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 (2016–2022) BBC (1985–2015, 2022–present) |
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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. 1991–2006) Paul Woolwich
(m. 2006) |
| Children | 4 |
Sian Mary Williams (born November 28, 1964) is a Welsh journalist and TV presenter. She is also a counselling psychologist.
From 2001 to 2012, Sian was a regular presenter for BBC Breakfast. She also presented many main news shows 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. In March 2022, it was announced that Sian would leave her daily presenting role. She shared that she wanted to spend more time helping people with psychological support.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Sian Williams was born in Paddington, London. Her parents were from Wales, and she grew up in Eastbourne, East Sussex. Her mother, Katherine Rees, was from Llanelli. She moved to London to train as a nurse. Sian's father was from Swansea and worked as a journalist. Sian has two younger twin brothers.
She earned a degree in English and history from Oxford Brookes University. She also studied journalism at the University of Rhode Island. In 2012, Sian started studying psychology. She earned a master's degree from the University of Westminster. In 2021, she received a doctorate in Counselling Psychology from City, University of London.
Sian's Career in Media
Sian Williams started working at the BBC in 1985. She began as a reporter and producer for local radio stations. These included stations in Liverpool, Sheffield, Leeds, and Manchester. From 1990 to 1997, she was an editor for popular radio shows like The World at One.
Before BBC News 24 launched in 1997, Sian joined 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 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. She worked there for almost two years.
In 1999, Sian joined Six O'Clock News as a special reporter. She became a relief presenter for the show. In 2001, she became the main Friday presenter. She also presented the BBC One weekend news bulletins.
Sian joined BBC Breakfast in January 2001 as a relief presenter. She often filled in for other presenters. In 2004, she covered for a main presenter during maternity leave. She also reported from places like Sri Lanka and Pakistan after major earthquakes.
In May 2005, she became the main female presenter of BBC Breakfast. She worked with Dermot Murnaghan and later Bill Turnbull. Sian left BBC Breakfast in March 2012. This was when the show's team moved to Salford. In 2012, she rejoined BBC Radio 4 to co-present Saturday Live.
Sian has also presented other 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 an interview series for BBC One Wales.
In June 2014, Sian became the new presenter of Sunday Morning Live. This BBC One show discusses religious and ethical topics. She presented the show for two series.
In November 2015, Sian announced she was leaving the BBC. She became the new main presenter of 5 News. Her first 5 News show was on January 4, 2016. From 2017 to 2021, she co-presented Save Money: Good Health on ITV. She also hosted Secrets of your Supermarket Food on Channel 5.
Since 2021, Sian has presented "Mind Matters with Dr Sian" on 5 News. This is a weekly segment about mental health. It helps raise awareness about topics like autism, ADHD, anxiety, and depression. In March 2022, it was announced she would leave her daily presenting role at 5 News. However, she continues to host "Mind Matters."
In 2022, Sian became the new presenter of BBC Radio 4's Life Changing program. This show started in October 2022. In November 2023, Sian was a contestant on Richard Osman's House of Games.
Sian Williams is a registered counselling psychologist. She is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council.
Other Achievements
Sian was the president of TRIC (Television and Radio Industries Club) from 2008 to 2009. She won the Best Presenter award in 2012 and 2013. In July 2012, she became an Honorary Fellow of the University of Cardiff. In 2017, she received the title of Doctor of Arts from Oxford Brookes University. This was for her great work in academic excellence.
In 2016, Sian's book Rise: Surviving and Thriving after Trauma was published. The book talks about dealing with difficult times.
Personal Life
In February 1991, Sian married Neale Hunt. They had two sons together. After their divorce, Sian married Paul Woolwich in 2006. They have two more sons and a stepdaughter. Sian lives in Goudhurst, Kent.
Sian ran the 2001 New York City Marathon. She had to recover in the hospital for several days afterwards. After a break from running, she completed the Virgin London Marathon in 2013 and 2018.
In November 2010, Sian learned something interesting about her family. While filming for the BBC show Coming Home, she found out she was the first person in her family to be born outside Wales in 350 years.
Health
In May 2016, Sian shared that she had breast cancer. She had surgery called a double mastectomy. She told Woman and Home magazine that she was diagnosed in 2014, just after her 50th birthday. She thought she was healthy because she ate well and exercised. Her biggest fear was not seeing her two youngest children grow up.
Shows Sian Has Presented
- 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
