Weatherman Ian McCaskill died on Saturday after suffering from dementia, his daughter has confirmed.
Former weather forecaster Ian McCaskill has died aged 78.
McCaskill, who had dementia, died on Saturday, his daughter Kirsty told the BBC.
Her statement said: “Ian McCaskill’s family is sad to announce that Ian, 78, died on Saturday December 10, 2016 after living with dementia for the past five years.
“Ian was a truly lovely man who loved his family unconditionally and brought lots of sunshine to people’s lives with his friendly smile, kindness and sharp wit.
“He is survived by his wife Pat, whom he adored, two daughters, Vicky and Kirsty, two step-sons, Tim and Matthew, and nine grandchildren. He will be deeply missed."
McCaskill presented the weather on the BBC from 1978 to 1998.
Following his retirement in 1998, the Glasgow-born star appeared on several television shows, including Celebrity Fit Club in 2002.
BBC chiefs described him as one of the corporation’s most popular weather presenters and said he had “served the British public with distinction” for two decades.
Current weather presenters were among those paying tribute to the household name as news of his death emerged.
The BBC’s Carol Kirkwood, who worked with McCaskill when she was a rookie presenter, described him as a “larger than life” character who was “always full of life”.
She also told the BBC News channel: “He was a lovely man. He was a kind, very gentle man. He was a funny man as well and exuberant, enthusiastic in his delivery and passion and love for the weather.
“He was very funny, but as well as that he really, truly was a master of his craft.
“He knew exactly what he was talking about, he knew certainly what he was doing, and he was such a lovely kind man.”
Paul Hudson, who co-wrote a book with McCaskill, said: “Really sorry to hear Ian McCaskill has passed away.
“We had great fun writing our book Frozen In Time, a warm, funny, generous & kind man.”
STV weatherman Sean Batty said: “So sad to hear about the death of Ian McCaskill. Loved his style of presenting & he was my weather idol in the 80s & 90s.”
McCaskill became a meteorologist in the RAF and later moved to the Met Office.
He began working at the BBC at a time when it was not common for presenters to have regional accents, but went on to become popular with TV audiences.
He was once voted Britain’s sexiest weather presenter and even had his own Spitting Image puppet, which he said in an interview was “the greatest compliment”.
