Ruth Jones is making a comeback as her famous character Vanessa “Nessa” Jenkins to present Radio 4’s Shipping Forecast in honour of the show’s centenary on New Year’s Day.
Julie Hesmondhalgh, Stephen Fry and Adrian Dunbar from Line Of Duty, alongside yachtswoman Dame Ellen MacArthur, are all poised to join the festivities in recognition of the very first broadcast of the Met Office’s forecast via the broadcaster back in October 1925, reports Chronicle Live.
To mark this milestone, notable figures like Damon Albarn of Blur – who penned ‘This Is A Low’ inspired by the shipping forecast – are set to share meaningful narratives intertwined with historic forecasts throughout the day.
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Speaking about Nessa’s connection with the sea, Jones reflected: “Nessa has got quite a colourful history and one of her jobs was on the high seas. The Shipping Forecast was always very important and useful to her.”
The poignant final episode of Gavin And Stacey that aired over Christmas saw James Corden’s character Smithy stop Nessa from returning to maritime work by dashing to Southampton Dock and proposing. This led to heartwarming nuptials dressed down in Nessa’s style, with her donning a black gown and ensuring a happy ending for the couple.
The lineup for the Shipping Forecast’s centenary celebrations is set to include comedian Paul Sinha, poet Imtiaz Dharker, and authors Ian McMillan and Val McDermid, who will all contribute readings. Dame Ellen MacArthur will deliver a special forecast from June 1, 1995, commemorating her first solo journey around Britain, which preceded her world record-breaking solo circumnavigation in 2005.
Adrian Dunbar as Superintendent Ted Hastings in Line of Duty.
(Image: PA)
Radio 4 controller and Director of speech Mohit Bakaya expressed his enthusiasm: “The Shipping Forecast is one of our national treasures. So I’m delighted that we are cracking a bottle against the hull to launch 100 years of the Shipping Forecast on the BBC with a special schedule of programming on New Year’s Day.”
He also spoke about its cultural impact, saying, “As well as providing crucial information for seafarers over the years, the Shipping Forecast is also a cherished ritual that distils the essence of Radio 4 for so many of our listeners. It is also a moment for those great, unsung heroes and heroines of the Radio 4 schedule – the continuity announcers – to shine.”
The Shipping Forecast, produced by the Met Office on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, celebrated its centenary this year. It was first broadcasted as a weather bulletin named Weather Shipping on January 1, 1924, before moving to the BBC a year later.
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