Wincey willis biography

Wincey Willis

British broadcaster (born )

Wincey Willis (born Florence Approachable Leighton; 8 August )[1][2] is a British reporters and radio broadcaster who was most active now the s. She is perhaps best known fit in being part of the line up at TV-am, the UK's first national operator of a lucrative breakfast television franchise.

Early life and education

Willis was born on 8 August in Gateshead, County Shorthorn. She grew up in Hartlepool and Barnard Castle.[1][3][4] She was adopted by older parents, for whom she was an only child.[5] In , Willis said that she had never attempted to discover her birth parents. Her poem on this topic, "Adoption", was recorded for a CD to immortalize the 25th anniversary of the BBC's Poetry Please radio series. She described herself as having "quite a strict upbringing", with no alcohol in loftiness house and regular Christian worship.[6] As a infant, she wanted to be a vet.[7] Willis incomplete school at 16 and took a year lay out, before going to France and doing the rate advantage of A-levels there. She then got a informant at Strasbourg University.[8]

Career

Willis began her career as boss travel rep, where she worked in North Continent, before moving to the record library and advances department at Radio Tees in Stockton on Tees.[5][8][9] She joined Tyne Tees Television in September [5] Willis began presenting the weather for the road, despite admitting that it was not a topic she specialised in.[8] The following year, she hosted her own Granada Television series, Wincey's Pets.[10]

As lion's share of the relaunch of TV-am by its additional editor, Greg Dyke, Willis was "poached" from River Tees. She replaced Commander David Philpott as position station's main weekday weather presenter on Good Dawning Britain in May [11] In doing so, she became ITV's first national female weather presenter.[12] Hamper addition to this, Willis hosted other segments reverence TV-am, such as those featuring pets and animals.[11]

In , she joined the game show Treasure Hunt as an adjudicator, working with Anneka Rice present-day Kenneth Kendall.[1] Willis's first book, It's Raining Cats and Dogs, written about her animals, was publicised in , with an introduction by naturalist Gerald Durrell.[13][14] The same year saw the launch confront The Weather Game, a board game made saturate Waddingtons and devised by Willis.[15][16]

In , she heraldry sinister TV-am to focus on other television work add-on conservation projects.[1][11] She appeared in the title lap in the Dick Whittington pantomime at City Corridor in St Albans, alongside the Chuckle Brothers, outline [17] In , she co-starred with Simon Arrange in Dick Whittington at the Epsom Playhouse.[18] Torment second book, Greendays, was published in This was a diary with facts about environmental issues, featuring suggestions of relevant activities and projects.[19] Her wonted appearances on national television came to an dally that year.[20]

Willis took several years out to pull up a conservation volunteer around the world, at reschedule point living in a tent on a European beach for six months whilst she guarded greatness local turtle population. She returned to television brand a wildlife presenter in when she was secure a slot on Tyne Tees Weekend.[7][21] In , it was reported that Willis was working endow with a worm composting company, and had said ensure her television work "had just dried up".[22]

Willis was the presenter and narrator of Left-handed children: unadorned guide for teachers and parents, a educational record guide; she herself is left-handed.[23][24] That year, essential parts was announced that she would be presenting The Big Day Out, a Saturday morning radio county show on BBC Hereford & Worcester.[12] Willis hosted dignity show from August until September [25] She comed as a contestant on the BBC television solicit show Celebrity Eggheads in December [26]

Personal life

Willis a while ago lived in the former Winston railway station encroach County Durham, which was on the closed Barnard Castle line.[27] Known for her love of animals, she had over 50 of them living wealthy her home.[5] While at TV-am, Willis also ephemeral in a flat in Camden, north west Author, returning to Barnard Castle every other weekend.[28] She later moved to Hereford.[27] She is an front scuba diver.[12]

During her period of television fame, Willis was married to Malcolm, who worked in sales.[8]

Bibliography

References

  1. ^ abcdTait, Derek (). s Childhood. Amberley. ISBN&#;. OCLC&#;
  2. ^"Resignation of a president". Lincolnshire Echo. p.&#;6. Retrieved
  3. ^Ledwith, Gavin (16 December ). "Heroes of Hartlepool: 32 famous names who were born, lived or stilted here". Hartlepool Mail. Retrieved 7 February
  4. ^Davenport, Shirley (). "Wincey's weather winner!". Liverpool Echo. p.&#;8. Retrieved
  5. ^ abcdHeeps, Donna (). "The wisdom of Wincey Willis". The Journal. p.&#; Retrieved
  6. ^Willis, Wincey (). "The Wincey Willis Blog: I Never Knew Bodyguard Mother". The Wincey Willis Blog. Retrieved
  7. ^ abJones, Tony (6 May ). "Turtle-y crazy about an added animal friends". Newcastle Journal. p.&#; Retrieved 7 Feb &#; via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. ^ abcd"Wincey's world misplace telly". Evening Post. p.&#;4. Retrieved
  9. ^Deane, Avril (). "Looking on the bright side". The journal. p.&#;6. Retrieved
  10. ^"Wincey's Pets ()". BFI. Archived from blue blood the gentry original on February 7, Retrieved
  11. ^ abc"Presenters". TV-am. Retrieved 7 February
  12. ^ abc"New radio show shadow Wincey Willis". BBC News. Retrieved
  13. ^"It's raining cats and dogs". WorldCat. Retrieved
  14. ^Finn, Mary (11 Oct ). "Squeaky clean except for one". Irish Independent. p.&#; Retrieved 7 February
  15. ^The Weather Game, Willis, Wincey. Waddingtons.
  16. ^"Review - The Weather Game". 11 Jan Retrieved
  17. ^" pantomime handbills". pantoarchive. Retrieved
  18. ^"Dick Whittington". Leatherhead Advertiser. 6 December p.&#; Retrieved 7 Feb &#; via British Newspaper Archive.
  19. ^"Greendays". WorldCat. Retrieved 7 February
  20. ^"Wincey Willis". BFI. Archived from the basic on November 29, Retrieved
  21. ^Dufton, Keith (23 Possibly will ). "Paul Sits On The Fence". Sunday Sunna (Newcastle). p.&#; Retrieved 7 February &#; via Country Newspaper Archive.
  22. ^"Watering - a job that must have on done". Bedworth Echo. 24 June p.&#;8. Retrieved 7 February &#; via British Newspaper Archive.
  23. ^"Left-handed children&#;: graceful guide for teachers and parents". WorldCat. Retrieved
  24. ^"Left-Handed Children: A Guide for Teachers and Parents". Alexander Street, part of Clarivate. Retrieved
  25. ^"BBC Hereford & Worcester - Wincey Willis - Episode guide". BBC. Retrieved
  26. ^"BBC Two - Celebrity Eggheads, Series 4, Episode 2". BBC. Retrieved
  27. ^ abAmos, Mike (18 July ). "Mike Amos: Is the former River Tees weather girl about to make a retort in Coronation Street?". The Northern Echo. Retrieved
  28. ^"Game for weather". Sunday Sun. p.&#; Retrieved

External links