Stephen Nolan was back on air this morning just hours after it emerged he sent "sexually explicit images" of a later convicted sex offender to other BBC employees.
The broadcaster failed to address the story, revealed today by The Irish News, as he began his daily morning Radio Ulster show at 9am.
It comes after it emerged that images of Stephen Bear, a reality television personality currently in prison following his conviction for "revenge porn" and voyeurism, were shared by Nolan to other BBC employees working 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.
Details of the complaint are revealed in documents obtained by the Irish News, part of a wider investigation looking behind the scenes of his shows on Radio Ulster, BBC 5 Live and Nolan Live on television
Read more:
- BBC 'has serious questions' to answer over Stephen Nolan explicit images revelations
- BBC presenter Stephen Nolan sent unsolicited 'sexually explicit' images of disgraced reality TV star Stephen Bear to work colleagues
- Jamie Bryson response to 'rather tiresome' questions on relationship with Stephen Nolan
- Stephen Nolan 'driven' by growing up in the Shankill area of Belfast as an only child
Multiple sources have spoken to this publication, which, along with documents, has also been given access to internal correspondence among Nolan and his team.
The sources have come forward with details of hard-charging work conditions, circulating inappropriate images of a naked person, and ways used to stir debate, many related to controversial political and social issues.
At least one former member of Nolan's team made a formal complaint of bullying against him in connection with his radio show, which was not upheld following an investigation, largely as all other members of the "tight knit group" found the radio show "a very good one to work on".
Read more:
- Shares in Stephen Nolan's company transferred to entity controlled by leading bookmaker
- Stephen Nolan had outstanding loans from company totalling close to £900,000
- Stephen Nolan's production company outperforms Northern Ireland peers by millions
However, two former staff members, neither of them in the group, received counselling for work-related stress. One was referred to a psychiatrist.
Messages between the team do reveal a high level of sexual innuendo and a dislike for other arms of BBC NI, particularly news, and some its staff.
Nolan himself refers to Talkback host William Crawley as a "devious c***". The newsroom more broadly was referred to in a similar way.
