ITV Border: Meet the team

Meet the team behind ITV News Lookaround Credit: ITV News Border

Below are the people who make up the team at ITV Border.

Catherine Houlihan is the Managing Editor for ITV Border. Catherine worked as a programme editor with ITN for 12 years before joining ITV in 2007.

Outside of work Catherine enjoys crosswords and exploring new places with her family.

When describing her favourite part of working at ITV Border, Catherine says "the people are what makes this job so special."

  • Follow Catherine on Twitter @cathhoul

Tim Backshall Credit: ITV News Border

Tim Backshall is our most experienced journalist. He joined ITV Border in 1997 as a reporter/presenter and was the face of Lookaround until 2009.

As a journalist at ITV Border, he has covered everything from the Cumbrian floods, the Derrick Bird shootings, and the foot and mouth outbreak to the Lockerbie bombing trial in the Netherlands.

Outside of work Tim enjoys walking in the Lake District, taking part in sports and spending time with his wife and daughter.

Tim's favourite part of working at ITV Border is "meeting so many different people who all have their own stories to tell."

  • Follow Tim on Twitter @timbackshallitv

Hannah McNulty Credit: ITV News Border

Hannah McNulty joined ITV Border from ITV Granada in 2007. She is our Carlisle reporter who has covered everything from high profile court cases in Spain to the Derrick Bird shootings and Cumbrian floods.

Outside of work Hannah enjoys walking in the lakes, travelling and spending time with her husband.

Hannah's favourite part of working at ITV Border is "no two days are ever the same. We get to cover the stories that matter to the local people."

  • Follow Hannah on Twitter @HannahMcITV

Matthew Taylor Credit: ITV News Border

Matthew Taylor joined ITV Border in October 2005 as a reporter. Matthew has covered stories from the demise of the mills in Langholm to Queen of the South's record-breaking 2012 season, to reporting from America on the Lockerbie bombing case.

Outside of work Matthew enjoys travelling, creative writing and walking in the Galloway hills.

Matthew most enjoys working at ITV Border because "it has maintained its role in the heart of the community and its something that is still cherished by locals."

  • Follow Matthew on Twitter @matttayloritv

Peter MacMahon Credit: ITV News Border

Peter MacMahon joined ITV Border in September 2013 as the new Scotland Political Editor.

Peter is one of Scotland's most experienced political journalists with a wealth of experience in covering Westminster and Holyrood.

Before joining Border, Peter was with 'The Scotsman' since 2005, working across the Scottish Government and Business briefs before rising to the rank of Deputy Editor.

  • Follow Peter on Twitter @petermacmahon

Ryan Dollard Credit: ITV News Border

Ryan Dollard first joined ITV Border as a reporter in 2003. He then worked in Russia as a sports reporter for three years before returning to ITV Border in 2009.

He is now the sports reporter and has covered sporting successes such as Cleator's historic win at Lord's, Carlisle United trips to Wembley and Dumfries rally driver David Bogie making history in the Scottish championship.

Outside of work Ryan enjoys playing rugby and cricket and reading.

Ryan says "working at ITV Border is never boring. There is always something exciting going on. For me personally, I love following our local sporting successes. We have so many talented sportsmen and women in our area."

  • Follow Ryan on Twitter @RyanDollardITV

Samantha Parker Credit: ITV News Border

Samantha Parker joined ITV Border as west Cumbria reporter in May 2010. Within a few weeks she had covered two major news stories- the Keswick bus crash and the Derrick Bird shootings.

Outside of work Samantha enjoys spending time with her husband and friends, wandering the fells, visiting the theatre or hiding from the rain in a coffee shop with a good book.

Samantha says "the best thing about my job has got to be the wide range of stories we cover. One day I will be doing a story about Sellafield the next about a Roman Dig in Maryport."

  • Follow Samantha on Twitter @SamParkerITV, or email her at samantha.parker@itv.com

Lori Carnochan Credit: ITV Border

Lori Carnochan joined the team in September 2012 as a production journalist. She is now the team's reporter for Dumfries and Galloway.

Before joining ITV Border, Lori worked at STV and BBC Radio Scotland.

When describing what she likes most about her job, Lori says "I love the fact that one minute I'll be in the office working on our website, the next I'll be sent out reporting. The job offers a great deal of variety."

  • Follow Lori on Twitter @LoriCarnITV

Fiona Marley Paterson Credit: ITV News Border

Fiona Marley Paterson joined ITV Border in July 2013 as South Lakes reporter. Before moving to Kendal, she worked for BBC Radio Newcastle.

Fiona covers one of the most beautiful areas of the UK: the Lake District, and part of the Yorkshire Dales.

She says it's hard to stop filming when every shot has been crafted by nature for millions of years, but the icing on the cake is meeting friendly Cumbrians. When work stops she can be found fell running, rowing, climbing and cycling in the area.

David Atkinson Credit: ITV News Border

David Atkinson is our longest serving member of staff. He joined ITV Border in 1984 and has worked as an electrician, sound recordist and cameraman.

He has filmed in Iraq, Canada and Egypt to name a few places, and has covered everything from the Lockerbie disaster to the Grayrigg train crash.

Outside of work David enjoys spending time on his motorbike, fell walking and watching wildlife.

When describing working at ITV Border, David says he "likes the chaos of news."

Andy Brecken Credit: ITV News Border

Cameraman Andy Brecken joined ITV Border in 2003 as a site hand. Since then he has worked in the technical and camera departments as well as outside broadcasts.

He has filmed major events such as the Derrick Bird shootings and the Leanne Smith trial in Spain.

Outside of work, Andy enjoys travelling, spending time with his wife and listening to heavy metal music.

  • Follow Andy on Twitter @Andybrecken

Paul Bell Credit: ITV News Border

Paul Bell joined the team in 2011 as planning editor, in charge of sourcing and setting up the stories you see on the programme.

Before joining ITV Border, Paul worked as a series producer at Sky News, a news editor at Sky Sports News and and assistant news editor at TV:AM.

When describing working at Border, Paul says "it's the close relationship we have with the local communities that makes us special."