Dan Corblog

This blog celebrates the genius of the British weather forecaster, Daniel (Dan) Corbett. The blog's name is taken from Dan's signature sign-off,
"That's the weather [pauses, points at camera, slight nod of head] for now."

Ever since my attention was caught by Dan's forecasts on BBC News 24 in the late 1990's I've been a fan.

No-one else does a forecast quite like Dan. He is always entertaining, always looks like he's enjoying himself and, most importantly, he always makes me smile.

If you haven't seen one of his forecasts then you're missing out; it's full of enthusiastic ramblings about the clothing you might need to wear, whether you should pack your brolly or if the weather will be good enough to walk the dog in the park.

Even if it's chucking it down outside, if Daniel Corbett is presenting the weather there'll always be a ray of sunshine in your living room.

I have no affiliation with the BBC, nor am I in any way connected to Dan himself, I'm simply a fan.

If you are similarly afflicted with a Dan obsession, or to report a sighting, feel free to leave a comment here or e-mail me:
thatstheweather.fornow@gmail.com

Comments

[heather]

Well. I love it! Especially since it's rare that I get to catch him and when I *do*, it seems to be a normal forecast: none of the gems you've got above! So I'll have to check here now. :)

I did hear Dan on the 12:30am Radio 4 broadcast a couple of nights ago and was surprised because that was a first for me. :)

Well done!

[Kirsty]

He was scheduled to do the overnight/early morning slot on BBCi / BBC World and Radios 2 & 4, I'm sure it was last Friday - because I went out and didn't manage to catch any of his forecasts :-(

[christopher gotch]

the man is a genius. He even beats Ron "Ronstradamus" Bendell, the legendary Westcountry TV weatherman

[Ian Oliver]

Midlands Today forecast 0755ish 25/1/07
(warm air coming down) `think of it like a big warm duvet'....
Ian

[Kirsty]

Yes, he did my regional weather too, but there were no Dan-isms. Next time he's on this overnight shift I'll have a go at taping a few of the regional channels.

[Emalyse]

Dan is the most entertaining and enthusiastic weatherman since Ian McCaskill. He's a suitable ambasador to the great British obsession with the weather. There should at least be Dan-branded brollies!

[Kirsty]

Obviously, I agree with you there!
Although I'm not too sure about Dan brollies, one of my all-time favourite comments about Dan involved umbrellas;

'a Google search for the "Daniel Corbett Umbrella Company" has sadly drawn a blank.'

[Atomic Dreamer]

I love your obsession! Heard this website name checked on Resonance FM (London arts station) and surfed straight over. Oh the joy in small things. I'll admit, i've not paid special attention to ol' Dan before, but some of the comments remind me that i've deffo heard him and his Dan-isms in the past. Will listen out safe in the knowlege he has a fan-base now!

[Kirsty]

Obsession? I don't know what you mean... ;-)

Keep an eye out for him (he's on later today) - it's rare to catch forecast without a Dan-ism or two slipped in somewhere.

[Elmwood]

My flatmate highlighted Daniel Corbett's genius, which had previously gone unnoticed by me. I suggested he start a Dan Corbett fanclub, but by the looks of it he already has one! I'd totally buy a Dan Corbett umbrella.

[Kirsty]

Perhaps you should petition CafePress to start doing umbrellas ;-)

[Ashley]

I first came across this delightful chap on Radio 4 a few years ago and was immediately hooked. What tickled me wasn't just the good-naturedness you could hear in his voice, or the way he presented the weather like it was a short amusing (and rather British) story, but the speed at which he had to deliver his forecasts in order to fit in all the lovely extra bits which have become his trademark. For those of you who have never heard Dan on the radio, trust me when I say he speaks at about half that speed when on the telly. When he's on, I'm sorry, but everything else I'm doing has to stop until he's done. The man's a genius.

[Kirsty]

What a fantastic tribute to our favourite weather-person; it certainly struck a chord.

So, not only can you her the Nation's collective cry of 'IT'S DAN!' when he's on, but it seems that, for the duration of his broadcast, the country grinds to a halt.

Anyway, Ashley, it's nothing you should apologise for, it's a natural reaction; awe and wonder.

[karen]

Daniel makes me smile. After a bad day at work I get home, watch the news and wait for Dan the man, as I call him. He makes the weather so interesting... he said tonight 'the cloud is coming over like a white sheet being pulled over a bed'. I am a real fan of Dan the man. xx

[Kirsty]

Some good Dan-isms tonight (which I'll blog later) and I loved the 'sheet' one too!

Dan 'The Man' indeed!

[Richard Preston]

Oh golly, I'm so pleased I found this site. I'm a relatively new fan of Dan's, but ever since I first saw one of his forecasts a few months ago he's been my favourite presenter by miles.

Over lunch with my parents in law the other day, the topic of weather forecasts came up and they started by saying "One forecaster we cannot bear...", and I knew what was coming. Well, I argued as forcefully as was polite to do so, but they remain unconvinced. There really is no accounting for taste.

This site has reaffirmed my belief that DC really is King of the Weather Hill. Bless you.

[Kirsty]

Aaw, what a lovely comment - thank you.

What is there not to like about Dan? I have previously noticed he does tend to have a rather Marmite-like effect on people. There's no, 'he's OK, I suppose' with him; you either love him or... have no sense.

[Patrick Bateman]

I like him because he doesn't have to put on a stylised *wackiness* like so many tv faces. He appears to be a genuinely odd character and that is refreshing in an age of anodyne blandness. I love it when he pops up on Radio 4 just before the Book of the Week at 0028. His intonations are peerless.

[Kirsty]

In fact, just generally peerless.