“Embarrassing on every level”- Peter Kay sparks unexpected backlash as he gatecrashes BBC weather report

Peter Kay’s BBC Weather Ambush Divides Viewers as Critics Brand It ‘Embarrassing’

Peter Kay turned an ordinary BBC weather forecast into live television chaos after wandering onto the set and taking control of the map.

The comedian had appeared on BBC North West Tonight to promote an upcoming fundraising show when he crept into shot behind weather presenter Molly Brewer.

What followed was a deliberately disruptive routine involving blocked locations, imaginary rain and Peter rolling across the studio floor. While many viewers found the unexpected cameo hilarious, others accused him of making the segment “all about” himself.

Molly was explaining a yellow weather warning when she noticed the comedian slowly entering the frame.

“We have got a yellow weather warning in force… we’ve got a Peter as well,” she told viewers, immediately acknowledging the unplanned addition to her forecast.

Peter’s promise lasted only seconds

After moving in front of the green screen, Peter initially promised to behave.

“I’m sitting here, I’ll not disturb you,” he said.

That assurance quickly fell apart. As Molly attempted to continue presenting the forecast, Peter positioned himself across the map and obscured locations including Chester and Buxton.

He then pretended to be caught in the rain before dropping to the floor and rolling around. Molly struggled to contain her laughter but continued delivering the forecast despite the escalating distraction.

Rather than attempt to remove him from the screen, she eventually handed Peter the control clicker. The comedian was then able to change the weather graphics himself, turning the interruption into an improvised double act.

Molly incorporated the chaos into her report by warning that viewers could expect “even more disruption than this forecast” and conditions that might become “a bit more chaotic as well.”

Her handling of the moment earned considerable praise online. Instagram users applauded the presenter for maintaining her composure while responding naturally to Peter’s antics.

Some described the television moment as “epic” and “iconic,” enjoying the sight of a routine forecast being transformed into a spontaneous comedy sketch.

However, the interruption did not work for everyone.

One critic wrote on X: “How embarrassing on every level! Totally unfunny.”

Another simply responded: “Embarrassing.”

A third accused the comedian of demanding attention, writing: “Look at me, it’s all about me!”

The sharply divided reaction demonstrated how Peter’s deliberately disruptive comedy can produce very different responses. Some viewers enjoyed the unpredictability of the live segment, while others felt his behaviour distracted from Molly’s work and the important weather warning she was attempting to explain.

The prank carried a poignant BBC history

Peter’s unexpected appearance was also a clear callback to a memorable BBC North West Tonight moment involving the late weather presenter Dianne Oxberry.

In 2011, after appearing on the programme to discuss his comedy shows, Peter crawled into Dianne’s forecast and attempted to distract her in a similar fashion.

Dianne responded to his antics by joking that she would gatecrash one of his concerts. During their exchange, Peter said she “made it sunshine for everybody.”

The popular broadcaster died in 2019 at the age of 51 following an ovarian cancer diagnosis.

Fifteen years separated Peter’s two weather interruptions, but the formula remained familiar. He crept into view, occupied the map and tested whether the presenter could complete the forecast without losing composure.

Molly’s decision to hand him the controls gave the latest appearance its own twist. Instead of treating Peter solely as an interruption, she allowed him to become part of the segment and worked his behaviour into her delivery.

Whether viewers saw it as playful television or an uncomfortable distraction largely depended on their tolerance for the comedian’s style. What is certain is that Molly kept the forecast moving through every unexpected moment, even after Peter broke his promise not to disturb her.