Stephen Nolan
Stephen Raymond Nolan (born 20 August 1973) is a Northern Irish radio and television presenter for BBC Northern Ireland and BBC Radio 5 "Live". Early life. Born in the Shankill Road area of Belfast, Nolan was educated at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution and The Queen's University of Belfast, where he studied French and Business Studies, graduating with a BA in 1995. Career. Radio. In 2002, Nolan joined Belfast CityBeat, where he won a Sony Radio Academy Award. The following year, he was hired by BBC Northern Ireland, where he has worked since 2003, presenting "The Stephen  Nolan Show" on BBC Radio Ulster. In the handover from the Gerry Anderson show at half past ten each morning Nolan was usually on the end of a putdown or witticism from Anderson. Since 16 July 2005, he has presented his own weekend phone-in show for BBC Radio Five Live, airing from 10 pm to 1 am every Friday and Sunday, and 9pm to 12am every Saturday. Until 2017, Nolan also hosted "Question Time Extra Time," a simulcast of BBC One's Question Time, followed by a continuation of debates on Five Live. In 2006, he was  involved in a charity 'boxing' match with Gerry Anderson in aid of Children in Need. Television. Nolan has presented several television programmes. "Nolan Live" on BBC Northern Ireland, is a weekly television debate and phone-in show. "Fair Play", also on BBC Northern Ireland, was a weekly consumer watchdog programme. "Mission Employable" was a series focusing on helping a group of unemployed people to find their dream career. He has also presented the BBC's Children in Need Northern Ireland broadcast. Since 2008 he has presented "Panic Attack", a new game airing on Friday nights in Northern Ireland. The show  was repeated nationwide in a daytime slot starting in February 2010. In 2008 he stood in for Matthew Wright on Five's "The Wright Stuff". In 2011, Nolan presented a documentary focusing on the Shankill Butchers. Since 2012, Nolan has hosted a weekly TV version of "The Stephen Nolan Show" on BBC Northern Ireland every Wednesday. In 2013, a new series 'Story of a Lifetime', hosted by Nolan began with episode one focusing on the life of his Radio Ulster colleague Hugo Duncan. His television and radio shows have been accused of having a pro-Unionist bias and have been  referred for impartiality/bias by Ofcom to the BBC. The Nolan Show rejects such claims. Awards. In total, Nolan has won twelve Sony Radio Academy Awards. Of these, seven are Gold, giving him the record for the most Golds in the history of the awards. Five of these were awarded during his time with Belfast CityBeat radio, including: UK Speech Broadcaster of the Year 2003 and for his show, "The Stephen Nolan Show", The Speech Programme Award of the Year 2006. He also won the Royal Television Society's Regional Presenter of the Year Award in 2005 and 2006, as  well as being nominated for the National Presenter Award in 2008. Personal life. Nolan often discusses religion on his radio shows. In 2015, he stated he was an atheist. Nolan lives in Mahee Island in County Down.