Weatherman Tomasz taken off air in cost cuts

Weatherman Tomasz taken off air in cost cuts
Weatherman Tomasz taken off air in cost cuts (Image credit: PA Wire/Press Association Images)

Tomasz Schafernaker, one of the BBC's most popular weathermen, is to be removed from an on-screen role as part of cost-cutting measures. Tomasz, 31, is one of several forecasters the Met Office has decided to move behind the scenes as part of a streamlining process. The Polish-born weatherman has built up a cult following despite a series of on-screen gaffes. The Met Office would not confirm or deny if he is being removed, but a source in the company said the popular presenter is moving to an off-screen role. Earlier this year the meteorologist was named best TV weather presenter at the annual Tric (Television And Radio Industries Club) Awards. But in August he was caught live on air making a rude hand gesture to BBC News Channel anchor Simon McCoy. This followed a previous gaffe in which he referred to the Outer Hebrides and Western Isles as 'nowheresville'. The Met Office said they were unable to confirm reports that senior weathermen Philip Avery and Rob McElwee would also be moving to off-screen roles. A Met Office spokeswoman said: "Our new contract with the BBC requires us to deliver continued high standards of accuracy and consistency within revised affordability levels. "To achieve this we have employed a fair and open process to change Met Office staff roles and structure within the BBC weather centre."

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 


An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.