We speak to disabled BBC weather presenter Lucy Martin

Breaking Barriers: Meet Lucy Martin, the BBC’s Trailblazing Disabled Weather Presenter

In an industry often criticized for lack of diversity, Lucy Martin is pushing forward . Born without her right forearm, Lucy’s journey to becoming the first visibly disabled BBC weather presenter is a testament to determination and talent. From her early passion for geography to overcoming challenges in her career, Lucy shares her inspiring story with Disability Horizons. Discover how she navigates the highs and lows of broadcasting, the impact of her visibility, and her vision for a more inclusive future.

Lucy Martin, who was born without her right forearm and hand, is the first visibly disabled BBC weather presenter. In 2015, she took part in a BBC initiative that offered disabled people with a passion for weather and the environment the chance to learn about the job. Following a three-day workshop, Lucy was offered the opportunity to start training to be a weather presenter.

Our regular writer, Emma Purcell, interviewed Lucy to find out more about how she got the job, the highs and lows of presenting, and what impact her disability has had on her career and life.

What was it like for you growing up with your disability?

I was born with only one hand, so it is all I have ever known. It’s therefore totally normal to me. Kids are really straightforward, so although I was frequently asked what had happened to my hand, that was usually the extent of it – they just saw me as Lucy.

I did everything that the kids around me were doing, and I never felt it held me back. I rode bikes, swam, played musical instruments and did lots of dance and drama. I was perhaps a bit over capable – in nursery, I used to tie the other children’s shoelaces for them and cut up their lunches!

My family just expected me to would get on with things and not hide away. I think that helped my attitude to life a lot. We were also members of the charity Reach, which supports children with upper limb differences. It was great for me to be able to meet so many other children like me through the charity.

Have you ever tried or considered a prosthetic or bionic arm?

Yes, I have. It’s advised that you get fitted for a prosthetic arm as soon as possible so that you can learn to use it as you grow. Because of this, my mum took me to get one as a baby. I have very vague memories of this, but I never really got on with it – my mum says I spent most of my time taking it off and putting it in the toy box.

In primary school, I was fitted with a movable prosthetic hand. Before taking it home, I had to go to appointments to learn how to use it. Once home, I took it to school and did a ‘show and tell’ of it to pretty much the whole school!

But, by the next day, I had decided I didn’t want to take it to school again as it was too heavy and I felt I didn’t need it.

What got you interested in weather/meteorology?

I have always been interested in the weather – I’m British! I also love geography and the variety and breadth of topics that come within it, so I decided to take a degree in it.

As part of my geography degree, I did meteorology. It’s one of those subjects where the more you learn, the more you want to know.

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How did you come across the BBC initiative and what was involved in the workshop?

I was at a school friend’s house and her mum saw an advert from the BBC about the initiative. I didn’t hesitate in applying. To my excitement, I was offered a space on a three-day workshop in July 2015.

The workshop was quite intense – there’s a lot more involved in weather presenting than perhaps initially meets the eye. There were lots of different sessions, including voice coaching and storytelling. I meet with a mentor to help guide me through the day and tell me more about what the job is like. I also got to spend time with a make-up artist and be in the studio actually practising presenting.

When presenting the weather, you don’t have autocue or a script, and you mostly use a green screen, so you have to get used to talking without being prompted and pointing at the right place!

Have you always wanted to be a weather presenter and found it hard to do so because of your disability?

Not really, if I’m honest. I always thought presenting looked great fun, but imagined I’d end up working in an office.

Weirdly, it’s perhaps the reverse – my disability led me to the BBC initiative, and then I was lucky enough to be offered training. With a lot of hard work, I have ended up doing it fulltime.

Have any viewers made comments on your disability?

Yes, I have had a real mix of comments, 99% of which have been positive. A lot of people have said that they find it inspiring or refreshing to see me on screen, and are supportive of what I’m doing. There has also been a lot of interest in what exactly happened to my hand.

Sadly, as always with a career in media, I have had a few nasty comments. But they have been few and far between.

How did it feel to be nominated for an Icon Award, which recognises people who champion diversity?

I was really chuffed to be nominated. I personally feel that, despite lots of good work to improve representation, disability is currently underrepresented on TV and in the media. I am really happy to be a part of changing that.

I have received lots of lovely messages of support from people saying that my work has had a positive impact on them or people they know, so to be nominated for an Icon Award by the public really solidified that.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t attend the ceremony as it was my granny’s 80^th birthday and I couldn’t miss that!

What is your least favourite thing about weather presenting?

The early starts! My alarm regularly goes off before 4am. Also, presenting is also a high-pressure job, which can be pretty exhausting and am not great at functioning on little sleep.

How do you see yourself going forward in your career?

I’m not really sure. I hoped to do the national forecasts and have been lucky enough to do so on occasion. I am very happy with where I am at the moment – I love presenting the weather and am learning new things every day. I didn’t expect to be where I am, so I’m going to continue as I am and see what comes up next and where it takes me in the future.

By Emma Purcell

UPDATED JUNE 2024

BBC’s Ongoing Commitment to Disability Representation

Since Lucy Martin’s groundbreaking role as a BBC weather presenter in 2018, the BBC has continued to make significant progress in promoting disability representation both on and off screen. As of 2024, the broadcaster has exceeded its previous targets, with disabled talent now making up 14% of on-screen roles and 13.5% of the BBC workforce .

The BBC remains committed to its 50:20:12 aim – for 50% women, 20% Black, Asian and minority ethnic, and 12% disabled representation across the organization. To achieve this, they have implemented several initiatives, such as the BBC Elevate scheme, which supports the career progression of mid-level disabled talent through tailored training, coaching, and mentoring.

Furthermore, the BBC has launched a new set of commitments to improve access for disabled talent, including authentic portrayal in scripted programs, landmark and incidental representation in unscripted content, and ensuring at least one disabled contributor, presenter, or performer per series as part of Access First Titles programme. These commitments are supported by the TV Access Project’s 5 As guidelines, which set industry-wide standards for disability inclusion].

The broadcaster’s efforts have been recognized at the 2022 MIPCOM Diversify TV Awards, where they won the award for Best Representation of Disability for the series “Inside Our Autistic Minds”. Building on this success, the BBC has commissioned a second series, “Inside Our Neurodivergent Minds,” which will explore the experiences of individuals with ADHD and dyslexia.

Despite this progress, the BBC acknowledges that there is still work to be done. The corporation continues to collaborate with organizations like the Creative Diversity Network and PACT to drive industry-wide change and ensure that disability representation remains a top priority. By maintaining its commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, the BBC aims to create content that truly reflects the diverse experiences of its audience.

Resources for Disabled Individuals in Media

For individuals with disabilities interested in pursuing careers in media, there are several organizations and resources available:

• Reach Charity: The organization Lucy Martin was involved with as a child, supporting children with upper limb differences.
• Evenbreak: A job board for disabled job seekers, featuring a filter for media roles.
• Creative Diversity Network: An organization working to improve diversity and inclusion in the UK media industry.
• Disability Rights UK: A leading charity providing support and resources for individuals with disabilities in the UK.

By connecting with these organizations and exploring available resources, disabled individuals can find support and guidance in their pursuit of media careers.

Lucy Martin’s story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of representation and inclusivity in the media industry. As the BBC and other organizations continue to make progress in this area, we can hope to see more diverse voices and perspectives on our screens in the future.

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