What the papers say

Journalist Grania McFadden takes a look at what is making the headlines in Wednesday's morning papers.

"Death of a Godfather" is how the Belfast Telegraph describes the murder of former UDA leader Jim Gray, who was shot dead on Tuesday night.

Several papers carry pictures of Gray's body covered by a white sheet.

The Irish News says police believe the murder was "internal UDA housekeeping", and a loyalist source says the UDA had feared Gray would turn supergrass and reveal details of murders and other crimes at his upcoming trial on money laundering charges.

The News Letter speaks to another loyalist source, who says it was "only a matter of time" for Gray, because there was "no way he was going to appear in court".

The Mirror believes that Gray, who was ousted by his organisation and became a hunted fugitive, "lived by the sword and died by the sword".

Daily Ireland says there are serious questions over the circumstances which led to Gray's murder.

Agent reports

It says there had been long-standing reports that Gray acted as an agent under the protection of Special Branch, and his killing means this accusation cannot now be tested publicly in court.

The Irish Independent names three members of the board at a Dublin hospital who were pivotal in the decision to stop trials of a drug for lung cancer patients until wording over the use of contraceptives is resolved.

A priest, a nun and a businessman are all members of the Mater Hospital board who have been delegated the task of examining if conditions attached to tests of the drug contravened the hospital's Catholic ethos.

Tributes to Ronnie Barker dominate the cross-channel press, with many carrying the headline, "...Goodnight from him".

The Mail suggests Barker died from a broken heart caused by the absence of his son, who vanished more than a year ago after being arrested in a child pornography investigation.

The Guardian calls Barker the "most accomplished comic actor of his generation," while the Express describes how he retired "at the peak of his powers".

'Chameleon'

The Independent says he was a "chameleon": you couldn't believe it was the same man performing in Porridge and Open All Hours, it says

The description prompts the paper to recount one of Barker's jokes: "We'd hoped to bring you Arthur the human chameleon now, but he crawled across a tartan rug this afternoon and died of exhaustion."

The Sun tells readers it will light a candle for Ronnie, then amends this to "f-f-four candles".

Elsewhere, the Mail reports that the Met Office has released new guidelines to forecasters on how to describe the weather.

A leaked memo reveals that weather presenters must now replace the phrase, "a small chance of showers" with the cheerier "mostly dry", while "isolated storms" will become "hot and sunny for most".

Several papers carry pictures of bank manager Graham Price, who stole a fortune from clients to fund his obsession with horse racing.

The Mail says Price took money directly from the safe and diverted funds from private investors' accounts.

He is pleading guilty to 24 charges of theft and 19 of deception.

His scam was discovered when an auditor visited the branch, and opened the safe to find three empty boxes and a scrap of paper.

Price had written, "I have borrowed £7m from the Halifax" and signed it.