Louise Lear (born 1968 in Sheffield), is a BBC Weather presenter, appearing mainly on BBC Breakfast and BBC News 24, and occasionally on the BBC One O'Clock News. Lear graduated from the University of Middlesex in 1988 with a BA Hons in Music and Drama, where she developed her talents playing clarinet and piano.[1] After a stint as a researcher for Children's BBC she took the job of sports presenter for an independent radio production company, covering amongst other events the 1992 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer. Lear began her weather presenting career at Central Television in 1992, and then spent two years at LBC in London. She joined the UK Weather Channel at its launch in 1996, and most took up her most recent post at the BBC in April 1998. Lear's appearances on Breakfast are normally as their Friday-Sunday presenter, which she shares with Matt Taylor on alternate fortnights. However at present, Helen Willetts, who presents the weather during the week on alternate fortnights, is on maternity leave, so Lear is presenting Willetts's role and occasionally her usual role, which is mainly filled by Alex Deakin. Lear has begun to present other BBC programs, including fronting Trading Up on BBC1. Lear was chosen to undertake the role as she and her husband have renovated four houses in London, including a period living in a cottage with their two young children.[2]
