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John was born in Bosham, West Sussex in 1966. When he was about 4 or 5 years old John wrote to BBC weatherman Bert Foord, asking him how he could become a weatherman. Bert kindly wrote back with some handy hints. In 1978 John moved from the south coast to the Cotswolds, where he lived until leaving home for University in 1984. John studied for a Geography degree at Salford University, followed by a Masters in Meteorology at Birmingham University. On completing his MSc, he joined the Met Office in 1990.

After a brief spell at Met Office HQ at Bracknell, John started forecasting in February 1991, working at regional weather centres in Nottingham, Bristol and Plymouth. This involved a variety of forecasting work for aviation, local industry, and some local radio too. However it wasn't until the mid-1990s when John started TV weather presenting. He spent around 7 years as a Met Office forecaster at ITV, until joining the BBC Weather Centre in the spring of 2003.

John and his son Fred are devoted Manchester United supporters. However unlike Fred, John is also a devoted Status Quo fan. The pinnacle of his career so far has been playing guitar on stage with Quo at Wembley in 2000. As well as playing the guitar, John relaxes by running. He also dabbles in oil painting, especially landscapes and cloudscapes.

John says: "The great thing about the weather is that every day is a brand new day. Now some might say that just brings a brand new chance to get the forecast completely wrong again. But in fact the forecast is always right - it's the weather that sometimes goes wrong".

FAQ - John Hammond
Find out the answers to some of your most frequently asked questions to the forecasters in our team. Here we quiz John Hammond on your behalf...

What did you do before becoming a BBC broadcast meteorologist?
I joined the Met Office after graduating in 1990. In the mid-1990s I joined the team on the ITV weather before finally moving to the BBC Weather Centre in 2003.

Why did you want to be a broadcast meteorologist?
I think it's the best job in the Met Office. If you're interested in the weather and you like to show off, it's the job for you!

Do you get nervous before a broadcast?
I always get a little nervous before broadcasts, especially on a day when there's lots of severe weather around. I find I need the nerves to keep my broadcast pacey and energetic.

Have you ever made any mistakes?
Most days!

What are the good things about your job?
It's the best job in the world. No two days of weather are the same. So every day is a brand new adventure. It's a great team at the Weather Centre and we manage to have a good laugh as well as doing the serious job of weather forecasting. Of course it's also a privilege to be working in television, and occasionally meeting some famous people too.

What are the bad things about your job?
Because the weather never sleeps, our operations continue 24/7. So we all have to work shifts - both day and night. Staying up all night is one thing, but presenting the weather to the nation at 4 in the morning is another. Thank goodness for make-up!!

When and why did you first get interested in weather?
I have been interested in the weather for as far back as I can remember. I used to watch every BBC bulletin when I was very little. I even wrote to the weatherman Bert Foord when I was about 4, asking for some tips for becoming a weatherman. Given where I've ended up, it must have been sound advice. I'm very lucky.

How do you relax when you're not working?
I do quite a lot of running, which helps me to keep fit. Other than that, I try to show my artistic side by dabbling in oil painting occasionally. I particularly like landscapes and cloudscapes. I also like to spend as much time as possible with my son. Fred. He and I share a passion for Manchester United, and get to s many games as possible.

What job would you do if you were not a broadcast meteorologist?
Crikey. I don't know. But having been brought up in the countryside, I would like a job which allowed me to be out in the fresh air as much as possible.

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	John was born in Bosham, West Sussex in 1966. When he was about 4 or 5 years old John wrote to BBC weatherman Bert Foord, asking him how he could become a weatherman. Bert kindly wrote back with some handy hints. In 1978 John moved from the south coast to the Cotswolds, where he lived until leaving home for University in 1984. John studied for a Geography degree at Salford University, followed by a Masters in Meteorology at Birmingham University. On completing his MSc, he joined the Met Office in 1990. After a brief spell at Met Office HQ at Bracknell, John started forecasting in February 1991, working at regional weather centres in Nottingham, Bristol and Plymouth. This involved a variety of forecasting work for aviation, local industry, and some local radio too. However it wasn't until the mid-1990s when John started TV weather presenting. He spent around 7 years as a Met Office forecaster at ITV, until joining the BBC Weather Centre in the spring of 2003. John and his son Fred are devoted Manchester United supporters. However unlike Fred, John is also a devoted Status Quo fan. The pinnacle of his career so far has been playing guitar on stage with Quo at Wembley in 2000. As well as playing the guitar, John relaxes by running. He also dabbles in oil painting, especially landscapes and cloudscapes. John says: "The great thing about the weather is that every day is a brand new day. Now some might say that just brings a brand new chance to get the forecast completely wrong again. But in fact the forecast is always right - it's the weather that sometimes goes wrong". FAQ - John Hammond Find out the answers to some of your most frequently asked questions to the forecasters in our team. Here we quiz John Hammond on your behalf... What did you do before becoming a BBC broadcast meteorologist? I joined the Met Office after graduating in 1990. In the mid-1990s I joined the team on the ITV weather before finally moving to the BBC Weather Centre in 2003. Why did you want to be a broadcast meteorologist? I think it's the best job in the Met Office. If you're interested in the weather and you like to show off, it's the job for you! Do you get nervous before a broadcast? I always get a little nervous before broadcasts, especially on a day when there's lots of severe weather around. I find I need the nerves to keep my broadcast pacey and energetic. Have you ever made any mistakes? Most days! What are the good things about your job? It's the best job in the world. No two days of weather are the same. So every day is a brand new adventure. It's a great team at the Weather Centre and we manage to have a good laugh as well as doing the serious job of weather forecasting. Of course it's also a privilege to be working in television, and occasionally meeting some famous people too. What are the bad things about your job? Because the weather never sleeps, our operations continue 24/7. So we all have to work shifts - both day and night. Staying up all night is one thing, but presenting the weather to the nation at 4 in the morning is another. Thank goodness for make-up!! When and why did you first get interested in weather? I have been interested in the weather for as far back as I can remember. I used to watch every BBC bulletin when I was very little. I even wrote to the weatherman Bert Foord when I was about 4, asking for some tips for becoming a weatherman. Given where I've ended up, it must have been sound advice. I'm very lucky. How do you relax when you're not working? I do quite a lot of running, which helps me to keep fit. Other than that, I try to show my artistic side by dabbling in oil painting occasionally. I particularly like landscapes and cloudscapes. I also like to spend as much time as possible with my son. Fred. He and I share a passion for Manchester United, and get to s many games as possible. What job would you do if you were not a broadcast meteorologist? Crikey. I don't know. But having been brought up in the countryside, I would like a job which allowed me to be out in the fresh air as much as possible.