Ellie Costello is usually live on air in Britain on a weekday morning, long before most of the country has fully woken up. She is calm and collected as she leads viewers through the day’s first news stories. In this job, you need to be clear under pressure, be able to change your tone quickly, and be present while things are still happening. For many viewers, she looks like someone they see at breakfast every day. Behind the scenes, though, she has a story of steady drive, newsroom discipline, and a career that has been shaped by both reporting from the field and hosting from a desk.
Ellie Costello is not a famous person in the usual sense of the word. She is a working journalist whose reputation has grown over time through her reporting, live broadcasting, and ability to connect with people. Still, her growing fame at GB News and the public talks about her personal experiences have brought more attention to her life, her work, and what it’s really like to be a TV host today.
Early Life and Background
Ellie Costello was raised in Essex, England, a county known for its mix of bustling towns and quiet countryside. She has often described Essex as home, having spent most of her life there apart from her years studying at university. The area played an important role in shaping her early outlook and remains closely connected to her identity.
Despite becoming a familiar face on British television, Costello has kept much of her personal life out of the public eye. She has rarely spoken about her family, and there is little confirmed information about her parents or siblings. This level of privacy reflects a choice many journalists make, keeping their personal lives separate from their professional work.
Unlike some broadcasters who enter the industry through family connections or early media exposure, Costello followed a more traditional route into journalism. Her career was built through education, practical experience, and determination rather than established industry contacts.
Education and Early Career Goals
From an early age, Ellie Costello showed a strong interest in writing, communication, and storytelling. These interests led her to study English Literature at the University of Southampton, where she developed the analytical and writing skills that would later support her journalism career.
After completing her undergraduate degree, she chose to specialise in broadcast journalism by enrolling in a Master’s degree in Broadcast Journalism at City, University of London. Widely recognised as one of the UK’s leading journalism schools, the course combines practical newsroom experience with training in media law, ethics, television, radio, and digital reporting.
The programme is known for preparing students to work in fast-paced news environments where accuracy, speed, and clear communication are essential. Through practical assignments and live reporting exercises, Costello gained the experience needed to begin a career in national broadcasting.
Choosing this path demonstrated a clear commitment to journalism. Entering the profession requires persistence and resilience, particularly given the competitive nature of the industry. By the time she completed her postgraduate studies, she had built the knowledge and practical skills needed to begin working in television news.
Beginning Her Journalism Career at the BBC
Ellie Costello started her professional career with the BBC World Service, one of the world’s most respected international news organisations. Working within the BBC provided an excellent foundation, exposing her to high editorial standards and a newsroom environment focused on accuracy, impartiality, and public trust.
Reporting for the World Service involves explaining complex international stories to audiences across the globe. This experience helped Costello develop a clear and measured reporting style while strengthening her ability to communicate difficult subjects in an accessible way.
The role also taught her to work under pressure. Tight deadlines, rapidly changing news stories, and the need for careful fact-checking are everyday realities in broadcast journalism, and these early experiences helped shape her professional approach.
Developing Her Reporting Style
Costello later joined the Victoria Derbyshire programme, where she gained experience covering a wide range of UK news and current affairs.
Unlike the global focus of the BBC World Service, the programme concentrated on stories affecting individuals and communities across Britain. It explored social issues, investigations, and personal experiences, giving reporters the opportunity to produce thoughtful, people-centred journalism.
During this period, Costello worked on reports involving online abuse, social media, public safety, and other sensitive topics that required both careful research and compassionate interviewing.
Rather than simply reporting the facts, she learned how to tell stories through the experiences of the people involved. Building trust with contributors, handling emotional interviews, and presenting complex issues with clarity became key strengths of her reporting.
Her work attracted positive recognition within the BBC, where she was identified as one of the organisation’s promising young journalists. While such recognition remained largely internal, it reflected the respect she had earned among colleagues for her professionalism and reporting ability.
These early experiences laid the foundations for the next stage of her career. By combining strong editorial judgement with confident on-screen delivery, Ellie Costello established herself as a journalist capable of handling both breaking news and in-depth human-interest stories, qualities that would later prove invaluable as she moved into national television presenting.
Joining GB News
In May 2021, Ellie Costello joined GB News as one of the channel’s original South East reporters, becoming part of the team before the broadcaster officially launched. It was an exciting opportunity to help shape a brand-new national news channel while covering stories across one of England’s busiest regions.
Starting at a newly established broadcaster brought both opportunities and challenges. Every report, interview, and live broadcast contributed to the channel’s identity, placing its journalists under close public and industry scrutiny. For Costello, it was a chance to demonstrate her reporting skills on a larger platform while building her profile as a national journalist.
Working in the field, she covered a wide variety of stories, from breaking news and major incidents to political developments and community issues. Reporting live from the scene required quick decision-making, adaptability, and the confidence to deliver accurate information as events unfolded.
These experiences strengthened her reputation as a journalist who was comfortable working outside the studio and handling fast-moving news with professionalism.
Moving into Television Presenting
As her experience at GB News grew, Ellie Costello gradually moved from field reporting into studio presenting.
The transition reflected her ability to communicate clearly under pressure while connecting naturally with viewers. Live television demands far more than simply reading headlines. Presenters must manage interviews, respond to breaking news, adapt to changing schedules, and keep programmes running smoothly, often with very little preparation.
Costello proved herself capable of handling those demands, earning regular presenting opportunities before becoming one of the familiar faces of GB News Breakfast.
Breakfast television presents its own unique challenges. Programmes combine serious news with lighter features, business updates, weather, and audience interaction, requiring presenters to move comfortably between different subjects throughout the morning.
As a regular co-host, Costello has worked alongside experienced broadcasters including Eamonn Holmes and Stephen Dixon, developing a confident on-screen style that balances professionalism with a relaxed and approachable manner.
Her steady presence and calm delivery have helped establish her as one of the channel’s most recognisable presenters.
Reporting on Major National Events
Although Ellie Costello has become well known as a presenter, reporting remains a central part of her journalism career.
Throughout her time at GB News, she has covered many significant national events, often reporting live from the scene as stories developed.
One of her most widely recognised assignments came following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, when she reported from outside Windsor Castle during a period of national mourning. Covering such a historic event required sensitivity, accuracy, and the ability to communicate clearly while emotions were running high across the country.
She also reported on the aftermath of the tragic murder of Sir David Amess MP, providing live updates as the story unfolded. Reporting on incidents of this nature demands careful judgement, balancing the public’s need for information with respect for those directly affected.
Alongside these high-profile events, Costello has reported on court proceedings, political developments, protests, and a wide range of breaking news stories across the UK.
Her willingness to report directly from the scene has helped reinforce her credibility as a journalist. Rather than working solely from the studio, she has continued to gather information first-hand, conduct interviews, and explain complex events as they happen.
Building a Reputation as a Trusted Broadcaster
One of Ellie Costello’s strengths is her ability to move confidently between different areas of journalism.
Whether presenting live television, interviewing politicians, reporting from major events, or covering human-interest stories, she approaches each assignment with the same calm and measured style.
Her reporting background has given her a strong understanding of how stories develop before they reach viewers. That practical experience adds depth to her work as a presenter, allowing her to ask informed questions and provide useful context rather than simply reading headlines.
As her responsibilities at GB News have grown, so has her reputation within British broadcasting. She has established herself as a journalist who combines newsroom experience with confident live presentation, qualities that continue to support her career as both a reporter and television presenter.
While the media industry continues to evolve, Costello’s versatility has positioned her well for the future. Her ability to report, present, interview, and engage with audiences across multiple platforms reflects the changing role of modern broadcast journalists and the skills increasingly expected in today’s fast-moving news environment.
The Stalking Ordeal
While Ellie Costello is best known for her work in television journalism, one of the most challenging chapters of her life unfolded away from the newsroom.
She later revealed that she had been stalked for 16 months by a man she had never met in person. The situation reportedly began after a routine professional interaction conducted over Zoom, before escalating into a prolonged campaign of unwanted contact.
What started as persistent messages gradually became more serious. The individual allegedly sent unsolicited gifts, attempted to contact her repeatedly, and appeared at locations connected to her work. The experience left Costello feeling anxious and constantly aware of her surroundings, highlighting the emotional impact stalking can have on its victims.
The case eventually reached court, where the offender received a suspended sentence along with a restraining order. Rather than remaining silent, Costello chose to speak publicly about her experience to help raise awareness of stalking and encourage others facing similar situations to seek support.
Her openness resonated with many people, particularly women working in public-facing professions. It also drew attention to the growing risks created by digital communication, where professional interactions can sometimes cross personal boundaries.
Marriage and Personal Life
Away from television, Ellie Costello has largely kept her private life out of the public spotlight.
In April 2025, she married Gerard Durkan during a ceremony held at Chelsea Old Town Hall in London. The wedding followed the couple’s engagement, which they announced in late 2023, and marked an important personal milestone after several years together.
Although news of the wedding attracted media attention, Costello has remained consistent in protecting her personal life. She has shared only limited details about her relationship, choosing not to make it a regular feature of her public profile.
This approach reflects the professional boundaries many journalists prefer to maintain. Unlike celebrities whose careers often depend on constant public exposure, broadcasters generally focus on their work rather than their personal lives. Costello has followed that tradition by keeping the attention firmly on her journalism.
Public Image and Professional Reputation
Ellie Costello has built a reputation based on professionalism, reliability, and clear communication rather than controversy.
Her calm on-screen presence and confident delivery have made her a trusted face for viewers, particularly during live broadcasts and breaking news coverage. Whether reporting from the scene of a major event or presenting from the studio, she is known for maintaining composure under pressure.
As one of the presenters at GB News, Costello works within a broadcaster that often attracts public debate and differing opinions. However, her own reputation has largely been shaped by her reporting and presenting style rather than political commentary or headline-grabbing statements.
Throughout her career, she has focused on delivering factual reporting, conducting thoughtful interviews, and helping viewers understand complex stories. That measured approach has earned her recognition as a journalist first and a television personality second.
Career Success and Financial Standing
Like many television presenters, Ellie Costello has never publicly disclosed details about her salary or personal finances.
Although various websites publish estimates of her earnings or net worth, none of these figures have been confirmed through official sources. Without verified financial information, any specific amount should be regarded as speculation rather than fact.
What can be said with confidence is that Costello has established a successful career in British broadcasting. After beginning at the BBC and later becoming one of the key presenters at GB News, she has developed a stable position within the industry.
Her income is likely to reflect her experience, presenting responsibilities, and long-term role at a national television network. However, the exact details remain private, consistent with the way she has chosen to manage most aspects of her personal life.
Rather than focusing on financial estimates, her career is better measured by her professional achievements. Through years of reporting, presenting, and covering major national stories, Ellie Costello has earned a respected place within British broadcast journalism.
Where Ellie Costello Is Now
As of 2026, Ellie Costello continues to play an important role at GB News, where she is a regular presenter on GB News Breakfast. Appearing on weekday mornings, she helps guide viewers through the day’s biggest stories, conducts live interviews, and provides updates on breaking news as events unfold.
Her responsibilities extend beyond reading headlines. Costello remains actively involved in reporting on major national stories and regularly contributes to the channel’s wider news coverage. The combination of field reporting and studio presenting has made her one of the broadcaster’s most versatile journalists.
Over the past few years, her profile has continued to grow. With increasing on-screen responsibility and a reputation for calm, professional reporting, she has established herself as a trusted figure in British television news.
As modern journalism continues to evolve, Costello represents a new generation of broadcasters who can move confidently between live reporting, studio presentation, digital media, and audience engagement. Her career reflects the changing demands of television journalism while remaining grounded in accurate reporting and clear communication.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Ellie Costello?
Ellie Costello is a British journalist and television presenter best known for her work with GB News. Before joining the broadcaster, she worked at the BBC, where she gained experience in both international and domestic news reporting. Today, she is recognised for presenting GB News Breakfast and covering major national events across the UK.
Is Ellie Costello married?
Yes. Ellie Costello married Gerard Durkan in April 2025 during a ceremony held in London. Although she has shared news of significant milestones, she generally keeps her relationship and family life private.
How old is Ellie Costello?
Ellie Costello was widely reported to be 31 years old in 2025. However, her exact date of birth has not been publicly confirmed, and she has chosen not to make her age a prominent part of her public profile.
What is Ellie Costello’s role at GB News?
Costello is one of the presenters of GB News Breakfast, where she delivers the day’s news, interviews guests, reports on breaking stories, and helps guide viewers through current events. She also continues to contribute to field reporting on significant national stories.
What happened in Ellie Costello’s stalking case?
Ellie Costello revealed that she was stalked for more than a year by a man who initially contacted her following a professional interaction. The case resulted in a court conviction, a suspended sentence, and a restraining order. She later spoke publicly about the experience to help raise awareness of stalking and its impact on victims.
What is Ellie Costello’s net worth?
There is no officially confirmed information regarding Ellie Costello’s net worth or salary. While various online estimates exist, none have been verified through reliable public financial records, so they should be treated with caution.
Conclusion
Ellie Costello’s career reflects steady progress built on skill, determination, and a genuine commitment to journalism. From studying English Literature and Broadcast Journalism to working at the BBC before joining GB News, she has developed her reputation through experience rather than overnight success.
Her work as both a reporter and presenter demonstrates a broad understanding of modern broadcasting. Whether covering major national events from the scene or presenting live television from the studio, she approaches each assignment with professionalism, accuracy, and composure.
Away from the newsroom, Costello has remained equally measured in the way she handles public attention. She has maintained clear boundaries around her personal life while speaking openly about important issues, including her experience of stalking, helping to raise awareness of a subject that affects many people.
As her career continues to develop, Ellie Costello remains one of Britain’s rising broadcast journalists. With experience across reporting, presenting, and live television, she is well positioned to continue playing an important role in the future of UK news broadcasting.
