Fred Talbot

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For other uses, see Fred Talbot (disambiguation).
Fred Talbot
Born Frederick Talbot
(1949-12-17) 17 December 1949
Edinburgh, Scotland
Residence Bowdon, Greater Manchester[1]
Education North Cestrian Grammar School, Altrincham, Cheshire
Occupation Broadcaster, meteorologist
Years active 1984–present
Employer ITV (Granada Television)
Known for Granada Reports
This Morning

Frederick "Fred" Talbot (born 17 December 1949) is a British television presenter and meteorologist, best known for presenting weather forecasts on ITV.

Career

Brought up in Altrincham, Cheshire, he was a pupil at North Cestrian Grammar School and in 1964 a founding member of the Altrincham and District Astronomical Society in which he remains involved today. He co-discovered a meteor shower, the June Lyrids, in June 1966.[2]

He taught biology at Altrincham Grammar School for Boys[3] and also recorded a weekly astronomy programme for radio. In 1984, he began presenting on Granada Reports, a local news programme in North West England.[4] Granada Television later commissioned Talbot to appear in a general educational science programme for children called The Final Frontier. He remained a regular reporter for Granada Reports becoming a weatherman for the ITV's This Morning in 1988.[4]

The 'weather map' at Liverpool Docks that Talbot used whilst as weather presenter on This Morning

Until production of This Morning was moved from the Albert Dock, Liverpool to London, Talbot presented weather reports from a large floating map of the British Isles in the dock. He was forced to jump across a gap to go back and forth between Ireland and Britain; crowds often gathered to watch his leap. On one occasion, a diver swam near the map to distract Talbot and on another a streaker swam naked up to the map and jumped on.[5]

In 1998, Talbot was named 'Weatherman of the year' at the Annual International Weather Festival in Paris.[6]

In 2006, Talbot presented a regional series for ITV Granada called Locks and Quays which explored the canal system of North West England.[7] This was followed by a second series in 2007 presented by Matthew Corbett.[7]

To celebrate the centenary in 2007 of Alfred Wainwright, the writer of the Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, Talbot undertook a series of walks from each of the seven guidebooks for the ITV Granada programme Wainwright Country.[8]

In February 2009, he began presenting weather forecasts for ITV Granada[9] and he occasionally provides cover for ITV Central. Talbot also produces occasional reports for Granada Reports, including a Where's Fred? feature where viewers have to guess which city, town or village he has been out and about in. He last appeared in November 2012. Additionally, he also appeared on CITV's Prove It! where he demonstrated to children how to use simple home items to perform various fun and interesting experiments.

In 2010 and 2011, Talbot acted as a weather forecaster on ITV Breakfast programme Daybreak.

Talbot is also a popular after dinner speaker.[10]

Arrest

On 9 April, 2013 it was announced that Talbot had been arrested by police investigating allegations of historical child sex abuse at Altrincham Grammar School for Boys between the early 1970s and early 1980s. He has not been on air as a weatherman on Granada Reports since the allegations surfaced but is not suspended. [11] On 16 December 2013, it was reported that Talbot had been re-arrested by police in connection with the allegations.[12] On 27 January 2014, Greater Manchester Police announced that Talbot had been charged with ten historical sex offences.[13]

Awards

In 2007 Talbot was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Science by Manchester Metropolitan University in recognition of bringing to a mass audience, through his media work, a better understanding of scientific and environmental issues in a way that is educational, interesting and entertaining.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Fred Talbot arrested
  2. ↑ Article on the June Lyrids from meteroshowersonline.com. Meteorshowersonline.com (15 June 1966). Retrieved on 27 August 2011.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Fred's big day – Green Guide presenter honoured, Manchester Metropolitan University, 23 July 2007, retrieved 21 June 2011 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Meet the Team ITV Granada Reports
  5. ↑ "TV streaker Mark Roberts makes nude protest over Sir Fred Goodwin...". Daily Record. 7 April 2009. Retrieved 3 September 2009. 
  6. ↑ Fred Talbot – After Dinner Speaker. Arena Entertainments. Retrieved on 27 August 2011.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Locks & Quays". British Film Institute. Retrieved 9 July 2008. 
  8. ↑ The Wainwright Society website
  9. ↑ Fred the Weatherman returns alongside Jo Blythe How Do, 28 January 2009
  10. ↑ Fred Talbot – After Dinner Speaker. Arena Entertainments. Retrieved on 27 August 2011.
  11. ↑ Fred Talbot Arrested. BBC News. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  12. ↑ TV weatherman Fred Talbot rearrested in abuse probe and on 27 January 2014 it was announced that he has been charged with 10 historical sexual offences. BBC News, Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  13. ↑ BBC News - TV weatherman Talbot on sex charges

External links

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