THE BBC has said an online petition campaigning for the cancellation of The Stephen Nolan Show is an attempt to “smear and censor” its journalism.
The petition, which passed 10,000 signatures over the weekend, claims the award-winning BBC Radio Ulster programme “seeks to stir sectarian tensions for ratings”.
A statement accompanying the online campaign cites an interview broadcast on Radio Ulster on February 3 2021 with “an unelected representative of illegal proscribed paramilitary organisations”, where it claims threats of violence were made.
It is understood the comments relate to the interview with the chair of Loyalist Communities Council (LCC), David Campbell on the Northern Ireland Protocol, where he told Mr Nolan: "If it comes to the bit where we have to fight physically to maintain our freedoms within the UK, so be it."
The LCC umbrella group is supported by members of the UDA, UVF and Red Hand Commando.
The online petition claims the Nolan Show “regularly platforms unelected representatives and apologists for paramilitary organisations.”
Responding to the petition last night, a spokesperson for the BBC said: "Attempts to smear and censor BBC journalism are wrong.
“None of this is compatible with press freedom. The BBC’s airwaves remain a place of open enquiry and debate - for everyone."
Last year the BBC said Stephen Nolan earned between £390,000 and £394,000 from the licence fee during 2019-20, around £65,000 more than he earned in 2018-19.
It put him among the BBC’s top 10 highest paid presenters.
The salary covers Mr Nolan’s work for his BBC Radio Ulster progamme, as well as his BBC Radio 5 Live radio show and Nolan Live on BBC One television.