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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.

Early life

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 " could be considered to be talking in code", despite Wise's protests that "Welsh is a British language". The decision was overturned after backlash from viewers and Welsh language activists. Subtitles were used to translate their conversations.

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.

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. 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.

Career after Big Brother

Television and radio

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. He also made appearances on numerous Welsh television programmes such as Wedi 7 and Uned 5. 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.

Wise was a regular presenter on BBC Radio Cymru from 2006 until 2012.

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.

Teaching and lecturing

In September 2012, he began working as a Welsh language teacher at Ysgol Gyfun Rhydywaun secondary school in Penywaun. After teaching there for two years, he became a tutor at Cardiff University, where he worked until 2016.

Politics

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. 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." Wise finished in fourth place in Cardiff Central at the election in May 2016.

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." He pledged his support for the Brexit Party at the 2019 European Parliament election.

Church in Wales

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."

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". He did it again in 2024 in aid of two North Wales churches.

References

1. Lawson, Mark (19 August 2006). "Big Brother – does anyone really still watch it? Yes, one in four of us actually". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
2. "Big Brother and Westminster both ban Welsh". WalesOnline. 20 May 2006. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
3. Rogers, Jude (21 June 2006). "Llook who's talking". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
4. Bloom, Adi (23 June 2006). "Big Brother's Glyn absent for A-levels". Tes Magazine. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
5. "Final broadcast for Radio Blaenau". 4 April 2007 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
6. "Glyn's a star after taking BB silver". North Wales Live. 18 August 2006. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
7. Boyle, Catherine (28 February 2007). "Big Brother 7 - Where are they now?". Daily Express. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
8. "Big Brother 7's Glyn and Jennie-Part 1/3". Ready Steady Cook – via YouTube.
9. Price, Karen (29 May 2007). "Big Brother changes you, says Glyn". Wales Online. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
10. "BB Glyn looks to kick-start new career". Wales Online. 31 October 2006. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
11. "Glyn joins S4C for some half-term fun". Wales Online. 31 October 2006. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
12. ^ Williamson, David (18 April 2016). "Assembly election 2016: Who is standing in Cardiff Central?". WalesOnline. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
13. "Big Brother's Glyn Wise gets a new job as Welsh teacher at secondary school". BBC News. 5 July 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
14. Wightman, Catriona (21 July 2015). "Big Brother's Glyn Wise has become a politician". Digital Spy.
15. Mears, Tyler (19 July 2015). "Big Brother's Glyn Wise to stand for Plaid Cymru". WalesOnline. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
16. Hartley-Parkinson, Richard (6 April 2016). "Remember this Big Brother contestant? You'll never guess what he's up to now". Metro. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
17. Bartlett, Evan (7 April 2016). "Glyn Wise from Big Brother 7 looks a lot older now and is into his politics". indy100. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
18. https://business.senedd.wales/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=254
19. Shipton, Martin (25 August 2016). "Former Big Brother contestant Glyn Wise quits Plaid Cymru – because they back the EU". WalesOnline. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
20. Wise, Glyn (23 May 2019). "Today is the day for a #Brexit victory. Of you believe in democracy and want to carry out the will of the British public, vote for the @brexitparty_uk today. Every vote counts people" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
21. Owen, Cathy; Evans, Matthew (5 April 2022). "Big Brother runner-up Glyn Wise is now planning on becoming a priest". North Wales Live. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
22. "From Big Brother to 'y Bod Mawr': Glyn Wise accepted for Ordained Ministry with the Church in Wales". Nation.Cymru. 4 April 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
23. Hope, Simon (29 September 2022). "The London Marathon: running on a prayer". Salvationist. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
24. Evans, Arron (7 April 2024). "Ex- Big Brother star Glyn Wise is taking on London Marathon". North Wales Chronicle.

• Living people
• 1988 births
• Big Brother (British TV series) contestants
• Plaid Cymru parliamentary candidates
• Welsh Christians
• British Christians
• Welsh people of English descent
• Welsh radio personalities
• British radio personalities
• Welsh-speaking clergy
• Welsh television presenters
• British television presenters
• People from Blaenau Ffestiniog