Today (Friday, March 26) is the day that news presenter Pam Royle steps down from her role on ITV Border after a television career spanning nearly 40 years.

Pam will present the final news show tonight at 6pm, and has admitted she will find it hard to say goodbye.

She has presented ITV Border since 2009, as well as ITV Tyne Tees for a number of years alongside co-presenter Ian Payne, and the show this evening is said to be a look back at some of the highlights of her career.

Speaking to former Northern Echo editor Peter Baron, Pam said: "My colleagues have been looking through the archives and have found some great footage from the past.

"We also have a surprise for everyone during the programme featuring a North East Superstar. We are keeping that under wraps until the night!

“I’ve enjoyed such a strong connection with the viewers for such a long time, it will be really strange to not go into the studio every day, see my colleagues, and say ‘hello’ to everyone on screen.

"I’m bound to feel a sense of loss. I don’t like goodbyes at the best of times so we are planning a feel good programme on Friday. I am looking forward to sharing it with our viewers.

”Pam joined Tyne Tees Television in 1983 as a weather presenter, before going on to work for Central TV, followed by jobs with TV-am, ITN and LWT in London.Pam returned to the North East, her home region, to become the main presenter for Tyne Tees in 1989 where she co-anchored Northern Life and Tyne Tees today, working with the likes of Paul Frost, Andrew Friend, Mike Neville and more recently Ian Payne.

Co-presenter Ian Payne said: "Pam's been my on-screen partner for so many years - I'm going to miss her enormously. "Pam's a top-class broadcaster, and the nicest person you could hope to meet - it's been a huge pleasure and a genuine privilege to sit alongside her and share the day's news stories with our wonderful viewers.

"I know you'll all miss her dearly too."

Michaela Byrne, Head of News and Programmes for ITV Tyne Tees and Border, added: "Pam’s contribution to Tyne Tees and more latterly ITV Border has been immense and she is a much-loved figure whose warmth and authority radiate off the screen.

"We are very sad that she has decided that it’s time to leave us and all of us at ITV will miss her, but we wish her the very best of luck in the future."

Pam, who lives near Darlington, is planning to continue using her presenting skills on screen as well as working from a home studio, producing voice-overs for commercials, narrations, documentaries, and audio books.

  • By Melissa Major and Peter Baron