David Bull has dismissed suggestions that becoming Reform UK's new chairman is a "poisoned chalice" following the tumultuous departure of his predecessor Zia Yusuf last week.
Bull's appointment comes after Yusuf sensationally quit as chairman last Thursday, shortly after calling it "dumb" for new Reform MP Sarah Pochin to call for a burka ban.
The 38-year-old businessman said that "exhaustion led to a poor decision" and later returned to the party in a different role, leading Reform's Doge team modelled on Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency.
Speaking on GB News, Adam Cherry asked David Bull: "Congratulations on your new role, it is a bit of a poisoned chalice, though, isn't it? You're only here because of a bit of a disaster over the last 48 hours."
Reform UK's David Bull is the new chairman of the party
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The new Reform UK chairman said: "Absolutely not what a ridiculous comment. Look, I live and breathe this party. It is a huge honour to be asked by Nigel to come in and to become the new chairman of Reform UK.
"It is the fastest growing political party in the country. We have a lot of work to do, but also in terms of Zia, he was just so overburdened taking on the mantle of trying to do pretty much everything in the party.
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"So what we've done is we've split out the role. My role is going to be predominantly externally facing, and for anyone who's been involved in politics, they will understand why that is just so important.
"It's all those amazing people who go out in all weathers, knocking on doors, putting leaflets through the doors, setting up market stalls, for example, canvassing. All of that is super hard work.
"So my job is to go around, talk to all of those volunteers, and also to provide the conduit back to the professional party.
"I suppose in many ways what we're doing is we're going into fifth gear as we propel ourselves to the next general election.
WATCH: David Bull confirmed as new Reform UK chairman
"And make no mistake about this, this is all about Reform UK becoming the party of government. And Nigel Farage, that man who was on the stage with me this morning, will be in number ten. And we are determined to do that."
Asked whether Reform UK will be putting together a Shadow Cabinet, Bull explained: "I think the country is changing. If you look at the latest polling, the map has now gone turquoise.
"So if we put the right candidates in those seats, then we have a high expectation we can win. So what we need is people like Sarah, who's a magistrate, people like me, who's a medic by training, we want people who have a back story who actually can back up something.
"So, for example, if I was to stand and win at an election, then obviously I would be very capable of handling a health brief, for example."
Bull dimissed the comments that the position is a "poison chalice"
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Bull brings an unusual background to the role, having trained as a doctor at St Mary's Hospital Medical School at Imperial College London, graduating with medical and science degrees in 1993.
The London-born politician, who grew up in rural Suffolk from age four, left the medical profession in 2009 as his television career flourished, though his licence was temporarily restored during the Covid crisis in 2020.
His broadcasting career began on Sky's Travel Show before presenting Newsround and various CBBC programmes. He also hosted medical advice shows like Call the Doctor.
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