- Fred Dinenage
Fred is one of the longest-serving broadcasters on ITV. His career began with Southern Television in 1964 - and he's been trying to get it right ever since! He’s presented 'HOW?', the longest- running children's programme on TV, was "front man" for coverage of two Olympic Games, and has presented regional news in the South - Day by Day, Coast to Coast and Meridian Tonight - for 25 years. "And", he says, "I still love it now as much as the day I started."
- Sangeeta Bhabra
Hi, I was twelve when my school invited me for a career assessment. I loved talking, had no shame and was good at English. They said journalism could be an option. Fourteen years later, armed with my English degrees (my family are originally from India where two degrees are always better than one), some professional qualifications and invaluable experience gained at the Reading Chronicle and County Sound Radio- I was lucky enough to get a job at ITV Meridian. I've been a newsroom journalist, reporter and now find myself presenting the main programme with the legend that is Fred Dinenage. I'm so grateful to be doing a job I enjoy so much.
- Amanda Piper
I joined Meridian in 2001 and started out writing and producing news bulletins - but kept banging on the bosses door asking if I could step in front of the camera! Finally he relented and I now present the early morning bulletins five days a week. It means getting up at 4am - but when you get used to it, that's not as bad as it sounds - honest! I have lived in Hampshire since joining the company, but I was born in Kent - I am a true Margate girl and love going back to visit my parents whenever I can.
- Simon Parkin
Simon Parkin is well known through his work with the Children’s BBC in the late 80’s and early 90’s. He was seen by millions when he appeared in the famous Broom Cupboard and went on to present Top of The Pops, appear on The Royal Variety Performance and Children in Need and was even 'Gotchered' by Noel Edmonds. Following 5 years with the BBC, he joined GMTV as one of their launch presenters back in 1992. This was the start of a long association with the ITV network which continues to this day through Simon’s role as Weather Presenter for ITV Meridian. A family man, Simon lives with his wife, Celina, his two unruly children Charlie and Emily and two even more unruly dogs!
- Phil Hornby
I have worked for ITV in the south for 25 years - most of that time based at Westminster covering the political scene. My work ranges from interviews with local MPs about important issues in their constituency - to interviews with the top politicians in the land. I also present Meridian's political discussion programme The Last Word. Earlier in my career, I worked as a general reporter based in Kent, and then as the producer of the southeast news programme Coast to Coast. A few years ago I was the main presenter of Meridian Tonight in the southeast. In the mid 90s, I worked for the BBC for a couple of years as editor of Midlands Today in Birmingham.
- Sarah Gomme
Hello there. I began working as a journalist at The Bucks Herald newspaper in Aylesbury, before moving to The Southern Daily Echo in Southampton. Five years ago I joined the team here at Meridian where I have enjoyed covering a great variety of stories and met some wonderful people. I've always combined news and sports reporting. One of my earliest sports assignments was to follow my home team Wycombe Wanderers to the semi-finals of the FA Cup - and one of my more recent was to follow Portsmouth all the way to the final. I've certainly gone the extra mile for my job here too! I joined many of you pounding the streets in Great South runs and the London Marathon. Bring on the next challenge!
- Martin Dowse
Martin has been working in journalism in the South for more than fifteen years. He started on a regional newspaper before joining the Meridian newsroom as a news researcher. He went on to produce bulletins before being tried out in front of the camera on news reports. Since then he’s turned in thousands of reports from all around the region on subjects from the big, breaking news stories to the weird, wonderful and whacky. You name it, he’s reported on it! Martin says that’s why he loves the job – the variety it brings every day, and the chance to delve into the lives and stories of a myriad of different people from our fantastic part of the country. Martin edits many of his own pieces, and also stands in when needed to help present the bulletins or Meridian Tonight. His stories and features have won him a number of awards including a Royal Television Society Award.
- Christine Alsford
When Christine was seven years old her primary school teacher said she would end up working with words and people. Spot on, Mrs Smith! A few years on, Christine now covers education and social affairs for Meridian which, according to her, means she gets to do all the most important and interesting stories in the programme. She’s recently covered subjects including support for carers, dangerous dogs legislation, the right to die debate, academies, tuition fees and social housing. She’s never happier than when out on the road meeting ordinary people with the most extraordinary stories. Though she’s based in Hampshire, family commitments mean she also spends time in Kent where she’s loves cycling the Viking Coastal Trail and stopping off at the lovely beach cafe at Minnis Bay.
- Andrew Pate
You never quite know where Andrew will pop up next! Occasionally he'll be filling in for Fred. Other times he's chasing after sports stars or covering big court cases. (We're waiting for him to fill in for the security guard next!) After starting in Independent Radio in the Midlands - he once had a very colourful company car, with the words "Andy Pate, the voice of Leicester Sport" written all over it - he joined ITV Meridian in May 1998. Having passed the old Meridian studios in Southampton on his way to school every day, it was always his dream to work for the company. Little did he know what was in store! He says he's very happy to be part of an award-winning team. But he's arguably the worst poker player in the world - as various colleagues can testify!
- Reshma Rumsey
Reshma Rumsey started her career in newspapers working for the Bolton Evening News and Bury Times. She moved into television working on London’s regional news programme London Tonight. She then went on to work at Central as producer and then reporter and has been with Meridian for 5 years as a features reporter and now features and current affairs editor. Reshma says she loves this job because it is different every day and she is privileged in meeting incredible people and getting access to amazing places. Reshma has always wanted to be a journalist and says being able to have a voice and tell people’s stories is one of the best parts of the job. Reshma is married and has two young children.
- Rachel Hepworth
I've been in the news business for more than ten years- I started my first job at Radio Aire in Leeds on the day that Princess Diana died - it was a baptism of fire and an incredible example of how a news event can affect millions of people. Since then I've interviewed the likes of Tony Blair, David Beckham and Robbie Williams, but I always find regular people much more fun to talk to - they often have the most interesting stories! Although I started my career in Yorkshire, I moved to Meridian in 2004, wanting to return to my Dorset roots. I grew up in Sherborne, but now live in Hampshire. I cover all sorts of stories in the South, but love music and the arts, outdoor life and sport. It's a privileged job to have - you get to report on extraordinary events, and meet some amazing people.
- Derek Johnson
Derek has been a journalist for 25 years and is a Correspondent for Kent and East Sussex. He has worked for regional and national newspapers and switched to TV while working in Hong Kong , where he watched the flag come down on British rule in 1997 and reported live from the handover ceremony. He has been with Meridian for 10 years and has covered stories including the Securitas Robbery, the Kenneth Noye trial and the Hastings Pier fire. Derek's enthusiasm for history has seen him produce special programmes on D-Day and Dunkirk and he is never happier than when trawling through archive film, preferably black and white.