Former newsreader Dr Sian Williams – who has pursued a career in psychology in more recent years – hosted BBC Breakfast alongside the likes of the late Bill Turnbull until 2012

Former BBC Breakfast host Dr Sian Williams has spoken about the impact that the role had on being a parent.

Sian, now 60, fronted the BBC morning show from 2001 to 2012 and worked with the likes of the late Bill Turnbull as a co-host. The former newsreader, who is now a psychologist, however left when it relocated from London to Salford.

She reflected on her time as a presenter on the show whilst a guest at the TRIC Awards’ Christmas lunch earlier this month. Sian, who has five children, including a stepdaughter, suggested that the early morning starts affected her life.

As reported by the Sun, Sian said at the event: “When I was on Breakfast I was getting up at 3.30am and getting home around just after 4pm. You know that feeling of jet lag when you get up really early, if you’ve got a flight to catch or something like that – you can feel like that a lot.” She added: “As I’ve got five kids, I wasn’t the best of mums for a good few hours and I would always be in bed before they were.”

Sian has two children from her marriage to Neale Hunt, with them parents to Joss, 33, and Alex, 30. She also has two kids with Paul Woolwich, whom she married in 2006, with them parents to Seth, 18, and Eve, 15. And she’s a step-parent to Paul’s daughter Emily, 26, from a previous relationship.

Over the course of her career, Sian has worked on shows like the One Show and presented for BBC News. She joined BBC Breakfast in 2001 but it was announced in 2011 that she would be leaving upon its relocation, with her family cited as a motivation behind her not moving with the show.

Sian Williams spoke about her time on BBC Breakfast whilst at the TRIC Christmas lunch recently ( 
Image:
Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

The psychologist and former newsreader hosted the BBC show from 2001 to 2012 ( 
Image:
Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Sian said in a statement shared by BBC News at the time: “Sadly, family reasons mean I can’t move to Salford with the programme next year. My son will be in the middle of A-level exams, another will have just started school and our family also needs to be close to elderly parents in the South East.”

She later fronted two series of Sunday Morning Live for the BBC, before presenting 5 News from 2016 until she left in 2022. Sian now hosts the podcast Life Changing on BBC Radio 4 as well as Classical Unwind for BBC Radio 3.

Sian has pursued opportunities in psychology over the years and gained a psychology doctorate in 2021. Upon her departure from 5 News, she said: “Broadcasting and psychology are, in some ways, complimentary – in both jobs we’re helping people tell their stories and giving them a voice. I’m excited about continuing to combine these elements, in new and different ways, while also delivering psychological support where it’s most needed.”