works to the stage — creating huge hits like the history boys and the lady in the van. our arts editor, will gompertz, has been talking to them about their collaboration which has lasted more than a quarter of a century. they treat me like an oracle. and that's what oracles do, they repeat themselves. laughter here is a scene from alan bennett's play the habit of art which, on the face of it, imagines a meeting between a poet, wh auden, and composer, benjamin britten. but there are also plenty ofjokes that allude to another meeting of creative minds. do you always mean what you write? that of the playwright and his long—term collaborator, the director nicholas hytner. we never had rows. i mean, i can only remember about two disagreements. if you believe that art comes out of conflict, it doesn't work in that way, no. but it does come out of compromise. what would you say, of all those plays that you two have made together — some of which have become films — is the high point? well, the thing we enjoyed absolutely every minute of it was obviously the history boys. so i'll thank you! if no—one! mentions oxford! 0r cambridge! in my!

lessons! as the director of the national theatre, what is it about alan bennett plays that seem to make them absolutely bullet—proof when it comes to success? don't say that! well, the way alan talks through his characters is the way large audiences wanted to be talked to. they trusted what he had to say, they trusted the way he said it. there's a kind of bond that alan creates in the way he writes, which i can always depend upon. put the van in your drive? that never occurred to me. such as the lady in the van, a play — which they subsequently turned into a film — about an eccentric old lady who inveigles her way into alan bennett's life. you're not doing me a favour, you know. i have got other fish to fry. is it true that you write about the outsider, principally? well, i suppose it is true.

but not consciously. i don't go casting about for people who aren't in the charmed circle, as it were. have you ever had a situation, alan, where you've taken a play to nick, he was unenthusiastic, and the play never saw the light of day? no. i'm a terrible recycler. nick said, i can't remember, you must have been reading some of the things i'd written. he said, "you do repeat yourself, don't you?" are you all right? if he does, and writes another new play, he says it'll be directed once again by nicholas hytner, who won't put it on at the national theatre this time, but at his own theatre, which will open at london south bank later this year. will gompertz, bbc news. that's it from me. newsnight is about to begin over on bbc two in a few moments. here is kirsty. tonight we report from shepherd needs out where one of the six drivers from the massacre in

1995 is back there, facing down serbs who say the genocide never happened. join me now on bbc two. hello and welcome to sportsday. i'm mike bushell. it's advantage manchester united as marcus rashford's stunning free—kick puts them on course for the europa league final with an away win at celta vigo. meanwhile bradford take a step towards the championship, with a first leg win over fleetwood in the league one play—offs. and there's no stopping the tigers in rugby league. castleford extend their lead at the top of the superleague after victory at huddersfield. thanks forjoining us.

first tonight to spain's atlantic coast and the city of vigo is used to being raided throughout the centuries and tonight it was manchester united who came and took the spoils from celta vigo, in the first leg of their europa league semi—final. patrick geary reports. another thursday night of blue and white for manchester united. last week city, now celta vigoment for jose mourinho this may even be the bigger gamement for winning the europa league is now his season's goal, the problem stood in the opposing goal. marcus rashford was the first to work. celta vigo's goalkeeper was inspired denying manchester united at every turn. one man's frustration is another‘s defiance. they played the 18th theme at half—time perhaps to set the scene for a daring raid. it would only take one shot, one deflection.

the manchester united squad is the most expensive, but they give free—kick to say a lad who cost nothing, here is why, marcus rashford, proof you can hunt the world for magic, but you might find it on your doorstep. the teenager who won the quarterfinal set them on their way in the semifinal. the plan is coming together. millwall were held to a goalless draw at home to scunthorpe in their league one play—off first leg. in the other tie, it's advantage bradford. rory mcardle‘s header gave them a 1—0 win over fleetwood at valley parade to take into the second leg on sunday. if you were looking for a feast of goals tonight, you should have gone to the hive. home of the arsenal ladies, where they drew 4—1! with liverpool, in the spring series match. danielle carter brought arsenal back into it with a brace. england's under—17s, came from behind to win the first game of their european championship against norway. having gone behind early on,

the young lions hit back with two goals from the liverpool youngster rhian brewster. and they kept that lead until deep into the second—half when manchester city's phillip foden, made the game safe. 3—1 the final score in croatia. england's next game is against ukraine on sunday. the everton manager ronald koeman says he hopes to see his winger, aaron lennon, back in his squad soon, but only when he's ready, and he says the player's well being is paramount. the club will give lennon all their support after he was detained under the mental health act and koeman has confirmed that they've had contact with lennon and his family now. as you know, that the club mentioned that aaron is in a stress—related illness. it's a private question. a private situation, what happened. we try to give him all the support. and that he's coming back as soon as possible. now they're on course to win every

major trophy in scotland, and so not surprisingly celtic fans are already getting excited about next season. 2,500 celtic fans turned out for the launch of their clubs new kit in scenes that look more like a rock festival and out they came in the new strip which celebrates 50 years since the class of 1967 won the european cup in portugal and became known as the lisbon lions. in rugby league, castleford tigers remain top of super league after beating huddersfield giants 26—21. the league leaders were missing three key players who were on england duty and they were trailing huddersfield by six points at the break as jake mamo scored a first half hat—trick but castleford fought back and a late try from jesse sene—lefao secured victory. they're now three points clear at the top of the table. former super league champions st helens have appointed

australian justin holbrook as their new coach. holbrookjoins from sydney roosters with saints currently lying seventh in the super league after last week's win over leigh. england's men start their busy summer tomorrow in bristol, with a one day match against ireland. the two will also play at lord's, on sunday. the england captain, says his side are in good shape, as they prepare to host the eight team, champions trophy next month. the strength and depth we've had for this side has been extremely strong over the last 18 months. i think the squad we've selected in the champions trophy reflects that. the guys that have missed out, we could have picked a squad of 18 or 19 guys that could all take the field. that bodes well for us in the competition. i hope it continues over the next two years as we build toward the world cup. so yeah that's a huge positive. last week's european badminton championships saw britain's best results

for 17 years. there were four medals — two of them gold. but uk sport's complete funding axe came into full effect last month and it saw half of the players and coaches lose theirjobs. those who remain have now launched a crowd—funding campaign to try and safeguard their future as nick hope reports. after months of struggles which have seen athletes and coaches lose their jobs, british badminton players finally have something to celebrate. it has been a very tough time, but everybody back at home and while we are away have been resilient we have stuck together and we've set plans and goals that we still want it achieve and we're going to push on despite what happened. historic european gold medals are a tiny morale boost for the players following the devastating news about the uk sport funding axe, they need to continue winning major medals like at the world championships in glasgow in august. to back that bid, the players are looking to the public. a crowdfunding campaign has

been launched by badminton england to safeguard the future of the sport. half of the squad had to leave milton keynes and for me as a singles player i have not got the support i had previously. if we were to get a bit of support financially it might help bring that back and it would mean a great deal to the players and it could push us on the extra 5% or 10%. it is for the younger generation, we want the sport to have a rich history and to keep being made by the young ones who won't have the support that maybe we did at that age. for us, it means so maybe we did at that age. for us, it means so much to us that any bit of help, crowdfunding, would be huge. there maybe a lack of money, but there is plenty of motivation within badminton in britain. usain bolt says his legacy, will be proving to youngsters, that clean athletes can win medals. bolt will be retiring from the sport after defending his sprint titles at the world championships in london this summer and speaking to bbc

sport's steve cram injamaica he says he won't change his mind about quitting and is more than happy with what he has done for athletics. for me, just a great legacy, you know what i mean? to show to the kids that anything is possible. you can do it without cheating, you know what i mean? i think that is one of the biggest things i am happy i can leave in the sport. you can do it without cheating. if you are going to do this, it is going to be hard work and dedication, and a lot of sacrifice. and you can see usain bolt: the final chapter on bbc one, this saturday at 1.15pm. that's all from sportsday. coming up in a moment, the papers. bye— bye. hello. welcome to our look ahead to

what the papers will be bringing us tomorrow. with us former trade lord digbyjones and henry. brace. brace. tomorrow's front pages of the telegraph leads with the duke of edinburgh who is retiring from public duties this autumn. "i have had my fill is the headline." there isa similar had my fill is the headline." there is a similar headline in the sun. the paper totted over 22,000 personal engagements made by prince philip. the same story is on the front of the i. the paper estimates the duke made 5,000 speeches. the times claims that the queen's consort decided to retire to avoid growing frail in public. the mirror claims that cliff richard has spent an unreasonable amount on legal action. there is a warning from

donald tusk to theresa may to show respect during brexit talks. there isa respect during brexit talks. there is a six month slump in oil prices. a p pa re ntly is a six month slump in oil prices. apparently prince philip will wonder what all the fuss is about, but that's what we're going to talk about first. he's stepping down from public duties in the autumn. here is the metro. "i have had my fill. 70 yea rs of the metro. "i have had my fill. 70 years of service." he could have retired sometime ago?|j years of service." he could have retired sometime ago? i thud think even the most ardent republican would be saying that's public service and it's, i think, just fabulous and the nation obviously should be very grateful to him. it's not the easiest thing in the world. it wasn't in 19117 or in 1952 for this guy who had obviously, isn't the telegraph calls him the alpha male and suddenly, having to go one step back and let his wife. today, we would say what's wrong with that? in 1947 it we would say what's wrong with that? in 19117 it wasn't done. i'm full of

admiration for the man and if he wa nts to admiration for the man and if he wants to spend the last few years on this planet in privacy with the woman he loves, what's wrong with that? the telegraph have a similar story. the main picture story. prince philip retires, service with a smile. everyone we've spoken to, the gaffes aside which some people found rather tricky to cope with. we could highlight one or two. some of them have been controversial. he puts people at their ease. he cracks a joke. he puts people at their ease. he cracks ajoke. he could put you at puts people at their ease. he cracks a joke. he could put you at your ease. if he says to you, "well, my word, you're working in a factory in edinburgh, it looks like it has been put together by an indian." we can laugh about it because he is an old quy~ laugh about it because he is an old guy. he had fantastic coverage. the headlines are superb for him and if you consider as digby said how he

had to go from being this naval officer, a guy who would have continued to have a brilliant careerment you were in the navy...|j careerment you were in the navy...” didn't marry the queen. to