Warm welcome for weather girl

Channel Five’s new weather girl is former Southwell schoolgirl Miss Sian Welby.

Sian, 24, who lives in Newark, presented her first report on Monday and will be on the screen on weekdays. She has been given a six-month contract.

Her father, Mr Ian Welby, of Hockerton Road, Upton, watched her first lunchtime broadcast and said it was the break-through she had been looking for.

Sian has had a string of presenting jobs since leaving the Minster School, Southwell. They have included presenting a weekly comedy school on the internet, The Friday ITch, which highlights topical news items about the business technology industry and makes fun of them. She has also worked for Sky Sports.

She was invited to Channel Five after she was seen in an advertisement aired on the channel for a magazine.

Sian said everything happened very quickly and as soon as she was appointed she spent time at the Met Office learning about weather forecasting.

There is no auto-cue for the weather and she has to learn her scripts, which range from 40 seconds to 21/2 minutes.

Sian said: “It was a bit nerve-wracking the first time but everybody has been great and very friendly. I’m loving it and it is a fantastic opportunity for me.”

As well as presenting, Sian worked as a part-time sales assistant for five years at the Newark branch of New Look. She has given up that job.