Exodus at GB News continues: Pip Tomson becomes third star to quit in just three months

Release time：2024-05-21 16:20:57 Source：Planet Pages news portal

A GB News star has sensationally quit the channel.

Pip Tomson is leaving the broadcaster to search for a 'new adventure' after less than a year working there as a presenter in its afternoon slot.

Ms Tomson, from Oxfordshire, tweeted: 'UPDATE FROM ME** I have left GB News. I will decompress now [and] map out life's next crazy adventures', along with a clip of her presenting with Michael Portillo.

Her announcement came amid chaos at the broadcaster. Insiders fear it could follow rival TalkTV and become a YouTube channel and leave scheduled TV behind as sources claimed peak time viewing figures could now be as low as 30,000.

Going online would also take it outside Ofcom’s broadcast regulations, one insider claimed, after the channel was censured on a number of occasions, including over impartiality.

There has already been an exodus of presenters at the beleaguered channel and plans to make around 40 redundancies have emerged amid losses of £42.2m in 2023. 

A source told MailOnline that morale at the channel is low and people are worried for their jobs. 

Former Good Morning Britain news correspondent Pip Tomson quit the ITV show last year to make to the move to GB News, however she has now revealed she's stepped down from her new job

Pip was at GMB for a decade, and a key reporter during the pandemic pictured in Bicester

She sent this tweet announcing her departure 

It came as GB News' main rival TalkTV went YouTube only this month. 

One GB News insider told the i newspaper:  'Morale is pretty low. Some nights they are getting only 30,000 viewers at peak-time.

'The speculation is the channel could go online only after the general election. It would save millions on licensing fees and takes GB News outside of Ofcom’s broadcast regulation'.

Seasoned presenters, including economics editor Liam Halligan, are also reportedly set to leave GB News. 

Meanwhile, amid earlier chaos at the channel, Dan Wootton left in March. Laurence Fox and Calvin Robinson went last year. 

Mark Steyn left last February after the channel threatened to make him responsible for paying any fines from Ofcom.  

Pip said last year that it was a 'no brainer' to move from ITV to GB News

Ms Tomson worked for Good Morning Britain for a decade before taking the GB News job - and showed little patience for those who criticised her decision.

She said when she joined in 2023: 'Here I am. A presenter and journalist - now at GB News - who's relishing the opportunity to challenge and hold to account the powerful types and offer a voice to those who want to be heard but are thoroughly disillusioned so don't bother to engage.

'I was also well aware of the flak directed at GB News. Much of it from those types who profess that they're tolerant members of the 'Be Kind' brigade (yawn) but are actually some of the most intolerant people you could ever hope to meet if you don't profess to share their views.'

She went on: 'I sought out the advice of some of the less tribal folk including one of the most famous broadcasters in the business. I don't want to name them but they've always been incredibly generous in terms of advice, feedback, reflections on the industry and how to deal with those delightful social media trolls.

''It's a no brainer', came the answer. 'You've got to do it. It's very exciting for you and a proper adventure'.'

GB News, whose stars include Nigel Farage, has enjoyed success and controversies since it began broadcasting to shake up the TV news cycle.

It has brought in viewers but also been censured for some of its coverage - and allegations of impartiality.

GB News was censured in October over a segment presented by ex-Brexit Party MEP and former Reclaim Party deputy leader Martin Daubney.

Seasoned presenters, including economics editor Liam Halligan, are also reportedly set to leave GB News

Mark Steyn left last February after the channel threatened to make him responsible for paying any fines from Ofcom

During the June 16 broadcast, he stated his views on immigration and asylum in the context of small boats crossing the Channel. He also interviewed Reform UK leader Richard Tice.

Ofcom ruled Mr Tice presented his views with 'insufficient challenge' by Mr Daubney and the 'limited alternative views presented in the programme were dismissed'.

Mr Daubney had been standing in for actor-turned-activist Laurence Fox, who was dismissed for on-air sexist comments.

Presenter Dan Wootton was suspended for failing to follow instructions given through his earpiece to stop Fox.

The broadcaster was also reprimanded by Ofcom for presenting a 'misleading interpretation' of data about the Covid vaccine and breached impartiality rules when two Conservative MPs interviewed Chancellor Jeremy Hunt.

Last week it was announced that Sir Paul Marshall is stepping down from the board of GB News after three years, amid reports the hedge fund manager is considering a new rival bid to buy the Daily Telegraph.

His resignation coincides with the appointment of politician and businessman Lord Theodore Agnew as the new director of its owner, All Perspectives.

Sir Paul, who was an early investor in the news channel, said: 'I joined as a director for the start-up phase but now GB News is on a secure growth trajectory, I want to focus on my other business and philanthropic interests.

'I remain very engaged as a co-lead investor.'

Laurence Fox was sacked by GB News after his comments about a female journalist 

Calvin Robinson - who backed his GB News colleague - was also been let go by the channel 

Meanwhile, new director Lord Agnew said he had 'watched and admired the dramatic growth of GB News across its platforms' and was looking forward to 'encouraging the company on its journey'.

He is a former Treasury and Cabinet Office minister, and has sat in the House of Lords as a Conservative life peer since 2017.

'GB News is a business with huge opportunity as the industry undergoes a digital transformation across existing and emerging platforms,' he said.

Last month, the broadcaster said its audience figures had ballooned, especially online where page fields increased more than fivefold.

However, it said its pre-tax loss had widened to £42 million in the year to the end of May 2023.

It is despite getting investment of more than £40 million from its owner All Perspectives during the year, backed by investors including Sir Paul.

Related articles