Alex Jones (presenter)
Encyclopedia
Charlotte Alexandra "Alex" Jones (born 18 March 1977) is a Welsh
television presenter
, from Ammanford, best known for co-presenting BBC's The One Show
since August 2010.
, West Wales
, and has a younger sister Jennie. Their first language at home was English
, but Alex was educated at a Welsh-medium
school, and is now fluent in both English and Welsh. After training as a ballet
dancer as a child, Jones studied theatre, film and TV at the University of Aberystwyth, sitting her finals exams in Magaluf
, Spain
while appearing as a contestant on Davina McCall
's Sky One
show Prickly Heat!.
, and she then joined S4C
as a presenter on singing programme Cân i Gymru
. (A Song for Wales) Jones developed a speciality presenting Welsh-language children's programmes on S4C, including Hip neu Sgip?
and Salon, alongside occasional appearances on mainstream British television, including Channel 4
's RI:SE
.
Jones currently presents S4C travel show Tocyn (Ticket) on S4C with Aled Samuel, the extreme sports show Chwa, and was part of the crew on Jonathan Davies' Welsh-language rugby
show Jonathan for the 2010 Six Nations Championship
. Jones is a regular co-host on Real Radio GMG
in Wales.
On 25 July 2010, Jones was announced as the new female co-host on BBC One
's The One Show
, replacing Christine Bleakley
alongside male co-host, Jason Manford
.
She replaced Claudia Winkleman
as a co-presenter of Let's Dance for Comic Relief
for the competition's third series in February 2011.
She formed part of the BBC
team for The Royal Wedding 2011
on 29 April 2011, reporting from Catherine Middleton's hometown.
She presented the United Kingdom's points in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011
.
. In the launch show, on 10 September, she was partnered with James Jordan
.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
television presenter
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
, from Ammanford, best known for co-presenting BBC's The One Show
The One Show
The One Show is a topical magazine-style daily television programme broadcast live on BBC One and BBC One HD, hosted by Alex Jones and Matt Baker. Chris Evans joins Jones to present the programme on Friday...
since August 2010.
Early life
Jones was born Charlotte Alexandra Jones in Ammanford, CarmarthenshireCarmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire is a unitary authority in the south west of Wales and one of thirteen historic counties. It is the 3rd largest in Wales. Its three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford...
, West Wales
West Wales
West Wales is the western area of Wales.Some definitions of West Wales include only Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire, an area which historically comprised the Welsh principality of Deheubarth., an area called "South West Wales" in the Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics....
, and has a younger sister Jennie. Their first language at home was English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, but Alex was educated at a Welsh-medium
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
school, and is now fluent in both English and Welsh. After training as a ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
dancer as a child, Jones studied theatre, film and TV at the University of Aberystwyth, sitting her finals exams in Magaluf
Magaluf
Magaluf is a major holiday resort on the Spanish island of Majorca, primarily catering for the British, German and Scandinavian package holiday market. Magaluf is in the municipality of Calvià and is situated within a group of towns, primarily Torrenova and Palma Nova...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
while appearing as a contestant on Davina McCall
Davina McCall
Davina McCall is an English television presenter and actress, most notable as the presenter of the UK version of Big Brother up until its move to Channel 5.- Early life :...
's Sky One
Sky One
Sky1 is the flagship BSkyB entertainment channel available in the United Kingdom and Ireland.The channel first launched on 26 April 1982 as Satellite Television, and is the fourth-oldest TV channel in the United Kingdom, behind BBC One , ITV and BBC Two...
show Prickly Heat!.
Career
On graduation Jones became a television researcher, but after being sacked twice was asked by a producer at Avanti productions to take a try in front of the camera. Her first presenting job was for BBC ChoiceBBC Choice
BBC Choice was a BBC TV station which launched on 23 September 1998 and closed on 9 February 2003. It was the first British TV channel to broadcast exclusively in digital format, and was the first new channel from the BBC since BBC Two launched in 1964...
, and she then joined S4C
S4C
S4C , currently branded as S4/C, is a Welsh television channel broadcast from the capital, Cardiff. The first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking audience, it is the fifth oldest British television channel .The channel - initially broadcast on...
as a presenter on singing programme Cân i Gymru
Cân i Gymru
Cân i Gymru is a Welsh television show broadcast on S4C annually. It was first introduced 42 years ago when BBC Cymru wanted to enter the Eurovision Song Contest. It usually takes place at Afan Lido in Port Talbot. It has taken place every year except 1973...
. (A Song for Wales) Jones developed a speciality presenting Welsh-language children's programmes on S4C, including Hip neu Sgip?
Hip neu Sgip?
Hip neu Sgip? is an S4C room makeover television programme for children. It is shown on the Welsh-language children's television programming opt-out, Stwnsh.-History:...
and Salon, alongside occasional appearances on mainstream British television, including Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
's RI:SE
RI:SE
RI:SE was a breakfast television show made by Princess Productions in collaboration with BSkyB for Channel 4 in the UK. It was scheduled to replace The Big Breakfast after declining ratings. It launched on 29 April 2002...
.
Jones currently presents S4C travel show Tocyn (Ticket) on S4C with Aled Samuel, the extreme sports show Chwa, and was part of the crew on Jonathan Davies' Welsh-language rugby
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
show Jonathan for the 2010 Six Nations Championship
2010 Six Nations Championship
The 2010 Six Nations Championship, known as the 2010 RBS 6 Nations due to the tournament's sponsorship by the Royal Bank of Scotland, was the 11th series of the Six Nations Championship, an annual rugby union competition between the six major Northern Hemisphere rugby union national teams...
. Jones is a regular co-host on Real Radio GMG
Real Radio (Wales)
Real Radio Wales is a Regional Radio station owned and operated by GMG Radio and forming part of the Real Radio network. The station broadcasts from studios at Morganstown in Cardiff on various FM frequencies, DAB via the MXR Severn Estuary multiplex and across the UK on digital satellite TV...
in Wales.
On 25 July 2010, Jones was announced as the new female co-host on BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
's The One Show
The One Show
The One Show is a topical magazine-style daily television programme broadcast live on BBC One and BBC One HD, hosted by Alex Jones and Matt Baker. Chris Evans joins Jones to present the programme on Friday...
, replacing Christine Bleakley
Christine Bleakley
Christine Louise Bleakley is a television presenter from Northern Ireland. She joined Daybreak on ITV as co-presenter with Adrian Chiles in September 2010...
alongside male co-host, Jason Manford
Jason Manford
Jason John Manford is an English comedian, television presenter and actor.- Early life :Manford was born to an Irish family in Salford, Greater Manchester, a son of Sharon , who is a Catholic and Ian Manford. He grew up in poverty in a terraced house in Manchester...
.
She replaced Claudia Winkleman
Claudia Winkleman
Claudia Anne I. Winkleman is an English television presenter, film critic, radio personality and journalist.- Early life and family :...
as a co-presenter of Let's Dance for Comic Relief
Let's Dance for Comic Relief
Let's Dance for Comic Relief is a British television programme shown on BBC One, featuring celebrities performing famous dance routines to raise money for the charity Comic Relief. The programme is currently presented by Steve Jones and Alex Jones, who replaced previous host Claudia Winkleman in...
for the competition's third series in February 2011.
She formed part of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
team for The Royal Wedding 2011
Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton
The wedding of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine Middleton took place on 29 April 2011 at Westminster Abbey in London. Prince William, the eldest son of Charles, Prince of Wales, first met Catherine Middleton in 2001, when both were studying at the University of St Andrews. Their...
on 29 April 2011, reporting from Catherine Middleton's hometown.
She presented the United Kingdom's points in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011
Eurovision Song Contest 2011
The Eurovision Song Contest 2011 was the 56th annual Eurovision Song Contest and was won by Eldar & Nigar performing "Running Scared" for Azerbaijan. The event took place in the Esprit Arena in Düsseldorf, Germany, following Germany's win in the previous year...
.
Strictly Come Dancing
On 6 September 2011 it was announced that Jones would take part in the 2011 series of Strictly Come DancingStrictly Come Dancing (series 9)
The ninth series of Strictly Come Dancing began on 10 September 2011 with a Launch Show, and the live shows started on 30 September and 1 October 2011. The show was broadcast from Wembley Arena on 19 November with all proceeds going to the BBC charity, Children in Need...
. In the launch show, on 10 September, she was partnered with James Jordan
James Jordan (dancer)
James Jordan is a British ballroom dancer and choreographer. His dance partner is wife Aleksandra "Ola" Jordan, with whom he turned professional in 2000.-Dancing career:...
.