Big changes are ahead for The Nolan Show, with the BBC fully integrating it with its Northern Ireland news operation.
Staff were told yesterday that the flagship radio programme will undergo a structural change over the next few months, with its host and team joining BBC News NI as a whole.
Insiders say that, up until now, the Nolan team has often been seen as a separate entity from the regular newsroom.
They also say that fierce competition can exist between the two teams.
An email from BBC NI director Adam Smyth explained the reasons to staff, stating it will mean “new line management arrangements” while acknowledging that “change can be unsettling”.
He said the change was aimed at maximising “the reach, impact and benefits” of The Nolan Show.
In the email, seen by the Belfast Telegraph, staff members were informed that the broadcaster has “decided to make The Nolan Show an integrated part of BBC News NI”.
“It reflects the programme’s editorial remit and will facilitate closer alignment with the BBC’s other news and current affairs output,” the email continues.
“It’s also consistent with what happened with the Foyle newsroom last year when its team transferred to BBC News NI.
“We’ll be working closely with affected staff on specifics, including about timings and new line management arrangements.
“We want to maximise the reach, impact and benefits of The Nolan Show, building on its popularity with audiences, supporting its journalism, and helping to develop its presence on digital platforms.
“All of us know that change can be unsettling, so if you have any questions please do not hesitate to get in touch.”
Asked for further details as to what the integration entails, BBC NI said that it does not comment on internal staff matters, describing it as “routine structural change”.
We also asked for details on BBC Foyle’s transfer to BBC News NI, but again we were told the corporation does not comment on internal matters.
However, Mr Nolan told the Belfast Telegraph he has “lots of friends in the newsroom and I’m looking forward to it”.
He added that he had been out for dinner with Good Morning Ulster presenters Joel Taggart and Chris Buckler a few weeks ago “and they didn’t so much as pay a penny towards it from their big salaries – so if I’m closer to them in the mornings, I’ll be able to remind them of such matters”.
"We hear on the airwaves the special, no holds barred bond of trust that the public have with the Nolan Show every day and I love it.”
Mr Nolan has in the past spoken of the competition that has previously existed within the BBC.
He told the BelTel podcast in 2023: “When I was brought in to BBC Northern Ireland, the newsroom was not told that I’d be doing the news and I was put into a department outside of the newsroom.
“Now, I didn’t understand the BBC politics at the time, but let me tell you, if there’s this young guy coming in to BBC Northern Ireland doing the news every day outside of the newsroom, that’s going to ruffle a few feathers.
“It ruffled a lot of feathers, okay?”
He said the situation was “completely different now”.
There have been a number of changes to the BBC’s NI operations in recent times.
Last year, industrial action had been agreed by staff opposed to proposed cuts to jobs and programmes, which included the reduction of Radio Foyle’s breakfast programme.
The north-west’s flagship morning show was axed in April 2023 and replaced with a half-hour news programme.
A concession was later made to return another half hour to the news show.
Before Christmas, three Foyle staff members relocated to the Belfast office.
However, there is no suggestion of job cuts or similarly dramatic changes to the Nolan Show.
Last month it was revealed that Stephen Nolan remains the BBC’s fifth highest paid presenter, with his salary increasing in the last year.
Mr Nolan (50) had also ranked as the BBC’s fifth highest paid presenter in 2022/23, when his salary was listed as £400,000-£404,999.
Mr Nolan is the only BBC Northern Ireland presenter on the list.
by zoomanjo
6 comments
Jim Allister is having the week from hell.
Nolan joining BBC News NI?
Will this mean more accountability to his broadcasting standards or less accountability for BBC News NI?
I hear the BBC News NI office are already in talks with French Village for regular traybake deliveries.
Is he getting a new seat?
news shouldn’t be objective or opinionated.
The BBC has been heading this way for the last few years – since reporting on covid I’ve found myself less and less trusting of BBC news.
Nolan will do nothing to make me more trustful
New scaffolding under Stephens chair