Popular local weather presenter forecasts a new future

Saturday 22 January 2022

After 16 years of letting islanders know if it’s going to rain or shine in the days ahead, Sophia Bird is standing down as ITV Channel’s weather presenter.

Since 2005, Sophia has been a popular fixture in the teatimes of thousands of Channel Islands households who tune into ITV1 at 18:00 - not only because of her forecasts but also her colourful outside broadcasts, from fields in St. Ouen to Les Minquiers reef.

Sophia is moving on to pastures new: she and her husband Cedric are becoming directors of a local business, although she says she can't share more details yet.

She said: “The best bit of the job has been meeting all the wonderful famers, gardeners and islanders who have allowed me to share their stories. Also, working with Jersey Met and UK Met and the technical team at ITV Channel that make me look so good!

“Presenting ITV National Weather was a big highlight but I've also presented the 18:00 news bulletin at Channel, and even Puffin’s Pla(i)ce.”

Interesting interview in tonight's programme on what is on the marina floor of St Helier Marina. Thanks to Kevin McIlwee (Jersey Marine conservation) for his time (and photos) and @DanielWickham2 for his camera work today.@ITVChannelTV pic.twitter.com/SeAIukYqW9

— Sophia Bird - ITV (@SophiaWeather) January 19, 2022

Pictured: Sophia has almost 7,000 Twitter followers.

She added that the challenges included keeping on top of the latest forecasts and presenting the most accurate forecasts she could, despite the islands’ unpredictable microclimates.

“I’m really looking forward to meeting my replacement,” she said. “I’ve had a lot of people contact me to ask me about the role, but many people don’t realise quite how much work is involved. 

“It’s not just standing in front of the screen - in fact, make-up is the last thing on my mind. My priority is my conference calls to speak to the Met Office and to create the most accurate forecasts.”

Pictured: Sophia presents multiple bulletins throughout the day.

Sophia also thanked her viewers and followers for their support over the years.

“I will miss the role very much, but I am ready to embrace a new challenge and hope that I have been a trusted friend,” she said.

Before joining ITV Channel, Sophia worked at HSBC in Fund and Investment Management in Jersey for 10 years, but originally trained as an interior designer. 

Although with no formal meteorological qualifications, she picked up a lot of knowledge on the job, especially from the team at the Jersey Met Office.

Sophia’s day

“The day starts at 08:00 when I read all my emails from Jersey Met and decide on the day’s story for each of the islands. Conference calls to UK Met and Jersey Met follow, and then into the Green Room to do makeup. 

“After that, it’s a stroll to the studio and stand in front of the chroma to present the weather. There is no script and I have to make sure all the warnings for each of the islands is correct - they are all different in their own way.

“Once the morning forecast is presented, I then prepare the lunchtime bulletin which is a different talk time.

Pictured: In front of the 'chroma screen' at the ITV Channel studios.

“The afternoon one follows, but the biggest forecast to work on is the news at 18:00 where the forecast is the longest and most detailed. In addition to all that, I have to combine my day with finding and producing my own weather piece to run in the programme.

“I have a super contacts book and chat to as many locals as I can to get the best stories that affect many different communities. 

“These stories are then filmed and edited on the day, and then the last job, if it's not a live in the studio at 18:00, is also to create and present the news at 22:00 and the Good Morning Britain bulletins for the following morning. 

“Each bulletin is a different length and I have someone counting me down in my ear so that I am to the second, otherwise the bulletin may bump into a commercial or eat the news time up.”