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Best of Nolan

BBC Radio Ulster
Northern Ireland
PSNI
Sinn Féin
Belfast
DUP
Stormont
Ulster Unionist Party
Belfast City Council
Ulster Banner
Commonwealth Games
Northern Ireland Assembly
Mlas
PSNI (police Service Of Northern Ireland)
Casement Park
Flu Vaccine
Sectarianism
Belfast City Centre
Policing
BBC
Northern Ireland Politics

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes144Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Best of Nolan

Latest Episodes

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

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

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

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

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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People also subscribe to these shows.

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Recent Guests

Mark Simpson
Correspondent
BBC Nolan Show
Episode: Calls for more resignations from the Parades Commission as controversy rumbles on
Nigel Dawson
Port of Down District Grand Master
Orange Order (Port of Down District)
Episode: Pressure on Parades Commission ramps up as Orange Order call for resignations
Evelyn Collins
Chair of the Parades Commission
Parades Commission
Episode: Pressure on Parades Commission ramps up as Orange Order call for resignations
Carla Lockhart
Member of Parliament
DUP
Episode: Pressure on Parades Commission ramps up as Orange Order call for resignations
Jonny Buckley
DUP spokesperson/host participant
DUP
Episode: Pressure on Parades Commission ramps up as Orange Order call for resignations
Chris Bryant
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
UK Government
Episode: Pressure on Parades Commission ramps up as Orange Order call for resignations
Karl Lockhart
DUP MP
DUP
Episode: Pressure on Parades Commission ramps up as Orange Order call for resignations
John Finucane
Sinn Féin MP
Sinn Féin
Episode: Drumcree ruling: can the Parades Commission survive?
Connie Rogers
Sixteen-year-old president of the Secondary Students Union, Northern Ireland
Secondary Students Union (NI)
Episode: Back to school costs – are families given enough support to meet uniform needs?

Host

Stephen Nolan
Host of The Stephen Nolan Show and Nolan Show; long-time NI current affairs presenter.

Reviews

3.7 out of 5 stars from 315 ratings
  • Avoid

    Same old garbage rehashed over and over

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Nick fiasco
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • “Trans border” episode

    “With respect” says a man who thinks he should have the right to women’s single sex spaces and shows exactly zero respect for the views of women who don’t want him in those spaces.

    Such disregard for the realities of science and the law, too.

    Such male entitlement; such terrible misogyny.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LizAnne S
    Australia5 months ago
  • Awful

    How is this dinosaur still broadcasting

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    scouse_bhoy
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Not for me

    The future of journalism is in citizen journalists not bought and paid for puppets pushing an agenda

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Duke1mary
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • BBC in Ireland.

    The show talks about the problems arising from the British created state in the North of Ireland.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Bass2:
    United Kingdom3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Viewers appreciate hard-hitting, accountability-focused conversations but some criticize perceived bias or shouting during interviews.
Listeners value live updates and diverse guest perspectives on controversial issues.
Feedback ranges from highly positive about investigative reporting to negative about editorial tone.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#104
Ireland/News
Apple Podcasts
#204
Saudi Arabia/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

‘Believe victims who say they’ve been sexually abused by police’ – new Ombudsman gives her first Nolan interview plus reaction.
Q: What is the stance on neutrality versus impartiality in investigations?
Durkin emphasizes impartiality and independence, noting that investigations are conducted with fairness and evidence, not automatic belief; later, the host and guests discuss the balance between belief, empathy, and objective inquiry.
‘Believe victims who say they’ve been sexually abused by police’ – new Ombudsman gives her first Nolan interview plus reaction.
Q: Do all complainants need to be believed and be told that the starting point is belief?
Durkin explains that every person who makes an allegation needs to be dealt with appropriately and feel that they are believed, while investigators work to gather evidence.
Jamaican woman targeted in racist attack in Ards - wants to move to a nationalist area. Does loyalism have a racism problem?
Q: Do you see nationalists who speak English being allowed to move into these houses?
Timothy Gaston asserts it would be acceptable to move English-speaking nationalists into nationalist areas, stressing inclusion across Belfast as long as there are no safety concerns, while Gerry Carroll counters with concerns about how policy shapes community change and calls for carefully managed integration.
Broadcasting legend Gerry Kelly dies – Nolan interviewed the presenter back in 2022
Q: Looking back, do you think your power within the TV landscape affected how you approached work and negotiations?
He suggests that it was more about teamwork and delivering a strong show for the audience than about personal power, and that while negotiations happened, the focus remained on producing quality content and supporting the team behind the scenes.
Six penalty points, £200 fine and e-scooter seized from working man. But is the law being applied equally to everyone?
Q: What is the current policy on discretion when stopping someone on an e-scooter?
The policy is unclear to many listeners, with some officials saying discretion exists while others indicate a strict, automatic enforcement for uninsured scooters; the lack of a written, public policy leads to perceived inconsistencies.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Best of Nolan

What is Best of Nolan about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A hard-hitting current affairs program features a mix of live call-ins, investigative reporting, and expert and political commentary on timely Northern Ireland issues. Episodes frequently center on governance, public policy, law enforcement, health, and social concerns, often with accountability questions directed at authorities and institutions. Noteworthy is a pattern of high-profile guests from politics, policing, advocacy, and media, plus on-the-ground reporting from major events and crises. This mix makes it valuable for listeners who want rapid updates, diverse perspectives, and real-world implications of policy decisions, with a clear emphasis on transparency and public-interest outcomes.

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How many listeners does Best of Nolan get?

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How many subscribers and views does Best of Nolan have?

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Which podcasts are similar to Best of Nolan?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Best of Nolan:

1. The BelTel
2. Talkback
3. Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning
4. The State of Us
5. Give My Head Podcast

How many episodes of Best of Nolan are there?

Best of Nolan launched 20 years ago and published 144 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Best of Nolan?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Best of Nolan?

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What guests have appeared on Best of Nolan?

Recent guests on Best of Nolan include:

1. Mark Simpson
2. Nigel Dawson
3. Evelyn Collins
4. Carla Lockhart
5. Jonny Buckley
6. Chris Bryant
7. Karl Lockhart
8. John Finucane

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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