BBC Weather changes preview

And the current map is very similar to the 4:3 electronic graphics that were launched in the mid-80s, and effectively lasted until the early 00s with sides added for 16:9. TVs were a lot smaller in the mid-80s and we seemed to cope OK...

Don't worry, with the unstoppable march towards 'phone friendly' vertical AR, the shape of the UK is ideally suited !

By the way.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bt9zSfinwFA&vl=en

As long as you don't want a presenter on-screen...

No problem

https://youtu.be/377aCGXmY9Q?t=43

Bill Giles has criticised the new-look BBC Weather graphics and urges viewers to tune into Channel 5 weather at 6.55pm every night for a clearer view:-

www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2018-03-19/bbc-weather-graphics-bill-giles/

A Met Office forecast managed to sneak out on the Beeb last week, on Wednesday's PM on Radio 4.

Liam Dutton was on as a guest to talk about his annoyance with newspapers reporting the "Beast from the East 3", down the line from ITN, and ended up doing a forecast when Louise Lear didn't turn up. No warning, no prep, and he didn't crash the bongs.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09wpmz2#playt=00h55m40s

It was revealed the following day that it wasn't a set up, Louse genuinely had been delayed due to having trouble with the TV graphics and lost track of time so didn't make it to the studio

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09wpn24#playt=00h52m21s

I heard Liam on Radio Four last week.
I wondered at the time, if this was a total 'panic' measure by the production team of PM to get the weather on the air - or if switching to a Met Office forecast (presented by a Met Office forecaster) is the actual back-up proceedure.

But, it's not like there was a serious technical or presenter reason to miss the forecast, it was a case of being too wrapped up with the graphics, and not noticing the clock.

Suspect as it's a one-off, no blood will have been spilt (and the very well thought out 'jokey levels of back-up' sketch the next day, indicates no damaged done), but you can't help but feel that if no forecaster appears in the PM studio by 5.55 in future, a call down to the weather centre will be made - instead of calling Liam off the subs bench over at ITN.

Liam was on as a pre-arranged guest, so I think it was just something that happened in the circumstances. Eddie Mair had a weather script as a back up, and they did get Louise on the line from the weather centre in time to do a shortened forecast, but Liam had it covered!

From someone who works in radio myself, that was fantastic!

Just listened. Incredible timing too, with the Big Ben chimes too, although they could be recorded due to the works in progress.

The chimes are recorded at present so does make a predictable point to hit but still impressive - shows the detailed knowledge forecasters have.

Was it really a Met Office forecast? Liam Dutton's Channel 4 Weather uses MeteoGroup.