**Jarvis Cocker Hails the Shipping Forecast as a ‘Sanctuary of Calm’ on 100th Anniversary**
British musician Jarvis Cocker has described the BBC’s long-running Shipping Forecast as an “oasis of calm” amidst the bustle of daily life in the UK, as the beloved radio segment celebrates a century on air. The anniversary on July 4th, 2025, marks 100 years since the forecast’s first broadcast, which has since become a defining feature of British radio culture and a unique reassurance to listeners nationwide.
Originally created by the Met Office for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), the Shipping Forecast first sailed onto radio waves in 1925, delivering essential weather reports to mariners. But despite its nautical origins, its monotone delivery and poetic terminology have also provided comfort far beyond the shipping lanes. Cocker, frontman of the band Pulp, has lent his own voice to the centenary celebrations by recording a special edition of the forecast to be played at Sheffield’s Crossed Wires: The Podcast Festival.
Speaking about the enduring significance of the Shipping Forecast, Cocker commented, “If you live in the UK, it’s something you absorb unconsciously.” He pointed out that while the broadcast’s original intention is to keep sailors safe with direct weather information, it has seeped into the national psyche in other ways. For many, it’s not just a practical warning but also a familiar, gentle constant, sometimes even serving as a comforting backdrop for those struggling with sleeplessness.
“For insomniacs, it’s a mantra that hopefully helps them drift finally off to sleep,” he said. “I think it’s known around the world as a go-to chill-out thing – before chill-out things were invented, probably.” Cocker went on to highlight the unique comfort provided by the Shipping Forecast, despite its often dire warnings. “Even though sometimes it’s talking about bad weather conditions and storms and stuff, it’s actually an oasis of calm in the day.”
What sets the Shipping Forecast apart, in Cocker’s view, is its stark simplicity and human touch. The absence of any backing music, combined with the gentle cadence of its reader, creates an intimate connection with listeners. “It’s just a human voice talking to you. Some words, which you don’t really know what they mean at all, but the sound of it is comforting and will put you into a nice place,” he observed.
Cocker also shared a touch of humour about the linguistic curiosities of the forecast, noting that “German Bight” is his favourite segment – not for its meteorological significance, but because it always calls to mind “a cocktail sausage” thanks to its Germanic associations. “I suppose it’s because a frankfurter cocktail sausage is a small frank,” he quipped.
Looking ahead, the musician pondered the future of this broadcasting staple. “It may be a robot who is saying ‘north to northwesterly, occasionally poor’ in 100 years’ time. I hope not… I think it would be better to keep it as a person,” he reflected. The unpredictability of the future is clear to Cocker, who wonders about the fate of humanity and the planet in the next century, remarking, “If people are still in it, it might all be water – so everybody will be listening to it. It’d be like the number one programme, because everybody will be in a boat.”
Cocker’s recent appearance at the Glastonbury Festival – performing with Pulp under the pseudonym Patchwork – has reignited interest in the band, especially as it came three decades after their headline slot at the festival. The group, first formed in Sheffield in 1978, are widely recognised for hits such as “Common People.” They have recently released “More”, their first studio album since 2001, signalling a fresh chapter for the band.
As the Shipping Forecast celebrates its centenary, it stands as evidence of the enduring power of radio to soothe, inform, and connect people – even in an age dominated by digital technology. Cocker’s tribute underscores the unique blend of utility and comfort the broadcast provides, an auditory anchor for Britons both ashore and at sea.