BBC Breakfast concern: Owain Wyn Evans' mother feared 'negative press' on TV show
BBC BREAKFAST weather forecaster Owain Wyn Evans has become a fan favourite among viewers but prior to his TV debut his mother feared he would receive "negative press".
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The Welsh broadcaster, 37, starred on children’s TV before he worked through the ranks at the BBC. Last weekend, Owain was praised by scores of BBC Breakfast viewers for his cheerful weather reports. Following the forecast, a number of fans sent messages to express how delighted they were with his performance.
One Twitter user described him as “a breath of fresh air” and said they “loved the delivery and presentation” of his weather report.
A second wrote: “Loving the new happy, happy weatherman on @BBCBreakfast.”
A third added: “Worth watching the programme for you.”
A number requested to see “more of him please” because they felt he made “even a horrible forecast fun to watch”.
Owain’s popularity led to speculation about his future on BBC Breakfast.
Some assumed he would be the perfect successor to Carol Kirkwood, who has spent more than 20 years as the weekday weather presenter.
The Scottish meteorologist has previously raised concern about losing her slot on BBC Breakfast.
In 2012, she told the Scottish Sun: “There are thousands of younger girls who will kill for my job.”
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Her main concern seemed to be because of her age, she is now 58 years old.
While the BBC has announced no plan to replace Carol, the star believed “the clock was ticking down”,
In 2018, she told the Radio Times: “I would never give up the weather on Breakfast, if they showed me the door, I’d hang on by my fingernails.”
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Before Owain became a hit on BBC Breakfast, his mother was worried about him being verbally attacked for being gay.
In 2014, the star told Wales Online that he was “concerned” about coming out to his parents and feared the “difficult” interaction.
Owain, who was surprised by how supportive they were, said: “They have been amazing.
“It was quite a shock at the beginning because they did not expect it.”
Owain claimed his mother was “shocked” when he told her because “she had never thought” he was gay.
He recalled: “My mum told me… that it did not affect who I was.”
However, knowing of her son’s ambitions to become a TV presenter, she gave him some advice about how to conduct himself.
Owain recalled: “She warned me to be careful at what I did in life.”
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Wales Online claimed her worries were “because of his job” – which would make him a nationally-known figure.
They wrote: “She was worried her lad might get negative press.”
The response suggested she had concerns that the public might not accept him because of his sexuality.
Thankfully, Owain claimed to have encountered very few troubles – the majority of which were online.
Since working on TV, he claimed his mother need not have been so worried.
Owain said: “No one was bothered and it was not even an issue.”
The BBC Breakfast star married his husband Arran Rees four years ago and has made no secret of their hopes to adopt one day in the future.
BBC Breakfast airs from 6am on BBC One.