Concept and creative process
This was a special compilation for conference presentation designed to showcase the redesign of the BBC Weather UK/Europe presentation, as it moved into the electronic era from that of presenters manipulating magnetic rubber-backed weather symbols on metal-backed maps, live on-air. The BBC Weather magnetic symbols were phased out in 1985 for a new computer graphics system, although the basic design of the symbols remained. The new computer system was the result of over 4 years of planning by the BBC Computer Graphics Workshop and used data from the Met Office to make computer graphics and satellite sequences. The graphics themselves were designed by Liz Jones (now Varrall) assisted by Sue Worthy, using the Quantel Paintbox. All the maps were designed to work best with the weather forecaster standing on the left of screen. The central raised panel shown in Europe wide maps was the area of the data available from the Met office for Europe and the UK at that time. These forecasts were widely acclaimed for their simplicity and clarity. In 1992 the BBC Weather System was awarded a Technology Award for Operational Systems from the Royal Television Society.
More Information
BBC Weather images and press articles
Jack Scott and unknown PA
Jack Scott making the Atlantic Chart
Weather Forecasts on BBC1 (1970) 1
Weather Forecasts on BBC1 (1970) 2
'Ariel' press cutting 30 January 1985
'Ariel' press cutting 20 February 1985
'Ariel' press cutting Weather re-design 1985
BBC new Weather computer system article 1
The Spring 1985 edition of the BBC quarterly engineering staff information publication ‘ENG INF’ featuring the collaboration between BBC Engineering Department, BBC Computer Graphics Workshop and BBC Graphic Design Department in the development and implementation of the new computerised BBC Weather Presentation system
BBC new Weather computer system article 2
The Spring 1985 edition of the BBC quarterly engineering staff information publication ‘ENG INF’ featuring the collaboration between BBC Engineering Department, BBC Computer Graphics Workshop and BBC Graphic Design Department in the development and implementation of the new computerised BBC Weather Presentation system
BBC new Weather computer system article 3
The Spring 1985 edition of the BBC quarterly engineering staff information publication ‘ENG INF’ featuring the collaboration between BBC Engineering Department, BBC Computer Graphics Workshop and BBC Graphic Design Department in the development and implementation of the new computerised BBC Weather Presentation system.
BBC TV Weather System article 1
In 1985 the new BBC Weather System was launched and accorded a British Computer Society award as the Best Computer System in Britain (Public Benefit Category). In this spread from the Computer Bulletin of December 1985, Bill Gardner, Manager BBC Computer Graphics Workshop described the development and implementation of the new award-winning system
BBC TV Weather System article 2
In 1985 the new BBC Weather System was launched and accorded a British Computer Society award as the Best Computer System in Britain (Public Benefit Category). In this spread from the Computer Bulletin of December 1985, Bill Gardner, Manager BBC Computer Graphics Workshop described the development and implementation of the new award-winning system
Weather Icons article from Prospero (Aug 2021)
John Teather, founder and former editor of the BBC Weather Centre, recalls the change from cut-out magnetic rubber weather symbols to electronically generated graphic icons
A Change in the Weather article from Prospero (August 2021)
Bill Gardner, Manager of the BBC Computer Graphics Workshop, describes the realisation of his idea to put the weather presenters in control of a new computerised weather presentation system live on air. The BBC Weather System was launched and accorded a British Computer Society award as the Best Computer System in Britain in 1985 (Public Benefit Category)
This innovative system of Weather presentation used Apple Mac XL micros and a mouse, giving the Weather presenters the ability to compose their weather forecasts in advance and to present them interactively and live on air in front of a blue screen projection of the weather graphics
Bill Giles, the Senior Weatherman, as seen on transmission in front of the satellite image of cloud cover over Europe. The presenter is standing in front of the graphics and using the push button control linked to an Apple Mac Presentation system, which in turn cued the Quantel store of computer graphic maps and animations
Ian McCaskill in the Weather Office at Television Centre at the Apple Mac XL (originally known as the Apple Lisa) using the sequence composer which allowed the Weather Presenter to build a presentation of different images and define the image transitions, cut, fade, mix etc. Other parts of the system allowed him to manipulate cold and warm fronts, position the famous weather symbols and define the temperatures and wind speeds and directions
Graphic designer Maeve Stephens constructing the computer versions of the new weather symbols to load into the Weather System
Michael Fish in Presentation Studio A, using chromakey with added rear projection, enabling the presenter to see and interact with the weather graphics in real time. A full broadcast colour image was available to the presenter on the head up autocue display. The system was prepared and operated by the presenter using a push button control linked to an Apple Mac Presentation system, which in turn cued the Quantel stored computer graphic maps and animations, all before ‘PowerPoint’ existed!
A view of part of the Computer Graphics Workshop with, on the right, three custom built racked Quantel Paintboxes with dedicated hard disc image stores below. Opposite them on the left are the twin DEC VAX 11/750 computers and jointly accessible tape and disc drives