Glyn Wise | |
---|---|
Born | |
Occupation(s) | Television personality, Church in Wales minister |
Known for | Big Brother 7 (2006) |
Glyn Wise (born 9 January 1988) is a British television personality and Church in Wales minister from Blaenau Ffestiniog, Wales. He is best known for being the runner-up of the seventh series of Big Brother in 2006. [1]
Wise was born in Blaenau Ffestiniog to an English father and Welsh mother. His first language is Welsh, in which he often spoke to fellow Welsh-speaking Big Brother housemate Imogen Thomas. Big Brother initially told them off for doing this and banned them from doing it on the grounds that "[speaking Welsh] could be considered to be talking in code", despite Wise's protests that "Welsh is a British language". [2] The decision was overturned after backlash from viewers and Welsh language activists. Subtitles were used to translate their conversations. [3]
He attended Ysgol Dyffryn Conwy in Llanrwst, where he was head boy and missed his A-levels due to going on Big Brother. Prior to entering the House, he had hoped to study Welsh at the Bangor University. [4]
In 2003, aged 15, Wise began presenting on a BBC Radio Cymru show called Radio Blaenau. It was broadcast to listeners in Blaenau Ffestiniog every Wednesday evening. [5] Wise later worked as a swimming pool lifeguard and once claimed to have been voted "sexiest lifeguard in North Wales". He entered the House in his lifeguard attire complete with buoyancy aid. [6]
After leaving the Big Brother house, Wise was a guest on The Charlotte Church Show and BBC Two's Ready Steady Cook alongside fellow ex-housemate Jennie Corner. [7] [ better source needed ] [8] He also made appearances on numerous Welsh television programmes such as Wedi 7 and Uned 5 . [9] In October 2006, Wise became a presenter on S4C's children's slot Planed Plant , joining Alun Williams and Alex Jones on a Halloween-themed set. [10] [11]
Wise was a regular presenter on BBC Radio Cymru from 2006 until 2012. [12]
In May 2007, he launched his book, Blwyddyn Fawr Glyn Wise (Glyn Wise's Big Year, at the Urdd Eisteddfod . Edited by Beca Brown, it is autobiographical in nature, with particular emphasis on his year since Big Brother.
In September 2012, he began working as a Welsh language teacher at Ysgol Gyfun Rhydywaun secondary school in Penywaun. [13] After teaching there for two years, he became a tutor at Cardiff University, where he worked until 2016. [12]
In July 2015, Wise, a long-time supporter of Welsh nationalist party Plaid Cymru, was announced as their candidate in Cardiff Central for the 2016 National Assembly for Wales election. [14] [15] He told the Press Association: "I can relate to young people and the issues affecting them very well. Young people deserve more of a voice in politics. Plus, I've always been passionate about my country and wanted the best for Wales – as does Plaid Cymru." [16] [17] Wise finished in fourth place in Cardiff Central at the election in May 2016. [18]
Just three months later, however, he quit Plaid due to the party's support for the European Union. He tweeted, "Decided to leave Plaid Cymru today as we don't share the same vision / direction for our country any more." [19] He pledged his support for the Brexit Party at the 2019 European Parliament election. [20]
Having been a Christian since attending Sunday school as a child, Wise announced in April 2022 that he was training to become an ordained minister in the Church in Wales. He claimed that moving to China had a big impact. "When I was in Asia, particularly South Korea, I saw that Christianity was growing at a massive scale and whilst I was there I went to church and felt every sermon was basically speaking directly to me," he said. "I wanted to bring the good word back to the UK, well Wales and the Church in Wales, and now I've been fortunate enough to be accepted to go into the ordained ministry - it was a dream come true. Jesus Christ was 33 when he got crucified, and we're the same age so let's go for it." [21] [22]
Wise ran the 2022 London Marathon to raise money for the Salvation Army. He claimed that "helping The Salvation Army to be out there – ready to help people in need – is a great cause". [23]
Plaid Cymru is a centre-left to left-wing, Welsh nationalist political party in Wales, committed to Welsh independence from the United Kingdom.
Adam Robert Price is a Welsh politician who served as Leader of Plaid Cymru from 2018 to 2023. He has been the Member of the Senedd (MS) for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr since 2016, having previously been a Member of Parliament (MP) for the same Westminster constituency from 2001 to 2010.
Llanrwst is a market town and community on the A470 road and the River Conwy, in Conwy County Borough, Wales, and the historic county of Denbighshire. It developed round the wool trade and became known also for the making of harps and clocks. Today, less than one mile from the edge of Snowdonia, its main pursuit is tourism. Notable buildings include almshouses, two 17th-century chapels, and the Parish Church of St Grwst, which holds a stone coffin of Llywelyn the Great. The 2011 census gave it a population of 3,323.
Gwynfor Richard Evans was a Welsh politician, lawyer and author. He was President of the Welsh political party Plaid Cymru for thirty-six years and was the first member of Parliament to represent it at Westminster, which he did twice, from 1966 to 1970, and again from 1974 to 1979.
Rhodri Glyn Thomas is a Welsh politician. He was the Plaid Cymru National Assembly for Wales Member for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr from 1999 to 2016, when he did not re-stand for election. Following his retirement from the Assembly he was appointed President of the National Library of Wales.
This article is about the particular significance of the year 2006 to Wales and its people.
Bethan Sayed is a Welsh politician. She represented the South Wales West region for Plaid Cymru as a Member of the Senedd from 2007 to 2021.
Gareth Jones OBE is a Welsh politician. He was a member of the National Assembly for Wales for the Conwy from 1999 until 2003 when he lost by 72 votes. He sought a successful re-election to the newly created Aberconwy constituency in 2007 before retiring in 2011. He was also a Llandudno town councillor representing the Craig-y-Don ward.
Welsh independence is the political movement advocating for Wales to become a sovereign state, independent from the United Kingdom.
Elizabeth Gwendoline Nerys Evans is a Welsh politician. She was a member of the National Assembly for Wales representing Plaid Cymru in the Mid and West Wales region. She contested the Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire seat for the 2011 National Assembly for Wales elections, finishing in third place, and thus lost her seat in the Assembly. She is currently a director of the public affairs agency Deryn.
Owen John Thomas is a former Plaid Cymru politician who was a Member of the Welsh Assembly (AM) for the South Wales Central region from 1999 to 2007.
The history of the Welsh language spans over 1400 years, encompassing the stages of the language known as Primitive Welsh, Old Welsh, Middle Welsh, and Modern Welsh.
The 2007 National Assembly for Wales election was held on Thursday 3 May 2007 to elect members to the National Assembly for Wales. It was the third general election. On the same day local elections in England and Scotland, as well as the Scottish Parliament election took place. This election was preceded by the previous Assembly election in 2003.
Rhun ap Iorwerth is a Welsh journalist and politician serving as the Leader of Plaid Cymru since 2023. He has been the Member of the Senedd (MS) for Ynys Môn since 2013.
Steffan Lewis was a Welsh politician, who was elected to the National Assembly for Wales in the 2016 election. He represented the electoral region of South Wales East, as a member of Plaid Cymru.
Events from the year 2021 in Wales.
Luke Fletcher is a Welsh politician who has been a Member of the Senedd (MS) for the South Wales West region since 2021. He is a member of Plaid Cymru.
Sioned Williams is a Welsh politician and a Member of the Senedd (MS) for the South Wales West region since 2021. Williams is a member of Plaid Cymru.
Rhys ab Owen, also sometimes referred to as Rhys ab Owen Thomas is a Plaid Cymru politician. He was elected to the Senedd in the South Wales Central region in the 2021 Senedd election. ab Owen was Plaid Cymru's spokesperson in the Senedd for the constitution and justice. He is a barrister. His, father Owen John Thomas, represented the same region for the same party.
Bangor University, in North Wales, currently delivers years two to five of the C21 Medicine programme on behalf of Cardiff University. In September 2021 Welsh Government proposed that a new, independent North Wales medical school should be developed at Bangor University, a commitment that was subsequently incorporated into their Programme for Government.