TV Presenter Hid Baby News From Bosses

This Morning presenter Sian Welby has revealed she concealed her early pregnancy from television bosses, fearing she would be perceived as an inconvenience. Welby, who was expecting her first child with fiancé Jake Beckett, deliberately kept her condition quiet when she began her new role at ITV in January 2024. She explained on the Mum's The Word podcast that she wanted her initial weeks in the job to be solely about her capability as a presenter, not about her pregnancy.

After her 20-week scan, Welby disclosed her pregnancy to both her ITV and Capital Radio employers. She found them to be entirely understanding, yet her internal anxieties persisted. She worried about the additional expense of a replacement presenter and felt like a burden. This experience led her to reflect on the broader issue of how expectant parents are treated at work, stating that despite procreation being a fundamental human act, a stigma remains and it's often viewed negatively in a professional context.

Welby, inspired by her childhood idol Cat Deeley, pursued a presenting career from a young age. Her path was not without challenges, as she juggled presenting gigs with retail work for many years. She has also presented the National Health Lottery Draw. Reflecting on lottery winnings, she expressed a desire to do something impossible without significant funds, perhaps even buying a pet giraffe.