Northern Ireland news thread

I guess this is as best a place to put it... Lynda Bryans was "in the gallery" on tonight's episode of "In It to Win It", watching her nephew who was a contestant.

Pretty big undertaking for BBC Northern Ireland earlier this morning - their 3hr 40mins long 'Titanic Centenary' broadcast. The whole thing was anchored from the new Titanic Visitors Centre in Belfast by Donna Traynor and Sarah Travers, with Mark Simpson and Robert Hall at the memorial services at Belfast City Hall and Southampton, and Chris Buckler on the MS Balmoral covering the memorial service live from the wreck site in the mid-Atlantic.

All-in-all, it was a very sombre tone for a sombre occasion - quite ironic, really, when Andrew Marr was on BBC One at the same time sullying the media for 'celebrating' the whole thing too much.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01g9byp/Titanic_Centenary/

Actually, he was shifted over to BBC Two (due to the Grand Prix), and wasn't on at all in Northern Ireland.

Just realised that from reading another post - apologies. My mistake.

But pulled off wonderfully I thought. Excellent shots from inside the Visitors' Centre and outside City Hall, solid story-telling from the presenters (Donna and Sarah marvellous as always) and reporters, and barely any technical hitches.

And when did Chris Buckler pick up such an English sounding accent?

Looks like Lindsey Armstrong is now doing the UTV weather when Frank's on a day off; when did she jump ship from Broadcasting House? At least they didn't get that annoying press officer woman to go in front of the camera again.

Has Pamela covered for the Plank since she began presenting the sport on the main programme?

First time last night I've seen David McGeagh doing the UTV weather for a while.

Another first, a byline for the STV reporter who covered the Rangers story during the sport.

In case you didn't know already, Adrian Logan is now doing commentary on GAA for BBC Radio Ulster MW on Sunday afternoons.

Logie's also been singing the praises of the BBC's NW200 coverage on his Twitter...

Well, what a line-up we had on UTV Live at Six this evening. Rose Neill and Tina Campbell at the newsdesk, and Pamela Ballantine on sport. A hark back to the good old days.

EDIT 19:35 . . . and meanwhile now, on BBC2 NI, its Noel Thompson v Mike Nesbitt on Hearts and Minds. Makes for interesting viewing, especially when Thompson pushes Nesbitt on an aspect of UUP policy which Nesbitt stated to the programme's researches and producers that he would not discuss.

With the added dimension of them being good friends and Campbell College old-boys off-camera.

And if Rose and Tina did Live at Six, who's going to do UTV Live Tonight, er, tonight?

Paul Clarke presenting "#utvl2n"

Really Col? I didn't know that. Well that's it then. They've lost all credibility in my book now (coming from a Sullivan old-boy )