MORE trouble at GB News: Andrew Neil 'will NOT return to channel next week' - as channel announces new line up including Isabel Oakeshott who will host weekly political show

Andrew Neil will not return to GB News next week as expected, as speculation about a rift between him and the channel's top team continues to grow. 

The veteran broadcaster, 72, who is chairman of the channel, announced less than two weeks after its launch in June that he was taking a break but would be back 'before the summer is out'.

Insiders had expected Neil to be back on air on Monday, September 6, but this prospect is now believed to be out of the question, according to The Times. 

Despite the absence of the heavyweight, the channel's executives have pointed out that it has occasionally beaten Sky News in the ratings in recent weeks.

The videos on its Youtube channel have also amassed millions of views.   

It comes as GB News announced today that political journalist Isabel Oakeshott will host her own weekly political show on the channel as part of a relaunch which is set to take place later this month. 

Ms Oakeshott, who co-wrote an unauthorised biography of ex-Prime Minister David Cameron with former Tory party chairman Lord Ashcroft, said she was 'really excited' to be joining the venture.

The new show will feature alongside others fronted by current GB news political reporter Tom Harwood, along with presenter Gloria De Piero and political editor Darren McCaffrey. 

Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage now also hosts his own show four nights a week after joining the channel in June.   

His arrival led to a boost in the channel's viewers, with more than 100,000 tuning in to watch one of his first shows. This was said to be far ahead of Sky News's ratings at the same time. 

There are claims that CEO Angelos Frangopoulos is keen to reposition the channel as more of a British Fox News-type service, with more opinionated Right-wing content. 

Andrew Neil will not return to GB News next week as expected, as speculation about a rift between him and the channel's top team continues to grow. The veteran broadcaster, 72, who is chairman of the channel, announced less than two weeks after its launch in June that he was taking a break but would be back 'before the summer is out'

GB News said last month it was 'looking forward' to Neil's return but reportedly did not repeat the words when approached for comment today. 

MailOnlline has approached the channel and Neil directly for comment. 

There has been speculation for several weeks that Neil may quit the Right-leaning channel entirely after reports that he has fallen out with Mr Frangopoulos.   

In July, Neil waded into a row caused by the suspension of presenter Guto Harri after he took the knee live on air. 

Mr Harri then left the show entirely and his departure was followed by the resignation of senior executive John McAndrew.

In a rallying cry posted on Twitter, Neil then said: 'Start ups are fraught and fractious GB News is no exception. 

'But the news channel is finding its feet and has a great future. Watch this space.' 

Speculation about Neil's future is likely to rise further following news today that political journalist Isabel Oakeshott will host her own show on the channel

Former Sky News presenter Colin Brazier has been hosting Neil's show in his absence, while ex-ITV anchor Alastair Stewart was on air in the slot this week.

One employee who is sceptical that Neil will return told The Times that 'I won't believe it until I see it'. 

They added: 'Hopefully he gets over himself and comes back - for the good of everyone.' 

GB News's launch was plagued by technical problems such as poorly lit sets and crackling microphones, issues which Neil is understood to have regarded as shambolic.   

It comes as GB News announced today that political journalist Isabel Oakeshott will host her own weekly political show on the channel. Ms Oakeshott, who co-wrote an unauthorised biography of ex-Prime Minister David Cameron with former Tory party chairman Lord Ashcroft, said she was 'really excited' to be joining the venture

A statement released today by GB News said Ms Oakeshott 'will present one of the channel's soon-to-launch daily political programmes, The Briefing PM, on Fridays

Despite there being no sign of Neil's imminent return to his own show, he did appear on Mr Farage's programme on August 20 to discuss the crisis in Afghanistan following the Taliban's takeover of the country. 

A statement released today by GB News said Ms Oakeshott 'will present one of the channel's soon-to-launch daily political programmes, The Briefing PM, on Fridays.' 

Ms Oakeshott has also been the political editor of the Sunday Times and the political editor-at-large for the Daily Mail. 

Her other written works include White Flag? An examination of the UK's defence capability.   

Ms Oakeshott's arrival follows that of Sky News' home affairs correspondent Mark White. 

Explaining his switch yesterday, White said: 'When GB News first launched, it reported for a whole day from my home town in the Scottish Borders.

'I knew then that it was my kind of journalism, genuinely committed to listening to the voices and concerns of people right across the nation.'