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Brendan Hughes

GB News to broadcast Twelfth parades after BBC Northern Ireland axes live coverage

GB News has announced it will broadcast live coverage of the Twelfth of July parades in Northern Ireland.

The move by the television station comes after BBC Northern Ireland faced a unionist backlash over axing its live coverage.

Former DUP leader Dame Arlene Foster is to lead commentary for the GB News broadcast of the events next month.

Read more: Twelfth of July: Unionists slam BBC Northern Ireland over plans to axe live coverage

The former First Minister said she was "incredibly proud of GB News for stepping up to fill a void left by the national broadcaster".

She said: "One of the reasons I joined GB News was to bring a better understanding of Northern Ireland life and culture to a wider UK audience.

"GB News stands for inclusion, of all regional voices, and the Orange parades are core to our voice in Northern Ireland."

Announcing the move, GB News said it followed the BBC's "controversial last-minute decision to drop their live coverage".

The channel is to focus on the largest of the Orange parades, in Armagh, with Northern Ireland correspondent Douglas Beattie on the ground to explain the "patriotism, pageantry and colour of the processions".

Orange Order Grand Master Edward Stevenson said the move was "very welcome indeed".

He said: "Live coverage of the Twelfth is very important to so many people, particularly those who are unable to attend parades for a range of reasons.

"We were inundated with calls, many of them from older people who were concerned that they would miss out on this year's parades. So I am in no doubt that this announcement will come as a huge boost.

"The Twelfth in Co Armagh is the biggest of all Twelfth parades and I'm confident it will make for an excellent programme.

"It will feature thousands of Brethren, Sisters and Juniors on parade and an excellent variety of bands.

"We are delighted to work with the GB News team and look forward to seeing the Twelfth covered live."

BBC NI confirmed last week it would not be resuming the live element of its coverage of the Twelfth this year.

The Belfast parade had been televised live by the BBC for decades, but was not broadcast for the past two years when events were either cancelled or scaled back during the Covid-19 pandemic.

BBC NI interim director Adam Smyth said the Belfast parade would be included within its usual evening highlights programme, which will cover Twelfth parades at locations across Northern Ireland.

He acknowledged the "decision not to resume live television coverage of the Belfast demonstration may be disappointing for some people" but followed "careful consideration" and "all usual editorial considerations".

Read more: Twelfth of July: Unionists slam BBC Northern Ireland over plans to axe live coverage

Read more: Brendan Hughes: BBC axing live Twelfth coverage reflects changing times

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