Its special opening episode (set in South Africa) was slightly longer than the usual hour and evidently so incredible the notion of just cutting it by five minutes was unthinkable.

Boris Johnson already appears to be fighting a losing battle after EU leaders reacted with dismay at his solution to the Irish backstop.

Rory Stewart today announced he will run as an independent candidate to be Mayor of London after he revealed he is standing down as an MP and has resigned from the Conservative Party.

Boris Johnson has restored the Tory whip to 10 of the 21 former Conservative rebels who were expelled after backing a bid to block a No Deal Brexit.

Boris Johnson tore into John Bercow this afternoon with a series of jibes as the Commons Speaker oversaw his final Prime Minister's Questions session.

Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson are under increasing pressure to form an alliance ahead of the December 12 snap poll to prevent their two parties from splitting the Leave vote in key constituencies.

Boris Johnson insisted the Tories are the real party of the NHS as he faced off against the Labour leader for the last time before Parliament dissolves for the campaign.

Callum Warren, 27, is accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting the student while she worked as a parliamentary assistant to another Tory MP at Westminster, who cannot be named.

Remain campaigners have launched a website that shows EU supporters who to tactically vote for to have the best chance of stopping a Tory majority and thwarting Brexit .

The former Tory Party adviser has taken unpaid leave to tour the UK electioneering for young female Conservative candidates in marginal seats in the run up to December 12.

Mr Rees-Mogg, 50, was asked about decision by London Fire Brigade not to evacuate the burning block and told LBC's Nick Ferrari: 'If you just ignore what you're told and leave you are so much safer'.

A re-edited version of a GMB interview with Sir Keir Starmer yesterday ran online showing him unable to answer a question from Piers Morgan. The full exchange showed him answering immediately.

Conservative candidate for the seat of Dover Charlie Elphicke will be replaced by his wife Natalie Elphicke after he was suspended from the party over sexual assault allegations.

Health secretary Matt Hancock today admitted the Conservative Party needed to hold an inquiry on Islamophobia. Baroness Warsi responded to Hancock's intervention on Twitter.

The Brexit Party leader said he was offered a seat in the House of Lords last Friday, branding the offer 'ridiculous'.

Nigel Farage was tonight warned by his political ally Arron Banks that he has '48 hours to save Brexit' and that he must stand down more of his party's election candidates.

Jeremy Corbyn staged a stunt claiming to reveal sensitive documents about US-UK trade talks, after he was left reeling by Britain's chief rabbi saying he is not fit to become PM.

Boris Johnson and the Tories have a 10 point poll lead over Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party with the general election now just one week away.

Following an interview on ITV's This Morning, the Prime Minister used what appeared to be a Huawei P20 to take a selfie with presenters Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby.

All the main leaders apart from Tory Mr Johnson have now taken part in the half-hour BBC One inquisition, with critics suggested he is scared of making an election-losing gaffe.

Michael Gove gave out the No10 phone number live on radio as he was pushed over whether the PM is running scared of the interview.

An attempt by Matt Hancock to defuse a row over a sick child who was forced to lie on a hospital floor while waiting for treatment descended into farce today

The UK's tax burden would hit a record high under Jeremy Corbyn, according to new research published by the TaxPayers' Alliance.

Jeremy Corbyn has desperately tried to downplay damaging remarks made about him by shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth.

Boris Johnson today seized on comments made by Labour frontbencher Jonathan Ashworth who said Jeremy Corbyn would be a security risk if he becomes prime minister.

A new YouGov survey showed there are 85 constituencies where the leading party is ahead by five per cent or less and in many of those seats the Brexit Party is standing a candidate.

Piers Morgan was visibly shocked and Susanna Reid had her head in her hands as Mr Johnson's unnamed aide loudly declared 'for f***s sake' and blocked the path of a GMB reporter.

The activist was 'shocked' by the attack outside High Barnet tube station just before 3pm and was treated at the scene before further tests were carried out in hospital.

A survey conducted by Opinium between December 10-11 puts the Tories on 45 per cent overall, down one point, while Labour is up two points to 33 per cent.

Some 23 per cent of those quizzed by IpsosMORI said hey could yet alter their support. The analysis for the Evening Standard also showed that Boris Johnson is on course for a majority.

Brexit has dominated this year's election with the phrase 'Let's get Brexit Done' becoming Boris Johnson's mantra and the exit poll confirms the Tory's are set for a large majority.

The Conservatives have taken the Workington seat from a Labour in a huge swing, managing to overturn a 3,000 majority to triumph by a stunning 4,000 votes. 

The Derbyshire constituency has been Labour since its inception in the 1950s, but the Conservatives last night trounced Mr Skinner to return a 5,299 majority.

The Labour supporting popstar, who has been singing the left-wing's praises during the campaign, posted the message alongside a sad face emoji on Instagram.

Mr Gove, who introduced his party leader at his victory rally today (pictured), is being tipped to be given a new trade role to promote Britain as it leaves the EU by January 31.

Boris Johnson is facing potential embarrassment caused by his private life, including probes from the IOPC and the GLA over public money granted to his alleged former lover Jennifer Arcuri.

EXCLUSIVE: The actor, 59, looked crestfallen when the exit poll landed at 10pm last night as he enjoyed wine and food at the Tendido Cero tapas restaurant in Kensington last night.

After the exit poll predicted a large Conservative majority taking Westminster, Mr Bercow appeared in the television studio, and viewers said he looked on the verge of tears.

Social media users savaged the left-winger after she slammed the Tory victory this morning after she said the Tories won the election because racism runs deep in the UK.

Boris Johnson says he will refuse to extend the Brexit transition period beyond the end of next year but EU politicians are considering asking for it to be pushed back themselves.

PETER HITCHENS: Well, hurrah. After almost a decade of fooling around, chaos, waste and confusion, we have finally saved the Tory Party from richly deserved doom.

The Queen's Speech on Thursday, setting out the Government's agenda for the new Parliament, will give legislative force to the policy priorities which secured Mr Johnson's landslide win.

Boris is celebrating this morning as the most powerful Conservative Prime Minister since Thatcher - but for years it looked like his complicated personal life could derail his vaunting ambition.

Triumphant Conservatives are reporting for duty in Westminster after demolishing Labour's 'Red Wall' of Leave-backing strongholds in the North, Midlands and Wales.

Labour MP Stella Creasy and Tory MP Kemi Badenoch were both sworn in while carrying their newborn daughters yesterday.

The 'youthquake' Labour needed, but never materialised, would have won them 341 more seats than the 203 they took in December, analysis by Election Maps UK has found.

It is understood Assembly Member Nick Ramsay was arrested last night at his home in Raglan, Usk, Monmouthshire.

Number 10 today suggested Parliamentary decision-makers were standing in the way of the plan to formally mark the moment the UK leaves the EU on January 31 at 11pm.

Boris Johnson spoke to Donald Trump this afternoon as he tried to heal relations with the US after his decision to allow Huawei to help build the UK's 5G network sparked fury.

Brexiteers across the UK can get their hands on the items for as little as £5. The products have made available on the Tory party's website. The 'I got Brexit Done' mug is pictured.