Three BBC weather forecasters axed

S

s_is_for_skye

New member
It's strange, I was watching the other night and thinking how much longer Peter Gibbs would be there. As a weather geek, I love hearing the science behind the weather, not just someone who looks good in a suit. It's all youth and style over substance.
 
First up a health warning - Its the Daily Hate. However....

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbi...er-cost-cutting-drive.html?ito=feeRAB-newsxml

According to the report Rob Mcelwee, Phil Avery and Tomasz Shafernaker are going to be removed from our TV screen's.

Whilst I'm sure most of the attention will be on Tomasz, with people both celebrating and lamenting his axing, I have to say for me I think its incredibly sad that the UK's most knowledgeable broadcast meterologist, Rob Mcelwee, is apparently being axed. He really is the last throw back to the glory days of Michael Fish, Bill Giles, Ian Mcaskill etc...

If true, this is a bleak day for anyone that likes to see genuine expert scientists delivering weather forecasts.
 
Weather forecaster massacre?

Expect light (red) showers .........

(I really miss Rory Bremmner's Ian McCaskill impersonations ..... towarRAB the end they got very surreal).
 
When the BBC tried this on Newsnight a few years ago Paxman derided it and the whole idea was very quickly dropped.

And of course, the first time someone is killed in a badly forecast weather event your going to get everyone screaming at the Met Office asking why they weren't warned about said event.

And BTW, if you are saying that the quality and accuracy of weather forecasts havent' improved in like 40-50 years, you clearly have no idea at all what your talking about. Met Office/BBC accuracy is actually second to none and we should be very proud of the world class Meteorlogical science in this country. We've been leading the way and pioneering the advancement of the science for many, many decades.
 
You're missing the point, so it's you who don't know what you're talking about in respect of my post.

My main objection is to the amount of money spent on presenting the weather.


Nothing's changed with the variance of wind speed, which brings the weather. It's never been completely possible to accurately determine this far in advance, but they try to do it by the hour and the predicted showers can come earlier or later than they say, or not at all.

So the detailed forecast can actually often be no more accurate than a general one.

And for cryin' out loud, how accurate does it need to be?

Most people just want to know if they might need to take an umbrella when going out, they know if they will need a coat or not, by just stepping out the front door.

People bangin' on about how much they enjoy "The Weather Show!" doesn't say much for their perception of other programmes.
 
None of the attractive females getting the push then??!

Not entirely surprised about gaffe-prone Tomasz Thingamy being pushed into the back office.
 
Sorry, you said;



Which is factually wrong. The accuracy of forecasts from a few hours ahead to five days ahead has imporved drastically in recent decades. Infact in the era your talking about they wouldn't even have attempted 5 day forecasts.

Moreover, just because you don't think there is a need for detailed weather forecasts presented by regular broadcast meterologists, doesn't mean there isn't a need or a desire for this service. I mean, personally, I don't see the need for four episodes of Eastenders a week, but I don't demand the BBC cut back to two episode's a week.
 
Very poor decision by the BBC. If they go ahead with this, then they will loose one of the most well respected weather presenters. Rob McElwee is not only highly respected from the many weather enthusiasts around the British Isles, he also makes weather forecast interesting and enjoyable for all with his professional and enthusiastic presentations. He is someone who obviously loves his work and also loves our very varied British weather.
 
BTW, the BBC have been doing weather forecasts with Broadcast meterologists since January 1954, so I'm not sure exactly how far back your going with this idea that news readers used to do "accurate" weather forecasts?
 
They can't get rid of Creepy Corbett, unless they drive a stake through his heart or expose him to daylight.

I just hope they start teaching them all that they're there to say what the weather is - nothing more. I don't want them to tell me whether I should be happy or sad about what the weather is. I don't want to be told what sport I can follow on 5Live later that afternoon. And I don't want to know what clothes I should be wearing if I go outside. Stop editorialising!
 
Tomasz for Strictly 2011?:D

Yeah, Tomasz will do OK when he leaves the BBC, I'm sure of that.

I'm most concerned about Rob Mcelwees axing and the signal it senRAB that the BBC is no longer interested in allowing experts and scientists to talk to their audiance like grown ups.;:rolleyes:
 
I'n happy with this. I think McElwee makes a bumbling mess of weather presenting and Schafernaker irritates. The girls are much better. As long as they don't get rid of Louise Lear, Helen Willetts etc I'll be happy.
 
Afraid so. I always find myself going: 'Please, just get on with it and tell me the weather!'. Seems to take for ever...

Re the above Dan Corbett comments - I used to like him but over the summer he imbued the forecasts with superfluous comments which had a bias towarRAB what the weather was like in London.

I still think the BBC weather could be sharpened up - removing the hover round the country would be a good start as it tells one nothing more than can be gleaned from the normal view. Having said that, I always listen to the BBC weather in preference to Sky (i.e., when Sky had a team of weather people).
 
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