Reign were not without difficulty for the duke. He felt he had no clear purpose but he adapted to the role of consort to the monarch, and for decade after decade they toured the world and fulfilled official duties together. A couple so much of whose lives have been public, sustained by the private bond between them which remains strong and deep, as the latest photographs, issued to mark their platinum wedding anniversary, make clear. Tonight their 70 years together have been celebrated at a private party at windsor castle. Nicholas witchell, bbc news. Newsnight is coming up on bbc two. Tonight, what next for germany, europe and brexit after Angela Merkels government runs aground both mac and why paper chase was forced to apologise to customers after advertising in the daily mail. Here on bbc one its time for the news where you are. Ask a european about strong and sta ble ask a european about strong and stable government and hear their finger will point. Hello and welcome to sportsday. The headlines. The tennis world remembers the former wimbledon champion jana novotna, whos died at the age of 49. Are mike ashleys days at newcastle nearing an end with a formal bid tabled for the club . And the england team arrive in brisbane ahead of the start of the ashes series on thursday. It was a career marked by the near misses as much as it was her successes. Jana novotna was reduced to tears after missing out on the wimbledon title in 1993 before returning to win her one and only singles title at the all england club five years later. Today, she lost her battle with cancer at the age of 49. David ornstein has been looking back on her career. It remains one of wimbledons most enduring images. Jana novotna might have lost the 1993 final to steffi g raf have lost the 1993 final to steffi graf but she won the shoulder to cry from the duchess of kent and the hearts of the british public. She just told me, you will do it. I believe one day you will do it. And ijust became believe one day you will do it. And i just became very believe one day you will do it. And ijust became very emotional. It was very nice and i appreciated very much what she said. She finished runner up again in 1997. One year later, she finally killed the trophy. She was such a warm person, always very, very friendly off the court. The first person to come up and smile and give you a couple of kisses, and really, really loved by everyone. She rose to prominence in the early 19905 she rose to prominence in the early 1990s and became one of the most exciting players for germination. Wimbledon was her only grand slam singles title. She collected 16 in doubles and a total of 100 tournament wins across a glittering career, playing her way into the International Tennis hall of fame. She was back on the lawns of history and 19 as recently as 2016. Rolling back the years in an invitational mixed doubles. But novotna will a lwa ys mixed doubles. But novotna will always be remembered for the tears and then the triumph, refusing to let the setbacks get her down. Eventually coming back on top. Writing her name into history with a smile. And tributes have been paid today. The 18 time grand slam singles champion Martina Navratilova said she was gutted beyond words after hearing the news. Jana was a true friend and an amazing woman. 2013 wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli said she will always be remembered as an amazing, kind and beautiful woman and that the players of the wta will never forget her. And one of her former doubles partners, pam shriver, said, jana was as kind as she was athletic. As smart as she was competititve. I cant believe she is gone this soon. Some news this evening which could bring a takeover at Newcastle United a step closer. A Financial Firm headed by the british businesswoman Amanda Staveley has tabled a formal takeover bid in the region of £300 million. Pcp Capital Partners has been in talks with the premier league clubs owner mike ashley for about a month, and a source close to the deal said an offer has now been made. Ashley said in october he wanted to sell newcastle after ten years of ownership. Newcastle are yet to comment publicly on the news, although a club source has disputed the value of the bid. News on another managerial sacking in the premier league today, but first lets bring you tonights action. Brighton twice came from behind to force a thrilling 2 2 draw against stoke at the amex stadium. Stoke took the lead through Eric Maxim Choupo moting the cameroonian picking up his Third Premier League goal of the season. The home side hit back when davey proppers cross was met by pascal gross in the middle of the box. But barely two minutes later, and stoke were in front again. Kurt zouma, on loan from chelsea, powering in another. But not to be undone, Glenn Murrays clever pass found jose izquierdo. Brightons unbeaten run in the premier league is now five games. So often trusted with steering clubs to safety, tony pulis wont get the chance at west brom after his sacking today with the club one point above the relegation zone. Theyve failed to register a win in Ten Premier League games. He becomes the fifth managerial casualty in the pl this season. Former manager gary megson, who had been pulis assistant, is taking over until further notice. It should have happened last year. Its the worst ive ever seen up here. Im not surprised after hes had this performance. Its been coming for some time. I must admit, the football has been very poor. Ronald koeman would be my number one choice. Secondly, you know, if big sam comes to the end of the season, i know he is a similar coach to pulis, but hopefully. We just need to stay up. One wore football line today. More. Mancheser city central defender john stones has been ruled out for six weeks. He suffered a hamstring injury in citys 2 nil win at leciester on saturday, which means he will miss tomorrows Champions League tie against feyenoord at the etihad. David hayes heavyweight rematch with fellow brit tony bellew in london next month has been postponed. He sufffered an arm injury in training and has undergone a procedure to repair it. The wbc cruiserweight World Champion bellew stopped haye back in march. The rematch is now likely to go ahead at the o2 arena in march or may next year. The Australia Rugby Union head coach Michael Cheika is being investigated by the rugby authorities over his conduct and comments made during his sides defeat to england at twickenham on saturday. He reacted angrily to several decisons which went against his side. He was also was involved in an exchange with a supporter just before half time. But before that, england have arrived in brisbane ahead of the first ashes test with australia which starts on thursday. Joe roots side hold the urn after victory here two years ago and will be desperate to make a good start, which will be far from easy at the gabba, where the hosts have not lost a test in 27 years. Andy swiss is there. Welcome to the gabba. Behind me, you can see australias players being put through their paces. This is a hive of activity as they get ready for the first ashes test on thursday. Englands players have been taking things a lot of lazy today. Earlier, a few of them at the gabba helping to launch a new pool deck, looking resplendent in official england gear. They include jake ball. He is backing and then contention for the final bowling spotin contention for the final bowling spot in the team. It looks like a shoot out between him and craig gordon. He says hes fully recovered from the ankle injury he picked up in the warm up in adelaide. |j from the ankle injury he picked up in the warm up in adelaide. I had my eyes closed for a split second and i was like, did it hurt . It did hurt at the time but i managed to get some movement when i was out there and walking off, didnt seem too bad. As soon as i had this canon got the results, they were all positive. The scan and got the results. The medical staff have been amazing and sorted me out. I am back fully fit 110w. Sorted me out. I am back fully fit now. Yes, jake ball immers a real chance of playing here on thursday. As for australia, they have had their own selection issues to content with. The squad has certainly raised a few eyebrows and some were fuelled selections. But australia have this incredible record you that the gabba. They have not lost a test match here for nearly 30 years. And not surprisingly, they are still confidence. We know how to play there. The crowd always gets behind there. The crowd always gets behind the australians, which is something we love. We hope to see a packed crowd out singing the barmy army. It is one of my favourite places to play cricket in australia. I look forward to getting out there and totally making the english uncomfortable. This place has become something of a fortress for australian cricket. They will be confident of getting off to a winning start when the first ashes test gets under way here on thursday. And ball by ball commentary on bbc media five bbc radio four stop thats all from sportsday. Coming up in a moment, the papers. Hello and welcome to our look ahead to what the the papers will be bringing us tomorrow. With me arejim waterson, Political Editor at buzzfeed, and larisa brown, defence editor at the daily mail. Tomorrows front pages. Starting with brexit. Brexit really means brexit, says the metro. They are quoting eu negotiator Michel Barnier on theirfront page. The ft leads with german chancellor merkels vow to stand firm despite the collapse of her coalition talks. The express reports on a so called breakthrough in the treatment of high blood pressure. The i claims that the Prime Minister will offer £40 billion for the brexit divorce bill in the hope of progressing talks. The telegraph suggests that tests for cancer could be offered in supermarket car parks in order to reach people who might avoid going to the doctor. The times claims tory brexiters are telling the Prime Minister to take advantage of chancellor merkels domestic problems and reduce the amount offered in a divorce bill. The guardian leads with the inquiry into the spending of the Vote Leave Campaign and whether it broke finance rules during the referendum campaign. The daily mirrors front page leads on Great British bake offjudge paul collingwoods marriage break up. Pol. Paul collingwood. Lets start with the brexit tots and the divorce bill. Theresa may member of the cabinet to discuss tactics on brexit ahead of the European Council meeting in december. It was widely anticipated she was going to discuss the crucial issue of the divorce bill. Yesterday, we were told it would be 40 yesterday, we were told it would be a0 billion and that is what the i is reporting this evening. Critchley, she has been given the green light by michael gove on borisjohnson, who are very sceptical. It looks like she will increase the uk offer. But it is going to come on the condition that there will be some headway with the eu and they will actually progressive trade talks and authority over britain. Clearly desperately hoping to get a bit of a breakthrough at the summit in december, whether eu leaders have to decide whether they are prepared to begin talking about trade. Decide whether they are prepared to begin talking about tradem decide whether they are prepared to begin talking about trade. It is now one ever. You have begin talking about trade. It is now one ever. You have 110 begin talking about trade. It is now one ever. You have no option. They have to push ahead in the next stage of the docks by the start of next year iows of the docks by the start of next year rows with as much as a deal being struck by the time we get out of the eu. So this is not so much that britain has a chance to negotiate, we have to start offering what the eu is willing to take. Theresa may talked about 20 billion and now seems ao theresa may talked about 20 billion and now seems 40 billion is a thing that will get the sign. The interesting thing is that boris and golf has said, we see the situation as it is, were willing to push ahead. Right project, move onto the next stage because otherwise the brexit deal will be a disaster. They have to hope it works, because of the torment and cnet is enough progress on a few other things, they will have thrown away the best negotiating card. A lot of brexiteers have come out in light of this and are furious that we would increase our divorce bill