gorgeous blue skies overhead. contrast that with the rather gray conditions for this weather watcher walking along the coast in kent. this grey shading here shows where we did have some clouds today. it produced some showery rain in places. there's more cloud waiting in the wings out in the atlantic, initially very weak frontal systems introducing a bit more cloud into northern ireland, western scotland, a little bit of rain here by the end of the night. some areas of low cloud, mist and mark elsewhere. rather chilly for eastern scotland and eastern england, milderfurther west, ten for belfast for liverpool, 12 degrees for cardiff. so into tomorrow, high pressure trying to hold firm. but these frontal systems will be grazing in from the atlantic, introducing a bit more cloud for a time in northern ireland, especially the north west of scotland. there will be some rain here pushing up towards shetland by the afternoon. but elsewhere early mist and murk tending to clear lingering for some of these western coasts. we will see some spells of sunshine,

but some patchy cloud as well. small chance for a shower, especially in north wales, northern england and southern scotland. a little bit cool for some north sea coast, but elsewhere, highs of 18 to 20 degrees. now our area of high pressure is set to retreat as we move into monday. and this next frontal system is going to be a more active affair. so this is going to bring some quite heavy and persistent rain across parts of northern ireland. western scotland, not as much rain into eastern scotland, much of england and wales staying dry. and where we hold on to some sunshine through central and eastern parts, there will be a taste of warmth. 20 degrees for hull, for birmingham, for norwich, 22 in london, butjust 14 further north in glasgow and in aberdeen. now into tuesday, this band of rain sinks south. east was weakening, all the while not much rain getting into the south east corner. behind that sunny spell, some blustery showers will be quite windy and it will be a little bit cooler

again, 13 to maybe 20 in the far southeast. and it does look like turning a little bit cooler through the middle parts of the week. a lot of dry weather around, just some showers or longer spells of rain at times. this is bbc news. sinn fein has hailed a new era in northern ireland as the party is on course to become the largest one at stormont. democratic unionist party leader jeffrey donaldson says his party will wait til next week before deciding whether to enter a power—sharing government. the education secretary said the government must not be complacent after the conservative lost almost 500 seats in the local elections. the taliban continues to roll back

on women's freedoms in afghanistan, ordering them to wear the face veil. chelsea get their new owners, terms have been agreed with a consortium. hello and welcome to sportsday — i'm chetan pathak, coming up on the programme... on the cusp — celtic score four to all but seal the title. watford are relegated. defeat at his old club crystal palace sends roy hodgson�*s side back down to the championship. a moment to forget for the keeper — as luton seal their place in the championship play—offs.

st helens are women's challenge cup champions again after beating leeds rhinos. welcome along, thank you forjoining us. we start in scotland tonight where celtic are within touching distance of the premiership title — they're all but champions after coming from behind to beat hearts 4—1. ben croucher reports: at celtic park, the outcome and expectation, rather than hope, when rather than if they win the scottish premiership, by beating hearts the f would be all but gone. one problem... as it turned out, the

setback would be minor. the response,... with the title within reach, celtic were making hard work of getting over the line. shaky start to suppress, this was now a day to celebrate the trophy not being on their handset, but this was the perfect issues to get the party started early. something late on to tutor about two, nine points clear, three games to go, healthy goal difference to boot, celtic are almost there and nothing less than they expected. elsewhere in scotland, dundee are all but relegated from the premiership after a 2—0 win for st mirren ensured safety for them. motherwell have moved closer towards securing european football with a 1—0 win at ross county. there were one all draws at hibs and livingston. this is how things

look in the top half of the scottish premiership table. rangers need a miracle to catch leaders celtic now, they're nine points behind with three games to go and a significantly inferior goal difference. motherwell�*s win at ross county means they swap places. and in the bottom half stjohnstone look set to play the relegation play—off after being held at livingston. aberdeen are safe. dundee are six points adrift at the bottom with two games to go and seven goals worse off and that's why they're on the brink of going down. watford have been relegated from the premier league after wilfried zaha's first—half penalty secured a 1—0 win for crystal palace at selhurst park. defeat by burnley last week had left watford 12 points adrift of safety with four games to go — and palace sent their former manager roy hodgson�*s side straight back down to the championship with a dominant display. it's the second time watford have dropped out of the top flight in the past three seasons. hodgson, who's 7a, says he won't be back in the premier league again and will retire when his contract at vicarage road expires

at the end of the season. anyone who would like to say anyone who would like to say there anyone who would like to say there was an inevitability about the outcome, and that the players had resigned themselves to the fact that they are going to go down, then they haven't watched today's game because it gave no indication of that whatsoever, we were fighting rising to the last minute to try and get an equaliser for a to the last minute to try and get an equaliserfor a goal within to the last minute to try and get an equaliser for a goal within thing should have been awarded in the first place. —— that we didn't think should have been awarded. burnley�*s survival chances suffered a huge setback after they lost 3—1 to aston villa at turf moor. danny ings opened the scoring against the club he spent four years this with, but he didn't celebrate. emiliano buendia and ollie watkins added to villa's tally. maxwel cornet scored a consolation goal in stoppage time, on what was a disappointing day. we had some good moments in the game. we probably did not make the most of them, and we've been punished for some errors. that

happens at this level. but listen, i've just said to the group then, if we were going to take ten points from five games, you would have took that, so it's about us now regrouping, going to have a look at what we could have done better, how can we improve for the next game and get back on the training pitch and go from there. what a first season in the premier league it's been for this man — thomas frank and brentford are up to 12th with a 3—0 win over southampton. pontus jansson with the opener. for southampton it's seven defeats in their last ten games. pa rt part of the is we like to play the next you're always focus on the next game, and it's exactly the same now, very happy for the win, before a lovely performance, want to focus on the next, a masai is possible. —— as high as possible. southampton are eight points clear of the bottom three but have played more games

than the teams below them. with three games remaining, burnley are 16th in the table, two points clear of everton, who are third from bottom but have two games in hand. leeds play at arsenal, everton are at leicester. chelsea threw away a two goal lead against wolves — on a day where the sale of the club was agreed. an agreement is now in place with an american consortium lead by billionnaire todd boelhy. he was watching at stamford bridge this afternoon as chelsea looked to consolidate third spot in the table — romelu lukaku got two goals in three second—half minutes but this man here conor coady scored a 97th minute equaliser to keep wolves in europa league contention. thomas tuchel was not happy. he's been talking to the bbc�*s vicky sparks. i think that we give everything but the decisions we take, we take risks in the position is to read the game, which is needed to also, we struggle, i don't know why exactly,

but it is something we get punished for. my mac and off the pitch, todd boelhy, the of the greek terms, how important is that that gets sorted quickly? —— the agreement of the terms. have you met in? i quickly? -- the agreement of the terms. have you met in? i haven't met him- — manchester united are playing their penultimate game of the season, and like it most of it, it's not going to plan at brighton. 2—1 down. four days after they reached the champions league final, liverpool can go top of the premier league tonight if they beat tottenham at anfield. and with the fa cup final next saturday, managerjurgen klopp knows it's a defining few weeks for the club: in 22 days, 23 days we know everything in between now and a lot of games, and we cannot play them altogether, but we cannot play one after the other and that is what

they do, now tottenham, yes, the feeling is good, but we still are able to play the first half against villa real, felt brilliant before the game, but played really bad, so let's make sure that we play good. the pressure is very high by the same _ the pressure is very high by the same time _ the pressure is very high by the same time you have to enjoy this type of— same time you have to enjoy this type of game, because you know we are playing — type of game, because you know we are playing against a really strong team, _ are playing against a really strong team, and — are playing against a really strong team, and in this type of game, you can also_ team, and in this type of game, you can also make a valuation about your progress _ can also make a valuation about your progress i_ can also make a valuation about your progress. i think it will be not important _ progress. i think it will be not important only to get points in this game _ important only to get points in this game but — important only to get points in this game but to understand the level that we _ game but to understand the level that we reach now in this type of game _ we now know the play—off picture in the championship — as the season came to an end today. drama in league two as that came to a climax too. our football reporter sanny rudhravajhala is with me — and was following all the games on squad goals across bbc local radio and online

this afternoon. two places up for grabs in the play—offs, luton with one of them. a completely bonkers goal. play-offs, luton with one of them. a completely bonkers goal. absolutely. it looks like, — completely bonkers goal. absolutely. it looks like, when _ completely bonkers goal. absolutely. it looks like, when you _ completely bonkers goal. absolutely. it looks like, when you look - completely bonkers goal. absolutely. it looks like, when you look at - completely bonkers goal. absolutely. it looks like, when you look at the . it looks like, when you look at the replay, something out of a nature documentary when you see a line stocking a gazelle. a 1—0 win against reading, but the key but here, waiting behind the goalkeeper, stocking the goalkeeper, the keeper had the ball in his hands, he put it down and then he went round and nicked the ball from him. it was incredible scenes. an amazing job id luton town manager, manager of the season in the championship. amazing things done for them. that goal, it is incredible. taste things done for them. that goal, it is incredible.—

is incredible. we will hopefully see that coal is incredible. we will hopefully see that goal later _ is incredible. we will hopefully see that goal later on _ is incredible. we will hopefully see that goal later on this _ is incredible. we will hopefully see that goal later on this evening. - that goal later on this evening. let's talk about sheffield united, sealed the other place in the play—offs, potential mouth weathering play—off now against nottingham forest in the semis. yeah, hosted film today managed to be the champions 4—0, setting up a mouthwatering tie with nottingham forest in the play—offs. two sites with a bit of history, but every rivalry, they will go at it, and luton against huddersfield will be the other play—off game. the winners of those two ties will face each other at wembley for the most lucrative lottery ticket in football, i think, lucrative lottery ticket in football, ithink, into lucrative lottery ticket in football, i think, into the premier league. football, i think, into the premier leaaue. ~ . . football, i think, into the premier leaaue. ~ ., ., ~ ,, ., league. millwall and middlesbrough are missin: league. millwall and middlesbrough are missing out, _ league. millwall and middlesbrough are missing out, some _ league. millwall and middlesbrough are missing out, some hopes- league. millwall and middlesbrough are missing out, some hopes going| are missing out, some hopes going into this final day of the championship season, but not to be for them. championship season, but not to be forthem. play—off championship season, but not to be for them. play—off places decided, we knew already, let's move on to league 2. huge drama in that league. for a screen stealing the title.

this was incredible, exeter city started the day one point clear at the top of the table in league 2, lost at home to port vale, forest green rovers drew 2—2 await mansfield and meant that forest green rovers won the title today on goal difference. incredible scenes there from forest green rovers, their owner is very eco friendly, vegans, a lot of them, the team has this whole mantra about them, and in the end, the table does not lie in the end, the table does not lie in the deceptively top of the league. ten minutes from time, that equaliser that sees them clench it... table does not lie and they are deservedly top of the lake. northampton town went to barrel today, and within 25 minutes were

three goals up, i3—i, they were there, but bristol rovers somehow managed a five goal swing to when 7-0 at managed a five goal swing to when 7—0 at home to scunthorpe united, that seventh goal meant bristol rovers usurped northampton town for that final spot, automatic promotion spot by virtue not even on goal difference, they were both level on 22, but goals scored. it sparked incredible scenes, a pitch invasion before the end of the game. fans are running on the pitch, the game got comedy manager... asking the fans to get off the pitch. bristol rovers managed to do the job. incredible, trending all over social media, amazing scenes.— trending all over social media, amazing scenes. trending all over social media, amazin: scenes. �* ., ~ , amazing scenes. and thankfully there incredible pictures _ amazing scenes. and thankfully there incredible pictures shared _ amazing scenes. and thankfully there incredible pictures shared with - incredible pictures shared with those of the fans. a sign of how the table finishes up, forest green rovers with that late equaliser,

making sure they win the title and bristol rovers with the swing they need on goal difference, getting that third automatic promotion spot. heartbreak for northampton town. and mansfield as well. thank you, as ever, forjoining us. what a day it's been in rugby league with three challenge cup games taking place back—to—back at elland road. first up, st helens became women's champions cup winners for the seocnd year in a row after coming from behind to beat leeds rhinos. in front of a record crowd of nearly 6000 fans, tries from eboni partington, jodie cunningham and leah burke helped them to an 18—8 win. cunningham's been talking to the bbc�*s tanya arnold. i think it's really good for us to be able to settle down, recompose, i

think it's about believing in each other, we trusted each other�*s quality and corrected the best in the second app. when you're doing it in training, it is awful and you don't want to do it when it gets to the back end of games like that, you are really thankful of the hard work you've put in, so i do think her fitness was a positive, but i wouldn't say leeds for love, it was a great performance from both sides. a's properly, today is massive, there is a couple of times we made some silly errors. i was worried because leeds had so much quality and thought it might get is, but it got really loud when we got back up there and didn't give us an extra boost. when we needed 10% extra, they give us that, and that is why they give us that, and that is why the woman was became something i absolutely love. the the woman was became something i absolutely love.— absolutely love. the women's world cu - absolutely love. the women's world cu this absolutely love. the women's world cup this year. _ absolutely love. the women's world cup this year, we've _ absolutely love. the women's world cup this year, we've been _ absolutely love. the women's world cup this year, we've been talking i cup this year, we've been talking about how important a bout of game like that is for the people who will hopefully be pulling on the england shirt. ., , ., ., , , shirt. that preparation is exactly what we need, _ shirt. that preparation is exactly what we need, we _ shirt. that preparation is exactly what we need, we need - shirt. that preparation is exactly what we need, we need tough . shirt. that preparation is exactly - what we need, we need tough physical like that where the top women's

talent is going head—to—head, and thatis talent is going head—to—head, and that is where you get the little things right away, test yourself and know you can do it any big game, and every world cup game in swing to be that physical, so we need to be able to do with that we can we count, perfect preparation. the men's semi—finals are also being held at elland road and the first one between wigan and saint helens was an absolute cracker. liam marshall opened the scoring for wigan afterjust two minutes and they added another couple of tries to lead 14—0 at at the interval. the warriors looked comfortable until konrad hurrell started an unlikely comeback early in second half. jonny lomax helped close the deficit and thenjames roby put saints in front for the first time in the game. but they couldn't hang on. watch this for an incredible second try from marshall. it took him less than ten seconds from collecting the ball to putting

wigan level at 18 all. harry smith then kicked them into the final, 20—18 it finished. we expected nothing less. we you're at half time, we got the upper hand but knew they would come back. can't praise them enough, we know there are a class team is still the benchmark team, but today thank goodness belongs to us in credit to the work of the boys. what goodness belongs to us in credit to the work of the boys.— goodness belongs to us in credit to the work of the boys. what got you over the line _ the work of the boys. what got you over the line in _ the work of the boys. what got you over the line in the _ the work of the boys. what got you over the line in the end _ the work of the boys. what got you over the line in the end miss - the work of the boys. what got you j over the line in the end miss desire and togetherness. _ over the line in the end miss desire and togetherness. there _ over the line in the end miss desire and togetherness. there are - over the line in the end miss desire and togetherness. there are times| and togetherness. there are times when it looked as though they were against us, but the plan worked in the first half, and the second half was all about desire and belonging to this club. there were no such difficulties for huddersfield giants though. this they ran in four tries as they beat hull kingston rovers by 25 points to four. this lung bursting run by innes senior in the first half was the pick of huddersfield's tries. the final will be held at tottenham hotspur stadium on the 28th of may. it's unreal. i don't know what to

say. i've been playing at this club for around 13—14 years, it is the first time we've ever got to the finals, absolutely amazing because of the boys really dug deep. i thought their pack was actually outstanding, and to keep it until the last few minutes was an awesome effort, so the boys can be really proud. leicester tigers are currently playing in the european the european champions cup. the winner will play the defending champions toulouse who won a place—kicking shoot—out after a 2k all draw away to munster the result from the european challenge cup two edinburgh beaten by wasps, 34—30. leon against glasgow warriors is an eight o'clock kick—off. lyon against glasgow warriors is an eight o'clock kick—off. britain's simon yates has underlined his credentials as a potential winner of the giro

d'italia. the first three stages take place in hungary this year, and yates won stage two, a time trial in budapest, to move up to second place overall. mathieu van der poel finished second fastest, to keep the leader's pinkjersey by 11 seconds. drew savage reports. he has come close before, but could simon yates finally mount a successful challenge miss stage two allowed the budapest crowd a good look at those who might win at those who might win the pinkjersey. tom dumoulin won the world time trial championship and the giro five years ago... the dutchman was going for it, he laid down the time to beat. but yates has unfinished business with the giro — in 2018 he led the race for 13 days before cracking on the penultimate stage. today he found the six—mile course to his liking — punching his way up the final climb. fastest to finish by five seconds. but would it give him the pink leader's jersey? richard carapaz, riding for the british ineos grenadiers team, is one of the race favourites but finished 27 seconds down.

raceleader mathieu van der pool, was giving it everything to keep yates off the top of the standings. as the clock ticked down he finished three seconds slower than yates — the fastest man on the day but 11 seconds off the overall lead — for now. let's have a quick look at some of the other stories making the sports news today. england'sjonny bairstow was in good form in the indian premier league for the punjab kings — hitting eight fours and a six as he top—scored with 56, setting the rajasthan royals a victory target of 190 which they got with two balls to spare. final practice ahead of qualifying for the miami grand prix is under way. britain's george russell topped the time sheets during friday practice, boosting mercedes hopes of improving on their poor start to the season. you can follow the action on bbc radio five live and the bbc sport website. former world welterweight champion kell brook has announced that he's retiring at the age of 36. he won a0 out of his 43 professionalfights —

the last of which was beating amir khan in manchester three months ago. brook says he's retiring because he has "nothing left to prove." canelo alvarez moves back up to light heavyweight in las vegas tonight. he's fighting dmitry bivol for his wba world title. alvarez is the undisputed super middleweight champion and has ambitions to do the same at light heavyweight where he won a world title in his only fight at that weight back in 2019. it's the final day of the women's super league tomorrow with the title still to be decided. chelsea currently lead arsenal byjust a point as they look to win the league for the third year in a row. lydia campbell looks ahead. a title race down to the wire, two

teams no inglorious lying in the weight. as it stands, chelsea in line for their third title in a row. if they beat manchester united, it will be them lifting the trophy. they have been the team to beat over the past two seasons. in that time, they have won five domestic trophies. the combination of having ilic�*s top goal—scorer and having best defensive record has helped them to the top of the week. but they will need to stand firm at home against the manchester united team in need of a win themselves. if they are to have any hope of securing that some champions league football next season. we champions league football next season. ~ . champions league football next season. ., ~ ., champions league football next season. ~ ., ~ ., ., �*, ., , .,~ season. we all know what's at stake. we've been — season. we all know what's at stake. we've been in _ season. we all know what's at stake. we've been in this _ season. we all know what's at stake. we've been in this position _ season. we all know what's at stake. we've been in this position for- season. we all know what's at stake. we've been in this position for a - we've been in this position for a while now, where every game is a cup final, for as nothing changes. obviously were super excited for another game, which we love to play at kings meadow in front of our fans and we know what's at stake, so it's even better, these are games you want to play under pressure, that's

what it's like being at the top cop, so for us, is another day at the office. really excited.- office. really excited. while chelsea have _ office. really excited. while chelsea have been - office. really excited. while chelsea have been eating i office. really excited. while | chelsea have been eating on office. really excited. while - chelsea have been eating on top of the past few years, arsenal are by far the most successful in english football —— been the team on top. they have won 15 times but not since 2019. they go into the game with west ham just one point behind chelsea, but with a better goal difference. if they better chelsea's results, they will break the era of chelsea dominance in the league. i chelsea dominance in the league. i don't think it's an uncomfortable feeling, but we are going to deal with the best of our situation and believe, and in football everything is possible. this believe, and in football everything is ossible. , , believe, and in football everything is ossible. , is possible. this is a title race between two _ is possible. this is a title race between two giants _ is possible. this is a title race between two giants of - is possible. this is a title race between two giants of the - is possible. this is a title race - between two giants of the game, two teams who will feel they deserve the title, but only one can have that

honour. that's all from sportsday. some breaking news. it hasjust been confirmed sinn fein will be the party with the most seats in the northern ireland assembly, with 27 seats, no other party can now overtake sinn fein, which will be the largest party in the assembly. it is the first time a party in favour of uniting ireland has come top in the stormont election perception fame's either michelle o'neill has declared northern ireland is entering a new era and it is entering a defining moment was that she will now be nominated as a first minister. in the last few seconds, breaking news coming from the constituency of fermanagh south to rome with the

elections from sinn fein, making sinn fein in two the large party now in northern ireland. it is a big moment for sinn fein, a big moment for politics hugely symbolic and indeed goes beyond symbolism. i'm going to get some immediate reaction with my guests here in belfast. put into context how big the odysseas. i think we have seen this coming now since we saw the first count, the first results coming in and it is a huge result for sinn fein. i think that they have had a stunning election, really, this time around. a lot of people going into the selection thought that sinn fein was going to lose some vote share, because it had hit such a high water mark in that 2017 assembly election, there were sympathy around the

illness of martin mcguinness, a big green energy scandal at the time which meant nationalists rallied behind sinn fein at that point, but they have managed to hold all of the seats they held last time around and they are now the largest party as a result of that fracturing of the unionist vote.— result of that fracturing of the unionist vote. and the national vote, unionist vote. and the national vote. yes- _ unionist vote. and the national vote. yes- the _ unionist vote. and the national vote, yes. the national- unionist vote. and the national. vote, yes. the national associates of fein and the idea of a national sports minister, whereas the sdlp, another national party there on seven seats, down from 12... some of the boats travelling towards fein from them, no doubt, as you disunity amongst unionists. talk a bit more about the symbolism of this and what you think it means for politics here. its you think it means for politics here. , ,_ . ., you think it means for politics here. , ., ., here. its hugely symbolic that a nationalist _ here. its hugely symbolic that a nationalist party _ here. its hugely symbolic that a nationalist party for _ here. its hugely symbolic that a nationalist party for the - here. its hugely symbolic that a nationalist party for the first. here. its hugely symbolic that a i nationalist party for the first time ever is now the largest party within northern ireland politics within the stormont assembly, but it does not

necessarily mean, i think a lot of people look at this and think it means we are on track for some sort of united ireland or some sort of portable, what we are seeing in opinion polls around the same time as this election is that only around as this election is that only around a third of people in northern ireland would support having a border report within the next 15—20 years. so even though sinn fein is now the largest party, there is not a majority in favour of a united ireland. their election campaign, one of the reasons they have been so successful in this election campaign is that they have downplayed their ambitions for a border poll and seeing a united ireland, they wanted to focus on things at the cost of living and things like the pressure is on the health service here. so thatis is on the health service here. so that is part of the reason why people coalesced around sinn fein, because they had that positive message about having a first minister for message about having a first ministerfor all message about having a first minister for all under the deputy leader michelle o'neill and trying to get back to stormont after months of not having an executive in place

to deal with those big issues. i’iiii to deal with those big issues. i'll polish you there. we react to the news sinn fein has become the largest party in northern ireland, and welcoming now, viewers on bbc world. hello to viewers of bbc willjoin bbc news domestically now. i am a native here in belfast at one of the counts of the elections to the northern ireland power—sharing assembly and it has just been confirmed in the last few seconds the official news that sinn fein, the official news that sinn fein, the nationalist party that wants to see a united ireland, has become the largest party, the party with the most seats in the northern ireland assembly. the 27 seats know the party can overtake sinn fein which is to be confirmed will be the largest party in the assembly and it is the first time a party in favour

of uniting ireland has come top in a