ITV STAR DIES AGED 76 AS BBC DOCTOR WHO'S RUSSELL T DAVIES LEADS TRIBUTES

ITV presenter and weather reporter Wincey Willis has died at the age of 76 after being diagnosed with dementia.

She was a weather presenter on the ITV programme Good Morning Britain, where she made history as the UK's first national female weather forecaster.

Doctor Who screenwriter Russell T Davies has shared a touching tribute to the ITV alum, reflecting on an encounter with Wincey.

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Russell even used her name in an episode of his 90s drama series Queer as Folk.

Taking to social media, he wrote: "She hunted me down. She got hold of my email address just to tell me how delighted she was to be mentioned! She was absolutely hilarious and full of joy, what a lovely woman.

"We corresponded for years, having a wonderful laugh, she was a hoot. What a great career! Adored her. Well done, Wincey, night darling."

Wincey died back in December 2024, though news of her passing has only just been made public.

Before joining GMB, Wincey was scouted for the role by ITV’s deputy editor in chief, Clive Jones, while she was a presenter for ITV in the Tyne Tees region.

She originally got into television when she was invited to audition for the position of weather presenter for Tyne Tees regional TV.

A year later, she was awarded her own series on Granada titled Wincey's Pets.

She also featured on the game show Treasure Hunt alongside Anneka Rice, though a contract dispute led Wincey to resign from TV-am in 1987.

Later in life, she hosted radio shows for BBC Coventry & Warwickshire and for BBC Hereford & Worcester.

She married bed salesman Malcolm Willis in 1972 and continued to use his surname after they divorced.

Wincey returned to the North East to live in Sunderland after being diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in 2015.

2025-06-19T12:06:22Z