Vogue Williams

Vogue Williams
Williams in 2014
Born (1985-10-02) 2 October 1985
Dublin, Ireland
Occupations
  • Media personality
  • presenter
  • model
Years active2010–present
Television
Spouses
(m. 2012; div. 2017)
(m. 2018)
Children3
Relatives

Vogue Williams (born 2 October 1985) is an Irish media personality, presenter and model. After appearing on the reality series Fade Street (2010–2011), she went on to participate in the Australian version of Dancing with the Stars in 2012, as well as appearing on Stepping Out in 2013 and winning the first series Bear Grylls: Mission Survive in 2015. She also fronted several documentaries for RTÉ and presented on Heart FM, before going on to host several podcasts including My Therapist Ghosted Me alongside Joanne McNally, as well as her own titled Never Live It Down and Vogue & Amber which she co-hosts alongside her sister. In 2025, she appeared in the 25th series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, finishing in tenth place.

Early life and education

Williams was born on 2 October 1985 in the Rotunda Hospital, Dublin while her parents were living in nearby Portmarnock.[1][2][3] Her parents, Sandra and former car salesman Freddie,[4] separated when she was seven, and her father died in 2010. She is the youngest of three siblings, after brother Frederick and sister Amber; she also has two half-siblings.[5][6]

Williams attended the all-girls Santa Sabina Dominican College in Sutton. After securing her Leaving Certificate, at the insistence of her property-developer stepfather Neil Wilson (who is best-known for establishing the IT company Datalex), she took her degree in construction design and management at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen.[7]

Career

Williams' public career began in November 2010, in an Irish reality TV series Fade Street, which followed the lives of four Irish women in Dublin. The episodes included Vogue's work at Stellar Magazine, her acting studies and her interest in disc jockeying. In April 2012, Williams appeared as a contestant on the twelfth series of Dancing with the Stars in Australia, partnered with Christopher Page; they were the third couple to be eliminated from the competition. In 2013, Williams and Brian McFadden took part in the ITV celebrity dancing competition Stepping Out,[8] finishing in second place.

On 4 February 2015, Williams was confirmed to be participating in the ITV reality series Bear Grylls: Mission Survive which started airing on 20 February 2015.[9] She won the show on 3 April 2015, beating Kelly Holmes and Mike Tindall.[10][11][12][13] In December 2015, Williams appeared alongside Brian McFadden in a celebrity episode of Catchphrase. On 21 June 2016, she was a guest panellist on an episode of Loose Women. On 30–31 October 2016, she was a guest on Celebrity Haunted Hotel on W.[14]

Williams presented her own four-part series called Vogue Williams – On the Edge, in which she investigated issues affecting the lives of fellow "millennials", for example drugs, social anxiety, gender dysmorphia and obsessiveness around 'the body beautiful'.[15] She was to take part in the fourth series of The Jump on Channel 4 in February 2017, but pulled out due to injury sustained whilst training. She was replaced by Amy Willerton.[16]

In June 2017, in the wake of terrorist attacks in Manchester and London, Williams wrote an opinion piece for the Sunday World entitled "Internment camps are grim necessity", which called for the establishment of internment camps for the detention without trial of "3,000 [Muslim] extremists living in the UK".[17][18] She acknowledged that internment in Northern Ireland didn't work but that terrorists today could not be negotiated with.[17][18] Donald Clarke of The Irish Times criticised her views as "illogical, totalitarian and profoundly sinister" and compared them to Breitbart and UKIP.[18] He pointed out that internment in Northern Ireland drove Irish Republicans away from negotiation.[18] He also criticised some response to her column as "predictably patronising, borderline sexist".[18] Williams later said she had made a mistake and apologised for her stance, saying she had written it when she was frightened and angry and that her advocacy of internment was misguided.[17] She also said she had received death threats.[17]

In March 2020, Williams became the new host of Sunday Breakfast on Heart FM.[19] In September 2021, she became the presenter on the Virgin Media One talent show The Big Deal.[20] In November 2021, she was announced as the host of a new virtual reality show called Send Nudes: Body SOS, about peoples' decisions relating to planned plastic surgery,[21] which ran on E4 in 2022.[22] Since 2021, Williams has appeared in numerous adverts for Fairy, including for their laundry capsules and scent boosters.[23][24]

Williams began presenting the Spooked Ireland series, which premiered on UK television in September 2023, following its earlier Irish launch.[25][26] In December 2024, she was a contestant on that year's Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special, initially partnered with Carlos Gu until he was forced to withdraw due to injury, she was paired with Gorka Márquez and they danced a Jive to "Rockin' Robin scoring 33 points.[27]

Personal life

In May 2011, she began dating former Westlife singer Brian McFadden. Their engagement was announced on 12 January 2012 and they were married on 2 September 2012 in Florence, Italy. In June 2015, Williams purchased an apartment in Howth, near Dublin.[28] On 7 July 2015, Williams and McFadden announced that they were separating after three years of marriage.[29][30][31][32] The couple divorced in 2017.[33]

Williams became engaged to reality television star Spencer Matthews in January 2018;[34] Williams and Matthews married on 9 June 2018.[35] The couple have a son born in 2018,[36] a daughter born in 2020[37] and a son born in 2022.[38] Their first two children were christened Church of England, while the third was christened Catholic.[39]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2010–2011 Fade Street Cast member 2 series [40]
2011 Blow Up The Liffey Bridges! Molly Carroll A play performed in the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin [41]
2012 Dancing With the Stars Contestant Season 12 [42]
2013 Stepping Out Contestant Finished in second place with Brian McFadden [43]
2013 Reality Bites: Vogue Does Home and Away Presenter RTÉ2 series special about the 25th anniversary of Home and Away [44]
2014 Vogue Does the Afterlife Presenter Aired on 18 December 2014 on RTÉ2 [45]
2015 Bear Grylls: Mission Survive Contestant Series 1 winner [46]
2015 Vogue Does Straight A's Presenter RTÉ2 documentary about revisiting the Leaving Cert examination [47]
2015 Vogue Williams – Wild Girls Presenter 3-part RTÉ2 series looking at women in prison, female fighters and sex "swinging" [48]
2015–2025 Lorraine Guest Several episodes [49]
2016 Vogue Williams – On the Edge Presenter 4-part RTÉ2 series looking at transgender issues, bodybuilding, catfishing and drugs [50]
2016–2025 Loose Women Guest panellist 6 episodes [51]
2016 Celebrity Haunted Hotel: Live Participant 1 episode [52]
2017 Partners in Rhyme Guest 1 episode [53]
2018 Celebrity Mastermind Contestant 1 episode [54]
2018–2019 Getaways Co-presenter BBC Northern Ireland series [55]
2019 Your Face or Mine? Contestant, alongside husband Spencer Matthews Series 6 Episode 1 [56]
2020 Tipping Point: Lucky Stars Contestant 1 episode [57]
2021 The Big Deal Presenter Aired on Virgin Media One
2022 Send Nudes: Body SOS Presenter E4 series [58]
2023 Joanne & Vogue’s Sex Drive Co-presenter; alongside Joanne McNally E4 series [59]
2023 Spooked Ireland Presenter Paranormal investigation; series 1 [26]
2024 Richard Osman's House of Games Contestant Series 8, Week 1 [60]
2024 Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special Contestant 2024 Christmas Special [61]
2025 Renovation Rescue Co-host With Luke Mabbott [62]
2025 Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie Kitty Fridge (voice) Film role; UK version [63]
Im A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here Contestant 10th place
Gladiators Celebrity Special Christmas 2025 Contender [64]

References

  1. ^ Pope, Conor. "St Patrick's Day live". The Irish Times. The Irish Times. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  2. ^ "Vogue Williams". Maxim Australia. 18 April 2012.
  3. ^ "Vogue Williams: 'Everyone thinks I made up or changed my name and I'm actually called Vogue!'". independent.ie. 4 April 2015.
  4. ^ "'This is a posh Irish accent' – Vogue Williams explains how she and husband Spencer Matthews had similar upbringings". Irish Independent. 17 February 2019.
  5. ^ "Spencer Matthews talks son Theodore's relationship with Pippa Middleton and James' son Arthur". 19 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018. Theodore recently got a second brand new baby cousin to play with after Vogue's brother welcomed a son only a few weeks ago
  6. ^ Fitzpatrick, Gillian (4 April 2015). "Vogue Williams: 'Everyone thinks I made up or changed my name and I'm actually called Joanne!'". Irish Independent. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  7. ^ Williams, Vogue (28 September 2017). Everything: Beauty. Style. Fitness. Life. Hachette UK. pp. 2–11. ISBN 9781473649330. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  8. ^ "Stepping Out line up revealed".
  9. ^ "Vogue wins Bear Grylls: Mission Survive". Digital Spy. 3 April 2015.
  10. ^ "Jamelia for Bear Grylls' Mission Survive". Digital Spy. 2 February 2015.
  11. ^ "Bear Grylls stars in Mission Survive on ITV".
  12. ^ "Getting wild: Vogue Williams drinks her own pee on Bear Grylls". evoke.ie. 9 March 2015. Archived from the original on 30 June 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  13. ^ "You'd hardly blame Vogue Williams for breaking down on TV with this celebrity survival challenge". evoke.ie. 7 February 2015. Archived from the original on 1 July 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  14. ^ "Jamelia among guests at the Celebrity Haunted Hotel this Halloween".
  15. ^ "Vogue Willams-On The Edge". Archived from the original on 2 June 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
  16. ^ "Vogue Williams pulls out of The Jump as she becomes first casualty of 2017 show". The Irish News. 3 February 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  17. ^ a b c d Kelly, Aoife (11 June 2017). "'I made a mistake and I'm sorry but the reaction I got - death threats - doesn't promote debate' - Vogue Williams on internment comments". Sunday Independent. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  18. ^ a b c d e Clarke, Donald (6 June 2017). "Vogue Williams is not an idiot, she's a sinister totalitarian". The Irish Times. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  19. ^ "Heart weekend radio changes as Vogue Williams joins". Radio Today. 26 March 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  20. ^ "First look at Virgin Media's new show hosted by Vogue Williams". Independent.ie. 14 June 2021. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  21. ^ Freeth, Becky (18 November 2021). "Vogue Williams will present a show about people deciding to have cosmetic surgery". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  22. ^ Golby, Joel (27 August 2022). "Send Nudes: Body SOS – the jaw-droppingly odd show where people turn their naked bodies into CGI". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 June 2023. Vogue Williams-fronted E4 show ... there is no more proof that I am in an imagined world of my own mania than "Send Nudes: Body SOS"
  23. ^ "Vogue Williams' strict rules she's enforcing with Spencer Matthews' kids - exclusive". Hello!. 12 November 2024. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  24. ^ "Vogue Williams: 'I Was Fat Shamed Before I Was Pregnant, And I Was Skinny Shamed Afterwards'". Grazia. 12 July 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  25. ^ "Spooked Ireland premiers in the UK on Friday, Sept 29th on @reallytvchannel and @discoveryplusuk". Instagram. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  26. ^ a b Miller, Adam (29 September 2023). "Vogue Williams: 'I signed up for something that left me crippled with fear'". Metro. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  27. ^ "Vogue Williams is the third celebrity contestant confirmed for Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special 2024". BBC. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  28. ^ "It's a big day': Vogue Williams and Brian McFadden buy Dublin house". evoke.ie. 23 June 2015. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  29. ^ "Shock as Vogue Williams and Brian McFadden announce split". evoke.ie. 7 July 2015. Archived from the original on 10 July 2015. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  30. ^ "Black day at the races for recently separated Vogue Williams". evoke.ie. 13 July 2015.
  31. ^ "'I haven't had the best year' Vogue Williams admits she's struggling since split". evoke.ie. 9 November 2015. Archived from the original on 30 June 2017. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  32. ^ "Vogue Williams gets winter ready and shows off enviable bod after strict retreat". evoke.ie. 18 November 2015. Archived from the original on 30 June 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  33. ^ "Williams' anxiety at its worst after McFadden divorce". RTÉ News. 26 May 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  34. ^ Vogue Williams and Spencer Matthews announce engagement featuring bizarre The Lion King musical proposal Irishmirror.ie 1 February 2018
  35. ^ "See the incredible Scottish estate where Spencer Matthews and Vogue Williams said 'I do'". Hello!. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  36. ^ "Spencer Matthews and Vogue Williams welcome birth of their son". 5 September 2018.
  37. ^ "Vogue Williams and Spencer Matthews have welcomed a baby girl". Cosmopolitan. 23 July 2020.
  38. ^ "Vogue Williams and Spencer Matthews welcome arrival of third baby – see photo and exclusive quote". Hello!. 20 April 2022.
  39. ^ "Vogue Williams: 'Two of my kids are Protestant and one is Catholic'". Belfast Telegraph. 23 September 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  40. ^ Hillyer, Hannah (9 September 2021). "Vogue Williams opens up about how Fade Street affected her early career". VIP Magazine. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  41. ^ "Ticketmaster.ie - Blow Up The Liffey Bridges!".
  42. ^ "Vogue quicksteps off Dancing With The Stars". Irish Independent. 7 May 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  43. ^ "The Rise and Fall of Brian McFadden and Vogue Williams: 2011 - 2015". Irish Independent. 9 July 2015. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  44. ^ "Vogue is happy to be closer to home". RTÉ. 8 August 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  45. ^ "One step beyond: Vogue Williams does the afterlife". Irish Independent. 15 December 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  46. ^ "Is Vogue Williams a born survivor?". ITV. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  47. ^ "'Vogue Does Straight A's' documentary review - 'Vogue's look at the Leaving Cert was steeped in idiocy'". Irish Independent. 28 May 2015. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  48. ^ "Vogue's Wild Girls review: 'One of the most sensitively handled interviews I've ever seen with a condemned person'". Irish Independent. 28 November 2015. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  49. ^ "Vogue Williams guide to layering!". ITVX. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  50. ^ Fetherston, Sinann (8 November 2016). "Vogue's On the Edge over Controversial topic". RTÉ. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  51. ^ "Vogue visits Loose today!". ITV. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  52. ^ Postans, Adam (5 November 2016). "Celebrity Haunted Hotel was frightful - for all the wrong reasons". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  53. ^ "BBC One - Len Goodman's Partners in Rhyme, Series 1, Episode 5". BBC. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  54. ^ "BBC Two - Celebrity Mastermind, 2017/18, Episode 7". BBC. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  55. ^ "BBC One - Getaways - Vogue Williams". BBC. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  56. ^ Guide, British Comedy. "Your Face Or Mine: Series 6, Episode 1". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  57. ^ "Tipping Point: Lucky Stars - Series 6, Episode 4". ITV. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  58. ^ "E4 to use state of the art virtual reality to explore body image". channel4.com/press. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  59. ^ "Vogue Williams and Joanne McNally hit Ibiza to explore their sexual boundaries in new E4 show". channel4.com/press. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  60. ^ "BBC Two - Richard Osman's House of Games, Series 8, Week 1: Monday". BBC. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  61. ^ "Vogue Williams on Strictly Christmas special: 'I'm not a good dancer but will try my best'". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 22 December 2024. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  62. ^ "Channel 4's Renovation Rescue to return with new hosts Vogue Williams and Luke Mabbott". channel4.com/press. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  63. ^ "Vogue Williams set for voice role in Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie". Irish Independent. 26 September 2025. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  64. ^ "Gladiators Celebrity Special Christmas 2025 contenders reveal which Gladiators they wouldn't want to face and the events they think they'll be best at". bbc.co.uk/mediacentre. Retrieved 9 December 2025.