With almost 20 years television experience, well-respected journalist Melissa Downes is Channel Nine Queensland’s Nine News weekday presenter, working alongside Andrew Lofthouse. Prior to her appointment to the weekday news desk in November 2008, Downes fronted the Nine News weekend bulletin for two years. Since joining Channel Nine Queensland in December 2001, Downes has also hosted and reported for the top-rating local afternoon programs Extra, Saturday Extra, Gold Coast Weekend and Saturday Afternoon.