Granada Reports have revealed their new presenter Gamal Fahnbulleh who will join Lucy Meacock to present the evening programme.
Gamal will join Lucy from January 11, marking a return to two presenters.
Gamal previously worked with the Granada Reports team between 2005 and 2010 before going on to work for ITV Network News, and Sky and Daybreak.
Gamal said: “I’m thrilled to bits to be here, it’s an opportunity of a lifetime, I’m so excited to have the opportunity and the privilege to work alongside Lucy Meacock and the team at Granada, it’s a dream come true."
Co-presenter Lucy Meacock is also looking forward to welcoming back Gamal.
Lucy said: “I am so excited to be joined by Gamal, he is a fantastic presenter, I know he’ll be brilliant for Granada Reports and I can’t wait to sit next to him."
Gamal replaces Tony Morris, who died from kidney cancer in August aged just 57.
But Lucy said Tony would have been pleased at Gamal's appointment, as he would often be seen cheering Gamal on whenever he appeared on screen.
Lucy said: "We’ve lost a great friend in Tony, and they are big shoes to fill but he knew Gamal, he liked him, and I think he would be pleased he’s come to join us on the programme.
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“It is difficult, but a lot of people know what it’s like this year to have lost people, it’s hit our newsroom really hard, but you do need to look forward and we've got a duty to serve the people of the North West and do it as well as we can and I know we’re going to move forward and do that really well and make Tony proud.
“I know because I had conversations with him towards the end and he said it was really important that the show goes on and we carry on doing what we do really well.”
