Professor Ferguson, 51, asked Antonia Staats, 38, to travel across London from her £1.9million home at least twice despite lecturing Britain on the need to stay apart to stop the spread of the virus.

Neil Ferguson, who advised Boris Johnson to introduce lockdown measures to combat coronavirus, has resigned after his married lover travelled across London to meet him twice.

Former Brexit secretary David Davis spoke out as Professor Neil Ferguson was removed from all advisory positions after allowing his lover to visit him at his London home during the lockdown.

Professor Neil Ferguson, 51, of Imperial College London, forecast grim coronavirus death tolls in the UK and US if their governments remained squeamish about social distancing.

Eileen Pirie, Neil Ferguson's mother-in-law, said the Imperial College scientist was working long hours and had been splitting his time between his flat in London and the family home in Oxford.

Bond aficionados will know that early in each story comes an inaugural meeting between hero and foe. A chance encounter over highballs, perhaps, or a high-stakes hand of chemin de fer.

Gyms in the UK are unlikely to reopen until at least the autumn with October being touted as a realistic return date for fitness fanatics, according to reports.

Boris Johnson today announced he is hoping to begin easing the UK's coronavirus lockdown on Monday as Matt Hancock suggested cafes could reopen if they have outdoor areas.

Don Sheppard who lives with his wife of more than 50 years, Sandra, in Laindon, Essex, says he was nearly overwhelmed with the stunning birthday tributes which took place on Monday.

The world's media has lined up to savage Britain's coronavirus response this week after the UK's death toll surpassed Italy's to become the worst in Europe.

EXCLUSIVE: Research for MailOnline shows 62 per cent are more worried about the effects of the draconian curbs ending too early, while 38 per cent say their main concern is the economic havoc now.

Boris Johnson's Downing Street Twitter account has started pumping out the more nuanced message as the Prime Minister said some draconian rules he imposed on March 23 will be lifted.

The proposals are to be split into five stages over the coming months, and a leaked version of the plan has suggested the first changes on Monday will see unlimited exercise allowed.

Dominic Raab tonight announced there is 'no change' yet to the UK's coronavirus lockdown rules as he urged Britons not to take advantage of sunny bank holiday weather.

Emergency planners have already been warned London's transport system could be overwhelmed by demand when the coronavirus lockdown is eased in some form.

Boris Johnson is caught in a struggle between those who want him to move faster to end the lockdown and those who fear it would trigger a second wave of coronavirus - as death toll rises to 30,615.

In an article saluting veterans on the 75th anniversary of VE Day, Keir Starmer said the care sector needs attention after the pandemic to help those who 'protected our country in its darkest hour'.

The Prime Minister told the cabinet he will proceed with 'maximum caution' when it comes to easing restrictions, to avoid another rise in coronavirus cases in the UK.

Commemorations of the 75th anniversary of the Second World War ending in Europe are taking place across the country in line with 'social distancing' guidelines.

A plan for the phased reopening of schools is expected to be announced by Boris Johnson when he unveils his lockdown exit strategy on Sunday.

Stephen Powis, NHS England's national medical director, said the first results of clinical trials - testing drugs like hydroxychloroquine -are expected in 'five to seven weeks'.

Professor Robert Dingwall said Britain had 'completely lost sight' of the true nature of the disease because 'mostly it isn't' killing people.

Guidance slipped out earlier this week states that domestic helpers 'can continue work' in people's homes, 'providing that you are well and have no symptoms'.

The Government is relying on the 'R' figure - the average number of people a coronavirus patient infects - to tell them when it is safe to unlock the UK. But experts have said the measure it is 'too crude'.

The PM is expected to recommend people wear them in the office, on public transport and when shopping despite not making them compulsory in England.

Garden centres will be allowed to reopen next week under Boris Johnson's plans to ease the lockdown.

Experts have slammed a 'misconception' that one single scientist was the 'architect of the lockdown' and single-handedly convinced the government to introduce drastic social distancing measures.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson was confronted by a member of the public as he walked through St James's Park this morning. This was the fourth time this week the PM has been seen holding a coffee cup.

Boris Johnson's plan to ease the UK's coronavirus lockdown will see people urged to cycle to work, firms told to provide staff with face masks and garden centres allowed to reopen from Wednesday.

The Mayor of London has come under heavy fire for failing to increase capacity on the Tube ahead of an expected rise in passengers as the Prime Minister looks to ease people back to work.

GARY NEVILLE: On Monday night, Sir Alex Ferguson would have celebrated with his title-winning team and enjoyed the evening. But on Tuesday night, he'd have been watching Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich in Europe and he will have thought: 'Right, that's where we're going.'

When I went to Paris last week to interview David Beckham as he announced his retirement from football, there was much to talk about and memories such as that one. But what resonated with me was that when I asked him how he would like to be remembered, he replied: ‘As a hard-working footballer.’

David Moyes's job is to change the perception surrounding him and the club at present. The only way to do that is on the pitch when the noise stops, the opinions stop and whatever people are saying doesn't matter any more. Saturday was the first step.

It would have been Bill Shankly’s 100th birthday tomorrow. Quite rightly the occasion is being marked at today’s game between Liverpool and Manchester United.

For a long period of my career, I was lucky enough to play behind David Beckham. It was a privilege because he was such a quality player.

When you look at how many England players have benefited from the loan system, you have to say it will be crucial for developing our young players in future.

When I was playing, I was a pain in the backside to referees. I was one of the narkiest, most unreasonable players imaginable. I was continually on to them throughout the match, always appealing for every single decision and always trying to affect them.

Sunday sees the premiere of The Class of '92 charting the extraordinary rise of a band of Manchester United youngsters. One of them, Gary Neville, sits down with another, Paul Scholes, and coach Eric Harrison.

The Usk Valley is a golden spot on the Welsh side of the border with England. The Daily Mail's Clive Aslet checks into Gliffaes, an ultra-comfy country house hotel.

Jet2 members of the pilots' union, the British Airline Pilots' Association (Balpa), are calling on the airline to recognise the need for 'improved work-life balance through fairer rostering patterns'.

Jet2.com takes home five prizes in total, with other winners including Qatar Airways and Emirates. Virgin Atlantic takes home two prizes - and EVA Air finishes very highly in the global ranking.

Airbnb has teamed up with the Louvre to let one lucky competition winner and a guest see what happens inside the building once the lights go out.

Jasmine Kosach, 31, from Tasmania, lives with her husband Ben and seven young children in an off-grid shack after growing up with an appreciation for all things nature.

They've been published in a new book called Ruin and Redemption in Architecture, which charts ruined spaces around the world and the designs that have totally transformed them.

It's part of the Camp Adventure Climbing Park, one hour south of Copenhagen on the island of Zealand, which at 18 acres is the largest woodland adventure park in Denmark.

After a long panto season stage-weary Jonathan Wilkes swapped Stoke-on-Trent for the Caribbean sunshine. During two weeks with P&O cruises he sampled the best the islands have to offer.

The new design, called Skyrider 3.0, is similar to previous incarnations of the seat. However, it does not have a pole between the seats to connect them to the floor and ceiling, as the previous version did.

They are actually wacky tents offered as accommodation by the National Trust and hang from trees at the Low Wray camp site close to the shores of Lake Windermere in Cumbria.

Complex airline economics mean that on most planes, almost every passenger will have paid a different fare. Here are six ways to get a cheap seat, according to the Holiday Hero.

The famous portrait artist was born in 1727 in Sudbury. Harry Mount went to visit the picture perfect town as well as some of the beautiful villages in surrounding rural Suffolk.