15:47-15:51

  4. 18:01

    Claim Total solar eclipse to be visible across Europe and Arctic

    Total eclipse visible only in Iceland and parts of Spain.

    BBC TWO HD, Newsnight, followed by Weather, 11 August 2026, 18:01-18:04

  5. 18:01

    Claim Total solar eclipse to be visible across Europe and Arctic

    The total eclipse in northern Spain was reported to last about one minute 40 seconds.

    BBC TWO HD, Newsnight, followed by Weather, 11 August 2026, 18:01-18:04

  6. 19:20

    Claim Total solar eclipse to be visible across Europe and Arctic

    Broadcasters warned that looking directly at the sun can cause instant blindness.

    BBC TWO HD, Newsnight, followed by Weather, 11 August 2026, 19:20-19:22

  7. 19:36

    Claim Total solar eclipse to be visible across Europe and Arctic

    Broadcasters recommended a pinhole projector as the safest way to view the eclipse without certified glasses.

    BBC TWO HD, Newsnight, followed by Weather, 11 August 2026, 19:36-19:42

  8. 20:51

    Claim Total solar eclipse to be visible across Europe and Arctic

    Certified eclipse glasses must meet the ISO 12312 standard to be safe for direct viewing.

    BBC TWO HD, Newsnight, followed by Weather, 11 August 2026, 20:51-20:55

  9. 20:51

    Claim Total solar eclipse to be visible across Europe and Arctic

    Certified eclipse glasses must meet the ISO 12312 standard to be safe for direct viewing.

    BBC TWO HD, Newsnight, followed by Weather, 11 August 2026, 20:51-20:55

  10. 24:23
    Story begins Labour poll bounce to 26% after Burnham's first two weeks
  11. 25:25

    Claim Labour poll bounce to 26% after Burnham's first two weeks

    Labour's lead in the most recent YouGov poll is two points, within the margin of error.

    BBC TWO HD, Newsnight, followed by Weather, 11 August 2026, 25:25-25:30

  12. 27:34

    Claim Labour poll bounce to 26% after Burnham's first two weeks

    Burnham is bound by a manifesto he did not run on, which could create frustration and pressure to call an election.

    BBC TWO HD, Newsnight, followed by Weather, 11 August 2026, 27:34-27:42

  13. 28:13

    Claim Labour poll bounce to 26% after Burnham's first two weeks

    The early release scheme for prisoners will be tested in September, and Burnham insists he will find a solution.

    BBC TWO HD, Newsnight, followed by Weather, 11 August 2026, 28:13-28:19

  14. 28:50
    ~6 min without annotations

Source: BBC TWO, "Newsnight, followed by Weather", Tuesday 11 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.