one of the three dads in mamma mia. and stephen's co—stars... richard trinder has been painting and decorating. dad number three has been out on the road. my name is neil, this is gilbert. i normally play harry in the west end version of mamma mia, but now i'm delivering parcels. i'm doing this for something to do as well, i mean, you need to pay the bills and things but to get out of the house, that was the main thing. lockdown is tough, i mean, i'm on my own, i'm not interacting with people, i'm just delivering parcels and getting out each day. here it comes. don't forget to smile. when the theatre closed in march of last year, much of the cast thought they would be back here in a few weeks, a few months at most. 16 months later, they are finally back in the theatre and reflecting back on, like millions of us, a year in which life was completely transformed.

and it also means it's been farewell to mr dennis. # yes, i was broken hearted... and steven's unexpected pandemic career. how are you going to look back on this year? i'm going to look back on it with gratitude. you know, a lot of people in lockdown, especially in that first wave of lockdown, we were the only people that our clients saw four weeks and weeks, sometimes months on end. this is the last day, are you going to miss him? yes. but he's got my number and i think i've got his somewhere, so we can keep in touch, anyway. he's a good fellow. it's what keeps us going. care, music, friendship. david sillito, bbc news, brighton. time for a look at the weather here's chris fawkes.

it's been another cloudy day for most of us, but, just like yesterday, a few tears in the cloud sheets that allowed a bit of sunshine to come through, sunny spells in inverness earlier but today's weather has been brought to you courtesy of this low pressure to the west. this thick cloud is a weather front beginning to work into western areas, bringing some rain but the rain has been coming along in pulses and that is the way of things overnight. the rain pushes north and eastwards, at times quite heavy but will ease off and become more drizzly, not making its mind up what it's going to do. they will be some murky weather as well as the rain, mist and fog patches around the coastal hills, and a mild temperature, 16 for your low in liverpool. tomorrow is not the most promising start to the weekend, we have this rain around, at its heaviest across wales, northern england and may be the midlands. eventually reaching east anglia and the south—east but it will brighten up the south—east but it will brighten up across northern ireland and wales and south—west england, with a

mixture of sunshine and heavy showers following. temperatures generally disappointing, mostly into the high teens but sunday looks the better of the two days of the weekend, clyde will break up and some sunshine coming through. it stays dry for northern ireland, wales, south—west england and perhaps parts of west of scotland. central and eastern england will see some showers and they could be quite heavy as we enter the afternoon, temperatures into the low 20s. a big change in the weather pattern into next week as high pressure starts to develop, the wind coming from scandinavia so no heatwave on the way, the hot air stays further south around the mediterranean and southern europe but next week, a lot of dry weather, a lot of sunshine and temperatures back into the low 20s and in the august sunshine, it will feel quite nicely warm. about time. that's it, so goodbye from me. now on bbc one, let'sjoin our news teams where you are.

hello and welcome to sportsday. joy for the oval invincibles, eliminating birmingham phoenix to make it through to the hundred final we the hundred final will head live to carnoustie and georgia we will head live to carnoustie and georgia hall, very well—placed at the halfway stage for women's open. we will hearfrom the halfway stage for women's open. we will hear from that chelsea striker about his fundraising for the german red cross after all the devastating floods in his country. hello there, well, along to the programme. we are expecting joe

biden to speak shortly. we will bring you that address live here in bbc news as and when it happens. let's see how far we can get with sportsday. it's the hundred eliminators day at the oval. we've already had a thrilling match in the women's competition. birmingham phoenix were chasing 115 for victory but in front of their home crowd, the invincibles were brilliant in the field, bowling phoenix out for 94 and will face southern brave in tpomorrow�*s lord's final. lydia campbell reports. for birmingham phoenix and the oval invincible is, this was not quite cricket to. praying for a chance to play in the first hundred final. phoenix chose the ball first and soon they'd removed the invincible as openers forjust 15 rounds. and after another wickets, the combination soon got things up and running for the invincible is. showing off her versatility before she claimed the first six of this

eliminator. claiming her wickets was a big one for phoenix, and they managed to keep the invincible is to just 114. what must be invincible as have been thinking during this countdown? they needed early wickets and they got the first 13 balls in. proving that she is just as handy with a ball as she is with the bat. amyjones and aaron burns shared a partnership to put a firm gloves seemingly on place in the final. but then, a collapse. burns and jones gonejust then, a collapse. burns and jones gone just two bowls. then, a collapse. burns and jones gonejust two bowls. the then, a collapse. burns and jones gone just two bowls. the left says it all. after that, the wickets fell thick and fast with a ball and a catch. and then the winning moment. fired with her fourth wickets of the match. this is what it means to them, and this is what it means to them, and this is what it means to the fans. next stop, lawrence, and the fans. next stop, lawrence, and the southern braid. lydia campbell,

bbc news. sudden brave and train track its men, they are doing playing right now and there eliminator. we look at my reaction to that later in the programme. still out on the chorus at the open. let's head live to carnoustie and speak to our golf correspondent iain carter. iain, it promises to be a exciting weekend, georgia hall is right up in the next. it's a very congested leaderboard, _ in the next. it's a very congested leaderboard, but _ in the next. it's a very congested leaderboard, but georgia - in the next. it's a very congested leaderboard, but georgia hall- in the next. it's a very congested leaderboard, but georgia hall in| in the next. it's a very congested i leaderboard, but georgia hall in the share of the lead with the world number 65 nina herring gate of the united states. she was around and 67. georgia holcomb it was a bit of a mixed bag, six birdies and there, a mixed bag, six birdies and there, a double bogey at the 15th, but a very composed finished with pars up at the very tough closing stretch of three holes. so georgia hall actually said that she felt that she played perhaps better today than she did yesterday when she shacked 68.

so it's an excellent performance of fire from the player from doris who won this championship back in 2018. the world number one, how has she been getting on? w: the world number one, how has she been getting on?— been getting on? 73 today. the first -a did been getting on? 73 today. the first party did not — been getting on? 73 today. the first party did not arrive _ been getting on? 73 today. the first party did not arrive until— been getting on? 73 today. the first party did not arrive until the - been getting on? 73 today. the first party did not arrive until the 14th, . party did not arrive until the 14th, so she has dropped back to four under prior. so within three shots of the lead. still in many respects the player to beat. as i say, very congested leaderboard. the likes of the world number four at six under par at six under, they will be dangerous over the weekend as well. the last to my lips, lydia was drifting around that missing the cut. what is that going to be, and how has she got on? the cut. what is that going to be, and how has she got on?— how has she got on? the cut is cominu how has she got on? the cut is coming whenever _ how has she got on? the cut is coming whenever prior. - how has she got on? the cut is coming whenever prior. so - how has she got on? the cut is coming whenever prior. so it i how has she got on? the cut is - coming whenever prior. so it looks like, actually, more than lady i will be the thought that laura david s at the age of 57, daimler a database playing her 41st women's

open has made the cut. she was in 70 today and has finished up at level park. a fantastic achievement from laura davis who will be here for the weekend. ~ ., , laura davis who will be here for the weekend. ~ . , ., weekend. what is the weather looking like for the weekend. _ weekend. what is the weather looking like for the weekend. that _ weekend. what is the weather looking like for the weekend. that will - weekend. what is the weather looking like for the weekend. that will make l like for the weekend. that will make a big difference, want to? absolutely. we are bracing ourselves. there is rain in the forecast. the winds might freshen, i have seen conflicting word on that. i think the best scoring conditions have been over the first two days. certainly looking at the forecast. so they could have a big impact, particularly for the later starters who will be the leaders tomorrow. ian, many thanks indeed. that was live from carnoustie. should be a good weekend. back to that hundred eliminator. of all invincible is winning there eliminator to make it through to the final against something brave tomorrow. let's hear now from the former england bowler. she spoke to me earlier from

there. , ., , ., there. they were outstanding. i think they _ there. they were outstanding. i think they had _ there. they were outstanding. i think they had a _ there. they were outstanding. i think they had a belief- there. they were outstanding. i think they had a belief going i there. they were outstanding. i l think they had a belief going into that second innings. i know they had only posted 114, but they have such a strong bowling unit that every single one of them would have believed, if theyjust got single one of them would have believed, if they just got that breakthrough, that they could be into a relatively inexperienced middle order for the into a relatively inexperienced middle orderfor the birmingham middle order for the birmingham phoenix. middle orderfor the birmingham phoenix. that's what they were banking on. they took a strategic timeout at a timely moment and again, and the captain delivers with that wickets and for cash. it felt like a real belief within that group of players that they could to win the game. of players that they could to win the name. , ., ., of players that they could to win the game-— of players that they could to win the name. , ., ., , ., ., ., the game. they have to update again to win that lords _ the game. they have to update again to win that lords final _ the game. they have to update again to win that lords final against - to win that lords final against southern braid. they lasted i'm just a couple of days ago, didn't they? yeah, i think they well. the southern braid have been sensational this tournament. the best team going around both men's and women's. they were the first to qualify for the final. they seem to have a real understanding of what they are

about. yeah, ithink understanding of what they are about. yeah, i think it's going to be a fantastic final, whichever way you look at it. charlotte edwards is the coach of the southern braid, and she is a legend of the women's game. captain for ten years and played for england for 20 years. so she is speeding off information due to those wonderful players. there was a real belief for them as well. they have had an extra day or two to really kind of prepare for this game. although, you're coming into a match full of women and that winning feeling. i think it will be a fantastic occasion.- feeling. i think it will be a fantastic occasion. ., ., , fantastic occasion. you have been livin: and fantastic occasion. you have been living and breathing _ fantastic occasion. you have been living and breathing hundred - fantastic occasion. you have been living and breathing hundred for. fantastic occasion. you have been l living and breathing hundred for the past month. what have you made a bet? what improvements do we need for the next edition, or is it as good as we could have hoped for? for me, good as we could have hoped for? fri" me, priorto good as we could have hoped for? fri" me, prior to the tournament starting, it was something that i always believed in. i believed in the reason for it happening, the need to try and get out to the masses and to try to bring new people to the game. and that's who i

have been speaking to his people who may not have watched crickets before, and all of a sudden, they are really excited about what they are really excited about what they are seeing them they are tuning in every night, and it's been great to haveit every night, and it's been great to have it on the bbc as well. so, i think for a broadcast point of view, we have tried to make it quite relaxed. we wanted to make it fun, and try to appeal to as many people as possible. i'm really proud of what we have done there. changes to make for next year, well, i think the plan originally was to have a few matches in the out grounds, but because of covid reasons and the pandemic, a lot of double—headers can affect every game has been a double headerfor the can affect every game has been a double header for the women can affect every game has been a double headerfor the women in can affect every game has been a double header for the women in the name which has been a huge success. whether there is a case to try to get some more matches out to the out grounds, that is something to be looked at for sure, but i really think that the double—headers have been huge for the women's game. to been huge for the women's game. to be able to have record attendance is pretty much every match for a domestic women's game has been

something we never would have dreamed of one or two years ago. . speaking to me earlier from the ova. we will have an update on that men's eliminator later in the programme. a quick round up of some of the day's the ball strays for you now. arsenal have completed the permanent signing of midfielder martin odegaard from real madrid. the norwegian international spent the second half of last season on loan at the emirates and has re—joined for a fee somewhere in the region of £30 million. anfield will be at capacity for the first time in 18 months tomorrow when liverpool face burnley, the side that ended their record run of 68 home games unbeaten, but the manager says they are not looking for revenge for their last meeting. we lost to burnley, that is obviously not the game now. we really want to have a positive game. newcastles joe willock says he has considered quitting social media because of the daily racial abuse he receives. manager steve bruce has advised all his players to stay off

social media platforms chelsea will be without christian pulisic for their game against arsenal on sunday. the american international has tested positive for covid—19 but says he is showing �*no symptoms', having been fully vaccinated. the chelsea striker kai havertz is behind a fund—raising effort to help those affected by the devastating floods in germany. at least 58 people died last month in the region where havertz�*s family come from. 100 pairs of specially designed boots will be auctioned to raise money for the german red cross. he's been speaking to alistair magowan. there was a big flood in germany. very many people lost their homes, their clothes, their friends, very many people lost their homes, their clothes, theirfriends, their pets, everything. they need help, and of course, they need money to

help them, and because it's not far away from my hometown where i grew up, i want to help as well, so for me, it's very important to support than anti—gave them little bit of help. i know it's for the people who lost almost everything. it's hard from one day to the next. your friends are not there, may be lost when your family members. friends are not there, may be lost when yourfamily members. i do know, your home, all these things. so it's hard to support but i think for us all, it is still a good time to support them. normally it's far away where things like that happen, but now they are neck steel, so it was just very strange and horrible to watch at. and i know the area very well. i grew up there. i know the

city. i know the area around it, so