Television and radio presenter Sian Welby has shared a harrowing account of nearly dying while attempting the perilous Chubby Bunny marshmallow challenge during an interview with Hollywood star Timothée Chalamet. The 39-year-old host, who met the actor and his co-star Calah Lane on ITV's This Morning in 2023 to promote the film Wonka, described the terrifying incident in detail on a recent podcast episode.
A Dangerous Game with Deadly Consequences
The Chubby Bunny challenge involves participants stuffing increasing numbers of marshmallows into their mouths while attempting to speak clearly. What many consider a lighthearted party game has actually resulted in multiple tragic fatalities due to choking hazards. Welby admitted she was completely unaware of these dangers when she decided to attempt the challenge during her interview with Chalamet and Lane.
Speaking on The Capital Breakfast: After The Show, Show! podcast, Welby recounted: "Well, I told you I nearly died in front of Timothée Chalamet that time because I had too many marshmallows in my mouth." She described putting the sweet treats into her mouth while asking the actors to guess what she was saying, only to find herself in genuine distress.
Warning Viewers About the Risks
Looking directly at the camera during her podcast recording, Welby issued a stern warning: "That's dangerous you know. I'm going to say this now, I'm looking down the camera in case anyone's watching this live, never play the game." Her co-hosts Jordan North and Chris Star agreed with her assessment, describing the very idea of the challenge as "terrifying."
Welby revealed the most alarming aspect of her experience: "You know the worst thing about this was that I didn't know how deadly it was until I did nearly choke. And then afterwards I saw news articles about people that had died doing the challenge." This post-incident research into the game's history of fatalities gave her a sobering perspective on what could have been a tragic outcome.
Potential Reunion and Career Developments
When discussing potential future guests for their radio program, Welby expressed interest in reuniting with Timothée Chalamet to see if he remains as "haunted" by their marshmallow incident as she continues to be. This revelation comes amid significant career developments for the presenter, who is reportedly being considered for a major television role.
Strictly Come Dancing Hosting Speculation
According to industry reports, Welby is being seriously considered as a potential new presenter for BBC's Strictly Come Dancing. She could potentially take over from Claudia Winkleman, who departed the popular dance competition show last year alongside fellow host Tess Daly. Production executives reportedly believe Welby would be particularly well-suited for the "Clauditorium" segment, where contestants receive their scores from the judging panel.
A television insider explained: "Sian might be less well-known than other names linked with Tess and Claudia's jobs so far. But she's got everything it takes with one special ingredient—a younger audience, thanks to her job on trendy Capital FM. Her live radio experience means she's got that off-the-cuff banter that is needed in the Clauditorium down to a tee. And working on This Morning ticks all the TV boxes."
Competition for Coveted Television Roles
Welby faces significant competition for the Strictly Come Dancing hosting position, with established presenters Emma Willis and Zoe Ball also reportedly under strong consideration by BBC executives. Willis, 49, recently replaced Ball, 55, on BBC Radio 2's afternoon slot after Ball stepped down from the position after just seven months. Ball has publicly expressed interest in the Strictly hosting role, having previously presented the spin-off show It Takes Two until 2021.
An industry source revealed: "It's a straight shoot-out between Zoe, who is the front-runner, and Emma. Only one will get it, not both. The senior execs want a traditional presenter working alongside a more left-field person, a female stand-up comedian. It's felt the humour Claudia brought to the show, particularly in her 'Claudatorium', needs to carry on."
Established Media Careers
Welby is best known for presenting the Capital FM breakfast show and has served as a guest host on This Morning on multiple occasions. Meanwhile, Emma Willis maintains a prominent television career hosting programs including The Voice and Love Is Blind UK alongside her husband, Busted star Matt Willis. The speculation about Ball's potential Strictly role intensified when she announced she was stepping down from her Saturday Radio 2 slot, leaving her weekends potentially available for the coveted television position.
As Welby continues to process her frightening marshmallow experience while navigating potential career advancements, she serves as a cautionary example of how seemingly innocent challenges can have serious, even deadly, consequences. Her warning to audiences about the Chubby Bunny game's dangers underscores the importance of understanding risks before attempting viral trends, particularly those involving physical challenges with documented safety concerns.
