Fred’s Weather Map
Please note that some or all of the objects mentioned in this post are no longer visible on Google Earth or Google Maps.
UK readers might recall this floating weather map in Liverpool’s Albert Dock, which was used for many years to present the weather for ITV’s “This Morning” program.
The presenter, Fred Talbot, would run about the miniature UK informing viewers of the weather in their area and as you can see he was joined by model versions of various landmarks such as the Forth Bridges, Blackpool Tower and Tower Bridge.
For Northern Ireland’s weather Fred would have to leap across the water and everyone would hope he missed and fell in, although sadly he always made the jump.
Thanks: Pete & Andy Kelly
He did fall in once!
yeh! He hasnt always made it!
Dang! Sounds like an awesome show. That’s what, 45 feet from the Isle of Wight to the tip of Scotland? When was this on?
http://www.merseyworld.com/albert/granada/media/fred.jpg
this gives a good idea of scale… the jump to ireland wasnt easy!
Wow! That’s amazing!
Sadly up here in granadaland we still have to see Fred every so often on the telly.
Dont worry Tim - you have led a charmed life having never seen the show - trust me!
Also wasn’t there a streaker one day?
Where is the yellow submarine that should be in the south corner of the park across the road?
Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth
It’s larger than a car, so it syhould be easy to spot. It was there as of May 2004. Has it been moved since? I don’t recall seeing the UK map in the lagoon either.
It has been moved to make way for a development. For ages it was in storage and they couldn’t find a new home. Now it seems it is in front of the airport:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/3624528.stm
http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_objectid=15722491&method=full&siteid=50061&headline=yellow-submarine-has-surfaced-in-a-new-home-name_page.html
http://jonathan.rawle.org/gallery/liverpool/yellowsub
I believe the yellow submarine is here:
Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth
the yellow blob in the center of the pic is the top, and you can just make out the other bits of it.
There was a streaker once. I seem to recall Fred getting a bit (over) excited and using a clipboard to censor the dangly bits.
Here’s another close-up:
http://www.bobthefireeater.supanet.com/pages/photofred.htm
that tv program look pretty twisted, psycedelic and bizarre! was a man just jumping around saying: “its gonna rain right… here!!” and whats with those people spitting fire?? :-S
Trust me muhammed - it was none of the things you describe. It was a sickly sweet daytime show that was aimed at bored housewifes and pot heads who couldnt be bothered to change channels.
The floating weather map thing was just a bit of an annoying diversion to an equally annoying programme.
it could be nice if someone stole the islands, and the man came to work like: “wheres my islands?? i cant do my job without the islands! my precious islands!!! my life is ruined!” and they should be like 50 meter up in the air, so if he “didnt make the jump” he would fall down and die!! umm… yeah!
Yeah, I wonder if BBC couldn’t buy the studio and revamp the weather report so it would actually be cool… Y’know, they could do that. It’s a shame that something with so much potential could be so boring.
The show called “This Morning” is still running only its broadcast from London now and hosted by different people. It used to be hosted by Richard & Judy,
http://www.richardmadeley.net/
a husband and wife team. It all went a bit pear shaped after Richards run in with the law. He was accused of shoplifting some Champagne from Tesco in 1994. Fingers Madeley got away with it though
Another pic, this one with the streaker (Mark Roberts)
http://www.streaking.co.uk/relatednewsweathermanstreaker.htm
This actually happened twice, in 95 and 98, both by Roberts.
Would love to find a video clip of this weather report.
Well, not the streaker ones specifically, but any of Talbot’s reports on the floating map. :O
here you go, with no sound unfortunately but you get the idea
http://www.thestreaker.org.uk/av/ts_fredsweathermap.zip
i find this weather map… the weirdest thing i have ever seen…
yeah!!!!!!!!!