Gethin Jones | |
|---|---|
 Jones in 2024 | |
| Born | Gethin Clifford Jones (1978-02-12)12 February 1978 (age 47) Cardiff, Wales |
| Occupation | Television presenter |
| Years active | 1990s–present |
| Television | Blue Peter (2005–2008) Remembrance Week (2010–present) 71 Degrees North (2010) Daybreak (2011–2014) Holding Out for a Hero (2011) |
| Website | Official website |
Gethin Clifford Jones (born 12 February 1978) is a Welshtelevision presenter. He was an activerugby union player while atManchester Metropolitan University and, after graduation, he began his television career onWelsh language channelS4C as a presenter ofchildren's programmes such asPopty,Mas Draw and the flagship children's entertainment showUned 5 (Unit 5, 2002–2005).
In 2005, Jones became the 31st presenter ofBBC children's programmeBlue Peter. In 2020, he began presenting the BBC1 five-mornings-a-week magazine showMorning Live, broadcast from studios inManchester. After a trial run ending in December 2020, the success of the programme has seen it commissioned as an all-year-round part of the BBC1 schedule.[1]
Jones was born on 12 February 1978 inCardiff, the son of Sylvia (née Groskop), a violin teacher, and Goronwy Jones, headteacher of Baden Powell Primary School. He has an older sister, Mererid.[2] One of his maternal great-grandfathers was aPolish-Jewish immigrant.[3][4] WithWelsh as his first language, he attended Ysgol Gynradd Coed-y-Gof andYsgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf (inLlandaff North, Cardiff) for his primary and secondary school education, respectively. Jones has Grade 8 violin and Grade 6 pianoqualifications,[5] and took part in school musicals and school and county orchestras. He took Biology, Geography and Economics atA-Levels.[6][7]
Jones had dual interests throughout school. His mother wanted him to develop his musical talents, while he enjoyedrugby union. While studying Economics and Geography atManchester Metropolitan University where he gained a2:2,[5][6] he was captain of the university's rugby first team and played in theLancashire under-21 team. At the age of 21 in his final year, Jones was offered trials bySale RFC.[6] However, he was not good enough, and he eventually set aside his plans for a professional rugby career and returned to Wales.[citation needed]
Prior to his television career, Jones worked as a bank clerk, a telephone hotline officer and as a research assistant and spent three months as a builder laying house foundations.[5] He subsequently joined Welsh channelS4C as a presenter ofchildren's programmes such asPopty (the Welsh equivalent ofTop of the Pops),[8]Mas Draw, and the flagship children's entertainment showUned 5 (2002–05).[9] In 2004, as part of a challenge on the show, he learned how to fly a plane and gained his pilot's licence.[5]
In 2003, Jones was voted Bachelor of the Year by the readers ofCompany magazine.[10]
On 26 April 2005, Jones became a presenter[11] of the children's television series,Blue Peter.[8][10] He auditioned on the same day as co-presenterZöe Salmon. During his time, Jones presented the show with Salmon,Konnie Huq,Matt Baker,Liz Barker andAndy Akinwolere. As a presenter, he took on the action/adventure role filled byJohn Noakes andPeter Duncan in the past; highlights included flying with theRed Arrows[8] and in aWorld War IISupermarine Spitfire, completing submarine escape training with theRoyal Navy,[12] surviving theBolivian jungle,[13] being attacked by an alligator inLouisiana,[14] learning to race like ajockey,[13] and fighting as asamurai warrior inJapan.[14]
In 2006, Jones became the second civilian to finish theRoyal MarineCommando 30-mile (48 km)Yomp[12] – he finished in a time of eight hours and 20 minutes.[15] He also played the violin atthe Proms with theBBC Philharmonic.[13]
On 12 February 2008, on his 30th birthday, Jones and hisBlue Peter co-presenters climbed the highest peaks in each constituent country of the United Kingdom, starting withSlieve Donard in Northern Ireland, followed byYr Wyddfa in north Wales. The following day, having travelled overnight by coach to theLake District, they climbedScafell Pike. They were then to be transported to Scotland by helicopter to climbBen Nevis, but were unable to do so because of problems with the helicopter, forcing them to land inOban. They succeeded in climbing the mountain the next day. This challenge was in aid ofSport Relief 2008.[16]
Jones announced on 8 April 2008 onBlue Peter that after three and half years with the show, he would be leaving at the end of the current series in June. His spokeswoman said he had always planned to leave when he turned 30. Jones said, "I've had a career on Blue Peter that you wouldn't even dream about and for that I feel privileged and fortunate. ... I've loved it, lived it ... and now I feel the time is right to leave it."[13][17]
Jones has been a presenter for a number of major live telecasts, includingMardi Gras in Cardiff in front of 40,000 people,Y Briodas Fawr (The Big Wedding, 2004–2005),[18] andJones Jones Jones (2006) at Cardiff'sWales Millennium Centre where the world record was broken for the biggest gathering of people with the same surname.[19] He co-presented the 2006, 2007 and 2008 New Year's Eve programmeNew Year Live onBBC One with various other presenters.[20]
On 16 February 2008, Jones began presenting a new 15-minute programme entitledE24 onBBC News withJames Dagwell.[21] Between 4 and 11 May 2008, Jones was the narrator and presenter of the 2008BBC Young Musician of the Year. The biennial music competition was held at the Millennium Centre in Cardiff, and broadcast onBBC Two andBBC Four.[22]
Jones made his radio debut onBBC Radio 5 Live on 5 July 2008,[23] presenting a three-hour Saturday morning show focusing on sport and entertainment.[24]
Jones appeared inThe National Lottery: Big 7, a live programme broadcast on BBC One on 30 August 2008 where the winners of theNational Lottery Awards 2008 were announced.[25]
Jones was one of the players for the Rest of the World forSoccer Aid on 7 September 2008 onITV. England won four goals to three.[26] Jones was again chosen to play for the Rest of the World in theSoccer Aid match on 7 June 2010. The team won 7 goals to 6 after a penalty shoot out.
On 13 September 2008, Jones presented theProms in the Park fromSingleton Park inSwansea on the BBC as part of theLast Night of the Proms programme and was one of the concerts available for viewers withinteractive television.[27]
For six weeks from 28 September, Jones presented a programme forVirgin 1 entitledGethin Jones' Danger Hunters, which featuredadrenaline junkies and their search for the ultimate thrill.[28] Jones presented aPolice Camera Action! programme about the dangers of drink driving, which was aired on 17 December 2008 on ITV1.[29]
Between 5 January and 15 April 2009, Jones hosted his first quiz show, a Welsh language rugby-themed general knowledge competition, on S4C entitledCwis Meddiant.[30] He followed this up with another quiz show onSky1 calledSell Me the Answer. Filming of the 50 episodes took place at the Fountain Studios in Wembley, North London, and the programme began airing in November 2009.[31] From 17 to 21 August 2009, Jones presentedBBC One'sThe One Show withGloria Hunniford filling in forAdrian Chiles andChristine Bleakley.[32]
In 2010, Jones presented theGolden Globes programme from the red carpet in Los Angeles on Sunday 17 January 2010 withAngela Griffin and a studio show in the UK was hosted byClaudia Winkleman. The programme was broadcast on Sky1 Movies and Sky1 Movies HD, with a résumé onSky1 at 11 pm.[33] On 12 February 2010, Jones was a guest on the WelshS4C chat showJonathan presented byJonathan Davies.[34] In 2010, Jones co-hostedITV's71 Degrees North withKate Thornton, which saw celebrities performing various tasks in the extreme weather conditions of Norway.[35]
In February 2011, Jones was a guest presenter onThis Morning withGloria Hunniford. In the autumn of 2011, Jones presentedITV gameshowHolding Out For a Hero. He also hostedRemembrance Week onBBC One that November. From 19 to 23 December, Gethin was a guest features reporter for theITV Breakfast programmeDaybreak.[citation needed]
Jones andLouise Minchin presented the documentary seriesCrime and Punishment, which aired onBBC One on 12 March 2012. On 21 May 2012, Jones joined ITV'sDaybreak full-time as a reporter. He left with the end of the show in late April 2014.[36]
In August 2014, Jones hosted the ten-part daytimeITV quiz show,The 21st Question.[37][38]
On 8 May 2016, Jones began co-presenting Sunday Morning Breakfast from 9 am to 12 noon over the summer withCaroline Flack across theHeart Network.[39] He has been a reporter forStrictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two since 2016, and guest presented two episodes on 15 and 16 November 2017, standing in forZoe Ball.[citation needed]
He took part in the 2016 Christmas special ofStrictly Come Dancing onBBC One, partnered withChloe Hewitt.[citation needed]
He presented the Hits Radio breakfast show alongsideGemma Atkinson andComedy Dave until 2019.[40]
In the autumn of 2020, Jones began presenting the daily morning magazine showMorning Live on BBC1, alongsideKym Marsh.[41][42] The series ended on 18 December 2020 and the BBC confirmed on 17 December it would return in 2021 for a second series.[43] This proved highly successful, earning larger audiences than the show's competition on ITV and thus has been commissioned to be an all-year-round, five-mornings-a-week format for BBC1 from the third series on.[1]
Jones appeared as aCyberman in a 2006 episode ofDoctor Who and as aDalek operator in the final episode in 2008.[44] He guest-starred as himself inThe Sarah Jane Adventurespilot "Invasion of the Bane" (2007).
In 2007, Jones participated in Series 5 ofStrictly Come Dancing, partneringCamilla Dallerup.[45] He came third after being voted out in a "dance-off" in the semi-final.[46] He also appeared in the programme's Christmas Special, finishing second behindDarren Gough after each couple received a perfect score.[citation needed]
Jones was one of the celebrities who took part in theStrictly Come Dancing: The Live Tour! 2009. As his partner from the television show, Camilla Dallerup was dancing withTom Chambers, Jones partneredFlavia Cacace. The tour began in Newcastle on 16 January and ended at theNational Exhibition Centre in Birmingham on 22 February 2009 with a total of 44 shows.[47] He and his dance partner achieved a total of six wins during the run of the tour.[48]
In December 2009, Jones appeared in the2009 Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special along withRachel Stevens,Ali Bastian,Ricky Whittle,Chris Hollins andAustin Healey. His partner was againFlavia Cacace. The couple were not voted into the final two, despite a score of 38 for theirAmerican Smooth. From 4 December 2009 until 10 January 2010, Jones appeared as Prince Charming in the pantomimeCinderella at theYvonne Arnaud Theatre,Guildford. In September 2010, Jones appeared as the Narrator inThe Rocky Horror Show atVenue Cymru,Llandudno.[49]
In 2012 Jones made a cameo appearance as himself in an episode of comedy dramaStella. In May 2012, Jones was an Olympic Torchbearer in the torch relay before the2012 Summer Olympics.[50] Since August 2012, Jones has been an Ambassador for the Wandsworth series of London Sky Rides.[citation needed]
In 2020, Jones appeared as a contestant onCelebrity Masterchef.[51]
In 2022, he provided presentation in televised coverage of the first visit as king ofKing Charles III to the Welsh capital on 16 September.[52][53]
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2005–2008 | Blue Peter | Co-presenter |
| 2006 | Jones Jones Jones | Presenter |
| 2006–2008 | New Year Live | Reporter |
| 2007 | Strictly Come Dancing | Participant |
| 2008 | BAFTA Cymru Awards | Presenter |
| Young Musician of the Year | Presenter | |
| BBC Radio 5 Live | Presenter | |
| The National Lottery: Big 7 | Presenter | |
| Gethin Jones' Danger Hunters | Presenter | |
| 2008–2009 | BBC Proms in the Park, Wales | Presenter |
| E24 | Presenter | |
| 2008–2010 | The National Lottery Draws | Presenter |
| 2008, 2010 | Police Camera Action! | Presenter |
| 2009 | Cwis Meddiant | Presenter |
| The One Show | Stand-in presenter | |
| 2009–2010 | Sell Me the Answer | Presenter |
| 2010 | Drop Zone | Presenter |
| 71 Degrees North | Co-presenter | |
| Golden Globes: Red Carpet | Co-presenter | |
| 2010– | Remembrance Week | Presenter |
| 2011 | This Morning | Guest presenter |
| Holding Out for a Hero | Presenter | |
| The Adventurer's Guide to Britain | Co-presenter | |
| 2011–2014 | Daybreak | Reporter |
| 2012 | Crime and Punishment | Co-presenter |
| Britain's Secret Treasures | Reporter | |
| 2014 | The 21st Question | Presenter |
| 2016 | Sunday Morning Breakfast (Heart Network) | Co-presenter |
| 2016– | Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two | Reporter & guest presenter |
| 2018–2019 | Hits Radio Breakfast Show | Co-presenter |
| 2020 | Celebrity Masterchef | Contestant |
| 2020– | Morning Live | Co-presenter |
| 2021 | A Countryside Christmas | Narrator[54] |
| 2022 | The Lord Mayor's Show | Co-presenter[55] |
| 2022– | A Countryside Summer | Narrator[56] |
| 2023 | Inside British Airways: 24/7 | Narrator[57] |
Some of the information in this table was obtained fromGethin Jones: Filmography,Internet Movie Database (IMDb), retrieved21 January 2008.
| Date(s) of appearance | Television programme or series | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Company Bachelor of the Year 2004 | Participant | |
| 25 June 2006 | Children's Party at the Palace | Julian Kirrin ofEnid Blyton'sFamous Five | |
| 13–20 May 2006 | Doctor Who "Rise of the Cybermen/The Age of Steel" | Cyberman | 2 episodes |
| 2007 | Strictly Come Dancing | Participant | Came third |
| 2007 | Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two | Guest | |
| 1 January 2007 | The Sarah Jane Adventures "Invasion of the Bane" | Himself,Cameo appearance | 1 episode |
| 5 July 2008 | Doctor Who "Journey's End" | Dalek | 1 episode |
| 7 September 2008 | Soccer Aid 2008 | Player, Rest of the World team | |
| 16 January – 22 February 2009 | Strictly Come Dancing: The Live Tour! 2009 | Participant | |
| 25 December 2016 | Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special | Participant | |
| 10–14 February 2020 | Richard Osman's House of Games | Participant | |
| 15 June 2024 | Celebrity Bridge of Lies | Participant | AlongsideAnna Haugh,Dr Ranj Singh &Briony May Williams |
| 17 January 2025 | Would I Lie To You? | Participant |
Some of the information in this table was obtained fromGethin Jones: Filmography,Internet Movie Database (IMDb), retrieved21 January 2008.
On 5 November 2008, Jones won the title of "Ultimate Hottie" byCosmopolitan magazine. He has been in contention with other similar competitions.[58]
In December 2007, Jones became romantically involved with mezzo-sopranoKatherine Jenkins.[59] They first met in 2005.[2] It was reported they met after Jenkins sang "Time to Say Goodbye" with Italian opera singerAndrea Bocelli on an episode ofStrictly Come Dancing, broadcast on 21 October 2007.[60] Jenkins's spokesman has said: "They're old friends and they've been on several dates. But people shouldn't consider buying hats just yet."[61]
In February 2011, Jones and Jenkins announced their engagement. However, on 30 December 2011, they both announced that they were going their separate ways.[62]
In 2025, Jones revealed that he had been banned from theonline dating appHinge, after moderators received complaints from over 300 women, who had incorrectly reported him for "catfishing".[63]
Jones is a keen footballer (he supports Everton FC, and hosted a 2009 DVD entitledMy Everton), tennis player and golfer.[5] He is short-sighted and wore contact lenses or glasses[6] until he underwent a laser procedure to correct his shortsightedness on 17 June 2009.[citation needed]
{{citation}}:|author= has generic name (help)[dead link]{{citation}}:|author= has generic name (help)[dead link]This is my first stab at presenting a TV quiz, but I enjoy anything that has an element of competition because I'm such a competitive person myself.;[Fixtures], Cwis Meddiant, S4C, 2009, archived fromthe original on 2 May 2009, retrieved24 April 2009