I've been at GB News for 18 months, this is what it's really like behind the scenes

So many people who criticise GB News don't watch it: There’s a really lazy habit people have, both on social media and in real life, of making assumptions about GB News when they’ve no clue what the channel is about or how many different opinions get broadcast. You can tell when they assume it’s just right-wing voices which are heard, or they quote things they think they’ve heard wrongly. It’s incredibly frustrating and actually does the producers a massive disservice in their tireless efforts to make sure debates are balanced. In fact…

I’ve never worked anywhere so obsessed with being balanced. Critics will laugh at this, of course, but let’s look at the facts. Every single show has someone on to offer the counter-argument. You’d be hard pressed to find one that doesn’t. When I used to present shows on different channels, I’d always ask the producer to give me a guest I disagreed with. Why? Because echo chambers don’t make for interesting viewing or listening, plus I think we’re all open to our minds being changed now and then. At GB News, this instruction would never need to be given for any programme, as producers and management ensure this happens anyway, as balance is really important.

Rights of reply are hugely important. Whenever there’s a story covered, a person criticised, a policy dissected, or an institution discussed, the team reaches out for a comment or right of reply from whomever or whatever is being discussed without fail. I’ve never been on a show where this hasn’t happened. If a right of reply hasn’t been given, the channel says so, so the viewer knows one has been sought. Viewers will be aware that sometimes these rights of reply, which are read at the end of each segment, are so long-winded or involve so many different people or departments they can feel like they go on forever! But fair's fair, and giving people the right to put their side across is important.

The GB News legal team works overtime. Not because mistakes are made, but to ensure they’re not. Of course, every single TV channel has a legal team to make sure all rules are being followed, but no other channel is under the scrutiny GB News is. Every script, monologue or story has to go through the legal team to ensure things are done correctly and fairly; if there’s any doubt, they usually err on the side of caution.

It covers stories the other channels don’t want to. So often GB News has been first with stories, not because they want to beat the other channels in doing so, but because those stories are just incredibly important. Charlie Peters's relentless coverage of grooming gangs will be remembered, but there are plenty of other examples, too. GB News covers these sorts of things because they know it’s what their audience cares about. There have been so many times other channels have eventually taken up a story which GB News has been covering for months.

There is such a massive amount of love and respect for the GB News audience. What’s more, the producers, presenters and management know exactly who it is they’re talking to and fighting for. The first thing you learn when training as a journalist is to ‘know your audience’. From day one, GB News knows theirs, and even through the initial teething problems the channel faced through to today, that hasn’t changed. Over the years, I’ve seen huge TV and radio stations launch at the cost of millions and fail because they’ve forgotten who they’re talking to and that respect toward that audience is required.

The presenters are total characters who have a niche. I actually stole this one from Nana Akua, who made this observation during a commercial break one day. But she’s 100 per cent correct. Patrick Christys is hilarious but also incredibly passionate and serious when he needs to be. Nana herself is a bit scary but has an incredibly big heart. Eamonn Holmes is a lovely, cuddly bear until he gets a politician on the ropes and then goes full-on grizzly. Mark White is an utter gentleman yet knows more about security, policy and home affairs than anyone I’ve ever met. Ellie Costello is glamorous and gorgeous but is as sharp as a knife, even when she arrives at 4am. I can’t see many of them broadcasting on the mainstream channels, full of one-dimensional characters, and if they did, they wouldn’t be allowed to be the fully-rounded characters they are, which is what the GB News viewers love most.

The producers and bookers all work incredibly hard. Yes, the on-air team gets most of the glory, but what the producers, editors and web team do behind the scenes is really quite extraordinary. They cut up clips, get photos ready, help the presenters, write scripts, put the shows together, book guests, respond to breaking news, and do so 24/7. They’re one of the hardest-working teams in TV, and nothing that is on air or online would happen without them.

I get recognised more from GB News than anything else I’ve done. On trains, out shopping, or buying a coffee. Goodness knows what it must be like for the high-profile presenters on the channel. I’ve been broadcasting for a long time, but I’ve never had more people approach me and want to shake my hand than I have since appearing on GB News.

There’s a huge love and respect between colleagues at all levels. From the highest-profile on-air talent to the cleaners emptying the bins, everyone is treated respectfully and is part of the team. I remember chatting to all the cleaners who were happily mixing with the presenters at the Christmas party. I’ve been in the green room having a heated debate with a contributor, which we’re about to have on air, and the security guards will happily join in the conversation, too. What’s more, if there have been any tantrums from those on screen, I’ve not witnessed it. Alright, I do get angry when my make-up bag goes missing, but that’s about it.

You’re allowed a sense of humour. Although it’s a news channel and incredibly serious topics are discussed, it’s also incredibly good fun, and shows are allowed to have a laugh. I think this is one of GB News’ most valuable USPs. What else can you do when there’s chaos in power but laugh when appropriate to do so? I’m sure many of us would cry otherwise.

Some of the men on screen wear more make-up than the women. Yes, I am talking to you, Alex Armstrong. It’s wonderful you’ve found your shade in foundation, but it wouldn't hurt to use a little less of it.

They take radio really seriously. This is reflected in the GB News radio listening figures, which keep going up and up, year on year. My background is radio, so I know how important this audience is. You’ll probably notice some presenters reference if you’re ‘watching or listening’. That’s because hundreds of thousands of those tuning into GB News do so in their cars or while out and about running errands. Those listeners aren’t forgotten about.

It’s rare on-air spats spill over into real life. Yes, we all argue, and things might get heated on air, but it's very rare that those spats actually mean people can’t sit down afterwards in the green room. Yes, the odd contributor might take themselves a bit too seriously and get genuinely annoyed, but that's extremely rare. In fact, I’ve witnessed more apologies between political foes than I ever have fisticuffs.

It is like a family. Yes, that’s corny and a bit cheesy, but it’s true. It’s probably because so much of the media is against GB News that those who work there feel incredibly protective of each other. I’ve worked in so many media establishments where you feel like your colleagues want to shaft you. At GB News, I feel like colleagues want me to do well rather than fail. Presenters are often really happy to allow contributors to shine on their shows, putting their own egos aside, as they know it makes the show itself and the channel better. That’s rare in the media nowadays.

Your Say is way too outrageous and hilarious to read out sometimes. I’ve actually become obsessed with Your Say when I’m on-air as it’s an absolute hoot. Some of you are utterly scathing, hilarious and brutal in equal measure. And I’m pretty sure if most of it was read out on air, GB News would lose its licence in days!

The GB News audience is incredibly diverse. I’m lucky enough to be a regular on Patrick Christys’ Friday night show and am always blown away by how diverse the audience is. Critics like to believe that GB News is just for straight white men, but that’s really not the case. Black or white, rich or poor, gay or straight, the audience reflects different perspectives and backgrounds. Ironically, it also displays the kind of prejudice many of these critics would claim they’re against.

The best drink from the GB News coffee machine isn’t coffee – it’s hot chocolate. I can’t tell you the number of late-night shows where the hot chocolate from that machine has got me through. Barry Gardiner has a sneaky hot chocolate every Friday night. I never used to drink it before working at GB News. Now, I am addicted.

Certain presenters and contributors are very scruffy from the waist down. I will take the names of these people to my grave, but you’d be amazed how many presenters and contributors wear scruffy shorts or trainers below the waist but look ready for business above the desk.

I’ve lost friends by working at GB News. This has been a really tough one, but I’m afraid to say it’s true. What’s frustrating is that I haven’t changed. I am still the same guy I was 18 months ago when I started, but this is a sad reality. People I’ve known for years have made the decision to no longer speak to me since I started on the channel, perhaps because there’s been such an attempt to smear GB News, or because the opinions I hold weren’t as well-known to them before. Maybe they can’t see beyond my political opinions or just want to make themselves feel better somehow. To be honest, I no longer analyse it, as anyone who wants to break a friendship due to genuinely and honourably held views isn’t worth worrying about.

The channel isn’t going anywhere. Yes, people have smeared it, tried to stop advertisers, tried to boycott it, and implied it’s about to close down, but I can tell you now, those who work at GB News have a steely determination and fight in them rarely seen in the fickle world of media. To those who think GB News is on the verge of collapse, it is quite the opposite.