Fish for breakfast as Michael Fish joins GMTV
GMTV have announced they’re bringing former BBC weatherman Michael Fish out of retirement to present their weather forecasts.
Michael Fish MBE has become more famous for a weather blunder rather than his presenting skill. Back in 1987 Fish told BBC One viewers that there would be only light winds the following day. Instead as morning arrived one of the worst storms to sweep across southern England hit Britain.
“Earlier on today, apparently, a woman rang the BBC and said she heard there was a hurricane on the way… well, if you’re watching, don’t worry, there isn’t!” he commented in the forecast at the time.
Of course as Fish has pointed out many times himself, he doesn’t write the forcasts – the information was provided by the Met Office who monitor weather patterns and predict the outlook so he was just passing on their information, however he’s still the public face we all blame.
ITV’s breakfast company, GMTV, have decided to mark the great storm by putting Fish on their weather map. “I was thrilled to get the call from GMTV,” said Michael. “It`s great to keep my hand in and see how the other side works too!”
Michael has been coaxed out of retirement by GMTV and will present the weather on the anniversary week of the famous gaffe appearing on GMTV between October 12th to the 16th. Fish left the BBC in 2004 after 30 years on BBC Television, and seven years prior on radio.
GMTV`s resident weather presenter, Kirsty McCabe said: “I`m delighted to meet up with Mike again. When I first started at the BBC he trained me, now I`ve been showing him the ropes here. It`s lovely to see him back.”
The Great Storm of 1987 saw 18 people killed in the UK, with 4 casualties in France. The South of England was the worst hit, BBC Television Centre was unable to operate due to a power failure and many staff being unable to get to the studios. The storm caused substantial damage over much of England, downing some 15 million trees.
