Former S4C boss Sian Doyle is rushed to hospital after ‘taking an overdose’

A TV boss sacked over bullying allegations has been rushed to hospital after “overdosing”.

Sian Doyle, the former chief executive of Welsh channel S4C, was found unconscious on Thursday morning, her husband has confirmed.

Rob Doyle said reporting the bullying allegations was “one-sided” and the “last straw” for his wife.

“My wife Sian Doyle was rushed to hospital this morning,” Mr Doyle said in a statement. “She overdosed at night and didn’t respond when I tried to wake her.”

Ms Doyle was at the center of a damning report by law firm Capital Law, which was published by S4C’s board of directors on Wednesday. It included testimony from her colleagues who were highly critical of her leadership at S4C.

Sian Doyle (pictured) failed to respond to her husband on Thursday morning after her “overdose”.

She said she did not “admit or accept” the allegations after the report was released.

In a statement sent to Newyddion S4C on Thursday through a London PR company, Mr Doyle said: “As her husband, I now have to speak on her behalf.

“Over the last 24 hours, my wife has been torn apart by the media after an exceptional 30-year international career because of a one-sided report commissioned and directed by the chairman of S4C.”

Two Capital Law lawyers spoke to 92 people who gave evidence about the atmosphere and work environment at S4C, with union BECTU saying the 56-year-old’s management style was “dictatorial, creating a culture of fear”.

The report said ten people broke down in tears while giving evidence, and another 11 said working for the broadcaster had “harmful effects on their health”.

One said: “The CEO put me in a very unpleasant position, like many other employees, I knew about it.”

“But my friends and my family were very concerned about my mental health at the time. I became very whiny. I could not sleep.

But Mr Doyle called the report “character assassination”.

Mr Doyle called the report “character assassination” and “the last straw”. Pictured: Sian Doyle at the Hay Festival in Wales in June 2022.

His statement said: “Sian was so proud to be asked to come out of retirement to lead the organization she championed as a young girl.

“But that pride turned into disappointment, and then into frustration, fear and finally despair.

“Sian talked about the chairman’s role in this, but the S4C board is also to blame; Their complete lack of concern for Xian and lack of supervision or challenge should be held accountable by the chairman.”

Mr Doyle said the way his wife was portrayed in the report “was indistinguishable from the woman I have loved for the last 37 years or the woman her friends and former colleagues know.”

He added: “This has to stop. No organization should be run this way, let alone one that is funded by public money.

“I now insist that the privacy of my wife and my family is respected so that she can hopefully recover and we can move on with our lives.”

S4C responded with a letter: “The news about Sian Doyle is very disturbing and our thoughts are with her and her family. We have offered our support to the family during this difficult time.

“We hope she makes a quick recovery and wish her all the best for the future.”

Mr Doyle also said his wife asked the UK government’s culture secretary, Lucy Fraser, to launch an independent investigation into the management of S4C, “but the secretary of state did nothing.”

When the report into the bullying allegations was published, S4C said: “We would like to apologize to those who have had to endure unacceptable behavior in the workplace and the distress this has caused.

“We would like to thank you for your openness and honesty in sharing your experiences, which brought to light the shortcomings highlighted in today’s report.”

Following her sacking, Ms Doyle said: “I am very sad to read the report on the Capital Act which has impacted S4C’s working culture. “I do not admit or accept the allegations made and they do not reflect my 30-year career in business.”

She also said she was the victim of “unfair treatment and wider bullying” by S4C chairman Rhodri Williams.

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