GB News

[ld0595]

Well that didn't last long

https://inews.co.uk/news/media/andr...s-promised-return-regular-contributor-1211467

Andrew Neil will not appear again on GB News despite promised return as a ‘regular contributor’

Andrew Neil had said he would return to the channel as a regular contributor, but the agreement has fallen apart after a war of words.

Andrew Neil will not appear on GB News again, i understands, days after he made barbed criticisms of the channel during an appearance on BBC1’s Question Time.

The veteran broadcaster publicly quit his role as chairman and flagship presenter last week – having hosted his self-titled show for only eight episodes – and announced he would remain in a new role as a regular contributor.

But the agreement has fallen apart after one week amid a war of words between Mr Neil and GB News chief executive, Angelos Frangopoulos.

Appearing on Question Time last Thursday, Mr Neil said he quit due to disagreements over the channel’s editorial direction, which left him in a “minority of one” among senior management.

He told viewers to “draw your own conclusions about why I’m here and not with GB News” after being asked if the channel is turning into a British version of the right-wing US outlet Fox News.

The remarks are understood to have infuriated GB News bosses, with the channel reportedly considering legal action against Mr Neil.

A planned appearance on Nigel Farage’s programme on Monday night was cancelled following the fallout.

Bosses initially considered getting Mr Farage to confront him live on air, before deciding to terminate the appearance altogether.

It is thought GB News considers the terms on which Mr Neil exited the company to now be null and void, meaning the presenter is no longer obliged to appear on the station.

Last week, Mr Farage said he has “enormous respect” for the outgoing anchor.

He told viewers: “It’s a change of role here at GB News, I’ve no doubt you can read plenty about that, but Andrew Neil is here as a GB News contributor and commentator, and I’m pleased to say he’s going to appear here on my show regularly.”

A source told i: “There have been big rows – he was meant to come on and they wanted to tackle him over what he said to Fiona Bruce on Question Time.

“But they decided against the question and dropped him from the show instead.”

They added: “The new chairman, Paul Marshall, who replaced Andrew, also told the newsroom the board was united in ‘sacking’ him, which is total bull****. It’s all about to blow up – get your popcorn ready.”

While both the channel and presenter maintained he was taking a summer holiday, it is understood the two parties spent months mired in legal disputes over ending the contract, reported to be worth £700,000 a year.

Both GB News and Andrew Neil declined to comment.

On another note, I tuned in to Dan Wooton's show tonight. Some sections not very GB specific - an interview with Macy Gray, why James Bond shouldn't be female and something about Justin Trudeau. On balance there was a section about energy prices though.

There are still plenty of sound issues months on, but most of all it's still just boring. It really feels like I'm watching the Daily Express...!


Edit 22/09


On tonight's Dan Wooton show so far after a short watch - an interview with ex press Secretary for Donald Trump, should Family Guy be lecturing us about vaccines and "cancel culture" reaching the opera.

Glad they're putting the GB in GB news.

 

[Mojo]

GB News started doing their halfhourly news bulletins this morning. They seem to start from 9am (the Great British Breakfast is more of a newsy type programme in its own right so doesn’t seem to have distinct news bulletins). They seem to be about 4 minutes long and every hour, although after the main programme host has given their intro. As suspected by others upthread they are indeed delivered by someone that isn’t the presenter of the show they are broadcast in.

 

[jfollows]

Andrew Neil may now return to the BBC, I personally would like him to because I found him good to watch, The Times reports on this today: (https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/...return-to-bbc-after-gb-news-debacle-vq2wgsj2k)
As the article goes on to say, there's something of an imminent reshuffle of news and current affairs presenters. Not least caused by the BBC trying to relocate a number of presenters (not primarily the news/current affairs ones though, I admit) to the wilds of Salford, which they're refusing to do, I can't say I blame them although for me it'd have been perfect.

Bruised Andrew Neil could return to BBC after GB News debacle
Jake Kanter, Media Correspondent

Saturday October 23 2021, 12.01am, The Times

The BBC director-general has held talks with Andrew Neil that could clear a path for the presenter’s return following his bruising ordeal at GB News.

The Times understands that Tim Davie met Neil in the weeks after he dramatically quit GB News and the pair are said to have enjoyed a constructive conversation.

No job offers were made and there is no suggestion that Neil could return to the BBC imminently, but the discussion served to build bridges after he left the corporation under a cloud last year. He was wounded by the decision to axe The Andrew Neil Show and, although Davie attempted to salvage the relationship, Neil said he could not repair the “damage done”.

He could not have predicted that his next venture would end even more acrimoniously. Having hosted just eight shows, Neil resigned from GB News after clashing with management over the channel’s technical problems and editorial direction.

One person familiar with the conversation between Davie and Neil said the BBC director-general recognised that Neil had a “rough time” at GB News and wanted to check on his wellbeing. Other sources said a return to the BBC could suit both parties.

Davie is keen to shore up the BBC’s impartiality credentials by hiring from all sides of the political spectrum. “He was the token right-winger at the BBC,” said one insider. “There’s always been an argument that Davie’s error in allowing him to leave could only be rectified by his return.”

The BBC’s next director of news and current affairs will be pivotal in any decision to restore Neil. They will also have the task of recruiting a new political editor after Laura Kuenssberg signalled her ambition to join Radio 4’s Today programme.

 

[Mojo]

Looks like more changes have been brought in...

Tonight Live / with Dan Wootton (Mon-Thu) / with Mark Dolan (Fri-Sun) has been renamed Dan Wootton / Mark Dolan / Tonight, on the same days as before. Mon-Thu has been cut to two hours long with a new show called “Headliners” which discusses the next day’s newspapers.

The 7-8pm slot on Fridays (this is Farage on other weekdays), which used to just be the best bits of Farage from the week is now new content, hosted by Mark Steyn.

It also seems to be getting sloppier from a standards point of view again, unless it’s just been bad luck the times I’ve been watching. Seen twice over the last two days a member of the production shot walking in set behind someone else.

 

[Typhoon]

Looks like more changes have been brought in...

Tonight Live / with Dan Wootton (Mon-Thu) / with Mark Dolan (Fri-Sun) has been renamed Dan Wootton / Mark Dolan / Tonight, on the same days as before. Mon-Thu has been cut to two hours long with a new show called “Headliners” which discusses the next day’s newspapers.

The 7-8pm slot on Fridays (this is Farage on other weekdays), which used to just be the best bits of Farage from the week is now new content, hosted by Mark Steyn.

Is this the Mark Steyn who lives in Woodsville, New Hampshire, who stands in for the likes of Rush Limbaugh and Tucker Carlson? I think I'll give it a miss.

'Headliners', what an original idea (and it is repeated replayed twice), with two new presenters. No-one appears to have been pushed (Neil and Harri walked I believe). They just seem to be cranking up the wage bill

I tuned in today (first time for ages) 'Migrant Crisis' - on the borders of Belarus and Poland! (Check: it is GB News, not RT). That will really pull the viewers in!

Headless chicken TV.

 

[MotCO]

I tuned in today (first time for ages) 'Migrant Crisis' - on the borders of Belarus and Poland!

I didn't see this on GB News, but I have a feeling that this is going to be big news soon. Ultimately it is about Putin v the EU.

 

[Typhoon]

I didn't see this on GB News, but I have a feeling that this is going to be big news soon. Ultimately it is about Putin v the EU.

Probably. The correspondent described the situation well and in real detail. It came across as belonging in a specialist section on the BBC News channel. They could have done without the presenter (Tom Harwood?) and it was a shame they kept repeating the same video clip of a man cutting barbed wire. If GB News was like this I would watch more often but it isn't, I heard a section a little earlier, Simon McCoy and someone else. It might have been a replay of something a couple of days ago for all the difference it made, I was learning nothing so I paused it, I can't even remember what it was, it was background TV. I used to watch Newsnight, three items in depth, 40ish minutes, I can cope with that. If there is going to be 18 hours of original news per day, there really needs to be an awful lot of depth covered, or viewers will think 'I've heard this before' and switch off. It is good that that they have introduced 'On the Money', you know what it is going to be about but most programmes are about 'the big news stories of the day', have some breaks, have a programme about entertainment for instance, another on tech so I know what I will get when I tune in. Instead (this is now) I get the PM with a mask on talking to nurses, I think it is about sleaze but, to my knowledge, nothing new has come out and I am pretty bored with it right now.

 

[Busaholic]

Is this the Mark Steyn who lives in Woodsville, New Hampshire, who stands in for the likes of Rush Limbaugh and Tucker Carlson? I think I'll give it a miss.

Unfortunately it is.

 

[Logan Carroll]

I watched ten minutes of it and it’s not even worthwhile as a right wing loonie sideshow lol.

 

[birchesgreen]

I tuned in today (first time for ages) 'Migrant Crisis' - on the borders of Belarus and Poland! (Check: it is GB News, not RT). That will really pull the viewers in!

Its an interesting story which Euro News has been covering in detail, though again i don't see how GB would be that interested apart from a "THEY'LL ALL BE COMING OVER HERE" fear vibe.

 

[MotCO]

Its an interesting story which Euro News has been covering in detail, though again i don't see how GB would be that interested apart from a "THEY'LL ALL BE COMING OVER HERE" fear vibe.

It could test NATO, of which we are a member. It could destabilise Europe (along with Norsteam 2). Whether you are pro or anti Europe, a destabilised Europe is not a good thing.

 

[jon0844]

Its an interesting story which Euro News has been covering in detail, though again i don't see how GB would be that interested apart from a "THEY'LL ALL BE COMING OVER HERE" fear vibe.

Wouldn't they want the EU to be 'invaded' as it's all about undermining the EU, which means supporting Russia's actions? I think it is a bit of a moral dilemma, but not one to dwell on too long as I'm sure there's a story about Meghan Markle they can jump on.

 

[Logan Carroll]

Always worrying when RT starts to take great interest in the affairs of one of Russia’s neighbours.

 

[Mojo]

Is this the Mark Steyn who lives in Woodsville, New Hampshire, who stands in for the likes of Rush Limbaugh and Tucker Carlson? I think I'll give it a miss.

I’m quite intrigued how the programmes with Mark Steyn are being broadcast. He’s in for Farage tonight and appears to be in some studio somewhere (a reference was made to being in Vermont although he did mention living in New Hampshire). Presumably some sort of partner network or maybe just an independent studio? The Talking Pints section was quite weird as he has the usual backdrop from his studio in America, and then the guest (Martin Roberts from Homes Under The Hammer) was in the usual studio in Paddington.

 

[Typhoon]

It could test NATO, of which we are a member. It could destabilise Europe (along with Norsteam 2). Whether you are pro or anti Europe, a destabilised Europe is not a good thing.

Probably the idea. Although the main target appears to be Poland at present, I would have thought that Latvia and Lithuania would find it particularly difficult. They may request our support - and if we don't give it, we may find more dinghies coming our way.

Wouldn't they want the EU to be 'invaded' as it's all about undermining the EU, which means supporting Russia's actions? I think it is a bit of a moral dilemma, but not one to dwell on too long as I'm sure there's a story about Meghan Markle they can jump on.

If 'they' is GB News, I thought the correspondent that I heard offered a very measured report, and, although there was no doubt who he thought the villain of the piece was, it was not over the top. but explained exactly how the migrants got to be at the border (interestingly Belarus does not share a border with countries where the migrants are supposed to come from. Whether that was true for other reports I don't know.

 

[jon0844]

Does make you wonder if all this is some (badly) coordinated effort to try and get us to really fall out with the EU, what with the 'Falklands moment' comments from some Tories, GB News asking if it's time to go to war with France (arguably a trade war, but the chyron didn't say this and clearly people will be thinking tanks and warships!) and news that we were about to inflame things by triggering article 16 today.

I guess we wait and see what Nigel Farage tells us to think...

 

[Logan Carroll]

“There is no doubt that France has weapons of mass destruction and they will use them against us” - GB News 2022 probably

 

[Mojo]

Various newspapers overnight reporting that Eamonn Holmes will be leaving ITV to join GB News.

Interesting signing as presumably costs a fair whack and I’m not sure what show he will be presenting. The breakfast show is fairly mundane despite having Simon McCoy on it so wonder if he’ll be going onto that.

 

[jon0844]

He'll probably be there to promote the '5G-caused-the-virus' theory that has been sadly under reported on GB News, in between attacks on Meghan Markle.

Sounds like a great acquisition for the channel.

 

[Typhoon]

Various newspapers overnight reporting that Eamonn Holmes will be leaving ITV to join GB News.

Interesting signing as presumably costs a fair whack and I’m not sure what show he will be presenting. The breakfast show is fairly mundane despite having Simon McCoy on it so wonder if he’ll be going onto that.

Is he really such a draw? If you are right about breakfast, I can't see Holmes and McCoy working together, maybe each day is one or the other. I saw who was on this morning, they were pretty dull. I've turned off. That's me done for the day. Mind you, I wouldn't turn on for Holmes and I don't think I'm GBNews' target audience (I don't understand 'woke' so I can't be anti it).

 

[jon0844]

Being 'woke' isn't really a bad thing, any more than supporting antifa(cist) or the lives of Black people. All things that for some reason people on the right have a problem with (obviously with the latter, they defend themselves by saying it's because they mean all lives matter - while suggesting shooting dinghies off the coast of Dover the next minute...)

 

[MotCO]

Being 'woke' isn't really a bad thing, any more than supporting antifa(cist) or the lives of Black people. All things that for some reason people on the right have a problem with (obviously with the latter, they defend themselves by saying it's because they mean all lives matter - while suggesting shooting dinghies off the coast of Dover the next minute...)

Being woke in itself may not be a bad thing, but it depends on your views and opinions. Everyone is entitled to their own views and opinions, and some people like to be woke and others don't, but the 'wokerati' seem to think that their view is the only one that matters and shout down any attempt to question their beliefs. Witness the rise of 'cancel culture', or the pulling down of statutes of people who may have had links to the slave trade, even though the successors of the slaves are probably now enjoying much better lifestyles in rich countries than would have been the case had their forebears not been slaves. Slaves always seem to be linked to people's skin colour; however the Romans treated many white Europeans as slaves, but this is never raised or questioned, nor apologised for, and there are many other examples.

 

[Busaholic]

I can't see Holmes and McCoy working together

Neither can I. McCoy is a deflator of self-importance, Holmes has levels akin with Huw Edwards and an extremely thin skin, particularly about his weight. Will he bring Ruthie with him?

 

[Mojo]

If you are right about breakfast, I can't see Holmes and McCoy working together, maybe each day is one or the other.

Not can I. The balance of one male and one female is pretty standard and works quite well.

I don’t ever watch ITV as it’s usually dross, so not sure of what he does over there, but was just thinking the existing breakfast show lets them down compared to the names they have presenting it.

 

[XAM2175]

Witness the rise of 'cancel culture', or the pulling down of statutes of people who may have had links to the slave trade, even though the successors of the slaves are probably now enjoying much better lifestyles in rich countries than would have been the case had their forebears not been slaves.

1. 'Cancel culture' doesn't exist and people complaining about it are more often than not people who feel threatened by the consequences of their past actions;
2. Reconsidering the appropriateness of celebrating people we know now perhaps don't deserve it is not inherently wrong, and has happened without controversy for much of history;
3. You appear to be trying to minimise - or even entirely excuse - the Atlantic slave trade on the grounds that it eventually worked out okay for some of the descendants of its victims.

 

[MotCO]

1. 'Cancel culture' doesn't exist and people complaining about it are more often than not people who feel threatened by the consequences of their past actions;
2. Reconsidering the appropriateness of celebrating people we know now perhaps don't deserve it is not inherently wrong, and has happened without controversy for much of history;
3. You appear to be trying to minimise - or even entirely excuse - the Atlantic slave trade on the grounds that it eventually worked out okay for some of the descendants of its victims.

I disagree on all three counts. However, we live in a democratic society which allows us to have different views, and allows us to respect others' views. Don't we?

 

[XAM2175]

I disagree on all three counts. However, we live in a democratic society which allows us to have different views, and allows us to respect others' views. Don't we?

I accept your right to hold such views, but I can't respect them.

 

[jfollows]

GB News was the "single biggest mistake" of his career, says Andrew Neil in The Times today (https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/...stake-of-my-career-says-andrew-neil-j9lx7nwnx). Its founders and investors were a "Ukip tribute band" and that GB News is heading in a "Fox News direction".

Well, yes, but I think many of us suspected this from the start, so Neil was presumably blinded by something (money? arrogance? Maybe hubris would be the best word?) which prevented him from the same clear sight.

Apparently he has a "non-compete" clause in his contract which expires at the end of 2021, so we may see him back again somewhere after that.

GB News was biggest mistake of my career, says Andrew Neil

Jake Kanter, Media Correspondent

Wednesday November 17 2021, 2.45pm, The Times

Andrew Neil has said that he does not want GB News to be the “full stop” of his television career as he fuelled speculation about a return to the BBC or a fresh start at talkTV.

In some of his most disparaging remarks yet about his former employer, Neil said his ill-fated spell on GB News was the “single biggest mistake” of his 50 years in journalism.

Neil’s non-compete contract clause expires at the end of the year when he will be free to take on a presenting role at another broadcaster. He told Freeview’s Outside The Box conference that he has another TV job in him.

The Times reported last month that Neil held talks with Tim Davie, the director-general of the BBC, though no formal job offer was on the table.

There is also speculation that the former Sunday Times editor could return to Rupert Murdoch through talkTV, News UK’s new television channel.

Piers Morgan, Neil’s friend, has already signed for the service, which launches next year.

Asked if he will return to the BBC or join talkTV, Neil said: “I’ve no idea. It was such a horrendous summer for me and my wife that we determined that we would use the autumn to have the summer we didn’t have . . . I’m in no rush to come back to television at all [but] I’d like to do something on the TV front. I don’t want GB News to be the full stop in my broadcasting career.”

He added: “The mistake was that I put my face on the tin and yet I quickly discovered that I really had no say over what was going into that tin . . . Before I accepted the role I should have demanded far greater executive power than I had. Even at this late stage in your career, you always learn from mistakes.”

The channel was beset by technical gremlins and studio lighting issues in its opening weeks and Neil said it was “still haunted by the shambles of the launch”.

He said that unless the channel overcame perceptions of production problems it would “slide into irrelevance and obscurity”.

Neil, who left in September after presenting eight shows, said GB News was heading in a “Fox News direction”, something the channel strongly disputes. He added that its founders and investors were a “Ukip tribute band”.

Nigel Farage has established himself as GB News’s highest-rating presenter, attracting more than 100,000 viewers to his evening show. The station is temporarily being chaired by shareholder Sir Paul Marshall, the Brexiteer hedge fund tycoon.

 

[birchesgreen]

Andrew Neil comes across as of the the most naive persons in the world if what he says is true and not just his attempt to save face.

 

[DynamicSpirit]

1. 'Cancel culture' doesn't exist and people complaining about it are more often than not people who feel threatened by the consequences of their past actions

That statement seems to me to be simply not living in reality. There have been numerous examples recently of people's lives and careers being destroyed because other people who disagree with their opinions seek to get that person basically removed from all public life. To take just one recent example, how can you reconcile your statement that cancel culture does not exist with - say - the story of Kathleen Stock, who was threatened, had to be given police protection, and was eventually hounded out of her job as an a professor of Philosophy at Sussex University purely because of her views on gender?