Tom Williams (presenter)

{{Short description|Australian television personality and radio presenter}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Tom Williams

| image = Tom Williams 2013.jpg

| caption = Williams at the 2013 APIA International

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1970|10|16|df=y}}

| birth_place = Sydney, Australia

| nationality = Australian

| death_date =

| death_place =

| education =

| occupation = Television and radio presenter, real estate agent

| alias =

| title =

| years active = 2000–present

| URL =

}}

Thomas Williams (born 16 October 1970, in Sydney) is an Australian television personality and radio presenter.

Williams had previously been a co-host of The Daily Edition and a long-time presenter for the Seven Sport team.

Career

Williams graduated from the Jesuit St Aloysius' College and worked as a construction worker, model and competed in surf lifesaving championships. One of Williams' first appearances on television was in the video clip of Melissa Tkautz's debut song "Read My Lips".

The turning point in Williams' life occurred in 2000, when he phoned into a radio show hosted by comic duo Merrick & Rosso. His style interested them so much that he was given a regular segment on the show, which eventually led to an on-air role as a builder on the Seven Network renovation show Room for Improvement.{{cite news|url=https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/radio/a-phone-call-into-merrick-and-rossos-radio-show-changed-tom-williams-life/news-story/035036239082007039198cc27ecef85a |title=A phone call into Merrick and Rosso's radio show changed Tom Williams' life |newspaper=News.com.au |date=3 July 2019|access-date=6 February 2019|last1=Bucklow |first1=Andrew }} This was followed by a stint as a presenter on long-running travel show The Great Outdoors in mid-2001.{{cite web|url=http://au.travel.yahoo.com/great-outdoors/team/tom-williams.html |title=Total Travel Guide – Accommodation, Tours, Flights & Maps – Totaltravel |publisher=Au.travel.yahoo.com |access-date=7 August 2014}}

Williams would go on to host, present or participate in a number of programs during the 2000s for Seven. Williams appeared on a celebrity special of The Weakest Link in which he was voted off in the first round.{{cite web|url=https://au.tv.yahoo.com/the-daily-edition/video/watch/29225185/australias-favourite-villain/#page1|title=Australia's favourite villain|publisher=The Daily Edition|work=Yahoo!7|date=10 August 2015|access-date=10 August 2015}} In 2005, Williams hosted the fifth season of The Mole – The Amazing Game; however some fans called for the return of former host, Grant Bowler. With the new series, Williams brought the concept of live eliminations, from the Seven Network's Martin Place studios in Sydney.

In 2005, Williams was one of several Seven Network celebrities who starred in Dancing with the Stars. In the show's finale, Williams danced shirtless with partner Kym Johnson and he was voted the winner. During his time at The Great Outdoors and over the course of the series Williams emerged as sex symbol.{{Cite web|url=http://www.hottestontv.com.au/index.php?section=celebs&profile=383&letter=T&sort=firstname|title=Hottest on TV – the Entertainment Magazine}}

He joined Seven Sport in 2008 as a roving reporter for the Beijing Olympics and would continue in this role to date, showcasing the colour and features at other network events including the Australian Open. In April 2009, Williams relieved as sport presenter on Nova 969 during Merrick & Rosso with Kate Ritchie, whilst Marto was having surgery.

In 2010, Williams co-hosted Australia's Greatest Athlete with Mark Beretta on the Seven Network and also co-hosted No Leave, No Life with Rachel Finch. In March 2011, Williams joined Classic Rock FM presenting Saturday mornings with Kate Mac.{{cite web|url=http://mumbrella.com.au/tom-williams-enters-the-classic-rock-garden-41127 |title=Tom Williams enters the Classic Rock garden |publisher=Mumbrella |date=9 March 2011 |access-date=7 August 2014}} In June 2013, Williams was announced as co-host of a new afternoon entertainment program, The Daily Edition alongside Sally Obermeder, Kris Smith and Monique Wright.

In December 2018, Williams announced his resignation from the Seven Network. He switched careers to real estate in 2019.{{cite news|url=https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/tv-presenter-tom-williams-surprise-career-switch/news-story/5ceb6c613e327029d2db950c97cf8dbd |title=TV presenter Tom Williams' surprise career switch |newspaper=News.com.au |date=5 February 2019 |access-date=6 February 2019}} After six months at LJ Hooker Avnu, Williams quit the Mosman estate agency.{{Cite web|url=https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/forward-planning/advice-and-hot-topics/celebrity-property-news/102621-tom-williams-departs-lj-hooker-avnu-mosman.html|title=Tom Williams departs LJ Hooker AVNU Mosman|website=www.propertyobserver.com.au|date=12 August 2019|access-date=29 August 2019}}

In 2020, Williams appeared in the sixth season of the Australian version of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!.{{cite web|last=Whitehead|first=Mat|title=I'm A Celebrity 2020: Meet The Celebs Heading Into The Jungle|url=https://10daily.com.au/entertainment/tv/a200103qhjcg/im-a-celebrity-2020-meet-the-celebs-heading-into-the-jungle-20200105|date=5 January 2020|publisher=10 Daily|access-date=8 January 2020}} In June, Williams briefly returned to the Seven Network to present the final three episodes of The Daily Edition following Ryan Phelan's dismissal from the network.{{cite web|url=https://7news.com.au/entertainment/tv/the-daily-editions-sally-obermeder-addresses-former-co-host-ryan-phelans-assault-allegations-c-1118863|title=The Daily Edition's Sally Obermeder addresses former co-host Ryan Phelan's assault allegations|publisher=Seven News|first=Alex|last=Chapman|date=23 June 2020|access-date=23 June 2020}}

Williams has also been a regular contributor to entertainment and lifestyle website Live4 since 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.live4.com.au/author/tom-williams/|title=Tom Williams|publisher=Live4|access-date=7 August 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813041522/http://www.live4.com.au/author/tom-williams/|archive-date=13 August 2014}}

Since 2020, Williams has been an operating partner of Australian property technology company Asset Reports.{{Cite news|last=Usher|first=Anna|date=2 April 2021|title=Mosman local Tom Williams returns to Dancing With the Stars|work=Mosman Collective|url=https://www.mosmancollective.com/latest/2021/4/2/mosman-local-tom-williams-returns-to-dancing-with-the-stars|access-date=7 April 2021}}

In February 2021, it was announced Williams is a contestant on Seven's Dancing with the Stars: All Stars.

Television

Room for Improvement
The Great Outdoors (2001) as Presenter
The Weakest Link (celebrity TV special) as Contestant
The Mole (2005) as Host
Dancing with the Stars (2005) as Contestant
Seven Sport (2008-current) as Roving reporter
Australia's Greatest Athlete (2010) as Co-host
No Leave, No Life (2010) as Co-host
The Daily Edition (2013) as Co-host
I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! (2020) as Contestant (Season 6)
The Daily Edition (2020) as Presenter (3 final episodes)
Dancing with the Stars: All Stars (2021) as Contestant

Radio

Nova 969 (2009) as Sport presenter (during Merrick & Rosso)
Classic Rock FM (2011) as Co-host

Personal life

In February 2012, Williams announced his engagement to fashion designer Rachel Gilbert.{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/tom-williams-and-rachel-gilbert-engaged/news-story/fb2c2b5551b1dacf02282d8ed6f7c09c|title=Williams to wed fashion designer|date=28 February 2012|website=www.heraldsun.com.au}}

In July 2013, Williams announced on The Daily Edition that his wife Rachel was pregnant with their first child. On 8 January 2014, Rachel gave birth to a daughter.