Ellie Costello Career, Husband & GB News Biography

Ellie Costello anchors GB News Breakfast with a calm, confident presence, but her path to the TRIC award-winning programme is a journey that winds through BBC investigations, a career shift during the pandemic, and a wedding that celebrated her Irish roots. This profile brings together verified career facts, personal milestones, and the answers to the most common questions about the broadcaster.

Current Role: Breakfast Anchor, GB News ·
Notable Awards: 3x TRIC award-winning Breakfast programme ·
Previous Employers: BBC News, Victoria LIVE, BBC World Service ·
Wedding Date: July 2025

Seven key facts, one pattern: Ellie Costello’s career is a steady climb through some of the UK’s most respected newsrooms, yet the public knows surprisingly little about her personal details. The table below captures the confirmed biographical anchor points.

What is Ellie Costello’s background?

Where did Ellie Costello study?

• Ellie Costello studied Broadcast Journalism at City, University of London (2016–2017)
• She completed a degree at the University of Southampton (2013–2016)
• She attended Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School (2005–2012)

Is Ellie Costello Italian?

Despite the surname, there is no public confirmation that Ellie Costello is Italian. Her management agency, Becca Barr Management, states she is “of Irish descent” and has “a real connection and love for Irish music, food and culture.” Her wedding in July 2025 included a second ceremony honouring her Irish heritage, as reported by evoke.ie.

How old is Ellie Costello?

Ellie Costello’s exact age and birth date are not publicly available. TV Newsroom notes that she comes from Essex and reports from the South East region, but does not provide a date of birth. Given her education timeline (2013–2017 university), she is likely in her late 20s to early 30s, but this is an estimate.

What did Ellie Costello do before GB News?

Did Ellie Costello work at BBC?

• Yes, she worked at BBC News, including reporting for the Victoria Derbyshire Programme (TV Newsroom)
• She also worked at BBC World Service (TV Newsroom)
• At BBC, she investigated bullying in the British beauty industry and stories about influencers being solicited for sex (TV Newsroom)

What roles did she have?

According to her LinkedIn profile, Ellie Costello’s career at GB News progressed through several roles: Relief Weekend Breakfast Presenter (July 2021–October 2023), National Correspondent (October 2022–October 2023), News Anchor (June 2023–present), and Breakfast Anchor (January 2025–present). Before GB News, she was a News Reporter at BBC World Service and a Reporter for the Victoria Derbyshire Programme at BBC News.

The pattern: she moved from investigative reporting at BBC into a broader anchor role at GB News, where she now covers major national events including the Queen’s funeral, the King’s coronation, and UK and US elections, according to Becca Barr Management. The implication: Costello’s career trajectory reflects a deliberate shift from specialist investigations to mainstream anchor work, a path that requires different skill sets but builds on her BBC grounding.

Who is Ellie Costello’s partner?

Who is Gerard Durkan?

Ellie Costello married Gerard Durkan in July 2025. evoke.ie reported that the wedding included a second ceremony honouring her Irish heritage. According to LinkedIn, Gerard Durkan is an Associate Director at Curle Stewart, a financial services firm.

When did they get married?

The wedding took place in July 2025. The exact date has not been publicly released, but the evoke.ie article was published on 29 July 2025, placing the event in that month.

How tall is Ellie Costello?

Ellie Costello’s height is not publicly confirmed. No reliable source provides a measurement. Speculation on forums is unfounded, and her management agency, Becca Barr Management, does not list it. In the absence of official data, any claim about her height should be treated as unverified.

How much is Ellie Costello paid?

What is Ellie Costello’s salary?

Ellie Costello’s salary is not publicly disclosed. GB News, like other UK broadcasters, is not required to publish individual presenter salaries unless they exceed certain thresholds (the BBC publishes salaries for top earners, but GB News is a commercial channel). The Sun has speculated on a range, but these figures are unconfirmed by official sources.

How does it compare to other GB News presenters?

Comparisons with presenters like Charlie Stayt are speculative. GB News does not publish salary bands. The only reliable point is that her role as Breakfast Anchor on a TRIC award-winning programme suggests a competitive industry salary, but no figure can be verified.

The trade-off: viewers want transparency, but UK commercial broadcasters are under no obligation to disclose. The absence of salary data is the norm, not an exception.

Ellie Costello has built a career that moves from investigative BBC reporting to the anchor desk of a TRIC-winning breakfast show, all while keeping her personal life largely out of the spotlight. For viewers who want to know more about the person behind the newsreader, the verifiable facts are clear: a dedicated journalist, a recent marriage, and a deliberate privacy about age, height, and salary. Costello’s restraint sends a clear signal that a public figure can command respect without revealing every detail.