Jacob Rees-Mogg: The pinstriped populist gets his own TV show

Populist Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg is getting his own TV show... on populist channel GB News.

On Thursday (26 January), the right-wing broadcaster announced that the Tory MP for North East Somerset is set to host his own current affairs programme.

He joins presenters including Nigel Farage and Eammon Holmes on the fledgling channel, which was launched back in June 2021.

The programme will see Rees-Mogg, a backbench politician known for his eccentric anachronisms and far-right views, discuss topical issues and interview guests.

The channel’s editorial director Mick Booker said in a statement: “Jacob is an authentic and authoritative voice of the Tory backbenches with his trademark common sense, refreshing directness, and an impish sense of fun. He’s a terrific addition to the GB News family.”

He added: “The programme will embrace a range of guests and viewpoints from all sides of politics but will also explore some of Jacob’s other wide-ranging interests.”

Examples of other potential topics cited are “classic cars” and “good Somerset cider”.

Rees-Mogg will also be taking his show on tour, broadcasting before live audiences across the UK.

In a statement, Rees-Mogg said: “GB News is a bastion of free speech which clearly has its finger uniquely on the pulse of public opinion and does not talk down to its viewers and listeners.

“I have been impressed by the channel’s independent-mindedness and its determination to talk to people with many different perspectives, which is exactly what I will do on my programme.”

Rees-Mogg has endured a number of controversies over the years, including in 2019, when he was pictured lying down in parliament during a debate on Brexit.

He has also faced criticism for some of his extreme political views, which include support for a blanket ban on abortion.

Tory MP Esther McVey also currently hosts a weekly show on GB News, alongside her husband Philip.

GB News endured a shaky start after its launch in 2021, earning mockery for a number of production blunders.