Behind the headlines: What it's REALLY like live on screen on election night

Britain’s boasted more than a few by-elections in recent memory. Mid Bedfordshire, Tamworth, Rutherglen and Hamilton West.

Yet there is something different when they take place in an election year. They set a tone that can pave the way for success or disaster.

Wellingborough has drawn more than its fair share of attention in the build-up to the by-election.

A disgraced Tory MP that had transformed the constituency into a blue fortress, booted from his own castle after serious allegations, and findings, of bullying and sexual misconduct.

Peter Bone, who became ‘former Tory MP Peter Bone’ last year, denies the accusations made against him. They were enough to turn a portion of the electorate in Wellingborough against him in the form of a recall petition, triggering the vote.

A stone’s throw from Wellingborough, Kettering’s Leisure Village is base for the count. The Northamptonshire town hosts all the big election events, including for the European Parliament back when Britain were still a part of the Union.

I lost count of how many journalists are here. Double, potentially triple, the number of candidates standing – and there’s a lot of those. Eleven to be exact.
The media team at North Northamptonshire Council, which is running the show, have ensured all the home comforts the press truly desire. A power plug, a table and chair, and wi-fi. Gloriously fast wi-fi.

Every hour we bring candidates and party affiliates before the nocturnal portion of GB News’ ever-expanding audience for LIVE interviews that punctuate the hours spent waiting for the result.

While Kingswood, in Gloucestershire, declares a Labour win for the by-election held in parallel to Wellingborough’s, we keep waiting.

Hours pass. Adrenaline staves off sleep.

Soon after 4pm, the Returning Officer, Northamptonshire’s High Sheriff, reveals what many of us had been expecting. Another Labour win.

By-elections are like buses. You wait around and two come along at the same time. The distinction in the comparison is that you can’t ride both buses at once.

However, simultaneous wins aren’t unexpected as the political temperature heats up ahead of the General Election journalists crave.

There’s plenty of room left for another helping before then. A journalists appetite is rarely sated.

As the last few journalists leave the leisure centre, the lights begin to dip.