Across the UK, online, on DAB and on your smart speaker, the Independent Republic of Mike Graham, on Talk Radio.

Good morning and welcome to the Independent Republic of Mike Graham right here on Talk on Radio. There's just two days to go, ladies and gentlemen, until Super Saturday, when we can all start believing again that life can and will return to normal sometime soon. It's not just about going back to the pub or going out for a meal. It's also about having the freedom to go and spend the night somewhere else, the freedom to actually do what you want, and the freedom to be able to decide for yourself what you're actually going to do. Let's face it, 80% of the

frustration we have all been feeling for the last few weeks has been, that right has been taken

away from us. I might not want to go on holiday right now. I might not want to go on holiday right

this minute, but I would dearly love to be able to make that choice for myself. But I know a lot of people feel the same way.

You might not want to race headlong down at the pub on Saturday lunchtime,

but you'd like to be able to if you decide you want to.

This I think is what the government has been struggling with.

This is where they have tried to find the balance between rebuilding the economy and keeping people safe.

We, of course, here at the Independent Republic, will be hosting our very

own pub party on Saturday morning. Myself and Kevin O'Sullivan will be in a nearby hostelry,

officially opening Super Saturday for all of you. Of course, there are plenty of people who will

continue to be critical of the way they have done it as far as the government is concerned. I will

not be one of them. Boris Johnson and his ministers are grappling with an unbelievably complex and ever-changing landscape as we can witness

this morning. One news story has the rate of COVID-19 infection dropping by 40% last week. Meanwhile,

we are being told that there may have to be more local lockdowns in mostly northern cities

and towns similar to what is happening in Leicester as we speak.

Surely they can't both be right, can they? We'll be finding out from some medical people later on.

0344449-1,000. Coming up later, we'll be asking you what else Harry Windsor should be sorry about.

Apparently he's now become the Lily Allen of the Royal Family, apologising for everyone who hasn't done anything about racism, including me.

Here's a tip, hazer. Don't start a video with the words,

My wife said recently.

...