‘It’s not been an easy decision’- BBC presenter announces he’s leaving role after 29 years
Beloved Welsh meteorologist Derek Brockway is set to leave the BBC after almost three decades with the broadcaster.
The much-loved weatherman joined BBC Wales in 1997 and has now decided to bring his remarkable run to an end, announcing that he will depart around Christmas.
Barry-born Derek became widely recognised for his weather forecasts and his hugely popular series Weatherman Walking, which ran for 19 years and saw him explore some of Wales’ most spectacular landscapes.
Over the years, he built a special relationship with viewers, many of whom affectionately know him as “Derek the Weatherman”.
He also appeared in the third series of Gavin and Stacey, where he played himself delivering a weather forecast.
Derek announced the news on X, telling his followers that he had “BIG news” to share and confirming that he would be leaving BBC Wales at the end of the year after nearly 30 years presenting the weather.
He described his time with the broadcaster as a “great run” and said it had been both a privilege and a pleasure.
In a separate statement, Derek revealed that leaving had been a decision he had considered carefully and admitted it had not been an easy choice.
His fascination with weather began during the hot summer of 1976, when he was just eight years old and growing up in Barry, in the Vale of Glamorgan.
He joined the Met Office in 1986, fulfilling what he described as a lifelong ambition. His career subsequently took him to Birmingham, Bracknell, London and even the Falkland Islands before he eventually returned to Wales.
Derek joined BBC Wales in September 1997, beginning the career that would make him one of the country’s best-known television meteorologists.
Reflecting on his years at the BBC, he said he had been fortunate to be welcomed into viewers’ homes across Wales while sharing weather forecasts with them.
His adventures through Weatherman Walking were among the highlights of his career, allowing him to travel across Wales, meet people and discover some of the country’s most beautiful locations.
Derek also thanked his colleagues, viewers and supporters, mentioning the messages, letters, poems, colourful ties and weather photographs he had received over the years.
He said he had experienced every kind of weather alongside viewers, from sunshine and snow to storms and heatwaves.
While Derek is preparing to leave, he stressed that he will remain on screen until Christmas and suggested that viewers may still see him from time to time in the future.
Meanwhile, the BBC confirmed earlier this year that there were no plans for new episodes of Weatherman Walking.
The show’s 14th series aired in 2024. Although new episodes were not currently being commissioned, the BBC did return with The Best of Weatherman Walking, an archive-based spin-off featuring some of Derek’s favourite walks.
The second series of the highlights programme launched in July and includes 10 episodes covering locations and themes including Caldey, Anglesey, Barry Island, Welsh history and coastal walks.
After nearly 30 years, Derek Brockway is now preparing to leave BBC Wales, bringing an era to a close while looking ahead to whatever comes next.
