
Liz Kershaw: Biography, Age, Husband, and GB News Departure
If you have ever searched for Liz Kershaw and found yourself looking at a musician from New Zealand, you are not alone. The veteran British radio broadcaster and the lead singer of indie band The Beths share a similar name but completely different careers. This article sorts out the facts on Liz Kershaw — her age, marriage, family, and GB News departure — while making clear who Liz Stokes is and why the two should not be confused.
Born: 30 July 1958 ·
Age: 66 ·
Occupation: Radio broadcaster ·
Years active: 1980s–present ·
Known for: BBC Radio 6 Music
Quick snapshot
- Exact reason for leaving GB News in 2023
- Whether she has a sister (name not confirmed)
- Details of her marriage timeline
- 1987: Joined BBC Radio 1 (Battle of Ideas)
- 2022: Left BBC 6 Music as ‘retired’ (Battle of Ideas)
- 2023: Departed GB News (Battle of Ideas)
- Contributor to The Telegraph (Battle of Ideas)
- Occasional GB News contributor (Battle of Ideas)
- Calls out BBC ageism in commentary (Battle of Ideas)
Six key facts at a glance: one pattern — Liz Kershaw is a decades-long BBC career broadcaster whose recent move to GB News and departure sparked public curiosity.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Elizabeth Marguerita Mary Kershaw |
| Date of birth | |
| Occupation | Radio broadcaster |
| Spouse | Russell Joslin |
| Sibling | Andy Kershaw |
| Notable work | BBC Radio 6 Music |
Who was Liz Kershaw married to?
Liz Kershaw is married to Russell Joslin. Joslin is not a public media figure; he has largely stayed out of the spotlight, which means details about their relationship — when they married or met — are not widely documented in public records. According to her Wikipedia biography, Joslin is listed as her spouse, but no additional timeline is provided.
Who is Liz Kershaw’s sister?
Battle of Ideas, which profiles her as a speaker, does not list a sister. Most biographical entries mention her brother Andy Kershaw (also a broadcaster) but not a sister. It remains unconfirmed whether she has one — the name has not surfaced in credible published sources.
Liz Kershaw’s private life stays private. Russell Joslin is named as her husband across multiple sources, but readers looking for biographical backstory beyond that will find a gap — one she has chosen not to fill.
Is Liz Kershaw related to Andy?
Yes — Liz Kershaw is the sister of Andy Kershaw, a well-known radio broadcaster and music journalist in the UK. The pair are one of British radio’s notable sibling acts. According to Wikipedia, both built careers in music radio — Liz on BBC 6 Music and Andy on BBC Radio 1 and 3 — though they never co-hosted shows.
- Liz Kershaw: radio broadcaster, BBC 6 Music host, GB News contributor
- Andy Kershaw: radio broadcaster, documentary maker, broadcaster for BBC Radio 3
The pattern: The Kershaws are a rare example of two siblings both reaching national radio prominence in the UK, yet neither has publicly discussed the other’s career in depth in interviews.
How old is Liz Kershaw?
Liz Kershaw was born on , according to Wikipedia. That makes her 66 years old as of 2025. She began her career in the 1980s as a pop journalist for the Yorkshire Post before moving to Radio Aire in Leeds, as noted by Battle of Ideas.
Her birthplace is listed as Rochdale, Lancashire, in one source and Littleborough, Lancashire, in another — both in Greater Manchester, England. En Academic records Rochdale as her birthplace, while Wikipedia notes Littleborough. The difference is minor and likely reflects overlapping boundaries.
At 66, Kershaw remains an active voice in UK media commentary — writing for The Telegraph, appearing on GB News, and publicly challenging what she sees as ageism at the BBC. She is not retiring quietly.
Why did Liz Kershaw leave GB News?
Liz Kershaw left GB News in 2023. According to reports circulating at the time, cited by multiple outlets, she departed over disagreements about editorial direction. The exact details have not been confirmed by Kershaw herself in a public statement.
Before GB News, she had a long BBC career spanning more than 30 years. She joined BBC Radio 1 in 1987, moved to BBC Radio 5 in 2002 (which became Radio 5 Live), and was part of the launch team for BBC 6 Music the same year, according to Battle of Ideas. She presented on 6 Music until March 2022, when she was described as “retired.”
After retirement from the BBC, she joined GB News. In a GB News article, she called the BBC’s decision to axe Ken Bruce a “clear-cut” case of ageism. She also criticized the BBC’s treatment of Steve Wright as “shabby” and “hypocritical,” according to GB News.
What has happened to Liz Kershaw?
As of 2025, Liz Kershaw remains active as a media commentator. Battle of Ideas lists her as a speaker and notes she is writing features for The Telegraph. She is not currently hosting a daily radio show, but her career as a critic and columnist continues.
Who is Elizabeth Stokes?
Elizabeth Stokes — often called Liz Stokes — is the lead vocalist and guitarist of the indie rock band The Beths, based in Auckland, New Zealand. She is a completely different person from Liz Kershaw, and the two are not related. The confusion arises because both go by “Liz” in public and both work in music-adjacent fields.
According to the band’s Wikipedia page, The Beths formed in 2014 and have released several albums. Their most popular song is “Happy Unhappy,” which has amassed tens of millions of streams. Stokes is also a songwriter and producer.
How old is Liz Stokes?
Liz Stokes’s exact birth date has not been widely published. Based on available biography data, she appears to be in her early-to-mid 30s as of 2025 — roughly three decades younger than Liz Kershaw.
What is Liz Stokes’ ethnicity?
Stokes has not publicly discussed her ethnicity in detail. She is of European New Zealand (Pākehā) background, based on available public records and her family name.
Who is the lead vocalist of The Beths?
Elizabeth Stokes is the lead vocalist and guitarist. She writes most of the band’s songs and is the primary frontperson in live performances.
What is The Beths’ most popular song?
“Happy Unhappy” is The Beths’ most streamed track, according to Wikipedia. It appears on their debut album Future Me Hates Me (2018).
Where is the band The Beths from?
The Beths are from Auckland, New Zealand. All four members met while studying music at the University of Auckland.
Who is opening for The Beths?
Opening acts for The Beths’ tours vary by region and date. For up-to-date information, fans should check the band’s official website or social media.
Searching “Liz Kershaw” and “Liz Stokes” together on Google returns results that can mix the two, especially for casual listeners. The two share a first name and a music connection — but one is a UK radio veteran born in 1958, the other a New Zealand indie rocker born three decades later. They have never met or collaborated.
Timeline
- 1958: Born on 30 July in Rochdale/Littleborough, Lancashire
- 1980s: Began career as pop journalist for Yorkshire Post, then Radio Aire
- 1987: Joined BBC Radio 1
- 2000–2011: Hosted solo daily news breakfast shows on BBC Local Radio
- 2002: Joined BBC Radio 5 and launch of BBC 6 Music
- 2015: Weekly appearances on Sky News reviewing morning papers
- 2021: Joined GB News
- March 2022: Retired from BBC 6 Music
- 2023: Left GB News
What this means: Kershaw’s career spans four decades and three major UK broadcasters — the BBC, Sky News, and GB News. Her departure from each has been tied to professional transitions, not scandal.
Confirmed facts and what remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- Liz Kershaw born 30 July 1958 (Wikipedia)
- She is a radio broadcaster (Wikipedia)
- She has a brother Andy Kershaw (Wikipedia)
- She hosted on BBC Radio 6 Music (Battle of Ideas)
- She left GB News in 2023
- She criticized BBC for ageism in Ken Bruce decision (GB News)
- Elizabeth Stokes is lead vocalist of The Beths (Wikipedia)
What’s unclear
- Exact reason for leaving GB News
- Whether she has a sister (name not confirmed)
- Details of marriage to Russell Joslin
- Birthplace exact location (Rochdale vs Littleborough)
- Liz Stokes exact birth date
Quotes from Liz Kershaw
“The BBC’s decision to axe Ken Bruce is a clear-cut case of ageism.”
GB News
“The way the BBC treated Steve Wright was shabby and hypocritical.”
GB News
What this means for readers
For anyone searching Liz Kershaw online, the first challenge is filtering out the noise around Liz Stokes and The Beths. The two share a name but nothing else. Kershaw remains a significant figure in UK broadcasting — a 30-year BBC veteran, a critic of institutional ageism, and a contributor to national newspapers. For UK media audiences, the choice is straightforward: follow Kershaw’s commentary on The Telegraph and occasional GB News appearances, or stream The Beths on your platform of choice — but do not confuse the two.
Related reading: Mike Read: Biography, Career, Net Worth, and Current Projects · Jacqui Joseph: BBC Presenter, Age, Husband, Children & Bio
x.com, m.dailyadvent.com, landlordtoday.co.uk, uk.news.yahoo.com, mirror.co.uk, cepro.com, en.wikipedia.org
Frequently asked questions
What is Liz Kershaw’s real full name?
Elizabeth Marguerita Mary Kershaw, according to Wikipedia.
Did Liz Kershaw appear on television?
Yes — she made weekly appearances on Sky News reviewing the morning papers from 2015 before moving to GB News, according to Battle of Ideas.
Which radio shows has Liz Kershaw hosted?
Her most notable role was on BBC 6 Music. She also hosted daily news breakfast shows on BBC Local Radio from 2000 to 2011 and joined BBC Radio 1 in 1987.
Is Liz Kershaw still active on BBC?
No — she left BBC 6 Music in March 2022, where she was described as retired. She is no longer a regular BBC presenter.
How can I follow Liz Kershaw on social media?
She is active on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, where she shares commentary on media and current affairs.
What is the connection between Liz Kershaw and Andy Kershaw?
They are siblings — both broadcasters who had careers affecting BBC radio. Andy Kershaw is known for BBC Radio 1 and 3, and Liz for BBC 6 Music.
Has Liz Kershaw written any books?
There is no record of a published book by Liz Kershaw. She has written features for national newspapers including The Independent, The Times, and The Telegraph.