Sian Williams facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sian Williams
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Williams in 2010
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| Born |
Sian Mary Williams
28 November 1964 Paddington, London, England
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| Nationality | Welsh |
| Education | City, University of London (DPsych) University of Westminster (MSc) Oxford Brookes University (BA) |
| Occupation | Journalist, presenter, Psychologist |
| Employer | Channel 5 (2016–present) BBC (1985–2015) |
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Notable credit(s)
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BBC Breakfast BBC News Your Money Their Tricks Sunday Morning Live 5 News at 5 Save Money: Good Health Supermarket Secrets Revealed |
| Spouse(s) | Neale Hunt (m. 1991–2001) Paul Woolwich
(m. 2006) |
| Children | 4 |
Sian Mary Williams (born 28 November 1964) is a Welsh journalist, TV presenter, and psychologist. She is well-known for presenting news and current affairs shows.
From 2001 to 2012, Sian was a regular presenter on BBC Breakfast. She also presented main news bulletins on BBC One. Later, she hosted Sunday Morning Live from 2014 to 2015.
From 2016 to 2022, she was the main presenter of 5 News at 5. Sian decided to leave her daily role in 2022. She wanted to focus more on her work as a psychologist. Sian is a registered counselling psychologist.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Sian Williams was born in Paddington, London. Her parents were both from Wales. She grew up in Eastbourne, East Sussex. Her mother was a nurse from Llanelli. Her father was a journalist from Swansea.
Sian has two younger twin brothers. She studied English and History at Oxford Polytechnic. This university is now called Oxford Brookes University. She also studied journalism in the United States.
Later, Sian trained in Psychology. She earned a master's degree from the University of Westminster. In 2021, she received a doctorate in Counselling Psychology. She worked in the National Health Service during her studies.
Career Highlights in Broadcasting
Sian Williams joined the BBC in 1985. She started as a reporter and producer. She worked for local radio stations in cities like Liverpool and Manchester. From 1990 to 1997, she was an editor for BBC Radio 4 programmes. These included The World at One and PM.
Becoming a TV Presenter
Before BBC News 24 launched in 1997, Sian worked as an editor. During screen tests for new presenters, she was asked to step in. Producers were very impressed with her. They offered her a main presenting slot. She presented alongside Gavin Esler.
Sian stayed with the channel for almost two years. In 1999, she joined Six O'Clock News as a special correspondent. She became a relief presenter for this bulletin. In 2001, she became the main Friday presenter. She also presented weekend news bulletins on BBC One.
Working on BBC Breakfast
Sian joined BBC Breakfast in January 2001. She started as a relief presenter. She presented with Darren Jordon and later with Jeremy Bowen. She also filled in for other news programmes.
In 2004, Sian covered for Sophie Raworth on the Six O'Clock News. She reported from Sri Lanka after the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. She also reported from Pakistan after the 2005 Kashmir earthquake.
In May 2005, she became the main female presenter of BBC Breakfast. She presented with Dermot Murnaghan and then Bill Turnbull. Sian left BBC Breakfast in March 2012. The show's team moved to Salford. In 2012, she rejoined BBC Radio 4 to co-present Saturday Live.
Other TV Programmes
Sian has presented many different types of shows. These include The One Show and City Hospital. In 2010, she was a reporter for Watchdog.
In 2013, she hosted Your Money, Their Tricks. She also presented The Sian Williams Interview for BBC One Wales. This series featured interviews with famous Welsh people.
In June 2014, Sian became the presenter of Sunday Morning Live. This show discusses religion and ethics. She presented it for two series.
Moving to Channel 5
On 5 November 2015, Sian announced she was leaving the BBC. She became the new main presenter of 5 News. Her first bulletin was on 4 January 2016.
From 2017 to 2021, she co-presented Save Money: Good Health on ITV. She also presented 'Secrets of your Supermarket Food' on Channel 5. Since 2021, Sian has hosted "Mind Matters with Dr Sian". This is a weekly segment on 5 News. It raises awareness about mental health topics. These include autism, ADHD, anxiety, and depression.
In March 2022, ITN announced Sian would leave her daily presenting role. She continues to front "Mind Matters". Sian plans to do more broadcasting projects. She also wants to spend more time giving psychological support.
In 2022, it was announced she would present Life Changing on BBC Radio 4. This show began in October. In November 2023, Sian appeared on Richard Osman's House of Games.
Other Achievements
Sian Williams was president of TRIC (Television and Radio Industries Club) from 2008 to 2009. She won the Best Presenter award in 2012 and 2013.
She became an Honorary Fellow of the University of Cardiff in 2012. In 2017, she received an honorary doctorate from Oxford Brookes University. This was for her excellent work in academics.
In 2016, Sian's book Rise: Surviving and Thriving after Trauma was published. It is about dealing with difficult experiences.
Personal Life
Sian Williams married Neale Hunt in 1991. They had two sons together. After they divorced, Sian married Paul Woolwich in 2006. They have two sons. Sian also has a stepdaughter.
Sian is a keen runner. She ran the New York City Marathon in 2001. She also completed the Virgin London Marathon in 2013 and 2018.
In 2010, Sian appeared on the BBC show Coming Home. She found out that she was the first person in her family to be born outside Wales in 350 years.
Health Journey
In May 2016, Sian shared that she had breast cancer. She had a double mastectomy. She was diagnosed in 2014, just after her 50th birthday.
Sian thought she was very healthy. She ate well and exercised regularly. Her biggest fear was not seeing her two youngest children grow up. She has spoken openly about her experience to help others.
Filmography
- City Hospital
- BBC Breakfast (2001–2012) – Co-presenter
- Watchdog (2010) – Reporter
- Crimewatch (2012, 2015) – Stand-in presenter
- Your Money Their Tricks (2013) – Co-presenter
- The Sian Williams Interview – Presenter
- Sunday Morning Live (2014–2015) – Presenter
- 5 News (2016–2022) – Anchor
- Save Money: Lose Weight (2017) – Co-presenter
- Save Money: Good Health (2017–present) – Co-presenter
- Secrets of Your Supermarket Food (2018–present) – Presenter
- Richard Osman's House of Games (2023) – Contestant
