Central TV star Joanne quits as presenter

One of Central Tonight's best known presenters Joanne Malin has announced she is to leave in the wake of plans announced by ITV to axe hundreds of jobs across the country.

Joanne, who lives in Alvechurch, Worcestershire, presents her last show on October 31 after she announced it was time for a new challenge after 10 years in the hot seat.

Jo has presented the West Midlands edition of Central Tonight since 1998, partnering Bob Warman in the studio and reporting from all over the Midlands, as well as working on several notable foreign assignments for ITV.

She worked as a dancer and appeared in musicals including 42nd Street and Grease before moving into journalism, and lives with her husband Andrew, a hip surgeon based at the city's Royal Orthopaedic Hospital.

Last week Central staff were told 69 jobs were to be shed as part of ITV's intention to axe more than 400 jobs across the country to make £40 million savings in regional news.

Mrs Malin said: "After 10 fantastic years at ITV Central I have decided it's time for me to leave and move on to new challenges. After a decade working with Bob Warman and the team, it seems that now is a good time to pursue the new and exciting opportunities that have been offered to me."

She added: "Of course I will greatly miss my on-screen partner Bob Warman but I think it's time for his longest serving on-screen 'wife' to go it alone."

She announced she will still be entertaining theatregoers in her role as Fairy Bow Bells in Dick Whittington at the Lichfield Garrick theatre this Christmas.

The Central West ITV region is expected to merge with Central East to create a Midlands-wide service.