Noel Thompson
Encyclopedia
Noel Thompson is a news journalist with BBC Northern Ireland
. Thompson is currently the main male presenter of BBC Newsline
and political series Hearts and Minds
.
and Newsround
.
In addition to his broadcasting career at BBC Northern Ireland, Thompson has presented Newsnight
and BBC Breakfast
and occasionally guests on BBC News Channel and BBC News
' politics and arts interview programme HARDtalk
.
Thompson was awarded Royal Television Society
Regional TV Presenter of the Year for two consecutive years: 1997 and 1998. He was also nominated in the same category in 1999. In 2007, Thompson received an Award of Distinction from Belfast Metropolitan College for his services to journalism.
in Belfast and St Catharine's College, Cambridge
, reading MML (French and German), then Social and Political Sciences.
Prior to joining the BBC, Thompson worked in a bar at the Europa Hotel
in Belfast, and he also managed his brother's restaurant in the West Indies.
Thompson is married to Sharon and has two children, Matthew and Patrick.
BBC Northern Ireland
BBC Northern Ireland is the main public service broadcaster in Northern Ireland.The organisation is one of the three national regions of the BBC, together with BBC Scotland and BBC Wales. Based at Broadcasting House, Belfast, it provides television, radio, online and interactive television content...
. Thompson is currently the main male presenter of BBC Newsline
BBC Newsline
BBC Newsline is the BBC's regional television news service for Northern Ireland. The programme is broadcast on BBC One from BBC Northern Ireland's headquarters in Broadcasting House, Ormeau Avenue, Belfast....
and political series Hearts and Minds
Hearts and Minds (BBC)
Hearts and Minds is a politics and current affairs programme presented by Noel Thompson for BBC Northern Ireland. The show is on Thursday nights at 7:30pm on BBC Two and at 11:30pm on BBC One...
.
Journalism career
Thompson began his broadcasting career at the BBC in 1979 as a researcher for Nationwide in Belfast. He progressed through the corporation's internal training scheme, working on Multi-Coloured Swap ShopMulti-Coloured Swap Shop
Multi-Coloured Swap Shop, more commonly known simply as Swap Shop, is a UK children's television programme. It was broadcast on Saturday mornings on BBC1 for 146 episodes in six series between 1976 and 1982...
and Newsround
Newsround
Newsround is a BBC children's news programme, which has run continuously since 4 April 1972, and was one of the world's first television news magazines aimed specifically at children...
.
In addition to his broadcasting career at BBC Northern Ireland, Thompson has presented Newsnight
Newsnight
Newsnight is a BBC Television current affairs programme noted for its in-depth analysis and often robust cross-examination of senior politicians. Jeremy Paxman has been its main presenter for over two decades....
and BBC Breakfast
BBC Breakfast
BBC Breakfast is the morning television news programme simulcast on BBC One and the BBC News channel. It is presented live from BBC Television Centre in White City, West London, and contains a mixture of news, sport, weather, business and feature items...
and occasionally guests on BBC News Channel and BBC News
BBC News
BBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
' politics and arts interview programme HARDtalk
HARDtalk
Hardtalk is a flagship BBC television programme, consisting of in-depth half-hour one-on-one interviews.It is broadcast four days a week on BBC World News and the BBC News channel. Launched in 1997, much of its worldwide fame is due to its global reach via BBC World...
.
Thompson was awarded Royal Television Society
Royal Television Society
The Royal Television Society is a British-based educational charity for the discussion, and analysis of television in all its forms, past, present and future. It is the oldest television society in the world...
Regional TV Presenter of the Year for two consecutive years: 1997 and 1998. He was also nominated in the same category in 1999. In 2007, Thompson received an Award of Distinction from Belfast Metropolitan College for his services to journalism.
Personal life
Thompson studied at Campbell CollegeCampbell College
Campbell College is a Voluntary Grammar school in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The College educates boys from ages 11–18. It is one of the eight Northern Irish schools represented on the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference and is a member of the Independent Schools Council.The school occupies...
in Belfast and St Catharine's College, Cambridge
St Catharine's College, Cambridge
St. Catharine’s College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1473, the college is often referred to informally by the nickname "Catz".-History:...
, reading MML (French and German), then Social and Political Sciences.
Prior to joining the BBC, Thompson worked in a bar at the Europa Hotel
Europa Hotel
The Europa Hotel is a four-star hotel in Great Victoria Street, Belfast, Northern Ireland. It has hosted presidents, prime ministers and celebrities, including President Bill Clinton during his visits to Belfast in 1995 and 1998....
in Belfast, and he also managed his brother's restaurant in the West Indies.
Thompson is married to Sharon and has two children, Matthew and Patrick.
External links
- Noel Thompson profile BBC Newsline, 15 April 2008