Alastair Stewart OBE said he was “deeply honoured” as he opened a new studio in his name at GB News’ Westminster base.
The legendary broadcaster cut the ribbon to the GB News Westminster Alastair Stewart OBE Studio on Monday, March 31 to rapturous applause.
Later, he told GB News presenter Martin Daubney live on air: “The scissors worked brilliantly. I've never in my long life been an address, but I am now!
“It was such a kind gesture, because I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent with GB News from when I left ITN and joined them at the very beginning, right at the kick-off point.
“Then, as many people know, because they've been kind enough to follow it and comment upon it, I became ill with dementia. GB News, as an employer and as a group of friends, have helped look after me so well. And to now have a bit of real estate, as the President of The United States would call it, named after me, is such a great honour.
“We had a lovely party. All sorts of people turned up!”
He added: “One of my old bosses, Nick Pollard, who also joined GB News early on, was reflecting at the formal opening about how, in a curious sense, how lucky we were to live and develop our careers in the era that we did.
“Because it was the era of Margaret Thatcher, the era of Tony Blair, the fall of the Berlin Wall, democracy coming to Eastern Europe, and the Falklands War, just all sorts of amazing events that gave us the chance to report accurately and with authority.
“And it was such a joy for Nick and I to them come to GB News so that we could go that one step further and start interviewing all sorts of people who took profoundly different views.
“That's why GB News was such an important arrival on the landscape, and the terrain of television journalism in this country, and why I was deeply honoured to be a part of it and to now be a permanent fixture.
”Political guests at the studio ceremony included the Tory MP, Sir David Davis; Deputy Speaker Nigel Evans; Col Bob Stewart, a former United Nations commander in Bosnia; and Tracey Crouch DBE, a Former Minister for Sport and Civil Society of the United Kingdom.
ITN journalist Paul Davies, a close friend of Alastair was there, as were Alastair’s wife, children and many of his closest friends.
The occasion was officially marked with brilliant speeches from Alastair, from GB News’ Editorial Director Mick Booker, from Alastair’s former ITN colleague Nick Pollard, and from GB News’ Political Editor Christopher Hope.
Chris shared messages from those unable to attend including former Tory leader Lord Michael Howard and Tory MP Sir Malcolm Rifkind.
He also read out a wonderful letter from the Office of the Speaker of the House Of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, who has invited Alastair to meet him for a drink to celebrate the opening of the new studio.
The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has also written to Alastair to warmly congratulate him on his honour. Alastair will reflect on his special day this weekend in the latest instalment of his superb GBNews diary Living With Dementia.
Find Out More...
The legendary broadcaster cut the ribbon to the GB News Westminster Alastair Stewart OBE Studio on Monday, March 31 to rapturous applause.
Later, he told GB News presenter Martin Daubney live on air: “The scissors worked brilliantly. I've never in my long life been an address, but I am now!
“It was such a kind gesture, because I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent with GB News from when I left ITN and joined them at the very beginning, right at the kick-off point.
“Then, as many people know, because they've been kind enough to follow it and comment upon it, I became ill with dementia. GB News, as an employer and as a group of friends, have helped look after me so well. And to now have a bit of real estate, as the President of The United States would call it, named after me, is such a great honour.
“We had a lovely party. All sorts of people turned up!”
He added: “One of my old bosses, Nick Pollard, who also joined GB News early on, was reflecting at the formal opening about how, in a curious sense, how lucky we were to live and develop our careers in the era that we did.
“Because it was the era of Margaret Thatcher, the era of Tony Blair, the fall of the Berlin Wall, democracy coming to Eastern Europe, and the Falklands War, just all sorts of amazing events that gave us the chance to report accurately and with authority.
“And it was such a joy for Nick and I to them come to GB News so that we could go that one step further and start interviewing all sorts of people who took profoundly different views.
“That's why GB News was such an important arrival on the landscape, and the terrain of television journalism in this country, and why I was deeply honoured to be a part of it and to now be a permanent fixture.
”Political guests at the studio ceremony included the Tory MP, Sir David Davis; Deputy Speaker Nigel Evans; Col Bob Stewart, a former United Nations commander in Bosnia; and Tracey Crouch DBE, a Former Minister for Sport and Civil Society of the United Kingdom.
ITN journalist Paul Davies, a close friend of Alastair was there, as were Alastair’s wife, children and many of his closest friends.
The occasion was officially marked with brilliant speeches from Alastair, from GB News’ Editorial Director Mick Booker, from Alastair’s former ITN colleague Nick Pollard, and from GB News’ Political Editor Christopher Hope.
Chris shared messages from those unable to attend including former Tory leader Lord Michael Howard and Tory MP Sir Malcolm Rifkind.
He also read out a wonderful letter from the Office of the Speaker of the House Of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, who has invited Alastair to meet him for a drink to celebrate the opening of the new studio.
The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has also written to Alastair to warmly congratulate him on his honour. Alastair will reflect on his special day this weekend in the latest instalment of his superb GBNews diary Living With Dementia.
Find Out More...