What the papers say

Journalist Keith Baker takes a look at what is making the headlines in Thursday's morning newspapers.

The faces of three people dominate most of the front pages.

There is Estelle Morris, of course, Ulrika Jonsson and the TV personality who allegedly raped her.

The BBC is not naming the man.

However, that doesn't stop most of the tabloids who seize on the apparent blunder made on a Channel Five show on Wednesday when his identity sort of slipped out.

Mainstream unionists are being accused of hypocrisy after flying to South Africa with the political representatives of the UDA

Irish News

Several of the papers paint colourful pictures of the not-so-mystery man's life and times.

The Independent says the TV presenter's identity has been the worst-kept secret in the world of entertainment.

Several papers, the Star and the Mirror among them, say it is time he revealed himself.

The other big talking point on Thursday is Estelle Morris's resignation.

The Guardian headlines her parting words: "I've not done as well as I should have" and says this was "an extraordinary confession".

The Mail says that "in an age when ministers cling like limpets to the trappings of office, no matter what, she deserves every credit for accepting her own limitations".

The Mirror says this is "a black day for politics and for anyone who cares about schools".

'Hypocrisy'

But the Daily Telegraph does not mourn her departure.

"Too often she had the air of a concerned nursery school teacher who couldn't keep her class in order", the paper says.

In Northern Ireland, politics and the firefighters' dispute are the main stories.

The Irish News has a picture of the weapons and ammunition discovered by police during a search in Rathcoole.

"In spite of this seizure," it says, "the DUP and the Ulster Unionists have refused to withdraw from talks with loyalists on forging what is called a united vision for unionism.

It says "mainstream unionists are being accused of hypocrisy after flying to South Africa with the political representatives of the Ulster Defence Association".

Firefighters were able to assess the risk and contain the spill but it was an operation which standby Army crews couldn't have handled

News Letter

The paper's editorial says dialogue is "always worthwhile but it is hard to see how unionists can condemn the actions of republicans while jetting off to the other side of the world in the company of individuals associated with the group responsible for most of the recent violence across Northern Ireland."

The News Letter headlines a drama at Queen's University on Tuesday when dangerous chemicals spilled during an experiment in a lab.

"It was a potentially explosive emergency," the paper says.

"Firefighters were able to assess the risk and contain the spill but it was an operation which standby Army crews couldn't have handled."

The paper's Morning View column hopes that next week's strike can be averted.

Finally, both local papers give us the results of a new study carried out by Queens and the Canine Defence League which shows that dogs listening to classical music in animal shelters stand a better chance of being picked for a new home.

Mozart does the trick apparently and makes them feel relaxed.

Heavy metal on the other hand results in agitated behaviour and increased barking.