09/03/2014 BBC Newsline

Good evening. Stars of the theatre have been paying tribute to the

Belfast-born actor and writer James Ellis who died yesterday. He was 82

and took seriously ill almost two weeks ago. Our arts correspondent

Maggie Taggart looks back on his life.

James Ellis received an honorary doctorate for his services to the

performing arts as a tribute to his lights work as an actor on stage and

television, a theatre director and more recently a reader and

translator. As early break came in the 1960s as Bert Lynch and Z-Cars.

His undiluted Belfast accent was the first to be here regularly on

network television. You are married to an Angel! And 1960, James Ellis

believes controversy by insisting on stage in the sand constantly, Over

The Bridge about sectarianism on the Belfast shipyards.

He was someone who grab the horn and he ended up with the very successful

play. A new bridge is being built in Victorian Park to salute his memory.

On the BBC Television Centre 's belly plays, Jimi played the flawed

father alongside Kenneth Branagh who has been in touch with the family.

He totally understood the character of Norman and came in each morning

with any anecdote. He inhabited the skin of Norman. He made frequent

trips to Belfast and was at the ceremony for the new Lyric Theatre.

He also attended the opening of an updated billy clearly. We are sad

but we are also very proud of his legacy. There was a standing ovation

at the theatre last night. In doing so we were standing up for a man who

stood up for ourselves. His family say they always loved Belfast and

despite living in England for decades, never forgot his roots.

James died in hospital at the age of 82 following a stroke. His family

say they will follow his wish and nature of the and has hometown of

Belfast. -- and make sure he is buried.

A baby remains in a critical condition in hospital after an

incident in East Belfast on Friday. Forensic officers have been

examining a property in Connsbrook Avenue. It's understood the infant's

mother has been arrested and is being questioned by the police.

A man's been injured in a hijacking incident in Londonderry. Two men

assaulted the driver of a van in De Burgh Terrace before taking the

vehicle. It was later involved in a collision and was set on fire. The

victim was taken to hospital for a suspected broken cheekbone. Two men

have been arrested. Two women and a man escaped injury

during an attack on a house in Larne. The front windows of the

property in Greenland Parade were smashed and paint was thrown over it

during the incident which took place in the early hours of Sunday

morning. It's the second time the house has been attacked in a week.

To sport, and Ireland can win rugby's Six Nations Championship

next weekend if they defeat France in Paris. Yesterday, they set up an

exciting finale to this year's tournament by beating Italy 47-17.

It was an emotional afternoon for Brian O'Driscoll, who played in a

record-breaking 140th test match. I haven't really thought about it,

do not. It is very emotional. It has been a huge part of my all adult

life and to be fair, it is going to be difficult, but hotly we have set

ourselves up for a victory next week.

Football, and in the Premier Division, Derry City drew 1-1 with

Shamrock Rovers this evening away from home.

Time for the weather. It has been a bit of a soggy end but

as we go into the new league dry weather looks like it is on its way.

There will be available amounts of cloud with brighter spells of

sunshine at times. At night, patches of frost and fork. Today we have had

the weather front moving through with spells of nine. As that moves

away things will dry up during the course of the night and cool down as

well. Temperatures close to freezing but rural spots could be be able

that temperature. We are looking at frost and icy patches with some mist

and fog. Things will eventually breaking up tomorrow but it could be

a slow start with bits of frost around. We could have visibility

issues with the mist and fog as well but that will lift into low cloud

for a time during the morning before starting to break up. Some low cloud

across Northern Ireland before things brighten up and people say

some sunshine across parts of Scotland and Northern England. That

increasingly weak weather front heads across the rest of England and

Wales tomorrow so cloudy skies and as a result it will be a cooler

day. For Northern Ireland, a better day, certainly a better afternoon

sunshine coming through and that should see temperatures recovering

to nine or 10 degrees. For the middle part of the week, we still

have high pressure very much with us. The question murk is going to be

over the amounts of cloud. Yes, lots of cloud feeding through England,

Wales and the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland as well. The best

start for the North of England and Scotland. For Wednesday, cloud will

be an issue, the best of the sunshine for Southern parts of Wales

and the East of England. The dry weather will continue into Thursday

for Northern Ireland, there could be cloud but bright spells as well.

Join us tomorrow morning. Goodbye. Goals were courtesy