there's no hint of you wanting to retire, is there? none. but on stage, you enjoy it? i love it. yeah, absolutely. yeah, but i'm an old hand like that, you know, ijust live for the applause. indeed. when you've got a crowd like this every night, rock and roll seems a pretty fun way to spend your eighties! david sillito, bbc news, chester. time for a look at the weather. here's louise lear. good afternoon. we have reverted to type with sunshine and showers in the last few days. for some quite pleasant out there but the wind direction has played its part. windy with some showers and if that is the case for you you will know about it and that is all to do with the position of high pressure which is

out to the west. and because the wind is swinging in a clockwise direction that means the direction of the wind is still coming from the north and that is why it still feels quite chilly for many of us even in the sunshine. we have showers running down the east coast, some pushing through northern ireland into wales. sandwiched in between the two some bright interludes but temperatures still disappointing for the time of year. tonight the showers continuing to ease away. clearer skies follow behind. but take note we could be looking at some light frost in sheltered rural areas and a chilly start to thursday morning. slightly cloudy skies and rain first thing in the north of scotland. that will move into northern england and north wales by mid afternoon. clouding over and perhaps just clinging

mid afternoon. clouding over and perhapsjust clinging on mid afternoon. clouding over and perhaps just clinging on to the sunshine in east anglia. highs of 15 degrees but elsewhere again still cool and disappointing. degrees but elsewhere again still cooland disappointing. rain degrees but elsewhere again still cool and disappointing. rain at some point for all of us through the night thursday into friday morning. that front across the far south first thing on friday and then on friday we are likely to be chasing cloud amounts again. still a blustery day and coming from the north so not much rain around with showers few and far between but still quite cool and disappointing at eight, 14 degrees. the high pressure continues to drift further north and west keeping things largely fine for most of us. but again the wind direction playing its part and we have this north—easterly breeze which will always keep it cooler and cloudier the further east you are. so heading into the weekend, eastern areas where temperature is really struggling to get into double figures and showers

and longer spells of rain in the far north east. to the west the best of the sunshine and perhaps the best of the sunshine and perhaps the best of the warmth is well. 15 with a lighter wind, should feel reasonably pleasant. thanks louise. and that's bbc news at one. now it's time to join our colleagues for the news where you are. goodbye. hello and welcome to sportsday. i'm sarah mulkerrins. with 100 days to go until the paris olympics, organisers tell the bbc the games will be protected by an "unprecedented" security operation. after a dramatic night in the champions league yesterday, defending champions manchester city, as well as arsenal, now look to book their places in the final four. and ken owens calls time on his career after 91 caps for wales and five test appearances

for the british and irish lions. welcome along to the programme. we're 100 days away from the summer olympics in paris. the countdown is on to have the city ready in different ways to host the games. all permanent infrastructures are now complete, and the building of temporary sites has started. there are questions over security, with the opening ceremony in particular a concern, being staged along the river seine. and there are issues too over the water quality in the seine. our sports editor dan roan is in paris for us. 100 days to go until paris 2024 and the venues that will host the games themselves are rapidly taking shape. as you can see, we are here in a

temporary venue, 13,000 seat arena, they only began work it may be four weeks ago or so and it feels like it is almost completed and it will be injune. this is where the beach volleyball competition will take place, and as you can see, it is here in the shadow of the most famous parisian line, the eiffel tower itself. this is really what organisers want to these games to be remembered for, sustainable and venues, 95% of the infrastructure for these games will either be using existing buildings or venues or temporary ones like this. the only really new venue that has been built to host sport is the aquatic centre in the area known as saint denis and thatis in the area known as saint denis and that is also where the olympic village is and the stadium itself but organisers are saying they want this to be a very green and sustainable games for the good of the olympic movement going forward and they say buildings like this are

and they say buildings like this are a good example of that. there are questions too over security and water safety. paris 2024 chief tony estanguet says the city will be protected by an "unprecedented" security operation. he insists that preparations for the olympics are in "good shape." dan roan was speaking to him and also sport director, aurlie merle, who is adamant that contingency plans mean events will not have to be cancelled due to polution in the river seine. to pollution in the river seine. from day one, security is the top priority. from day one, we put in place an unprecedented system. we have this expertise in france to host big international events in a good security, so my message is you can be in confidence with this event and the security is the top priority for all of us. and the security is the top priority for all of ve— and the security is the top priority for all of va— for all of us. paris is transforming into an olympic — for all of us. paris is transforming into an olympic park _ for all of us. paris is transforming into an olympic park and - for all of us. paris is transforming into an olympic park and you - for all of us. paris is transforming into an olympic park and you can | for all of us. paris is transforming . into an olympic park and you can see that most_ into an olympic park and you can see that most of— into an olympic park and you can see that most of our iconic venues are going _ that most of our iconic venues are going to _ that most of our iconic venues are going to be — that most of our iconic venues are going to be hosting some of the

major— going to be hosting some of the major events and transform into beautiful — major events and transform into beautiful events, and then we have as well_ beautiful events, and then we have as well an — beautiful events, and then we have as well an opening ceremony taking place _ as well an opening ceremony taking place here — as well an opening ceremony taking place here on the river seine for the first— place here on the river seine for the first time.— the first time. you mention the river seine _ the first time. you mention the river seine and _ the first time. you mention the river seine and i _ the first time. you mention the river seine and i have - the first time. you mention the river seine and i have been - the first time. you mention the - river seine and i have been concerns over pollution levels and whether that may affect the swimming competitions and there is doubt over whether or not the swimming in the triathlon can take place there and test events had to be cancelled last summer. does that concern you? definitely not, we know that last year events did take place and some did have _ year events did take place and some did have to— year events did take place and some did have to be cancelled but at the time we _ did have to be cancelled but at the time we did not have any contingency days which— time we did not have any contingency days which we will have during the games— days which we will have during the games and also there will be water retention _ games and also there will be water retention passing is that will be operational from the beginning of may with— operational from the beginning of may with the equivalent of 20 olympic— may with the equivalent of 20 olympic swimming pools, which means that we _ olympic swimming pools, which means that we are _ olympic swimming pools, which means that we are working very hard to ensure _ that we are working very hard to ensure that this event will take place _ ensure that this event will take place this— ensure that this event will take place this summer. elsewhere, british olympic association chief executive andy anson has branded the decision by world athletics to award olympic gold medallists prize money "irresponsible". the move has been welcomed

by track and field athletes, with those from other sports calling for greater financial rewards for achieving gold medals. anson has told the bbc�*s rob bonnett it's a divisive issue. i think it's a debate we have to have with our athletes with the ioc and everyone. i am happy that we had that a debate and i don't like the weight they have gone about it because i think it is inappropriate for one international federation to go and declare something like this without consulting. the great thing about the world of the olympics as you have all the international confederation is an committees and ioc is coming together and every country in the world, and i think the way we should handle these kinds of issues, and debates is to do it in a collegiate way. a dramatic night of champions league saw paris st—germain and borussia dortmund reach the semi—finals with comeback victories over barcelona and atletico madrid. tonight manchester city and arsenal will look to reach the final—four themselves. first to city, who take

on real madrid at home having drawn the first leg 3—3. joe lynskey reports. the last weeks of the season where manchester city inevitably hit their stride. tonight at the etihad, they host real madrid and they've not lost that home in europe since 2018. this is the next act of a type that has swung back and forth. the first leg last week brought extraordinary goals and finished 3—3. it is the first time in five years they have met in the knockouts, with this time city being the favourites to beat, top of the premier league and still in the fa cup. this club des to wonder if they could retain the trouble. —— dares to wonder. taste wonder if they could retain the trouble. -- dares to wonder. we are far away from _ trouble. -- dares to wonder. we are far away from perfecting _ trouble. -- dares to wonder. we are far away from perfecting our - trouble. -- dares to wonder. we are far away from perfecting our dreamsj far away from perfecting our dreams and we _ far away from perfecting our dreams and we have a lot of difficult games with openings, we have, they have. honestly, _ with openings, we have, they have. honestly, i— with openings, we have, they have. honestly, i start to see is in the trouble — honestly, i start to see is in the trouble when we beat united last

season _ trouble when we beat united last season and we are on a way to something — season and we are on a way to something exceptional, being in contention to be there, it is incredible. but at the same time, we are here _ incredible. but at the same time, we are here to— incredible. but at the same time, we are here to extend this challenge one more — are here to extend this challenge one more week. if are here to extend this challenge one more week.— are here to extend this challenge one more week. u, ., one more week. if we can win the two troubles in a — one more week. if we can win the two troubles in a wrote _ one more week. if we can win the two troubles in a wrote that _ one more week. if we can win the two troubles in a wrote that no _ one more week. if we can win the two troubles in a wrote that no one - one more week. if we can win the two troubles in a wrote that no one did, i troubles in a wrote that no one did, that would — troubles in a wrote that no one did, that would be — troubles in a wrote that no one did, that would be legacy _ troubles in a wrote that no one did, that would be legacy so _ troubles in a wrote that no one did, that would be legacy so that - troubles in a wrote that no one did, that would be legacy so that is - that would be legacy so that is definitely— that would be legacy so that is definitely motivation - that would be legacy so that is definitely motivation knowing i that would be legacy so that isl definitely motivation knowing it that would be legacy so that is i definitely motivation knowing it is very difficult — definitely motivation knowing it is very difficult because _ definitely motivation knowing it is very difficult because as - definitely motivation knowing it is very difficult because as i- definitely motivation knowing it is very difficult because as i said - definitely motivation knowing it is very difficult because as i said in. very difficult because as i said in one week, — very difficult because as i said in one week, we _ very difficult because as i said in one week, we could _ very difficult because as i said in one week, we could be - very difficult because as i said in one week, we could be out- very difficult because as i said in one week, we could be out of. very difficult because as i said inj one week, we could be out of all very difficult because as i said in - one week, we could be out of all the competitions — one week, we could be out of all the competitions but _ one week, we could be out of all the competitions but we _ one week, we could be out of all the competitions but we are _ one week, we could be out of all the competitions but we are fighting - one week, we could be out of all the competitions but we are fighting for| competitions but we are fighting for it and _ competitions but we are fighting for it and we _ competitions but we are fighting for it and we are — competitions but we are fighting for it and we are going _ competitions but we are fighting for it and we are going to _ competitions but we are fighting for it and we are going to do _ competitions but we are fighting forj it and we are going to do everything in our— it and we are going to do everything in our power— it and we are going to do everything in our power to— it and we are going to do everything in our power to each— it and we are going to do everything in our power to each day— it and we are going to do everything in our power to each day be - it and we are going to do everything in our power to each day be a - it and we are going to do everything in our power to each day be a step i in our power to each day be a step closer— in our power to each day be a step closer to _ in our power to each day be a step closer to that _ in our power to each day be a step closer to that goal. _ in our power to each day be a step closer to that goal. —— _ in our power to each day be a step closer to that goal. —— in - in our power to each day be a step closer to that goal. —— in a - in our power to each day be a step closer to that goal. —— in a row. i closer to that goal. —— in a row. reat— closer to that goal. —— in a row. real madrid _ closer to that goal. —— in a row. real madrid are _ closer to that goal. —— in a row. real madrid are clear— closer to that goal. —— in a row. real madrid are clear at - closer to that goal. —— in a row. real madrid are clear at the - closer to that goal. —— in a row. j real madrid are clear at the top closer to that goal. —— in a row. i real madrid are clear at the top of la liga and have their hopes for a double. in the first leg, chewed belling up was kept restricted and city won last year's tied by five goals to one but bellingham still chose madrid over a move to the champions. his club now we need him to show they have closed the gap. i

to show they have closed the gap. i spoke to some of the lads that plays last year— spoke to some of the lads that plays last year and how it felt and they all have — last year and how it felt and they all have kind of similar feelings about— all have kind of similar feelings about it — all have kind of similar feelings about it that it wasn't nice and everyone _ about it that it wasn't nice and everyone spoke a lot about them as being _ everyone spoke a lot about them as being the _ everyone spoke a lot about them as being the treble winners, and rightly— being the treble winners, and rightly so, they are an amazing team but i rightly so, they are an amazing team but i do _ rightly so, they are an amazing team but i do know that we are real madrid — but i do know that we are real madrid and we are pretty good team ourselves— madrid and we are pretty good team ourselves with some brilliant players — ourselves with some brilliant players and it is an evening score going _ players and it is an evening score going into — players and it is an evening score going into the second leg and like i'm saying, we have to be brave and good _ i'm saying, we have to be brave and good play _ i'm saying, we have to be brave and good play -- — i'm saying, we have to be brave and good play. —— and even score. bellingham came out here for occasions just like this and madrid must now find a way to stop the team in full flow. joe lynskey, bbc news. arsenal have a tough task away against bayern munich after their 2—2 draw last week. this is bayern's last chance of silverware this season, the bundesliga title they had won for the past 11 seasons going to leverkusen over the weekend. but striker harry kane says his side are a different beast in europe, and is looking forward to facing his former premier league rivals.

i had a lot of history with arsenal playing for spurs for so many years and that north london derby was probably the biggest game of the season every year in the premier league but for me here, it's a different moment, i am playing for a different team obviously, so my focus is on trying to beat a really good side in arsenal. i of course know there will be a lot of spurs fans watching as well, hoping that bayern munich go through tomorrow night, but i can't focus on that. wales' most capped hooker and oldest captain ken owens has retired at the age of 37. owens played 91 internationals for wales and five tests for the british and irish lions on two tours. he won four six nations titles, including two grand slams, appeared at three world cups and won a league title with scarlets. he had been sidelined for almost a year by a back injury. he says, "it might not be the dream ending but my career has been more "than i could have dreamt of."

you can get all the latest sports news at from the bbc sport app, orfrom our website — that's bbc.co.uk/sport. but from me and the rest of the team at the bbc sport centre, goodbye. have a lovely afternoon. hello, i'm lewis vaughanjones. this is bbc news. in the past hour, the first prime minister's questions since mps returned from their easter break was dominated by the issue of tax and spending. the labour leader sir keir starmer raised conervative plans to further cut national insurance. he said the conservatives were refusing to say where the money would come from. we've been trying for months to get to the bottom of this, so now is his chance. no more spin, no more waffle, no more diversion —

i know that will be difficult. he can either... mr speaker, this is the choice — he can either cut state pension or the nhs that national insurance funds — that's route one — or he can put up income tax. which one is it? prime minister. mr speaker, mr speaker, we've just cut taxes by £900 for a typical worker. we've delivered the biggest tax cut for businesses since the 1980s. but while we're cutting taxes, labour is already putting them up in wales, putting up taxes right now for small businesses. in birmingham, putting up council tax by 21%. and in london, his mayor has put up taxes by 70%, mr speaker. and this isjust a glimpse of what they'd do if they got in power. rishi sunak at prime minister's questions. one factor impacting the economy is long—term sickness, which is pushing up the benefits bill. new official figures this week showed another rise. that has all prompted a major "back to work" push from the government. but new research from the health foundation seen by bbc newsnight suggests the inactivity crisis is set to get

considerably worse over the coming years, not better. newsnight�*s ben chu reports. my health caught up with me. it was that and it was nothing else. and it was the worst thing in the world for me to stop working. i hated it. i still hate it. it's mainly my autism and my anxiety that comes around with the autism as well. they're the main reason that i qualify for the benefits that i do. two faces of economic inactivity in 2024, but will there be many more in the decades to come? since the covid pandemic began in early 2020, inactivity among working age people — that's those aged between 16 and 64 — has risen by around 770,000. and the biggest driver of that rise in inactivity has