Northern Ireland

BBC won't say when Stephen Nolan will return to airwaves

Stephen Nolan at the BBC in Belfast. Picture by Hugh Russell
Stephen Nolan at the BBC in Belfast. Picture by Hugh Russell Stephen Nolan at the BBC in Belfast. Picture by Hugh Russell

THE BBC has declined to say when Radio Ulster presenter Stephen Nolan is due to return to work after several weeks off the airwaves.

He last presented a live episode of his popular weekday phone-in show before Christmas and for the past few weeks has been holidaying in the US.

Others have stepped in to front The Nolan Show in his absence, during which the north's news agenda has recently been dominated by controversy surrounding Sinn Féin's Barry McElduff.

Asked when Mr Nolan was due to return to the programme, the BBC declined to give a date.

The corporation also would not say if the presenter would be returning to a regular five-day schedule after recently being replaced by Adrian Chiles on BBC Radio 5 Live's late-night show Question Time Extra Time.

A BBC spokeswoman said: "Stephen is on holiday and will return to his normal schedule soon as planned."

In November it emerged that the 44-year-old would no longer front Question Time Extra Time on Thursday nights, but would continue to present on Radio 5 Live on Friday to Sunday nights.

The Belfast-born broadcaster said he needed more "me time" and he wanted to "live a bit in 2018 as well".

Mr Nolan has been posting photos and updates from his holiday on Twitter.

On Monday he tweeted: "There is something in the Santa Monica air that calms my soul. When I retire, my dream would be to live in NI for nine months a year, and LA three months a year."

Last July, Mr Nolan was revealed as among the BBC's top 15 highest-paid presenters, receiving a salary of between £400,000 and £449,999.

Earnings through programmes commissioned for the BBC from his independent production company were not included in the figure.