Williams, Hollins Quits BBC Breakfast

BBC Breakfast presenters, Sian Williams and Chris Hollins, will not move to Salford next year.

Both decided for personal reasons not to make the move.

Sian said “‘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.

”I’ve been very privileged to spend the past decade on the sofa as the viewers’ representative, asking the questions they want answered, whether it’s to the Prime Minister or a Hollywood film star, and I’m looking forward to using those skills in fresh challenges elsewhere in the BBC.”

46 per cent of the BBC Breakfast team, including presenters Bill Turnbull and Susanna Reid, have confirmed that they will move to Salford Quays in Spring 2012.

Helen Boaden, Director, BBC News said: “The move of Breakfast is another important step in marking the BBC’s commitment to expand its presence beyond London

“I am delighted that so many staff have decided to make the journey with a programme that is one of the great success stories of the past 10 years. I am sure it will go from strength to strength in its new home.”

The BBC announced last year that its flagship early morning breakfast show would be broadcasting from the MediaCityUK complex from 2012.