Shân Cothi

Shân Margaretta Morgan (born 25 October 1965), known professionally as Shân Cothi, is a Welsh singer-songwriter, television and radio presenter.

Cothi was born in Ffarmers, Carmarthenshire, the younger of two children of Dai and Joan Morgan.

She was known locally as "Shân y Gof" ("Shân the Blacksmith") owing to her father's job as a blacksmith.

Cothi adopted her stage name when she was one of two Shân Morgans competing in the Cardigan Eisteddfod as a child.

She later graduated in music and drama from Aberystwyth University and subsequently trained to become a music teacher at secondary level.

She has since been honoured with fellowships from both Aberystwyth University and the University of Wales, Lampeter.

Cothi began her teaching career as Head of Music at Caereinion High School in Llanfair Caereinion, before moving to Ysgol Gymraeg Ystalyfera Bro Dur in Ystalyfera.

Cothi then took early retirement to concentrate on her singing career.

In 1995 she won the Blue Riband prize at the Abergele National Eisteddfod which prompted her to turn professional.

Between 1998 and 1999, Cothi presented her own self-titled television series for S4C which ran for two series.

It won a BAFTA Cymru award and was nominated for the best music programme at the Montreaux Festival.

Between 2000 and 2001, Cothi played the role of Carlotta in The Phantom of the Opera, from Andrew Lloyd Webber's production.

She performed at Her Majesty's Theatre in London's West End; a role she held for fifteen months with critical acclaim.

Cothi's soprano voice has made way to an array of opportunities for the singer, and has performed and travelled throughout the world in a variety of venues.

Ranging from the Royal Albert Hall in London, to the Kowloon Shangri-La in Hong Kong, China.

For three series, Cothi presented her own classical music show, Cothi's Classics for BBC Radio Wales.

Between 2005 and 2008, Cothi played the role of Davina Roberts, the conductor of "Côr Meibion Gwili" in Con Passionate, a Welsh language drama series on S4C.

The show was a success; it won several BAFTA awards and won first prize at the Rose d'Or awards, the first Welsh language programme to do so.

It ran for three series.

In 2008, Cothi participated in the Faenol Festival, dueting with Sir Bryn Terfel and Michael Ball in front of 10,000 people.

Between 2009 and 2012, Cothi co–presented a documentary series for S4C with Iolo Williams, called Bro.

The series saw them travel all over Wales getting to know different areas through its people, its landscape and its history.

It ran for three series.

In 2009, Cothi presented her own self-titled Saturday night musical entertainment show.

The six-part series ran for one series.

In 2010, Cothi co–presented Y Porthmon with Ifan Jones Evans.

The week long program broadcast live programmes reenacting and celebrating the journey of the last drover in Wales.

It returned in 2011 with both presenters.

The second series followed Y Goets Fawr ("The Stagecoach") which saw both presenters travel from Oswestry along the historic route from London to Holyhead, stopping for an evening of entertainment at five places along the way.

In 2012, Cothi co–presented Y Sipsiwn with Ifan Jones Evans.

The series highlighted the Gypsy community, its traditions, music and culture, and the persecution and prejudice they endured.

Both presenters travelled across Wales and followed the old Welsh Romany gypsy route from Llangrannog to Rosebush.

In 2012, Cothi also presented Llais i Gymru, a Welsh–language singing competition with the aim of finding Welsh musical stars.

It ran for one series.

In 2014, Cothi was cast as Mrs Nellie Lovett in the musical Sweeney Todd, alongside Sir Bryn Terfel for the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

Since 2014, Cothi has presented her own Welsh Language morning program Bore Cothi on BBC Radio Cymru.

The show usually aired every weekday between 10:00AM and 12:00PM, but was moved an hour later due to the spread of COVID-19.

Meaning fewer presenters are required in the studio throughout the course of the day.

The new slot has since been made permanent on Radio Cymru.

She later reprised the role in 2018 when Angelika Kirchschlager fell ill and had to cancel.