take care. now on bbc news, hardtalk. welcome to hardtalk, i am stephen sackur. rugby at the grassroots or elite level should be a joyful celebration of athletic prowess. but there is no joy in of athletic prowess. but there is nojoy in learning of athletic prowess. but there is no joy in learning that rugby may be doing irreparable

damage to some of the players on the pitch. that may be the case too in other high impact sports like american football. my sports like american football. my guesss today are steve thompson and his wife steph. he is a former england rugby international who won the world cup in 2003. he has recently learned that he has early—onset dementia. seemingly linked to years of high impact collisions. what happens when the game simply isn't worth it? steve a nd steve and steph thompson, welcome to hardtalk. if i may, i want to begin with that moment when you were diagnosed.

an elite former sportsman, rugby player, told that you had early—onset dementia. for both of you, i imagine, that was an extraordinary moment. steve, what was your feeling at that time. , , ., time. er, belief, i must admit, at first. time. er, belief, i must admit, at first so _ time. er, belief, i must admit, at first. so many _ time. er, belief, i must admit, at first. so many things - time. er, belief, i must admit, at first. so many things had i at first. so many things had been going on, i had changed... so many different things sort of happening in life that didn't seem right. it came to a point, suddenly being tested and that, you sort of go into denial and say no, i'm absolutely fine, there's nothing wrong with me. you do the tests, a memory test i had to do, and ijust fell apart in the middle, got upset and started crying. that was the moment i thought, i'm in trouble here. and after that, it's like guilt. for the first day, wasn't it, it was like, oh, there's something wrong with me, we can get it fixed. then the reality hits, you

can't fix it.— can't fix it. it's not necessarily - can't fix it. it's not | necessarily fixable, can't fix it. it's not - necessarily fixable, that's can't fix it. it's not _ necessarily fixable, that's the problem with dementia. find problem with dementia. and that's when _ problem with dementia. and that's when the _ problem with dementia. and that's when the guilt - problem with dementia. fific that's when the guilt comes in, towards steph and the kids, i've got them involved in this, and that was the hardest part. steph, how did you deal with that, apart from anything else, the fact that your husband, who married at the tail end of an extraordinary sporting career has now learned he has a degenerative brain condition which does not have a cure? i wasjust devastated at which does not have a cure? i was just devastated at first, wasn't i? _ was just devastated at first, wasn't i? just... didn't believe _ wasn't i? just... didn't believe it at first. it was like. _ believe it at first. it was like, yeah, it makes sense actually _ like, yeah, it makes sense actually i_ like, yeah, it makes sense actually. ijust thought i was going — actually. ijust thought i was going to _ actually. ijust thought i was going to lead you straightaway, didn't_ going to lead you straightaway, didn't i? — going to lead you straightaway, didn't i? and then... trying to explain — didn't i? and then... trying to explain to— didn't i? and then... trying to explain to them, it's not your fauiim — explain to them, it's not your fauiim you _ explain to them, it's not your fault... you just thought it was your— fault... you just thought it was your fault and you shouldn't have done this to us. we are — shouldn't have done this to us. we are going to work through it together, — we are going to work through it

together, aren't we? in a we are going to work through it together, aren't we?— together, aren't we? in a way, steh, together, aren't we? in a way, steph. it's — together, aren't we? in a way, steph, it's important - together, aren't we? in a way, steph, it's important to - steph, it's important to understand from your point of view how steve had changed. and how what we now know is a form of dementia, how it was actually effecting him on a day—to—day basis. what did you say? it day-to-day basis. what did you sa ? , . say? it started with the mood swin . s. say? it started with the mood swinqs- and _ say? it started with the mood swings. and then _ say? it started with the mood swings. and then little - say? it started with the mood | swings. and then little things, like he'd — swings. and then little things, like he'd forget... little things. _ like he'd forget... little things, like, no, he's stressed, you'd make excuses for why— stressed, you'd make excuses for why he _ stressed, you'd make excuses for why he didn't want to do something. anything he forgot, it something. anything he forgot, il was_ something. anything he forgot, it was like, oh, his forgot because _ it was like, oh, his forgot because he is under pressure, it's not— because he is under pressure, it's not a — because he is under pressure, it's not a big thing. it started _ it's not a big thing. it started with the mood swings, wasn't — started with the mood swings, wasn't it? _ started with the mood swings, wasn't it? was it anger? yeah, yeah. _ wasn't it? was it anger? yeah, yeah. some _ wasn't it? was it anger? yeah, yeah, some of it was anger. some — yeah, some of it was anger. some of— yeah, some of it was anger. some of it _ yeah, some of it was anger. some of it was frustration as well, — some of it was frustration as well, probably because he knew already— well, probably because he knew already before i did that he forgot _ already before i did that he forgot something. you didn't want — forgot something. you didn't want to— forgot something. you didn't want to tell me, did you? so he'd —

want to tell me, did you? so he'd hide _ want to tell me, did you? so he'd hide it, that's when the frustration and the anger would come _ frustration and the anger would come out _ frustration and the anger would come out. | frustration and the anger would come out. . , frustration and the anger would come out-— come out. i was convincing you that ou come out. i was convincing you that you were _ come out. i was convincing you that you were the _ come out. i was convincing you that you were the one - come out. i was convincing you that you were the one going i that you were the one going mad... i that you were the one going mad... ., ., , ., mad... i thought it was me, am i mad... i thought it was me, am i forgetting _ mad... i thought it was me, am i forgetting things? _ mad... i thought it was me, am i forgetting things? but - mad... i thought it was me, am i forgetting things? but no, - mad... i thought it was me, am i forgetting things? but no, it i i forgetting things? but no, it was you. _ i forgetting things? but no, it was you, wasn't it? at i forgetting things? but no, it was you, wasn't it?— was you, wasn't it? at what oint, was you, wasn't it? at what point. steve. _ was you, wasn't it? at what point, steve, did _ was you, wasn't it? at what point, steve, did you - was you, wasn't it? at what point, steve, did you make| was you, wasn't it? at what. point, steve, did you make the direct link between your changing patterns of behaviour, the fact you are feeling rubbish a lot of the time, and not remembering things and mood swings... at what point did you make the link with your rugby career and what you had been through as a player? it career and what you had been through as a player?- through as a player? it wasn't until i through as a player? it wasn't until i got _ through as a player? it wasn't until i got diagnosed - through as a player? it wasn't until i got diagnosed and - through as a player? it wasn't until i got diagnosed and we | until i got diagnosed and we got talking. i spoke to alix popham, a playeri got talking. i spoke to alix popham, a player i played with when i was in france, and for wales. a great bloke, he phoned me up one time and i was away, working on the water, and he was explaining what he was going through, memory loss, he got out on his bike and forgot where he was. anger issues and stuff. and he was one of the most laid—back people off the

field. i was thinking, you're talking about me, that's exactly what i'm going through. he said, perhaps i should get tested. at first it was a bit, oh, i think i'm all right. and suddenly you think, i'm not all right actually, and that's when i went through the testing process. that's only when we link to, when they started saying, this is why. it is the sub—concussions, though not the big ones, the little concussions have caused this over so many years. working out 80,000 - 100,000 sub concussions at 80,000 -100,000 sub concussions at least. that's been slowly killing off your brain. because we trained a lot. ., . , , lot. you have written this very frank memoir— lot. you have written this very frank memoir of _ lot. you have written this very frank memoir of what - lot. you have written this very i frank memoir of what happened to you, and you talk about england training camps. i think you used the phrase beasting, they beast did you. i'm not entirely sure what that means, but it sounds gruelling and rough and tough. what was the

mentality? i rough and tough. what was the mentality?— mentality? i can't remember, but they were _ mentality? i can't remember, but they were saying, - mentality? i can't remember, but they were saying, rugby, | but they were saying, rugby, you should be doing 15 minutes a week of contact training. we were doing two hours a day, sometimes more because you had the morning session and afternoon session. if you lost at the weekend, the defensive coach would go, right, you lot worse off, so monday, back in there, tackling drills... it was full on. the difference is you shrink the pictures to make them smaller so there is more contact. you see people going, oh, the game is going soft, 15 minutes. but when you are doing a tackle drill, they might ask you to be on the ground, a tackle, back, next tackle, back. imagine how many tackles and contact in 15 minutes, and we were doing it for hours on end, and boys were coming off from training in bits. you were in bits on the game, and suddenly it went on and on.

during the week. if you were playing for the second team on a monday night, you could be in northampton and then travelling to manchester and come back early hours, and suddenly you are told, right, you are back in with the first team, and full contact again.- in with the first team, and full contact again. there is a lot ou full contact again. there is a lot you don't _ full contact again. there is a lot you don't remember - full contact again. there is a i lot you don't remember about your playing career. do you remember getting knocked out? the concussions, the serious head injuries? i the concussions, the serious head injuries?— the concussions, the serious head injuries? head in'uries? i can remember bein: head injuries? i can remember being knocked _ head injuries? i can remember being knocked out _ head injuries? i can remember being knocked out a _ head injuries? i can remember being knocked out a couple - head injuries? i can remember being knocked out a couple of| being knocked out a couple of times. it's like a sense of, you are on the floor, it's like you are on the floor, it's like you have an amazing dream, and then suddenly it's like someone put a seashell on your ear, and you come to and you are on the ground and cold... then you sort of dizzying around, or you get the lighter ones where you get the lighter ones where you get the lighter ones where you get the white lights, so you are not quite right, you're trying to focus, but there were a little white lights up there, and you know you're not quite right, you feel like you are sort of stumbling around...

they are the lighter ones that you sort of get as well. but the expectation _ you sort of get as well. but the expectation with those is that you carry on playing. lambs were knocked unconscious and they get up and running the wrong way, and you see them finishing the games. lewis moody in an england game one week, he was all over, couldn't stand up, and he carried on and played in the world cup, and the week after that. i’zre played in the world cup, and the week after that.— the week after that. i've got to ask you — the week after that. i've got to ask you about _ the week after that. i've got to ask you about the - the week after that. i've got to ask you about the world | the week after that. i've got - to ask you about the world cup. you are one of the heroes of one of england's rugby's, well, its greatest moment, 2003, winning the world cup in the last moments against australia. every england rugby fan will remember it forever. you were part of it. do you remember it? no, not at all. 0ver part of it. do you remember it? no, not at all. over the last few months, everyone says, watch this, you must remember that moment. not at all. i don't get goose bumps, i don't get feelings... it'sjust... i

can't remember being in australia having a coffee. with ben cohen and lewis moody, they were showing me pictures, we were showing me pictures, we were in coffee shops together and things like that. there's nothing there, like it never happened. people say, how do you feel and stuff? i feel like a pony. i've said to you a few times, haven't i? it annoys me a lot about myself, it brought so much to so many people. —— i feel like a phoney. but i feel like i am rude to people because it's just like, like i am rude to people because it'sjust like, no... i don't get any tingling, any happiness about it at all. does it, in a sense, _ happiness about it at all. does it, in a sense, make _ happiness about it at all. does it, in a sense, make it - happiness about it at all. does it, in a sense, make it seem i it, in a sense, make it seem like your entire rugby career was a waste of time? you can't remember it, and obviously we are making the link between what happened on the rugby field to you and what happened to your brain and the injuries that your brain has suffered... the fact you can't even remember the greatest moment of your career must make it even

harder to deal with what rugby did leave you with?— harder to deal with what rugby did leave you with? people say, like, straight — did leave you with? people say, like, straight question, - did leave you with? people say, like, straight question, would . like, straight question, would you do it again? i wouldn't do it again. i don't understand the... i've said this, some lads saying, oh, i'm devastated what i'm putting my family through, i can't believe this is happening to me, and they get asked that question, and like, yeah, i do it all again. well, you can't be sorry for what you're putting your family through because you would do it again. i wouldn't. through because you would do it again. iwouldn't. d0 through because you would do it again. iwouldn't._ again. i wouldn't. do you wish ou had again. iwouldn't. do you wish you had never— again. i wouldn't. do you wish you had never picked - again. i wouldn't. do you wish you had never picked up - again. i wouldn't. do you wish you had never picked up a - again. i wouldn't. do you wish l you had never picked up a rugby ball? �* , ., ., ., ball? it's hard to... now, eah, ball? it's hard to... now, yeah. i— ball? it's hard to... now, yeah, iwish. _ ball? it's hard to... now, yeah, iwish. i— ball? it's hard to... now, yeah, iwish. i could- ball? it's hard to... now, j yeah, iwish. i could have ball? it's hard to... now, - yeah, i wish. i could have done other things. yeah, i wish. i could have done otherthings. perhaps yeah, i wish. i could have done other things. perhaps life would have been different. wouldn't have done this and done that. standing now today, i wouldn't want to be like this, i wouldn't wish this on

anyone, the way it has changed life, your lifejust life, your life just disappears. life, your life 'ust disappearsh life, your life 'ust disappears. life, your life 'ust disa ears. ~ ., ., disappears. we need to dig a bit deeper— disappears. we need to dig a bit deeper in _ disappears. we need to dig a bit deeper in the _ disappears. we need to dig a bit deeper in the link- disappears. we need to dig a | bit deeper in the link between the brain injury and the sport. let's just talk about the care and protection that was offered to you as an elite rugby player at the time. now you reflect back on it, and obviously it's partly about memory, but with you it's about talking to other people as well, do you reckon you were offered real care and protection by your club side and by england rugby? head knocks and _ and by england rugby? head knocks and that _ and by england rugby? head knocks and that were - and by england rugby? head knocks and that were not. and by england rugby? ihéi—f. knocks and that were not talked about. concussion was talked about. concussion was talked about. if you were knocked unconscious and you were in an ambulance going off, it meant you couldn't play on because you couldn't play on because you weren't on the field. if someone got knocked out or they had a bag to the head, at least you haven't put your hamstring because you can still run. that was the whole scenario, the whole feeling around it. —— a

bang to the head. you haven't pulled a muscle. you have banged your head, you finish games with headaches and stuff like that, it was like, take some pills, have a sleep and see you at training on monday. steph, i'm interested to know if there is anger in you as you have seen steve deteriorate over time. have seen steve deteriorate overtime. now have seen steve deteriorate over time. now you've learned, really, that there is a serious problem with his brain, do you feel that he, as a player, should have had better care and protection offered?— protection offered? yeah, i do. it makes protection offered? yeah, i do. it makes me — protection offered? yeah, i do. it makes me feel _ protection offered? yeah, i do. it makes me feel sick. - protection offered? yeah, i do. it makes me feel sick. because all these — it makes me feel sick. because all these poor men now, having to have — all these poor men now, having to have their lives ruined, basically _ to have their lives ruined, basically. well, it could have been — basically. well, it could have been prevented. it should have been _ been prevented. it should have been it's— been prevented. it should have been. it's not fair, is it? what _ been. it's not fair, is it? what about the argument that, ultimately, people like steve

made a choice, they earned good money, it's a sport, and it was a sport which obviously from the very beginning carried physical risk, and it was all voluntary? i physical risk, and it was all voluntary?— physical risk, and it was all volunta ? ., �* ~ ., voluntary? i don't think anyone really volunteers _ voluntary? i don't think anyone really volunteers to _ voluntary? i don't think anyone really volunteers to get - really volunteers to get dementia or lose their memory and has — dementia or lose their memory and has brain damage. i don't and has brain damage. idon't think— and has brain damage. i don't think anyone would sign up for that, _ think anyone would sign up for that, really. we think anyone would sign up for that, really-— that, really. we knew we were auoin to that, really. we knew we were going to get — that, really. we knew we were going to get bums _ that, really. we knew we were going to get bums and - that, really. we knew we were going to get bums and injuriesj going to get bums and injuries and stuff like that, but the head was never even talked about. all the lads, everyone has talked about it. —— get bumps. that's the way it was. pulling your hamstring, don your knee, people blowing their knee and stuff, they were out for six or nine months. people knocked unconscious and playing the following week. they have onlyjust the following week. they have only just to change the following week. they have onlyjust to change the rules onlyjust to change the rules on bat, it was three weeks, years ago, then they changed it

to six days. how can someone return to playing after being knocked out of the six days? then after 11 or 12 years, they have changed it back to 12 days. i think it should be longer but we have to take the little wins as we're getting them. but... that's what we've got to try and do. 0bviously there's something in it because they've changed it up to 12 days. they've changed it up to 12 da s. �* , they've changed it up to 12 days-_ it - they've changed it up to 12 | days._ it should days. absolutely. it should never have _ days. absolutely. it should never have gone _ days. absolutely. it should never have gone down - days. absolutely. it should never have gone down to l days. absolutely. it should i never have gone down to six days. why were people being allowed to be fit after six days? you can be knocked out on saturday and passed fit the following friday, then you play on the saturday. if someone has a tight hamstring, you are not allowed out to play again because you don't want to injure it even more.- injure it even more. how important _ injure it even more. how important has _ injure it even more. how important has it - injure it even more. how important has it been . injure it even more. howj important has it been for injure it even more. how- important has it been for you to learn from, for example, what american footballers have donein what american footballers have done in the united states? they have dug deep into the science, they have launched legal actions against the nfl. in

2015, there was an agreement to make a major payout running into many hundreds of millions of us dollars to former players who had these brain injuries. in soccer, football, there is an ongoing study into the impact of heading. someone yesterday — impact of heading. someone yesterday was _ impact of heading. someone yesterday was diagnosed - impact of heading. someone | yesterday was diagnosed with cte after dying at 44 years old in the american football league. 44 years old, he has died. league. lulu years old, he has died. ., . ., ~ league. lulu years old, he has died. ., ., ., ~ ., died. you are talking about the chronic traumatic _ chronic traumatic encephalopathy, which is the diagnosis for a deeply damaged brain, which we can't be sure you've got, and this is a terrible thing to say, but we can't know until you die. i’ge can't know until you die. i've ledaed can't know until you die. i've pledged my _ can't know until you die. i've pledged my brain _ can't know until you die. i've pledged my brain to - can't know until you die. is: pledged my brain to the concussion foundation. it's the right thing to do. it’s concussion foundation. it's the right thing to do.— right thing to do. it's only in an autopsy... _ right thing to do. it's only in an autopsy... it's _ right thing to do. it's only in an autopsy... it's probable, | an autopsy... it's probable, the way _ an autopsy... it's probable, the way they _ an autopsy... it's probable, the way they are _ an autopsy... it's probable, the way they are looking . an autopsy... it's probable, the way they are looking at| an autopsy... it's probable, i the way they are looking at the diagnosis, they are quite far ahead in america.

symptomatically, you, like these nfl players, look as though parts of your brain have been destroyed or profoundly damaged. it’s been destroyed or profoundly damaued. �* , , , damaged. it's the sub concussions, - damaged. it's the sub concussions, they - damaged. it's the sub concussions, they call damaged. it's the sub i concussions, they call it, damaged. it's the sub - concussions, they call it, the small concussions. someone going on your arm and doing that 80,000 times, your arm will still work probably, because it will teach it sell how to work overtime because it's not happened in one big blow. if it was one big blow, your arm would just go. but doing it over time, your arm would just go. but doing it overtime, our your arm would just go. but doing it over time, our brains have learned to work. when the specialist gave us the diagnosis, wasn't it? he said it was like — diagnosis, wasn't it? he said it was like if _ diagnosis, wasn't it? he said it was like if you _ diagnosis, wasn't it? he said it was like if you got - diagnosis, wasn't it? he said it was like if you got an - it was like if you got an apple, _ it was like if you got an apple, it will still look like an apple, but the inside will be rotten from the damage caused _ be rotten from the damage caused. —— if you drop an apple _ caused. -- if you drop an a- le. ,, ., , apple. in the united states, the players _ apple. in the united states, the players and _ apple. in the united states, the players and their- apple. in the united states, the players and their legal. the players and their legal representatives organised, and

they have won compensation. they can change the game so to speak. is that a feeling that you and other rugby players now have? ., �* ., ., ., ., 4' you and other rugby players now have? ., �* ., ., ., have? you've got to look at it... idon't— have? you've got to look at it... i don't want _ have? you've got to look at it... i don't want to - have? you've got to look at it... i don't want to hold . have? you've got to look at| it... i don't want to hold out the begging bowl and ask, but life is changing. there are lads with epilepsy. having all different types of symptoms, struggling to work and their lives change through it. some people not doing what they said they should have done. to people not doing what they said they should have done.- they should have done. to be clear, they should have done. to be clear. you — they should have done. to be clear, you are _ they should have done. to be clear, you are one _ they should have done. to be clear, you are one name - they should have done. to be i clear, you are one name among many. launching a legal action against english and welsh rugby, world rugby, and you are determined to push for what you would regard as fair compensation.- would regard as fair compensation. would regard as fair comensation. ~ ., ., would regard as fair comensation. . ., ., . ~ compensation. we want to make it safer for _ compensation. we want to make it safer for future _ compensation. we want to make it safer for future players - compensation. we want to make it safer for future players as - it safer for future players as well — it safer for future players as well it's _ it safer for future players as well. it's not fair, you can't keep— well. it's not fair, you can't keep carrying on, future players _ keep carrying on, future players can't end up... and they— players can't end up... and they are _ players can't end up... and they are getting younger as well — they are getting younger as well. you could be looking at

20—year—olds in a few years, if it doesn't— 20—year—olds in a few years, if it doesn't change... bill beaumont, _ it doesn't change... bill beaumont, a _ it doesn't change... bill beaumont, a very - it doesn't change... e: ii. beaumont, a very senior figure in world rugby, he said a lot has changed and they are continuing to change. as you have already said to me, they are changing the rules now about when players can come back after a concussion, a serious head injury. they are looking at other rules changes, may be changing the rules on substitutions, that's an active debate in rugby. they say they are doing all they can to maintain the spirit of rugby, but ensure player safety is put at the top of the agenda. abs, but ensure player safety is put at the top of the agenda. a, lot at the top of the agenda. a lot of these changes, _ at the top of the agenda. a lot of these changes, when - at the top of the agenda. a lot of these changes, when did i at the top of the agenda. int of these changes, when did they start being put into place? when we spoke out and we came out. it was horrendous when we first came out, because people just... some people were thinking we were attacking the sport. we were not attacking the sport, we're trying to make the sport, we're trying to make the sport, we're trying to make the sport safer. people were just being, you know,

disgusting and horrible. calling us selfish. but what i like about it now is the truth is coming out, what's going on. they are changing the rules now because we came out. if i they are changing the rules now because we came out.— because we came out. if i asked ou if because we came out. if i asked you if there _ because we came out. if i asked you if there is _ because we came out. if i asked you if there is a _ because we came out. if i asked you if there is a little _ because we came out. if i asked you if there is a little part - you if there is a little part of you that hates rugby, what would you say?— of you that hates rugby, what would you say? hate is a strong word. would you say? hate is a strong word- you _ would you say? hate is a strong word. you know, _ would you say? hate is a strong word. you know, it's... - word. you know, it's... probably what is better to ask me, would i let my kids play rugby? no, iwouldn't me, would i let my kids play rugby? no, i wouldn't at the moment. touch rugby? yes. we go down to thejunior moment. touch rugby? yes. we go down to the junior rugby club? yes, because we love it, the people and the environment around it. do i think it's safe for kids to do tackle rugby? i don't. is there a lot that can still make it safer? yes, that's the truth. i say that to people at the junior clubs. are they changing things now? yes. are people becoming aware of concussion? yes, they are. and that's because alix popham,

myself, people really talking out. short we ruined it. because we can't getjobs. struggling. but i love it, like, i walked through the village on the other day and a bloke came up to me and went, steve, thank you so much. i said, what that war? he said, my son got a knock to the head the other day in the game, he wasn't quite with it, but we thought, he's all right. two years ago, he would have played on. they said, no, bring him off. he had to have three weeks out. he was apparently find the two and a half weeks, and it was only towards the end of the third week that he started showing symptoms. that was him done for the end of the season. 0therwise done for the end of the season. otherwise he said, we would have made him play, that would have made him play, that would have been another half of rugby and two more games before the brain injury showed. i came back to you, and it sounds weird, but i was buzzing, this is brilliant... that's what i

get the goose bumps from. we are helping. a lot of people, down at twickenham, so many people... steve, thanks so much. because the truths coming out now and people are starting to see what it's for, we are not trying to ruin the game, we are trying to make this game so it can last and go on for ever and young kids can enjoy it. on for ever and young kids can en'o it. ,, ,., enjoy it. steve, something i read after — enjoy it. steve, something i read after the _ enjoy it. steve, something i read after the book - enjoy it. steve, something i read after the book came i enjoy it. steve, something i | read after the book came out was a reviewer who said, actually, this is a very different kind of sports book, and it's one of the most important sports books that's been written for a very long time. not because of the way you described the great gains and the sporting achievements, but because of how you describe coming to terms with profound mental illness. —— the great gains. and the honesty you have in dealing with that. in a funny sort of way, maybe that is a bigger achievement than

winning a world cup. it is a bigger achievement than winning a world cup.- winning a world cup. it is, like, a winning a world cup. it is, like. a few— winning a world cup. it is, like, a few people - winning a world cup. it is, like, a few people have i like, a few people have contacted me on linkedin and things like that. they have said, you know, it's not a sports book, really. they said they weren't going to read it because, oh, its they weren't going to read it because, oh, it's another sports book. but they read it and they're so happy they have, they've told other family members who don't even like sport to read it, because like you say, it's so much more than a sports book. and that's what i wanted, i wanted to be honest on there. how many people go to a funeral and it's the best person in the world over that has died? it's not true. its warts and all and stuff. i want my kids to have that when i'm not here so they can see everything i went through and know that what i try to instill in them now is there as well. steph, it's an amazing thing. you married a guy who was known as a sportsman but he's turned

out to be something a lot more. mm. my world, so he'll always be more — mm. my world, so he'll always be more than a sports person. aren't — be more than a sports person. aren't you? _ be more than a sports person. aren't you?— be more than a sports person. aren't you?_ hel be more than a sports person. i aren't you?_ he is aren't you? that old man! he is everything _ aren't you? that old man! he is everything to — aren't you? that old man! he is everything to me. _ aren't you? that old man! he is everything to me. it's _ aren't you? that old man! he is everything to me. it's been - aren't you? that old man! he is everything to me. it's been a i everything to me. it's been a real pleasure _ everything to me. it's been a real pleasure of _ everything to me. it's been a real pleasure of meeting i everything to me. it's been a real pleasure of meeting andj real pleasure of meeting and talking to you both. thank you very much for being on hardtalk.— very much for being on i hardtalk._ thank very much for being on - hardtalk._ thank you hardtalk. thank you. thank you very much- _ hello there. many of us were chasing cloud amounts around on monday, but the thickest cloud that brought some rain at times, well, that was reserved for the far northwest of scotland. let's take a look at this weather watcher picture

from highland around lunchtime on monday. the best of the breaks in the cloud, the best of the sunshine and the warmth was in kent in the southeast — 2a celsius, 75 fahrenheit. and it looks likely that that weather pattern will stay with us for a few days. higher pressure is trying to build in from the southwest, toppling across the high, these weather fronts that will always continue to introduce a little bit more cloud and some showery outbreaks of rain as the afternoon continues into western scotland and northern ireland. the cloud thick enough for some misty, damp conditions across west—facing coasts of wales and southwest england. so, the best of the sunshine certainly further east, and that's where the best of the warmth will be once again. 23—24 degrees not out of the question in the southeast corner. that bodes well for wimbledon. i suspect it's going to be another day of fine, dry, sunny weather — very pleasant for both players and spectators. but it does mean where we've got the best of the sunshine, we're still looking at pretty high, if not very high pollen across the majority

of england and wales and even into southern scotland as well. let's look further ahead. not that much in the way of change, in actual fact. this weather front will bring more significant rain on tuesday into wednesday, but it will also allow for some more warmth and more humidity to develop, particularly in the far southeast corner. so, we start to see those temperatures perhaps widely into the mid—20s, maybe eventually getting a little bit higher. there'll be some nuisance rain just clinging onto the far northwest of scotland, more cloud along those west—facing coasts once again. england and wales seeing the best of the sunshine and, again, the best of the warmth, so we can't rule out 2a or 25 degrees — that's 77 fahrenheit. we're almost stuck in repeat mode because as we move towards the end of the working week, that high pressure is still with us, still sitting out to the southwest, so it shouldn't get too extremely hot. but we still have the risk of weather fronts toppling across that high and still producing the risk of more cloud in the north, but at the same time,

temperatures are likely to peak into the high 20s, and there's a lot of dry weather to look out for. take care.

welcome to newsday, reporting live from singapore. i'm karishma vaswani. the headlines — at least six people are killed, after a gunman opens fire on an independence day parade near chicago. police name a possible suspect. a person of interest has been identified. his name is robert "bobby" e crimo iii. president putin orders his forces to push on with their offensive in eastern ukraine, after seizing control of the entire luhansk region. wet weather is expected to ease

in and around sydney, but the threat of flash flooding remains.