Weatherman Sam Champion will return to Good Morning America to deliver weather news while current GMA meteorologist Ginger Zee is on leave.
Zee, 34, has been absent from the show ever since she gave birth to her first son, Adrian Benjamin on December 19 in New York City. ABC announced on Monday that Champion will take over her weather forecasting responsibilities starting January 11.
Sam Champion returns to cover weather on @GMA during Ginger Zee’s maternity leave https://t.co/L0Odh7zVCQ pic.twitter.com/XxEWsnH60g
— People magazine (@people) January 4, 2016
Champion worked as an anchor on GMA for seven years before leaving 2013 after which Zee took over the weather department of the show. He then anchored a morning show AMHQ: America’s Morning Headquarters on The Weather Channel.
However, the 54-year-old meteorologist had reportedly been cut from the program after the network made some changes on the content of the morning show. According to the Weather Channel, Champion will still be working on its programming, “taking the lead in expanding increased weather coverage into our primetime schedule.”
Nevertheless, the former Good Morning America meteorologist is very much welcome to the show. He will be delivering weather updates for one week until Ginger Zee comes back.
After learning that Champion would be relieving her for the week, Ginger Zee took the time to express her gratitude toward Rob Marciano and Champion.
Thanks for helping out @RobMarciano and @SamChampion — I’ll be back before y’all know it! https://t.co/sFqeQ9g5GG
— Ginger Zee (@Ginger_Zee) January 4, 2016
She also shared a To-Do list for the weatherman including taking care of the audience.
Zee also let the GMA camera crew take a peek at her little bundle of joy while she was being interviewed by the show’s host. She said she and her little guy are doing well.
The big reason @SamChampion is coming back to @GMA to help @Ginger_Zee is the cutest reason in the world. ? pic.twitter.com/Gfu7bRAs5E
— Good Morning America (@GMA) January 4, 2016
“I think we’re both feeling good, and he’s eating and he’s burping and throwing up, and doing all the things he’s supposed to do,” Ginger Zee said of her baby.