TV weatherman Fred Talbot was arrested today by police investigating historic sex abuse allegations at a school.
The 63-year-old was held on suspicion of indecent assault on four pupils in the 1970s and 80s when he was a biology teacher before be became a weatherman.
Talbot is best known for presenting the weather on ITV's This Morning from a giant outdoor floating map of the British Isles. He would jump across from England to Ireland during his broadcast.
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TV weatherman: Fred Talbot, wearing one of his iconic knitted jumpers, and his ITV This Morning weather map.
He was arrested when he arrived at a police station for a pre-arranged appointment today.
His £500,000 18th century cottage in Bowdon, Cheshire had its front door smashed in by police during a raid whilst he was away on holiday last December.
He was on a cruise ship at the time which was travelling from the African coast to the Caribbean, as part of an astronomical tour where he was delivering talks to passengers on the night sky.
On December 10, the day before his home was searched, he told followers on his Twitter account that he was sailing in the Atlantic Ocean for six days after leaving Madeira. He tweeted: ‘Night sky is amazing in Atlantic.’
Talbot was weatherman on ITV's North West regional news programme Granada Reports until the police launched their investigation in December.
Today police said they had arrested a man on suspicion of three counts of indecent assault and four counts of inciting a child to commit acts of gross indecency.
Search: A police officer leaves Fred Talbot's home in Cheshire today as it is searched after his arrest
Arrested: TV weatherman Fred Talbot, pictured here on Daybreak in 2011, was arrested by police today over alleged historical sex offences
The offences relate to the suspect's time at Altrincham Grammar school between the early 1970s to early 1980s, while the four victims were pupils.
Detective Chief Inspector 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.'
Investigation: A police van parked outside the weather presenter's home while he was interviewed by police today
Arrested: Weatherman Fred Talbot was held by detectives investigating historic sexual abuse
Last month, a 63-year-old former teacher at St Ambrose College in Hale Barns was held on suspicion of indecent assault of an ex-pupil and possession of indecent images dating back to the early 1980s.
He was later bailed pending further inquiries.
He was later bailed pending further inquiries.
The offences under investigation at Altrincham Grammar School for Boys did not happen within school grounds but allegedly involved a member of staff at the time, police said.
Talbot, a popular figure with viewers, 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.
Brought up in Altrincham Talbot was a pupil at North Cestrian Grammar School and in 1964 was a founding member of the Altrincham and District Astronomical Society.
He co-discovered a meteor shower, the June Lyrids, in June 1966. He was appointed biology master at Altrincham Grammar in the 1970s and went into TV in 1984.
During one famous incident whilst presenting the weather on This Morning at Albert Dock in Liverpool, a streaker swam naked up to the map and jumped on.
In 1998, Talbot was named 'Weatherman of the year' at the Annual International Weather Festival in Paris and also acted as a weather forecaster on ITV Breakfast programme Daybreak.
In 2007 Talbot was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Science by Manchester Metropolitan University in recognition of bringing to a mass audience, 'a better understanding of scientific and environmental issues'.