John Kettley found fame as a TV weather man -- his name being immortalised in a pop song. Now the Todmorden-born star is a radio presenter and happier than ever. He spoke to DAVID HIGGERSON about his career. . .

A RADIO crackles into life in a Madrid bedroom and the instantly recognisable tones of John Kettley fill the air.

For the expat Brit living in the Spanish city, it's an instant reminder of home -- familiar weather, familiar places, familiar voices on Radio Five Live.

And what's more, John Kettley knows this -- because the man in question wrote and told him so.

"That's what I love about radio," says the Todmorden-born weatherman and lifelong Burnley Football Club fan. "I like the fact you get to interact with people and it's nice to be told that you play a part in people's lives."

In a media career which enters its 25th year this year, John has become one of the country's best-known weathermen -- even finding himself immortalised in song by a group called Tribe of Toffs.

But the family man admits that becoming a household name -- and face -- was something that never entered his head when he first set himself on course for a career charting the weather back in 1963, aged just 11.

He said: "I think what sparked my interest in the weather was the incredibly cold winter we had that year. It fascinated me. The school playground was frozen over until March, making playing football fun.

"From that point I was hooked and took a real interest in it. I have a lot to thank my geography teacher at Todmorden Grammar School, David Utley, whose enthusiasm for the weather inspired me.

"We had a small weather station at the school and a rota on who did the checks on it at 8.50 every morning, so I'd check the rain measurements and that sort of thing. It just fascinated me.

"I did my O-level in Geography and he persuaded me to follow it up with an A-level, but once we done the project on climates, I dropped it."

The equipment used then seems primitive compared to the technology at his disposal now. Even in his career with Government's Met Office -- which began as an observer at an RAF Base and led to the start of his broadcasting career when he was sent to Nottingham in 1980 -- the technology available has changed beyond recognition.

How the switch from behind-the-scenes weatherman to on-screen presenter occurred still mystifies John, who lives with his family on the outskirts of London.

He said: "I was on a course and someone saw me doing a presentation and said they spotted my potential in front of a camera but nothing came of it straight away.

"Then I got a phone call asking me to go and work in Nottingham doing broadcasts for the Midlands. First came a radio broadcast on BBC Radio Lincolnshire and then my first appearance on BBC on May 28, 1980.

"It wasn't something I had planned to happen, but I have thoroughly enjoyed working in the media, particularly on the radio, where there is the interaction."

After four years keeping the Midlands abreast of what was going on above their heads, he moved to a national job on BBC network television, where he worked until 2000.

And while he enthuses about the dramatic developments in weather forecasting technology, he isn't quite so impressed with the way the role of weather presenter has evolved.

He said: "When I arrived, you had time to prepare the weather bulletin and research it properly, but these days the demands on staff are much greater.

"There are 24-hour news channels, for example, and more and more bulletins are expected. You end up being spoonfed and that isn't something I enjoy. I decided it was time for a change, because I didn't like the way a new generation of presenters were coming through and appearing to be clones of each other.

"In 2000, I went freelance and set up my own consultancy company, which has given me a lot more freedom to do what I want. I provide services to places like sporting arenas, as well as doing documentaries and what have you.

"The sport is something I really enjoy doing. I used to love doing the link into Grandstand with the weather because it was the only time there was some interaction, and I think my interest in sport used to come through.

"I do support Burnley and, although it's a cliche, it's the first result I check on Ceefax on a Saturday afternoon."

The move out of the Met Office hasn't kept John off the radio, though. Soon after going freelance, he was approached by BBC Radio Five Live to be their morning weather presenter.

He said: "When I was offered it, I realised it wasn't just another radio job but one which allows a bit of my personality to come across, as well as giving me the time to do other things as well. It does mean an early start but I like the feedback I get. It is nice to think that people rely on you for information, but that is something I have been used to since the days I worked at airports for the Met Office and staff would ask me if they could put their washing out before they went away!

"It is flattering that people contact me and describe me as a friendly voice when they are living abroad, like the man in Madrid, and I think I have been very lucky to do a job I love."