Sian Williams: 'I'll read the news nude'

Sian Williams has threatened to appear on air nude.

The BBC newsreader is angry that she is not allowed to claim tax relief on her work clothes, the Daily Mail reports.

She reportedly said that she would be happy to "read the news naked" and explained that she is forced to spend £4,500 a year on her appearance because of her job.

Williams has allegedly been fighting Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs for five years over the issue, but the organisation has denied her claims because it is "impossible to divide the business and private benefit of such expenditure".

However, Williams said that wearing the same outfits could mean she loses her job and added that the money she spends on her appearance - including £975 on haircare, £3,200 on clothing and £325 on laundry - should qualify for tax relief.

Her representative said: "It is part of the appellant's job, like an actor, to 'appear' and to be 'seen' on screen. If the appellant wore the same clothes frequently when appearing on television, she would lose her job. The appellant would be prepared to wear no clothing when performing her job but is required to do so by her employer."

Meanwhile, in a statement HMRC said: "The clothing in this case is everyday clothing, there is nothing about the clothing that restricts the use of any particular outfit only to work, and the appellant has not established that there is any contractual requirement for the expenditure."

Williams's representative downplayed the claims that the star would read the news naked.

"This was a comment by Sian's representative, who was trying to explain the case," the spokesperson explained. "There is no danger of her actually presenting naked."