Nigel Farage’s relationship with GB News spans presenting, earning and share-ownership—and sits at the heart of controversies over political broadcasting in the UK. This article explores his history on the channel, his financial interest in it, and the complaints and regulatory friction that have followed.
The presenting role
Farage joined GB News not long after its launch in June 2021. The channel itself began broadcasting on 13 June 2021 under the holding company All Perspectives Ltd. (Wikipedia).
On 20 June 2021, Farage was announced as a contributor to the Sunday morning show The Political Correction. Then, on 17 July 2021, it was confirmed that he would host his own primetime evening show on GB News, beginning 19 July. (Wikipedia)
His presence was seen from early on as a means of helping the broadcaster gain traction after a troubled launch and viewer slump. As one summary put it: “GB News turned to Nigel Farage as its saviour after ratings free-fall.” (Wikipedia: Timeline of GB News)
From a content standpoint, Farage’s shows have combined commentary, debate and opinion, rather than strict hard news reporting. While serving as a presenter he remained active in politics—eventually becoming an MP in July 2024—which has fed directly into criticisms around impartiality.
Shareholding and earnings
Farage’s ties to GB News extend beyond the presenter chair. In October 2024, filings revealed he increased his shareholding in GB News from 300,000 to 500,000 shares. (Left Foot Forward, Oct 2024) An analysis noted that the increase occurred “as the arch-Brexiteer continues to deepen his relationship with the right-wing channel.”
In parallel, parliamentary disclosure shows that Farage receives substantial payments via his company, Thorn in the Side Ltd., for his GB News work. One report stated that payments for his GB News presenting go directly to his private company, allowing him to pay corporation tax rather than higher income tax (The Independent).
The Financial Times reported that his company recorded profits of around £1.25 million in the year to May 2024, boosted by his TV appearances (including GB News) among other media activities (Financial Times).
Thus, Farage is not merely a face on air but a stakeholder in the channel, and financially tied to its success.
Controversies and regulatory complaints
Impartiality: politicians as presenters
One of the biggest flashpoints has been the role of politicians presenting on GB News. The regulator, Ofcom, has repeatedly investigated the channel. In March 2024 it found that GB News had breached impartiality rules by using politicians such as Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg and others as presenters (Financial Times).
Although the breaches cited did not directly involve Farage’s show, the general environment is one of regulatory scrutiny that envelops the channel he is most associated with. A summary from Left Foot Forward listed dozens of complaints to Ofcom about GB News, arguing: “Farage, Rees-Mogg and Anderson cannot be trusted to report on this issue fairly and accurately…” (Left Foot Forward, Feb 2024).
GB News pushed back, and in May 2025 accused Ofcom of bias in its consultation over proposed rules restricting politicians from presenting (The Times, May 2025).
Accuracy and content complaints
Separately, GB News has been investigated for accuracy and fairness issues. A programme in April 2022, hosted by Mark Steyn, was found to have a “materially misleading interpretation of official data” on COVID-19 (The Guardian, Mar 2023).
Climate campaigners have lately accused Ofcom of allowing GB News to “flout accuracy rules” in relation to climate-change coverage, citing numerous unresolved complaints (The Guardian, Oct 2025).
Presenter-linked controversies
While not strictly Farage’s show, the channel has been dragged into scandal via other presenters. An on-air misogynistic comment by presenter Laurence Fox led to thousands of complaints and an Ofcom investigation, highlighting reputational vulnerabilities for the channel (Wikipedia).
Because Farage is a major face of the channel, these controversies tend to reflect back on his brand and implicate the broader editorial and governance environment of GB News.
Why it matters
- Editorial and political influence: His dual role as broadcaster and politician blurs the boundaries between opinion, journalism and activism.
- Commercial incentive: His shareholding and earnings mean he has a vested financial interest in the channel’s success.
- Regulatory implications: The Impartiality Code and rules about politicians presenting news are being re-examined largely because of cases involving GB News presenter-politicians.
- Public trust and media pluralism: The controversies raise broader questions about whether broadcasters can remain trustworthy when major personalities have dual political and media roles.
As one recent article put it: “The public wants to ban ‘politician presenters’ like Nigel Farage and Lee Anderson.” (Byline Times, Oct 2025)
Looking ahead
With Farage now also an MP (elected July 2024) and Reform UK gaining ground in the polls, his media role and political role are increasingly intertwined. GB News, simultaneously, continues to navigate heavy losses and ongoing regulatory pressure (Wikipedia).
The key questions: Will Farage reduce his presenting or shareholding role now he holds public office? Will GB News alter its business model or editorial practices in response to Ofcom pressure? And will the regulator tighten rules regarding politicians as presenters, which could directly impact figures like Farage?
In short: the relationship between Nigel Farage and GB News is emblematic of shifting media-political dynamics in the UK—part broadcast career, part political capital, part business stake—and heavily marked by regulatory fault-lines over impartiality, accuracy and transparency.
