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Belfast Telegraph
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
Stephen Nolan drops down table of BBC's highest-earning stars
Mr Nolan earned between £405,000 and £409,000 in 2024/25, according to the BBC's latest annual report. His pay packet for 2024/25 was in the same bracket as what he earned in 2023/24, when he was fifth in the pay rankings - but now there are six stars above him. Each year the BBC publishes its annual report listing all presenters and staff who earned more than £178,000 in the previous financial year. Only salaries that come directly from the licence fee are listed. Payments to presenters for other programmes made by independent production companies are not included. Nolan received his bumper pay packet for his work on Radio Ulster's Nolan Show, his 5 Live programme and Nolan Live on BBC NI. Gary Lineker, who left his job hosting Match of the Day in May after 26 years at the helm, was once again the highest paid BBC star in 2024/25. He earned between £1,350,000 and £1,354,999. Second in the table was radio presenter Zoe Ball, who earned between £515,000 and £529,000, while Alan Shearer was the corporation's third highest paid broadcast talent, receiving between £440,000 and £444,999 for his work on Match of the Day. Radio 1 Breakfast Show host Greg James had a pay packet of between £425,000 and £429,999, putting him fourth. Nick Robinson, who presents BBC Radio 4's Today programme, and Question Time host Fiona Bruce both earned between £410,000 and £414,999 in 2024/25, coming in joint-fifth. While no other on-air talent from Northern Ireland is included on the list of high earners, BBC NI Director Adam Smyth is included when it comes to staff salaries, earning between £178,000 and £184,999 in 2024/25. The report comes at a time when the BBC is under intense scrutiny following a series on controversies. These include a documentary on Gaza that was pulled after it emerged that the narrator was the son of a Hamas official and allegations of inappropriate behaviour made against MasterChef host Greg Wallace. News Catch Up - Tuesday 15th July There has also been criticism of BBC decision-making relating to controversial sets at Glastonbury, including one by Belfast rap trio Kneecap. Questions have also been raised over the BBC's decision not to settle a libel case taken by former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams, which the corporation lost resulting in Mr Adams being awarded substantial damages. Tuesday's report shows that 94% of adults in the UK are now using BBC services, on average, every month, with the corporation contributing £4.9bn to the UK economy in 2024/25. A total of £3.84bn was brought in via the licence fee in the last financial year, compared to £3.66bn in 2023/24. The corporation also had a commercial income of £2.16bn, up from 2023/24's figure of £1.86bn. Speaking to the media upon the publication of the report, BBC Director-General Tim Davie addressed some of the recent controversies. On the Gaza documentary, he said: 'We're taking action to ensure proper accountability, and we're taking immediate steps to stop a failing like this being repeated. 'Now, overall, despite this mistake, I do want to credit thousands of people across the BBC who are delivering such brave, impartial journalism, despite immense challenges and very significant personal pressure. "Personally, I remain utterly committed to delivering impartial coverage without fear or favour.' Regarding an investigation which upheld 45 allegations made against Greg Wallace over inappropriate behaviour, Mr Davie said: 'We're not going to tolerate behaviour that is not in line with our values. "The industry needs to change, and we want to lead from the front. Myself and the BBC leadership team will not tolerate people who are behaving inappropriately. 'There is no place in or on the BBC for those who are not prepared to live by our values, whoever they are.' Mr Davie added that 'we have already seen dismissals' over inappropriate behaviour at the corporation, but did not elaborate.
Sunday World
01-07-2025
- Sunday World
Cousin of Fifty Shades of Grey actor Jamie Dornan convicted of harassing mother-in-law
Tara Stewart, a producer at BBC NI, was also convicted this week of persistent improper use of a telecommunication network A cousin of Fifty Shades of Grey actor Jamie Dornan has been convicted of harassing her mother-in-law, we can reveal. Tara Stewart, a producer at BBC NI, was also convicted this week of persistent improper use of a telecommunication network 'for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety to another persistently'. That charge was in relation to her ex-husband and she pleaded guilty to that offence. However, at Ards Magistrates Court on Monday the 55-year-old mother of one took to the witness box to contest the charge of harassing her mother-in-law. The charge was based on an email Stewart had sent. She argued, unsuccessfully, that it couldn't have been harassment as she only sent one email. She also claimed she was the victim of a campaign of vengeance from her husband and others but a judge failed to accept her version of what appears to have been a long-running and nasty saga which had seen the couple in a custody battle of their child, which Tara Stewart lost. Stewart — formerly Tara Aston Phillips — works for the BBC as a production assistant and has covered events including the tennis championships at Wimbledon. As revealed earlier in this paper, she was initially accused of harassing her ex-husband but she pleaded not guilty to that count and the charge was withdrawn after she pleaded guilty to the 'persistent improper use of a telecommunication network' charge. We can reveal she has continued to work for the BBC throughout the investigation and a number of people have made complaints to the corporation because she copied in her BBC email in some of the emails she sent. Last a BBC spokesperson said: 'We don't comment on individual staffing matters.' The Sunday World can also now reveal that Stewart was at loggerheads with a neighbour who lived in the same block of apartments in Bridge Road in the well-to-do Gold Coast village of Helen's Bay. That neighbour told the Sunday World she had also gone to police and made complaints about being harassed by Tara Stewart and says Stewart made complaints to the police about her. She eventually left her apartment because she says it all became extremely stressful. She told us this week: 'The behaviour of this woman towards me made me feel frightened and vulnerable in my own home – something no-one should ever have to feel.' Last October Stewart was warned by a judge after she failed to attend court. District Judge Mark Hamill ordered that Stewart 'will attend this court and answer her bail'. 'She is on a charge sheet,' said the judge, warning that if she didn't attend Newtownards Magistrates Court in person on November 13, 'I will issue a warrant'. During a previous hearing it was revealed there were '400-500 pages of texts' involved in the case. After being found guilty on the two counts on Monday, the judge issued an interim restraining order to be in place until the sentence hearing on August 18. The terms of that order state she is forbidden from harassing either her ex-husband or his mum. The court ordered: 'The defendant is forbidden to use or threaten violence against [names of ex and mother-in-law removed] and must not instruct/encourage or, in any way, suggest that any other person should do so. The defendant is forbidden to intimidate, harass or pester [names removed] and must not instruct, encourage or, in any way, suggest that any other person should do so. 'The defendant is forbidden to contact [names removed] either directly or indirectly.' The judge ordered pre-sentence reports and remanded Stewart on continuing bail. Tara Stewart is a first cousin of movie star Dornan. Her mum is a sister of Jamie's father Jim Dornan, the famous obstetrician and gynaecologist who passed away in 2021. Tara Stewart Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 1st
Belfast Telegraph
24-06-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
End of an era as well-known NI newsagent retires due to ‘ongoing health problems' as business goes up for sale
Eugene Diamond, owner of Diamonds newsagents in the Co Antrim town, said he was 'sad' to be moving on from the business due to ill-health. He has been running the shop for four and a half decades, and said that the business and premises would be sold. In a post on X, he announced: 'Due to ongoing health problems I'm going to put my business including building up for sale. 'It's sad to make this decision but since March I have had to step back from working my usual hours. 'I've had 45 great years here on Broughshane Street but all things come to an end. Eugene.' Diamonds newsagents on Broughshane Street was opened daily at 5:30am each day, and the town centre shop was open seven days a week, closing at 7pm. Mr Diamond was also an active user of social media, sharing the headlines from the day's papers, as well as providing early morning photos and weather updates from outside his shop. The owner had recently begun to suffer from bad health, saying that the seven-day weeks had started to exact a toll on him. In a post in May, Mr Diamond said the previous months had shown him he was 'not infallible', and revealed he had recently stayed in hospital. At that time he admitted that he had to 'look at retirement', and thanked people for their 'kind words.' We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Following the news, tributes from locals and shop-goers began to be made on social media, paying tribute to Mr Diamond. Mr Diamond was also well-known among journalists as a helpful and informative figure, knowledgeable on Ballymena affairs and local politics. Commentator Alex Kane replied saying: 'Really sorry to hear this, Eugene. You've been my first port of call for quite a few years now—and you will be a huge loss to your local community, many of whom will miss the daily (maybe only) chats of the day. 'Take care of yourself and your health. And enjoy the lie-ins.' A number of other journalists reacted to his retirement post on X, including former BBC NI veteran weather broadcaster Angie Phillips, who replied: 'Sorry to hear you are going and will miss your early morning posts. A well deserved break though after all those years! Take care!' Meanwhile, freelance journalist Chris McCullough responded: 'Very sorry to hear this Eugene but you must look after number one. 'This shop has been a legend of Ballymena for decades under your captaincy. Time to rest in the knowledge you've done a great service to the town and community.' News Catch Up - Monday 23rd June Under a Facebook post sharing the news of Mr Diamond's retirement, one commenter said: 'Eugene, your words bring real sadness to so many who have walked through the doors of Diamonds news over the last 45 years. 'Your shop hasn't just been a place of business — it's been a cornerstone of Broughshane Street, a true hub of the community where people came not just for their daily papers, sweets, or essentials, but for a friendly face, a chat, and a feeling of connection."
Belfast Telegraph
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Nigel, the great unifier? What Varadkar is saying is that Farage is a political bogeyman
Ex-Taoiseach Varadkar should know all about a politician that is largely unpopular with one side, after all, he is just the same, writes Lindy McDowell Nigel Farage, the great unifier? The man to bring about a united Ireland in which centrist unionists would feel relatively more comfortable than in a UK run by a bloke with a ballot box in one hand and a pint of bitter in the other? This is the, shall we say, imaginative suggestion coming from former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar who outlined his thinking twice this week — first on BBC NI's The View and then in conversation with Rev Karen Sethuraman at the Ireland's Future discussion event as part of Féile. He argues that if Farage were to become UK PM it would 'change the picture in terms of attitudes towards independence in Scotland.'
South Wales Guardian
31-05-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Guardian
Implications of Adams' libel victory ‘profound', says head of BBC NI
Adam Smyth, director of BBC NI, said their legal team had warned that the jury's decision in the high-profile defamation case could 'hinder freedom of expression'. The BBC has been ordered to pay the former Sinn Fein leader 100,000 euro (£84,000) after a jury decided they had defamed him in a 2016 episode of its Spotlight programme, and an accompanying online story, by alleging he sanctioned the killing of former Sinn Fein official Denis Donaldson. Mr Adams denies any involvement in Mr Donaldson's death in 2006. Speaking outside Dublin High Court alongside Spotlight reporter Jennifer O'Leary, Mr Smyth said they were disappointed with the verdict. He said: 'We believe we supplied extensive evidence to the court of the careful editorial process and journalistic diligence applied to this programme and accompanying online article. 'Moreover, it was accepted by the court, and conceded by Gerry Adams' legal team, that the Spotlight broadcast and publication were of the highest public interest.' Mr Smyth said the BBC had not wanted to come to court. But he added: 'It was important that we defend our journalism and we stand by that decision. 'Our past is difficult terrain for any jury and we thank them for their diligence and careful consideration of the issues in this case. 'The implications of their decision, though, are profound. 'As our legal team made clear, if the BBC's case cannot be won under existing Irish defamation law, it's hard to see how anyone's could. 'And they warned that today's decision could hinder freedom of expression. 'Of course, a case of this importance, duration and complexity involves significant expense. In common with other media organisations, the BBC has insurance and makes financial provision for ongoing and anticipated legal claims.' Mr Smyth said the BBC would now take time to consider the implications of the ruling. Ms O'Leary said she had entered the witness box in the trial with 'nothing to hide, only sources to protect and I want to thank them for trusting me'. She paid tribute to the witnesses who had appeared for the BBC in the case, including Ann Travers, whose sister was murdered by the IRA in 1984. She said: 'And there are thousands of Ann Travers across this island and in Britain – victims and survivors of the Troubles and the years after the peace agreement – who carry the burden of their grief and trauma with incredible courage. 'They are the people I'm thinking of – all of them.'
