It feels appropriate that we’ve parked for the night in Tours, to break up our mammoth, 900km trip from Bordeaux to Lille.

Good afternoon. Here’s all the news you need to know this lunchtime.

England have selected Brad Barritt and Jonathan Joseph as their centre pairing for Saturday’s World Cup warm-up game against Ireland at Twickenham.

Frustration abounded for the Irish men as they lost 2-1 to hosts Belgium in their final World League Round 3 group match in Antwerp.

A self-confessed “angel turned evil” has been found guilty of murdering and poisoning hospital patients.

A nurse accused of murdering and poisoning patients was getting bullied at the hospital where he worked, a court heard.

Two years ago, during my annual check of the bunker, I earmarked the giants of the oche as the men to lead us when armageddon eventually arrives.

The FIA’s recently-formed Accident Panel has drawn up a list of recommendations in light of the incident that almost cost Jules Bianchi his life.

Veteran broadcaster Stuart Hall has pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting a girl ahead of his trial for a series of serious sex assaults.

Former British House of Commons deputy speaker Nigel Evans has been cleared of committing nine sexual offences against seven young men.

Serial killer Joanna Dennehy laughed and smiled as she arrived in the dock to be sentenced for her crimes.

Scotland forward Johnnie Beattie has rejected the flak aimed at head coach Scott Johnson – insisting the sole responsibility for the Dark Blues’ dismal start to the RBS 6 Nations rests with the players.

Two men in the “thrall” of “sadistic” serial killer Joanna Dennehy have been convicted of offences related to her killing spree.

“The second thing that made him interesting was that he was honest. He talked about his fears. He wasn’t reticent. He acknowledged what so many athletes have, which is a real internal fear.”

Michael Van Gerwen defeated Peter Wright by seven sets to four to win the Ladbrokes World Championship at Alexandra Palace last night.

Michael Van Gerwen defeated Peter Wright by seven sets to four to win the Ladbrokes World Championship at Alexandra Palace.

Michael van Gerwen crushed Adrian Lewis 6-0 to set up a PDC World Championship final against Peter Wright at Alexandra Palace.

Peter Wright is through the final of the PDC World Championship after beating Simon Whitlock 6-2 at Alexandra Palace.

Michael Smith set his sights on the title after he pulled off a major upset by dumping an off-colour Phil Taylor out of the PDC World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace.

Defending champion Phil Taylor survived an early scare against Rob Szabo to move into the second round of the PDC World Championship at Alexandra Palace.

Disgraced veteran broadcaster Stuart Hall abused his celebrity status to indecently assault 13 young girls, according to a judge who jailed him for 15 months.

A Co. Antrim primary school pupil has died during a school trip to Scotland.

Veteran BBC broadcasting legend Stuart Hall was branded a child abuse “predator” after he admitted indecently assaulting 13 girls, the youngest aged just nine.

Phil Taylor serenely made it through to the quarter-finals of the PDC World Darts Championship in the last match before the tournament shut down for Christmas.

Criminal charges over the Hillsborough disaster are back on the table as a fresh police investigation is launched.

Margaret Thatcher voiced concern that a 1989 report into the Hillsborough disaster constituted a “devastating criticism” of police, previously-unpublished Cabinet papers revealed today.

An investigation into how a serious flu outbreak at a private nursing home led to the deaths of six residents and infected 27 others will focus on why the facility failed to inform authorities of the crisis in time.

The HSE was not alerted to a spate of deaths at a private nursing home in Donegal until all six patients had died.

HSE guidelines warn that the type of virus which caused a lethal nursing home outbreak could spread rapidly in enclosed settings and, among older people, may not be stopped by the flu jab.

Health chiefs remain concerned about a small number of residents who are ill at a private nursing home where six people have died in a suspected viral outbreak.

The Health Service Executive is investigating the deaths of six people at a private nursing home in Buncrana, Co Donegal which took place in the last eleven days.

A British man flew to Australia just 10 days after having a big chunk of his skull replaced.

A FORMER Labour MP was jailed for 18 months yesterday over the country’s lawmakers’ expenses scandal, becoming the first person to be imprisoned following the damaging affair which dented public trust in politics.

Shamed former Labour MP David Chaytor was starting an 18-month jail sentence tonight after admitting he fiddled his parliamentary expenses.

Phil Taylor was in impressive form as he beat Peter Wright 4-1 to book his place in the quarter finals of the PDC World Darts Championship at the Alexandra Palace tonight.

A policeman who bludgeoned to death his police constable fiancee just hours before they were due to fly to St Lucia for their wedding was jailed for life today.

A PAIR of disaffected teenagers inspired by the Columbine school massacre planned a copycat killing spree in Britain, a court heard yesterday.

THREE British Muslims yesterday admitted plotting to explode a home-made bomb at the Houses of Parliament as part of a protest against British foreign policy.

A GANG of British Islamic terrorists drew up a list of targets across Britain with “limitless” ambition, a court heard yesterday.

Prostitute killer Steve Wright must spend the rest of his life in jail, a UK judge ruled today.

UK serial killer Steve Wright will be sentenced today for the murder of five prostitutes.

The man accused of murdering five prostitutes in England could offer no explanation today for why blood from two of the women was found on one of his coats.

The man accused of murdering five prostitutes today told a court that he was the unlucky victim of dozens of coincidences.