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Good Morning Britain viewers have been left wondering who the guy is on their TV, as Paul Brand stepped in to cover the show.
ITV’S daily show has a plethora of regular hosts including Richard Madeley, Susanna Reid, Martin Lewis, and Ed Balls.
However, today it was Paul sitting next to Kate Garraway when they tuned in at 6am.
While he may be less known than his fellow presenters, viewers quickly warmed to him.
‘Please keep Paul on, breath of fresh air,’ wrote viewer Shanus71 on X.
While Lisa Galloway has followed Paul’s career and expressed her joy at seeing him on TV: ‘Massive congratulations to @PaulBrandITV hosting @GMB with the lovely Kate. He’s one of the most genuine reporters who actually cares about what he is reporting. Well done ma darling.’
‘Who is the lovely Paul? Such a lovely voice to wake up to. More of him please!’ asked a less clued-up Helen Mackie.
Well Helen, let us answer your question…
Where have you seen Paul Bland before?
Paul, 38, took over from Julie Etchingham as the new presenter of ITV’s weekly current affairs programme Tonight in 2022.
At the time, he said: ‘To present a show previously fronted by two titans of broadcasting – Julie Etchingham and Sir Trevor McDonald – is a huge honour.
‘Having reported for the Tonight programme in the past, I have already had the pleasure of working with many of the enormously talented team behind Britain’s most-watched weekly current affairs programme.
‘I am delighted to be making this a weekly commitment, alongside my role as UK Editor for ITV News.’
In his role as UK Editor, he has broken some huge exclusives including the video of Downing Street staff laughing about a Christmas party during the Covid-19 lockdown.
He has previously led an investigation for Tonight, with Searching for Patient Zero: Britain’s Aids Tragedy, which solved the forty-year mystery of John Eaddie, the first recorded person to die of Aids in the UK. Some of his other major journalism achievements include investigating conversion therapy, and getting then-Prime Minister Theresa May to apologise for how she had previously voted on gay rights.
Paul also presents a radio show on LBC and covers politics for Good Morning Britain. He has previously stepped in as guest presenter in August 2022. We won’t have to wait so long to see Paul again as at the end of today’s episode, he said: ‘I’ve loved it. I’m back next Friday.’
Is Paul Brand married?
Paul Brand is married to civil servant Joe Cuddeford, and the couple share a son together.
The journalist previously called it ‘difficult’ to balance fatherhood with his demanding career. ‘My son’s the absolute joy of my life. But because my job’s unpredictable and I have to follow news, I don’t always know what time I’m going to be home,’ he told Attitude.
‘I’m lucky I have such a supportive husband who has an amazing career of his own, but his job is more predictable, so he’s able to help me out when I’m having a crazy period.’
Paul has spoken about the homophobic abuse he received after reporting on partygate. ‘They’d start by arguing ITV were too focused on it, and it would turn to homophobic undertones about me personally,’ he recalled.
However, Paul has also celebrated the industry for evolving and celebrating difference. He recalled having to originally ‘fit into a mould’ when he began his career two decades ago. ‘I was encouraged to play down my sexuality. It was a macho environment where only one type of journalist succeeded: male, white and straight,’ he explained.
‘The industry is massively evolving. It’s an exciting place now. Your difference is your strength.’
Why did Paul Brand become a journalist?
Paul, who grew up in Bridgend, Wales, took an early interest in politics. However, he was more interesting in covering it, rather than being involved.
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He undertook a Politics degree at the University of Oxford and then ITV gave him a bursary to study journalism at City, University of London.
Working his way up the ranks at ITV, he began as production journalist, before moving on to become a political correspondent and joining the main news team in 2016.
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GMB airs weekdays at 6am on ITV.
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