Meridian Tonight's popular front-woman Debbie Thrower is to host the prestigious gala ceremony of the Daily Echo's 2000 Hampshire business Awards in June.

Award-winning television journalist and broadcaster, Debbie, who recently retur-ned to Meridian to join Fred Dinenage as co-anchor of the early evening magazine programme, lives near Winchester and has strong local roots.

"I am very pleased to be helping to celebrate the achievements of Hampshire's businesses, both large and small," said Debbie. "The event promises to be most enjoyable."

An extremely popular regional and national newscaster for over 15 years, Debbie's broadcasting career began in local radio in Southampton and before long she was co-presenting BBC's South Today. Her first network television programme was Hospital Watch from Portsmouth. She then became a regular newscaster for the BBC's national news team. Debbie has also presented TVS's nightly news programme Coast to Coast and That's Gardening, both with Fred Dinenage.

Her move to Meridian was something of a homecoming. She joined Meridian in 1993 in its first year of transmission to co-present Meridian Tonight with Fred Dinenage, and helped scoop the coveted Royal Television Society's Regional News Magazine Programme of the Year award. Her other TV credits include The Thrower Report and Songs of Praise.

She has also made her own documentaries as well as presenting a daily music and chat show on BBC Radio Two. For BBC Radio Four she has presented You and Yours, Sunday and Call Debbie Thrower.

Born in Kenya, she now lives with her husband and two children near Winchester.

Tony Cottam, senior partner at KPMG's South Coast office, said: "We are delighted Debbie has agreed to join us on the night. She has a high media profile and strong local connections, and I'm sure she will be a highly entertaining and professional host at our gala ceremony."

Following a record number of entries, judging is now underway for the three award categories:

The KPMG Company of the Year;

The Bond Pearce Business Innovation Award; and

The Marsh Business in the Community Award.

Debbie will announce the winners at the gala dinner at Avington Park in Winch-ester on June 15.

Each winner will receive a specially commissioned handcrafted trophy, a high profile in the Hampshire business community and widespread media coverage.

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