Wincey Willis became ITV’s first female weather presenter on national television when she was hired to join Good Morning Britain by TV executive Greg Dyke in 1983
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.