Three men at the heart of President Assad's defence team have died in a suicide bombing, Syrian state TV says.

The president's defence minister, brother-in-law and head of his crisis team were at a meeting at national security headquarters in Damascus.
No footage has yet emerged of the attack in which the national security chief and interior minister were also said to have been wounded.
It comes as rebels claim to have launched an offensive on the capital.
For the past three days, rebels have fought with troops in several parts of the city, declaring their operation, entitled Damascus Volcano, a final battle for the capital.
The rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA) and a jihadist group calling itself Lord of the Martyrs Brigade both said they were behind the security headquarters bombing.
By Jim MuirBBC News, Beirut
The Syrian crisis appears to have moved onto a new level.
In the space of two days, some of President Assad's inner circle of power, including his brother-in-law, have been killed, an army barracks overlooking the presidential palace has been engulfed in flames, and clashes have been moving closer to the heart of the capital.
It doesn't necessarily mean the end is imminent, as opposition circles and armed rebels on the ground clearly believe.
The battle for Damascus has barely begun. If it remains a purely military affair, the regime still has a daunting superiority in weaponry and manpower.
But with international diplomacy effectively paralysed, the pressure within the crisis seems to be building up, to an intensity where more surprises may be expected.
Security sources say the suspected bomber worked as a bodyguard for members of President Bashar al-Assad's inner circle.
As events in Damascus unfolded, a UN Security Council vote on a Western-sponsored resolution threatening Syria with tougher sanctions was postponed until Thursday following a request by UN and Arab League envoy Kofi Annan.
Condemning the violence, Mr Annan urged members of the Security Council to take strong, concerted action to help stem the bloodshed.
"The terrorist explosion which targeted the national security building in Damascus occurred during a meeting of ministers and a number of heads of [security] agencies," state TV said.
The BBC's Lina Sinjab in Damascus says none of the windows of the building appears to be broken. There is no sign of extra security, she adds.
Gen Daoud Rajiha had been defence minister for less than a year, serving previously as chief of staff, and was on a US blacklist for his role in the suppression of dissent.
He was believed to be an Orthodox Christian - a rarity in the Alawite-dominated Syrian military and government.
Gen Assef Shawkat was married to Mr Assad's sister Bushra and considered a top security chief and a member of the inner circle of the regime.
He is the closest person to the president to be killed so far and his loss is a triple blow for the ruling family, BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says.
Gen Hassan Turkomani was a former defence minister and assistant to the vice president as well as being in charge of President Assad's crisis management office.
A long-standing senior member of the ruling Baath party and a Sunni Muslim, unlike many in the Syrian elite, he was put in charge of the security forces' crisis team when the uprising began in 2011, opposition activists said.
Hisham Ikhtiar, director of the National Security Bureau, and Interior Minister Mohammad Ibrahim al-Shaar, were among those hurt in the attack, state TV said.
Witnesses at the site of the bombing, in Rawda district, said journalists were banned from approaching.
The defence minister has been replaced by Gen Fahd Jassim al-Furayj, chief of staff of the armed forces,  state TV reports.
In pictures: Syrian capital under attack
Profiles of Assef Shawkat, Daoud Rajiha and Hassan Turkomani
Syrians react
An armed forces' statement read out on TV said Syria was "more determined than ever" to fight terrorism and wipe out "criminal gangs".
Whoever thinks that killing top commanders "can twist Syria's arm... is delusional", it said.
But the BBC's Jim Muir, in neighbouring Lebanon, says the rebels now clearly believe victory is within sight, and the deaths will give them even greater heart.
Earlier, activists reported more clashes during the night in several areas around the south-west of Damascus.
They said the government had brought more troops and armour into some districts, and that several people had been killed in clashes and bombardments.
A rebel spokeswoman, Susan Ahmad, told the BBC the entrances to Damascus were closed on Wednesday morning.
"Now tanks are storming into al-Qaboun [district], shelling everything, shelling residential houses, shooting every moving thing and they are trying to arrest people and kill.
Activists have also posted on the internet pictures of what they say is a barracks on the heights overlooking the city engulfed in flames.
They believed it had been hit by fire from FSA rebels, and said the barracks was involved in providing security for the presidential palace complex below.
State media said security forces fought off attacks by small groups of armed terrorists in the city.
Western journalists are under heavy restrictions in Syria, making it difficult to verify the claims of either side.
The UN Security Council had been due to vote on a new round of sanctions against Syria and Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov tweeted that there was a "dangerous pattern" of militant attacks coinciding with Security Council meetings on Syria.
UN chiefs, who have until Friday to renew the mandate for observers in Syria, have been trying to persuade China and Russia to agree tougher measures on Damascus.
President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the crisis by telephone on Wednesday. But, according to Interfax news agency, although they agreed on a final goal they disagreed on how to reach it.
Opposition groups say as many as 16,000 people have died in Syria since protests against President Assad began in March last year.


American Sniper has been knocked off the top of the US box office by SpongeBob SquarePants.

The second animated film to be based on the anarchic TV series, it took $56m (£37m) in its opening weekend.
Subtitled Sponge Out of Water, it follows the character as he leaves his home on the ocean floor and  attempts to recover a stolen burger recipe,
Clint Eastwood's Navy Seal drama fell to second place after taking $24.2m (£16m) in its fourth week.
Since its release, American Sniper has raked in $282m (£185m). Based on the memoirs of  US soldier Chris Kyle, it has received six Oscar nominations, including a best actor nod for Bradley Cooper in the title role.
Jupiter Ascending sold the third most tickets over the weekend, with estimated box office takings of $19m (£12m).
Starring Channing Tatum, Mila Kunis and Eddie Redmayne, the sci-fi blockbuster has received wildly disparate reviews.
The New York Post described it as "an instant candidate for the so-bad-it's-sort-of-great hall of fame", while the Chicago Sun Times called it "a $175 million intergalactic train wreck".
Total film, on the other hand, thought it was "a fun, inventive, visually stunning piece of space opera".
Seventh Son, a 3D fantasy-action film starring Jeff Bridges and Julianne Moore, took the fourth spot, earning $7.1m (£4.7m).
Paddington, the film adaptation of the family classic about a bear lost in the big city, came fifth, with $5.4m (£3.5m) in ticket sales.


The FBI has released photos of two suspects it wants to identify as part of the investigation into Monday's Boston Marathon bombings.

CCTV captured the two men, one wearing a dark-coloured baseball cap and the other a white cap, near the scene.
FBI Agent Richard DesLauriers warned members of the public not to approach the two men.
Three people were killed and more than 170 wounded when the two bombs exploded near the finish line of the race.
Police are carrying out a major operation in Watertown, six miles (9km) from Boston, after witnesses reported hearing explosions and gunfire in the town.
A police officer was shot dead late on Thursday at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) campus in between Watertown and Boston.
By Gordon CoreraSecurity correspondent, BBC News
The FBI is relying on the public to be its eyes and ears, said the man in charge of the Boston investigation. Someone out there knows these individuals as friends, co-workers or family members.
The video and still photos of the two suspects are now being played on an endless loop on US TV stations. The chances are that the FBI will now be deluged with information especially because the photos are not entirely clear and so many people may think they spot someone. Out of all this they will be hoping to find one pearl which would drive the investigation forward through an identification and then hopefully towards getting hold of the individuals.
The thought that two people are involved also shifts the perspective away from this being the work of a so-called lone wolf and towards it being some kind of conspiracy.
That, experts reckon, makes it more likely that this was more of a thought-through plan, including perhaps involving a plan to get away. That might of course mean they have left the country. And even if they didn't, the experience of these investigations shows America is a big country with many places to hide. The photos are a major step forward but it's not yet clear how close they take this investigation to its conclusion.
In pictures: Boston suspects
At least one man has been arrested in Watertown, and the FBI has told US broadcaster CNN it is trying to establish whether there is a connection.
Some 14 victims, including three children, remain in hospital in a critical condition after Monday's bomb attack.
Mr DesLauriers told a news conference on Thursday that the two suspects were "armed and extremely dangerous".
He said footage showed the suspect in the white hat putting his backpack down at the site of the second explosion just in front of the Forum restaurant.
"We strongly encourage those who were at the Forum restaurant but haven't contacted us yet to do so," he said.
The FBI published the images on its website along with a 30-second video showing the men walking in single file a few paces apart along Boylston Street in central Boston.
Mr DesLauriers added: "Somebody out there knows these individuals as friends, neighbours, co-workers, or family members of the suspects. Though it may be difficult, the nation is counting on those with information to come forward."
At least one of the Boston bombs was made from a pressure cooker packed with explosives, nails and ball bearings, investigators have told US media. The devices were placed in black bags and left on the ground.
Earlier, President Barack Obama told an interfaith ceremony at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston that everyone had been touched by the attack on their city.
"The spirit of this city is undaunted; the spirit of this country shall remain undimmed," he told the congregation, which included city leaders, residents and victims at the prayer service.
"Every one of us has been touched by this attack on your beloved city. Every one of us stands with you. Because after all it's our beloved city too.
"They sought to intimidate us, to terrorise us. It should be pretty clear by now that they picked the wrong city to do it."
He was applauded as he warned the perpetrators of the attacks they would be brought to justice.
Hundreds of people stood outside the cathedral during the service, while police at the bomb site listened to the president's speech on the radios in their patrol cars.
Investigators have been going through thousands of images taken around the time of the attacks from security cameras, the media and people at the scene.
The twin blasts killed Martin Richard, aged eight, Krystle Campbell, 29, and Lu Lingzi, a postgraduate student from China.


Malta's Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has called a snap general election for 3 June, a year before his term ends.

The opposition has been calling for his resignation over allegations that his wife owned an offshore company in Panama.
Mr Muscat and his wife, Michelle, deny the claims. A magisterial inquiry is under way.
He said "truth is on my side" but that he wanted to protect Malta from uncertainty.
The current scandal erupted earlier this month when the blogger Daphne Caruna Galizia made the claims, which she based on documents from the so-called Panama Papers, a leak of millions of files from the offshore law firm Mossack Fonseca.
Panama Papers: What happened next?
Panama Papers: What is the scandal about?
How assets are hidden and taxes dodged
"Everybody knows about the attacks made in the past few days on me and my family. I have nothing to fear because truth is on my side and I am clean," Mr Muscat said on Monday.
"My duty, however, is not just to protect myself but also to safeguard my country... We cannot allow uncertainty to slow the rhythm of Malta's economic miracle," he said.
The country is enjoying record low unemployment and economic growth of more than 3.5 percent.
But anti-corruption protesters took to the streets against Mr Muscat's government last week.
Opposition leader Simon Busuttil said on Monday that Mr Muscat was "the dirty past of four corrupt years," local media reported.
The Panama Papers last year revealed that both Malta's energy minister and the government's chief of staff had opened offshore companies in Panama.
Malta currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union.


At last year's Brit awards, The Vaccines found themselves in the company of Coldplay, Mumford & Sons, Muse and The Rolling Stones in the category of best live act.

They may have lost out to Chris Martin and his boys but their ability to turn a sold-out Alexandra Palace crowd of 10,000 fans into a bunch of gibbering wrecks cemented their reputation as one of best live bands in the country.
But how did they get there and what makes a great gig? Singer Justin Hayward-Young and bassist Arni Arnason share their tips.
Arni: Normally, what is the Wifi like at the venue?
Justin: There's a very defined line. Is it our show or is it someone else's show, or a festival?  Are we preaching to the converted, where they're going to lift us up with their energy, or are going to have to lift them? That's always the first thing, what's our role in this?
I really do think there's a difference between a show and a gig and for me it's important that it's not just a gig. There's an element of entertainment in the same way that you are entertained at the theatre or watching a movie. When you're half a mile away from a band and you can't see them and the sound is not great in a windy field, then sometimes the music is not enough.
Justin: We like going to big cities for obvious reasons, but we like going to smaller cities because fewer shows go there and crowds go crazy. I remember when we got a call asking if we wanted to play the O2, and I was like, 'Yes, obviously' and then I phoned back and I was like, 'Are you sure this is a good idea?'. Because there's something about playing a venue where you've been to see Bruce Springsteen or Fleetwood Mac.
Playing Ally Pally (Alexandra Palace) was a real landmark in any band's career or playing the Troubadour in LA or the Bowery Ballroom in New York. Venues can have some special significance regardless of their size.
You will want to play new songs like Handsome and Dream Lover, but will be expected to play fan favourites like Post Break-up Sex and Teenage Icon. How long do you spend deciding the setlist?
Justin: We've been accused of many things as a band but I don't think self-indulgence would be one of them, so I think we are always aware of striking a balance. We love playing those old songs because we love seeing people react in the way they do.
Often we'll sandwich a new song between two old ones so as not to be be punishing, it should be entertaining. We have a lot of belief in the new songs but equally they're not ingrained in people's hearts and minds.
Justin: I think energy, we're always completely in the moment and playing with conviction. I can't remember the last time I came off stage and felt, 'Oh I could have given more'.
Arni: Consistency.
Justin: There's a tendency, certainly when you're starting out, you have this energy and you want to prove yourself and you think, 'I've got to be crazy, otherwise it's not exciting' and then you realise that some of the most powerful performers allow their music to do the talking and, often, less is more.
I think we are all learning when to go and when to hold back.
Justin: It's incredibly important to us to put on an amazing night of music. We're lucky enough to have a platform, so I think it's almost a responsibility of ours to share that.
It's also really important that we hear our favourite songs coming through the wall or ceiling every night, rather than some band who just signed to the same label as us and need some exposure. Every band we've ever had on tour with us is because we like their music and they've been our friends.
I think once you're on the show, it's an incredible opportunity. We've supported Rolling Stones, Muse, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Arctic Monkeys. There's no way that, at the end of those tours, you're not a better band, not just for playing 10 nights in a row but working harder to convert a crowd.
Going on tour with a good band is like going to rock school, you learn so much.
Arni: I think hard work is the key, there are so many artists you speak to that did an EP last year and played two shows and sit back and say, 'Why isn't it happening?'. You have to rehearse for a year and play every single show that you can find.
Justin: There seems to be a bit of a culture now like, 'we've got to make sure that everything is perfect', and actually that does work for some people but I think you've just got to play, play play, write, write, write, play, play play...
Justin: That's how I made my money when I was doing support shows, i just copied CDRs every day, as many as I could between sound check and playing and I would go and sell them, that's how I got by for a year or so.
It's funny the things you have to think about when you get into the world of 'Officialdom'. But it's all an extension of the art, we just make whatever we want, like, 'I want a skateboard or we want some bomber jackets'.
I love designing all the t-shirts. You look at people standing outside Smith gigs with Morrissey haircuts and you think, 'I'd love to create this legion of people who are all dressed how I dress.' Obviously I'm not as iconic as Morrissey, but I do like this idea of creating this army of people.
Arni: Our motto is 'don't try to flog anything you wouldn't wear yourself'.
English Graffiti is released on 25 May.


Britain's Ellie Downie will miss the 2017 World Championships as she recovers from ankle surgery.

The 18-year-old injured her left ankle at the British Championships in March but went on to win four medals in April's European Championships.
She had surgery on the injury on Monday and will now miss October's competition in Montreal, Canada.
"My eyes are now set on getting ready and fit for the Commonwealth Games next year," Downie said.
"I'm very excited to be on the road to recovery and get fit again. A minor setback is a pathway for a major comeback."
British Gymnastics added that it expected Downie to be "fully fit for an important year of competition in 2018".
Downie's elder sister Becky will also miss the Worlds as she continues to recover from an elbow injury.
BBC Sport's David McDaid
Having shown her dominance at European level to take that historic all-around gold in April, gymnastics fans were excited to see if Ellie Downie could carry that on to the world stage.
With international stars such as Simone Biles, Aly Raisman and Aliya Mustafina all missing, the younger Downie sister's chances of taking all-around honours would have been even higher.
Given what she has achieved already, it's easy to forget she only turned 18 last month.
Her coaches often speak of her maturity and willingness to view the bigger picture when it comes to her body and her career.
Sitting out these World Championships will allow her to come back for a full 2018 including the Commonwealth Games and, crucially, next year's World Championships - which are the first qualifying steps towards the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.
The absence of both Downies means a chance for some younger gymnasts to make their mark.
Look out for the likes of Alice Kinsella, Georgia-Mae Fenton, Kelly Simm and Maisie Methuen to take spots alongside more recognisable names such as Amy Tinkler and Claudia Fragapane.


Up to 1,000 ravers are being dispersed at an illegal gathering in woods on Dartmoor, police say.

Devon and Cornwall Police said they were called to Bellever Woods at about 02:00 GMT, and between 600 and 1,000 people were estimated to be there when officers arrived.
A number of people were being treated for suspected hypothermia because of being out overnight, officers said.
The gathering continued in the morning but people were leaving, they added.
Ch Insp Richard Hooper-Bennett said people were only being allowed to leave when they were "fit to do so" because it had been an "exceptionally cold night and a few people could be worse for wear".
He added that there had been no arrests so far, no vehicles or sound equipment seized, and he expected it would take take "a few more hours before all people have left".


Tottenham survived a strong fightback from League One side Sheffield United to set up a League Cup final with Chelsea after another late goal from Christian Eriksen.

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Eriksen's magnificent first-half free-kick put Spurs 2-0 up on aggregate.
United's 18-year-old substitute Che Adams then struck twice from close range in three minutes, bringing the prospect of extra time into focus.
But Eriksen secured a 3-2 aggregate win with a composed low finish.
Spurs beat Chelsea in the League Cup final in 2008 for their last piece of silverware, and the two London sides will now meet again at Wembley on Sunday 1 March, just three days after Tottenham's Europa League trip away to Fiorentina.
Jose Mourinho's Blues will start as favourites but Spurs will take confidence from both their superb 5-3 win over Chelsea on New Year's Day and the canny knack of Eriksen to score important late goals.
Four times this season, the Dane has scored decisive goals in the 87th minute or later.
Spurs held a 1-0 lead after last week's first leg at White Hart Lane, but Blades boss Nigel Clough had lost only three out of 21 cup games in charge and had already knocked out Premier League sides West Ham and Southampton in this season's League Cup, and seen his team win 3-0 at top-flight Queens Park Rangers in the FA Cup third round.
The hosts needed to score the first goal and had the game's earliest chance when Spurs goalkeeper Michel Vorm - retained despite a shocking mistake in their weekend FA Cup loss to Leicester - spilled a cross, but Jamie Murphy's shot was blocked on the line by former Blades defender Kyle Walker.
With heavy snow falling and backed by a full house at Bramall Lane, the hosts may have sensed a chance to build pressure, but Vorm was not tested again as Spurs took charge.
Harry Kane was a constant menace up front but passed up at least four good chances before Eriksen bent in a wonderful 25-yard free-kick off the inside of the post.
That left United needing to score twice to send the game to extra time, but despite an improved display they created little until a manic last 15 minutes.
Adams, a recent signing from non-league side Ilkeston Town, had only played 136 minutes of professional football and scored his first senior goal with a composed finish at the back post from Ryan Flynn's excellent cross.
And when Adams controlled a Murphy cross to fire in with the help of an Eric Dier deflection two minutes later, Bramall Lane sensed another cup upset after the weekend's FA Cup heroics from Bradford and Middlesbrough.
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Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen clashed with Chris Basham as the Blades looked for a third, but Eriksen steered Spurs into the final with two minutes remaining, running on to Kane's pass to calmly slot home left-footed from the edge of the penalty area.
Sheffield United manager Nigel Clough: "I'm incredibly proud of the players, to run a team like Spurs so close, that bit of quality made the difference.
"We knew one goal would change the complexion. We got the second and then had a chance for a third and just missed it.
"We were disappointed when we came away from White Hart Lane with a 1-0 defeat and we're even more so tonight, as we came so close."
Match ends, Sheffield United 2, Tottenham Hotspur 2.
Second Half ends, Sheffield United 2, Tottenham Hotspur 2.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Chris Basham (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Delay in match Michel Vorm (Tottenham Hotspur) because of an injury.
Michel Vorm (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Chris Basham (Sheffield United).
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Danny Rose replaces Ryan Mason.
Goal!  Sheffield United 2, Tottenham Hotspur 2. Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Harry Kane.
Attempt missed. Louis Reed (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is too high. Assisted by Ryan Flynn with a through ball.
Attempt saved. Stefan Scougall (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ryan Flynn.
Attempt blocked. Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Goal!  Sheffield United 2, Tottenham Hotspur 1. Che Adams (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jamie Murphy with a cross.
Goal!  Sheffield United 1, Tottenham Hotspur 1. Che Adams (Sheffield United) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the left to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Ryan Flynn with a cross.
Substitution, Sheffield United. Che Adams replaces Jamal Campbell-Ryce.
Substitution, Sheffield United. Michael Higdon replaces Marc McNulty.
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Andros Townsend replaces Erik Lamela.
Hand ball by Marc McNulty (Sheffield United).
Foul by Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur).
Marc McNulty (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt saved. Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner.
Erik Lamela (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Jay McEveley (Sheffield United).
Foul by Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur).
Ryan Flynn (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Paulinho replaces Mousa Dembélé because of an injury.
Substitution, Sheffield United. Louis Reed replaces Michael Doyle.
Attempt blocked. Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Ryan Flynn (Sheffield United).
Attempt missed. Jose Baxter (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Marc McNulty.
Attempt blocked. Ryan Flynn (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Jamie Murphy.
Attempt missed. Mousa Dembélé (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Benjamin Stambouli.
Offside, Sheffield United. Michael Doyle tries a through ball, but Robert Harris is caught offside.
Ryan Flynn (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Mousa Dembélé (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Ryan Flynn (Sheffield United).
Offside, Sheffield United. Jamie Murphy tries a through ball, but Marc McNulty is caught offside.
Attempt blocked. Jose Baxter (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Jamie Murphy.
Mousa Dembélé (Tottenham Hotspur) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.


The water supply to the Syrian city of Raqqa, a stronghold of the Islamic State (IS) group, has been reconnected after US airstrikes caused a temporary cut.

The main pipeline was damaged when a bridge was hit, according to IS and anti-IS activists.
Citizen journalist group Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently confirmed, on Friday, that IS has mended the pipe.
Syrian rebels backed by the US-led coalition are trying to capture Raqqa.
Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently said the strikes had targeted local infrastructure.
The US is working with the Kurdish-led rebel group Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to try to defeat IS.
In November, the coalition said it had begun an operation to capture Raqqa, which has been held by the jihadist group since January 2014.
The US announced, in December, that it was sending 200 more military personnel for the operation.
A Kurdish official told Reuters news agency this week that the aim of the campaign was to seal off all roads to the city, including links with Deir al-Zour province, another IS stronghold.


Jeremy Corbyn needed a boost after the week he has had and the Oldham West and Royton by-election has delivered it.

Whether it will silence his critics in the Parliamentary Labour Party is another question.
But Labour's retention of the seat by a comfortable margin, and a collapse in the Tory vote, does give its leader some grounds for optimism that his brand of socialism is not electoral poison, as some in his party fear - and that he can win votes in traditional Northern working class heartlands, far from his own London powerbase.
Corbyn-sceptic Labour MPs acknowledge it will bolster his position but some fear it will do nothing to resolve the fundamental differences in the party. Some sources go further, saying it will embolden Corbynistas trying to isolate and destroy "moderate" voices in the party.
Labour was not expected to lose the seat, that had been held by Mr Corbyn's friend and political ally Michael Meacher for more than 40 years, before his death.
Having a strong local candidate, in Jim McMahon, who fought a campaign on bread and butter issues such as tax credits and regeneration, rather than the big international issues that have dominated the week at Westminster, also helped.
Some, including one of Jeremy Corbyn's fiercest internal critics, John Mann, have already identified Mr McMahon as a future Labour leader.
Reports from the campaign trail in Oldham had suggested Labour was haemorrhaging votes among its traditional white working class supporters, horrified by what one commentator called the party's transformation into a "poncified" party of middle class Metropolitan liberals.
This fed directly into Labour fears that their vote in their traditional English strongholds is as brittle as it proved to be in Scotland.
And that UKIP, with its tough line on immigration and appeal to patriotic values, was poised to replace it.
The London-based away-day pundits have been proved wrong, however.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn: "It shows the way we've driven the Tories back on tax credits, on police cuts, on their whole austerity agenda and narrative. It shows just how strong, how deep-rooted and how broad our party, the Labour Party, is for the whole of Britain."
Newly-elected Labour MP Jim McMahon: "This is a truly overwhelming thing for a local lad to represent the town he loves in Westminster is a big, big issue. And I'm very clear I'm sick to death of what the Tories are doing to towns like Oldham. The whole Northern Powerhouse rhetoric is nothing more than write-off of the North to create a poor house. And I'm sick of it. And I think it's about time we showed the Tories that people have had enough."
Labour Deputy leader Tom Watson: "If this was a referendum on Jeremy Corbyn, then he has won. It was a decisive victory with our share of the vote going up. I hope our MPs look at this result."
UKIP leader Nigel Farage: "As a veteran of over 30 by-elections I have never seen such a perverse result. Serious questions need to be asked."
Anti-war Labour MP Paul Flynn: "Real votes by real Oldham people is first public expression of doubt against Cameron's dodgy dossier with his invented bogus battalions."
UKIP sought to make the by-election a referendum on Mr Corbyn, portraying him as an unpatriotic security risk, capitalising on headlines about his alleged equivocation over "shoot-to-kill" in particular.
But the party played down expectations that it could snatch a famous victory - those days appear to be over for now.
It still has strong support in many parts of the North of England but it is in rebuilding mode after a bruising general election result, which saw it gain four million votes but just one MP, and - as leader Nigel Farage conceded - Oldham's large, Labour-voting Asian population was never going to be a happy hunting ground for his party.
Mr Farage's decision to cry foul after the result was announced - claiming the ballot was rigged - is a brave one.
Oldham is among the areas in the country identified by the Electoral Commission at "greater risk" of electoral fraud.
But complaining about the process after the election could sound like sour grapes.
The first by-election test is a nerve wracking moment for any new party leader. Doubly so for one attempting to take his party in a new, uncharted direction as Jeremy Corbyn is doing.
He will be mightily relieved to have passed it.


A public health group which aims to reduce harm caused by tobacco and alcohol says it has been told its work can no longer be funded.

Public Health Action is contracted to 11 councils across the South West but has been told this will end in June due to "severe public health cuts".
The group said it was very disappointed to receive the termination notice.
Cancer Research UK said a "heavy price" would be paid but smokers' group Forest said the impact would be "negligible".
The Bristol-based group, formerly known as Smokefree South West, says it has helped thousands of people to give up smoking.
A spokesperson said they were proud of their contribution to reducing smoking in the region "to under 17%, the lowest ever".
But Cancer Research UK believes improvements like this are "at risk" without investment, and urged the councils to review whether they could maintain the regional programme.
The parliamentary group on smoking and health has also written to the 11 authorities asking them to meet urgently to discuss how funding might be secured in the future.
But Simon Clark, director of Forest, said: "Taxpayers already pay for NHS smoking cessation services and national anti-smoking campaigns.
"When budgets are so tight, and other services are being cut, it's difficult to justify the use of public money to support yet another tobacco control group."
That view is not shared by George Butterworth, from Cancer Research UK, who said: "The NHS and other local services are already struggling to cope with rising demand caused by unhealthy behaviours like smoking and drinking alcohol.
"Local authorities have been repeatedly hit by national government cuts to the public health grant and they're being forced into making unpalatable decisions."


An online appeal set up to help those affected by flooding in Cumbria has raised £500,000.

The Cumbria 2015 Flood Appeal, which was launched on 5 December, has now doubled its target to £2m.
The fund is being run by the Cumbria Community Foundation which has pledged £50,000.
The foundation said grants would help flood victims with cleaning, emergency repairs, clothing, food and basic furniture.


National League side Dagenham & Redbridge have signed Stevenage defender Kevin Lokko on a season-long loan deal.

Lokko joined League Two club Stevenage from Maidstone for an undisclosed fee on 2 August.
The 21-year-old former Norwich, Colchester and Welling man played in 41 National League games last season, scoring four goals.
Dagenham start the new National League season at home to Barrow on Saturday.


Declan McManus scored a free-kick as Raith Rovers fought back to claim a 1-1 draw at Brechin in the first leg of the Championship play-off semi-finals.

Elsewhere, Airdrieonians took a 1-0 lead over Alloa Athletic at the Excelsior Stadium.
Both matches in the League One play-off semi-finals ended in draws. Annan and Forfar are tied at 2-2, while Montrose and Peterhead drew 1-1.
All four second legs will take place on Saturday.
And the Championship and League One play-off finals will be played over 17 and 20 May.
At Glebe Park, hosts Brechin took the lead through Ross Caldwell's first-half penalty, which was awarded after Jean-Yves M'Voto had fouled Andy Jackson.
M'Voto and Rudi Skacel both netted with headers in the opening 45 minutes but neither counted with M'Voto being penalised for his challenge on goalkeeper Graeme Smith and Skacel ruled offside.
But Raith's equaliser did arrive 20 minutes from the end. Midfielder Ross Matthews was fouled 25 yards out and McManus stepped up to find the corner of the net brilliantly.
The visitors had a couple of decent chances to go in front, with Kyle Benedictus's half-volley bringing a good save out of Smith towards the end.
The eventual winner will take on Airdrie or Alloa for a place in next season's Championship.
Andy Ryan headed home Ryan Conroy's cross to give the Diamonds a slender advantage to take into the weekend's return leg in Clackmannanshire.
The deficit could have been harder for the Wasps to overcome had their goalkeeper Neil Parry not blocked Adam Brown's effort.
At Links Park, Peterhead took an early lead against hosts Montrose when Ryan Strachan fired a 35-yard shot into the top corner.
But the visitors' advantage did not last long, Liam Callaghan setting up Chris Templeman to slot home.
Gary Fraser threatened to put Montrose ahead in the tie but there would be no further goals in the first leg.
The evening's highest scoring encounter was at Galabank.
Annan raced into a two-goal lead with the experienced Peter Weatherson heading home Aidan Smith's cross and Smith then scoring a rebound after his penalty had been saved by Grant Adam, the goalkeeper having fouled the 19-year-old.
However, Forfar scored twice in the final 10 minutes to level the tie. Michael Travis nodded home then Martyn Fotheringham equalised by firing home a free-kick.
For John Hughes' Raith Rovers, the play-offs are about trying to avoid relegation after finishing second bottom of the Championship.
And he told BBC Scotland: "We started very slow and with a bit of apprehension on a tricky surface. There wasn't much football played - not one for the purists, that's for sure.
"Their goalkeeper had two or three great saves, we should have scored a header at the back post. It's half-time and still all to play for.
"All credit to Brechin who gave as good as they got.
"McManus hit that sort of knuckle ball and we were absolutely delighted to see it hit the back of the net.
"If we play like we did in the second half tonight with a bit more quality added to it, we'll be good enough to win this tie."
And Brechin boss Darren Dods said: "We knew it was going to be hard with us having a few injuries and Raith being full-time, but we wanted to keep ourselves in the tie and I thought the effort and work-rate was excellent.
"Andy Jackson battled away hard and it was a great first touch he took in the box to draw the foul and Ross Caldwell slotted it away well.
"Ally Love was out injured tonight with his ankle strapped up but another 48 hours and he'll be close to starting at the weekend.
"If we can hit them on the break on Saturday and give it one final push, we'll see where it takes us."


A man has been jailed for almost four months for killing his girlfriend's dog when it urinated on his bed.

Bruce Elliot said a mountain bike fell on the dog named Smudge after it ran downstairs and he "kicked" it outside.
The female dog later died on the way to the vet's after Elliot delayed getting it help, a court heard.
Appearing at South Tyneside Magistrates' Court Elliot, admitted causing the dog's death with a blunt force trauma.
The 32-year-old of Lordenshaw, Newcastle, also pleaded guilty to failing to get the dog treated by a vet.
As well as being jailed for 15 weeks, he was disqualified from keeping animals for 20 years.
The attack happened at Elliot's home in October 2016, when his girlfriend Franchesca Jones was not in, the court heard.
RSPCA inspector Helen Bestwick said: "Elliot said he chased her downstairs and a mountain bike, which was at the bottom of them, fell on top of her, then he kicked her outside.
"We'll never know exactly what happened but Smudge was found by a neighbour around 300 metres away on a patch of grass."
She said Elliot delayed getting help for the eight-year-old dog for at least two hours and a neighbour called the RSPCA.
Insp Bestwick added: "Sadly, Smudge died in the back of my van on the way to the vet's. It was awful.
"She had a ruptured liver with multiple lacerations and bruising between her shoulder blades."
Speaking after the hearing, owner Miss Jones said: "I took Smudge everywhere with me. She was like my little shadow.
"I can't describe how it feels to have her taken away in the way that she was."


Brazil's counter terrorist strategy for the World Cup will focus on the danger from "lone wolves", senior officials have told BBC Brasil.

However, Justice Minister Jose Eduardo Cardozo says he considers such an attack unlikely.
"Brazil can be calm about such a possibility," the minister said.
Speaking of potential protests, Mr Cardozo said the authorities would not tolerate violence committed by either demonstrators or the security forces.
Brazil's security forces have trained for several scenarios, including chemical and biological attacks.
But their main focus has been on the possibility of an extremist bomb attack similar to that at the Boston marathon in 2013, officials say.
In Boston, two suspects not linked to extremist groups detonated two bombs killing three and injuring hundreds of people.
The head of Brazil's counter terrorist task force Gen Julio Cesar de Arruda also thinks that the most likely terrorist attack scenario is that of a "lone wolf" or an extremist acting without connection to known terrorist groups.
"This is the most difficult kind of attack to track or predict," he told BBC Brasil.
There will be more than 170,000 security personnel working on protecting the tournament in Brazil, including the police and the army.
The government is also deploying 1,850 members of the special forces and 36 helicopters as part of its counter terrorism unit.
National intelligence officials are reportedly also in contact with several international intelligence agencies.
Last year, a leader of the Sao-Paulo-based criminal organisation, First Command of the Capital or PCC, was recorded issuing threats of kidnappings involving tourists and bomb attacks.
The PCC said it would target the World Cup if its members were transferred to jails with higher security levels than the ones they are currently locked up in.
The authorities think that threat has gone away after the transfer was blocked by legal action.
While terrorist attacks are considered unlikely, the authorities think demonstrations are a given.
At least seven different social movements have said they will protest around the time of the opening match on Thursday in several Brazilian cities.
Mr Cardozo said that "abuses of any kind would not be tolerated".
He said the federal government had asked local authorities to ensure local police officers used only a moderate amount of force.
"Demonstrations can occur, it is legitimate that they take place, but the Brazilian government is prepared to ensure abuses will not take place," he assured.


South African police have fired stun grenades and arrested 31 students in Johannesburg, as a wave of protests hit universities across the country.

Students are demanding free education and denounced a government proposal to raise tuition fees by up to 8% in 2017.
Fees had been frozen last year after the biggest student protests since the end of apartheid in 1994.
The demonstrators say price increases discriminate against black students with low family incomes.
The prestigious University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg has been a focal point of protests.
It said about 200 students in "roving groups are moving from campus to campus disrupting classes".
The University of Bloemfontein and the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in the coastal city of Port Elizabeth said they had closed campuses because of the protests.
The University of Cape Town announced the suspension of classes as students sang revolutionary songs barricaded entrances with litter bins.
University of Witwatersrand Students' Representative Council leader Nompendulo Mkatshwa police fired stun grenades at students who had gathered near the university to protest against the proposed fee increase.
"Students are not happy with what the Department of Higher Education and Training said, so they are fighting for equal education," Ms Mkatshwa is quoted by Reuters news agency as saying.
Police spokesman Lungelo Dlamini said the arrested students "were blocking the entrance of the university in contravention of the court order" and were being held at a nearby station, Reuters reports.
Last year, South Africa's President Jacob Zuma froze student fees for 2016 following the worst student protests to hit South Africa since minority rule ended more than 20 years ago.
The freeze has now been lifted, with Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande announcing on Monday that universities will be allowed to increase fees by a maximum of 8%.
Critics say this is higher than the 6% inflation rate, and will make university education unaffordable for many students.
However, universities favour an increase, saying they were facing a financial crisis which was damaging their academic programmes.


Sunderland are "the most defensive team I ever saw" said Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp after his side continued their fine start to the season with a win.

The Reds had 27 shots and 77.5% possession as goals from Divock Origi and James Milner earned a 2-0 win.
Klopp said that Sunderland striker Victor Anichebe played "left-back" as the Black Cats used "nine defenders".
"That's the most difficult thing in world football to come through," said Klopp. "But we worked for the moment."
The victory leaves Liverpool second in the Premier League, ahead of Manchester City on goal difference and one point behind leaders Chelsea.
Asked if the game compared in any way to Liverpool's goalless draw at Southampton last week, Klopp said: "I'm not sure I've ever played against a more defensive team than today.
"Man-marking against Phil Coutinho, Anichebe left full-back, I don't know how many touches Jermain Defoe had, so that would not be nice to Southampton.
"Sunderland always play a defensive style and that is OK. We forced them to be that. But we had our moments, had our chances, we stayed cool, stayed concentrated."
Sunderland's 22.5% possession is the second-lowest achieved by a team in a Premier League match this season, behind the 19.6% Burnley managed in beating Liverpool 2-0 in August - the last defeat that Klopp's side suffered.
Black Cats manager David Moyes said afterwards his foremost objective was to stop Liverpool, though his side did have chances, notably when Duncan Watmore was denied with the game goalless.
"For long periods, we had frustrated the crowd," said Moyes, whose side are bottom of the table. "We did a really good job on them.
"If you look at the quality of Liverpool going forward, you do need to think about how you stop them."
There were other signs of a difficult afternoon for the Black Cats:
Despite the away side's difficulties Klopp appeared frustrated prior to his side getting the breakthrough and replicated a move he sometimes used when he was manager at Borussia Dortmund in gesturing to his supporters to create more noise.
"In a game like this the decisions are made in the small moment, in the detail," added the German.
"Atmosphere is more than a detail, but it makes everything easier. That's why I tried to remind the crowd, and they reacted more than brilliantly."


Scott Quigg's fight with Romanian Viorel Simion at Wembley Stadium has been upgraded to an eliminator for the IBF featherweight title.

Former WBA super-bantamweight champion Quigg would be closer to facing Wales' Lee Selby if he wins on Saturday.
"It's a great opportunity for Scott," said Quigg's promoter Eddie Hearn.
"With uncertainty over [Selby's mandatory challenger] Jonathan Barros, it's very likely the winner will fight Lee Selby next."
Quigg made the step up to featherweight after losing his WBA title in a unification bout against Carl Frampton in February 2016 - his sole loss in 35 career fights.
The 28-year-old fights for the first time since recruiting American Freddie Roach as his trainer.
Quigg has fought and won only once since his defeat by Carl Frampton last February and his profile has suffered as those of rivals Selby and Frampton have grown.
His match-up with Simion, 35, comes on the undercard of Anthony Joshua's IBF and WBA heavyweight title fight with Wladimir Klitschko.


A sixth Australian MP will have their eligibility for office decided by the nation's High Court over the issue of dual citizenship.

Government Senator Fiona Nash revealed she is a UK citizen by descent because of her Scottish-born father.
Australian politicians are not allowed to hold dual citizenship.
The saga has gripped Australian politics for five weeks, forcing dozens of MPs to make statements about their citizenship status.
Ms Nash is deputy leader of the National Party, the junior partner in Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's governing coalition.
Like Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, who is a New Zealand dual citizen, Ms Nash said she would continue in her position until the High Court clarifies a section of Australia's constitution.
She said she had legal advice that she had not breached rules.
Four other politicians will also have their eligibility tested in court as early as next week:
Mr Joyce sits in the lower House of Representatives, where Mr Turnbull's government has only a one-seat majority.
If any government MPs in the lower house were to be ruled ineligible, it would trigger a complex process that could threaten Mr Turnbull's hold on power.
On Thursday, Australian Justice Minister Michael Keenan was forced to deny he was a British citizen, but his case will not go before court.


Manchester City missed the chance to make up ground in the Premier League title race as they were held to a goalless draw by a stubborn Everton.

Manuel Pellegrini's side dominated the second half but were repeatedly denied by away keeper Tim Howard.
It was a supreme defensive display from the Toffees, who had been the better attacking side in the first half.
They also rode their luck, as City were denied a late penalty for a foul on Raheem Sterling by John Stones.
For Everton, it is a point won - and a confidence-boosting one, following a run of seven games in which they have won just once.
But it is two key points dropped for City and they remain three points behind joint league leaders Arsenal, held 3-3 by Liverpool, and Leicester, 1-0 winners at Tottenham.
Look back at all the action from the Etihad
Listen: Is Pellegrini 'too nice' to win the title this season?
Football Daily podcast - Does anyone want to win the league?
The game began in a half-full Etihad Stadium as traffic problems prevented many fans arriving by kick-off.
However, you would forgive many of the City supporters who did eventually make it to the ground for wishing they had not. Before the break, the home side looked sluggish and were outworked by a dynamic away side.
They did produce a couple of chances - the best of them a Yaya Toure header from eight yards that was palmed away by Howard - but could easily have trailed.
They improved in the second half as Sergio Aguero became more involved, but still struggled to break their opponents down, even after the introduction of David Silva with 15 minutes to go.
The game would end in desperate, vain calls for a penalty for Stones' admittedly risky sliding challenge on Sterling.
City boss Manuel Pellegrini was adamant that Stones' challenge should have been penalised and his side awarded a "clear penalty".
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"Everyone in the stadium could see it was a penalty - it was so near to the referee and so clear," said the Chilean. "Both Raheem's legs were taken by Stones but if he doesn't whistle we can't say anything."
Unsurprisingly, Everton boss Roberto Martinez had an opposing view of the incident and praised the "maturity" of referee Roger East.
"We have been on the back end of receiving a penalty, in the last seconds against Stoke," said the Spaniard.
"Stones goes to slide to block the ball, Sterling does not play the ball and waited. In my eyes it is an area that is not certain if it's a penalty or not.
"I believe the referees should control their emotions and the referee did exactly that. It is impossible to be 100% certain and I am pleased he did this and showed his maturity."
This game was the second part of a fixture trilogy between these sides in January, falling between the two legs of a Capital One Cup semi-final.
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A week ago, Romelu Lukaku's winner gave Everton a 2-1 victory at Goodison Park, and they impressed again in a performance that showcased both sides of their game.
In the first half, the Toffees were patient and precise when they had the ball and hard-working when they did not. But for some wayward shooting, they would have led at the break.
Gerard Deulofeu and Lukaku were both denied with shots from an angle in the box, while the latter set up Leon Osman for the best chance - a volley from 15 yards that flew just past Joe Hart's far post.
After the break, Roberto Martinez's side were firmly on the back foot and spent long spells without the ball but demonstrated discipline and commitment to limit City to only a few goalscoring chances.
Manchester City are at home again on Saturday, with Crystal Palace the visitors.
Everton face another tough away trip on the same day, as they travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea.


Shares in financial spread betting firms have plunged by a third after the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) proposed stricter rules for the sector.

The FCA said it was concerned that many retail investors buying "contract for difference" products did not understand them adequately.
It also noted that 82% of clients lost money on the products.
In the FTSE 250, shares in both CMC Markets and IG Group Holdings sank by more than 30%.
Meanwhile Israel-based Plus 500 saw its shares drop 35% after it said the FCA proposals would "have a material operational and financial impact" on its UK regulated subsidiary, which accounts for about 20% of the group's revenues.
The benchmark FTSE 100 index was up 13.86 points at 6,760.69.
Banking shares helped to lift the index, with shares in HSBC climbing 3.2% after Morgan Stanley upgraded its rating on the company to "equal-weight" from "underweight".
Shares in Drax Group jumped 15% after the power producer said it planned to buy energy supplier Opus Energy for Â£340m. Drax also announced it would buy four gas turbine projects.
On the currency markets, the pound edged up 0.1% against the dollar to $1.2737, and rose 0.5% against the euro to â‚¬1.1883.


I stood on the windswept, desolate beach and then dipped my head below the blue and white police tape.

As blue lights flashed, I watched the ambulance team at work. But there was no hope. The corpse lay motionless on the pebbles.
This was no scene of crime, however, but a reconstruction for our BBC Four programme about authors in East Anglia.
In fact your chances of finding a body on this coastline are about the same as Norwich winning the Premiership (sorry Canaries fans).
This region has one of the lowest crime rates in the country yet boasts an astonishing preponderance of crime writers.
I'm not sure what the collective noun should be - a dagger, a poison pen? Anyway some of the best-known authors have lived and worked here.
Just think of PD James, Ruth Rendell, Dorothy L Sayers, Margery Allingham, Dick Francis and Nicci French.
So why has this landscape inspired so many macabre mysteries? Accompanied by a team from BBC East, I travelled across Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire in order to find out.
One of my favourite places is Dunwich on the Suffolk coast. I've often braved the elements and pebbles to swim here.
Eight hundred years ago it was the capital of East Anglia and an international port; at its height rivalling 14th Century London. But violent storms and erosion have swept it all away. Local legend has it that you can hear the bells from churches under the sea on a windy night.
Sometimes the drowned graveyards yield up bones onto the beach, a macabre idea that rather appealed to PD James.
In fact, I met members of a local reading group who told me about an old man who used a skull as a football when he was a boy. No wonder her fictional character Adam Dalgliesh thrived in this landscape where sky and sea merge to create an aura of mystery.
As I discovered, crime writers see the world in a rather different way, wearing the reverse of rose-tinted glasses.
Henry Sutton teaches creative writing at the University of East Anglia and is himself a successful crime writer.
We met on sand dunes on the outskirts of Great Yarmouth.
Sutton told me: "This is an area which has been designated outstanding natural beauty, so to me the most dramatic thing I can do with that is to put in right at the centre of that, perhaps over there a badly-mutilated naked corpse."
He agreed with me that there's a bond between this flat windswept coastline and Scandinavian noir.
"You know just a short way across the North Sea they are kindred crime spirits. There's no doubt about that. This to me feels Henning Mankell, feels like The Bridge, or even The Killing. There is a real closeness, a kindred sense of crime space."
Part of the charm of East Anglia are the remote communities you find which feel untouched by modern life. Dorothy L Sayers was inspired by the isolation of the Fens for one of my favourite books, The Nine Tailors.
Featuring her aristocratic detective Lord Peter Wimsey, this novel is set in a remote village in the landscape that was reclaimed from the sea 500 years ago.
That created a battle with nature which continues today. That sense of impending doom, the chaining of natural forces, gives a literal undercurrent to Sayers' writing.
We journeyed from the 1930s - in a vintage car - to cutting-edge modern crime fiction written by the husband and wife team Nicci French.
They're responsible for more than 20 bestsellers. I was gripped by their story which is set on an island, a fictionalised version of Mersea Island off the Essex coast which they infuse with a sense of menace as in this extract.
"I used to love Sandling island at night: the silence, the slap and murmur of water, the smell of salt and mud, the chime of halliards and the forlorn cry of birds. Now it terrified me."
If your mental picture of East Anglia conjures up brightly painted beach huts at Southwold or charming flint-built churches, you just need to turn to the region's famous crime writers to send a shiver down your spine.
The Books that Made Britain, featuring Martha Kearney, was broadcast on BBC Four and is now available on BBC iPlayer
Follow us on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, on Instagram at bbcnewsents, or if you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.


India's media has hailed former Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif's win in general elections and said it was good for the peace process with India.

The media said Mr Sharif's open support for stronger ties between the two countries was reason for hope.
Unofficial results suggest a big lead for Mr Sharif's Muslim League (PML-N), though he may need support to govern.
Indian PM Manmohan Singh has congratulated Mr Sharif for his win and invited him to visit India.
The Hindu newspaper said the election had been "Pakistan's vote for change".
"Where he [Mr Sharif} gives most hope is in his strong and unambiguous articulation of better India-Pakistan relations, though this will depend on his stated determination to correct the civil-military imbalance, and reclaim the national agenda from the security establishment," the newspaper said.
"Whether he can succeed is another question, but India will be hoping he will."
The Indian Express said Mr Sharif has "persuasively presented himself as a peacemaker, pointing to his previous stints in government to give confidence that he will pick up the threads of dialogue with India".
Hindustan Times said "India has genuine reason to be pleased" by the results of the election.
The newspaper described Mr Sharif as the "co-author of the Lahore bus peace process" and one who "has been far more willing to walk the India talk - even in the teeth of strong military opposition".
"Stronger Sharif bodes well for India", said The Times of India newspaper.
"India's best bet would be for the new Pakistan government to focus on opening up trade and economy," the newspaper said.
Mint newspaper said Mr Sharif's win was "likely to boost economic ties with India, but improving diplomatic relations will mainly depend on the stance of the country's armed forces".
Ties between the two countries came under strain earlier this year following military tensions in the disputed region of Kashmir.
Claimed by both countries, Kashmir has been a flashpoint for over 60 years and two wars have been fought over it.
Peace negotiations resumed last February after a four-year break following attacks by Pakistan-based militants in Mumbai in 2008.


South Africa is to set up a team to tackle hate crimes against gay people, the justice ministry says.

The decision comes after 170,000 activists from around the world demanded action to help lesbians targeted for "corrective rape".
The authorities have been accused of not doing enough following the recent killing and rape of lesbian activist Noxolo Nogwaza.
Police say they do not consider sexual orientation when investigating murder.
"To us, murder is murder, whether somebody is Zulu, English, male or female - we don't see colour, we don't see gender," police ministry spokesman Zweli Mnisi told the BBC on Tuesday, after rights groups urged the police to do more to find those responsible Ms Nogwaza's death.
She was stoned, stabbed and gang-raped in the KwaThema township east of Johannesburg over the Easter weekend.
Unlike in many African countries, homosexual acts are legal in South Africa and discrimination based on sexual orientation is banned, but activists say gay and lesbian people are often attacked in townships.
They say "corrective rape" - when a lesbian is raped to either punish her, or "correct" her behaviour - is becoming increasingly common.
Ndumie Funda, founder of the gay rights organisation Luleki Sizwe which works in 10 black townships and rural areas near Cape Town, welcomed the government's announcement.
She said it was important to get "corrective rape" classified as a hate crime.
"The South African constitution is one of the highly respected and acknowledged constitutions and it says we are all equal; we're therefore reminding our government to say that this was being promised and we voted for you so we need protection," she told the BBC's Network Africa programme.
Luleki Sizwe started an online petition at Change.org to get the government to take action.
"In less than six months, a tiny group of township activists has mobilised more than 170,000 people from 163 countries and gotten the highest levels of government to address their basic demand, that the sadistic crime of 'corrective rape' be taken seriously," Change.org representative Benjamin Joffe-Walt is quoted by the Sapa news agency as saying.
Justice ministry spokesman Tlali Tlali said the the task team would begin its work in July and include six representatives from the judiciary, police and department of social development and six representatives from the gay community.
"The team will be charged with developing a legislative intervention plan, a public awareness strategy, and LGBTI [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex]-sensitive shelters," he said.
In 2008, female footballer and gay rights activist Eudy Simelane was also killed in KwaThema, some 80km (50 miles) east of Johannesburg.
Two people were given long prison terms for her murder and rape, although prosecutors denied that her sexuality had been a motive.


Spain will be looking to make amends for their shocking start to the World Cup, on day seven in Brazil.

The holders face Chile in the Maracana and must get something from their second Group B outing following their stunning 5-1 defeat by the Netherlands.
Today at the World Cup tells you everything you need to know, from who is playing, who you can expect to win, which players to watch out for and how to ensure you do not miss any of the action.
Australia v Netherlands (17:00 BST, Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre)
Mark Lawrenson: "Australia will give everything, again, but they just do not have the quality to test the Dutch.
"The only thing for Netherlands to watch out for is complacency. Yes, they had an outstanding win over Spain but they cannot just turn up and think they will win comfortably - they have to apply themselves as well."
Lawro's prediction: Australia 0-2 Netherlands
How to follow: Watch live on ITV, listen on BBC Radio 5 live, live text commentary on BBC Sport website.
Spain v Chile (20:00 BST, Maracana, Rio de Janeiro)
Lawrenson: "The defending champions suffered a complete collapse in the second half against Netherlands but if David Silva had scored from a great chance when they were 1-0 up before half-time, I am sure they would have gone on to win from there.
"Yes, I expect Spain manager Vicente Del Bosque to make some changes, including replacing Iker Casillas in goal, and possibly in the way that they play.
"But I also expect Spain to win. Chile beat Australia but that is the game in this group that the other three teams will be expecting to win."
Lawro's prediction: Spain 2-0 Chile
How to follow: Watch live on BBC One, listen on BBC Radio 5 live, live text commentary on BBC Sport website.
Cameroon v Croatia (23:00 BST, Arena Amazonia, Manaus)
Lawrenson: "Croatia need to pick themselves up because they spent two days moaning about the decisions that went against them against Brazil, and that is probably long enough.
"They need to concentrate on the positives because they played well and caused Brazil some problems, especially Ivica Olic down the left. Cameroon, in contrast, were very poor against Mexico."
Lawro's prediction: Cameroon 1-2 Croatia
How to follow: Watch live on ITV, listen on BBC Radio 5 live, live text commentary on BBC Sport website.
Chile's Jorge Valdivia is a lavishly gifted playmaker. He has courted controversy off the field, but has rewarded coach Jorge Sampaoli's faith in him and scored the second goal in the 3-1 win over Australia on Friday.
This classic number 10 has served two lengthy bans from international football for alcohol-related indiscretions, and was kidnapped in Brazil in 2012.
However Sampaoli has called the 30-year-old an "irreplaceable talent", and compared him favourably to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Now playing his club football with Palmeiras in Brazil for the second time, Valdivia's goal against Australia was only his fifth for his country and his first since May 2010.
Barcelona forward Alexis Sanchez could face several of his club-mates, and potentially condemn them to an early exit from the tournament, when Chile play Spain in Manaus.
Sanchez, who became the most expensive player in Chilean football history with his £23m move from Udinese in 2011, scored one and laid on another in the 3-1 victory over Australia that has given his country such a good platform going into their meeting with the World Cup holders.
The 25-year-old's Barca colleague Gerard Pique has been a mainstay of Spain's success in recent years, and could be set to play against Sanchez, but Del Bosque has admitted he could make "some changes" to his side in the wake of the defeat by the Netherlands that sent shockwaves through the tournament.
If Pique retains his place in Spain's back four, how he and his fellow defenders cope with Sanchez will go a long way to determining whether or not the World Cup holders' title defence ends a lot earlier than many would have predicted.
Chile have never beaten Spain in their 10 previous encounters, losing eight and drawing two.
Spain's 5-1 defeat by the Netherlands was the heaviest margin of defeat by a reigning World Cup champion in the history of the tournament. The previous heaviest were Brazil losing 3-0 to France in 1998 and West Germany losing 6-3 to France in 1958.
By netting against Spain, Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben became the first and second Netherlands players to score in three different World Cup tournaments - 2006, 2010 and 2014.
Tim Cahill, with four goals and one assist, has been involved in 56% of Australia's nine goals in World Cup history.
Cameroon only had one shot on target in the whole of their opening group game against Mexico - in the 91st minute.
Croatia have not won any of their past five World Cup matches, losing three and drawing two, with their most recent finals victory coming in 2002, when they beat Italy 2-1.
Spain beat Chile 2-1 in South Africa four years ago, but their first World Cup encounter took place at today's venue, the Maracana, in 1950 when Spain won 2-0.
Both Chile and Australia were in action on 18 June at the 1974 World Cup in West Germany, having been drawn in the same group as the hosts and East Germany.
The Socceroos' interest in their first World Cup finals was effectively ended by their 3-0 defeat by West Germany, and it was to be a further 22 years before Australia made it to another tournament.
On the same day, Chile were held 1-1 by East Germany in West Berlin, and after a goalless draw with Australia in their final group match, the South Americans were also heading home.
Spain's vital match with Chile takes place at the Maracana, one of the most famous footballing venues in the world.
It hosted Brazil's ill-fated meeting with Uruguay in 1950, where the host nation, needing only a draw to win the World Cup, were defeated 2-0 in front of 200,000 people.
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The result was deemed a national catastrophe and dubbed O Maracanaco, a Portuguese term roughly translated as 'The Maracana Blow'.
Nevertheless it has subsequently witnessed such memorable moments such as Pele's 1,000th career goal and an emotional memorial service for Garrincha, one of Brazil's greatest and most loved footballers.
The refurbished 73,500-capacity stadium will host the final on Sunday, 13 July.
For the best of BBC Sport's in-depth content and analysis, go to our features and video page.


Moonlight has won best picture at the Oscars - but only after an error saw La La Land initially declared the winner.

The La La Land producers were in the middle of their acceptance speeches when the mistake was discovered.
PriceWaterhouseCooper, the accountancy firm responsible for counting the ballots, apologised for the mix-up.
La La Land still ended up the biggest winner of the night, taking home six Oscars including a best actress award for Emma Stone.
Moonlight's surprise best picture win took its haul to three, the low-budget film having earlier won the adapted screenplay award and a best supporting actor prize for Mahershala Ali.
Casey Affleck was named best actor for Manchester by the Sea, while Viola Davis was named best supporting actress for Fences.
Damien Chazelle, La La Land's 32-year-old director, became the youngest film-maker to win the best director Oscar.
Read the best bits from the speeches
Yet this year's ceremony will be remembered for its closing moments, when Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway arrived on stage to announce the best picture winner.
Beatty had been mistakenly handed the previous winner's envelope, containing a card that said Emma Stone had won best actress for La La Land.
It was this card that Dunaway read from, mistakenly declaring La La Land to be best picture and creating what Stone later described as "the craziest Oscar moment of all time".
In a statement, PriceWaterhouseCooper "sincerely" apologised for the error, which it said was down to the presenters having "mistakenly been given the wrong category envelope".
"We are currently investigating how this could have happened, and deeply regret that this occurred."
Host Jimmy Kimmel said he blamed Steve Harvey for the error - a reference to Harvey's mistake in announcing the Miss Universe winner in 2015.
It was La La Land producer Jordan Horowitz who announced there had been a mistake.
"This is not a joke," he told the audience, showing the correct card. "Moonlight is best picture."
Beatty returned to the microphone to explain he had been given an envelope with Emma Stone's name inside.
"That is why I took such a long look at Faye," the veteran actor continued. "I wasn't trying to be funny."
"Very clearly even in my dreams this can't be true," said Moonlight director Barry Jenkins. "But to hell with it because this is true. It's true, it's not fake."
Paying tribute to the team behind La La Land for the way they handled the mistake, he said: "We have been on the road with these guys and it was so gracious and so generous of them."
Speaking backstage, Emma Stone said it had been "an amazing thing to hear La La Land" named best picture.
"But we are so excited for Moonlight," she continued. "I think it is one of the best films of all time.
"Is that the craziest Oscar moment of all time? Cool! It's going to be history."
La La Land's other Oscars came for its cinematography, score and production design.
The Hollywood musical romance also won the best original song award for City of Stars, beating another song from its soundtrack in the process.
Kenneth Lonergan received the best original screenplay prize for Manchester by the Sea, which he also directed.
There were two awards too for Mel Gibson's war film Hacksaw Ridge, which was recognised for its editing and its sound mixing.
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Relegated Dundee United hung on with 10 men to end a turbulent week with only a seventh league win of a dismal season.

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The Tangerines, who dismissed boss Mixu Paatelainen on Wednesday, were boosted by Simon Murray's early 30-yarder.
Murray helped a second over the line, off Caley defender Josh Meekings, in first-half injury-time before Edward Ofere tapped home the visitors' third.
But goals from Jordan Roberts and Liam Polworth ensured a nervy final 20 minutes, with Callum Morris sent off.
The United defender was booked for a clumsy lunge on Andrea Mbuyi-Mutombo, and moments later received a second yellow card for wrestling with Roberts, leaving United to play the last 12 minutes a man short.
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But despite intense pressure Caley Thistle couldn't muster a leveller, dealing a blow to their hopes of overtaking Dundee for seventh place.
Instead, after four straight defeats confirmed their drop into the Championship, victory under caretaker boss Gordon Young brought United a small measure of relief.
Young elected to use a back four, rather than three, and over the course of the match that seemed a sound decision. They seemed more stable for periods and able to frustrate their hosts, even if they were under siege late on.
United were first to threaten when former Inverness striker Ofere cut in from the left and shot at Owain Fon Williams, who had to react to block Scott Fraser's follow-up.
But the opener wasn't long in coming. Murray picked up possession centrally and thumped a powerful shot from distance which caught Fon Williams off guard and sailed into the net.
A similar effort minutes later was well off target but a sign of the striker's confidence despite United's predicament.
The hosts began to dominate possession and Mbuyi-Mutombo split the defence to release Miles Storey, but  Eiji Kawashima did superbly to stay tall and block twice.
Storey curled in an excellent left-foot shot which almost sailed over the Japanese goalkeeper, but he recovered to tip over.
Instead United got the perfect tonic immediately before half-time, when Billy McKay's powerful shot was saved but the ball fell to Murray, who scrambled it on target.
The unfortunate Meekings' attempts to clear resulted in the ball bouncing off him onto the post and back into the net.
United hit Caley on the counter-attack to great effect 10 minutes into the second half, Murray releasing McKay who squared across goal to leaving Ofere a simple tap-in.
But 13 seconds after the re-start, Roberts drilled in a left-footed shot from the edge of the area to give Inverness hope.
Polworth was just off target with an angled drive before grabbing the second after  Kawashima could only weakly parry Roberts' effort into his path.
At this point United, who have surrendered leads so often this season, were in disarray, with Morris' lack of discipline symptomatic of their problems.
But despite the obvious fragility on show, they somehow held out to frustrate the home side and earn themselves a modicum of pride.


Police have criticised lorry drivers caught using their phones while passing a motorway crash to capture footage of the accident scene.

It followed an accident on the A74(M) in Dumfries and Galloway.
Police said "a number" of lorry drivers were seen filming the crash as they passed by. Two were stopped and given fixed penalty notices.
Officers said it was "hard to understand" why "so-called professional drivers" would behave in such a way.


Japan's economy grew at its fastest pace for more than two years in the second quarter as consumer spending and capital expenditure ramped up.

Gross domestic product expanded at an annualised rate of 4% in the April-to-June period, government data showed, beating expectations for a 2.5% rise.
The economy grew 1% compared to the previous quarter.
Japan is enjoying its longest economic expansion in a decade, buoyed by spending and investment.
The world's third-largest economy has been gaining strength thanks to rising exports, including smart phones and memory chips.
Investment tied to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics has also given Japan's economy a boost in recent months.
Strong domestic demand helped to offset a drop in exports during the second quarter of the year.
Is this a triumph for Abenomics? Well up to a point.  Certainly, the growth in consumer spending and business investment is welcome.   Nonetheless while six consecutive quarters of growth may be Japan's best run in a decade, it is not that impressive compared with other developed economies.
Abenomics is at best unfinished business.  At 0.4% inflation is still well below the Bank of Japan's 2% target.  And there is the demographic challenge, Japan's rapidly ageing population and declining workforce.
There are reform plans in the Abenomics agenda, intended to encourage more people to get in to the labour market. Japan needs that to work.
Japan has been trying to lift consumer spending, which accounts for more than a half of the country's GDP.
The latest figures could be a help to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who pledged to reignite growth and spending through his Abenomics reforms.
Mr Abe has seen his popularity sink recently over a series of scandals including claims he exploited his political power to help a friend.
Falling prices
Japan has battled years of deflation, or falling prices, and slow growth following an equity and property market bubble in the early 1990s.
The Abenomics programme, a mix of monetary easing, government spending and structural reforms, was designed to reignite the once-booming economy and lift consumer prices.
Falling prices can discourage spending by consumers, who might put off purchases in the hopes that prices will drop further.
That hurts businesses, as it can stop firms from increasing production, hiring new staff or increasing wages.
Shinke Yoshiki, chief economist at Dai-ichi Life Research Institute said the latest growth figures were a "good result and tailwind for Abenomics."


London's Olympic Park is playing host to hundreds of thousands of people on the final weekend of the Paralympics.

On the penultimate day of competition, Oscar Pistorius won gold in his 400m title as the Stadium hosted 2012 action for the last time.
Crowds at the Olympic Park today basked in temperatures of up to 27C ahead of Sunday's closing ceremony.
As competition started on Saturday the host nation was sitting second in the overall table with 114 medals.
Cyclist David Stone added to the tally in the morning session, successfully defending his Paralympic mixed T1-2 road race title at Brands Hatch.
Swimmer Ellie Simmonds won silver in S6 100m freestyle event, failing to retain her crown.
The 17-year-old set a new personal best of 1:14.82, but was beaten by the USA's Victoria Arlen.
Simmonds finished the Games with two gold medals, a silver and a bronze.
Great Britain surpassed their 103-medal target for the 2012 Paralympics in emphatic style on Thursday as Hannah Cockroft, David Weir and Jonnie Peacock picked up medals.
Hopes are high that Weir will bring home his fourth gold medal when he competes in the London wheelchair marathon on Sunday.
Weir, 33, known as The Weirwolf of London, has already won the 800m, 1500m and 5,000m.
Competitors in the men's and women's marathons will start and finish in The Mall, completing one short and three long loops during the 26.2-mile race through central London.
Once the sport has concluded, the closing ceremony will bring the curtain down on what has been one of the most successful Paralympics in the event's history.
Organisers have sold some 2.7 million Paralympic tickets - beating targets by 200,000 and predicted sales by Â£10m.
Stars due to perform at Sunday's sold-out ceremony include Jay-Z and Rihanna and hundreds of performers in bandstands across the UK are expected to join in a rendition of Coldplay's Viva La Vida.
The live broadcast of the ceremony is due to start at 20:30 BST and organisers hope it will finish by 23:00 BST.
Speaking at a press briefing on Saturday the show's director Kim Gavin promised a festival of the flame.
He said: "We are known as a nation for having the most festivals.
"The festival approach is purely to celebrate the last night of the Games, and we will pay tribute to all the human spirit and achievement of the last two weeks."
He said the athletes would be on the field of play when the show starts and added: "Through Coldplay's music we are going to take you through the seasons from autumn to summer".
He said there would also be a tribute to Help for Heroes and that the Union Jack would be revealed for the national anthem in a "special way".
"I wanted this ceremony to feel less spangly and more raw," he said.
"It's more about the people and their performances."
British stars of the Olympics and Paralympics will then celebrate their success during a victory parade through the streets of London on Monday.


The Republic of Ireland's relationship with the UK will have to change in a post-Brexit Europe, Ireland's EU agriculture commissioner has said.

Phil Hogan said: "Our common interest with the UK in many areas has been a defining characteristic of our EU membership to date."
But this would now be an "enormous mistake" in Brexit negotiations.
Speaking in two national newspapers on Monday, Mr Hogan also said "Brexit is a mess and getting messier".
Writing in The Irish Times, he said: "There is a real risk that Ireland could allow our relationship with Europe to be defined by our relationship with the UK, which would be an enormous mistake in my view.
"Instead, we should have the confidence and direction to recognise that post-Brexit Ireland will need to have in place a wholly different set of relationships with our EU partners."
He also said the country needed to protect its trading ties with the UK and "manage how Brexit impacts on the island as a whole".
In the Irish Independent, he warned that if the UK leaves the EU single market then "a hard border" with Northern Ireland looked inevitable.
He said avoiding such a scenario centred on the EU treating the entire island as a special case and single unit.
The UK voted to leave the EU by 52% to 48% in June's referendum, though Northern Ireland voted to remain by a 56% majority.
Prime Minister Theresa May has said she intends to trigger the official process of leaving by the end of March, meaning the UK will be expected to have left by the summer of 2019, depending on the precise timetable agreed during the Brexit negotiations.


Eastleigh moved to within two points of the National League play-off places as they won at relegation-threatened Torquay United.

Lee Cook's fourth-minute shot from the right-hand side of the penalty box was enough to separate the sides.
Brendan Moore denied Cook a second in the first half while Angus MacDonald twice went close for the Gulls.
Torquay, who had been on an eight-game unbeaten run, have now lost two in a row and are two points from safety.
They have scored just one goal in their last six games and dropped to third from bottom of the table after Boreham Wood's 3-0 win over Dover.


The speed at which the British economy is growing is increasing, the Confederation of British Industry says.

Research by the CBI suggests business activity increased markedly in the three months to May.
Rain Newton-Smith, the CBI's director of economics, said growth had "cranked up several gears".
In April official figures revealed the UK economy grew by 0.3% in the first three months of 2015, which marked the slowest quarterly growth for two years.
BBC business correspondent Joe Lynam said those April figures stoked fears that the country might be set for a slowdown.
But now the CBI is suggesting that all sectors of the economy are growing.
Its latest survey of more than 800 companies suggests the services sector - which ranges from restaurants and plumbing to banking and finance - stood out in particular.
This sector recorded its fastest growth in business volumes since February 2006 and was the main driver of the overall acceleration, the survey concluded.
The CBI said growth could be boosted further as things improve economically in the Eurozone, which is the UK's largest trading partner.
Mr Newton-Smith added: "As we move through the second quarter, growth has cranked up several gears and businesses expect that faster pace to continue.
"This supports our belief that the weaker-than-expected GDP growth in the early months of 2015 will be short-lived.
"A stellar increase in activity in the business and professional service sector and retail sales bounding ahead are clear indications of strong business and consumer confidence and increased spending power.
"UK exports are likely to be helped by renewed momentum in the euro area but the stronger pound and weak demand in many overseas markets continue to pose challenges."
Earlier in the month the CBI urged businesses to "speak out early" in favour of remaining in a reformed European Union.
Its president Sir Mike Rake said there were "no credible alternatives" to EU membership.


A taxi driver in the Philippines who returned the valuable belongings of a businessman after they were left behind in his cab has been rewarded at home and abroad for his honesty.

Reggie Cabututan, 30, was honoured by the city of Baguio and offered a chance to study and work in Australia.
"All I did was go back and return [the] belongings when I realised [they had been] left," he told local media.
His actions have won online plaudits all over the world.
Australian businessman Trent Shields in a Facebook post said that Mr Cabututan returned his laptop, passport and headphones worth thousands of dollars when he left them in the cab after he got out feeling unwell on Saturday.
"Reggie did not know the value of the contents, the suitcase was padlocked, and it wouldn't have mattered if there [was] a million dollars or it was empty.
"The real story should be focussed on his integrity," Mr Shields wrote.
"My friend and business partner Ace Estrada put together a small Facebook post to say thank you which blew up over night and became a symbol of pride in the region.
"Reggie embodies many of the values shared by the people of Baguio, and I was lucky enough to experience [them] on my trip."
In a separate Facebook post Mr Estrada said that as a result of his actions the taxi driver and his family would be going to Australia where he can complete a six-month software development course - run by one of Mr Shields' companies - in June.
"When he completes the course, he is guaranteed an internship with an Australian company, leading to a job that will pay him a good starting salary," he wrote.
"Just as we were leaving for the police station to file a report, Trent's taxi pulled in. Never was a sight more welcome than the smiling face of this driver. What an awesome win for humanity!"
Mr Cabututan was also presented with an award by the Baguio city government during a flag ceremony on Monday, the Philippines news website Rappler reported.


Dundee United manager Mixu Paatelainen expects the battle to avoid relegation to last until the season's final game.

United trail Kilmarnock by five points with six games left for play in the quest to remain in the Premiership.
"I think it will be tough and I think it will go right down to the wire," said the United manager.
"We do know that Kilmarnock will lose, Kilmarnock will win and they will probably draw. We just need to win more than them in order to survive."
Paatelainen thinks his side can still overtake Kilmarnock even if the gap remains the same after the Ayrshire side host St Johnstone as Inverness Caledonian Thistle visit Tannadice on Saturday.
There will be five games left as the Premiership splits into two sections of six teams and the United manager does not rule out Hamilton Academical, who are four points ahead of Kilmarnock, being drawn into the relegation battle.
"It is still a comfortable cushion Kilmarnock have, but there is still a long way to go with plenty of points at stake," he said.
"We have certainly given ourselves a chance.
"It depends on how the teams above us do. If they win all their matches, it will be very difficult for us, impossible for us.
"A lot can happen in those five matches. You play one another and play against teams pretty close to you and it will be a very interesting end to the season."
United were 13 points adrift at one stage, so Paatelainen was not too downhearted about the midweek defeat by Partick Thistle.
"We've been playing well, but we haven't been winning enough for our liking," he said.
"We need to find more of that consistency in order to survive.
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"I think our players have shown tremendous character not to give up, not to put the tools away, keep believing.
"That's why the gap is down to five points and that gives us hope."
One thing Paatelainen is sure of is that Kilmarnock will at some point secure their first win since Lee Clark took over as manager from Gary Locke.
"Look at their squad," he stressed. "Some excellent players and they have a manager whose been around, who knows the score, he knows the game.
"They will win. They've got goalscorers and solid defenders and very energetic midfielders."


Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says he is "100% responsible" for Saturday's 2-1 FA Cup home defeat by Wolves, his side's third loss at Anfield in a week.

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The Reds lost 3-2 at home to Swansea in the league last Saturday, and on Wednesday were beaten 1-0 by Southampton in the EFL Cup semi-finals.
Championship side Wolves were worthy winners as a weakened Liverpool side put in a poor display.
"I thought we were ready but obviously we were not," Klopp told BBC Sport.
He added: "We caused ourselves problems again - especially the first goal which we could have defended better.
"It doesn't feel too good right now, but I know myself long enough to say that tomorrow I will again be in the mood for the challenge."
Liverpool's next game is in the Premier League on Tuesday, at home to leaders Chelsea. The Reds are in fourth place, 10 points behind.
"Our performance then will be different, but in this moment, right now we are all frustrated," Klopp added.
"I could look for excuses but I don't want to actually. We should use this time to be angry with ourselves and then make it better for next time.
"We didn't create enough, that is the truth. It's not about blaming players. I have to change it."
Liverpool were last beaten three times in a row at home between September and October 2012 under former manager Brendan Rodgers.
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Those matches were against Arsenal and Manchester United in the Premier League, and Udinese in the Europa League group stage.
Klopp has now suffered three consecutive home defeats as a manager for the first time since April 2007, when he was in charge of German club Mainz.
He was asked whether this week's three defeats represented his lowest point since becoming Reds boss in October 2015.
"I think that depends on your point of view," the German said.
"Losing three matches at home, that is a pretty low point. If it is the lowest point then now is a perfect moment to turn because it is not possible to go lower.
"But everything in life depends on your reaction. We can play better football, but we have to show that again."
Former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson on BBC Radio 5 live
Wolves won this game is because of an absolutely perfect first 45 minutes. They scored two beautifully worked goals.
In the second half Liverpool huffed and puffed but when you think about it, Wolves thoroughly deserved it. It was an outstanding performance.
Liverpool huffed and they puffed but just weren't good enough. They got up to the edge of box and ran out of ideas. That is why they are so short of confidence.
Liverpool have a problem because they've had an extremely poor January. The idea at the start of the season was to finish in the Champions League positions.
It's easy to make a knee-jerk reaction. I do still think they have a chance of doing that. But you've got to give credit to Wolves for a fantastic performance.
Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy on Match of the Day
Where do you start? Liverpool were too narrow and picked a team that had nobody who could see a pass and open up a packed defence. It was so predictable and there was a real lack of quality with the ball. The team selection was wrong.
I think the strength in depth at Liverpool isn't there. A real test for Liverpool is coming up on Tuesday night against Chelsea, but when your back is against the wall there is nothing better than a big game at Anfield under the lights.
Bev: Shame on Klopp for playing such an understrength team. Going out of both cup competitions with a whimper.
Rashida: You can't call Liverpool losing this a cup upset. They've been outplayed and outshined by a resilient Wolves side who turned up!
Stuart Proctorundefined: I know teams go through bad runs, but this is getting ridiculous now.
Ady Lindsay: As bad as Liverpool have been, Wolves deserve all the credit today, they were phenomenal.


About $4bn (£2.8bn) may have been stolen from a fund owned by the Malaysian state, a prosecutor says.

The 1MDB fund was set up in 2009 to pay for major new economic and social developments in Malaysia.
Last year, Swiss authorities opened an investigation into 1MDB after it amassed more than $11bn (£7bn) of debt.
Switzerland's attorney general said on Friday there were "serious indications that funds have been misappropriated from Malaysian state companies".
The full background to the 1MDB scandal
Malaysia PM in the clear?
Some of the money, the office of Michael Lauber said, had been transferred to Swiss accounts held by Malaysian former public officials and current and former public officials from the United Arab Emirates.
"To date, however, the Malaysian companies concerned have made no comment on the losses they are believed to have incurred," the attorney general's statement said (in German).
Mr Lauber called on Malaysian authorities to give full judicial assistance to their Swiss counterparts.
A Swiss investigation into 1MDB was opened last year, citing "suspected corruption of public foreign officials, dishonest management of public interests and money laundering".
In a statement on Saturday, 1MDB said it "remains committed to fully co-operating with any lawful authority and investigation", but had not yet heard from any foreign legal authorities.
Regulators in the US and Hong Kong are also reported to be investigating 1MDB.
The fund's advisory board is chaired by Prime Minister Najib Razak, who launched 1MDB soon after taking office in 2009.
Last July, Malaysia's then-Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail linked a donation of $681m (£478m) made to Mr Najib's account with companies and bodies which had ties to 1MDB.
Mr Patail was replaced, and, after an investigation, his successor last week cleared Mr Najib of corruption saying that the money was a personal donation by the Saudi royal family to the prime minister's private bank account.
"I am satisfied that there is no evidence to show that the donation was a form of gratification given corruptly," said Attorney-General Mohamed Apandi Ali.
Most of the money was later returned, he said.
Malaysia's anti-corruption commission said it would seek a review of the attorney-general's decision.