Is BBC Breakfast's Sian Williams next in line for Daybreak sofa?
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 6:09 PM on 22nd November 2011
She has co-hosted the BBC Breakfast programme for the last six years.
But Sian Williams could soon be sitting on ITV's Daybreak sofa if the station's executives have their way.
Ms Williams, who will be 47 next Monday, has been approached by the BBC's biggest rivals to take over from Christine Bleakly, it has been reported.
Ms Bleakley, and current Daybreak co-presenter Adrian Chiles, are leaving the show due to poor ratings.
From Breakfast to Daybreak? BBC presenter Sian Williams has been reportedly approached by rivals ITV to take over from axed Christine Bleakly
ITV bosses were said to have targeted Ms Williams because of her success in anchoring the BBC breakfast programme.
She is also said to be unhappy about relocating to Manchester and the BBC's Salford centre.
If Ms Williams took up the offer and switched channel, she could expect a far higher salary at ITV - despite the economic downturn.
Chiles and Bleakley together netted £2.8million-a-year when they first joined the Daybreak last year.
On the red sofa: Ms Williams has presented BBC Breakfast for six years, first alongside Dermot Murnaghan and now with Bill Turnbull, left
Ms Williams, who has three sons and a daughter, has been a fixture of BBC Breakfast since 2005.
She presented first alongside Dermot Murnaghan before Bill Turnbull stepped into the role.
It would be a major coup if ITV were successful in luring Ms Williams away.
Brave face: Current Daybreak presenters Adrian Chiles, left, and Christine Bleakley, right, are leaving the show due to poor ratings
Wake up! Chiles and Bleakley were both poached from the BBC's One Show last year to present the now ailing breakfast programme
Viewing figures for Daybreak fell to 700,000 under Chiles and Bleakley, while BBC Breakfast currently attracts more than 1.5 million viewers.
One of Ms Williams' colleague said: 'ITV want someone who is equally at home grilling major figures as well as handling the more trivial topics that light up the early morning viewing.
'They believe they may be able to tempt her to join them because her life revolves around London and the BBC programme team is due to move to Salford in the not too distant future.'
A spokesman for BBC Breakfast said: 'This is a personal matter for her.'
Meanwhile Eamonn Holmes has fuelled rumours he could be set to take over from Childs on the Daybreak show.
The TV presenter, 51, admitted he'd like to be considered.
