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Daily Mirror
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
ITV's first female weather presenter Wincey Willis dies aged 76
Wincey Willis, the beloved weather presenter known for her vibrant jumpers and effervescent charm on breakfast television, has sadly died at the age of 76 after a battle with dementia. Willis etched her name in history as ITV's first female national weather presenter when she joined Good Morning Britain in 1983, thanks to TV titan Greg Dyke. The chipper 34-year-old brought a fresh, animated take to the forecasts in an era dominated by more sombre presentations. "Most people don't want to know about high pressure over the Azores," she remarked to the Liverpool Echo. "All they care about is whether they need their umbrella." The energetic ensemble of Willis, the ever-beaming Anne Diamond, Rustie Lee with her culinary corner, and "Mad Lizzie" Webb's fitness feature propelled Good Morning Britain past BBC's Breakfast Time in viewership figures. A lover of animals, Willis even occasionally teamed up with the notorious rodent puppet sensation, Roland Rat, as her presenting responsibilities flourished. Her pioneering efforts opened doors for subsequent female weather presenters like Trish Williamson and Ulrika Jonsson, who also expanded into other areas of television. Originally named Florence Winsome Leighton, Willis was born in Gateshead, Co Durham, in 1948 before being adopted by Florence and Thomas Dimmock. Her quirky moniker 'Wincey' found its genesis from her middle name after classmates at her Hartlepool primary school sang Incy Wincy Spider. Willis departed school at the age of 16, journeying to France where she successfully completed her baccalauréat before enrolling at Strasbourg University. She returned to the northeast in 1975, securing a behind-the-scenes role at Radio Tees in Stockton-on-Tees. She transitioned into television when she was invited to audition for the position of weather presenter for Tyne Tees regional TV and a year later, she was awarded her own series on Granada titled Wincey's Pets. At the pinnacle of her career, during the mid-80s, she featured on the game show Treasure Hunt alongside Anneka Rice. A contract dispute led Willis to resign from TV-am in 1987, after which her television career largely came to a halt. In the following years, she dedicated her time as a conservation volunteer aiding endangered species globally. Wincey also hosted radio shows for BBC Coventry & Warwickshire and for BBC Hereford & Worcester. Her marriage to Malcolm Willis in 1972 ended in divorce. In recent years, Willis battled with dementia. Her passing on December 18 last year was publicly announced this week.
Edinburgh Live
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Fern Britton addresses brutal sacking 'within a week' of job after disagreement
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Fern Britton said she was brutally sacked from a presenting role after she confronted a boss. The former This Morning presenter reflected on the earlier stages of her career, when she claims there was "an awful lot of" misogyny in the industry. Fern, who started off as a newsreader, went on to host several programmes including; Breakfast Time in the 1980s, Ready Steady Cook from 1994 to 2000, and notably This Morning from 1999 to 2009. Speaking about her experiences with misogyny in the media, Fern, 67, commented: "At the time, I didn't realise, but there was an awful lot of putting women down, there was an awful lot of misogyny in newsrooms and you just sort of go, 'OK'. "I appreciate that young women don't accept that any more." Recounting a specific incident when she challenged a producer over poor instructions, she told The i Weekend: "I worked with a producer on a show years ago and she was giving me instructions that were utter nonsense. "So I went, 'This is rubbish, this isn't any kind of research, this is all wrong'. Within a week I was off that show." Additionally, Fern shared that she was let go from After Five, following an emotional moment on air. The presenter said she struggled to hold back tears during an interview with a terminally ill cancer patient, at a time when she was dealing with postnatal depression. Fern is widely recognised for her stint as a presenter on ITV's This Morning, sharing the screen with Phillip Schofield. Over the years, she's been quite open about the ups and downs of their friendship, a topic she touched upon once again during her time on Celebrity Big Brother last year. While discussing This Morning with ex-housemate Gary Goldsmith, Fern remarked: "It was tricky at times. "It is an institution that like the monarchy it rocks. I think Ben [Shephard] and Cat [Deeley] will do a great job. It's a new era." Upon hearing Gary suggest that there were whispers of Phillip entering the house, Fern appeared visibly concerned and responded: "Oh, well. That didn't happen yet. Maybe that will happen as a surprise? I might have to leave at that point!". (Image: Getty) Fern's stint on the ITV programme lasted until 2009, when Holly Willoughby took over her role. In a previous conversation with MailOnline regarding her departure, she insisted her exit was down to her deteriorating relationship with her co-host. When probed, she admitted: "To leave This Morning? Ultimately, yes. I loved it and I would probably still be there if... Phillip and I were not getting on very well at that stage." Phillip himself has reflected on their strained rapport in his 2020 autobiography Life's What You Make It. During a chapter, he said he tried to 'make things right' and that he 'missed her deeply'.
Daily Mirror
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Fern Britton shares why she quit This Morning – but it's not what people expect
Highly regarded television presenter Fern Britton has opened up on her decision to leave This Morning in 2009 after spending an impressive 16 years working on the ITV show Fern Britton has discussed her decision to leave the popular ITV show This Morning in 2009, after years as a presenter on the programme. The 67-year-old began her broadcasting career as a newsreader on local radio stations, gradually working her way up to become the BBC's youngest national news presenter on Breakfast Time. She later took on various roles before joining GMTV as a presenter in 1993. That same year, she started guest presenting on ITV's This Morning, and by 1999, she had landed a permanent role on the show, co-presenting the Friday slot alongside John Leslie. Her role on the show became even more regular in 2002, when she began presenting alongside Phillip Schofield. However, seven years later, Fern decided to leave the programme, sparking rumours about the reasons behind her departure. There were widespread reports of a fallout with co-host Phillip, which he later commented on in his memoir, stating that their relationship "turned sour". Fern has also previously mentioned to Good Housekeeping that they are no longer friends, saying "we don't really (speak anymore)". In a recent interview on the Spooning with Mark Wogan podcast, Fern sought to provide some clarity on the situation. Revealing the key reason for her decision to step away from the show, she said: "Well, it's 17 years ago, it's a long time. And I haven't really thought about that for a long time. I had a fantastic 10 years and I loved it." She continued: "But then after a bit, I needed to be back home again, as lots of things were going on. But the boys were about to do their A Levels, going into the two years of that, and the girls as well were leaving little school to go up. I was needed at home, and they needed to come home and know there was chicken in the oven." Since her departure from the show in 2009, Fern has been a constant figure on television, participating in some of the nation's favourite reality TV programmes, including a stint on Strictly Come Dancing in 2012 where she was the fifth star to be voted off. Last year, Fern took part in ITV's Celebrity Big Brother, where she reached the final, ultimately losing out to David Potts who took home the crown. However, fans can look forward to her return to television in the near future with her very own series, Fern Britton: Inside the Vet's. The six-part series will follow Fern alongside TV vet James Greenwood as they delve into the daily workings of veterinary life, covering everything from vaccinations and sprays to dentistry and surgeries. The much-anticipated Fern Britton: Inside the Vet's is expected to premiere next month.
Scotsman
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
9 unforgettable events that brought the nation together during the 1980s
4 . First national breakfast TV show launches - 1983 It's how millions of people start their day, yet breakfast TV has only been around since the 1980s. It was in January 17, 1983 that Breakfast Time, the UK's first national breakfast television programme, first aired on BBC One. The first hosts Frank Bough, Selina Scott and Nick Ross set the tone for breakfast TV as we still know and love it, ditching suits for more casual clothes and presenting from the comfort of the sofa as they delivered the now familiar mixture of hard news and light entertainment. The commercial rival TV-am launched just two weeks later on ITV. | John Minihan/Daily Express/Photo: John Minihan/Daily Express/
Scotsman
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
9 unforgettable events that brought the nation together during the 1980s
4 . First national breakfast TV show launches - 1983 It's how millions of people start their day, yet breakfast TV has only been around since the 1980s. It was in January 17, 1983 that Breakfast Time, the UK's first national breakfast television programme, first aired on BBC One. The first hosts Frank Bough, Selina Scott and Nick Ross set the tone for breakfast TV as we still know and love it, ditching suits for more casual clothes and presenting from the comfort of the sofa as they delivered the now familiar mixture of hard news and light entertainment. The commercial rival TV-am launched just two weeks later on ITV. | John Minihan/Daily Express/Photo: John Minihan/Daily Express/
