It’s go for GB News! First new British news network in 24 years takes to the airwaves

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Andrew Neil pledged his new 24-hour news channel will tackle cancel culture and will not be ‘yet another echo chamber for the metropolitan mindset’ as it launched at 8pm tonight. 

GB News, which is aiming to reach those who feel ‘unheard’ by the media, launched at 8pm tonight with a special programme titled Welcome To GB News.

It is the first new British news network in 24 years – since BBC News 24 launched in 1997. Although foreign channels have launched in the UK in that time, such as Al Jazeera English, this is the first new network specifically for UK audiences.

It has brought in big names ahead of its launch, including signing Simon McCoy, Sky News anchor Colin Brazier and new MailOnline columnist Dan Wootton. 

Neil, who will present a show four nights a week, is the face and chairman of GB News, announcing its birth last year while also signalling the end of his relationship with the BBC, where he was one of the most respected political interviewers. 

At 8pm, as the channel launched, he gave a five minute introduction for viewers, saying the network would concentrate on ‘6the stories tat matter to you and that others are neglecting’.

He added: ‘We are committed to covering the people’s agenda, not the media’s agenda. 

‘GB News will not be yet another echo chamber for the metropolitan mindset that already dominates so much of the media.

‘We are proud to be British, the clue is in the name, and while we will never hold back from covering our country’s many flaws and problems… we won’t forget what the B stands for in our title.  

‘We will puncture the pomposity of our elites… and expose their growing promotion of cancel culture for the threat to free speech and democracy that it is.’

Global media and entertainment company Discovery, Inc is the lead investor. GB News will feature more than 6,500 hours of content a year, made exclusively for the channel, which has secured broadcasting licences from Ofcom.

It has been founded by media executives Andrew Cole and Mark Schneider. They plan for the channel to reach 96% of British television households via Freeview, Sky and Virgin Media.

Other names to feature on air include former Sky Sports presenter Kirsty Gallacher, Darren McCaffrey and Rosie Wright, who will host morning show The Great British Breakfast, while also working on other programmes.

It will be available to watch in HD on Sky channel 515 and Virgin Media’s channel 626, as well as also showing on Freeview and YouView channel 236, Freesat channel 216 and online. 

The news channel, launched as a rival to the news and current affairs offerings on the likes of BBC and Sky, has also signed up businesswoman and former Apprentice winner Michelle Dewberry.

Broadcaster and author Neil Oliver, known for programmes including Coast and A History Of Ancient Britain, will host Neil Oliver Live, while Andrew Doyle will host Free Speech Nation.

Former ITV presenter Alastair Stewart will anchor Alastair Stewart And Friends, featuring conversation and analysis of current affairs.economist

Brazier and social commentator Mercy Muroki will host a joint show, as will former Labour MP Gloria De Piero and economist Liam Halligan.

GB News has also recruited a team of regional reporters to help serve its mission of involving ‘non-metropolitan voices in the national conversation’.

Director of news and programmes John McAndrew said: ‘It’s a huge task to launch even one new programme, never mind a whole channel to run 18 hours a day.

‘The team has been working flat out and of course there’s a sense of nervous excitement, but mostly excitement. We can’t wait to get started now.’ 

Following his departure from Good Morning Britain, reports have suggested Piers Morgan could be another addition to the GB News line-up.

Neil told the Evening Standard it would ‘be nice to have him’, adding: ‘But he’s got his own idea of what he is worth and we have a slightly different idea of what he’s worth. 

‘He is in a lucky situation because ITV are continuing to pay him a tonne of money so he doesn’t have to do anything in the short run.

‘I don’t think he’s going to go anywhere else in the UK. If he has a huge American offer that’s a different matter.

‘No-one in the UK can compete with that, but if he’s going to do more UK news TV I hope it will be with us.’

Appearing on ITV’s This Morning, Neil praised the launch line-up of presenters as representative of ‘modern Britain’.

He said: ‘On Sunday night we hope to launch GB News, a new channel.

‘It is quite fraught, as you can imagine, trying to do this in the middle of a pandemic, but we are getting there.

‘We are using lots of the latest new technology, which will be great.

‘But, as you know, new technology doesn’t always work first time round and all the journalists and technicians have got to get used to it.

‘So it is a challenge, but I launched Sky News way back in 1989 so we are used to it.

‘The one thing that has been great is the line-up of presenters. They are Britain, they are modern Britain.’

The GB News studios are located in Paddington, west London.

GB News line-up revealed: Andrew Neil leads coverage with MailOnline columnist Dan Wootton anchoring his own show five nights a week

• Andrew Neil has a primetime news and interview programme in evening line-up 
• MailOnline columnist Dan Wooton will present his own show five nights a week
• The Great British Breakfast features selection of hosts including Kirsty Gallacher

Andrew Neil will lead the evening line-up on GB News with a primetime news and interview programme, it has been announced.

The new network, of which the veteran political interviewer is also chairman, has made a number of high-profile signings including ex-BBC presenter Simon McCoy, former executive editor for The Sun Dan Wootton, and ex-Sky broadcaster Colin Brazier.

A morning show called The Great British Breakfast will feature a selection of hosts including former Sky Sports presenter Kirsty Gallacher, Darren McCaffrey and Rosie Wright, who will all work across other programmes and stories.

Former Apprentice winner Michelle Dewberry will host Dewbs & Co every weeknight.

Wootton will present Tonight Live With Dan Wootton five nights a week, while broadcaster Nana Akua will host Tonight Live With Nana Akua.

Director of news and programming John McAndrew said: ‘We can sense a real hunger for something fresh and different in television news and debate.

‘It’s humbling because we are a small start-up with a fraction of the resources of others, but what we lack in size we make up for in passion and determination to provide a welcoming home for honest British news and debate.

‘All our presenters will have the freedom to say what they think, to have some fun and to be brave about covering the issues that really matter to the people of Britain.’

Broadcaster and author Neil Oliver, known for programmes including Coast and A History Of Ancient Britain, will host Neil Oliver Live, while Andrew Doyle will host Free Speech Nation, described by the channel as ‘a fearless filleting of the country’s thorniest debates’.

Former ITV presenter Alastair Stewart will anchor Alastair Stewart And Friends, featuring conversation and analysis of current affairs.

Brazier and social commentator Mercy Muroki will host a joint show, as will former Labour MP Gloria De Piero and economist Liam Halligan.

McCoy and Alex Phillips will also co-host an afternoon programme.

GB News has recruited a team of regional reports to help serve its mission of involving ‘non-metropolitan voices in the national conversation’.