Victoria Derbyshire apologises for her breaking rule of six comments

BBC Presenter, Victoria Derbyshire apologises after she said she would break the rule of six with her family for the Christmas holidays.

A few weeks ago in an interview with Radio Times, Derbyshire said that "if the rule of six is still in place" by the 25th of December then "we're breaking it to have the rule of seven. We just are".

The journalist and newsreader has a family of four, but for Christmas celebrations she wanted her mother, her mother's partner and her father-in-law to join the family in their London home.

During the interview, the 52-year-old said that her family knew "what the risks are" and she said they were "going to be sensible and buy a thermometer gun. But we have to be together at Christmas".

She added: "It feels almost irresponsible saying that, but I don't think we're alone in feeling that way."

Derbyshire was unable to see her mother during lockdown and as her mother lives in Bolton, now a tier three region, seeing family members has become even more difficult.

However, she tweeted an apology this morning explaining that her comments were "hypothetical" but "totally wrong".

She added: "We'll of course continue to follow whatever rules are in place on Dec 25th."

The current rule of six has been in place since the 14th of September and it makes it illegals for groups of over six people to gather in England.

Since the government introduced the three tier coronavirus alert system earlier this month, the rule of six varies for the 'high' and 'very high' level.

For example, in tier two areas of England, the rule of six applies to outdoor areas such as private gardens.

In tier three regions, the rule of six is acceptable in open spaces such as parks and beaches.

It is currently unclear if the rule of six will still be in place by Christmas.