BBC weather presenter is taken off air after she ‘attended two Piers Corbyn anti-lockdown marches

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BBC weather presenter is taken off air after she ‘attended two Piers Corbyn anti-lockdown marches and called corporation “the devil” on WhatsApp group for Covid deniers’

  • Jemma Cooper is known for being the weather presenter on Points West
  • But she has been seen on anti-lockdown marches in the UK with Piers Corbyn
  • Colleagues have been told she will not be back in the office until ‘further notice’

By Dan Sales For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

A BBC weather presenter said to have attended two anti-lockdown marches led by Piers Corbyn has been taken off air.

Regional TV talent Jemma Cooper is best known for her regular appearances on Bristol’s Points West programme.

But it is alleged she put in a Covid-denial group the BBC was ‘the devil’ and appears to be in footage of an anti-lockdown march, where Piers Corbyn appears.

Today the broadcaster was forced to restate impartiality guidelines had to be strictly followed and any breach would be dealt with.

Weather presenter Jemma Cooper in Portishead turning on the Christmas lights in 2011

Jemma Cooper presenting the weather on BBC breakfast from Bristol where she worked

Jemma Cooper presenting the weather on BBC breakfast from Bristol where she worked 

But a whistleblower, speaking to the Bristol Post, said Ms Cooper returned to the Points West newsroom after attending a Birmingham demonstration.

The insider said: ‘Jemma had arguments with colleagues who felt she was putting people in danger by going out to these events.

‘She said she was adamant Covid is not a real thing. One employee was left in tears by the conversation. 

Jemma Cooper, seen here back in 2007, was said to have argued with colleagues over Covid

Jemma Cooper, seen here back in 2007, was said to have argued with colleagues over Covid

Miss Cooper appears to be second from left in this screengrab of footage from Birmingham

Miss Cooper appears to be second from left in this screengrab of footage from Birmingham

Who is Jemma Cooper? 

Miss Cooper grew up in Portishead and joined the BBC back in 1999.

In 2000 she started working for BBC Bristol on their regional website.

But then joined live news to become a weather presenter. 

In her heyday she worked on television breakfast and weekend forecasts as well as for the radio.

On a now-archived BBC profile page, she said: ‘Journalism is in my blood and I am confident about telling the weather story every day but weather is a science and I have put a lot of effort in to learn as much as I can about it.’

‘It has become a thing in the newsroom which we call “Where’s Wally”.

‘People find Twitter videos of lockdown protests and look for Jemma.’ 

The broadcaster has said Ms Cooper is still employed by the channel.

She has been off air for three months, but it said to have been helping with news stories.

Youtube footage she is said to appear in, shows a woman matching her likeness nodding at Corbyn.

An email sent to staff at Points West on November 5 said the presenter would not be coming in until they were advised differently.

It read: ‘Dear all, I want to let you know that Jemma Cooper has had to be called away from the office unexpectedly until further notice.’

Last month it was said that she confirmed her identity in an anti-lockdown group called Stand Up Bristol.

She replied: ‘Yes alas I work for the devil at the moment.

‘I joined the corporation in 1999 when I was 28 and fully asleep. Comatose.’

The BBC have been approached for comment by MailOnline.