Weatherman Ian McCaskill RIP

[theblackwatch]

Just seen on the BBC that former BBC weather presenter Ian McCaskill has passed away, age 78. One of those from the era where the weathermen became household names and celebrities in the 1980s, even having his own Spitting Image Puppet (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcMNbceZD4s ) - although he probably wasn't as well known as Michael Fish (form his famous hurricane quote in 1987) or John Kettley (who had a Top 40 song written about him). RIP.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-382946...ng&ns_source=twitter&ns_linkname=news_central

Former BBC weather forecaster Ian McCaskill has died aged 78, his daughter has confirmed.
He presented the weather on the BBC for 20 years until his retirement in 1998.
He was recognised for his Scottish accent and known for his exuberance and ceaseless enthusiasm for anticyclones, warm fronts and isobars during his career.
He became the most imitated BBC TV weather forecaster and had his own Spitting Image puppet.

 

[Ash Bridge]

That's sad news, never would have thought it was so long ago since he retired, RIP.

 

[yorksrob]

Just seen on the BBC that former BBC weather presenter Ian McCaskill has passed away, age 78. One of those from the era where the weathermen became household names and celebrities in the 1980s, even having his own Spitting Image Puppet (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcMNbceZD4s ) - although he probably wasn't as well known as Michael Fish (form his famous hurricane quote in 1987) or John Kettley (who had a Top 40 song written about him). RIP.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-382946...ng&ns_source=twitter&ns_linkname=news_central

RIP another famous face from the telly. Incidentally, I think the song "John Kettley is the Weatherman" did end with the words "and so is Ian McCaskill".

 

[northwichcat]

I thought it ended with and so is Michael Fish.

Bill Giles is the other well known weatherman from that era who hasn't been mentioned.

 

[DarloRich]

And Walter Swinburn ( former jockey of Shergar & multi classic winner) has died aged 55.

He rode Shergar to the Derby in 1981 by a record 10 lengths leading to the great quote by Peter Bromley ..... and you need a telescope to see the rest.....

 

[yorksrob]

I thought it ended with and so is Michael Fish.

Bill Giles is the other well known weatherman from that era who hasn't been mentioned.

I think the end of the chorus was "and so is Michael Fish". Ian McCaskill was the grand finale, if I remember correctly.

 

[theblackwatch]

I thought it ended with and so is Michael Fish.

Bill Giles is the other well known weatherman from that era who hasn't been mentioned.

According to this site, it ended with Wincy Willis (who!?).

It would appear Bill Giles wasn't too popular with the others, judging by an article on the Telegraph website at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wea...Giles-in-expose-of-weathermens-rivalries.html

 

[Darandio]

According to this site, it ended with Wincy Willis (who!?).

What do you mean who??

Even I remember Wincey Willis on TV-AM!........

 

[fowler9]

I remember seeing Michael Fish doing the "No Hurricane" weather report the day before we went to the Ripple Lane open day which I think was the launch of the new Railfreight branding. Had a brilliant day out including my first tri on the Gatwick Express which on the way out did the whole journey on diesel power because the electricity was off. I can't remember if it was an 85 or an 81 that hauled us back to Liverpool in the evening, unexpected and it was hellfire for want of a better word. It made up 18 mins after delays and got us back to Lime Street early.

 

[yorksrob]

According to this site, it ended with Wincy Willis (who!?).

It would appear Bill Giles wasn't too popular with the others, judging by an article on the Telegraph website at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wea...Giles-in-expose-of-weathermens-rivalries.html

Oh I'd forgotten about Wincy

 

[Busaholic]

According to this site, it ended with Wincy Willis (who!?).

It would appear Bill Giles wasn't too popular with the others, judging by an article on the Telegraph website at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wea...Giles-in-expose-of-weathermens-rivalries.html

That wasn't the half of it with Bill Giles. He was also accused, as Head Weatherforecaster, of bullying the young Philip Eden and Peter Gibbs, both of whom disappeared off air for a couple of years. Gibbs retired last Friday.

On the other hand, Giles had the misfortune of being plagued by a female stalker, a complete fantasist who claimed a relationship with him : it came to court in the end, and I believe she ended up in a mental hospital.

 

[miami]

RIP another famous face from the telly. Incidentally, I think the song "John Kettley is the Weatherman" did end with the words "and so is Ian McCaskill".

The lyrics were:

"John Kettley is a weatherman,
A weatherman, a weatherman,
John Kettley is a weatherman,
And so is Michael Fish,
And so is Billy Giles,
And so is Iain McCaskill...
And so is Wincey Willis. "

 

[scott118]

Oh I'd forgotten about Wincy

paved the way for the likes of Ulrika and Denise V.O - both weather girls of old...

RIP Ian

 

[Groningen]

Ian McCaskill can life in peace; Micheal Fish will always be remembered for his 1987 remark. RIP!

 

[northwichcat]

Ian McCaskill can life in peace; Micheal Fish will always be remembered for his 1987 remark. RIP!

McCaskill once said he was the senior forecaster on that day and Fish's forecast had been approved by him. Whether he was trying to shift some of the blame off Fish or whether he was partly responsible is unclear.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

paved the way for the likes of Ulrika and Denise V.O - both weather girls of old...

RIP Ian

And really the change from weather forecasts being done by people from a media background instead of from a meteorological background. I imagine that move means a lot of people don't appreciate that people like Laura Tobin, Lucy Verasamy and Kaye Forster are actually from a meteorological background despite being youngish attractive females. I've noticed when Jon Mitchell covers ITV Granada forecasts he puts Meteorologist after his name - probably to highlight he is a Met Office qualified person unlike most of the regional ITV weather people.

 

[scott118]

...i wonder how many people under the age of, say 35, would of ever heard of Ian, prior to his passing?

Perhaps the need to have a pretty young thing, to make the weather more 'attractive' is the norm these days. Personally i thought all weather persons, were meteorologists, more than presenters, with the exception of Ulrika and Denise, who may have used this role, as a stepping stone, to further their careers. By the looks of things, it certainly worked for those two..

 

[Groningen]

...i wonder how many people under the age of, say 35, would of ever heard of Ian, prior to his passing?

I believe there are many, many more. Terry Wogan, Kenny Everett, John Peel and Jill Dando.

But than i do not know the current weather (wo)men of the BBC!

 

[northwichcat]

...i wonder how many people under the age of, say 35, would of ever heard of Ian, prior to his passing?

Depends what sort of household they came from. If it was one where their parents watched the news every day when they were going up then they probably would be familiar with who the main weather people were. I remember Ian was my Dad's least favourite weather person with John Kettley being his favourite.

Perhaps the need to have a pretty young thing, to make the weather more 'attractive' is the norm these days. Personally i thought all weather persons, were meteorologists, more than presenters, with the exception of Ulrika and Denise, who may have used this role, as a stepping stone, to further their careers. By the looks of things, it certainly worked for those two..

I remember when there was a news & weather special of The Weakest Link and John Kettley was one contestant and Lara Lewington (who was the main weather person on Channel 5 at the time was another.) Anne Robinson asked Keeley what he thought of someone with a degree in Drama doing weather forecasts (a reference to Lewington) and his response was along the lines of "Things have changed since I did weather forecasts on the TV."

 

[Busaholic]

Rather confusingly, an old weather broadcast of Ian McCaskill's was aired on Radio 4 tonight about two minutes before the actual forecast. I was just thinking 'that guy sounds so like Ian Mc' when the penny dropped! The up-to-date forecaster, Matt Taylor, was gracious enough to say that McCaskill's enthusiasm was the reason he decided to become a forecaster, so that's a fitting epitaph.

 

[AndrewR232]

...i wonder how many people under the age of, say 35, would of ever heard of Ian, prior to his passing?

Myself for one.

Sad news.
I remember him better than Kettley or Giles.

 

[AndrewE]

Did you hear the tribute by John Kettley (I think it was) on the R4 Today programme this morning? I hadn't realised that at the end of the televised forecast with a "manual map" where Ian McCaskill got F O G spelt backwards he said "I'm sorry about the F in fog!"

He sneaked a good one in there!