Stephen Nolan is a radio presenter for BBC Radio Ulster, Radio Foyle and BBC Radio Five Live and presents his own weekly talk show, Nolan Live, on BBC Northern Ireland.
Brought up in the Shankill area of Belfast, the presenter has worked for the BBC since 2003, when he joined from the Belfast CityBeat radio station.
Nolan has hosted The Stephen Nolan Show on BBC Radio Ulster for the last twenty years and has won 8 Gold Sony Radio Academy Awards since 2002.
Since 16 July 2005, Nolan has presented his own weekend phone-in show for BBC Radio Five Live, airing from 10 pm to 1 am every Friday and Sunday, and from 9pm to 12am every Saturday.
Until 2017, he also hosted Question Time Extra Time, a simulcast of BBC One's Question Time, followed by a continuation of debates on Five Live.
Nolan (49) lives in Mahee Island which is on the banks of Strangford Lough, in County Down.
Details published in the BBC’s annual report and accounts in July 2023 show Mr Nolan’s pay was listed as £400,000-£404,999 for The Nolan Show on BBC Radio Ulster, Nolan Live on BBC 1 NI and the 5 Live Stephen Nolan Show.
This matches his pay for 2020-21, but is down from 2021-22 where he earned between £415,000 to £419,999.
Nolan is no stranger to controversy, especially as he is known to be confrontational and persistent in interviews.
In the past, he has taken online trolls to court for six and five-figure sums over defamatory comments made on Twitter about him.
Following Nolan's coverage of Bobby Storey's funeral during the Covid-19 pandemic, Sinn Féin started to boycott his shows.
The party has not appeared on the Nolan Show for a number of years, but more recently, the SDLP has boycotted the show after South Belfast MLA Matthew O'Toole was cut off during the show.
The BBC is carrying out a content review of Mr Nolan's morning radio programme, The Nolan Show, The Irish Times has reported.
The internal investigation was ordered following the SDLP boycott of the programme since MLA Matthew O'Toole was cut off on air by the presenter. Sinn Fein has refused to take part in the show for a number of years.
In June 2023, The Irish News reported that Nolan has transferred all shares in his production company to an entity solely controlled by a leading bookmaker, documents filed with Companies House reveal.
In July 2023, broadcaster Holly Hamilton took over Stephen Nolan's morning radio show while the radio presenter took a "much-needed break".
The Irish News yesterday revealed that Stephen Nolan sent unsolicited "sexually explicit images" of reality TV personality Stephen Bear to colleagues on his radio and television shows.
An investigation led to a case to be answered under the BBC's disciplinary policy, with the organisation stating "appropriate action" was taken.
Bear is currently in prison following his conviction for 'revenge porn' and voyeurism after he circulated footage of his former girlfriend engaged in sexual activity.
Read more:
- Parties united in saying the BBC 'has serious questions' to answer over revelations Stephen Nolan sent explicit images of disgraced reality TV personality to colleagues
- Call for BBCNI probe into claims that Nolan Live staff were 'planted' in the audience
