Broadcast timeline
GB News — New: GBN Tonight
Thursday 13 August 2026 · 19:00 BST · 1h · 4 stories · 15 annotated moments · 49 of 60 min on news stories (81%)
Broadcast overview
An AI-generated overview based on this broadcast's transcript.
The broadcast opened with reports of multiple fires across the West Midlands, with residents urged to stay indoors. West Midlands Fire Service faced extreme demand, with around 60 firefighters tackling a blaze in Stourbridge, where two people were hurt. The M6 northbound was closed due to smoke, and a separate large fire in Salford Priors was declared a major incident. Later, a train derailed in East Sussex, with two people seriously injured and nine with minor injuries; the incident closed several rail routes and caused major disruption.
The programme also covered the UK's hottest day of the year, with a provisional temperature of 38.1°C recorded in Kew Gardens, and an amber extreme heat warning in place. The Royal College of Nursing described conditions as impossible, and the Health Secretary announced £6.7 billion for NHS capital improvements including cooling systems. On A-level results day, a record number of 18-year-olds gained university places, with top grades rising for a third year, though four in ten universities in England were expected to report deficits. A 102-year-old man died after an alleged assault at a pub, with a 56-year-old man arrested.
The discussion turned to European border controls, as ten Schengen countries introduced strict controls, prompting a debate on the future of the EU. Later, Dr Bjorn Lomborg presented NASA data showing global burned area was at a 12-year low, arguing that media coverage exaggerates wildfire trends. The train derailment was covered live from the scene, with investigators considering whether heat-buckled tracks were a factor. Finally, three Second World War veterans, with a combined age of 300, fulfilled their dream of flying in Spitfires, with a military historian reflecting on their significance.
- 0:23
- 0:23
Charged quote Wildfires break out across West Midlands and Warwickshire
Very very good evening to you on the hottest day of the year It's GB News tonight with me and Martin Daubney coming up on tonight's action-packed show We've just been sent shocking footage as you can see on your screens now of multiple fires that have broken out across the country flames engulfing homes
GB News, New: GBN Tonight, 13 August 2026, 0:23-0:28
- 0:28
Charged quote Wildfires break out across West Midlands and Warwickshire
It's GB News tonight with me and Martin Daubney coming up on tonight's action-packed show We've just been sent shocking footage as you can see on your screens now of multiple fires that have broken out across the country flames engulfing homes Multiple homes houses gutted and people told to stay inside mainly across the West Midlands and the Stourbridge area
GB News, New: GBN Tonight, 13 August 2026, 0:28-0:31
- 0:31
Charged quote Wildfires break out across West Midlands and Warwickshire
We've just been sent shocking footage as you can see on your screens now of multiple fires that have broken out across the country flames engulfing homes Multiple homes houses gutted and people told to stay inside mainly across the West Midlands and the Stourbridge area We'll bring all the latest reaction throughout tonight's show and also tonight
GB News, New: GBN Tonight, 13 August 2026, 0:31-0:38
- 0:48 Story begins Ten EU countries introduce hardline border controls
- 1:04
Contested quote Wildfires break out across West Midlands and Warwickshire
As 10 European Union countries introduced hardline border controls miss a spiraling and migrant crisis tonight We debate whether we're witnessing the strange death of the European Union And meanwhile as the eco Lobby blames climate change for wildfires and blistering temperatures Campaigns have worn that the real problem has been rewilding all these wildfires
GB News, New: GBN Tonight, 13 August 2026, 1:04-1:09
- 1:10
Contested quote Wildfires break out across West Midlands and Warwickshire
We debate whether we're witnessing the strange death of the European Union And meanwhile as the eco Lobby blames climate change for wildfires and blistering temperatures Campaigns have worn that the real problem has been rewilding all these wildfires Actually woke fires and tonight Israel now faces the ban from hosting Eurovision
GB News, New: GBN Tonight, 13 August 2026, 1:10-1:14
- 2:21
Claim Wildfires break out across West Midlands and Warwickshire
A fire in the Stourbridge area left two people injured.
GB News, New: GBN Tonight, 13 August 2026, 2:21-2:30
- 2:40
Claim Wildfires break out across West Midlands and Warwickshire
A large fire in Salford Priors was declared a major incident.
GB News, New: GBN Tonight, 13 August 2026, 2:40-2:46
- 2:48 Story begins Passenger train derails near Lewes in Sussex
- 2:48
Claim Passenger train derails near Lewes in Sussex
The train derailed just before 4pm on 13 August 2026.
GB News, New: GBN Tonight, 13 August 2026, 2:48-2:53
- 2:58
Claim Passenger train derails near Lewes in Sussex
Emergency services including police, paramedics and fire crews were at the scene.
GB News, New: GBN Tonight, 13 August 2026, 2:58-3:04
- 6:15
Claim Wildfires break out across West Midlands and Warwickshire
Smoke from wildfires forced the closure of the M6 northbound between junctions 5 and 6.
GB News, New: GBN Tonight, 13 August 2026, 6:15-6:32
- 7:01
Claim Ten EU countries introduce hardline border controls
Over 70,000 illegal immigrants entered European territory in a single incident.
GB News, New: GBN Tonight, 13 August 2026, 7:01-7:25
- 8:54
Claim Ten EU countries introduce hardline border controls
Spain's prime minister Pedro Sanchez granted an amnesty to half a million illegal immigrants.
GB News, New: GBN Tonight, 13 August 2026, 8:54-9:06
- 43:15 ~5 min without annotations
- 47:26
Claim WWII veterans fly Spitfires again after 80 years
Three Second World War veterans, each around 100 years old, flew Spitfires for the first time in over 80 years from Biggin Hill, with the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans helping to organise the flight.
GB News, New: GBN Tonight, 13 August 2026, 47:26-48:05
- 47:57 Story begins WWII veterans fly Spitfires again after 80 years
- 49:52
Claim WWII veterans fly Spitfires again after 80 years
Three Second World War veterans, each around 100 years old, flew Spitfires for the first time in over 80 years from Biggin Hill, with the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans helping to organise the flight.
GB News, New: GBN Tonight, 13 August 2026, 49:52-49:58
- 50:11
Claim WWII veterans fly Spitfires again after 80 years
Three Second World War veterans, each around 100 years old, flew Spitfires for the first time in over 80 years from Biggin Hill, with the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans helping to organise the flight.
GB News, New: GBN Tonight, 13 August 2026, 50:11-50:25
- 53:52 ~6 min without annotations
Source: GB News, "New: GBN Tonight", Thursday 13 August 2026. Transcript excerpts and stills are shown only to support the analysis annotated alongside them. Search-result excerpts are distinct from the editorial annotations — see our copyright basis. The full broadcast is not reproduced.