Wincey Willis: ITV’s First Female Weather Presenter Dies at 76

For millions of British breakfast television viewers in the 1980s and 90s, Wincey Willis was a familiar, cheerful presence who delivered the weather with a smile. But behind the bright sweaters and sunny on-air personality, she faced a private battle that ended her life in December 2024 at age 76.

Born: 8 August 1948 ·
Died: 19 December 2024 ·
Age at death: 76 ·
Real name: Florence Winsome Leighton ·
Cause of death: Dementia ·
Known for: First female weather presenter on ITV (GMTV)

Six key facts about Wincey Willis, one pattern: a groundbreaking career that began in the early 1980s

What Happened to Wincey Willis?

Final Years and Dementia Battle

• Willis was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in 2015, according to The Sun (UK tabloid).
• After her diagnosis, she moved back to the North East and lived in Sunderland (The Independent).

She died on 18 December 2024 at the age of 76, but the news was not made public until 18 June 2025 — a six-month delay that puzzled many fans. The Independent reported that the delay was not explained by her family. The cause of death was confirmed as dementia.

Death and Obituary Coverage

• The Telegraph (UK broadsheet) published an obituary noting her role as a “star of breakfast television”.
• A tribute on tv-am.org (fan site) said: “We are deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of Wincey Willis.”

The implication: Willis’s death went largely unnoticed for months, a quiet end for a woman who had once been a household name.

What Was Wincey Willis’ Real Name?

Birth Name and Early Life

• Florence Winsome Leighton was born on 8 August 1948 in Gateshead, County Durham, according to Wikipedia.
• She grew up in the North East and later studied at the University of London, though details of her education remain sparse.

Her stage name, “Wincey”, was a portmanteau of her middle name Winsome and a diminutive suffix. She adopted it early in her broadcasting career, and it stuck.

How She Got the Name ‘Wincey’

• As Wikipedia notes, the name was a professional choice that helped her stand out in the competitive world of radio and television.
• She was also known for reading and writing poetry, a side interest that occasionally surfaced in interviews.

What this means: the name “Wincey Willis” is a carefully crafted public identity, not the name she was born with.

How Did Wincey Willis Become Famous?

Breakthrough on GMTV

• Willis joined TV-am in May 1983, shortly after it began broadcasting, becoming ITV’s first female weather presenter, as reported by The Daily Mirror (UK tabloid).
• She presented the weather on the breakfast programme Good Morning Britain, which was then part of the TV-am franchise.

Her warm, cheerful style — often wearing bright sweaters — made her a favourite among viewers. Yahoo News UK described her as “a pioneering figure in breakfast television”.

The pattern: Willis’s fame was built on breakfast television, but she crossed over into other genres, a sign of her versatility.

Appearance on Treasure Hunt

• Willis also appeared on the Channel 4 game show Treasure Hunt in the 1990s, according to The Daily Mirror.
• She was a contestant on the show, which added to her national profile.

The pattern: Willis’s fame was built on breakfast television, but she crossed over into other genres, a sign of her versatility.

Is Wincey Willis Married?

Personal Life and Relationship Status

• Public records do not provide clear confirmation of marriage. No spouse or children were widely reported in obituaries.
• The Independent noted that “her personal life remained private”.

The trade-off: Willis kept her private life out of the public eye, which means that many details — including whether she was married — remain unknown.

Who Is the Weather Lady with One Arm?

Distinction from Lucy Martin

• The “weather lady with one arm” refers to Lucy Martin, a BBC weather presenter born without a left hand (BBC Weather).
• Wincey Willis was not disabled. The confusion arises because both are female weather presenters in the UK, and both have names that are less common.

Lucy Martin, who presents on BBC South Today, is active on social media as @Weatherwithlucy and has spoken openly about her disability. Willis, by contrast, had no physical disability.

Who Is Lucy Martin?

• Lucy Martin, born in 1992, is a BBC weather presenter for South Today. She is known for her positive attitude and has been a role model for disabled people.
• She has never been associated with ITV or GMTV.

Why this matters: the mix-up shows how easily online searches can conflate two women who share a profession but have completely different careers and life stories.

Timeline

• 1948 – Born Florence Winsome Leighton in Gateshead.
• 1970s–1980s – Early career in radio and television.
• May 1983 – Joined TV-am as the first female weather presenter on ITV (The Telegraph).
• 1990s – Appeared on Treasure Hunt.
• 2000s – Retired from regular presenting.
• 2015 – Diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (The Sun).
• 18 December 2024 – Died at age 76.
• 18 June 2025 – Death publicly announced.

Quotes

“We are deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of Wincey Willis, who died on 19 December 2024 at the age of 76, following a long battle with dementia.”

— Tribute on tv-am.org (fan site)

“Wincey Willis dead aged 76: ITV’s first female weather presenter and GMB icon passes away after health battle.”

— The Sun (UK tabloid) Facebook video

For the millions who grew up watching her on breakfast television, Willis’s death marks the end of an era. But the confusion between her and Lucy Martin, and the questions about her personal life, mean that her legacy remains tangled. The implication for any reader searching for “the weather lady with one arm”: check the name — it’s almost certainly not Wincey Willis.

A more detailed look at her life and legacy is available in Wincey Williss obituary.

Frequently asked questions