max keep our excitement high. max verstappen could be challenging lewis hamilton for a title. [30 verstappen could be challenging lewis hamilton for a title. do you think formula _ lewis hamilton for a title. do you think formula 1 _ lewis hamilton for a title. do you think formula 1 needs _ lewis hamilton for a title. do you think formula 1 needs more - lewis hamilton for a title. do you think formula 1 needs more nip i lewis hamilton for a title. do you l think formula 1 needs more nip and tuck between the top contenders? it needs loads more, yes, absolutely! we want the likes of mercedes to be challenged by red bull, ferrari, all of the teams piling in every. of the teams piling in every challenged by red bull, ferrari, all of the teams piling in every team has top quality drivers, at least one. the signs of recovery are definitely there. we're just hoping that the form we've seen today in practice carries over and we don't see qualifying tomorrow once again dominated by that mercedes. in see qualifying tomorrow once again dominated by that mercedes. in terms of lewis hamilton, _ dominated by that mercedes. in terms of lewis hamilton, how— dominated by that mercedes. in terms of lewis hamilton, how big _ dominated by that mercedes. in terms of lewis hamilton, how big a - dominated by that mercedes. in terms of lewis hamilton, how big a season l of lewis hamilton, how big a season would this be for him? he’s of lewis hamilton, how big a season would this be for him?— would this be for him? he's looking for an eighth _ would this be for him? he's looking for an eighth world _ would this be for him? he's looking for an eighth world title, _ would this be for him? he's looking| for an eighth world title, something that no one has ever done in formula 1. it's clear what his ambition is,

but interestingly, he's only signed a one—year contract. so at the and of the season, a lot of things changing. —— at the end. will hamilton walk away at the into the season? will he get that eighth title? i there's a lot of question marks and a lot of things to play out over the course of the year. this is obviously the second season of formula i this is obviously the second season of formula 1 living in within a pandemic. how much better equipped is it to be able to live life like this? i is it to be able to live life like this? ~ , is it to be able to live life like this? ~' , , ., ., this? i think they showed great tenacity and — this? i think they showed great tenacity and resilience - this? i think they showed great tenacity and resilience last - this? i think they showed great. tenacity and resilience last year, being able to get 17 races away. actually, a number of cases they did have within the pandemic was pretty small. this year, more injustice pans —— ambitious plans. 23 races. i think that's quite unlikely they will get all of them, speaking to all of the bosses, and they also think if you look at places like mexico, braziland think if you look at places like mexico, brazil and america, think if you look at places like mexico, braziland america, russia, will we be able to go to those places safely? we'll have to wait

and see, but maybe 20 races i think is the ambition for this year and a realistic world. one of the first survivors to speak out about being abused by youth coach barry bennell has spoken to the bbc for the first time since the sheldon report came out last week. the independent review revealed that "significant institutional failings" by the football association meant it "did not do enough to keep children safe". former crewe player steve walters has told our sports editor dan roan just how difficult the last few days have been. it's been awful. awful. i personally come off social media. for my well—being. there'sjust come off social media. for my well—being. there's just so come off social media. for my well—being. there'sjust so much going on. 770 on page documents on such a sort face of time. there's a lot to digest and obviously, we've been supporting our survivors involved in different cases as well.

it has been a very difficult journey, especially in the last week or so. it journey, especially in the last week or so. ., ., ~' journey, especially in the last week or so. . . ~ ., journey, especially in the last week or so. . n ., ., , or so. it had taken crewe an awful lona time or so. it had taken crewe an awful long time to _ or so. it had taken crewe an awful long time to respond _ or so. it had taken crewe an awful long time to respond formally - or so. it had taken crewe an awful long time to respond formally to i or so. it had taken crewe an awful. long time to respond formally to the report. when they did, it was a qualified apology. then we have the statement as well, what did you make of what he had to say? it’s a statement as well, what did you make of what he had to say?— of what he had to say? it's a huge kick in the — of what he had to say? it's a huge kick in the teeth, _ of what he had to say? it's a huge kick in the teeth, really. - of what he had to say? it's a huge kick in the teeth, really. they - of what he had to say? it's a huge| kick in the teeth, really. they have the audacity to come out with this, and he's only banned from under 18. it was hugely disappointing. i had to keep reading and reading it over and over again. to keep reading and reading it over and overagain. i to keep reading and reading it over and over again. i was full of to simply —— disbelief when i saw this. the fa need some sort of transparency in the clear concise reason why he is banned from

football. it's as simple as that, really. they want a clean slate and rectify all their errors in the past, but this is a perfect opportunity starting now by producing something so we all know the reason why he is banned. the? the reason why he is banned. they said that he's _ the reason why he is banned. they said that he's banned _ the reason why he is banned. they said that he's banned indefinitely and has been since 2016, but they will not reveal or cannot reveal exactly why. how does that make you feel as survivors? that exactly why. how does that make you feel as survivors?— feel as survivors? that feels like we're being _ feel as survivors? that feels like we're being cheated. _ feel as survivors? that feels like we're being cheated. again. - feel as survivors? that feels like we're being cheated. again. it's| we're being cheated. again. it's just so frustrating. just come out in black and white and tell us what the reason why he is banned. wejust produce this report and saw... it's all produced and documented, they just need to do the investigating right now and give us a reason why gary was banned.—

right now and give us a reason why gary was banned. former crewe player s-ueakin to gary was banned. former crewe player speaking to our— gary was banned. former crewe player speaking to our sports _ gary was banned. former crewe player speaking to our sports editor— gary was banned. former crewe player speaking to our sports editor dan - speaking to our sports editor dan roan. there was 0lympic qualification on the line this morning for british marathon runners at kew gardens in london. and tokyo spots went to chris thompson and stephanie davis following their victories in the trials. it will be the second 0lympics for thompson who turns a0 in april. here's our senior sports news reporter laura scott. in the marathon, it was a looped pause here at kew gardens. it had been on 25 times to shave off seconds here and there, and in the men's event, it was won by 39—year—old chris thompson. he welcomed his first child earlier this week and we have a pb here today to earn the spot to tokyo. his second place was ben connors. he's also going to take over because he reached that all—important reached that all—importa nt qualifying reached that all—important qualifying standard. in the winnings race, it was steph davis who was the leading contender coming into today. she got the qualifying standard but what cheated you to do was finished

in the first two, and it was a really dominant estate —— what she needed to do. well, it's been quite a few days for chris thompson. he's secured his place in tokyo in the same week that he became a father. he struggled to contain his emotions when he spoke to laura afterwards. i'v e i've never had such an explosion of emotion at the end of a race it in my entire life. it's been a heavy week. i'm still feeling the emotion now. obviously, it's making the olympics special, but the journey to get here has been interesting. it's never easy because you try to achieve olympic selection. it's meant to be difficult, and this has been a lot more challenging than my previous olympics, but to say i'm a two—time olympian feels amazing. i can't thank my coach another. i can't thank my coach another. i can't thank my support team enough. it'sjust... can't thank my support team enough. it's just... just talking about it makes me feel very, very emotional, but yeah, so happy. is

makes me feel very, very emotional, but yeah. so happy-— but yeah, so happy. is this influenced _ but yeah, so happy. is this influenced by _ but yeah, so happy. is this influenced by the - but yeah, so happy. is this influenced by the fact - but yeah, so happy. is this influenced by the fact that | but yeah, so happy. is this - influenced by the fact that you welcomed herfirst influenced by the fact that you welcomed her first this week? yeah, i tried to welcomed her first this week? yeah, i tried to put — welcomed her first this week? yeah, i tried to put it _ welcomed her first this week? yeah, i tried to put it at _ welcomed her first this week? yeah, i tried to put it at the _ welcomed her first this week? yeah, i tried to put it at the back _ welcomed her first this week? yeah, i tried to put it at the back of - welcomed her first this week? yeah, i tried to put it at the back of my - i tried to put it at the back of my mind and then you do start feeling... i was making noises like him. i don't know, it'sjust... feeling... i was making noises like him. idon't know, it'sjust... i've not experienced that feeling of having a child before, and it is a really cool thing. yes, he's with you, but at the same time, you don't want to get too emotional because you have to get the job done, but i just can't wait to get home, give him a cuddle and say "your dad is awesome." 50 him a cuddle and say "your dad is awesome-"— awesome." so lovely! that is awesome- — there were also places up for grabs in the 20 kilometre walk today. callum wilkinson won that, but he didn't get the qualifying time, so he has to wait until tuesday to find out if he gets to go to tokyo. tom bosworth came second but he'd already made qualifying time in a previous race, and so is going to the games injuly.

in the women's race heather lewis, the fastest briton over 20 kilometres in 2019 got the better of her big rival bethan davies. some more of today's sports stories. preparations continue for the games with the second day of the torch relay. the three—time winter olympic freestyle skier sho endo carried the torch on skis down this snow—covered mountain in fukushima. germany's leonard broke away with around four miles to go to in stage five of the tour catalonia. britain finished two minutes behind, but retain his 45 second overall lead. everton's plans for a new 53,000—capacity stadium have received government approval. the project on liverpool's waterfront will reportedly cost £500 million and will see them leave goodison park — their home since 1892.

neil robertson leads mark selby by six frames to two after the first session of their tour championship semi final at keltic manor. they'll resume tonight with ten frames the target for a place in the final. the new super league season is underway — st helens v salford red devils. the first trial of the season. scored afterjust the first trial of the season. scored after just two the first trial of the season. scored afterjust two minutes by st. helens. they've added another one since then. they are currently leading salford at 12 — zero at half—time. you can follow that on the bbc sport website. well, that game is the first of a double header at headingley. newcomers leigh centurions against neighbours wigan warriors is coming up later. our sports reporter tanya arnold is watching the matches which hopefully signal the start to a season not facing the challenges it did last time.

i'v e i've not known excitement like this... we've got the world cup at the end. i know you just walked in. such a great site to see. what a great site and hopefully the season will continue. no hiccups and we'll see the season out. it will continue. no hiccups and we'll see the season out.— see the season out. it feels like a really coveted _ see the season out. it feels like a really coveted year _ see the season out. it feels like a really coveted year for _ see the season out. it feels like a really coveted year for the - see the season out. it feels like a really coveted year for the sport. | really coveted year for the sport. to have all three at the same time. we saw in 2017 the women and men together, now all three together in the uk. it's a phenomenal stadium and i can't wait to be part of it. super league, st. helens defending champions, who do you think will topple them this year? it’s champions, who do you think will topple them this year?— champions, who do you think will topple them this year? it's a tough call. i'm topple them this year? it's a tough call- i'm not _ topple them this year? it's a tough call. i'm not going _ topple them this year? it's a tough call. i'm not going to _ topple them this year? it's a tough call. i'm not going to go _ topple them this year? it's a tough call. i'm not going to go for - topple them this year? it's a tough call. i'm not going to go for leeds. i'm going to back quarters field

this year. iain watson, we've seen what he can do at salford. he's got the resources, the players, huddersfield. it the resources, the players, huddersfield.— the resources, the players, huddersfield. ., huddersfield. it will come back to ou. huddersfield. it will come back to yon danica. _ huddersfield. it will come back to you. danica, are _ huddersfield. it will come back to you. danica, are you _ huddersfield. it will come back to you. danica, are you so _ huddersfield. it will come back to you. danica, are you so much. . huddersfield. it will come back to l you. danica, are you so much. you can follow the whole of the season across the bbc. you certainly can. so much for going on. you can keep up so much for going on. you can keep up on the bbc sport website. plenty of reaction coming in from the cricket, which is going to decide the series after that. great batting display and also the big one tonight in the six nations, france hosting scotland, wales with one eye on the title. you can find it on bbc one from 7:30pm and on radio five life. have a lovely evening, bye—bye.

good evening. today brought some impressive skyscape �*s, some big clouds like this tend to bring heavy showers. the showers haven't only been heavy, they've been wintry in places because we've had a change with some rather cold conditions. this frontal system swept east these words. you can see the cold air flowing down —— eastwards. where you have further showers, they will continue to be wintry. we could see up continue to be wintry. we could see up to five cm of snow over high ground in scotland, but for southern scotland and northern ireland and northwest england, the wales, the midland, you could see a centimetre or two of lying snow by the and of the night. temperatures close to freezing. some will getjust below, so there could be some icy stretches for to start tomorrow morning. tomorrow should get off to a bright start with some spells of sunshine. however it won't last. it will cloud

over through the day, out west of rain —— outbreaks of rain and the southwest as well, but temperature is already showing signs of cribbing us words, so it is a short spell. a windy spell awaits during saturday night, particularly across northwestern areas. notice the white line squeezing together. that shows we will have strong winds, gales in parts of northern ireland and scotland for a time. very heavy bursts of rain working through and thatis bursts of rain working through and that is likely to get stuck across central parts of the uk during sunday. to the north, a mixture of sunny spells and showers, some will be wintry. to the south, the cloud should break to give some spells of sunshine. that will bring some warmth. highs of 15 or 16 degrees. but the temperatures have further to rise. as we move out of sunday and into monday, this frontal system will wriggle around across the north of the uk and will feed quite a lot of the uk and will feed quite a lot of rain in parts of northwest scotland. there could be an offering

to bring flooding —— enough rain. the air willjust turn warmer and warmer. have a look at some of the temperatures. across the northern half, you can see highs of 18 or 19 degrees. you will have that ring further north and west, particularly for western scotland. further south, could see temperatures up to 22 or 23 degrees, unseasonably warm for the end of march.

this is bbc news with the headlines.... authorities in berlin declare france a high risk area for coronavirus — requiring all travellers to be tested and quarantined upon arrival in germany. scotland's former first minister alex salmond launches a new pro—independence party to contest the holyrood elections in may we attempt to contribute ideas to assist scott and's recovery and help build and dependence platform to face new political realities. borisjohnson says he'll stand firmly by british citizens, who've had sanctions imposed on them by china, which accuses them of spreading lies about abuses of uighur muslims. at least thirty—two people are killed — and many more injured in egypt — in one of the worst train crashes there in recent memory.