An "action girl" today becomes the new face of the weather for TV viewers in Oxfordshire.

Georgie Palmer is the new forecast presenter for BBC South Today and takes over from Alina Jenkins who has decided to pursue other interests.

During a varied career in broadcasting, Georgie has interviewed major movie stars such as Al Pacino, Angelina Jolie and Val Kilmer, but decided it was time for a change and a challenge.

She said: "I've always wanted to work for the BBC so I'm very excited and can't wait to start. When I was younger, I dreamed of being a Blue Peter presenter but was told I was too naughty. I didn't let it put me off though, and I'm so excited all the hard work has resulted in this fantastic opportunity."

Georgie's new colleagues describe her as an action girl, and for good reason. She spent six months in Quito, the capital of Ecuador, volunteering in an orphanage and teaching English in local schools.

She went on to travel extensively in South America, and learned to climb high in the Andes.

Spending time in various climates round the world has fuelled a fascination with weather that began at the age of 10 when her parents bought her a toy weather house.

She said: "I still have it and I look at it every day."

Georgie was formerly head girl at her boarding school, Queen Anne's in Caversham, near Reading, then read French and Spanish at the University of the West of England (UWE) in Bristol.