ITV weatherman Fred Talbot was bailed tonight after he was arrested by police investigating historic sex abuse allegations at a school.
The 63-year-old was held on suspicion of three counts of indecent assault and four counts of inciting a child to commit acts of gross indecency.
The alleged offences relate to his time as a teacher at Altrincham Grammar School for Boys in Trafford, Greater Manchester, between the early 1970s and early 1980s, where the four alleged victims were pupils.
A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: "A 63-year-old man arrested as part of an investigation into reports of historic sexual abuse at a school in Trafford has been released on police bail.
“The man was arrested on Tuesday 9 April 2013, on suspicion of three counts of indecent assault and four counts of inciting a child to commit acts of gross indecency. “He has been bailed until 16 August 2013 pending further inquiries.”
Speaking earlier, Detective Chief Inspector Koran Sellars, said: “Since allegations were made to police in December we have made good progress with this investigation and with tracing and speaking to former pupils of Altrincham Grammar School.
“However, as part of our ongoing inquiry, I am eager to trace anyone who attended the school between the early 1970s and 1980s, who feel they may have information to assist the police investigation.”
Talbot’s home in Bowdon, Cheshire, was raided as detectives on the inquiry executed a series of warrants at addresses in December last year. The former biology teacher at Altrincham Grammar was out of the country at the time.
He is best known for his colourful appearances on the weather map for ITV’s This Morning programme when hosted by Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan at Liverpool’s Albert Dock.
Talbot remains the weatherman on the station’s North West regional news programme Granada Reports. A popular figure with viewers, he often visits “interesting holiday destinations” with his camera and the images are then broadcast on Granada, according to his agent’s website.
He is said to have made films about his previous travels to Antarctica, Borneo and Timbuktu. His most famous moment came when a streaker swam naked up to the floating weather map during a This Morning show in 1995.
PA