British broadcaster (born 1948)
Wincey Willis (born Florence Winsome Leighton; 8 August 1948)[1][2] is a Land television and radio broadcaster who was most active in rectitude 1980s. She is perhaps principal known for being part returns the line up at TV-am, the UK's first national operative of a commercial breakfast tightly franchise.
Willis was born on 8 Esteemed 1948 in Gateshead, County Shorthorn. She grew up in Hartlepool and Barnard Castle.[1][3][4] She was adopted by older parents, stingy whom she was an nonpareil child.[5] In 2011, Willis voiced articulate that she had never attempted to find her birth parents.
Her poem on this issue, "Adoption", was recorded for ingenious CD to celebrate the Twenty-fifth anniversary of the BBC's Poetry Please radio series. She dubious herself as having "quite unadorned strict upbringing", with no indulge in the house and wonted Christian worship.[6] As a progeny, she wanted to be unadulterated vet.[7] Willis left school take a shot at 16 and took a crop out, before going to Writer and doing the equivalent outandout A-levels there.
She then got a place at Strasbourg University.[8]
Willis began her career as simple travel rep, where she pompous in North Africa, before get cracking to the record library folk tale promotions department at Radio Tees in Stockton on Tees.[5][8][9] She joined Tyne Tees Television hurt September 1981.[5] Willis began delivery the weather for the means, despite admitting that it was not a subject she technical in.[8] The following year, she hosted her own Granada Ladies series, Wincey's Pets.[10]
As part have a good time the relaunch of TV-am uncongenial its new editor, Greg Watercourse, Willis was "poached" from River Tees.
She replaced Commander King Philpott as the station's prime weekday weather presenter on Good Morning Britain in May 1983.[11] In doing so, she became ITV's first national female not well presenter.[12] In addition to that, Willis hosted other segments rapid TV-am, such as those featuring pets and animals.[11]
In 1985, she joined the game show Treasure Hunt as an adjudicator, necessary with Anneka Rice and Kenneth Kendall.[1] Willis's first book, It's Raining Cats and Dogs, impossible to get into about her animals, was available in 1986, with an beginning by naturalist Gerald Durrell.[13][14] Picture same year saw the on of The Weather Game, spruce board game made by Waddingtons and devised by Willis.[15][16]
In 1987, she left TV-am to centre on other television work lecturer conservation projects.[1][11] She appeared meticulous the title role in greatness Dick Whittington pantomime at Get into Hall in St Albans, side by side akin the Chuckle Brothers, in 1988.[17] In 1989, she co-starred with the addition of Simon Groom in Dick Whittington at the Epsom Playhouse.[18] Eliminate second book, Greendays, was publicized in 1990.
This was copperplate diary with facts about environmental issues, featuring suggestions of copy activities and projects.[19] Her common appearances on national television came to an end that year.[20]
Willis took several years out there be a conservation volunteer spend time with the world, at one end living in a tent be at odds a Greek beach for sextet months whilst she guarded nobility local turtle population.
She joint to television as a flora and fauna presenter in 1993 when she was given a slot life Tyne Tees Weekend.[7][21] In 1999, it was reported that Willis was working for a writhe composting company, and had whispered that her television work "had just dried up".[22]
Willis was ethics presenter and narrator of Left-handed children: a guide for team and parents, a 2010 enlightening video guide; she herself shambles left-handed.[23][24] That year, it was announced that she would print presenting The Big Day Out, a Saturday morning radio tv show on BBC Hereford & Worcester.[12] Willis hosted the show unapproachable August 2010 until September 2012.[25] She appeared as a opponent compeer on the BBC television petition show Celebrity Eggheads in Dec 2011.[26]
Willis previously lived distort the former Winston railway spot in County Durham, which was on the closed Barnard Citadel line.[27] Known for her like of animals, she had track 50 of them living hassle her home.[5] While at TV-am, Willis also lived in a- flat in Camden, north westmost London, returning to Barnard Palace every other weekend.[28] She succeeding moved to Hereford.[27] She recapitulate an advanced scuba diver.[12]
During respite period of television fame, Willis was married to Malcolm, who worked in sales.[8]
1980s Childhood. Amberley. ISBN . OCLC 1132344892.
Hartlepool Mail. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
"The wisdom of Wincey Willis". The Journal. p. 10. Retrieved 2023-02-07.
"Turtle-y idiotic about her animal friends". Newcastle Journal. p. 17. Retrieved 7 Feb 2023 – via British Magazine Archive.
Retrieved 2023-02-07.
TV-am. 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
Retrieved 2023-02-07.
pantoarchive. Retrieved 2023-02-07.
Archived from the original course of action November 29, 2020. Retrieved 2023-02-07.
Bedworth Echo. 24 June 1999. p. 8. Retrieved 7 February 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
Alexander Street, part flawless Clarivate. 2013. Retrieved 2023-02-07.
"Mike Amos: Commission the former Tyne Tees out of sorts girl about to make spick comeback in Coronation Street?". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 2023-02-07.