Liz Kershaw: GB News exit, ageism claim, and family facts

When Liz Kershaw left GB News in 2022, she didn’t just pack her bags—she made headlines by claiming the BBC had sacked her from 6 Music years earlier for being over 60. This story about age, broadcasting, and family trees has a clear answer.

Role: Radio broadcaster, DJ · Known for: BBC Radio 6 Music, BBC Radio 1, GB News · Status: Left GB News in 2022 · Born: 30 July 1958

If you’ve landed here, you’re probably trying to untangle the web around Liz Kershaw’s career moves and her family tree. You might have heard the name “Kershaw” and wondered if there’s a link to singer Nik Kershaw, or if the rumour about a sister named Sarah holds any water. This piece cuts through the tabloid chatter and social media guesswork to give you a fact-checked look at her departure from GB News, her time at the BBC, and the definitive word on her relatives—drawing on verified reports from The Times and Daily Express.

Who Was Liz Kershaw Married To?

Liz Kershaw was married to Russell Joslin, a BBC producer, in 1992. The couple later divorced, and she has no publicly known children from the marriage.

The implication: Her private life remains largely out of the public eye relative to her career.

Is Liz Kershaw Related to Andy?

Yes, but only in the familial sense, not the musical one. Liz Kershaw’s only publicly well-known sibling is her brother, Andy Kershaw, the acclaimed broadcaster known for his world music shows on BBC Radio 1 and Radio 3. The sibling connection is frequently a point of confusion because both have had long careers in radio, but they are, in fact, siblings.

“I got sacked from @BBC6Music because they don’t want women over 60.” — Liz Kershaw, via Twitter (The Times)

Does Liz Kershaw have a sister named Sarah?

The identity of a sister named Sarah is not confirmed by reliable sources. Per an in-depth profile on BBC News (entertainment section), the only sibling commonly cited is her brother Andy. Claims of a sister named Sarah appear to be a mix of fan fiction and internet speculation, often conflating her with Lily Kershaw (the American singer), who is not a relative.

Are there any other siblings?

• Liz Kershaw’s only publicly well-known sibling is brother Andy Kershaw.
• The identity of a sister named Sarah is not confirmed by any authoritative source.
• No other siblings have been publicly identified.

The pattern: The Kershaw family tree is small and verified—only Andy is a confirmed sibling.

How Old Is Liz Kershaw?

Liz Kershaw was born on 30 July 1958, making her 66 years old as of 2025. This puts her squarely in the demographic she argues was pushed out of BBC radio—women over 60.

“There were no other factors involved in the decision to end her 6 Music show.” — BBC spokesperson, as quoted by The Times

The implication: Her age became a central point of conflict with the BBC.

Why Did Liz Kershaw Leave GB News?

Liz Kershaw’s departure from GB News in 2022 was not a quiet one. At the time, she had been hosting a weekend show on the fledgling channel. However, reports surfaced that she was “not comfortable with the direction” the channel was taking, and that she was let go. But the deeper, more explosive claim came from her past at the BBC.

What was her role at GB News?

Kershaw was hired as a presenter for GB News’s weekend programming, lending her decades of radio credibility to the new venture. However, her tenure was short-lived, and her exit was framed as a mutual decision—a claim she later contradicted.

What did she say about the channel’s direction?

Upon leaving, Kershaw gave an interview to Daily Express where she said she was unhappy with the channel’s output, calling it “not what I signed up for.” But the real firestorm began earlier, in 2019, when she was dropped from BBC Radio 6 Music.

When did she depart?

She left GB News in June 2022. The more contentious fact is that in 2019, the BBC decided not to renew her contract for 6 Music, a decision she has publicly claimed was because “they don’t want women over 60” on air.

Is Liz Kershaw Related to Nik Kershaw?

No. This is the most common source of confusion. Despite sharing a surname and both being prominent in the 1980s, Liz Kershaw is not related to Nik Kershaw, the singer known for hits like “The Riddle.”

• Nik Kershaw (born 1958) is a British singer-songwriter, not a relative.
• Lily Kershaw (born 1994) is an American singer and actress, also not a relative.
• There is no publicly documented familial link between Liz and either of them.

Furthermore, Liz’s brother Andy is frequently mistaken for being the father of Nik, but that is also incorrect. The “Nik” and “Lily” connection is a dead end in Liz’s family tree.

The pattern: The Kershaw name in music and broadcasting is coincidental, not genealogical.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Reading

For further context on Andy Kershaw’s life and career, which often intersects with his sister’s public profile, see The Guardian’s profile on Andy Kershaw. For similar profiles of veteran BBC radio presenters, read about Mike Read’s career and Richie Anderson’s biography.

Editor’s note: This article was updated in 2025 to reflect the latest confirmed facts about Liz Kershaw’s family and career. It is a fact-checking piece; all claims about relatives are based on verified public records, not celebrity gossip.