Nolan retains TV slots as BBC NI announces £11m outlay in fresh content

STEPHEN Nolan will be back on our TV screens next year as BBC unveiled their new schedule.

His shows Nolan Live and The Top Table were confirmed in the line-up alongside new comedy, entertainment, drama and factual shows, boosted by an £11m investment over three years.

Other returning series include Spotlight, The View, Home Ground, Getaways, Parents’ Evening and In My Family’s Footsteps, while the True North strand will also continue to tell diverse contemporary stories of life in Northern Ireland.

Among the new shows is a documentary by comedian Ardal O’Hanlon on the showbands phenomenon.

Historian Dan Cruickshank will tell the story behind iconic First World War memorials in this centenary year, while Clare Balding narrates the series The Horsey Set At Down Royal as cameras enjoy behind the scenes access at Northern Ireland’s famous racecourse.

Actor Colin Morgan narrates the series The Chronicles Of Mourne, bringing the magic of Northern Ireland’s renowned mountains to life, season by season. The Wild Man Of Golf spends time with Bangor-born personality David Feherty, who swapped his golf clubs for a life on stage.

The Hospital — From The Inside goes behind the doors of the Royal Victoria Hospital, while The Search — NI’s Missing Persons meets the Community Rescue Service and explores the impact on the life of families when a loved one goes missing.

In comedy, The Soft Border Patrol ‘mockumentary’ returns for a second series alongside special editions of Give My Head Peace and a brand new series of

The Blame Game.

Peter Johnston, director of BBC Northern Ireland, explained: “This investment into commissioning spend has enabled us to broaden the ambition and to deepen our public purpose to inform, educate and entertain our audiences.

“We are committed to bringing audiences the best content and we do that by investing in independent production companies, programme makers and our creative partners within the industry.”