GB News' Sophie Reaper reflects on a momentous year from the D-Day anniversary to Lucy Letby's trial

Over the past year it’s been a privilege to cover the stories that matter most to those living in my patch.

I’ve also enjoyed the opportunity to extend my journalism to an even larger audience and cover stories on a national, and international level.

One story that stands out was GB News’ coverage of the 80th anniversary of the D-Day, which allowed me to broadcast from the ground across Normandy.

This included a moving and memorable interview with veteran Bernard Morgan about his recollections of landing on the 6th of June 1944.

That dispatch from Normandy was just one of the foreign outside broadcasts I completed this year.

In November, I was sent to Valencia as the news of the horrific flash floods broke: the destruction of those floods is still being felt by many.

Earlier in the year, I achieved a lifetime ambition by travelling to Paris to cover the Olympics, where I hope I was able to deliver gold-standard reports.

I spent ten months in the build-up to the Games preparing an extensive dossier-document spanning over 100 pages; including details ranging from the history and rules of each individual event, to profiles of each of Team GB’s medal hopes.

I had to pinch myself at times before I delivered those live broadcasts from the Seine, the Eiffel Tower, the Aquatics Centre and Roland Garros. One particular highlight was co-presenting Good Afternoon Britain alongside my pres-friend, former Olympian and World Record holder, Mark Foster.

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Immediately upon arriving back from Paris, I was thrust into the biggest story to impact my region this year - the horrendous Southport attack. Over the coming days and weeks, I embedded myself into the local community as they experienced heartbreak and anger.

I was also one of the first reporters on the ground during the riots that broke out in Southport on the 30th of July and which became one of the biggest stories of the summer.

I’ve also spent a great deal of time in courtrooms in the last year, perhaps most notably to cover the Lucy Letby retrial and the trial of Brianna Ghey’s killers. I’ve covered the Letby trial since it began in October of 2022, and continue to follow it even to this day.

At a local level, I endeavour to always work closely with communities in my patch.
Early on in 2024, I reported exclusively on a story in Millom after a local resident contacted her regarding Home Office proposals to house migrants in their small village with already very limited resources.

Residents later told me how as a result of that day, and GB News giving a voice to incredibly concerned locals, the plans were ultimately reversed.

As we move into the New Year I am committed to keep delivering exclusive stories for GB News, that engages with people at both a regional and national level.

Impactful journalism that helps inform the lives of my audience is what gets me out of bed each day - and it will continue to in 2025.