GB News marked its US expansion with a launch party in Washington D.C. on Wednesday night, drawing a crowd of more than 500 guests, including politicians, business leaders and media figures. The event, held at Ned’s Club, also saw appearances from 11 members of the US Cabinet.
The evening was hosted by presenter Bev Turner, who will front The Late Show Live when it begins later this month. The programme will broadcast from Washington and air in the UK and Europe.
Speakers included GB News presenter Nigel Farage, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and GB News backers Sir Paul Marshall and Alan McCormick.
Leavitt praised the channel, saying:
“A huge shout out to Nigel Farage and the GB News team, some of whom met with the President in the White House earlier.
“GB News is going to be bringing a lot more common sense to the great people of the United Kingdom.
“You share the values this administration holds dear: Free speech, that men cannot be women, secure borders – we don’t want illegal aliens invading our countries, we want to protect the integrity, democracy and culture that make our countries two of the greatest countries in the history of the world.
“I really look forward as the President’s spokeswoman to continuing to work with the team at GB News.”
Farage, speaking just hours after giving evidence to US Congress, told the crowd:
“To have a media channel like GB News prepared to take on the wokery, the left wing-ism, the negativity, the managed decline, to have a news channel that believes that we can make Britain great again is so important.
“You might have heard that phrase before, but we must believe that we can make Britain great again, and that’s the mission that I’ve been on. That’s the mission that we’ve been on.”
On the upcoming show, Farage added:
“I’ve been very proud to be a part of it, and I think this initiative for us to have the show that’ll be filmed live here in DC from seven until nine every evening and broadcast back into The United Kingdom and into Europe could be quite transformative.
“President Trump has had a bad rap all the way through, loathed, utterly loathed by mainstream media, and therefore the opinions of so many in our country are formed through that prism. This is going to be completely different. This will be a two hour show every day that will actually talk about a President who made a series of promises and guess what. Guess what? He kept them. It’s unbelievable, isn’t it?
“It’s a very, very exciting moment, and I think that our content coming out of DC into Britain and Europe is going to be an absolute massive hit, and it will change perceptions about who Donald Trump is.”
GB News investor Sir Paul Marshall told the audience:
“There are more than 500 of you here, including 11 members of the US Cabinet. That for us is extraordinarily flattering but it’s also a sign of how important tonight is in terms of what’s going on between our two countries.
“Four years ago when we launched, every TV channel was progressive and the BBC was a state behemoth distorting the entire landscape. That was a huge challenge but it was also a huge opportunity for us because 65% of the population was completely uncovered by the news channels. That’s why they’ve responded to us and now, four years on, GB News is the number one TV news channel.
“The United States has an incredibly important role to play in the future of Britain. You provide us with hope and inspiration. We want to shine a light on what’s happening here. President Trump is a controversial figure, particularly in Europe. There are many naysayers. But there are many others who want to hear and understand what you’re doing in this country.”
Chairman Alan McCormick described the network as “a community of people that deeply love the United Kingdom”.
“Britain has been infected by a mind virus that sees no value in place, in family, in community, in love of country and these views have been reinforced by an establishment media who have suppressed any alternative viewpoints.
“GB News was launched to end this neglect. To provide truthful and fearless journalism for the people of the United Kingdom.”
GB News CEO Angelos Frangopoulos also addressed the launch, outlining the channel’s ambitions for its new Washington-based programme.
The event comes as new industry figures show GB News extending its lead over the BBC News Channel and Sky News. According to official BARB ratings, the network had its second consecutive month at the top of UK TV news rankings in August.
Frangopoulos said: “The people of Britain have spoken, and the message is clear: the bold and fearless journalism of GB News has connected with communities everywhere. The figures prove that the gutless politically-motivated campaigns against GB News have failed.”
The Late Show Live will broadcast seven days a week, with Bev Turner hosting Monday to Thursday and Ben Leo fronting Friday to Sunday.
