EXCLUSIVE: Capital Breakfast star on early mornings, holidays and missing out as Strictly Come Dancing host.12:09, 27 Jun 2026She's one of the most recognisable voices on UK radio, waking up millions every morning on Capital Breakfast. But when Siân Welby sat down with OK!, the presenter is refreshingly honest about the daily juggle behind the cheery 6am voice.‌"I do a very mad job," she laughs. Siân, 39, and her fiancé, radio producer Jake Beckett, 33, welcomed their first child – a daughter, Ruby, in June 2024, and the toddler has transformed Siân's world into one of pickups, drop-offs and bath-time routines.‌"Working in this industry requires you to be spontaneous, because jobs come in last-minute, interviews change, timings change. So I'm trying to balance a lot of plates," explained Siân, who is also a presenter on ITV's This Morning.‌"You're constantly trying to have some form of schedule. It's really hard. Hats off to any single parent – I don't know how they do it, because if it wasn't for my other half and his family helping us, it would be borderline impossible."When Ruby was born, Jake – who met Siân while he was working at Heart Radio – took the lion's share of the leave so Siân could return to work.‌"I took three months off and then he took the rest of my time off, which dads can do. Not many people know that you can split maternity leave," she said. "He took a year off, basically, to look after Ruby, and I kept my jobs down to a minimum so I could also have that time with her. We just shared it, and it's been a real team effort."Like many working parents, she sometimes feels guilty about not spending enough time with her daughter."I think every mum does [feel guilty] – and every dad, probably, as well," she says. "But I've stopped being so hard on myself, because I think if you're getting any sort of guilt, it's because you are a good parent. You're worrying because you care.‌"It's when I miss bedtime and bath time because I've got an evening event that I feel a bit sad, because I actually miss her, and that's our quality time together."With a 4am alarm and a packed diary, downtime is relished. "By the time I've finished my day's work, I'm picking up Ruby, then we're doing the bedtime routine. I finally sit down at eight and watch a bit of telly – but I need to be in bed before nine, so I don't get a lot of downtime. It's very precious to get a little hour of telly."‌When she does switch off, she goes all in. "I've just binge-watched Rivals — I totally blasted through that," she added. "I love the drama. I love that it's about the industry I work in, so I can relate to a lot of it. And I've always got some sort of true crime on the go."But a scheduled routine has cost her the live-in-the-moment attitude that used to come so naturally. "I've always wanted to book a flight spontaneously and have that 48-hour window of just going, yeah, let's just do this!" she said. "Being a mum, my life has become very regimented."It's a far cry from her early days. Siân got her break as a Channel 5 weather presenter in 2010, going viral for her pun-packed forecasts, before moving into radio with her own evening show on Heart in 2017 and joining Capital Breakfast in 2020.‌"When I started presenting, I didn't have a holiday for four years because I was so paranoid I'd be abroad when a good job came in," she admitted. "But I've done 15 years now. The people I work with know I'm a hard worker. So now when I go on holiday, I really do switch off. I even put my WhatsApp on out-of-office – which you can do, by the way!"This summer, the family are planning to go to Mallorca – one of Siân's favourite spots, and proof that becoming a mum has changed her travel habits in more ways than one.‌"I always used to book an adults-only hotel, and now I'm having to brave the child-friendly resort," she said. "I love a quick flight and knowing you can get good weather in under two hours – especially travelling with a toddler, because that can be hell."With both Siân and Jake juggling demanding careers and a two-year-old, date nights have taken a back seat. "That is the thing that definitely gets neglected," Siân explained. "You realise as mums and dads you need not just a night off, you need the full night — you need the sleep as well! Otherwise you end up snapping at each other over something silly."The couple, who got engaged in August 2023 during a boat trip in Crete, are in no rush to plan their wedding. "Not at the minute, no — but not in a bad way," she confessed. "There's just other things that have taken priority. Weddings are very expensive, and I'd really want to go for it. So we're just waiting for the right time."‌What she is hungry for is the next big career chapter. In recent months, Siân spoke openly about wanting to bag the Strictly Come Dancing presenter role after long-time hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman stood down last year.She told us she was part of the BBC's audition process – and got as far as doing a screen test. "A show like that would be a presenter's dream," she said. "I'm ready for someone to take a bit of a chance on me."When she lost out to TV presenter Emma Willis, comedian Josh Widdicombe and former Strictly pro dancer Johannes Radebe, Siân took an admirably level-headed approach. "I'm very much at peace with these things," she continued. "I just think it wasn't my job in the first place – and I was lucky to even be in the mix. When it is my turn, it will be."‌As well as hoping to host a shiny Saturday-night show, she'd love to write a sitcom one day about working in radio. Recently, she ticked off a Hollywood credit, voicing an inflatable flamingo in the new Toy Story. "I've got three words: 'Isn't she swell?'" she laughed. "Even though it's only three words, it's going on the CV. I'm in the credits. That'll do!"Siân is trying to get more relaxed about ageing as she approaches 40 this September. "I used to dread it because in my industry, you feel the pressure to stay young forever," she said. "But it's taken me a long time to get to where I am, so it's realistic that I'm coming up to 40."She steers clear of cosmetic 'tweakments' including Botox. "I'll get a facial and go, oh my god, why don't I do this all the time? But I just don't have time!" she explained. "I'm OK with having a few lines and being able to express myself, because that is my job. I want to be able to laugh and frown and smile.Article continues below"I'm putting off the surgery side of things until I really feel like I've got to. It's not that I'm anti it at all — I think everyone should do what they want to do. But until I get the jump scare in the mirror, I'm trying to hold out a little bit."Besides, ageing has given her something her youth never could: confidence. "I've had imposter syndrome along the way," she added. "I'll never think I'm the best at anything, but I finally feel like I belong where I am – I know I've earned it."Drop Everything Flights live on easyJet's Inspire Me Page are available now, helping customers find flights departing within 48 hours to match travellers with destinations based on their budget, trip type and how long they want to go for, so customers can browse last minute summer flights just like Siân