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Jeff Brown is to be the new presenter of ´óÏó´«Ã½ Look North. Jeff, who is currently the Look North sports presenter, is to take up the role whilst Carol Malia is on maternity leave.

Jeff joined Look North from Tyne Tees Television in 2003.

Formerly a newspaper journalist, he studied at Monkwearmouth Grammar School in Sunderland and York University before joining the Birmingham Post & Mail as a trainee reporter.

Jeff returned to the North East of England to work at The Journal for ten years as a sports reporter before moving into television.

Jeff Brown said: "I am absolutely delighted to be looking after the programme while Carol is away on maternity leave. She's so well-loved by the viewers and she'll be a big miss, but I'll do my best to fill the gap while she's away. I just hope she lets us have the first, exclusive, pictures of the baby!

"I grew up watching Look North in the days of the great Mike Neville, and never dreamed I'd have the chance to present the programme.

"It's a fantastic opportunity for me. I'm lucky to part of a great team which works hard to put together a show that's such a major part of life here in the North East and Cumbria. It's a challenge – but I'm really looking forward to it."

Andy Cooper, Editor of Look North, said: "As our regular sports presenter Jeff Brown is already known to the audience. He's regularly fronted Look North when Carol has been away, and viewers will warm to his easy-going natural style. I'm sure he'll quickly settle in and viewers can continue to expect business as usual from Look North and our family of presenters and reporters."

Jeff has presented live coverage of the major sports stories this year. He was live outside St James's Park, Newcastle when Kevin Keegan departed and when Alan Shearer was appointed.

He played a key role in presenting the North East Sports Awards and has been a regular competitor in the Great North Run.

Jeff will take over on Look North at the end of May 2009.

´óÏó´«Ã½ Manchester Press Office