Channel 5 look back at 1990’s deadly storm

The storm was dubbed “Britain’s worst-ever weather disaster” even more devastating than the 1987 ‘great storm’…

This is the definitive story of one of the worst storms to hit England and Wales in centuries, as winds topping 100 mph wreaked devastation on the 25th of January 1990. Dubbed by many as “Britain’s worst-ever weather disaster”, hurricane-strength winds tracked with venom across the entirety of Great Britain, proving deadly and more expensive than any other weather event to date. But it is one in time that we’ve forgotten.

“The Storm of 1990. known as the Burns Day Storm as it hit on Scotland’s highly celebrated Burns Night (25th January), it’s devastation affected the whole of the UK. Millions of people lost electricity, three million trees were damaged, and many were left without livelihoods or homes. And tragically, 47 people were killed, including two young school children.” – Channel 5

Gordon Kaye, famous as Rene in ‘Allo ‘Allo, was seriously injured in the storm while driving

This devastating storm hit at the worst possible time – during the day. There was unprecedented widespread chaos as buildings were shattered, scaffolding flew through the air and homes were damaged. Millions of people lost electricity, three million trees were damaged, and many were left without livelihoods or homes. And tragically, 47 people were killed, including two young school children.

Among the injured was ‘Allo ‘Allo! actor Gorden Kaye, whose skull was impaled by a loose piece of wooden hoarding that flew through the windshield of his car. He underwent emergency brain surgery to try and save his life, but his worried cast members – and the rest of the nation – had no idea if he would live or die.

Britain’s Killer Hurricane of 1990, tonight, 9.35pm on Channel 5