GB News has announced that Isabel Webster will no longer host the Breakfast show alongside Eamonn Holmes. Instead, Ellie Costello, 31, has been promoted to hosting the programme five days a week.
Isabel, 41, has hosted the GB News Breakfast show with Eamonn, 65, since its launch in 2022. She previously worked for Sky News and the BBC.
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.”
The news comes amid a huge shake-up at the channel which has also seen Mark Dolan “relieved from his duties”.
The Friday Night Live presenter tweeted on Wednesday evening: “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.”
Isabel Webster and Mark Dolan have been axed from GB News.
Eamonn Holmes and Isabel Webster have hosted GB News’s Breakfast show since its launch.
Mark Dolan has also been axed from GB News.
In another surprising move, Jacob Rees Mogg has had his hours cut. He usually presents State of the Nation four days a week, but will now host the programme only on Mondays and Tuesdays.
The 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.”
In other changes, 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.
Comedian Josh Howie will present Free Speech Nation on Sundays between 7-9pm, and Andrew Doyle and Miriam Cates will be given more permanent roles.
Jacob Rees Mogg has had his hours cut from four days down to two.
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.”
The shake-up has sparked a huge reaction from GB News fans, with many devastated by the changes.
One Twitter/X user said: “@GBNEWS Has sacked Isabel Webster and Mark Nolan. Ms Webster has kept the breakfast show together whilst Holmes mutters about Belfast. Thank you Isabel a true professional.”
Another wrote: “I love Ben Leo so great to see him get a bigger role. But very sad to see Isabel Webster leave.”
And a third pleaded: “Seems that jovial, engaging, down-to-Earth Isabel Webster has been sacked from @GBNEWS Breakfast show…@EamonnHolmes, get out while you can, love, before @benleo444 takes your job. Bloodbath at GBN continues.”
Isabel has yet to comment on her exit, but just hours before the shock news was announced, she shared a post telling her followers that she would be back on screens “soon”.
She wrote alongside a photo of her and Eamonn: “Final show from us for 2024. Thanks for your company this year. See you soon! Merry Christmas – I hope you all find some peace and joy.”
At the time of writing, Eamonn has not addressed Isabel’s exit directly but did share a photo of them both on his Instagram Story.