Best of the Blogs: Alex Casey: Dan Corbett - TVNZ's hypnotic new weatherman

TV One's new weatherman Daniel Corbett has been described as 'hypnotic'.

We’re looking back at our columnists most popular pieces from 2015. Today Alex Casey from The Spinoff revels in the highs and lows of Daniel Corbett, the endearing One News weatherman and replacement for Jim Hickey in our hearts.

I have always been told to listen to my parents, so when my Dad urgently let me know that the new TV One weatherman looked like "Dynamo in 30 years" I had to take note.

Daniel Corbett, our new Jim Hickey, is a weatherman to end all weathermen. He's 20% suit and 80% fingers, and I strongly recommend tuning into the ol' 6pm news if you haven't already seen his scintillating yet spindly caress of the South Island.

It's an unexpected transition from our heavenly father Jim Hickey, especially with the sprightly Sam Wallace flexing in the wings. I was expecting TV One would seize the opportunity to overhaul the weather and make it a bit young, a bit sexy, a bit Sticky TV. Instead they went with what can only be described as a jokey British version of Nosferatu in a suit.

I love him to bits and I'm not the only one. After a small flurry of research I found this incredible fanblog devoted to the man himself. Tirelessly recording every hilarious analogy, joke and bizarre noise he makes for the world to see, it confirmed my suspicions that we have a little ray of sunshine piercing through the post-Hickey rain cloud.

Corbett goes for an extremely theatrical presentation technique, with a consistent forecast of Gondry-sized hands and breadstick fingers. A great way to watch him is to sit as close to the screen as possible and just focus on the hands. Honestly, it gives Cirque de Soleil a run for its money ...

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