What is GB News? Andrew Neil’s news channel explained, presenters, how to watch it on TV - and is there an app

GB News launched on 13 June, outperforming Sky News and BBC News during it’s first hour on air
Journalist Andrew Neil will chair and present on GB News, alongside other well-known reporters (Picture: Getty Images)Journalist Andrew Neil will chair and present on GB News, alongside other well-known reporters (Picture: Getty Images)
Journalist Andrew Neil will chair and present on GB News, alongside other well-known reporters (Picture: Getty Images)

Former BBC journalist Andrew Neil has launched GB news, rivalling leading broadcasters such as Sky News, BBC and ITV.

Neil announced the news channel back in 2020, confirming he would be chairman of the channel.

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In January, journalists and presenters for Neil's channel began being named, including anchors and long-serving employees of competing broadcasters.

The channel launched on 13 June and the opening show outperformed both the BBC and Sky News in viewer ratings.

It is thought to be the biggest channel to hit UK airwaves since Sky launched in 1986, providing news; debate; opinion and other individual programmes.

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So, who joined Neil in presenting the various shows, and why has Neil started his own news channel? This is what you need to know.

What is GB News?

GB News is an alternative news channel, offering voices to less mainstream views and providing news for “vast number of British people who feel underserved and unheard” by existing television news channels.

Neil announced the new channel in late 2020, he said: “We’ve seen a huge gap in the market for a new form of television news…

“GB News is the most exciting thing to happen in British television news for more than 20 years.

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“We will champion robust, balanced debate and a range of perspectives on the issues that affect everyone in the UK, not just those living in the London area.”

The Scottish journalist chairs the channel and has used his Twitter to share information about presenters, launch dates and what GB News will offer viewers.

According to the official GB News website, it is “proud to serve and celebrate all the people of the United Kingdom,” by sharing “what's really happening, bringing all of the nation together, all in one place - uniting, not dividing.”

The website also says the reporters are tasked with “asking the questions you want answered” and will “dig deeper” to give viewers the “facts to make up your own mind”, adding the debates will welcome “new and diverse voices”.

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The channel is largely funded by US channel Discovery, The remainder is from Dubai-based investment firm Legatum and hedge fund manager Sir Paul Marshall.

Who are the presenters for GB News?

As well as chairman, Neil will front a primetime evening programme which will include “Wokewatch” and “Mediawatch” segments.

While he has been keen to stress how the channel will welcome all debate, even that which is controversial, he has added that it ““will not be shouty, angry television”, and will comply with Ofcom regulations.

Here is a full list of the presenters who will join him on the channel:

Kirsty Gallacher

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The former Sky Sports presenter was one of the last to be confirmed for the impressive lineup.

She was previously the Soccer Aid front woman and co-anchors the channel’s breakfast show, rivalling ITV’s Good Morning Britain and BBC One’s Breakfast.

Following confirmation that she has moved to GB News, she said: “The channel has an amazing energy and excitement and there’s a real spirit of innovation there. It’ll definitely look and feel different, I think.

Gloria De Piero

Once described as Tony Blair’s favourite reporter, De Piero has a background in politics and reporting.

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She worked on GMTV as political editor before stepping down to stand as a Labour candidate in 2010. She was elected and was a member of Ed Miliband and Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow cabinets, before stepping out of politics in 2019.

Prior to GB News, she worked at Times Radio, and reflected on her work experience when announcing she was joining Neil’s team.

“My time as a constituency MP opened my eyes to the issues facing Britons today. I’m passionate about bringing their stories to life at GB News, making sure every community is heard and reflecting Britain as it really is through grassroots journalism,” she said.

Dan Wootton

Wootton was one of the first to join GB News, working previously as The Sun’s executive editor and as a Talkradio presenter.

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He is also a weekly columnist for MailOnline, and fronts his own nightly GB show “Tonight Live with Dan Wootton.”

Wootton is known for his coverage of showbiz and celebrity and entertainment gossip, as well as being a royalist.

Wooton also writes a twice-weekly column for MailOnline.

Simon McCoy

McCoy announced his sudden departure from his longtime employment at the BBC.

Prior to the BBC, he was also an employee of Sky News and has become known for his dry sense of humour and wit while covering the afternoon bulletins for the BBC.

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There seems to be no shortage of wit and one liners from him as he moves to GB News, if his Twitter is anything to go by.

Colin Brazier

Sky News frontman Colin Brazier has departed from the broadcaster after 23 years to anchor the GB News afternoon news, interview and debate programme.

Brazier GB News is “an important punctuation mark in the evolving story of news broadcasting in Britain”.

The award-winning journalist has won a gold medal from the New York TV awards for his work reporting from Afghanistan and in 2016, he won an International Emmy Award for his coverage of the European migrant crisis.

Alastair Stewart

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67-year-old Stewart spent over four decades as the anchor of ITV news, departing in January this year over “errors of judgement” for language he used on Twitter.

In February, he announced he would join the GB News line up.

He has won the Royal Television Society's News Presenter of the Year award twice and said his new role would give him “a unique opportunity to broaden the spectrum.”

Stewart said of the new channel, it will “challenge the groupthink and shift away from a predictable agenda in news and debate,” adding: “I can’t wait to get stuck in and tackle issues that really matter to people across the United Kingdom.”

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Also on the presenting team is Alex Philips, a former Brexit MEP and Talkradio presenter; former Apprentice winner Michelle Dewberry who stood for the Brexit Party, and former Channel 4 News economics correspondent Liam Halligan.

Euronews political editor Darren McCaffrey will lead on political coverage, while former BBC employee Nana Akua will host a primetime Friday and Saturday evening news and talk show.

Also from Euronews, Rosie Wright co-presents the breakfast presenting line-up.

In keeping with the ‘opinions from all’ approach, ‘free speech and ‘anti-woke’ campaigner Inaya Folarin Iman joined Wright as a member of the breakfast team.

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Mercy Muroki, writer for The Sun and The Times, as well as a member of the government commission which determined Britain is not “institutionally racist” has also joined GB news.

She said of her role: “We need to be much bolder in allowing sensible people to speak their minds without being ridiculed or shut down. I’m excited that GB News will be a welcoming place to challenge stereotypes in a non-judgemental way.”

Brexit supporter Tom Harwood, 24, is now a presenter the politics team - he left political gossip website Guido Fawkes to assume his new role.

While there has been rumour of Piers Morgan joining GB News, as he is also an “anti-woke” and controversial journalist who attracted hundreds of thousands of breakfast viewers for ITV, he has yet to feature on the station.

When did GB News launch?

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GB News launched live on Sunday 13 June at 8pm, attracting a special ‘Welcome to GB News’ show.

The opening show peaked with 336,000 viewers, outperforming the 100,000 who watched BBC News across the hour and the 46,000 viewers who tuned into Sky News.

TV industry magazine ‘Broadcast said 57 percent of GB News’ opening show’s audience was male, while 52 percent were aged 65 years or older and 82% were from the ABC1 demographic, which defines those who are in the top three socio-econiomic groups and is usually in a high-paying, high-ranking job.

How do I watch GB News?

GB News will be available to watch from 13 June on Freeview 236, Sky HD 515, Virgin Media HD 626, YouView 236, Freesat HD 216 and online on the GB News website.

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There has been no announcement of a GB News app, this article will be updated if it becomes available.

Does GB News have an app?

The GB News app is freely available to download and access news from, available for iOS and Android devices.

It is compatible with iPhone (requires iOS 12.0 or later), iPad (requires iPadOS 12.0 or later) and iPod touch (requires iOS 12.0 or later).

You can watch live, as well as viewing on demand shows and reading all about the new presenters.

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