S4C: Former ITV comedy boss Sioned Wiliam to head up Welsh language channel

February 29, 2024

A former head of comedy at ITV has been named interim chief executive of Welsh language channel S4C.

The appointment of Sioned Wiliam comes after ex-chief executive Sian Doyle was sacked in November, following a report into allegations of a "toxic culture" at the public service broadcaster.

Ms Doyle's husband Rob said she was admitted to hospital in December after her dismissal.

The probe by law firm Capital Law found Ms Doyle's leadership style to be "dictatorial" and "creating a culture of fear".

But Ms Doyle's husband said the report was "heavily biased" and its framing was "cruel".

The channel's former chief executive has previously claimed she suffered "a sustained pattern of retaliation, unfair treatment, and wider bullying" at the hands of S4C's chairman, Rhodri Williams - allegations he denies.

A new chair of S4C's unitary board is expected to be appointed over the coming months by Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer.

That's after Mr Williams announced he would not seek re-appointment at the end of his current term.

A committee of MPs had previously called on the UK government to appoint a new chair.

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Sioned Wiliam has previously served as BBC Radio 4's comedy commissioner as well as a programme producer at production companies Talkback and Hat Trick.

She will join S4C part-time in March, before taking on full-time duties from April.

S4C's unitary board, which made the appointment, said her main responsibility will be to lead S4C's action plan, that aims to "restore the trust" of staff and the creative sector by looking at the leadership, culture, HR policies and procedures, and governance of the organisation.

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