Isabel Webster from GB News was replaced as Eamonn Holmes’ co-host due to a strained relationship with the channel’s bosses, insiders have disclosed.
Webster, 41, was replaced on the channel’s breakfast show by 31-year-old Ellie Costello, dubbed as the organisation’s ‘own Holly Willoughby’.
This unexpected change was part of several adjustments made by the UK’s latest news channel. Jacob Rees-Mogg had his airtime reduced, and Mark Dolan was swapped on his weekend program.
According to The Sun, Webster’s shock exit was caused by a secret feud with her employees over her working hours.
Webster was displeased by the senior executives’ request for her to increase her on-screen presence from three to five days a week and stood firm by declining to comply with their demands.
‘It had become a sticking point in negotiations and was causing tension behind the scenes,’ an insider told The Sun.
‘Eamonn’s obviously the main star of the show and likes to be in charge – he’s now looking forward to working with Ellie who’s a young talent he can help mould as her career progresses.’
Responding to these claims, A GB News spokesman said: ‘This is completely untrue.’
Isabella Webster (pictured with Eamonn Holmes) will be replaced by Ellie Costello, 31, as host of the breakfast show programme during the working week
Webster ‘wasn’t happy’ that the channel’s senior chiefs were expecting her to increase her days on-screen from three to five a week
Talks between Webster and GB News broke down on Wednesday and she was subsequently axed from the company, a decision which ‘blindsided’ her colleague Holmes.
The pair had just finished their final show of the year and they were allegedly planning to celebrate Christmas together.
But she was immediately replaced by Costello – who will join Holmes from Monday to Wednesday and Stephen Dixon on Thursday and Fridays.
Holmes then gave a ‘savage’ response to Webster’s sacking, replying ‘Bye my girl x’ to a tweet about her departure.
Insiders say the post failed to properly pay tribute to a colleague he had worked with since the show launched in 2022.
The pair were said to be ‘good friends’ and ‘worked well together’, but questions have now been raised about their relationship after their ‘wasn’t a gushing post’ about Webster’s exit.
Holmes will continue to work three days a week as it’s ‘always the bigger name who works fewer days on-screen’, another source told The Sun.
Another senior figure at GB News told MailOnline earlier today that bosses at the channel deemed Webster to be ‘too woke’ and left-wing.
Eamonn Holmes ‘ new GB News co-host is Ellie Costello, 31. The pair have ‘great chemistry’, one insider said
Presenter Mark Dolan also announced that he had been ‘relieved from his duties
Mr Rees-Mogg, paid £324,000 by GB News last year, will now be doing two nights instead of four
Ben Leo will replace comedian turned news anchor Mark Dolan
Another insider told MailOnline: ‘Ellie Costello is GB News’ Holly Willoughby. The bosses and Eammon want to mould her. Plus, Eamonn and have Ellie have great chemistry’.
Elsewhere on the channel, Ben Leo, 34, will take over from Mark Dolan, 50, who revealed he had been sacked from his regular show on a Saturday and Sunday night.
Former Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, who was paid £300,000-plus last year, is another GB News presenter to be hit by changes at the station.
He had been hosting his State of the Nation programme four nights a week – on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. But now he will only do Mondays and Tuesdays.
‘Jacob is too expensive – and his viewing figures are not great either’, one source said.
Pre-tax losses at GB News reached £42.4million in 2023 – up from £30.7million in 2022.
It was also hit with a £100,000 fine by broadcast regulator Ofcom over an ‘egregious’ breach of broadcasting rules during a Q&A with Rishi Sunak.
Webster, a former BBC broadcaster, was one of GB News’ star hires from Sky News in 2021 but she is now leaving after just over three years.
‘Isabel was too woke and not on message’, one senior insider told MailOnline today.
Mark Dolan is out and Jacob Rees-Mogg has seen his hours halved
Presenter Dolan also announced on Wednesday evening that he had been ‘relieved from his duties’.
‘Mark’s viewing figures were not good’, the same source said, but added that his show had been up against Strictly Come Dancing.
Dolan has vowed to ‘speak publicly about this in due course’, but has remained silent 24 hours on. One insider said that his flip-flopping on Brexit over the years had not helped him with bosses and some viewers.
Ben Leo will replace him from January. He will also continue to co-host Britain’s Newsroom on a Friday.
