Weatherman Fred Talbot arrested

Police have arrested TV weatherman Fred Talbot over sexual abuse allegations.

Talbot, 63, previously had his home raided by police in December and now faces a number of offences including indecent assault, the Manchester Evening News reports.

The investigation is linked to a period when Talbot was working as a biology teacher at Altrincham Grammar School, and involves four alleged victims who were pupils at the school.

Detective Chief Inspector Koran Sellars said: “Since allegations were made to police in December we have made good progress with this investigation and with tracing and speaking to former pupils of Altrincham Grammar School.

“However, as part of our ongoing enquiry I am eager to trace anyone who attended the school between the early 1970s and 1980s, who feel they may have information to assist the police investigation.”

Prior to the raid Talbot was still the main weather presenter for the ITV Granada region, which covers the North West, and a regular fixture on news show Granada Reports. He had also recently returned to national weather presenting with guest spots on ITV’s Daybreak.

Fred, who joined ITV in 1984, found national success in 1988 when the broadcaster launched magazine series This Morning from Liverpool’s Albert Docks. Fronted by former Granada Reports hosts Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan, his quirky daily weather update became a popular part of the programme, taking place on a floating weather map (pictured above Talbot on the second version of the weather map). Viewers often sent in unique forecast themed woolly jumpers for him to wear.

When This Morning relocated to London, trials to put the weather map on the Thames proved unsuccessful; for a time Talbot presented a Monday and Friday weather round-up from Liverpool, however was dropped entirely a few months into the relocation in 1996.

In 1998, Talbot was named ‘Weatherman of the year’ at the Annual International Weather Festival in Paris.