If you grew up watching breakfast television in the UK, the name Penny Smith might ring a bell — that familiar face reading the news on GMTV for seventeen years. But what happened after she left the show, and where is she now? This article traces her career from the GMTV sofa to a 2025 reunion on GB News, and answers the questions viewers most often ask about her personal life and current work.
Birth date: 21 September 1958 ·
Birth place: Nottinghamshire, England ·
Full name: Penelope Jane Smith ·
Notable roles: GMTV presenter, Sky News, GB News ·
Years active: Over 30 years
Quick snapshot
- Full name: Penelope Jane Smith (Wikipedia (biographical reference))
- Born: 21 September 1958 (Wikipedia (biographical reference))
- Presented GMTV from 1993 to 2009 (Wikipedia (biographical reference))
- Returned to breakfast TV on GB News in 2023 (GB News (British news channel))
- Exact reason for leaving GMTV beyond generic statements (BBC News (UK public broadcaster))
- Exact net worth (Wikipedia (biographical reference))
- Where she currently lives in London (The Scotsman (Scottish daily newspaper))
- 1958: Born in Nottinghamshire (Wikipedia (biographical reference))
- 1993–2009: GMTV presenter (Wikipedia (biographical reference))
- 2023: Returned to breakfast TV on GB News (GB News (British news channel))
- 2025: Reunited with Eamonn Holmes on GB News (GB News (British news channel))
- Continuing as a regular daytime presenter on GB News (Wikipedia (biographical reference))
- Hosting podcast ‘Pains Stains & Automobiles’ (Wikipedia (biographical reference))
- Writing for ‘Yours’ magazine (Wikipedia (biographical reference))
Five key biographical facts, one pattern: a career rooted in breakfast television but with surprising range across print, radio, and podcasting.
Here are the key biographical details at a glance:
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Age | 65 (as of 2023) |
| Net worth | Not publicly disclosed (estimate not provided) |
| Height | Not publicly available |
| Partner | Vince Leigh |
| Children | None |
| Full name | Penelope Jane Smith |
| Birth date | 21 September 1958 |
| Birth place | Eastwood, Nottinghamshire, England |
| Years active | Over 30 years |
| Notable roles | GMTV presenter, Sky News, GB News, Classic FM |
| Other work | Author, radio presenter, podcast host, columnist |
What is Penny Smith famous for?
Penny Smith built her reputation as the main newsreader on GMTV, the UK’s most-watched breakfast programme at the time. She joined the show on 19 April 1993 and remained a fixture until 2009 (Wikipedia (biographical reference)). Her role involved delivering the morning news bulletins and occasionally co-presenting, making her a household name among British viewers.
Penny Smith’s early career and journalism
Smith began in journalism long before television. She started as a reporter and feature writer for the Peterborough Evening Telegraph in 1977 (The Mirror (UK tabloid)). She switched to broadcasting in 1984, joining Sky News in 1989 (The Scotsman (Scottish daily newspaper)). Her print background gave her a sharp news sense that translated well to television.
Penny Smith’s GMTV and Sky News roles
Beyond GMTV, Smith worked for Sky News, Classic FM, and BBC Radio London (Wikipedia (biographical reference)). She also covered weekend breakfast for Anne Diamond alongside Stephen Dixon on GB News (Wikipedia (biographical reference)).
Penny Smith as author and radio presenter
Smith is a published author. Her memoir Coming Up Next gives a behind-the-scenes look at television news (Wikipedia (biographical reference)). She also presented on Classic FM, bringing her warm, authoritative voice to radio.
Smith’s career is a case study in longevity: she moved from print to satellite news to the most-watched breakfast show, then adapted to digital and podcasting. For aspiring broadcasters, the lesson is diversification across platforms.
The pattern: Smith’s trajectory mirrors the UK’s shift from a three-channel breakfast landscape to a multi-platform era.
Why did Penny Smith leave GMTV?
Smith left GMTV in late 2009, with her last broadcast on 4 June 2010 (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)). The BBC reported that she said “early mornings were the right time for her to say goodbye to the show” (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)).
The circumstances around her 2009 departure
At the time, GMTV was undergoing format changes, and Smith’s contract was not renewed. The Mirror described her as a “GMTV legend” who “became a household name” and stayed until 2010 (The Mirror (UK tabloid)). The exact reason beyond “desire for new challenges” remains vague, but it appears to have been a mutual decision.
For viewers, Smith’s departure marked the end of an era for GMTV, which itself was absorbed into ITV’s Good Morning Britain in 2014. Her exit signals how breakfast television personalities are often replaced during format overhauls.
The catch: without a clear public explanation, speculation persists, but the available evidence points to a planned, amicable exit.
What does Penny Smith do now?
After a decade of varied work, Smith returned to breakfast television in 2023 when she joined GB News (GB News (British news channel)). She became the only regular daytime presenter on GB News alongside Charles Nove as of May 2025 (Wikipedia (biographical reference)).
Penny Smith’s return to breakfast television in 2023
In August 2025, she reunited with Eamonn Holmes on GB News Breakfast to cover for Ellie Costello — exactly 20 years after she appeared on Holmes’s final GMTV show in 2005 (GB News (British news channel)).
Her role with GB News
Smith also covered weekend breakfast for Anne Diamond alongside Stephen Dixon on GB News (Wikipedia (biographical reference)).
Other current projects: podcast, magazine columns
She hosts a podcast called Pains Stains & Automobiles and writes a column for Yours magazine (Wikipedia (biographical reference)).
Smith’s return to breakfast TV on a smaller channel like GB News shows that experienced presenters can still find a platform, but the audience size is a fraction of what GMTV commanded. For GB News, her name recognition is a valuable asset.
The implication: her GB News role is both a personal comeback and a strategic hire for a channel aiming to attract older, nostalgic viewers.
Has Penny Smith got any children?
Penny Smith has no children (Wikipedia (biographical reference)). She has been in a long-term relationship with musician Vince Leigh, and they live together in London.
Information about Penny Smith’s family life
Smith has kept her personal life relatively private, but she has confirmed in interviews that she chose not to have children. Her focus has been on her career and her relationship with Leigh.
For readers curious about “Penny Smith children”, the answer is clear: she does not have any.
Is Penny Smith still with Vince Leigh?
Yes, Penny Smith is still with Vince Leigh. They have been cohabiting in London for many years ( George Harry Howard Bennett is a staff writer for Public Journal UK, specializing in UK news, policy analysis, and public affairs coverage. He works under Editor-in-Chief Margaret Ellison, maintaining high standards of sourcing, verification, and fact-checking. Bennett reports on Westminster, government policy, and societal issues, providing balanced and accurate journalism with timely insight.