Life of a BBC Weather Presenter—the Highs, the Lows and Everything In-Between!

The weather; the cornerstone of the British conversation, a perfect bus stop ice breaker. Whether starting our day with the morning update, or resting our weary heads for the night with the shipping forecast gently lulling us off to sleep, the weather permeates and holds sway over our lives in ways we do not consciously perceive. We plan our days, and sometimes weeks, around the conditions outside our doors; and it’s a certain kind of person who appears on our screens for but a few moments each day to tell us what to expect. Sabrina Lee has aspired to be a TV weather presenter since she was a teenager, and achieved her goal in 2019 by joining the BBC Wales team. Since then, Sabrina has appeared on national screens and radio most days of the week, conveying valuable insights and advice for the general public. Her 2050 “future” weather forecast has been watched by millions, she has met King Charles, discussing climate change in the media and she is often featured laughing on the Wynne Evans (of car insurance operatic notoriety) BBC Wales radio show. It’s not always sunshine and rainbows though, as being in such a public-facing role can attract more criticism. As the 2022 record-breaking heatwave forecasts demonstrated, modern weather presenters have to navigate the turbulent arenas of social media platforms and so-called “armchair meteorologists” and naysayers. What is it like to be in such a high-pressure job, and what is the future role of broadcast meteorologists?

In this free public talk at the University of Leeds, Sabrina Lee will reveal the hurdles that she faced in becoming a broadcast meteorologist, outline the joys and stresses of her daily working life on national television, and of course discuss all things weather. Expect inspiring stories of overcoming great personal challenges, debate over the role of media in climate change awareness, and several untold humorous stories in-between. We hope to see you there!