HENRY DEEDES - There was was a tweaked sense of humility about the Health Secretary as he entered the No 10 State Dining Room to address the social care crisis, as highlighted by the Mail.

HENRY DEEDES: Dominic Raab announced the news at yesterday's Downing Street press briefing. It was a gloomy, fun-free affair.

HENRY DEEDES: With his scheme now up and running, Rishi might have afforded himself a little strut at the lectern - but for the embarrassing issue of NHS protection equipment shortages.

HENRY DEEDES: There is a fairground spookiness to Parliament (pictured) at the moment. Most areas are boarded up or deserted.

Rarely do tributes between political opponents extend beyond leaden platitudes. Before yesterday, the most sincere words of support I've heard between party leaders came after David Cameron's son Ivan died.

Back at last in their favorite Downing Street rehearsal room, the Prime Minister (pictured), gave the government's daily coronavirus briefing with his scientific and medical advisers.

Bond aficionados will know that early in each story comes an inaugural meeting between hero and foe. A chance encounter over highballs, perhaps, or a high-stakes hand of chemin de fer.

Darts legend Raymond van Barneveld has crashed out of the 2020 Darts World Championship in the first round at the hands of Darin Young.

Fourth seed Michael Smith became the latest victim of an upset after Luke Woodhouse claimed a memorable 3-1 win at the PDC World Darts Championship.

JORDAN SEWARD AT ALEXANDRA PALACE: The Ally Pally has become synonymous with the festive period and is a Christmas ritual for many from all walks of life. It's a night out like no other.

Mother-of-one Fallon Sherrock, 25, was left speechless after she beat 22-year-old Ted Evetts 3-2 at the PDC World Championships at Alexandra Palace on Tuesday.

GREAT SPORTING MOMENTS OF 2019: In the fourth in our series of the greatest moments of the sporting year, we recall those two nights when two Brits claimed World Championship gold...

Fallon Sherrock said it was 'incredible' to have her latest PDC World Darts Championship win tweeted about by Billie Jean King.

Michael Van Gerwen secured a rapid victory over Ricky Evans to progress into the last 16 of the PDC World Championship.

From hairdresser to history-maker, Fallon Sherrock is through to the third round of the PDC World Darts Championship - and has her heart set on lifting the Sid Waddell Trophy.

The World Darts Championship was briefly halted on Monday night after a power cut interrupted the action at the Alexandra Palace.

Sports stars around the world are celebrating Christmas in style as they enjoy a break from their hectic training and playing schedules. Most then took to Instagram to post their pictures.

Fallon Sherrock will look to continue her pulsating World Darts Championship run at Alexandra Palace, having spent four hours of her Christmas Day practising.

After the fesitivies of Christmas Day, Boxing Day is made for one thing and one thing only - sport. We have you covered, with your definitive watching brief to ensure you can cram in every bit of action.

Defending champion Michael Van Gerwen cruised into the quarter-finals of the PDC World Championship, as two-time winner Gary Anderson tumbled out.

Adrian Lewis crashed out of the World Championship at Alexandra Palace on Saturday night after surrendering a 3-1 lead against Belgian star Dimitri van den Bergh.

The former rugby player did not find the scintillating form which saw him whitewash John Henderson in the previous round with an average of 105 and afterwards hit out at Whitlock's pace of play.

The 25-year-old's fairytale run came to an end in a 4-2 defeat to Chris Dobey in front of a raucous crowd, with Dobey forced to use earplugs in an attempt to drown out the support for Sherrock.

Labanauskas, who had taken the opener to threaten a surprise, drew blood after accidentally stabbing himself with a dart, but showed no ill effects after the brief interruption.

Peter Wright will be the man to challenge defending champion Michael van Gerwen in the PDC World Championships final, as the pair came out on top on Monday night.

Gerwyn Price has slammed Peter Wright for employing dirty tactics and described his behaviour as 'out of order' following his defeat in their heated World Darts Championship semi-final.

PETE CARLINE: Peter Wright played the match of his life to claim a first PDC World Darts title, beating nemesis Michael van Gerwen 7-3 in a major final at the eighth time of asking.

Fallon Sherrock has been confirmed as one of the nine 'challengers' who will feature in the 2020 Premier League. She shot to fame at the World Darts Championship.

JORDAN SEWARD: Peter Wright has been a long, hard road to the top. He finally accomplished his dream by beating van Gerwen 7-3 to win the World Darts Championship

Parents of young sports men and women have been warned about predatory coaches who may use their position to take advantage of children and how to spot the warning signs.

It's HOT OR NOT time again as Sportsmail's Riath Al-Samarrai reveals what's been making him feel warm and what's been leaving him cold this week.

MIKE KEEGAN - SPORTS AGENDA: Given their obsession with young audiences, It should come as no surprise that the BBC's press office have apparently begun to act like Pinocchio.

An offender involved in a brutal fight during an NHL match has defended his actions after punching his opponent and throwing him to the ground during Edmonton Oilers clash with Calgary Flames.

The former F1 driver, alongside Marc Coma, was driving a Toyota Hilux over a sand dune when he lost control of the car. It flipped twice, landing back on its wheels, but the pair did complete the 10th stage.

EXCLUSIVE: The Norwich-born star, who had a film made about her life story in 2019 called Fighting with My Family, has been retired from wrestling due to a neck injury since April 2018.

JEFF POWELL: My long-range admiration for Courtney Lawes as a man has been cemented by his principled stand against the fake allegations that criticism of Meghan Markle is racist.

HECTOR NUNNS AT ALEXANDRA PALACE: Stuart Bingham became the oldest Masters champion on Sunday night in a final dramatically halted by a phantom raspberry-blower.

Fallon Sherrock will face Glen Durrant on her Premier League debut in Nottingham next month. The 25-year-old was named as a challenger for the second night of the tournament

The controversial hybrid Nike shoes used to break world records are set to be banned pending further research. Some variations of the Vaporfly are likely to be forbidden by World Athletics.

From April 2020, any shoe must have been available for purchase by any athlete on the open retail market for a period of four months before it can be used in competition.

An Olympic selection row has broken out in British Triathlon after Vicky Holland was nominated for Tokyo ahead of her best friend and old house-mate Non Stanford.

This is the hilarious moment San Antonio Spurs star Jakob Poeltl forgot to put his jersey on as he walked out on to the court for their match with La Clippers.

EXCLUSIVE BY DAVID COVERDALE: British women have been tipped to make history in Tokyo, with the head of Team GB boldly predicting that 2020 will be 'the year of the female Olympian'.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY RIATH AL-SAMARRAI: I'll tell you one that surprised me - it was a message from my language tutor,' says Katarina Johnson-Thompson.

Athletes have accused World Athletics of favouring Nike in the wake of their new regulations to tackle the growing controversy around racing shoes.

Great Britain set up a winner takes all encounter against old rivals Hungary in Nottingham on Sunday when they took another step on the road to the Beijing Winter Olympics by beating Estonia 7-1.

Jemma Reekie's astonishing early-season form has continued with a third national record in the space of two races. The 21-year-old set new bests in the 1500m and mile in New York.

Great Britain's hopes of reaching the next Winter Olympics were dashed on Sunday when they were defeated 4-1 by their old rivals Hungary in a winner takes all clash.

British Cycling was subjected to a UK Sport review into the culture of its elite programme in 2016, but the sheer scope and breadth of this look into UK Athletics is thought to be unprecedented.

EXCLUSIVE BY DAVID COVERDALE: Alex Partridge won silver at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and bronze at London 2012. The 39-year-old now tells Sportsmail about his battle with depression.