Gavin and Stacey’s Nessa to read old Shipping Forecast
British Broadcasting CorporationNessa, played by Gavin and Stacey, is one of many famous voice actors who will be reviving old shipping forecasts on BBC Radio 4 to celebrate 100 years of weather forecasting.
Barry Island’s best players will join the likes of Dame Ellen Macarthur and the Archers’ Eddie Grundy at the centenary celebrations on New Year’s Day.
Ruth Jones, who plays Stacey’s best mate in the show, said: “Nessa has a colorful history and one of her jobs is on the high seas. Shipping forecasting has always been a big thing for her. is very important and useful. ”
The series finale of the BBC sitcom attracted an average TV audience of 12.3 million, the largest Christmas Day audience in more than a decade.
Jones recently told the BBC’s Colin Patterson She and writing partner/co-star James Corden “feel very lucky to have the choice to end this and not be told, ‘Sorry, we don’t want it anymore'”.
She will reprise her role on a special day in shipping forecasting – the Met Office broadcasting weather reports and forecasts for the seas around the British Isles.
It will also see Ambridge’s lovable gangster Eddie Grundy (Trevor Harrison) and Circumnavigation record breaker Ellen MacArthur Read historical weather forecasts and reminisce.
Former Coronation Street star Julie Hirschmonhal will also take part, as well as actors Stephen Fry and Adrian Dunbar.
Comedian Paul Sinha, poet Imtiaz Dalq, writers Ian Macmillan and Val McDermid will also star alongside Damon Albarn.
Radio 4 controller Mohit Bakaya described The Shipping Forecast as “one of our national treasures”, and Albarn referenced it on the Blur track This is a Low.
He said: “Over the years, the Shipping Forecast has not only provided vital information to seafarers, it has also been a cherished ritual that distills the essence of Radio 4 for many of our listeners.
“This is also a time for the great, unsung heroes and heroines of Radio 4 – the serial announcers – to shine.”
Shipping forecasts are produced by the Met Office on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
It was first broadcast as a weather forecast titled “Weather Shipping” on 1 January 1924 and transferred to the BBC a year later.
To mark the 100th anniversary of the prediction, BBC presenter Paddy O’Connell will also launch a documentary on the history of the prediction, while historian Jerry Broton will explore how its maritime history shaped Britain.
