David Yelland (journalist) - Personal Life

Personal Life

He married Tania Farrell in January 1996 at City Hall, New York City, but the couple divorced in 2004. Their son, Max, was born in August 1998. Tania died from breast cancer in September 2006.

Yelland is now married to Charlotte Elston, director of communications at BBC Worldwide. They announced the birth of their child, Yelland's second, in The Times on September 30, 2012, a daughter and 'sister for Max.'

Yelland said in 2009 that he checked into rehab for alcoholism in 2005, since when he has not drunk alcohol. He said his novel was written both for children and adults, and a further theme is that of a young boy who has lost his mother. The book is dedicated to the memory of Tania and to Max.

Yelland was adopted at birth by Michael and Patricia Yelland of York. He has a younger brother, Paul. Yelland subsequently traced his birth father, an Irish peace campaigner and folk singer named John Sheridan. Yelland's natural mother was a children's writer from Harrogate, who died before he could meet her. In childhood he suffered alopecia and after wearing a series of wigs decided to go without when he was 31 and living in New York.

He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He is a board member of the NSPCC and in 2007 was appointed a Life Patron of the charity. He supports Manchester City. He was a board member of the National Campaign for the Arts from 2010 to 2012. He became a Trustee of Action on Addiction in 2012. He has been a Patron of the National Association for Children of Alcoholics (Nacoa) since 2010.