Cardiff’s own Liam Dutton is Channel 4 News’ incumbent Weather Presenter. Before that he worked for nine years as a Broadcast Meteorologist at the BBC Weather Centre in London. Dutton is a fully qualified Meteorologist, having completed the Met Office’s IFC forecaster course.
In September 2015, Dutton’s perfect pronunciation of Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch – a village in northwest Wales – in his evening weather forecast, attracted global attention and praise.
1981
Cardiff, Wales
Dutton describes himself on Twitter as a Welshman.
2002 – Graduated from Swansea University, started as a Broadcast Assistant at the BBC Weather Centre
2003 – started broadcasting
2007 – took nine months off to undergo further Met Office training – Initial Forecasting course, Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology.
Sept 2007 – returned to the BBC as fully fledged weather presenter
2011 – Joined Channel 4 News
Born in Cardiff, Dutton attended Adamsdown Primary School and Willows High School before attending St David’s Sixth Form College to take ‘A’ levels. He then read Geography and Environmental Sciences at Swansea University, graduating in 2002. His interest in the weather meant that he focused on physical geography – climate and weather-related modules. Two weeks before graduating, Dutton applied for a job as a Broadcast Assistant at the BBC Weather Centre. He was successful and joined the Weather Centre in October 2002.
Broadcast training quickly followed, and in June 2003 at the age of 22, Dutton presented his first ever weather forecast on BBC Wales Today. Over the next three years Dutton was a ‘weatherman at large’, travelling around the UK to present the weather as cover for the regular presenters. A promotion in Spring 2006 meant that Liam moved on to broadcast nationally and internationally on BBC News 24 and BBC World, as well as Radio 4.
In January 2007, Liam took a nine-month break from broadcasting to undertake further meteorological training at the Met Office College in Exeter. He also spent some time working as a commercial forecaster. Returning to the BBC Weather Centre in September 2007, Dutton broadcast across a wide range of BBC channels, including BBC News, BBC World News and BBC Breakfast on BBC One at the weekends. He became an established weather voice on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, and even read the shipping forecast.
In September 2011 it was announced that Dutton would be leaving the BBC to join Channel 4 News. As Channel 4 News’ Weatherman, Dutton presents a forecast after the news each weekday evening, as well as writing a weather blog and leading the Channel 4 Weather website. His brief is wider than just presenting the weather and includes analysis of weather along with issues related to climate change, health and food, and the impact of weather events on travel and welfare.
In 2015 his forecast became an internet sensation as he correctly pronounced Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch in his evening weather forecast.
Dutton is currently writing a children’s non-fiction weather book, due for publication in August 2022.
Dutton is a keen pianist who enjoys composing his own music. He played Surdo drum in a percussion band. His original compositions have featured on TV both in the UK and overseas. He also like tech & gadgets, nature, and travel.
https://www.liamdutton.com/liam-dutton-biography
https://www.channel4.com/news/by/liam-dutton
https://www.itn.co.uk/press-releases/channel-4-news-appoints-liam-dutton-as-first-ever-weather-presenter/
