GB News Viewers Demand Shake-Up After Shocking Presenter Sackings
GB News viewers were full of praise for presenters Dawn Neesom and Charlie Peters, who filled in for Eamonn Holmes and his new co-host, Ellie Costello, on Christmas Eve. The duo took over the Breakfast show on December 24, and fans were delighted with their chemistry and presenting style.
Dawn and Charlie are not regular lead presenters at GB News, but they frequently guest host during the holidays. Their appearance on Christmas Eve came after a major shake-up at the channel, which saw Isabel Webster and Mark Dolan let go. Additionally, Jacob Rees-Mogg’s hours were reduced from four days a week to just two, as reported by the Express.
Despite these changes, viewers expressed their excitement at seeing Dawn and Charlie together on air. One fan commented, “Great to have Dawn and Charlie over Xmas. Dawn is so funny. Great presenting.” Another viewer added, “Charlie and Dawn – a good combo!”
A third fan shared their hope that this would lead to more airtime for Charlie, writing, “It’s good to see Charlie getting more airtime, let’s hope it does not just continue, it’s not just for Christmas.” Another viewer chimed in with, “Really loving the show this morning. Dawn and Charlie are great together. Merry Christmas to you and all at GBN.”
There was also widespread support for the duo as a pairing, with one fan writing, “Dawn and Charlie… awesome pairing and a credit to the channel. Wishing you both an amazing Christmas.”
Meanwhile, Mark Dolan, who had been with the channel since its launch in 2021, spoke out about his sudden exit on Friday. He described being “fired in minutes” after three years at GB News, but he thanked his former bosses for handling the situation “nicely.” Isabel Webster has yet to comment on her departure, but her co-host Eamonn Holmes responded on social media, writing: “Bye my girl x.”
The shake-up at GB News was officially explained as a move to “build on success with a renewed focus and ambition.” In a statement, 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 service broadcaster terrestrial channels.” He added that the changes would help the channel continue to build on its success.