163 replies to this topic

[Westsussex1]

Please everyone join the facebook group if you can!!
http://www.facebook....161476193870140

[NorthantsSnow]

Westsussex1, on 13 October 2010 - 17:56 , said:

Please everyone join the facebook group if you can!!
http://www.facebook....161476193870140

How many members? I can't view.

I'm worried it won't have as much impact as previous campaigns. How many did the successful 6Music one get?

[cookie]

Westsussex1, on 13 October 2010 - 17:56 , said:

Please everyone join the facebook group if you can!!
http://www.facebook....161476193870140

make it public

[NorthantsSnow]

A lot of love for Rob on the Daily Mail comments section. And that's saying something because they are a notoriously miserable bunch generally! I've just spent a good few minutes giving the "thumbs up" to all the pro-Rob messages.

Someone hit the nail on the head when they spoke about how passionate he is about the weather. That's what sets him apart from the rest and makes him so brilliant to watch. He's like one of us, only a million times more knowledgable. (pro forecasters on here excluded)

I really hope something can be done to keep Rob on our screens but I fear the BBC have already made their minds up on this WITHOUT consulting the viewers!

[Blitzen]

Oh gawd! wish it had been Dan Corbett! I feel exhausted after his forecasts because he speaks so fast. As for this "grab an extra duvet from the back of the cupboard" or "I think you better remember to take your brolly" - If it's going to be cold or if it's going to rain, just tell me........ I'LL UNDERSTAND!

[Gavin P]

The fact is Rob is the last of the true greats. The era of Bill Giles, Michael Fish etc... Is about to end. At least he got one final very cold winter to forecast, which admidst all the moaning about the cold and snow in the media, Rob actually rather enjoyed.

Remember a forecast he did back in December where he ended saying "And for a proper winter, I think you'll agree, this one isn't too bad?" with that witty little glint in his eye. The end of an era.

Edited by Gavin P, 13 October 2010 - 18:18 .

[Stormmad26]

Thundery wintry showers, on 13 October 2010 - 17:30 , said:

I don't think it has anything to do with the BBC having an AGW agenda, but it's entirely possible that his lack of use of "snow is awful" and "at least it will be mild" type value judgements could have contributed to his downfall. Having looked at some of his recent broadcasts on Youtube, it appears that the recent forecast I saw was quite representative- his forecasts do seem to include more use of synoptic charts and detail than most others (which again goes against recent BBC policy and could have contributed to his downfall). I thought some of Rob's recent forecasts were as good as the ones we were used to in the 1990s.

I haven't seen many of Philip Avery's broadcasts so can't really comment on those. Thomasz did some good Countryfile forecasts a while back, but I'm aware that the frequent gaffes won't have gone down well.

Not all of my favourites of the current bunch are gone- I think Peter Gibbs in particular is still very good, and he doesn't look like getting the chop. However, as time goes on BBC's national forecasts seem to continue inching in the direction of those of ITV, and I continue to hold the Beeb responsible for this rather than the forecasters or the MetO.

That pretty much sums up my opinion on this too.

I do think that the BBC could have made better choices with who to cut. Pretty bad decision IMO.
For example Spotlight (SW local news) has at least 3 forecasters I think, 2 of which don't seem to know much about weather and just read out general brief forecast.

Edited by StormMad26, 13 October 2010 - 18:20 .

[Osbourne One-Nil]

My father in law works for the BBC and told me that he once had to hand P45s out to some office staff before going to to find Jim Bacon and give him one.

Doesn't sound a very nice job to me.

[NorthantsSnow]

Osbourne One-Nil, on 13 October 2010 - 18:27 , said:

My father in law works for the BBC and told me that he once had to hand P45s out to some office staff before going to to find Jim Bacon and give him one.

Doesn't sound a very nice job to me.

How long ago was that? Jim gave the local forecast on Radio Northampton just the other morning and he often pops up on Look East.

[Terminal Moraine]

The most telling sentence in the Daily Mail article is that the 3 forecasters are getting the chop because 'they failed in the team leadership interview'.
And what exactly, BBC, has that got to do with being a good weather forecaster?
If I have to hear any more corporate bolleaux-speak incorporating such phrases as team leadership, team player, thinking outside the box etc etc, I sear I'll have an apoplectic fit and will not be responsible for my actions.

The BBC weather forecast is already sold short on both radio and t.v by the ludicrously short time allocation and to lose three excellent forecasters is yet another nail in the coffin. There is a whole mountain of crap that could be excised from the BBC in order to save money without even thinking about the weather forecast team and this seems to be another step in a direction which will eventually take the BBC weather forecasts to the level of those on the commercial channels.
I hope whoever took this decision suffers frozen pipes this winter as they holiday in the Maldives.

[Harry]

Guys, the facebook group is open.

I set it up, though it is the first group I've ever set up! IF anyone can advise how I can just give everyone full freedom and join and not have to "confirm" each individual person, it'd be handy

As for the "leadership" interview bolleaux...it is just that, pure, 100%, utter cowfaeces!!!!

[Gavin P]

NorthantsSnow, on 13 October 2010 - 18:30 , said:

How long ago was that? Jim gave the local forecast on Radio Northampton just the other morning and he often pops up on Look East.

A long, long time ago Jim was actually a regular national BBC TV forecaster. I suspect thats whats being refered to here.

[pottyprof]

Didn't they already trial a different style of forecast??

[weather eater]

Blitzen, on 13 October 2010 - 18:14 , said:

Oh gawd! wish it had been Dan Corbett! I feel exhausted after his forecasts because he speaks so fast. As for this "grab an extra duvet from the back of the cupboard" or "I think you better remember to take your brolly" - If it's going to be cold or if it's going to rain, just tell me........ I'LL UNDERSTAND!

My feelings exactly, as TWS pointed out Peter Gibbs is OK, Oh and I like Carol Kirkwood, not because she’s necessarily good at presenting the weather, its other reasons, also her accent is really nice. My wife can't stand Liam Dutton, and what’s the name of the welsh chap who looks like Aled Jones. “Walking in the air,” where did I leave that snowman.

[Polar Continental]

Very poor decision by the BBC in my opinion and many others. 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.

[Snow_Plough]

This is a real shame, he has true enthusiasm for the subject he forecasts, i am quite sad now   




If you ever read this Rob:




WE ALL MISS YOU,

BUT WE'LL  NEVER FORGET YOU !!  

[Osbourne One-Nil]

NorthantsSnow, on 13 October 2010 - 18:30 , said:

How long ago was that? Jim gave the local forecast on Radio Northampton just the other morning and he often pops up on Look East.

Gavin P, on 13 October 2010 - 19:00 , said:

A long, long time ago Jim was actually a regular national BBC TV forecaster. I suspect thats whats being refered to here.

No, no, no, no, no....semi-fictitious and nothing more than an attempt at cheap innuendo.

[snowking]

Not only are they getting rid of three of the best forecasters, they are also getting rid of some of the best presenters the BBC has to offer.

I'm sure we can all name a time when in particular Rob has made a blinder of a forecast from over a week out on something very specific. Some people last year refused to believe one of his heavy snow forecasts from over a week away saying it was 'fluke' and he was being 'vague'. The forecast I remember best was for that of the Polar Low on (i think) 28th January 2004 (it might have been a little later). I remember catching the last 30 secs of his late night forecast exactly 1 week before it hit, when he physically showed what had the potential to be a Polar Low formation just off the coast of Greenland, and said that he thought it would be likely that such a feature would hit the UK the following week - he was absolutely spot on

I often stand up for the BBC against those who feel the license fee isnt fair, but I find it more and more difficult to get defend this viewpoint when they, as probably the premier television weather forecasting group, get rid of their best presenters and more accurate forecasters.

I feel sorry for Tomasz and Phillip too, although with Tomasz it was probably the middle finger bombshell that saw his fate sealed

SK

[Blitzen]

Osbourne One-Nil, on 13 October 2010 - 18:27 , said:

My father in law works for the BBC and told me that he once had to hand P45s out to some office staff before going to to find Jim Bacon and give him one.

Doesn't sound a very nice job to me.

Bit of a double entendre there OON!

[Paul B]

NorthantsSnow, on 13 October 2010 - 18:30 , said:

How long ago was that? Jim gave the local forecast on Radio Northampton just the other morning and he often pops up on Look East.

Jim Bacon runs his own weather company now, Weatherquest. He is a fantastic man and a top forecaster.

I certainly agree with Gavin P about the last of the old school being filtered out of the BBC national forecasts, very, very sad and disappointing to see.

I wonder how long it will be before a major weather event hits the country and then the media bemoan the lack of experienced forecasters!