GB News
Corporate brand
UnclaimedBritish free-to-air television and radio news channel combining news coverage, commentary and political debate.
Last updated November 1, 2026
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Overview
GB News is a British free-to-air television and radio news channel headquartered in London. It was established through All Perspectives Ltd, a holding company founded in 2019, and received an Ofcom broadcasting licence in January 2020. The channel was publicly announced in September 2020 and began broadcasting on 13 June 2021, making it the first major British television news start-up since Sky News launched in 1989. The channel was conceived as a response to what its founders and backers described as an underserved audience in British media. Its stated editorial proposition combined original reporting with opinion and debate, with particular attention to national politics, culture, immigration, identity, public institutions and issues associated with Brexit. In practice, GB News developed a strongly conservative or right-leaning political identity, distinguishing it from the BBC and Sky News through a presenter-led format and a large amount of commentary programming. Its lineup has included professional journalists, broadcasters, commentators and serving or former politicians. Andrew Neil, a veteran BBC political presenter, was recruited as the channel's first chairman and as the host of a flagship evening programme. He presented only nine episodes before taking a leave of absence and subsequently resigning in September 2021. Neil later said that he had become concerned that the channel was moving toward conspiracy theories, anti-vaccination commentary and a style resembling Fox News. His departure was followed by a clearer emphasis on opinion-led programming and personalities associated with the political right. GB News expanded beyond its initial television service into radio, streaming, video-on-demand and audio distribution. Its presenters have included Nigel Farage, Eamonn Holmes, Michael Portillo, Jacob Rees-Mogg, Andrew Pierce, Camilla Tominey, Neil Oliver, Dan Wootton, Alastair Stewart and others. The channel also recruited several elected politicians as presenters, including Conservative MPs Jacob Rees-Mogg and Lee Anderson, a move that attracted regulatory scrutiny because Ofcom rules generally restrict politicians from acting as news presenters, reporters or interviewers except in exceptional circumstances. The company was initially funded by a consortium including Legatum, Paul Marshall and Discovery, Inc. Discovery's stake was later sold following the creation of Warner Bros. Discovery. The transaction was reported as valuing the business at approximately £32 million, but that figure relates to a historical transaction rather than current company value. GB News remains privately held. Its chief executive is Angelos Frangopoulos, formerly associated with Sky News Australia, while Alan McCormick, a Legatum partner, has served as chairman. The channel has faced repeated Ofcom investigations and findings concerning due impartiality, misinformation and the participation of politicians in programmes. In 2025, following a High Court ruling that overturned earlier Ofcom findings against the channel, Ofcom dropped its remaining impartiality investigations. The dispute contributed to a wider debate about whether British broadcasting rules should be changed to prevent politicians from presenting news and current-affairs programmes. GB News opposed proposed restrictions, as did News UK. GB News has also attracted controversy over employment allegations, presenter conduct, political conflicts of interest and its relationship with advertisers and regulators. Despite these controversies, it has continued operating as a national British news and opinion service, seeking audience growth through linear television, radio and digital platforms.
History
GB News emerged from All Perspectives Ltd, which was incorporated in 2019 by Andrew James Cole and Mark Schneider, executives linked to Liberty Global chairman John C. Malone. All Perspectives secured an Ofcom licence in January 2020. The project was promoted as a new British news channel that would combine reporting with debate and opinion and would serve viewers who felt established broadcasters were culturally or politically distant from them. On 25 September 2020, Andrew Neil was announced as chairman and the host of a planned evening programme. His recruitment gave the project a prominent journalistic figure with extensive BBC experience. During late 2020 and early 2021, the company recruited presenters and journalists including Dan Wootton, Colin Brazier, Darren McCaffrey, Tom Harwood, Michelle Dewberry, Liam Halligan, Simon McCoy, Kirsty Gallacher, Alastair Stewart, Neil Oliver, Gloria De Piero and Isabel Webster. The company said it intended to employ a substantial newsroom and to offer television, streaming, on-demand and audio services. Funding reached a stated target of £60 million in January 2021. Legatum and Paul Marshall were principal backers, while Discovery also acquired a stake. The company reported a loss of £2.7 million for the period ending 31 May 2021, before the television launch. Cole and Schneider later resigned as directors after their holdings were acquired by backers in connection with a further capital injection. Broadcasting began at 20:00 BST on 13 June 2021 from studios at Paddington Basin in London. The initial schedule mixed conventional news with presenter-led discussion and political opinion. Nigel Farage quickly became a prominent contributor and later received a prime-time programme. Other early schedule changes followed, including new breakfast, morning and afternoon formats. Several senior editorial figures left during the first months, while the channel adjusted its production operation and on-air lineup. Neil took a break shortly after launch and resigned as chairman in September 2021 after presenting nine episodes. He later argued that the channel was drifting away from the balanced debate he had originally envisaged and toward conspiracy theories and a Fox News-style political format. The post-Neil period saw a stronger emphasis on political personalities and opinion programming. The channel introduced more frequent news bulletins, expanded its presenter roster and began daily live programming with the national anthem in 2022. In 2022, Eamonn Holmes, Isabel Webster, Camilla Tominey, Michael Portillo and Andrew Pierce were among the broadcasters associated with major programmes. Discovery's stake was sold for a reported £8 million, with the transaction implying a company valuation of approximately £32 million at that time. The channel also temporarily suspended regular programming and advertising after the death of Queen Elizabeth II to provide extended coverage of the accession of Charles III. From 2023, GB News increased its use of elected politicians as presenters. Jacob Rees-Mogg and Lee Anderson joined the lineup, while Boris Johnson was announced for a future presenting role but had not appeared on the channel by January 2026 according to the supplied reference material. The use of politicians intensified regulatory and political debate because British broadcasting rules require due impartiality and generally restrict politicians from acting as news presenters or interviewers. GB News has been subject to multiple Ofcom investigations involving impartiality, misinformation and presenter conduct. A 2023 investigation also concerned a promotional video associated with Lee Anderson. In 2025, a High Court judgment overturned earlier Ofcom findings against the channel, leading Ofcom to close its remaining impartiality investigations. Ofcom subsequently considered tighter rules, but abandoned the proposals after opposition from GB News and News UK. The channel continues to operate as a privately held British news, commentary and radio business.
- 2025
Remaining Ofcom impartiality investigations dropped
[1]Following a High Court ruling favourable to GB News, Ofcom closed its remaining investigations into the channel's impartiality compliance.
- 2023
Politician-presenter expansion
[1]Jacob Rees-Mogg and Lee Anderson joined the channel's presenting lineup.
- 2022
Discovery stake sold
[1]Discovery's minority stake was sold to other investors following the Warner Bros. Discovery merger.
- 2021
Television service launched
[1]GB News began broadcasting on 13 June from Paddington Basin in London.
- 2021
Andrew Neil departs
[1]Neil resigned as chairman and presenter after presenting nine programmes.
- 2020
Ofcom licence granted and GB News announced
[1]All Perspectives received a broadcasting licence, and the new channel was publicly announced with Andrew Neil as chairman-designate.
- 2019
All Perspectives Ltd established
[1]The holding company associated with the creation of GB News was founded in London.
Products and positioning
A populist, conservative-leaning British news and opinion outlet positioned as an alternative to established broadcasters and as a voice for audiences it argues are underserved by mainstream media.
Broadcast television · 2021
GB News television channel
The core free-to-air television service carries rolling news, interviews, political discussion, commentary and presenter-led programmes. Its schedule is designed around recognisable hosts and extended opinion segments rather than a purely rolling-news model.
Radio news and talk
GB News Radio
The radio service extends the brand's news and talk proposition beyond television, using spoken-word programming, interviews, political analysis and selected simulcasts or related audio content.
Digital media · 2021
Digital video and audio services
GB News distributes clips, live coverage, on-demand video and audio through its website and digital platforms, allowing viewers to access programmes outside the linear broadcast schedule.
Controversies
2023
Employment allegations involving senior management
Byline Times reported that GB News had settled an employment claim in which sexual harassment was alleged against chief executive Angelos Frangopoulos. The same reporting described separate allegations of racism and bullying involving journalists and said settlements and confidentiality provisions had been used. These were reported allegations and settlements, not findings established in the supplied material.
2023
Political bias and impartiality controversy
The channel faced sustained criticism over its use of Conservative politicians and other right-leaning figures as presenters. Ofcom investigated multiple programmes and potential breaches of due-impartiality rules. A later High Court judgment overturned earlier Ofcom findings, and Ofcom subsequently dropped its remaining investigations.
2023
Lee Anderson promotional-video investigation
The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards opened an investigation concerning a promotional video connected with Lee Anderson's GB News programme.
2021
Brands face backlash over GB News ad suspensions
Kopparberg and other brands faced online backlash and calls for a boycott after suspending advertisements from GB News. The article reports criticism of the companies for withdrawing the ads.
Brand decisions
2023
Use serving politicians as programme presentersStrategyBackground
GB News sought distinctive presenters and a closer connection with political debate.
Action taken
The channel appointed politicians including Jacob Rees-Mogg and Lee Anderson to present programmes.
Aftermath
The appointments triggered Ofcom investigations and a broader debate about whether politicians should present television news and current-affairs programmes.
2021
Launch a presenter-led television news serviceProduct launchBackground
The founders sought to create a national channel combining reporting, opinion and debate for audiences they believed were underserved by established broadcasters.
Action taken
GB News launched its free-to-air television service on 13 June 2021.
Aftermath
The channel became a new national competitor in British news broadcasting but rapidly altered its schedule and senior editorial structure after launch.
2021
Shift toward personality-led political opinionStrategyBackground
After Andrew Neil's departure and early schedule changes, the channel reassessed its editorial and programming identity.
Action taken
GB News expanded prominent opinion programmes and recruited figures such as Nigel Farage and other political commentators.
Aftermath
The shift strengthened the channel's conservative-leaning identity while increasing scrutiny over impartiality and presenter conduct.
Recent events
Reported
GB News announces Stephen Dixon will join as a presenter[4]
GB News announced that Sky News presenter Stephen Dixon would join the channel from the following month and present a new programme; programme details had not yet been formally announced.
Reported
Sainsbury’s ends advertising campaign with GB News[5]
Sainsbury’s confirmed on Friday evening that it had ended its advertising campaign with GB News after an activist campaign pressured the supermarket to withdraw its advertisements from the network.
Weekdays and relative dates follow the original report; their exact calendar dates have not been verified.
Reported
Brands face backlash over GB News ad suspensions[3]
Kopparberg and other brands faced online backlash and calls for a boycott after suspending advertisements from GB News. The article reports criticism of the companies for withdrawing the ads.
Reported
GB News launches its news channel[6]
GB News launched its news channel with a one-hour introductory special, and said it would broadcast seven days a week across the UK and Ireland.
Sources6 sources
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