Longtime BBC Weather presenters Tomasz Schafernaker and Louise Lear are reportedly considering leaving the channel amid plans for substantial cuts to the national weather team. Sources indicate that bosses are aiming to reduce the number of national weather presenter roles from 11 to 4.5 as part of a strategic shift towards digital content.
The proposed changes, announced last week, signal a move to utilize more local weather presenters for broadcast forecasts, particularly for lunchtime and weekend programming. National forecasts will still be delivered by network presenters for programs like the Today programme, BBC Breakfast, and weekday editions of the News at Six, with a trial period for the News at Ten. However, half-hourly updates on the news channel are being discontinued in favor of automated graphics, and radio forecasts will be read by program presenters.
An insider suggested that the traditional weather forecast is becoming "less relevant" and that the focus is shifting to "more reporting than presenting." Presenters reportedly feel the team is already lean and has historically produced a significant amount of output across all platforms. Schafernaker has been with the BBC since 2000, Lear has presented for nearly 30 years, and Darren Bett was part of the original BBC News 24 launch team in 1997.
These changes are part of a broader BBC initiative to cut costs by £500 million over two years, which is expected to lead to the loss of up to 2,000 jobs. Previously announced cost-saving measures have included the axing of shows like Live At The Apollo, Celebrity Mastermind, and Blankety Blank, and the removal of Sunday broadcasts for BBC Breakfast. Production teams for Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg and Newsnight will merge, and Radio 4's The World Tonight has also been cancelled. The corporation is also reviewing its chief news presenter roles and will assess broadcast TV channels and the radio network portfolio as audiences increasingly move online. Approximately 100 to 150 hours of originated programming across all commissioning genres are slated for reduction by the end of the 2027-2028 financial year.