GB News goal youthful expertise after ‘cost-cutting’ shake-up: Rising star Ellie Costello replaces ‘woke’ Isabel Webster on breakfast present as Jacob Rees Mogg has hours slashed as a result of he is ‘too costly’, insiders reveal
Eamonn Holmes‘ new GB News co-host was today dubbed the channel’s own Holly Willoughby as ‘expensive’ Jacob Rees-Mogg had his hours slashed and one presenter was fired because bosses consider her ‘too woke‘, insiders told MailOnline.
Britain’s newest news channel has promoted young stars including Ellie Costello, 31, to replace Isabel Webster, 41, on the breakfast show.
Ms Webster left suddenly yesterday with one senior figure claiming that she was deemed to be ‘too woke’ and left-wing by senior chiefs.
Another insider told MailOnline: ‘Ellie Costello is GB News’ Holly Willoughby. The bosses and Eammon want to mould her. Plus Eamonn have Ellie have great chemistry’.
While Ben Leo, 34, will take over from Mark Dolan, 50, who revealed he had been sacked from his regular show on a Saturday and Sunday night.
Former Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, who was paid £300,000-plus last year, is another GB News presenter to be hit by changes at the station.
He had been hosting his State of the Nation programme four nights a week – on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. But now he will only do Mondays and Tuesdays.
‘Jacob is too expensive – and his viewing figures are not great either’, one source said.
Eamonn Holmes ‘ new GB News co-host is Ellie Costello, 31. The pair have ‘great chemistry’, one insider said
GB News Breakfast host Isabel Webster has left the broadcaster before Christmas. One source claimed bosses considered her ‘too woke’ and ‘off message’
Mr Rees-Mogg, paid £324,000 by GB News last year, will now be doing two nights instead of four
Ben Leo will replace comedian turned news anchor Mark Dolan
Pre-tax losses at GB News reached £42.4million in 2023 – up from £30.7million in 2022.
It was also hit with a £100,000 fine by broadcast regulator Ofcom over an ‘egregious’ breach of broadcasting rules during a Q&A with Rishi Sunak.
Isabel Webster, a former BBC broadcaster, was one of GB News’ star hires from Sky News in 2021 but she is now leaving after just over three years.
‘Isabel was too woke and not on message’, one senior insider told MailOnline today.
Presenter Mark Dolan also announced on Wednesday evening that he had been ‘relieved from his duties’.
‘Mark’s viewing figures were not good’, the same source said, but added that his show had been up against Strictly Come Dancing.
Mr Dolan has vowed to ‘speak publicly about this in due course’, but has remained silent 24 hours on. One insider said that his flip-flopping on Brexit over the years had not helped him with bosses and some viewers.
Ben Leo will replace him from January. He will also continue to co-host Britain’s Newsroom on a Friday.
Isabel (pictured with Eamonn Holmes) will be replaced by Ellie Costello, 31, as host of the breakfast show programme during the working week
Mark Dolan is out and Jacob Rees-Mogg has seen his hours halved
Mr Dolan and Ms Webster have been asked to comment. Mr Mogg has also been approached.
But another source has said that halving the Tory’s presenting shifts from four to two is ‘definitely’ about money.
‘It’s definitely down to money’, they said of Mr Rees-Mogg’s reduced schedule.
Several insiders say the latest upheaval is ‘unsettling’ for GB News staff.
‘Producers were already culled in the summer by the bosses’, a source said.
Presenter Mark Dolan broke the news of his departure before his bosses.
The writer and comedian had hosted Mark Dolan Tonight at weekends on the channel since 2021, and also Mark Dolan Live on Fridays until November 2023, before being moved to the Friday Night Live show.
Posting onto X, Mr Dolan said: ‘STATEMENT. GB News have made the decision to permanently relieve me of my duties at the channel. I will speak publicly about this in due course.’
Presenter Mark Dolan also announced that he had been ‘relieved from his duties
Posting onto X on Wednesday, Mr Dolan announced that the channel had let him go
The shock shake-up also saw Jacob Rees Mogg see his screen time cut. The Tory politician will only be required to host State of the Nation on Mondays and Tuesday, rather than his usual four days a week.
The GB spokesperson said: ‘Author, political commentator and pollster Professor Matthew Goodwin will join GB News as a permanent presenter in 2025, presenting State of the Nation on a Wednesday, Thursday and Friday night. Jacob Rees Mogg will continue as the show’s host on Monday and Tuesday.’
Elsewhere on the channel, Ben Leo will launch Ben Leo Tonight on Saturday and Sunday nights from January.
He will also continue to co-host Britain’s Newsroom on a Friday.
Free Speech Nation will be hosted by comedian Josh Howie on Sundays between 7-9pm.
Andrew Doyle and Miriam Cates will also be given more permanent roles.
GB News’s Head of Programming and Talent, Ben Briscoe, said: ‘2024 has been a truly fantastic year for us.
‘Not only are we regularly beating the other established news channels, but we are also making inroads against the big public serving broadcaster terrestrial channels.
‘Our initiatives will allow us to build on this success with a renewed focus and ambition.’
Viewers are shocked by Isabel Webster’s departure.
The former BBC and Sky News presenter had tweeted that she was presenting her last show before Christmas yesterday.
Hours later it emerged that she would not be returning.
A GB News spokesperson said on Wednesday: ‘Ellie Costello will now co-host GBN Breakfast five days a week, presenting alongside Eamonn Holmes on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and with Stephen Dixon on Thursday and Friday.
‘Stephen and Anne Diamond will continue to co-present GB News Breakfast at Weekends.’
