A North East BBC presenter will step down from his role after 20 years in favour of pursuing other projects.

Award-winning news and sports reporter and presenter Jeff Brown is moving on to new opportunities in film and broadcasting after more than two decades with BBC Look North.

Jeff will be undertaking new onscreen projects at the BBC and elsewhere.

In a statement, Mr Brown said: "Presenting BBC Look North - filling the seat once occupied by the great Mike Neville - has been the undoubted highlight of my career, something I could never have imagined when I set out as a journalist.

“It has been an absolute pleasure and a privilege to work with such talented and dedicated teams over the years, and I’m proud to count them as my friends. 

"I’m also truly grateful to the many people and organisations across the North East and Cumbria who have allowed me to tell their stories, and to be welcomed into hundreds of thousands of homes every night. 

He added: “Sport has always been my passion – whatever colour the team is wearing or the shape of the ball! I hope I’ve been able to reflect the depth of feeling fans have for their teams because in that respect our region is unique”.

Mr Brown began his career at the Birmingham Post & Mail, before moving on to The Journal newspaper in Newcastle.

He then spent seven years with ITV Tyne Tees Television, before joining the BBC in 2003.

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Mr Bown has won many accolades during his time on BBC Look North, including the BBC Ruby Award for “Best Presentation Team” – alongside co-presenter Carol Malia, for best sports coverage, alongside the Best Sport” award from the Royal Television Society (North East and The Border) in 2022.

Kay Wright, BBC editor for the North East and Cumbria says that the presenter will be missed by all of his colleagues at the BBC.

She added: “Jeff is going to be hugely missed by audiences and sporting communities across the region, as well as his colleagues here at BBC Look North.

"Jeff brings immeasurable knowledge, passion, and pride to all that he does. And he’ll be a tough act to follow. But we wish Jeff every success in whatever adventures he embarks on next.”