ITV host announces sad news...
CHRISTINE Talbot, one of the main presenters of ITV’s Calendar news, has announced she is leaving the show after nearly 30 years on our screens.
The Wetherby-based journalist, who has presented the Yorkshire news programme since 2001, made the announcement on yesterday evening’s show.
She told viewers that it was a ‘difficult decision’ though her last show would not be until the summer, as she will be leaving the programme at the end of June.
Explaining her reason for retiring, Christine said: “It’s just time really to move on and it’s going to be really difficult when that day comes, though it’s not going to be for a little while yet.”
For the past 18 years, Christine has presented Calendar alongside Duncan Wood, who told viewers of tonight’s show that he, the rest of the team and the viewers will miss Christine ‘tremendously.’
Speaking to viewers about the job that she has had for the past two decades, Christine said: “It really is a privilege to be invited into your homes every night, to tell your stories and the stories of this region.
“It’s going to be tough to say goodbye, but we’ve got a little while to go yet.”
Christine has many accolades to her name, having been named O2 presenter of the year for Yorkshire in 2015 and O2 Journalist of the year in 2016.
She was also named Journalist of the Year by the Yorkshire Royal Television Society in 2015, the Yorkshire Society Media Personality in 2015 and The Yorkshire Choice Media Personality of the Year 2016.
The head of news at ITV News Calendar, Mark Hayman paid tribute to the part Christine has played during almost three decades at ITV.
He said: “Christine’s contribution to television the region has been
It’s going to be tough to say goodbye, but we’ve got a little while
to go yet
in immense.
“She has told the region’s most notable stories with great authority, and her warmth and easy-going nature have established her as a favourite with viewers. We are very sad that she has decided that it’s time to leave us and all of us at ITV will miss her, but we wish her the very best of luck in the future.”