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Stephen Nolan's no nonsense approach to confronting the biggest issues of the day: an unmissable mixture of news, phone ins and entertainment. From BBC Radio Ulster

BBC Radio Ulster


    • Sep 30, 2026 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekdays NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 17m AVG DURATION
    • 1,543 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Best of Nolan

    More talks over Drumcree dispute as stalemate continues

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2026 79:33


    Nolan talks to loyalist activist Jamie Bryson, commentator Chris Donnelly and callers

    dispute stalemate chris donnelly
    Drumcree : what next for residents, Orange Order, police and politicians?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2026 81:30


    Nolan talks to ALL MLA Eóin Tennyson, former police officer Roy McComb and callers

    police politicians residents tennyson orange order
    Tensions rise as Drumcree dispute escalates : how can it be resolved?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2026 80:33


    Nolan talks to UUP leader Jon Burrows, DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley and callers

    tensions dispute resolved u up
    Secretary of State Chris Bryant issues ultimatum to Stormont to agree a budget by Thursday

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2026 77:04


    Nolan speaks with Paul Givan, Newton Emerson, Gordon Lyons, callers & others

    budget ultimatum secretary of state stormont chris bryant
    Spotlight on the Parades Commission as Drumcree decision just days away

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2026 79:51


    Nolan is joined by Gavin Robinson, Eóin Tennyson, Claire Hanna, Sorcha Eastwood & more.

    decision commission parades tennyson
    PSNI crackdown on illegal e bikes and scooters across Belfast - are we seeing a new zero tolerance approach?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2026 68:32


    & Stormont signs off security system worth nearly £1m– a waste of taxpayers' money?

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    Should the PSNI deploy stinger devices to stop the illegal and dangerous use of motorcycles and e-bikes?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2026 77:41


    Plus, organ donor recipient families on why organ donation matters more than ever.

    dangerous illegal devices motorcycles deploy e bikes stinger psni
    Major questions for the Justice Minister over how a convicted killer absconded from prison

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2026 69:11


    Stephen Watson speaks with Naomi Long & Gavin Robinson as well as Carol Little

    killers prison convicted justice minister
    Another pay rise for MLAs – some political parties say they don't want it – will they give it back?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2026 55:58


    Stephen Watson talks to Patrick Mulholland from NIPSA, PBP MLA Gerry Carroll and callers

    political parties mlas
    Major Queen's University report claims academic selection results in multiple, negative outcomes

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2026 48:45


    Stephen Watson talks to Stormont's Education Committee chair Nick Mathison and callers

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    Noah Donohoe inquest : Jury give their verdict but questions still remain

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2026 58:38


    & reaction to the eligibility row between NI and RoI football governing bodies

    roi remain verdict jury inquest donohoe
    Robert Hamill Inquiry : serious flaws in RUC investigation, but officers could not have prevented the murder

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2026 54:51


    Also - should we introduce a 'tourist tax' to Belfast? Stephen Watson talks to callers.

    murder investigation belfast inquiry flaws officers prevented hamill
    Reaction as US President Donald Trump sparks political controversy after calling for a united Ireland

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2026 78:46


    Stephen Watson is presenting. He also talks to new British Sprint champion Ethan Faulkner

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    Education minister on NI budget and giving school girls right to wear trousers

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2026 56:19


    DUP's Paul Givan is in the studio talking to Stephen and callers

    giving budget wear trousers dup schoolgirls education minister
    Offensive flag left up after Stormont contractors refuse to remove it without “community reps” approval

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2026 45:00


    Nolan talks to DUP's Jonathan Buckley, Green Party Cllr Aine Groogan and callers

    community left remove offensive flag approval refuse contractors reps dup stormont
    PSNI to arm more officers with tasers – after it's revealed officers more likely to ‘wait to be assaulted' before using force

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2026 44:32


    Nolan talks to former armed response officer Mel Thomas and PBP MLA Gerry Carroll

    force revealed officers taser assaulted psni
    Nursery school provision – Education Minister stops families on benefits being prioritised over working families. Fair?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2026 39:38


    Nolan talks to DUP's Paul Givan, Ulster University's Dr Ciara Fitzpatrick and callers.

    benefits stops provision dup education minister working families ulster university nursery school
    Dep for Infrastructure say flags celebrating LVF leader Billy Wright are to intimidate – but PSNI say they aren't illegal

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2026 38:36


    Nolan talks to SDLP Cllr Karol McQuade, Professor Dominic Bryan and callers.

    leader wright infrastructure illegal flags intimidate psni
    New Health Minister, new review – Robbie Butler to appoint committee to review health service. But do we really need another?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2026 54:15


    Nolan speaks with Diane Dodds, Dr Alan Stout, Nuala McAllister, Claire Hanna & callers.

    butler committee health services appoint health minister
    Portadown Orange Order threaten more legal action if they don't get to parade down Garvaghy road

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2026 81:52


    Jamie Bryson, Chris Donnelly, Brendan Mulgrew, John Burrows, Eóin Tennyson & callers

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    Secretary of State backs Parades Commission – he has confidence in them, unionists don't. What now?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2026 62:25


    Nolan speaks with TUV leader Jim Allister, Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín, former Secretary of State Labour's Shaun Woodward, former SDLP MLA Dolores Kelly, BBC's Mark Simpson & callers

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    Speculation NI Secretary to meet Parades Commission today - will he back them or sack them?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2026 108:57


    DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley & SDLP Councillor Carl Whyte speak with Nolan

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    DUP MLA Carla Lockhart says ‘confidence cannot be restored' in Parades Commission as Drumcree debate continues

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2026 70:16


    Nolan speaks with Carla Lockhart, Chris Donnelly, Allison Morris, Job Burrows & callers.

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    Calls for more resignations from the Parades Commission as controversy rumbles on

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2026 73:35


    Nolan speaks with Gavin Robinson, Carl Whyte, a resident and a former police officer

    controversy commission resignation parades rumbles
    Pressure on Parades Commission ramps up as Orange Order call for resignations

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2026 77:31


    Nolan speaks with guests

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    Drumcree ruling: can the Parades Commission survive?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2026 53:33


    What's next for the Parades Commission?

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    Back to school costs – are families given enough support to meet uniform needs?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2026 54:43


    Stephen Nolan's no nonsense approach to confronting the biggest issues of the day

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    Surgeons warn they are 'concerned' that 'political votes' are being put ahead of 'patient safety'

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2026 34:28


    Stephen Nolan's no nonsense approach to confronting the biggest issues of the day

    safety vote surgeons warn
    Nolan animal welfare investigation Day 2 - major questions remain for authorities after two dogs died in cages inside house

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2026 31:59


    Warning - some descriptions and details in this story some may find upsetting

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    Two dogs suffer excruciating death despite local residents repeatedly calling on authorities to intervene - Nolan reports

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2026 59:19


    Warning some descriptions and details in this story some may find upsetting.

    death local reports suffer residents authorities intervene excruciating two dogs
    Health Minister Mike Nesbitt resigns after fallout out with UUP Leader Jon Burrows over Causeway Hospital - Nolan gets reaction

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2026 67:47


    Former head of the Health and Social Care Board John Compton & DUP's Paul Frew give views

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    After teen deaths in RoI it emerges Gardai are not 'pursuit trained'. Are enough PSNI officers trained to make roads safer?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2026 30:46


    Nolan talks to former senior police armed response officer Chris Stothers

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    Police Ombudsman Investigator speaks exclusively to the Nolan Show : says staff 'urgently' need policy clarification

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2026 47:14


    Commissioner for Victims of Crime Northern Ireland Geraldine Hanna is in the studio

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    New Police Ombudsman Jacquie Durkin issues open letter on office's position on sexual abuse allegations against police officers

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2026 65:30


    Nolan speaks with callers, Jim Allister, Jim Gamble Joanne Barnes and others.

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    ‘Believe victims who say they've been sexually abused by police' – new Ombudsman gives her first Nolan interview plus reaction.

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2026 57:46


    Nolan speaks with Jacqui Durkin, Jon Burrows & others

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    How stable is Stormont? Nolan asks if the parties are delivering for the people of Northern Ireland

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2026 53:34


    Nolan speaks with guests about Stormont

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    Loyalist Jamie Bryson accuses Nolan Show of Fleadh propaganda and smearing unionist culture

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2026 45:05


    SDLP Cllr Carl Whyte and commentator Chris Donnelly react

    culture propaganda loyalists unionists smearing fleadh chris donnelly
    After the success of the Fleadh in Belfast – what can be learnt from it for future events?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2026 53:57


    Guests include the SDLP's Séamas de Faoite & Minister for Communities Gordon Lyons

    success minister belfast learnt future events fleadh sdlp
    Councillor claims authorities are cracking down harder on homelessness during the Fleadh

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2026 42:49


    Nolan talks to Ind Cllr Paul McCusker and Commentator Matthew Robinson

    harder claims homelessness authorities councillor cracking down fleadh
    After the success of the Fleadh – should Belfast City Centre be pedestrianised all the time?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2026 31:48


    Nolan talks to Green Cllr Brian Smyth and TUV's Ron McDowell. He also chats to callers.

    success belfast city centre tuv fleadh
    Jamaican woman targeted in racist attack in Ards - wants to move to a nationalist area. Does loyalism have a racism problem?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2026 54:09


    Nolan talks to the TUV's Timothy Gaston and People Before Profit's Gerry Carroll

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    Motorist driving at 81 mph in 40 zone, an ‘R' driver speeding at 123 mph. Senior PSNI officer's concern at speeding statistics

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2026 32:08


    Chris Buckler sits in for Stephen. He talks to Chief Inspector Celeste Simpson.

    driving concerns senior driver statistics officer speeding motorists psni

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