Is the UK's third wave of the coronavirus pandemic already waning?

One of the country's preeminent epidemiologists believe that the worst may soon be over.

The effect of vaccines has been huge in reducing the risk of hospitalisation and death.

And I think I'm positive that by late September or October time we will be looking back at most of the pandemic.

Welcome to Payne's Politics, your essential insider guide to British politics from the Financial Times, with me Sebastian Payne.

In our second summer interview special, I'm delighted to be joined by Professor Neil Ferguson of Imperial College London.

Nickname Professor Lockdown by some of the populist newspapers.

The leading scientist and government advisor has merged as one of the most prominent North Policy Voices during the pandemic.

His modelling has played a major role in the government's decision making on how to curb the infections and should the NHS did not collapse.

We'll be opening up his crystal ball to look at his thoughts on what will happen in the coming weeks and months with the pandemic.

The importance of the booster program, the UK's overall response to coronavirus and broader questions about the role of scientists and academia in public life.

But Neil, welcome to Payne's Politics.

Thank you. Good to be here.

Speaking in the middle of summer, it's August, lots of people are going away.

And of course, as we know, the government is trying to get the right balance between allowing borders to be open and protecting from further infections.

I've just come back from a lovely couple of weeks in the Bellaria Islands.

What about you? Are you holidaying at home or are you working throughout the summer?

Mostly working, doing some hill walking, mostly in this country.

It's probably the safest and easiest thing to do, which I think lots of people are doing at the moment because flying is still a bit of a faff.

But I think it's going to be so for quite some time.

Now, let's go on to the main thing, which is where we're at with coronavirus.

And that clip we heard at the top of the program there was an infusion a couple of weeks ago, which is saying that it seems to be we are past the worst of this exit wave that now society has opened back up again.

...