Stephen Nolan: “Have you been around a long time?”

I was on BBC Radio Ulster this morning talking to Stephen Nolan about the generational tobacco ban.

Nolan is one of the BBC’s highest paid presenters and after introducing me he said, “There’s something in my head I’ve been talking to you for about 20 years. Have you been around a long time?”.

To which I laughed and replied, “I’m afraid I have. Twenty-five years, in fact.”

Unfortunately today’s discussion – which included Naomi Thompson of Action on Smoking and Health (and Cancer Focus Northern Ireland) – was quite short (five minutes) so we didn't cover much ground, which was a pity because I enjoy talking to Nolan.

Although there was a time when some of the ‘debates’ on his late night 5 Live programme could get a little out of hand (with guests allowed to shout over one another, which I didn’t enjoy), he’s a knowledgable and impartial presenter who gives both sides of an argument a fair and equal hearing, which is all you can ask for.

As it happens, I was originally booked for his 5 Live programme on Sunday night but the interview was rescheduled and then cancelled because of events at the White House Correspondents' Dinner the previous evening.

Likewise, today’s interview on Radio Ulster had been postponed from yesterday and I confess I had forgotten about it when my phone rang and I was put straight on air. Thankfully I was sitting at my computer and not in a local cafe!

Credit: BBC