Pip Tomson wasn’t in the mood to let mis-information slide after responding to suggestions she was shown the door at GB News.
The former Good Morning Britain news correspond left the channel after moving to the opinion-oriented broadcaster last year. Now she says she has stepped down – but that didn’t convince one social media users, who says she was given the elbow because viewers are deserting the Rupert Murdoch owned platform.
Pip took to X, formerly known as Twitter, on Sunday to announce the news with his followers. In a cryptic tweet, she wrote: “**UPDATE FROM ME** I have left GB News. I will decompress now [and] map out life’s next crazy adventures.” She shared a clip hosting the GB News breakfast show with Michael Portillo while her followers flooded the broadcaster with support.
But one user replied: “She is one of the forty getting pushed out in the cuts GB NEWS will be a YouTube channel within a year Billionaire’s will pull the plug after the Election could never work with Tory’s interviewing each other on Air viewing figures dropping every day.”
Pip bit back, saying: “I’m actually not. But how dare facts get in the way of your narrative.” Her exit comes a week after GB News chief executive Angelos Frangopoulos announced a redundancy round, seeking to cut 40 roles. One team member at the channel told Press Gazette there was “a real ‘last days of Saigon’ vibe in the office right now.”
GB News reported nearly 40% increase in losses as its owners continue to invest millions into the broadcaster, it was reported last month. The company said that its audience figures had grown, particularly online where page views increased more than five times. GB News revealed that its pre-tax loss had risen from £30.7 million in the year to the end of May 2022, to £42.4 million a year later.
Last year, GB News received £41.0 million from the parent company, bringing the total it now owes to £83.8 million. “The company has strong support from its investors and the directors have no reason to believe that the level of these contributions could vary to a significant degree or be recalled before the group has the resources to repay the investment,” GB News said in accounts filed to Companies House.
Pip joined GB News in 2023 and took a swipe at “intolerant people” as she announced the move. She wrote: “Here I am. A presenter and journalist – now at GB News – who’s relishing the opportunity to challenge and hold to account the powerful types and offer a voice to those who want to be heard but are thoroughly disillusioned so don’t bother to engage.
“I want to help change that and redress the balance, without fear or favor. “I’m a people person who is why I became a journalist in the first place.” Pip acknowledged GB News is seen as controversial, but blasted the channel’s critics as “intolerant”.
She continued: “I was also well aware of the flak directed at GB News. Much of it from those guys who profess that they’re tolerant members of the ‘Be Kind’ brigade (yawn) but are actually some of the most intolerant people you could ever hope to meet if you don’t profess to share their views. ”
Explaining her decision further, she added: “I sought out the advice of some of the least tribal folk including one of the most famous broadcasters in the business. I don’t want to name them but they’ve always been incredibly generous in terms of advice, feedback, reflections on the industry and how to deal with those delightful social media trolls.
“’It’s a no brainer,’ came the answer. ‘You’ve got to do it. It’s very exciting for you and a proper adventure.’” Pip concluded in the lengthy post that she was also looking forward to co-hosting an afternoon show after 10 years of early morning reporting on GMB.
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