GB News massacre: Eamonn Holmes’s co-host Isabel Webster ‘is sacked for being “too woke”‘, Mark Dolan is axed for ‘dwindling viewing figures’ and Jacob Rees Mogg is goal of cost-cutting
One of GB News‘ top presenters was sacked before Christmas after being considered ‘too woke‘ by bosses who have shaken up the schedule by firing another star and cutting Jacob Rees-Mogg‘s shifts, insiders told MailOnline today.
Isabel Webster, 41, co-hosted the breakfast show alongside Eamonn Holmes, but presented it for the last time yesterday and has left immediately.
Ms 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 Saturday night show was 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.
Former Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg is another GB News presenter to be hit by changes at the station.
GB News Breakfast host Isabel Webster has left the broadcaster before Christmas. One source claimed bosses considered her ‘too woke’ and ‘off message’
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
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.
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.
Pre-tax losses at GB News reached £42.4m in 2023 – up from £30.7m in 2022.
‘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
Mr Rees-Mogg will be doing two nights instead of two
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.’
