Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

The on-screen team for The Great British Weather, a new and live 4x60 series for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One was announced today. The programme is to be presented by Alexander Armstrong (The Armstrong And Miller Show, Have I Got News For You,) Carol Kirkwood (Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Weather) and Chris Hollins (Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Breakfast, Watchdog) alongside veteran weather presenters John Kettley, Michael Fish MBE, Bill Giles OBE and meteorologist Tomasz Schafernaker.

The Great British Weather is an interactive live series set to tap in to the nation's obsession with weather. Finding out which clouds mean that a brolly is necessary and where to head for the most sunshine in Britain, the series also answers annoying weather questions; does it really rain cats and dogs – or does it actually rain frogs? Does red sky at night really mean shepherd's delight? Why are there so many types of clouds and why are they so different?

The team will be led by comedian Alexander Armstrong who will be presenting alongside Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Breakfast favourite and Strictly Come Dancing winner Chris Hollins and Carol Kirkwood, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ weather presenter and three times winner of the best TV Weather Presenter at the Television and Radio Industry's Club Awards.

Chris Hollins will get up close and personal with a basking shark in Cornwall, to find out why this enormous creature is attracted to the Gulf Stream.

Carol Kirkwood will also report on the weather, not from the safety of a Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Studio – but from 15,000 feet in the air as she paraglides into the heart of an enormous cumulus cloud:Β  How vast is it?Β  How much does it weigh?Β  What does it taste like?Β  Carol will put her head in the clouds to find out.Β 

The series, commissioned by Alison Kirkham, Commissioning Editor for Formats and Features Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One, will also see Britain's best-loved veteran weather presenters Bill Giles OBE, Michael Fish MBE and John Kettley each appearing on a show and joining The Great British Weather team in explaining why our weather is so diverse.

The team will also explain how the success of some of Britain's biggest military operations, such as D-Day, were dependant on the technologically advanced weather forecasting of the time. Not only this, but the team will also help to debunk popular weather myths and explain fun weather facts, such as where the ultimate indispensible British accessory – the umbrella – came from.

The Great British Weather team, together with an iconic guest weather presenter will bring together their wealth of expertise and knowledge as viewers are invited to submit burning weather questions to the team in order to pick their meteorological brains. Why do over 100 tornadoes hit the UK each year? Why does the south east of England have so many storms? And where is the wettest place in Britain?

Specialist meteorological reporter and 2010 winner of the TRIC award for Best Weather Presente, Tomasz Schafernaker, will also join the team across the country as they visit Cornwall, the Lake District and Greenwich, London on its tour with a live and local audience at each destination.

Alison Kirkham says: "I am really excited by The Great British Weather presenting team. The aspiration for all Features programmes is to educate whilst entertaining and I feel confident this line-up can do just that, tapping into the Great British obsession with weather whilst delivering science, history and social history content in an engaging way."

The Great British Weather is a Love Productions series commissioned for Controller of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One, Danny Cohen, by Alison Kirkham, Commissioning Editor for Formats and Features on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One. Executive producers for Love Productions are Richard McKerrow and Anna Beattie.

JL