Gethin Jones facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gethin Jones
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Jones in 2024
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Gethin Clifford Jones
12 February 1978 Cardiff, Wales
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| 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) |
Gethin Jones (born 12 February 1978) is a famous Welsh television presenter. He is well-known for hosting many popular TV shows. You might know him best from the children's programme Blue Peter. He also presents the BBC show Morning Live.
Before becoming a TV star, Gethin was a keen rugby union player. He played rugby while studying at Manchester Metropolitan University. After university, he started his TV journey on the Welsh language channel S4C. There, he hosted children's shows like Popty and Uned 5.
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Early Life and Education
Gethin Clifford Jones was born in Cardiff, Wales, on 12 February 1978. His mum, Sylvia, taught the violin, and his dad, Goronwy, was a headteacher. Gethin has an older sister named Mererid.
Welsh was Gethin's first language. He went to Welsh-speaking schools for both primary and secondary education. He was very musical, playing both the violin and piano. He even took part in school musicals and orchestras!
Gethin also loved rugby. While at Manchester Metropolitan University, he studied Economics and Geography. He was captain of the university's rugby team. He even played for the Lancashire under-21 team. At 21, he had a chance to try out for a professional rugby team, but it didn't work out. So, he decided to focus on other paths.
Becoming a TV Star
Before his TV career, Gethin had a few different jobs. He worked at a bank, on a phone hotline, and even helped build houses. But his big break came when he joined the Welsh channel S4C.
He became a presenter for children's shows. These included Popty, which was like the Welsh version of Top of the Pops. He also hosted Mas Draw and the main children's entertainment show Uned 5 from 2002 to 2005. As part of a challenge on Uned 5, he learned to fly a plane and got his pilot's licence!
In 2003, a magazine called Company voted Gethin "Bachelor of the Year".
Blue Peter Adventures
On 26 April 2005, Gethin joined the famous children's TV show, Blue Peter. He became the 31st presenter of the show. He worked alongside other presenters like Zöe Salmon and Konnie Huq.
On Blue Peter, Gethin was known for his exciting adventures. He flew with the Red Arrows and in a World War II Supermarine Spitfire. He also did submarine escape training with the Royal Navy. He survived in the Bolivian jungle and even faced an alligator in Louisiana! He learned to race like a jockey and fought like a samurai in Japan.
In 2006, Gethin completed a tough challenge. He finished the Royal Marine Commando 30-mile (48 km) Yomp. He finished it in just eight hours and 20 minutes! He also played the violin at the Proms with the BBC Philharmonic orchestra.
On his 30th birthday, 12 February 2008, Gethin and his Blue Peter co-presenters took on a huge challenge. They climbed the highest mountains in the UK! They started with Slieve Donard in Northern Ireland, then Snowdon in Wales. The next day, they climbed Scafell Pike in England. Finally, they climbed Ben Nevis in Scotland. This amazing challenge helped raise money for Sport Relief 2008.
Gethin announced on 8 April 2008 that he would be leaving Blue Peter. He had been on the show for three and a half years. He said he felt lucky to have had such an incredible career on the show.
Other Presenting Roles
After Blue Peter, Gethin continued to present many big live TV events. He hosted Mardi Gras in Cardiff for 40,000 people. He also co-presented the New Year Live show on BBC One several times.
In 2008, Gethin presented E24 on BBC News. He also narrated and presented the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition. He even started presenting a Saturday morning show on BBC Radio 5 Live.
Gethin played for the Rest of the World team in the Soccer Aid charity football matches in 2008 and 2010. These matches raise money for UNICEF.
From 2009 to 2010, Gethin hosted his own quiz show on Sky1 called Sell Me the Answer. He also filled in as a presenter on BBC One's The One Show.
In 2010, Gethin co-hosted ITV's 71 Degrees North. This show saw celebrities doing tasks in the freezing conditions of Norway. He also presented Remembrance Week on BBC One.
From 2011 to 2014, Gethin was a reporter for ITV's Daybreak. In 2014, he hosted another ITV quiz show called The 21st Question.
Since 2016, Gethin has been a reporter for Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two. He has also guest presented the show. In 2016, he took part in the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special.
In 2020, Gethin started presenting the daily morning show Morning Live on BBC1. He hosts it with Kym Marsh. The show has been very successful and is now a regular part of the BBC1 schedule.
Other Appearances
Gethin has also had some fun acting roles. He appeared as a Cyberman in Doctor Who in 2006. He was even a Dalek operator in a 2008 episode! He also played himself in the The Sarah Jane Adventures pilot episode.
In 2007, Gethin took part in Series 5 of Strictly Come Dancing. He danced with Camilla Dallerup and came in third place! He also joined the Strictly Come Dancing: The Live Tour! in 2009.
In 2012, Gethin made a small appearance as himself in the comedy-drama Stella. He was also an Olympic Torchbearer for the 2012 Summer Olympics torch relay.
In 2020, Gethin appeared as a contestant on Celebrity Masterchef. In 2022, he helped present the TV coverage of King Charles III's first visit to Cardiff as king.
Personal Life
Gethin Jones is a big fan of football and supports Everton FC. He also enjoys playing tennis and golf. He used to wear contact lenses or glasses, but he had laser eye surgery in 2009 to correct his eyesight.
Gethin was engaged to opera singer Katherine Jenkins in 2011. However, they later decided to go their separate ways.
Images for kids
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Gethin Jones in 2024
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Gethin Jones presenting at a charity ball in Bristol, England (2008)
