WHEN Stephen Nolan's live, interactive television show discussing the hot topics of the day first aired back in 2005, the BBC broadcaster never imagined it would run for 16 years.
With his new morning slot on Radio Ulster winning the ratings war locally, the Belfast man was confident a move to the small screen would work equally well – at least for a series or two.
So as the 47-year-old gears up for the 30th series of Nolan Live, he is, justifiably, proud of his record in tackling the biggest news stories affecting people across the north and championing the cause of the underdog, whom he says has "every right to speak truth to power".
The show's success, he says, is down to its lack of formality and the fact it provides the public with a platform to express their views openly, with no "airs and graces".
“I never thought Nolan Live would last this long – not at all,” he says. “Anyone who knows anything about television wouldn't bet on a series lasting longer than one or two years. That's the nature of television; most shows come and go.
“It's quite incredible really that it's still running this length of time and that is testament to what's at the heart of the formula. Northern Irish people want to say it as it is. There's an informality about the way we debate the big issues. People taking part tend to say exactly what's on their mind.”
Nolan says he knew at the start that the live TV show wouldn't be "universally liked" but that it was important to him not to temper people's views or moderate their expressions of anger or grief. He credits BBC Northern Ireland for taking a punt on his TV pitch, particularly given the unpredictability of its live nature. But it's that unpredictability which makes for exciting television, he believes.
“I want that freedom of spirit to come across, no matter what it looks like or sounds like,” says Nolan. “One of my stand-out memories was during the flag protest and the atmosphere in the studio that night was on edge; just like it was within the community. There was a real sense of disquiet in the studio. That's when you know a programme is working. Production, lighting, camera work; none of those things got in the way.
“I remember walking out and feeling that anything could happen. There was a lot of anger. There is a responsibility on me not to inflame things and sometimes I get criticised but I'm firm in my view. It's not my job to censor or to sugar-coat or to pretend that things aren't as bad as they are. If there is disquiet, I'm not up for sanitising things. I'd lose my audience if I did that.”
Given the controversial and heated nature of the show, there have been accusations levelled at Nolan of fanning the flames and causing further divisions. After he criticised the GAA for celebrations at the end of the Tyrone senior football final last September, describing the scenes as "disgraceful and dangerous" during a global pandemic, Irish News columnist Cahir O'Kane wrote that his show fed into the culture of "themuns", by prompting tit-for-tat phone-ins from both sides, venting their fury.
He has also faced accusations of being too one-sided and favouring the unionist community, particularly in his coverage of Bobby Storey's funeral. But Nolan is resolute in his opinion that he neither inflames nor shows favouritism. He is also somewhat frustrated.
“From my perspective, there is this merry-go-round with me,” he explains. “People convince themselves that I'm doing particular stories about one side of the community until the next day or the next month, when I've moved onto the other side.
“For anyone to suggest I favour one side over the other is ludicrous. Look at big stories like the RHI scandal, when I sat down with Jonathan Bell. The DUP fell out with me for quite a long time over that.
“A story might upset a political party but that doesn't mean it upsets the wider community, whether they're nationalist or unionist. Let's look at the Storey funeral. There were as many nationalists upset about some of the issues involved as unionists. That's what I was hearing.
“To be honest, I didn't have a problem being challenged in the Irish News column. It has a vital role to play in Northern Ireland and newspapers should be free to criticise and challenge me. [Cahir] was entitled to his opinion and to say what he wanted to say.
“I'm not saying people should agree with me. I don't agree with me half the time! But I just think that we need to be careful that sometimes there are political machines in Northern Ireland which want to stop people like me asking valid questions. Those machines can be well organised and sophisticated and I see them coming, as sure as night follows day.”
The award-winning journalist has also come under fire in some quarters for what is perceived as his failure to address the Noah Donohoe case.
“First of all, it's a live inquest and the coroner has asked the press not to speculate,” he points out. “There are people on social media who don't seem to understand this.
“When it's the right time and the right place to respectfully speak to Noah's family and give them a voice, I'll be the first in the queue to do it. We have reached out through the family's representatives to see if they want to talk to us.
“I do get frustrated because we're going about it the right way. We're not going to recklessly send out a tweet, venting about the death of a little boy.”
I ask Nolan if the criticisms or the online trolling ever get to him. He ponders this for a while before answering.
“You have to have thick skin to do what I'm doing,” he replies. “Sometimes you see unfair criticism on social media and want to do something about it. It would be very tempting to take a few of them to court. But I don't want to use money to hurt anyone, unless it gets really nasty.
“I've tried to play a straight bat as a journalist because if you don't, you get caught out. That's one of the reasons I've lasted as long as I have. No-one can say I haven't asked the tough questions of any community or organisation.”
Nolan certainly doesn't shy away from taking on the powers that be. When it comes to tackling authority and representing the ordinary man and woman in the street, he's at the forefront. And it's these outcomes of which he is most proud.
Back in 2013, Nolan visited a care home in Co Tyrone as part of his TV show, to talk to 92-year-old resident Jean Faulkner. The pensioner, who has since passed away, was distraught at having to leave the care home which had been scheduled for closure. Nolan took the baton and ran with it. The campaign resulted in the home remaining open.
“I remember the reaction in the studio after we ran the interview with Jean. There was absolute silence,” he says. “It was one of the most powerful things I've done in my career. That's the difference between being in a studio and ranting on social media. In the studio, you get to see and hear the passion and pain. You don't get to see that in a tweet.
“I'm passionate about taking someone powerless and giving them a bit of power against authority. And yes, maybe sometimes I do go too far.
“I know I can be irritating but I'm real and as long as I keep the trust of the public by keeping the programme authentic then I will continue to fight for them to the death.
“I will keep the show going as long as that relationship lasts.”
Nolan Live returns this Wednesday, February 3, on BBC One Northern Ireland at 10.40pm and BBC iPlayer.
