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Ben Leo is a British journalist and broadcaster with GB News, a UK-based television news channel. Leo has covered a range of political, social, and sporting events during his career.

Career

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Leo began his journalism career at The Argus newspaper in Brighton after qualifying with the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ).[1] He later joined The Sun newspaper, where he served as a senior reporter for seven years.[2] During his tenure at The Sun, Leo covered news stories including investigative work related to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. Leo was also involved in reporting on the London Bridge terror attack in Borough Market in 2017, major sporting events and the royal wedding between the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry and Meghan.

After joining GB News as a producer for Dan Wootton Tonight in 2022, the prime time show hosted by The Sun's former executive editor Dan Wootton, Leo conducted guerrilla-style ambush interviews with figures including Phillip Schofield, Jeremy Hunt, Angela Rayner, and ITV executives Martin Frizell and Kevin Lygo. He ambushed the Greenpeace headquarters in London[3] after protesters targeted the house of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for approving North Sea oil and gas licenses.

Leo reported from Australia in late 2023 while covering GB News colleague Nigel Farage's stint in ITV's I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here jungle.[4] Farage finished third.

Awards

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Leo was named UK's Young Journalist of the Year at the 2014 Regional Press Awards[5] for investigations into Fixed Odd Betting Terminals in British bookmakers and revelations that gamblers were losing £1 billion a year on the machines, which had been described as "more addictive than crack cocaine." The maximum bet on the machines was later reduced to just £2 after intervention from Parliament.

Leo also exposed how an energy company actively encouraged its sales staff to sign customers onto the most expensive tariffs in exchange for higher rates of commission, prompting the firm to change its sales incentives structure. He was presented with the Young Journalist of the Year award by Nick Ferrari.[6]

Personal life

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Ben Leo hails from Brighton in East Sussex, England. He is a father of two.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "NCTJ trainee wins young journalist of the year award". National Council for the Training of Journalists. 2014-05-15. Retrieved 2024-08-27.
  2. ^ "Benjamin Leo". The Irish Sun. Retrieved 2024-08-27.
  3. ^ "'Hilarious': GB News inadvertently give Greenpeace publicity with media stunt". The National. 2023-08-04. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  4. ^ "I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here reporter australia reveals all". www.gbnews.com. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  5. ^ "NCTJ trainee wins young journalist of the year award". National Council for the Training of Journalists. 2014-05-15. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  6. ^ "Argus reporter crowned young journalist of the year during dramatic regional press awards". National Council for the Training of Journalists. 2015-05-14. Retrieved 2024-08-27.
  7. ^ "Life is never premature | Ben Leo". The Critic Magazine. 2023-09-12. Retrieved 2024-08-27.