Michael Fish, legendary BBC weatherman, signs off
Pakistan Times Wire Service

LONDON (UK): One of the living legends of British television, BBC weatherman Michael Fish, bade good-bye to viewers Wednesday after more than 30 years on the air -- and a forecast 17 years ago that he never could live down.

"That, indeed, I'm afraid is my last forecast," said a chipper Fish as he wrapped up his final turn at the weather map with due warnings of "a fairly chilly night" and showers "trundling up the M4" motorway.

Fish, 60, is one of the longest-serving broadcast meteorologists in the world, having joined BBC radio in 1972 after 10 years with the British government's Met Office.

He moved to BBC television in 1974, soon becoming famous for his droop-down moustache, his long hair -- since greatly receded -- and, in his early years on the air, a garish wardrobe that symbolised the decade that taste forgot.

But he will forever be remembered for one night in October 1987 when he said on the air: "Earlier on today, apparently, a lady rang the BBC and said she heard that there was a hurricane on the way." "Well, don't worry. If you're watching, there isn't."

Hours later, Britain was clobbered by its worst storm in 300 years -- with hurricane-force winds leaving a trail of destruction across southern and central England.

Fish had actually been referring to a storm off Florida, not a freak low pressure system in the Bay of Biscay, but everyone preferred to think of it as a gaffe -- one that the weatherman has endured with good humour.

"Until now, of course, I have been a little bit cross sometimes about it because I know it's a very great misrepresentation," he said on BBC television earlier Wednesday. "But now is a chance to make a bit of money out of it, hopefully. So if anybody's out there from an advertising agency?"

For the record, Fish says his favourite kind of weather is "freezing cold with snow and ice. A good blizzard. I don't like hot weather at all."●