Best of Nolan

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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


    • Jul 16, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekdays NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 18m AVG DURATION
    • 1,238 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Best of Nolan

    Children's cross-community Comber sports camp cancelled over opposition to involvement of children from a GAA club

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2025 80:09


    Also - should people involved in race riots last month be stripped of their benefits?

    Veterans protest over government plans to repeal act protecting them from Troubles prosecutions

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2025 79:59


    Shadow Secretary of State for NI Alex Burghart and former SF MP Francie Malloy discuss.

    Is the Twelfth good for tourism? Or a disaster as an SDLP MLA has claimed?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2025 79:50


    Holly Hamilton steps in this week, discussing the weekend's events and weather.

    Was controversial bonfire too hot to handle for police and politicians?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2025 78:43


    Chris Buckler is in for Stephen.

    Political row rages over controversial bonfire - should action be taken to take it down?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2025 80:15


    Chris Buckler talks to former SF MP Francie Molloy and Loyalist activist Jamie Bryson.

    Heat grows on politicians over concerns of power supply to hospitals and presence of asbestos on a bonfire site

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2025 79:56


    East Belfast Community worker Moore Holmes & SDLP Cllr Seamus De Faoite discuss.

    Eleventh night bonfire close to critical infrastructure raises power supply risk to two Belfast hospitals

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 8, 2025 79:33


    Also - row erupts in Belfast City Hall over Pride stained glass window installed in May

    After decades of sectarian murder, racketeering and controlling communities- is the UVF really serious about leaving the stage?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2025 78:09


    Exclusive – loyalist activist Jamie Bryson gives his first interview since his acquittal at Belfast Crown Court

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 4, 2025 79:08


    Also - missed appointments are costing NI health service tens of millions of pounds.

    Are the sums adding up for a united Ireland?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2025 77:13


    Also - Translink ban Smartpass use if you plan to travel on special services to The Open

    Police Federation and Ministers at odds over money for PSNI recruitment

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2025 78:49


    Chair of Police Federation Liam Kelly and UUP's Doug Beattie discuss with Nolan.

    Fresh questions over NI sentencing as mother who forced child's face into cat faeces gets six months in jail

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2025 80:29


    Also - cost rises to £4 for Express Drop Off and Pick Up area at Belfast City airport.

    Police probe two Glastonbury gigs – Ofcom says BBC ‘has questions to answer'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2025 79:32


    Also - NI charities call for Stormont's draft anti-poverty plan to be withdrawn

    Should the BBC televise controversial Belfast rap-group Kneecap's performance at Glastonbury this weekend?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2025 80:15


    Also, wheelchair users excluded from Half Marathon due to "logistical challenges"

    Principals and Education Authority in stand off over children with special educational needs - who is going to blink?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2025 78:58


    Also-should we contribute £100 more in rates to help fix the NI water infrastructure?

    A mum contacts Nolan after 'terrifying' find of a “metal nail” in her son's baby food

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2025 78:17


    Also - a "rarely used" PA system in Belfast Grand Central Station costs over £700,000.

    Judge blocks Stormont's A5 upgrade plan - are we seeing the consequences of ambitious climate change policy set by Executive?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2025 80:36


    Also - Iran and Israel conflict - Nolan discusses the latest developments.

    More money for the PSNI - but where is the £200M going to come from?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2025 79:07


    More money for the PSNI - but where is the £200M going to come from? Also, Stephen speaks with a barber who spent weeks in a coma due to overwork & stress

    A grieving wife told to examine her husband to confirm he was dead says it should never happen to anyone again

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2025 79:48


    Also - Nolan talks to Dr Joanne McClean from the PHA about the new Covid strain.

    Assaults on police - are the sentences adequate? Should jail time be mandatory?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2025 78:48


    Also, a health service department senior leader is working from France 3 weeks each month

    Belfast man lifted by ICE immigration police and thrown into detention in America - his parents contact Nolan

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2025 79:38


    Also - Iran/Israel attacks - Security Expert Professor Anthony Glees gives analysis.

    Pressure mounts on Police Ombudsman Marie Anderson after unionist parties ask for her to step aside

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2025 77:41


    Also, Executive says it will have an "equity stake" in a redeveloped Casement Park

    UVF rebuild infamous mural of masked gun men damaged in storm - what does it say about the grip paramilitaries have in NI?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2025 79:14


    Exclusive - Nolan reveals Public Prosecution Service will fight to get the loyalist Winston Irvine's sentence extended

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2025 79:00


    Also, police officers have been attacked in a fourth night of violence & disorder.

    Racists - claiming to care about people, property and justice - gloat and laugh as they wreck Larne leisure centre

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2025 81:04


    Nolan talks to Justice Minister Naomi Long and Communities Minister Gordon Lyons

    Another night of 'racist thuggery' in Ballymena with homes attacked, minorities living in fear and seventeen police injured.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2025 80:37


    Nolan talks to DUP MP Gavin Robinson and Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson.

    Gangs of masked protesters attack and burn homes in Ballymena

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2025 80:18


    Nolan talks to Belfast Telegraph photographer Kevin Scott and TUV MP Jim Allister.

    Family members and social media officers - does there need to be more scrutiny around who MLAs employ?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2025 78:14


    Also, should richer households pay more for the TV licence than those less well off?

    Convicted criminal and loyalist Winston Irvine reportedly expelled from the UVF

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2025 78:45


    Nolan talks to Dr Aaron Edwards - author of "UVF: Behind the Mask"

    Should the Civil Service be attending Pride after organisers say no Executive party welcome?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2025 78:26


    Nolan talks to Green Party's Mal O'Hara and DUP MLA Peter Martin

    Why would loyalists want to build a huge bonfire beside homes on the Shankill?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2025 78:30


    Nolan talks to SDLP Cllr Carl Whyte and UUP Cllr Jim Rodgers.

    Overpromise & underdeliver – Another broken promise of the NI Executive's Programme for Government

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2025 77:23


    Overpromise & underdeliver – Another broken promise of the NI Executive's Programme for Government

    Gerry Adams says his libel case was about ‘putting manners' on the BBC – NUJ Irish secretary calls the comment ‘chilling'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2025 78:31


    Nolan talks to BBC NI crime and justice correspondent Julian O'Neill.

    RVH patients ask for care to be moved to Dublin after mistaken concerns.

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2025 78:53


    Nolan talks to John Compton, former chief executive of NI's Health and Social Care Board

    Working from home - MLAs told 'not enough space' for civil servants to return to office full time

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2025 79:30


    And - should schoolgirls in NI have the right to wear trousers as part of their uniform?

    Northern Ireland Prison Service give Winston Irvine paramilitary status in Maghaberry - Nolan Exclusive

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2025 81:02


    Belfast Telegraph's Sam McBride, UUP MLA Doug Beattie and author Dr Aaron Edwards react.

    Questions remain over how leading loyalist Winston Irvine got half the minimum sentence for firearms offences

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2025 78:53


    A grandmother arrested for placing a sticker on an ATM machine in pro-Palestine protest

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2025 79:47


    Also-Gary Lineker presents his final Match of the Day-will you miss him? Or glad he left?

    Liverpool FC cancel lifelong fan's tickets accusing him of facilitating ticket touting – Nolan investigates

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2025 79:31


    Plus, dozens of rats scurrying around a popular walkway along in Londonderry.

    More calls for leading loyalist Winston Irvine's jail sentence to be increased for guns offences

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2025 79:56


    Nolan talks to Mick Fealty - Editor of political website Slugger O'Toole.

    Why was a leading loyalist, who admitted to firearm offences, only given half the minimum statutory sentence?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2025 79:09


    UUP's Doug Beattie and Belfast Telegraph Crime Correspondent Allison Morris discuss.

    Doctors and Health Minister face off in row over funding and patient access to GPs

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2025 77:28


    Dr Frances O'Hagan from BMA NI and politicians talk to Nolan

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