Robert Peston’s tragic marriage to wife who died too young

Though political editor Robert Peston might seem a consummate professional on-air, the star has been dealing with a secret heartache since in 2012.

’s Political Editor and host of his own show Peston, Robert, 64, found love with his wife Siân Busby in the nineties, officially tying the knot in 1998. The pair had known each other since they were teenagers, but lost touch until Robert’s sister Juliet found herself in hospital after a car crash.

While they were apart, Siân had already been married once and welcomed a son, Simon, with her first husband, who Robert later decided to adopt.

Explaining their romance in a 2008 interview with The Telegraph, Robert said: “I was immature, not ready to settle down and had spent too many years as a sort of Lothario. She married somebody else. I was a bit cross with myself because I had always recognised that this was something quite special.”

Siân, meanwhile, recalled of going to visit Juliet: “I started going to see her with photographs to talk about our school days and help her piece her memory back together. Robert was often there at the same time, but I was feeling so low that I didn’t think he – so handsome, so successful – could possibly be interested in me.”

He branded his love for writer and filmmaker Siân a “fantastically romantic story”. But tragedy struck four years later, when Siân died from lung cancer, leaving behind their sons Max and Simon.

Robert took a leave of absence from his TV jobs at the time, with the confirming: “It is with great sadness that we can confirm that Robert Peston’s beloved wife Sian Busby has passed away after a long illness. Our thoughts are with him and his family at this tragic time.

“Robert will take a short leave of absence from the to return at a later date. We ask that you respect his and his family’s privacy at this difficult time.”

In 2018, Robert started a relationship with fellow journalist Charlotte Edwardes, but admitted he felt “guilt” at finding love again after the loss of his wife.

Charlotte (pictured below) had no idea who Robert was when they first met, as she was busy parenting her three children during his rise to fame. He explained she is nothing like the “predatory” women who followed his career obsessively, explaining she was “not remotely interested in me as a widower or because of what I do for a living”.

But Robert keeps his late wife close, and even finished typing up the novel Siân had been working on before her death, A Commonplace Killing, which was posthumously published in 2014.

Speaking about finishing the book, he told the Radio Times: “My motive was selfish: I wanted to keep talking to her. I still do. The tears could not be staunched as I read, deciphered and typed. Foggy-brained, the transcription was spoilt by spelling mistakes and typographical errors. All mine. Siân’s prose was as pellucid and accurate as ever. And brave.

“Here she was, all hope lost of reprieve from the lethal cancer, reflecting on what it is like to know that death awaits on the morrow.” He said Siân’s cancer became “excruciating and wholly incapacitating” – but she “never despaired or resorted to self-pity”, despite numerous “emergencies” that punctuated their lives.

Further tragedy struck, however, when the family home was burgled and his wife’s jewellery was stolen – launching an appeal to see them returned. Robert tweeted: “Burgled last night. My beloved late wife’s 1920’s engagement & wedding rings taken. Naive to think they might turn up, but…”

The stolen jewellery included a 1920s platinum and diamond engagement ring, and a plain wedding ring that belonged to Robert’s grandmother. A Cariad ring – named after the Welsh word for love – was also taken, and a “Mum” necklace given to Siân by her son Max.

Robert said: “It’s an incredibly distressing time, especially so soon after losing Siân. It’s not about the monetary value, it’s about the sentimental value. The rings are irreplaceable and they mean a lot to me.