Latest news with #Wincey'sPets
Wales Online
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Iconic weather presenter Wincey Willis dies after battle with dementia
Iconic weather presenter Wincey Willis dies after battle with dementia Wincey was part of a fresh new breakfast TV revolution Wincey Willis Iconic weather presenter Wincey Willis has died at the age of 76, after a battle with dementia. Wincey, born Florence Winsome Leighton, was born in 1948 in Gateshead and died last December - but her death has been kept private until today. She was a pioneering British TV and radio presenter best known as the first female national weather presenter on ITV. She gained fame on Good Morning Britain (TV‑am) starting in May 1983 Wincey was part of a dynamic new breakfast TV line-up alongside Anne Diamond, Rustie Lee and "Mad Lizzie" Webb - as well as notorious rodent puppet Roland Rat OWincey was adopted by Florence and Thomas Dimmock and got her name from her middle name after classmates at her Hartlepool primary school sang Incy Wincy Spider. She left school in England at the age of 16 and went 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. Article continues below She moved to 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.. 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. Article continues below Her marriage to Malcolm Willis in 1972 ended in divorce. In recent years, Willis battled with dementia. Her death on December 18 last year was publicly announced this week.
Metro
9 hours ago
- Climate
- Metro
Wincey Willis, ITV's first female weather presenter, dies aged 76
Trailblazer Wincey Willis, the first woman to present the weather on ITV, has died aged 76 after a dementia diagnosis. The icon died in December, but it was only publicly annonced today. After being diagnosed with fronto-temporal dementia, Willis spent her final years in Sunderland. Born Florence Winsome Leighton in Gateshead and adopted at infancy, she grew up in Hartlepool in a strict Baptist household. At school she was nicknamed 'Wincey,' after the nursery rhyme. She began her career as a travel rep before entering broadcasting with Radio Tees in 1975. In 1981 she joined Tyne Tees TV as a weather presenter on Northern Life, later hosting her own show Wincey's Pets. In May 1983, Greg Dyke brought her to TV-am's Good Morning Britain, making her the first woman to deliver national weather forecasts on ITV. Her bubbly style, colourful jumpers, and trademark mullet gave a lively makeover to the otherwise earnest format. More Trending At the height of her fame, Willis also appeared on the popular game show Treasure Hunt alongside Anneka Rice and devised a board game called The Weather Game. Later in her life, she worked as an international conservation volunteer. Famously, she spent six months in a tent in Greece protecting endangered turtles. She later composted worms, writing books such as It's Raining Cats and Dogs (1986) and Greendays (1990), and continued broadcasting through regional radio with BBC Coventry & Warwickshire and BBC Hereford & Worcester. She's remembered as a television trailblazer who helped pave the way for women in broadcasting. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. View More »
Daily Mirror
10 hours ago
- 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.
