A blog dedicated to the most amazing weather forecaster there is-- Tomasz Schafernaker! *Established in September 2009*
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Showing posts with label BBC News Channel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BBC News Channel. Show all posts
Tomasz was on overnight on the BBC News Channel over this weekend, with a nice pink tie. Nothing to report though, an understandably solemn note, given the unfolding events in Stockholm. Did anybody hear him on local radio or national radio overnight? Or perhaps my readers overseas may have seen him on BBC World?
It looks to be a busy week ahead for Tomasz's next shifts. Nick Miller was on Country Tracks this lunchtime, explaining that an Arctic airflow will develop over the next few days, with maxmium temperatures around freezing by Thursday. Watch out for two feet of snow...
Update on Twitter.... Will need to buy boots good for snow...off to frigid Poland in 10 days. However, may make use of the boots even in London before then!
Tomasz did us proud on BBC Breakfast and the News Channel this morning, proving why he got that TRIC award.
He was indeed on location in Braemar, commenting that "Mother Nature is an artist" when it comes to this wintery weather. She certainly did a good job with Tomasz; he looked a treat with his stubble, his furry hood, brown leather jacket and denims.
At 07:40 Tomasz was concerned, because "some of his equipment is to starting to freeze over". Judging by those jeans, I don't think that was problem-- any volunteers to warm it up? Hang on... what's that Skippy... ah Tomasz meant his technical equipment. Silly me.
However it wasn't weather for kangaroos: Tomasz duly showed his I-pad, which displayed a temperature of -17C at the time of broadcast. Tomasz didn't have a record to celebrate, the lowest it got was -20C; but he's never seen snow like it in his life! Coming from a Pole, that's quite a statement! The 5ft 8in Schaf {i} struggled to tackle some of the drifts, poor soul.
Then on News At One he got it out-- a huge and impressive specimen-- wide as his leg. Yes he produced a javelin-like icicle, typical of those found hanging from homes in Braemar.
More of said ice-features, in pictorial form courtesy of His Loveliness:
Tomasz did acknowledge such weather conditions were common in those parts; however he had spoken to the locals, and they can't remember anything like this in late autumn. I can just see Tomasz wandering around, charming the locals. Why can't a 'freak' weather condition happen in my village, so Tomasz can come round and charm me? A 'mere' -7C round my way, and no only a inch of snow on the ground at most.
As if being on the News Channel all morning and being the star-turn of BBC Breakfast weren't good enough, we even have an online report from His Loveliness. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11907610
Overall superb missives from Tomasz. Engaging, phlegmatic, enthusiastic, informative and even poetic at times. It would be great if they could send him out on location more, hopefully in kinder weather (perhaps a beach location [haha]). Of course he didn't have to go up there, good of him to 'suffer' for his profession. Wasza praca jest bardzo dobra, Tomasz!
PS update. Let's hope Tomasz has a safe journey home: After last nights crazy temperatures, Scottish transport has been badly affected. My flight to a "balmy"(ish) London was cancelled. Hoping to return in the morning. Another pretty cold night in the glens...The 4x4 was showing -6C to -9C at 4:30pm in tiny villages en route to Aberdeen.
Let's hope he doesn't suffer from a frozen ball.
PPS: A big thank you to Terratec and Dom for their excellent work.
Czeszcz! As you may be aware Tomasz has been away from our screens, to indulge in some globetrotting: Last time I posted, our hero was in Poland, being stalked by bears. This week sees him in Dubai. The other day he was sharing this candelit sunset with us...
On Wednesday he visited Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world 2717feet, 828m at 160 floors. It would be very puerile of me to make an erection comment, so I won't.
Update: Tomasz informed us he was "riding a camel" yesterday. Wonder what Ken & Kenneth would make of that? Lucky camel I say-- no wonder the camel looks pleased...
Meanwhile one of my regular readers Matt Smith did a BBC Tour of Television Centre (Murphy's Law meant Tomasz wasn't there), but Liam Dutton kindly chatted with Mr Smith. Some interesting factoids our Matt reports:
The weather centre corridor has pictures off all the weather presenters along both sides of the wall. Tomasz is the first you come to. Rightly so! He's an award-winner, dontchakno.
There are 2 weather studios-- one with a blue screen, the other green. Blue and Green are used as the colours for the screen because they are the colours furthest away from skin colour...that's why red and yellow aren't used.
A presenter can have up to five people talking in his/hers earpiece-- no wonder Tomasz gets distracted!
The weather presenter will only be told seconds before going on air for a live broadcast whether they will be doing a 30 sec or 2:30 long forecast.
Between half hourly forecasts, the presenters pre-record, edit, do the graphics for BBC World weather (a camera in weather studio showed Susan Powell not just presenting but going back to computers to re-edit).
There are no camera personnel in weather studio. Because of this, the camera automatically adjusts to the correct height to correspond with the height of the presenter.
BBC do not like to call them presenters but broadcast meteorologists.
Viewer figures can go above 3 million for BBC World forecasts.
Some News Channel Info: News readers are now all called journalists.
The scene behind the newsdesk on the wall is a animation. The looped recording of a newsroom that featured behind the news desk was removed when Moira Stewart was reading the news and she also appeared behind on the wall!
News readers/journalists on news channel write 80% of their own material themselves (ahhh there is use for that pen)
BBC unlike other news organisations, wait until they get clarification that a breaking story is accurate. Sky News' claim that they are 'first for breaking news' does not necessarily mean they are the most valid.
There are usually no camera crew behind cameras in newsroom
Some misc tidbits for you... TVC will move to Broadcasting House before 2012 olympics.
The TVC is shaped like a question mark to get maximujm office space in the segment of land provided (like a pizza-slice shape)
The fountain in the middle of TVC was turned off because it sprayed water everywhere and sounded like Niagara Falls.
Jennifer Lopez is only celebrity banned from TVC after her diva-like behaviour (asking to have dressing room completely redecorated and asking BBC staff to fill a bag full of kittens). If BBC want to work with her, they fly to US. BBC asked her to pay for redecorating, not us!
BBC have to make sure Elton John has sugar-free biscuits in dressing room, which can only be purchased from Harrods. Paul McCartney will not stay in a room with animal products in. There was also some upset with Mariah Carey, because she brought over 10 people with her: PA, 4 make up people, 2 life coaches and a few others!
I'm pleased to say Tomasz was on Tonight's The Night this evening, and The Schaf was at his most adorable.
The lady to be surprised was called Sarah-Jane, a plucky second-year journalism student; who's increasingly hard-of-hearing and also cares for her mother. John Barrowman decided she was ripe for a pleasant surprise, and lay in wait whilst Sarah Jane did a tour of the BBC TVC.
The tour guide directed Sarah Jane and her party towards a Tardis. The ebullient JB jumped out of said phone-box and shocked everyone, not least because of the bright purple shirt he was wearing. He announced he was going to take her to be mentored by "weatherman of the year" (I cannot repeat that often enough!) {i}, so that she could broadcast live on the News Channel-- no pressure there then!
The Tardis duly beemed Sarah-Jane and John Barrowman to the BBC Weather Centre. John of course wasn't looking for a cyberman, but a weatherman... and The Schaf spoke from the studio monitors. Sarah-Jane was thus granted an audience with the great man.
Next we saw Sarah-Jane tentatively rehearsing her piece, but Tomasz was adorably encouraging and being a real star. How can you fail with Tomasz behind you? Then the big moment came, Sarah-Jane breezed it, inspite of her understandable nerves; Tomasz was watching her with her family, he was enthusiastically cheering her on.
After the broadcast, Tomasz swept in to congratulate her warmly-- and she got a hug! I hope Sarah-Jane realises how lucky she is, a hug off Tomasz is much coveted! It shows what a lovely bloke he is though. He even dressed up in a suit (he was off-duty that day, if I recall?) and even colour co-ordinated his tie with John's shirt.
I shall try to get the i-player link up as soon as possible, if you missed it. Unless some superb person is to upload it on the web of course. I'd say it's The Divine One at his most admirable and heart-warming: If only more people in the world could be as kind, sweet and benevolent as him? [Sigh] I salute you Tomasz.
First off Tomasz is on the overnigth shift this evening, so can we hope for an appearance on Janice Long at around 00:40-00:50? Fingers crossed.
We are blessed! Terratec has very kindly given us a double-bill of Tomasz, plus another forecast-- and the Weather For The Week Ahead {i}. Eyeballs and eardrums at the ready! First he makes a cheeky quip about an airshow. Although I'm intrigued by Tomasz's "mini-scorcher"...
Here we have Tomasz enthusing about "spatial areas", as his suit struggles to contain his amazing biceps
So now for the biggy, the five-day forecast.
Tomasz made an unfortunate slip-up there, mistaking Wales for Scotland. Well I say unfortunate, it's disgraceful.
Yet another outrageous and hateful slur on Scotland, even though he apologised straight away and made 'light' of such a grave error; it's still indicative of his London/English-centric attitude, as only a person from Gdansk in Poland can muster.
In fact such a blunder is a good reason for lowering the Licence Fee, he should be sacked straight away. If he didn't spend so much time corresponding with his many adoring fans and doing charity bike rides and helping a young lady achieve her dream (confe previous post)-- he wouldn't make so many grotesque blunders.
It's bad enough when he takes himself too seriously with his diva strops; all his self-depreciating and jokey banter with Simon, smiling and giggling at his own slip-ups. Being too good-looking, warm and having a secure personality-- what sort of example does he set? Telegenic people like Tomasz shouldn't be allowed on television: It's unacceptable people who are charismatic, talented and intelligent-- who happen to be very handsome-- should be broadcasting on telly.
Nor on radio. I heard him being ever-so-slightly 'camp' on Radio 4, I was so sickened I scraped my car along a wall at speed and hit a cat. I'm sending the BBC the bill, and they can ruddy well pay for the damage and the vetinary bills.
Almost as bad as when Tomasz posed in "skimpy" shorts, showing off-- just as he would be dressed if he went swimming. I was so outraged, I felt like writing to the Daily Mail for them to make a non-story about. It's not like there are more important things in the world: Genocidial regimes, parliamentary debates at Westminister, Orwellian acitivites at the EU, humanitarian crises or natural disasters; or possibly nice things that people have done, to restore one's faith in human nature.
In fact I'm so jealous of Tomasz, I may have to go onto one of those internet forums to slag him off, to boost my flagging ego... or to show what a great sense of humour I have, to point out when Tomasz is taking himself seriously during some banter, even though he's being ironic [wink]
{i} No Country Tracks, Politics Show instead… like the honeycomb tie though
I'm indebted to my loyal reader Matt, for pointing out this gem. Apparently at around 4:30pm today, the News Channel reported that a hard-of-hearing young lady had been granted the opportunity to present the BBC weather, a wish granted by John Barrowman's {i} latest vehicle Star For A Night.
Guess who her mentor will be? None of than our very own "award-wanning weather-presenter" Tomasz Schafernaker. As if any proof were needed that The Schaf is a top bloke, this would be it-- no doubt Tomasz's high quality star-dust will rub off onto this lucky lady.
I've seen trailers for Star For A Night, I believe it starts this Saturday (July 17th)? Not sure which episode will feature the Divine One and his apprentice, I suspect perhaps this Saturday's, if the NC was promoting it today?
My sources inform me that John Barrowman even popped into the Weather Centre-- I think Tomasz and John Barrowman would make a superb double act-- given they are both characters! Certainly if JB's banter with Paul O'Grady (plus June Whitfield) is anything to go by..
Since I'm in the Stone Age, I don't own one these DVD recorder and editing software gubbins. So I will eternally grateful if anybody captures His Loveliness's appearance with John Barrowman ["Jazz hands" emoticon]
PS:
I forget to mention Tomasz wonderful phraseology on yesterday's News At One, I even watched that forecast live! Well, when you get to my age, memory starts to fade. Anyway, I loved Tomasz's rich vernacular of maelstroms and vortexes (or "vortices"?).
Plus the cute reference to his staturesque colleagues Chris Fawkes and Phil Avery, Tomasz reporting that sea-waves will be twice as high as them! Mr Fawkes is 6'4" I believe? I hope he has nothing against tall people, since I'm 6'2" myself! Tomasz is 5'8", but big in the areas where it counts of course
{i} Since John Barrowman hasn't been on telly for at least a five minutes! Naa, like you really JB.
Another delicate moment between Mr Coy and The Schaf today, after the former pronounced the latter's name in staccato fashion, as he occasionally does-- so this time His Loveliness decided to facetiously pick up on it!
It certainly amused the gallery, since Tomasz adorably tapped his earpiece and said "now, now" in a fashion redolent to Sir Jimmy Saville {i}. I would point out of to the more benighted inhabitants of 'certain forums', who have their sight/hearing impaired by chips on their shoulders, Tomasz did this is as a joke [satirical wink]
The lady who was presenting News Channel over lunch {ii} seem to be so in awe of introducing Tomasz (who wouldn't be), she was hesitant in introducing him a few times. Tomasz's rakish reaction was to adjust his groovy pink tie, being the cool cat he is-- also cope admirably well with a graphics blunder.
{i} He's gone quiet as well {ii} Anybody knows her name, I'll be grateful if you can furnish me with it for future reference.
The Schaf was on the News Channel last night, exuding hotness and warmth. He was certainly right about Yorkshire, as R Jon confirmed on Calendar tonight... Mr Mitchell was walking around Roundhay Park wearing shorts talking about hotspots in the region. Now why can't Tomasz come up to Wollaton Park and do that? In my dreams [sigh]
I like the way Tomasz talks about the PGA golf championship and "little wind to move those balls around, flying in the air". Well if the golfers go commando...
Przepraszam Tomasz, but I'll be one of the people who'll be complaining it's too warm... I know how you like hot/humid weather-- yes I'm a "dziwak"-- I know! I just prefer fresh northerlies...
It turns out that Tomasz is poet, is there no end to his talents? From Twitter...
Hi everyone Have a great weekend wherever you may be Across the nation and across the sea. BBQs and fun Summer sizzler here we come!
Pam Ayres, eat your eyes out! And I'll have nobody dissing Ms Ayres [haha]
The Schaf was back on our screens tonight, rightly feted by his news-reading colleagues-- made Tomasz do his endearing laugh! Although he was told off by the gallery gophers for not commenting about his award... oof, no pleasing some folk eh? I don't think any comment is needed-- Tomasz is the best! We already knew that of course, but still it's nice to have it officially recognised.
From the BBC News Channel, 7:30pm...
Nice navy/violetish combo going on there!
Thanks as ever to Terratec for his cinematic chronicling of the best weatherman on television. We can't emphasise that enough, can we?
...is Tomasz! This was Sophie Raworth's fitting introduction for The Schaf on News At One today. He certainly was very phlegmatic today; with a lovely broad grin on his bestubbled face, permeating every broadcast he did today. It may be chilly out, but Tomasz's radiant smile is enough to warm the cockles {i}
Today's mystery, is what was distracting Tomasz at midday on the BBC News Channel? I suspect logorrhoea from the gallery was to blame. You can't put Shufflepants off his stroke!
I just hope Tomasz doesn't get the throat infection that Alex Deakin is currently struggling with, croaked his way through Janice Long's show this morning!
Terratec has been kind enough to provide a doublebill of our hero, from yesterday (a big thanks as ever). First we have the midday forecast from the News Channel, where poor Tomasz had a little coughing fit-- he obviously needs something soothing to swallow. Still the stubble looks nice, and I'd say Tomasz is a brightness poking through the gloomy weather {i}.
For News At One, his forecast followed a piece about the space-shuttle launch. Our very own "pocket rocket" {ii} made a couple of amusing quips alluding to this story-- talking off "blasting off" {iii} and "rocket science"-- Tomasz's humour never fails to make me smile and my heart melt
{i} Or "verreh claadeh" as they say round my way {ii} Copyright Simon McCoy {iii} He wasn't talking about wind... well not *that* sort wind anyway
We had a nice dusting of Tomasz today on the BBC News Channel, Radio 4 and News At One-- nice to see the pink benzene-pattern again {i}. Do I spot a nice tan too, complements the hair nicely.
On News At One Tomasz reckoned the deep frost last night would engender sluggish performances from cars and lots of colourful metaphors from drivers... well if Tomasz ever needs a jumpstart, I'm happy to oblige.
This from 1:56pm
Interesting to see it's -99 in Penzance! Poor Tomasz seemed distracted towards the end of the forecast, I hope the gallery wasn't putting The Schaf off! Such behaviour on their part is far from a venial sin. Yes. [Adjusts frock-coat, grips pulpit]
Thanks to Terratec365 for the above video
{i} Not in the case of Radio 4 obviously, unless you have a webcam-- not thought it through have I?
Oof, having posted the previous blog entry, I notice that a forecast by Tomasz has escaped my attention! This from Wednesday at 11:29pm... at that time I'm asleep, I need all the beauty sleep I can get.
Cześć and greetings! All quiet on the Tomasz front today, so a few bits and bobs of minor interest.
Firstly we may see some more photos of Tomasz in next month's Attitude, albeit fully clothed. Tomasz attended Attitude's party for Gareth Thomas, at the Movida club in London. Although I don't normally indulge in Attitude (this month obviously an exception!), it may be worth buying March's edition, to see how well received Tomasz's feature was.
Secondly the skillful Terratec365 has done a fun montage of all the BBC Weather presenters-- he's saved the best until last!
{i}Probably the puzzling, but now clichéd, cries of "I didn't realise how hot he was". To which I normally reply: "What planet have you been" or "there's a lot more to his attractiveness than just his physique!". Some people are płytki [chuckle]: Of course we are true Schaffanatics here, we adore him not just for getting his clothes off-- his buff physique is merely the icing on the cake!
The latest rumour on the internet is, that the BBC are angling to get The Schaf on the next series of Strictly Coming Dancing. I think that's wishful thinking, however it could become a self-fulfilling prophesy-- especially if I mention it on here!
I wonder what sort of dancing Tomasz is good at? Foxtrot or cha-cha... or horizontal [fnar-fnar]. Imagine him bugling in spandex, energetically contorting himself into various positions! It could go either way with Craig and Bruno: Either they will be spellbound by Tomasz, or they will be jealous and catty. I'm personally in the former camp [haha].
However I suddenly feel like burning a copy of the Daily Hate Mail, the little proverbial-stirrers. A mean-spirited article about Tomasz here...
I note it's an "insider", which is typically hack-speak for a ficitious source. I do hope the story isn't true, and that Tomasz wouldn't be in trouble for doing that photoshoot. He's not exactly Frank Bough is he?
I also hope it doesn't mean the end to Tomasz's wonderfully attired Country Tracks forecasts-- since we know precisely what figure his casuals are hugging onto now {i}. If anything it will increase viewing figures, I've lost count of people who said they are going to pay more attention to him now! {ii}
So ignore the Daily Wail, BBC bosses! Please no high-handed treatment of The Schaf, otherwise I'll be writing an 'Angry of Mayfair' letter, to be delivered through your window-- attached to a brick {iii}. Or possibly just a slightly plaintive tome to Jezza Vine with his Points of View {iv}
There are worse behaved telly presenters out there. If this bloke can get a job presenting at the BBC...
{i} Which is why I don't believe his colleagues knew nothing of physique-- didn't some of them go on that bike-ride together? With Tomasz in lycra? {ii} He won't be our little secret anymore. His loss of cultdom is a small price to pay for those photos though. {iii} Note to lawyers: That was a sardonic joke, I do not condone any sort of malicious communication or criminal damage {iv} Sir Terry didn't get into bother with those trousers, did he? Or Janet & John stories.
As if seeing *that* picture wasn't good enough Tomasz, appeared on telly today; wearing more clothes on this occasion (we don't wanted to be distracted from the treacherous hibernal weather-- too much!) and giving us a Fred "How" Dinage wave {i}. From 11:27 today.
Tomasz has certainly given me a warm glow recently, but one only zinc tablets can sustain. Ta muchly to Terratec365 for the video upload.
{i} Altogether: "That's how for now". Is it Dinage or Dineage? I never know.
Sadly no Tomasz for a couple of days [weeps into hanky]; so in Dale Winton style, I shall delve in the archives {i} for one of my favourite Tomasz clips, from March this year.
The News Channel received a message that echoes all our sentiments. However his deserved glory was overshadowed by a spelling error on Tomasz's weather screen {ii}. How dare they let The Schaf down like that [Mutley chunter]!
Thanks to TV-livesite
{i} Dale rummages through his archives every Saturday on Radio 2, always worth a listen. {ii} I have a spell chequer, it came with my pea-see... etc
A bit quiet on the Tomasz front this week, so I thought I'd raid the archives again; it is not a good idea to blank the The Schaf after all, as Simon McCoy found out once...
(Video courtesty of GMCAG)
I've noticed that Simon McCoy often enjoys mischievous persiflage with Tomasz, although I think the above incident was an accident this time. Tomasz was his usual amusing self though; perhaps doing a deft self-parody of his famous adorable 'strop' (for want of a better word), after a unfortunate technical blunder..
(Video courtesy of Zukeylukey)
Poor Tomasz. Ahh bless... oof, how 1999 do I sound.
Tomasz briefly turned into an interior-design guru on the News Channel, showing slight disdain for golden toilet-roll holders (as one does on BBC News). He would do a better job than that Lawrence Llewelyn-Bowen geezer, or "smiley-smiley" Carol Smilie (for it is she).
Tomasz showed a bit of disdain towards the weather in general in fact-- least he's honest I suppose. Plus poor Tomasz had a "bright as midnight" moment too halfway through. Don't you just want to give him a big hug when he's down about the weather? Or is that just me?
Thankfully he was chirpier come today, looking radiant-- stubble returned too! Thanks to Terratec365 for the vid
Tomasz was back on today, covering the lunchtime period in his usual cheery manner: He was wearing a pretty tie-- I'm sure it was a new one? He was once again sporting a bit of stubble; perhaps since he hit 30 in January, he's ditched the youthful flaxen-blond highlights for a more 'mature'/distinguished/rugged look with the designer stubble? He looks lovely all the same...
So odds on for a Country Tracks appearance tomorrow. Sadly too cool for the short-sleeves, hopefully he will compensate with his jeans... With thanks to Terratec365
