Fred Dinenage Steps Down From ITV Meridian
Fred Dinenage is to step down as a main presenter of ITV Meridian at Christmas, ITV has confirmed.
A familiar face to Islanders for almost four decades, the broadcaster is stepping aside to spend more time with his family and to work on other projects.
Fred has anchored the 6pm flagship regional news programme across the South of England since 1983 working with presenters such as Fern Britton, Debbie Thrower and Natasha Kaplinsky.
For the past 12 years he has co-hosted ITV News Meridian with Sangeeta Bhabra who Fred describes as "the most marvellous person to work with."
“After almost thirty eight years co-presenting the ITV six o'clock show in the south and south east I've finally decided to hang up my microphone.
“It's been a really tough decision but I now want to spend a few years with my wife, Beverley, and our three dogs 'smelling the roses' in my garden and spending time in the mountains of Austria.
“I will be continuing with my crime programmes and ITV's 'How?' and writing books, including one recently commissioned. But now I feel it is the right time to move on.
“I will miss my dear co-presenter, Sangeeta, and my colleagues at ITV Meridian terribly. And, of course, I will miss our wonderful viewers who've given me such incredible love and support for so long.
”I've been so lucky in my life and career - fifty eight years working non-stop on regional and network programmes with ITV and I've been blessed by having a truly special family. So, to everyone - thank you."
During his career, Fred has presented regional programmes made by Southern Television and its successor TVS, including Tell the Truth and Coast to Coast.
In the 1970s he covered regional sport for Yorkshire Television and went on to host the network ITV Saturday afternoon show World of Sport, a role that saw him cover two Olympic Games. Fred became a household name on the children’s television programme How? and only last year appeared in every episode of a new series of the show, made for CITV.
