GB News has announced that Conchur Dowds has joined its presenting team as Northern Ireland reporter.
Although the channel's name references Great Britain, the service will be aimed at the whole of the United Kingdom when it launches in the coming weeks.
Flagship programmes will be anchored by the likes of Andrew Neil, Alastair Stewart and Colin Brazier, while a team of regional correspondents is being assembled to provide coverage of hard-hitting local issues - a differential that GB News hopes will help drive its success.
Dowds, who joins from UTV, wrote on Twitter: "I'm delighted to say I'll be joining @GBNEWS as their reporter here in Northern Ireland.
"I just want to thank everyone at @UTV for the past few years, you've been fantastic and I'll miss working with all of you. But exciting times lie ahead and I can't wait to get started..."
GB News said: "Born and bred in NI, Conchúr is passionate about holding those in power to account, listening to people from across NI and telling the stories that really matter to them."
An exact launch date for GB News has yet to be confirmed, although it is expected to be on air before the end of June.
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