Dear Reader,

With the first phase of the vaccine rollout complete, attention is turning to how the country will exit lockdown. Much depends on the vaccine efficacy data that Boris Johnson is expected to receive on Friday, but debate is already intense as ministers flesh out a roadmap for lifting restrictions. Charles Hymas and Danielle Sheridan have the details on the plans, from relaxed rules on outdoor meetups for children and grandparents to al fresco drinking and dining in pubs and restaurants.

Lifting the lockdown won’t be as simple as hitting a vaccination target. As officials and ministers pore over plans for restoring our liberties, there will be six major indicators they look at to assess whether it is safe to act and how quickly, reports Paul Nuki. Alongside Alex Clark, he takes you through the key data on the “dashboard of hope” and why it matters in this excellent piece.

The Royal family is set to gain another member soon, with Harry and Meghan announcing that they are expecting a second child. The baby is likely to join the small club of Royals born abroad – all of Queen Elizabeth II’s nine other grandchildren were born in Britain – meaning Meghan will experience a Los Angeles birth. Celia Walden takes a wry look at what it’s like to give birth in Hollywood.

Finally, James Nesbitt has been a fixture on our television screens for over two decades, and in his latest programme he makes a rare return to his Northern Irish homeland. Ahead of the broadcast of Bloodlands, he spoke to Craig Mclean for a wide-ranging interview on everything from his divorce to why the Troubles are King Lear for Northern Irish actors. It’s a great read.

Chris

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