Andrew Neil, 72, is 'taking a break' from GB News less than two weeks after new channel launched but insists 'you ain't seen nothing yet' after his show attracted 26% more viewers than BBC News

• Broadcaster told viewers of his prime time show he'll be away 'for a few weeks'
• Neil admitted station had a 'rocky start' despite impressive audience figures
• A number of high profile brands have pulled advertising since channel's launch Andrew Neil is already taking a break from GB News - less than two weeks after launching the TV channel.

  The veteran broadcaster told viewers last night he'll be away 'for a few weeks' after a 'rocky start' for the fledgling station.

  But after it attracted some 26% more viewers than BBC News earlier this week, Neil insisted: 'You ain't seen nothing yet'.

  His prime-time show will be covered by former Sky News presenter Colin Brazier. 

  GB News has endured a difficult time since launching earlier this month, with a number of high profile brands pulling advertising.

  But Neil insisted viewing numbers were on the rise and that there was plenty more to come.

  

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  Andrew Neil is already taking a break from GB News - less than two weeks after launching the TV channel

  He told viewers: 'In two short weeks, we've already built a loyal audience which has beaten all of our expectations, it's often bigger than the other news channels and it's growing.'

  'That's the real story about GB News to date and you won't often read that in the papers.

  'So on behalf of GB News, I say to all of our viewers, thank you. We won't let you down and you ain't seen nothing yet.'

   Indeed on Wednesday night, Neil's flagship 8pm interview show brought in 92,500 viewers - while competing with huge European football matches.

  Audience data shows the former This Week presenter scored three times higher than Sky News at the same time, and 24,000 more than BBC News.

  The 72-year-old took to social media to celebrate the news, writing: 'Great figures on @GBNEWS Andrew Neil show last night. Number one in time slot (again).

  'Three times audience of Sky News. 26% more than BBC News Channel. And we've only just begun.'

  It was also reported that the show attracted 'quite a young audience' with higher numbers in the 16 to 35-year-old demographic.