Tim Bailey’s legendary career as Australia’s most beloved weatherman – as he is axed by Ten

 The sun has set on weatherman Tim Bailey’s 30-year career at Channel 10.

But Australia won’t soon forget the sun-kissed reporter whose good looks and on-screen charisma have earned him an army of fans since the early 1990s. 

Tim, 57, whose sacking was announced on Tuesday as part of Channel 10’s brutal budget cuts, enjoyed an illustrious career as the network’s roving reporter and weather guru.  

Tim, an avid surfer and sports enthusiast, began his career as a journalist working at the Hobart Mercury newspaper. 

At age 19, he scored a job at Sydney’s popular 2DAY FM radio station, where he reported the weather along with surf and snow updates. 

Tim began working for Channel 10 in 1980 after scoring a job as a reporter on Good Morning Australia with Mike Gibson and TV veteran Kerri-Anne Kennerley (whose axing from the network was also announced on Tuesday). 

He went on to host a number of sports programs at Channel 10, including Totally Wild, The Chilli Factor, The Big Breakfast, Airtime Basketball and the Vodafone Beach Volleyball tour.  

The multi-talented journalist began presenting the weather for Channel 10in 1996, and has remained in that role ever since.  

Prior to being axed, Tim presented the weather on-location around New South Wales towns for Ten News at Five, a well as acting as a cover reporter for Ten Network.  

It comes as outraged fans threaten to boycott Channel 10 for sacking Tim, who is ostensibly considered one of Australia’s most trusted weathermen. 

Angry viewers erupted on social media after hearing the news of Tim’s fate on Tuesday, with one Tweeting: ‘Sad day when Tim Bailey leaves our TV screens. He was more than a weatherman.’ 

‘F**k off, Channel Ten can’t fire Tim Bailey [thumbs down emoji]. He’s an icon,’ another added.  

Tim, along with at least 19 other stars including Studio 10 host Kerri-Anne Kennerley and journalist Natarsha Belling, was sacked in a brutal afternoon of budget cuts this  this week. 

Staff members were informed on Tuesday that the news and operations department was being ‘restructured’ in response to the sharp decline in advertising revenue caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The changes are expected to be effective from Monday, September 14.   

Channel 10’s network director of news content, Ross Dagan, said in a statement about the job cuts: ‘The decision to make these changes was a very difficult one and I want to express my sincere thanks and gratitude to our friends and colleagues who will leave the network.

‘It is in no way a reflection of their talent, contribution or passion. They are exceptionally gifted people. We are incredibly proud of them and their work. There is no doubt they will be missed.

‘These painful changes reflect the state of the media industry in recent years and the need for all media companies to achieve new efficiencies.

‘While our viewers in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth will see some on-air changes, we will continue to produce local news and employ local reporters, camera operators and production staff in those cities.’

Beverley McGarvey, Channel 10’s chief content officer, added: ‘These decisions are not being made lightly, however, they are essential to future-proofing our business.’