Inside Springwatch star lolo Williams’ life off-screen: From wife Ceri and their two children to deadly health scare as presenter airs new BBC2 show

Iolo Williams returns to television on Monday with his four-part series Iolo’s Valleys.

The show, which first aired on BBC Wales in May, is now on BBC Two at 7pm. The series follows the wildlife presenter as he explores areas in and around the Swansea Valley.

In the opening episode, 61-year-old Iolo travels along the Upper Clydach River in search of a dipper’s nest hidden under an overhanging rock.

As the series progresses, viewers can expect to see Iolo encounter a black-tailed scorpion, voles, a buzzard and adders sunbathing next to a rugby club in the central valleys.

Iolo is best known for his work on the BBC programmes The Watches, Winterwatch, Springwatch and Autumnwatch. Since 2019 he has been a regular presenter of this popular nature series.

However, last year he was forced to step down as presenter of Springwatch after suffering a heart attack during a 10k run in the countryside.

IOLO WILLIAMS CAREER

Iolo is best known for his work on BBC’s The Watches, Winterwatch, Springwatch and Autumnwatch, (L-R) Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan, Iolo Williams and Gillian Burke in BBC show Springwatch

Iolo has been a regular face on TV since the 1990s, starting his media career on BBC Two’s Visions of Snowdonia. The show chronicled the lives of six people who lived and worked on the country’s highest mountain.

The 61-year-old, who grew up in Wales, spent 15 years at the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds as a Species Officer before becoming a presenter.

However, when a second series of the BBC Two programme was commissioned in 1999, Iolo decided to leave the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and focus fully on a career in the media.

Since turning full-time he has presented programmes including Canals of Wales with Iolo Williams, Iolo’s Natural History of Wales, Wild Wales, Rugged Wales and Great Welsh Parks.

In addition to his successful career on television, Iolo has also published several books and has five titles to his name.

His published books include Blwyddyn Iolo (2003), Crwydro (2004), Wild about the Wild (2005), Wild Places Wales (2016) and Wild Places UK (2019).

The 61-year-old, who grew up in Wales, spent 15 years at the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds as a Species Officer before becoming a presenter

Last year he was forced to withdraw from presenting Springwatch after suffering a heart attack during a 10km run in the countryside.

IOLO WILLIAMS’ WOMAN

Iolo is married to Ceri Williams and the couple have two children, Dewi and Tomos.

They also have two shelter dogs, Ianto and Gwen, both of whom have appeared in a number of his shows.

Iolo and his wife live near the town of Newtown, Powys and the couple have a vegetable garden where they grow their own vegetables.

However, the two prefer to keep their private lives out of the media.

IOLO WILLIAMS’ HEALTH SCARE

Iolo surprised his followers in May 2023 when he revealed that he had suffered an ‘unexpected’ heart attack, causing him to retire from the nature programme

The Springwatch presenter was forced to pull out of the series after suffering serious complications following his operation to insert a stent into an artery

Iolo surprised his followers in May 2023 when he revealed that he had suffered an “unexpected” heart attack, forcing him to withdraw from the wildlife program.

The Springwatch presenter was forced to pull out of the series after suffering serious complications following an operation to insert a stent into an artery.

The treatment involves inserting a short, mesh-like tube that acts as a scaffold, called a stent, to widen and open the narrowed or blocked arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle.

According to the NHS, the procedure carries risks including damage to the arteries, allergic reactions and heavy bleeding.

He told his followers: ‘I had a heart attack and it came very unexpectedly.’

‘I keep fit, I’ve been playing rugby since I was 45 and I run two to three times a week.’

In April, Iolo had a stent placed, but complications with a blood clot forced him to withdraw from nature lovers’ favorite nature program.

He said at the time: ‘My death has been grossly exaggerated; thanks to wonderful friends, a fantastic family and the excellent NHS.’