..and he was the quizmaster on sale of the century for 12 years. hello, and welcome to the sale of the century. it's the quiz of the week. i'm proud of the fact that i helped create a huge success. you don't buck success. i'm proud of that fact, but i don't want to just be remembered for sale of the century. i want to see your passport, please. indeed, there was a lot more to nicholas parsons. what is the purpose of your visit to england? he'd appeared in more than 20 films... i've come to find a husband. ..and in the ‘60s, he'd become a household name as the straight man to the comedian arthur haynes. i'm sorry, vicar. i thought it was those carol singers. merry christmas. he could bring out the funniness in anybody, but unselfishly, always feeding them. he knew he could get something out of them, and he could do that immaculately. he'd turned to acting

after training as an engineer in a clyde shipyard. do you think you could try and keep quiet? on camera, he was a master of smooth talking charm, a mask for his struggles growing up with dyslexia and a pronounced stammer. and then in 1967, he was made presenter ofjust a minute. he'd wanted to be a panellist, but the producers knew his skill. the good—natured straight man enduring a daily comic assault. i'm going to ask my guests to speak on the subject that i give them and they will try to do that without hesitation, reputation or deviating from the subject... he truly was a legend when it comes to radio and to that programme, and to be doing what he did in his 905, with such charm and wit and flair, i think, is truly amazing. and as the minute waltz fades away, once more it is my pleasure to welcome our many listeners... more than 50 years later, he was still in charge, never regretting that day more than 70 years ago when he swapped engineering for showbusiness.

the entertainer and broadcaster nicholas parsons, who's died at the age of 96. that's all from me. newsnight is getting under way on bbc two. now on bbc one, time for the news where you are. have a very good night. hello and welcome to sportsday — i'm holly hamilton. coming up, theirfirst league cup final in a decade. aston villa are heading to wembley with victory over leicester. the return of israel folau.

the former australia international has switched codes nine months on from making homophobic comments on social media. and the great escape — roger federer saves seven match points to reach the australian open semi—finals. hello and welcome to the programme. after five day‘s of fa cup games— tonight was the turn of the league cup. and what a night it was at villa park. the second leg of their semi—final with leicester city. poised going into tonight's match at 1—1, it was matt targett on targett for the home side opening the scoring early

into the first half to take them a step closer to wembley. but leicester weren't letting this go that easily. kelechi ihea nacho, just as he did in the first leg, made it 1—1, and just when it looked like it would be going to penalties... three minutes into injury time, trezeguet volleying a first—time beauty into the bottom right corner, putting aston villa into their first league cup final in ten years. look at what it means to the fans there. they'll face either manchester united or manchester city in the final at wembley on the ist of march. more scottish cup action tonight too. the fourth round replay between hibs and dundee united and christian doidge‘s hat—trick helped hibs to that 4—2 win. setting up a last—16 tie with lowland league side bsc glasgow. elsewhere league one side falkirk will face hearts after beating championship visitors arbroath 2—0 in their replay. in the championship tonight, wayne rooney scored his first goal for derby county his first in english football in more than two years.

it had been goaless until rooney gave derby the lead midway thorugh the second half. four more goals followed — three of them though for bottom—side luton town who won 3—2. all tonight's results are on the bbc sport website. we heard from jurgen klopp today ahead of their match against west ham tomorrow night. it's their game in hand in the premier league which could see them go 19 points clear. he was also asked about his decision to field his under23‘s against shrewsbury next week and the fact that he'll miss the fa cup replay himself. people say it's lazy or disrespect of all, it is not true but it is not important because everyone is right to have an opinion but i'm responsible for my players and i decide for them, for us, for the whole group. this is the mid—season break and it has been because that

what everybody needs. and if you justice what everybody needs. and if you just ice working same way, nothing will change. —— and if you just remained working in the same way. last may, israel folau, was kicked out of australian rugby. the wallabies star and super rugby‘s record try scorer had already been warned about making homophobic comments but was sacked when he repeated them in an online post. now, he's switched back to rugby league and has signed for catalan dragons. adam wild reports there is no argument about the ability of israel folau. still, it is his ability to provoke arguments that has come to define his career. like a knife going through hot butter. last year, he was sacked by australia in the build—up to the rugby union world cup for a social media post that claimed hell awaits gay people. folau had been warned about such views before.

that printed legal action. he sued rugby australia arguing that it was religious discrimination. the argument reignited with the news that folau is on his way to france, just days before the start of the season, catalan dragons have said welcome. the rugby football weeks is it the poor his comments but they don't believe under the current regulatory framework... whilst the super league chairman pointed to a strong feeling that... for israel folau, this is a return to the game where it all began having first made his name with melbourne and then brisbane, his switch to rugby union which made him one of australians

best paid and high—profile sportsmen but the decision to bring him back to rugby league is too much for some. keegan hirst tweeted of his shock and disappointment saying it shows none of the bravery, camaraderie or integrity... catalan have called this a new opportunity to shine but many within the game feel that isn't an opportunity he deserves. adam wild, bbc news. well, news of folau's deal came shortly after an announcement by english side wigan warriors that their match against catalans in march will be "pride day" in support of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community. let's hear more now from wigan chairman and owner ian lenegan. in wigan making this our pride day on march the 22nd, let's do something positive to show our support for this environment but also more positively that rugby

league is a respect based organisation that values diversity and inclusiveness. it is a decision for the club as to whether or not they can rehabilitate through counselling and education that player. that is for them to disciples of i think rugby league's record in terms of its attitude towards diversity and inclusivity is a spectacularly good and i don't think this should be viewed negatively. and that is why we are to be going to be doing the pride day on march the 22nd to show the public we are support for that community. let's have a quick look at some of the day's other headlines. christian eriksen has left tottenham for inter milan for a fee of around £17 million. the danish midfielder joined spurs in 2013 and was out of contract in the summer. spurs have taken up the option to sign giovani lo celso on a permanent basis. the 23—year—old argentinian initiallyjoined from spanish side real betis on a loan deal

in the summer. england bowler stuart broad has been fined 15% of his match fee, for swearing at the south africa captain faf du plessis during the fourth test in johannesburg. broad has also been given a demerit point. tennis australia says that martina navratilova and john mcenroe have breached tournament protocols after they staged a protest calling for the margaret court arena to be renamed. court, who holds the record for the most grand slam singles titles, has been criticised for her homophobic views. navratilova says she wants the conversation around the renaming of the court to move forward. i just felt that the conversation had stopped. i thought we got it going a couple of years ago and i thought tennis australia would do something. the government of victoria are the ones who make the decision, but nothing has happened

and margaret keeps doubling down. to the action in melbourne then and roger federer says he believes in miracles after he saved seven match points against the unseeded american tennys sandgren to reach the semi—finals. john watson was watching in melbourne. an incredible comeback from roger federer who just underlined why he is our could be the greatest male tennis player of all—time. who would have predicted the outcome of this one. two sets to one down, he saved seven match points the fourth set to level the masher to set all taking it on level the masher to set all taking itona level the masher to set all taking it on a tie—break before wrapping up the match over five sets just as he did an impressive style in the third round. uncharacteristic from roger federer at times, he was warned over his bad language on the court, he was taking a medical timeout struggling with tightness in his leg at the time and an incident as well involving his opponent who was running to buy a ball girl during a

change of and needs in that fourth set tie—break. it is roger federer who progresses and will face novak djokovic of the austrian open of this year. great performance from ash party who came through her back —— her matched to a venture defeat at the same stage of the student last year. she enters her first austrian open semi file. she became the first austrian to win the single title in nubbin park in 42 years. she will make huge matches to come as the quarterfinals concludes my. we will see rafael nadal in action but no doubt the big talking point was that incredible performance from roger federer. thanks, john wasn't there in melbourne. —— was there in melbourne. tonight's nba match between the la lakers and city rivals the clippers has been called off as a mark

of respect to kobe bryant who died in a helicopter crash over the weekend. there's a shrine outside the staples centre, home of the lakers, but an online petition could see the creation of something more permanent to honour one of basketball‘s greatest players. nick parott reports. the trip the trips could be drinking coming, from time spread to the impressive putting in your to the streets of los angeles, la lakers star lebron james suppressed streets of los angeles, la lakers star lebronjames suppressed branch to become the nba prospect third highest score on saturday for site they did not play together in the nba but they were team—mates at the olympics. james puts on social media on monday night saying that he is heartbroken and promised to continue branch‘s legacy. if fans have their way, there will be permanent tribute. in just way, there will be permanent tribute. injust a way, there will be permanent tribute. in just a few hours, an online petition gather more than i million signatures asking the nba to immortalise him forever their logo. the nba has yet to respond but they have called off tonight constantly christmas against la clippers. america pots biggest sporting event

the super bowl takes place in miami on sunday. the nfl has not announced whether there will be a tribute to brya nt whether there will be a tribute to bryant but his close friend who is playing in the game says he will honour his memory. i was in the dome sitting there thing about what he would tell me, he would tell me stop being a baby and man up and play it and do it in his honour and win this game for him, and that is what we are going to try to do. i'm going to god they're trying to play some dominating balljust like he wanted facet —— going out there. the mob mentality lives on. investigators still gathering evidence as they try to find the cause of the crash. nick parikh, ppc news. —— mamba mentality. —— nick. bbc news. there's more on all tonight's stories on the bbc sport website but for that's it from sportsday. coming up in a moment, the papers.

welcome to our look ahead to what the papers will bring us tomorrow. with meet the assistant editor for the new statesman, and the former conservative pensions minister. there are many of headlines already in. the metro is meeting with boris johnson's position to let chinese tech giant huawei help instruct britain's new 5g network despite fears that will put national security at risk and damage a post brexit trade deal with the us. according to the eye, the tech director at gchq says the market was broken, it was crazy. that huawei was one of only three suppliers. the times meanwhile says borisjohnson resisted opposition from his defence secretary in making that decision.

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