The Weather Thread

I was under the impression it was a Met Office decision, not the BBC. The BBC has been rumoured to be finding a new internal role for Tomasz Schafernaker, who is one of the three reported to be leaving.

But no, no official reason has been given to the best of my knowledge.

Rob got another chance to sign off during the overnight Weatherview:

[media:2ab83b8a1f]http://up.metropol247.co.uk/Jonny/RobMcElweefinalweatherview.flv[/media:2ab83b8a1f]

Nina Ridge doing the weather on the 1 today - think this her first time on national?

Interesting the tv announcer acknowledged it. I have never known them to name check the forecaster before. Didn't even realise BBC One had a live announcer at that time of night.

Very sad that Rob has departed. Shame on you, Met Office.

Well there's nothing to say that that would definitely have been live, it could have been recorded for the occasion. I think they do usually introduce Weatherview properly because it is a programme in its own right.

Isn't all continuity live on network BBC?

What's going on today John Hammond is doing what I would usually infer as Laura Tobin and Rob McElwee's normal shifts and has been on the NC from around about 4.30 and is till there now!

I wonder if they might be doing a bit of a change around as Nina was on the one today. The did a big swap around when Elizabeth Saary went on maternity leave and when Helen Willetts came back

Also, Nina and John's shifts seemed longer than they usually are, which makes me think they may have changed the shift patterns to reduce the number of forecasters needed - which fits with the departure of Rob Mcelwee and the impending departures of Philip Avery and Tomasz Schafernaker. It was also reported at some point that they were three of six forecasters leaving.

Yup, it was Met Office who ordered these cut-backs, I understand the BBC was not pleased at them. All the BBC national presenters had to re-apply for their jobs: The official reason given, was that Rob McElwee, Phil Avery and Tomasz Schafernaker "failed to impress with their 'team leadership' skills"-- yet these three were then given production roles for weather forecasts at the BBC? Go figure... however that quote above, was from several newspaper reports; quite where the likes of the Daily Mirror and Daily Wail got that quote from, is anyone's guess (presumably from the Met Office press office?)

Tomasz last official forecast is scheduled to be Jan 15th; although he was supposed to appear last week, but didn't-- gardening leave I guess I'm informed by a couple of reliable sourced those rumours about Tomasz and the Beeb are true. I do know a little more than that, but I'm not at liberty to divulge anymore at present I'm afraid, I've been sworn to secrecy

I'm surprised the BBC don't control the 'talent' side of things, even though the presenters technically work for the Met Office.

Similarly to when news contracts have changed on other channels and the presenters have carried on as normal.

Seriously, I haven't got a clue, how is it that Nina dis the One and then the domestic forecast for World News Today with Zeinab Badawi? Longer shifts for sure - I think the only one that won't change is Weekdays Breakfast - although Matt Taylor did it this morning.