Weather girls have been a staple of British TV since 1974, when Barbara Edwards became the first female weather presenter on the BBC.

Since then, a stereotype has evolved surrounding this role which, according to Bournemouth-based weather presenter turned stand-up comedian Sam Fraser, has become a dangerous modern conundrum.

“When I became the stand-by weather presenter on the BBC in 2012, it opened my eyes to the tenacity of the weather girl stereotype – it was a type of sexism I hadn’t really run into before,” she explained.

“Within a fortnight of appearing on TV my backside had its own fan club and I found myself on a Youtube channel called Babes of Britain.

“The stereotype undermines the credibility of very professional women – it shouldn’t be happening!”

It’s a topic which was given public attention at the start of this year, when a man who harassed BBC South presenter Alexis Green was jailed for 17 weeks.

For Sam, this was just one of a number of stories to be told about a phenomenon she had been tracing since 2018, interviewing a number of female weather presenters in the process.

This research is now set to be broadcast on Radio Four under the title ‘Scorchio’.

“In 2018 I started writing a book about all of this, which I offered up to a number of outlets as a kind of thesis.

“I had some interest, but for one reason or another they fell through.

“After Alexis’ story broke at the start of the year I decided to give it one more push to see if I could get it commissioned, and I think the added context made them pay a bit more attention.”

Sam explained that the media, and in particular tabloids play a big role in perpetuating the stereotype.

“They often run stories about what different female weather presenters are wearing with sensationalist headlines and active verbs which invite a sexual gaze.

“It makes it seem as though these women are inviting the attention, when actually a lot of the time they’re just wearing clothes.

“Social media then exacerbates the problem.

“When Barbara Edwards was on TV, she would receive letters from men criticising her for wearning a tank top or for how she wore her hair – so it’s always been going on.

“But it’s been amplified. Social media creates a dangerous proximity and a sense of entitlement – they expect you to respond.

“It’s an interesting modern conundrum, but it’s also dangerous. I did not speak to a single weather presenter who hadn’t experienced some form of harassment – who hadn’t felt at some point intimidated or threatened by online attention.

“I don’t want to cancel anyone. I’m not saying you can’t enjoy the weather presenting, or say ‘she looks nice’ in the comfort and privacy of your living room but think twice before you get on social media and fire off a comment, because there’s a real human being at the other end of it.

“Think twice, do you really need to make your opinion known?”

Sam Fraser’s documentary Scorchio will air on Radio Four at 11am on 22nd November, and will then be available to listen to after on BBC Sounds.

• https://samfraser.co.uk/

Read next: Dream comes true as Zoe, 20, launches her own flower shop