After 26 years, Sara Blizzard will give her final weather forecast in February (Picture: BBC)
After 26 years on our screens, BBC’s most appropriately named weather presenter is giving her last forecast.
Sara Blizzard first appeared on BBC East Midlands in 1999, replacing Lisa Dransfield and while she’s had a successful and impressively long career with the network, she has decided the time has come for her to move on.
Having presented the weather on East Midlands Today and North West Tonight for almost three decades, Sara, 54, will be drawing a close to her time on air at the end of February.
BBC Midlands announced the news with a post on social media, writing: ‘After 26 years, weather presenter Sara Blizzard is leaving the BBC.
‘Sara, who joined BBC East Midlands Today in 1999, is such a familiar face on our screens. You’ll still be able to see her on the TV and hear her on the radio until February.’
Sara’s last name, the same as what a long severe snowstorm is called, has caused a stir with viewers since she gave her very first forecast.
Many fans have made jokes about her last name over the years (Picture: BBC)
The weather presenter is a ‘favourite’ with viewers (Picture: BBC)
Some, like @EllingtonWright declared it a ‘great name’, while others, like @NR0275 insisted it was ‘made up’.
Now, with her final day approaching, some fans have taken to X, where they have joked about who is qualified to replace the presenter.
@LisaBreeze68 jokingly wrote: ‘Maybe I could take over her slot .. My name is weather related.’ While @custardboy2 said: ‘We always commented on the name; our only hope is her replacement is weather related, like Lucy Snow or something similar. Good luck Sara…you will be missed.’
Despite the gags, the overall consensus was a glum one, as many viewers expressed their sadness about her decision to leave her role.
@ianspence1 wrote: ‘So sorry Sara is leaving the BBC. Have watched her for many years on East Midlands Today. Best wishes to Sara for the future.’
‘Very sorry to hear this, my favourite weather presenter on TV by a country mile,’ @KilbeeMichael added.
@toniearlybird also weighed in, writing: ‘A legend and lovely with it. Sara will be much missed. All the best to her for the next chapter’.
It’s unclear what Sara will do next (Picture: BBC)
While Sara has made a name for herself as a well-respected weather presenter, it wasn’t her first career of choice. According to Birmingham Mail, she was first a dancer and actor, having trained at Pattison College in Coventry, West Midlands.
However, she soon made a career change and began pursuing broadcasting after landing a role at Walsgrave Hospital in Coventry, working for their radio department, before later taking on a role with Leicester Sound.
From there, Sara’s career reached new heights as she took on a role with BBC. Discussing her enjoyment of her job, she said in a BBC profile piece: ‘I really do enjoy the job because it is so varied and always live.’
‘We do not have an auto-cue to rely on during the forecast, and we also have to talk for whatever duration is required, so it always keeps us on our toes.’
It’s unclear who will be replacing Sara or what the presenter’s plans are after her final broadcast.
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