Introduction: Who Is Nana Akua?

Nana Akua has emerged as one of Britain’s most recognizable television presenters, particularly known for her work with GB News. Born Nana Akua Amoatemaa-Appiah, she has carved out a distinctive presence in British broadcasting through her bold commentary and fearless approach to journalism. Her journey from radio to becoming a prominent face on GB News represents a fascinating story of determination, talent, and unwavering commitment to authentic journalism.

Nana Akua – Biography

Category	Details
Full Name	Nana Akua Amoatemaa-Appiah
Date of Birth	July 19, 1971
Age	53 years old (as of 2026)
Birthplace	Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Nationality	British
Ethnicity	Ghanaian descent
Education	BA with honors in HND Business and Finance, University of Sunderland New Hall School, Chelmsford, Essex
Occupation	Television Presenter, Journalist, Columnist, Fitness Entrepreneur
Current Employer	GB News (Executive Editor & Presenter)
Notable Shows	• “Nana Akua” (GB News, Saturdays & Sundays 3-6pm) • Tonight Live with Nana Akua (GB News) • The Great British Breakfast (GB News, co-host) • Holiday Show (BBC One) • Good Morning Britain (ITV, panellist) • The Jeremy Vine Show (Channel 5, panellist)
Previous Work	• BBC (13 years total) • Kiss 100 FM • Capital Radio • Fusion 107.3 • Bid-Up.TV & Price Drop • Sky Vegas
Years Active	1995 – Present (31+ years)
Marital Status	Engaged (announced February 2025)
Partner/Fiancé	Stephen Gillen (reformed ex-gangster, motivational speaker, entrepreneur)
Children	2 children: • Daughter: Afrika (born around 2017) • Son: Ivory (born around 2017, diagnosed with cerebral palsy)
Net Worth	Estimated $1 million – $5 million
Annual Salary	Approximately £30,000 – £300,000 (GB News presenter range) Estimated $40,740 – $100,590 annually from broadcasting
Other Ventures	• LadyXsize (Fitness brand founder) • Daily Mail Columnist • “Fit Gear” show host (Fitness TV, Sky 282) • Qualified Fitness Instructor • Event Host & Speaker
Social Media	• Instagram: @nanaakuatv (24,900+ followers) • Twitter/X: 58,700+ followers
Notable Recognition	Nominated for Charles Gordon Trust Award for Best Presenter (December 2023)
Known For	• Bold political commentary • “Queen of the monologues” • Viral GB News segments • Free speech advocacy • Fitness entrepreneurship
Career Highlights	• Over 10,000 hours of live television experience • Joined GB News in summer 2021 • Created weighted hoop workout DVD sold on QVC • Worked with Mr Motivator on fitness programs • BBC continuity announcer
Height	Not publicly disclosed
Hair Color	Black
Eye Color	• “Nana Akua” (GB News, Saturdays & Sundays 3-6 pm) • Tonight Live with Nana Akua (GB News) • The Great British Breakfast (GB News, co-host) • Holiday Show (BBC One) • Good Morning Britain (ITV, panellist) • The Jeremy Vine Show (Channel 5, panellist)

Early Life and Background

Personal Background and Heritage

Born on July 19, 1971, in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, Nana Akua age stands at 53 years old. She is the daughter of Ghanaian immigrants who came to the United Kingdom in the 1960s, bringing with them a rich cultural heritage that would significantly influence her worldview and career.

When Nana Akua was just 11 years old, her family relocated to the United States after her father secured a position on Wall Street as a trader. However, thanks to her exceptional skills as a gymnast, she remained in the UK during term time, attending an all-girls boarding school. This early separation from her family fostered independence and resilience that would serve her well throughout her career.

Education and Early Career Path

Nana Akua pursued her education at New Hall School in Chelmsford, Essex, before enrolling at the University of Sunderland. There, she earned a BA with honors in HND Business and Finance. Initially, she harbored ambitions of following in her father’s footsteps to become a financial trader, demonstrating her business acumen and analytical thinking from an early age.

Her initial interests in media and broadcasting developed somewhat accidentally. A former partner suggested she consider television and radio as career options, prompting her to apply for a position at Kiss 100 as a graduate trainee sponsorship assistant in 1995. This seemingly chance suggestion would redirect the entire trajectory of her professional life.

Career Development

Early Career in Broadcasting

Nana Akua’s first steps into broadcasting began at Kiss 100 FM in London, where she worked on setting up sponsorship deals and invented Kiss clubs’ sponsored tours. Her natural talent for communication quickly became evident, and clients began requesting her voice for commercials, opening the door to voiceover work.

She then moved to Capital Radio, where she played a major role in developing and bringing in finance for their new online arm, Capital Interactive. During her training and development phase, she simultaneously worked at The Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Radio station, where she honed her craft as a DJ in her spare time.

The turning point came when Richard Park, recognizing her talent, offered her a trainee position as a DJ for The Capital Radio Café. This opportunity allowed her to develop her on-air personality and presentation skills in a supportive environment.

Rise in Television

Her key career milestones began with securing her own Drivetime Show on Fusion 107.3, a commercial station covering South East London. However, her true television breakthrough came through an unconventional route. One day, while working at Capital Radio, she switched off her computer and saw her reflection in the screen. In that moment, she knew she had to pursue her dream of presenting on television.

Taking a bold step, Nana Akua quit her job at Capital and negotiated a trainee position as a DJ at The Capital Radio Café. Her transition to prominent presenting roles accelerated when she began hosting live auctions on Bid-Up.TV and Price Drop, working five days a week for four hours of live television daily. This invaluable experience, combined with presenting live gameshows on Sky Vegas, saw her accumulate more than 10,000 hours of live presentation experience.

Her notable early programs included the prime-time Holiday Show on BBC One and the Money Show pilot for BBC Three. She also worked as a continuity announcer for the BBC and appeared as a panellist on Good Morning Britain on ITV and The Jeremy Vine Show on Channel 5.

GB News and Current Work

Role as Presenter at GB News

In summer 2021, Nana Akua joined GB News, marking a significant chapter in her broadcasting career. She serves as an executive editor and hosts her own weekend show, simply titled “Nana Akua,” which airs on Saturdays and Sundays from 3-6 pm. She has also co-hosted The Great British Breakfast and previously presented Tonight Live with Nana Akua on GB News.

Her decision to join GB News represented more than just a career move. After working for the BBC for 13 years in total, she felt constrained by what she perceived as institutional bias. In her own words, she explained that she couldn’t question certain topics like climate change without risking her job, and she didn’t support certain movements that the organization seemed to favor.

Her Presenting Style and Approach

Nana Akua GB News persona is characterized by what the channel describes as “a fun and feisty romp through the news.” She gets the inside scoop on stories that matter to viewers and tackles the big debates of the day with an unapologetic directness that has become her trademark.

The topics and issues she typically covers span politics, current affairs, cultural debates, and social issues. She’s particularly known for her monologues, which have earned millions of views globally and established her reputation as the “Queen of the monologues.”

Her distinctive characteristics as a presenter include her willingness to challenge mainstream narratives, her sharp wit, and her ability to articulate controversial viewpoints with clarity and conviction. She brings both her business background and her diverse life experiences to bear on the issues she discusses.

Notable Interviews and Moments

Memorable Broadcasts and Significant Interviews

One of Nana Akua’s most memorable personal moments on GB News came in February 2025 when she announced her engagement live on air. Co-host Ben Leo was completely unprepared for the bombshell announcement, creating a genuinely spontaneous and heartwarming moment of television. She revealed that she had been proposed to in Venice, Italy, in what she described as “literally the best proposal ever” in a palace.

Interestingly, it was through her work at GB News that she met her fiancé, Stephen Gillen. She had interviewed him about two and a half years before their engagement, and their relationship developed after he split from a previous partner.

Viral or Widely-Discussed Moments

Her impact on public discourse includes several viral moments. She has been vocal in her criticism of “taking the knee” against racism, describing it as virtue signalling. She also worked with the Department of Health and Social Care to encourage black, Asian, and minority ethnic people to be vaccinated against COVID-19, though she called GB News co-host Darren McCaffrey a “hypocrite” live on-air for opposing compulsory vaccinations for care home staff.

Her commentary on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Brexit, and transgender issues in women’s spaces has all generated significant discussion and debate. In December 2023, her work was recognized when she was nominated for a Charles Gordon Trust Award for Best Presenter.

Public Profile and Media Presence

Social Media Presence and Public Reception

Nana Akua maintains an active presence on social media, with over 24,900 followers on Instagram under the handle @nanaakuatv. She also has more than 58,700 followers on Twitter (now X), where she regularly shares her views and engages with current events.

Beyond her television work, she serves as a columnist for the Daily Mail, where her take on the political landscape has made her a reader favorite. She tackles issues such as race, gender, and the behavior of political classes with the same directness she brings to her television work.

Media Coverage and Public Perception

Public perception of Nana Akua tends to be sharply divided, reflecting the polarized nature of modern political discourse. Her supporters appreciate her willingness to voice opinions they feel are underrepresented in mainstream media, while critics sometimes challenge her viewpoints on various social and political issues.

The controversies and debates surrounding her work often center on her forthright positions on topics like Black Lives Matter, transgender rights, and what she perceives as media bias. Rather than shy away from these controversies, she tends to lean into them, viewing them as evidence that she’s asking important questions.

Personal Life: Partner and Children

Is Nana Akua Married? Her Relationship Status

A question many people ask is, “is Nana Akua married?” The answer is that while she is not currently married, she is engaged to Stephen Gillen, a reformed ex-gangster turned motivational speaker, public speaker, entrepreneur, and author. The couple publicly announced their engagement in early 2025 on GB News.

Nana Akua Partner: Stephen Gillen

Nana Akua partner, Stephen Gillen, has a remarkable personal story. He received a 17-year prison sentence in his 20s and served 12 years. After hitting rock bottom, he decided to turn his life around completely. He founded Roar Media Creative, a digital media, brand development, and production company, and now uses his experience to support and encourage people worldwide who need second chances and want to transform their lives.

There appears to be some confusion online regarding “Nana Akua husband Harold Norman.” However, this refers to a different person entirely—Nana Akua Addo, a Ghanaian actress who married Harold Norman in 2022. The GB News presenter Nana Akua is not connected to Harold Norman in any way.

When discussing who Nana Akua’s fiancé is, Stephen Gillen describes himself as a “tough guy” and “hard man,” though Nana Akua recalls that when she first interviewed him in the GB News green room, he was surprisingly shy. Their engagement took place in Venice, where Stephen had to rush back to Hatton Garden to resize the engagement ring in just two hours before their flight—a moment of panic that added to the story’s charm.

Nana Akua Children

Nana Akua children include two youngsters: a daughter named Afrika and a son named Ivory. According to various sources, both children were born around 2017, though she keeps their lives largely private, sharing only occasional glimpses on Instagram.

Her journey to motherhood wasn’t without challenges. She had her daughter early in her career and turned to fitness to provide for her. Her son Ivory was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. She has spoken about how she had doubts and attended an abortion clinic three times before deciding to continue with her pregnancy after being greeted by pro-life campaigners with placards.

Despite her hectic work schedule, she has successfully maintained a balance between her professional life and motherhood. She has confessed that she loves this balance and that her children inspire her daily work.

Beyond Broadcasting: Entrepreneurship and Fitness

LadyXsize Fitness Brand

After the birth of her daughter, Nana Akua decided to combine her business acumen with her passion for health and fitness. She became a fully qualified fitness instructor and launched LadyXsize, a fitness guru and brand where she taught an array of classes with a team of fitness instructors.

She approached Fitness TV (Sky 282) and acquired her own show called “Fit Gear.” Not content with just presenting, she worked with Mr Motivator, helping him launch and generate finance for his fitness program across the UK. She also created her own weighted hoop workout DVD set, which she sold very successfully on QVC.

Additionally, she had her own Health Show on BBC local radio and a show on UK Health Radio. Her new product range is scheduled to launch at the beginning of 2026, demonstrating her ongoing commitment to the fitness industry alongside her broadcasting career.

Personal Views and Advocacy

Topics She’s Passionate About

Nana Akua is passionate about free speech, believing that broadcasters should be able to express genuine viewpoints without institutional pressure. She has been vocal about her support for Brexit and has criticized what she sees as bias in traditional media organizations.

She’s also passionate about health and fitness, not just as a business venture but as a lifestyle. Her work encouraging BAME communities to get vaccinated against COVID-19 demonstrated her commitment to public health, even when it put her at odds with some colleagues.

Her Perspective on Journalism and Broadcasting

Her perspective on journalism centers on authenticity and the freedom to question prevailing narratives. She has explained that during her time at the BBC, she felt she couldn’t speak her mind on topics like climate change or Black Lives Matter without risking her position. She believed the organization had a particular narrative and that deviation from it would not be tolerated.

This experience shaped her view that journalists should be held accountable but should also be free to express diverse viewpoints. She’s grateful for the training the BBC provided, but believes GB News offers the freedom to be authentic that she craved throughout her career.

Nana Akua Net Worth and Financial Success

Estimating Her Wealth

While exact figures aren’t publicly confirmed, Nana Akua net worth is estimated to be between $1 million and $5 million, according to various entertainment industry sources. This wealth has been accumulated through multiple income streams over her decades-long career.

Her earnings come from her GB News presenter salary, which for presenters at the channel ranges between £30,000 and £300,000 annually, depending on popularity and experience. Some sources suggest she earns approximately $40,740 to $100,590 annually from her broadcasting work alone.

Additional income sources include her Daily Mail column, her fitness brand LadyXsize, event hosting, speaker engagements, and her various entrepreneurial ventures in fitness products and instruction.

Impact and Influence on British Broadcasting

Her Contribution to British Broadcasting

Nana Akua’s contribution to British broadcasting extends beyond her individual programs. She represents a voice that many feel has been underrepresented in mainstream media—someone willing to challenge progressive orthodoxies and question narratives that other broadcasters might accept without examination.

Her accumulation of over 10,000 hours of live television experience has made her a technically proficient broadcaster capable of handling any situation that arises during live programming. This expertise, combined with her willingness to tackle controversial subjects, has made her a valuable asset to GB News.

Influence on Diverse Representation in Media

As a British woman of Ghanaian descent, Nana Akua’s influence on diverse representation in media is complex. She demonstrates that diversity of thought can be just as important as diversity of background. Her presence shows that people from minority backgrounds don’t necessarily hold identical political or social views, challenging stereotypes and assumptions.

Her role in contemporary political discourse has been to provide a platform for viewpoints that might be considered conservative or traditional, delivered by someone whose background might lead people to expect different perspectives. This has made her a particularly interesting and sometimes controversial figure in the British media.

Addressing the Question: Nana Akua Leaves GB News?

Setting the Record Straight

There have been no confirmed reports about Nana Akua leaves GB News as of January 2026. She continues to host her weekend show “Nana Akua” every Saturday and Sunday from 3-6 pm, and recent programming schedules show her actively presenting.

The question “Is Nana Akua leaving GB News?” appears to arise from general internet searches rather than any actual announcement or credible reporting. She has expressed gratitude for the opportunity GB News has provided her to speak freely, and there are no indications she plans to depart the channel.

In fact, her recent engagement announcement on the channel and her continued presence in GB News promotional materials suggest a strong ongoing relationship with the broadcaster.

Conclusion

Summary of Her Significance as a Broadcaster

Nana Akua represents a distinctive voice in British broadcasting—someone who has navigated the transition from mainstream media to alternative platforms while maintaining her principles and building a devoted audience. Her journey from wanting to be a financial trader to becoming one of GB News’s most recognizable faces demonstrates the unpredictable nature of career paths and the importance of pursuing one’s authentic voice.

Her willingness to tackle controversial subjects, combined with her extensive broadcasting experience and business acumen, has established her as a significant figure in contemporary British media. Whether discussing politics, social issues, or cultural debates, she brings a perspective shaped by her unique background and experiences.

Current Status and Ongoing Work

Currently, Nana Akua continues her role as executive editor and host of “Nana Akua” on GB News, appearing every weekend. She also writes her column for the Daily Mail and is preparing to launch new products through her LadyXsize fitness brand in 2026.

How old is Nana Akua? At 53 years old, she shows no signs of slowing down. Her recent engagement to Stephen Gillen marks an exciting new chapter in her personal life, while her professional commitments remain robust and diverse.

Future Prospects in Broadcasting

The prospects for Nana Akua in broadcasting appear strong. As GB News continues to establish itself in the British media landscape, experienced and popular presenters like her will remain central to the channel’s identity and appeal. Her ability to generate discussion, attract viewers, and deliver compelling content positions her well for continued success.

Whether through her television work, her writing, her fitness brand, or her advocacy for various causes, Nana Akua has demonstrated that she is far more than just a television presenter—she’s a multifaceted media personality with the determination and talent to succeed across multiple platforms. Her story serves as an inspiration for anyone looking to forge their own path in media, regardless of the obstacles they might face along the way.

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