Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Wales Online
Wales Online
Lifestyle
Stephanie Colderick

The Welsh Emmerdale and Hidden actress who could win the BBC Christmas University Challenge final tonight

A Welsh actress could help her university team to success in the final of BBC's Christmas University Challenge. Sian Reese-Williams, who has starred in Emmerdale and Hidden, is competing for the University of Hull.

The Welsh actress was born in Glanamman and grew up in Swansea and Brecon. Sian is fluent in Welsh and studied Drama at the University of Hull.

In 2008 Sian began playing Gennie Walker in the ITV soap Emmerdale and remained in the show until 2013 when her character was killed off. Sian played the adopted daughter of Brenda Walker and a love child of Shadrach Dingle, who had an affair with Gennie's birth mother, she came to the village to find out more about her birth family.

READ MORE: BBC The Apprentice: What is the start date for the 2023 series?

Siân Reese-Williams as DI Cadi John in Craith/Hidden (publicity pic)

Actress Sian was involved in some major storylines during her time on the show, most notably her dramatic departure. Sian has starred in many Welsh TV shows including the crime drama Hinterland/Y Gwyll and BAFTA award-winning 35 Diwrnod which was aired on S4C.

One of her biggest roles was as the main character DCI Cadi John in Hidden which was aired on S4C as Craith and also aired on BBC Wales and BBC Four. The third and final series of Hidden aired earlier in 2022.

Her other credits include Line of Duty, Holby City where she played tea lady Jodie and the ITV detective drama Vera. 2023 is set to be a very busy year for Sian as she is appearing in the new BBC One crime and horror series Wolf as DI Maya Lincoln and the prequel of Sexy Beast for Paramount Pictures.

Sian will be joined on Christmas University Challenge alongside other University of Hull alumni, including playwright and screenwriter James Graham, dog trainer, author and TV presenter Graeme Hall and author Katharine Norbury and she takes the role of captain. They will go head to head with a team from Balliol, Oxford.

Christmas University Challenge will air on BBC Two at 8.30pm on Friday, December 30.

READ NEXT:

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.