MERIDIAN television presenter Geoff Clark is switching to the BBC, it has been revealed.

In what amounts to a coup for the Beeb, the shock move follows months of talks between the Meridian Tonight presenter and BBC chiefs in Tunbridge Wells.

Mr Clark, one of the best-known faces on ITV in Kent and Sussex, will present BBC South East Today with Beverley Thompson. Current presenter Giles Dilnot will move to general reporting.

Mr Clark said: "I'm thrilled to be joining BBC South East Today and I can't wait to get started.

"I'm greatly looking forward to working with such a talented team on the only television regional news programme that is currently being produced and presented in the south east and will continue to be so.

"I have very much enjoyed my time at Meridian, but it just seemed so silly to stop working in the region I love."

Mike Hapgood, head of regional and local programmes for BBC South East, said: "I've always been a great admirer of Geoff's on-screen presence. He is well-known and popular throughout the south-east and has a warm, approachable presentation style.

"It's great news for BBC South East that someone of Geoff's calibre is joining us."

Mr Clark’s departure is a setback to Meridian but reflects his anger at proposals to move him from studios in Maidstone to Whiteley, near Fareham in Hampshire.

Following the merger of Carlton and Granada to create a single ITV, Meridian is switching presentation of news programmes, including the flagship Meridian Tonight, to cut costs.

Mr Clark lives in Essex and did not want to face a long commuting journey. He also believes passionately that presenters and reporters should be close to the patch where they report. He frequently hosts events in Kent, and this work would have been put at risk by being in Hampshire.

"It's such a lovely part of the world,” he said. “The people are great and I really enjoy meeting them when I'm driving around the region or get chatting to them at the petrol pump."

News gathering and sports presentation will stay in Kent, although both will move from New Hythe to a new hi-tech complex in Maidstone Studios. The complex is due to be opened in November by ITV boss Charles Allen.

Geoff Clark began his career as a football reporter at LBC radio in London. From there, he became the sports correspondent at TV-am before moving to Sky News and Sky Sports.

Mark Southgate, controller of news and regional programmes at Meridian, said: “We’re sorry to lose Geoff at such an exciting time for Meridian’s south east service.

“We are grateful for his contribution to the continued ratings success of Meridian Tonight and we wish him well for the future.”