six—time champion sebastian is the only person who can stop elfyn evans winning the title. wind, suffered a setback and at times could not see a way forward, but he managed to stay ahead of toyota team—mate evans, who adopted a more cautious approach. the briton says he was too slow in places but he does not need to win to become world champion. he avoided mistakes and lies fourth overall, just five seconds before his rifle, but with snow forecast from mountain stages, things will not get any easier. —— for saturday's mountain stages. nick parrott, bbc news. big news from the uk snooker championship. neil robertson has knocked out mark selby to reach the last four. the world number three australian has been in fine form all week at milton keynes, beating selby 6—2. here's a round—up of the day's action so far with seema jaswal. we have reached the quarterfinal stage here at the uk championship, and we saw a really intriguing match today between neil robertson and mark selby, but just today between neil robertson and mark selby, butjust to go to. he was an imperious form tod

elfyn evans says his chances of ending britain's 19 year wait for a world rally champion are pretty slimtaly. the welshman and his co—driver scott martin were fine and hope to return to action tomorrow for the last three stages. but a podium finish for his team mate sebastien ogier will see the frenchman claim his seventh world title. feeling massively disappointed with the position we're in but also very savvy at this point for the team. i mean, it's a big point to the manufacture titled polls and i am very disappointed and sorry for that. obviously, on the driver side, it is not completely over. there's a glimmer of hope and obviously we will keep fighting all the way until the end tomorrow but, yeah, it's looking very unlikely now but, you know, we won't give up until the end. that's all from sportsday. hello and welcome to the film review with me, anna smith. i'm filling in for mark kermode to review this week's releases, whether you're at home or able to go out to the cinema again. directorjulien temple has worked with many a rock star — from keith richards to the sex pistols — and

welsh driver elfyn evans missed out in his bid to become the first british world rally champion for 19 in the snow yesterday. to secure his seventh world rally drivers championship. in rugby union's premiership sale won 21—13 at london irish. with the score tied at 13 all at the break, akker van der merwe‘s second half try condemned irish to a first defeat at their new home in brentford. harlequins beat gloucester by 3a points to 2a at kingsholme. alex donmbrandt scored two of their tries. england's opening one—day international against south africa has been abandoned,with two members of the touring party returning "unconfirmed" positive tests for covid—i9. the start had been delayed after two members of the team hotel staff tested positive but it was then abandoned altogether. it had already been postponed by two days when a south africa player tested positive. well, tomorrow's match has also now been called off. i will be very very surprised if it continues now. i imagine the players would want to come home. i know they are off would want to come home. i know they a re off pretty wou

that 19 year wait could be ended by elfyn evans.ampionship by fourteen points heading into the final rally which gets underway tomorrow. nick parrott reports. there are just there arejust a there are just a few more steps to ta ke there are just a few more steps to take four of them to write his name alongside the likes of colin mcrae and richard behrens and writing history. second place in a with a guaranteed a championship lead over the world title after a truncated season that it's finishing later than usual. it has been a strange season i could have been for most people and they have to go with the travel restrictions and at the same time we have had not their normal number of rounds but the same opportunities. and he has grabbed them, he has won two of the six righties this year in sweden and turkey and has yet to finish outside the top four. that consistency in his player to have seen him outshine his player to have seen him outshine his french team—mate and closest rival the six—time world champion sebastien. but this is no o

elfyn evans says his chances of ending britain's 19—year wait for a world rally champion are pretty slime ii of rally monza in italy. the welshman and his co—driver scott martin were fine and hope to return to action tomorrow for the last three stages. but a podium finish for his team mate sebastien 0gier will see the frenchman claim his seventh world title. feeling massively disappointed. with the position we're in but also very savvy and disappointed for the team. imean, savvy and disappointed for the team. i mean, it's a big blow to the manufacture's title hopes and so i am very disappointed and sorry for that but obviously on the driver's site it's not completely over. there's a glimmer of hope and obviously we keep fighting all the way to the end tomorrow but, yes, it's looking very unlikely now but he won't give up until the end. best of luck elfyn and of course to george russell tomorrow that is all from sports safe for now. have a good night. hello. saturday was quite a chilly day and it looks as though sunday is going to be every bit as nippy and no change over the next few days

elfyn evan's quest to become britain's first world rally champion for 19 years is underway.y of the season is being held at monza in italy. evans is fourth after the opening stage. the event finishes on sunday. today marks the international day of people with disabilities, a global day to celebrate and support people with disabilities. but with covid i9 putting plans on hold around the world, many people have used the downtime to campaign for equal rights throughout the year — including britain's para athletes. they've been taking on hollywood, and battling for a voice in their sport — as kate grey reports: in september they became us open doubles champion but the battle to her 12th grand slam titles started before she even got on the court. what was your immediate reaction when you heard the news about the us open and no wheelchair competition? we were put in that league of being not professional and i think that's what upset at the most because i know we are professional athletes and this is ourjob and will be dictated to and it was really disappointing. organisers at the

and elfyn evans has his eyes on the prize, but could he soon end britain's i9 year wait for a world rallyand i'm trying to do the best job we i am focused and i'm trying to do the bestjob we can and it happens. if it happens. hello and welcome to sportsday — thanks for being with us this evening. it's been a long long wait — but fans of some professional clubs in england will finally be allowed in to watch their teams tonight — under the government's new tier based system. up to 2000 spectators will be at the games involving charlton, shrewsbury and cambridge united, and carlisle — with a thousand at wycombe and luton town. 0ur sports editor dan roan is at montgomery waters for us, ahead of shrewsbury‘s league one game with accrington stanley. — a huge evening to look forward to for supporters, and the efl. big night ahead for for the efl as well? yes, it is one of six matches this evening and be efl where fans will be back. it is hugely significant and symbolic moment, almost nine months to get they sense action was forced behind closed doors in professional sport in england. we will be

can elfyn evans hang on to end britain's 19—year wait for a world champion?we're starting with the cricket, or lack of it, today because england's opening one dayer against south africa has been cancelled due to a south africa player testing positive for coronavirus. these were the scenes at newlands in cape town after the game was called off an hour before play was due to begin. the team bus carrying the england side was ordered to turn around before the players had even disembarked. the south africa player hasn't been named, but we know he was tested after the t20 series on thursday, which england won 3—0. well, the match is now due to take place on sunday, with the next two scheduled for monday and wednesday. cricket south africa's chief medical officer told their own media team they were looking at how the bubble may have been breached. clearly, there is a cause for concern, and england has expressed a concern. england is questioning the confidence that they have in the bio—secure environment, and rightfully so if there's been a player who contracted the

elfyn evans‘ hopes of ending britain's 19—year wait for a world rally champion have suffered a huge setbackoyota in the slippery conditions on the mountain stage and ended up off the road. his team mate sebastien 0gier will overtake him to win the title if he can finish at least third after tomorrow's final stage. max verstappen will be hoping he can claim pole for tomorrow's sakhir grand prix after topping the time sheets in final practice in bahrain. the red bull driver had to play second fiddle to mercedes stand in driver george russell yesterday. but he found his form today claiming the top spot by two tenths of a second from valtteri bottas. russell could only manage seventh, more than half a second off the pace. that's all the sport for now. a busy afternoon ahead, so i will be back with more later on. the mayor of liverpool, joe anderson, has been released on bailfollowing his arrest, as part of a fraud inquiry. he and four other people were detained as part of a year—long investigation into bribery allegations — linked to the awarding of building contracts in the city. in a statemen

elfyn evans' hopes of ending britain's 19—year wait for a world rally champion have suffered a huge setbackrol of his toyota in the slippery conditions on the mountain stage and ended up off the road. his team mate sebastien ogier will overtake him to win the title if he can finish at least third after tomorrow's final stage. qualifying for the sakhir grand prix gets under way from five o'clock with max verstappen hoping he can claim pole for tomorrow's race. the red bull driver had to play second fiddle to mercedes stand in driver george russell in bahrain yesterday. but he found his form today claiming the top spot by two tenths of a second from valtteri bottas. russell could only manage seventh, more than half a second off the pace. just about to get under way with qualifying in bahrain. we will keep you up—to—date with the afternoon's football and rugby union. stay tuned, i will be back with more at 6:30pm. see you then. families forced to separate over christmas are being encouraged to check in with loved ones remotely — after worrying signs that more people are at a higher risk of goi

elfyn evans who could become britain's first world champion for 19 years is fourth overall, behind hisil roberston has just in the last few minutes come out on top against mark selby. robertson stormed into a 3—0 lead in milton keynes but mark selby pulled it back to 3—2 before the australian took the next three finishing with his 750th professional century clearance to win 6—2. jack lisowski and zhou yuelong is the other quarter—final this afternoon. 5—4 to the chinese player. you can watch this match on bbc two and via the bbc sport website and app. that's all the sport for now. brexit negotiations are continuing into the weekend, with the uk and the eu trying to agree a trade deal. with me to discuss the potential route to a deal is our reality check correspondent, chris morris. shall we start with sticking points. they seem to be the same ones we've had all along. they may appear familiar. 95% of the deal is done but the last 5% is always the most difficult bit for obvious reasons. first of all, fishing. it's a tiny pa rt first of all, fishing. it's a tiny part of the economy on th