Channel 4 News on the hunt for first ever weather presenter

Channel 4 News has announced that it will be refreshing its weather forecast by hiring a weekday weather presenter. It is the latest in a series of changes recently announced by the award-winning news programme, and will be the first time it has ever had a dedicated onscreen person to present the forecast.

The weather presenter will present forecasts five nights a week offering viewers and users a distinctive perspective on the weather itself and other weather news. They will also contribute on occasion to the main programme, when they can add insight and information to specific weather stories.  They will be called on to analyse UK and international weather news, potentially related to climate change, health, food, or the impact of weather on other aspects of people's lifestyles such as travel, finances & welfare.

The weather presenter will also have a significant presence on the Channel 4 News website. The new recruit will lead content in the weather section and tap into the programme's social media following to discuss weather with viewers and users in a way that will inform coverage.

This news is the latest change to be announced as part of the programme's period of evolution. In recent weeks, it has announced that Cathy Newman will join Jon Snow and Krishnan Guru Murthy as the third regular presenter of the show. Also joining the presenting line-up is the BBC's Matt Frei - he will join as Washington Correspondent but also present throughout the year. Newsnight Correspondent Jackie Long will join as Social Affairs Editor and former BBC Emerging Platforms Editor Paul Brannan has joined to head up online operation.

The bulletins are sponsored and appear immediately after Channel 4 News. They will continue to be produced by ITN, which makes Channel 4 News. The online weather service and the new TV graphics have been designed by Clusta, a Birmingham-based digital agency.

Channel 4 News Deputy Editor Martin Fewell says: "As our weather patterns become increasingly volatile, we know that our viewers and users want more warning, more explanation and more analysis of the weather; where they are and as a national picture. We want someone who can explain the weather to our viewers but also answer their questions on weather news - the "why" behind the "what". We want an engaging story-teller with a passion for the weather, and a journalist's curiosity for spotting the unexpected."

Vicky Taylor, Commissioning Editor, New Media; News and Current Affairs at Channel 4 said: "Having a weather service online in addition to our television forecasts is very important to Channel 4 and we know there is a huge public interest in it. The new service will give all the relevant information people want, but the take will be unmistakeably 'Channel 4', and a new presenter will help us make that offer as distinctive as possible".