Gay weatherman Tomasz Schafernaker voted UK’s favourite
Weatherman Tomasz Schafernaker has been voted Britain’s favourite weather present in a poll for the Radio Times.
Schafernaker, a BBC meteorologist, topped the poll of more than 25,000 voters.
He became the youngest man to present BBC weather when he got the job aged only 22.
Schafernaker, who was born in Gdansk, Poland and now shares British-Polish nationality, has attracted many gay fans.
In 2010 he appeared topless on the cover of Active – the fitness supplement for gay magazine Attitude.
He told the Radio Times he was “really flattered” to win the accolade.
“Thank you so so much,” he said.
When choosing his career, Schafernaker said, it was a tough decision between weather or sharks.
“My real passion was for sharks, originally. That’s what gets me going every day, sharks and meteorology are probably equal.
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Morning! Let’s get movin’! Fresh a.m. weather for a stretch & a park run ? ?? #alwayswarmup
“To make a job of it I chose to study meteorology and the crazy thing about that was I never felt like a true scientist at heart.
“I was always an artist, I did art at school, but I did quite well in my science exams and that led me on to meteorology at university.”
Schafernaker also discussed his natural presenting style.
“When I look back at my forecasts, and sometimes we have to, I don’t find anything especially different about it,” he said.
“I just go there and I’m myself, and I just do the weather […] I think the worst thing you can do is try to be someone you’re not.”
The corporation revealed last month that one in 10 staff identify as LGBT.
These include star presenters Graham Norton, Sue Perkins, and Clare Balding.
Last year Schafernaker was unable to finish the BBC’s shipping forecast due to a bout of sickness – apparently brought on from the previous night’s Christmas party.
And in 2010 he was caught on camera jokingly putting up a middle finger to his colleague.
He later apologised.
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