'Being a mother is the thing I enjoy and respect the most'

Mum-of-three and presenter Alex Jones talks about parenting, her "work husband" Ronan Keating and her time on Strictly Come Dancing

- RHIANNA BENSON AND JULIE ANN TRAINOR

JUGGLING ACT

While some stars give the impression they’re effortlessly balancing a full-time career with the demands of parenthood, we can always rely on The One Show’s Alex Jones for a refreshing reality check. Sure enough, as mum to sons Edward (aka Teddy), six, and Kit, four, and two-year-old daughter Annie, she describes her life right now as a mammoth “juggling act”.

Alex is live on air most weeknights at 7pm, which means missing out on valuable family time. But she believes passionately that, while you have to adjust your life to parenthood, it must never be at the cost of the life you had BC (before children).

“Sometimes, I think, ‘God, I just wish I could be home to put them to bed,’ but on the other hand, I want them to see a mum who works,” she admits. “I want Annie especially to see a mother who, while being the nurturing parent, actually works. And for her to experience that somebody else can read her stories and we’re OK with that.”

Since having her children with husband Charlie Thomson, who is rarely seen in the public eye, Alex has spoken candidly about the harsh realities of parenting. But as she adapts to Kit joining his big brother at primary school, she tells OK! that she’s making a conscious effort not to be so hard on herself.

“It can be tough,” she says. “Even if I go straight home after The One Show, they’re already in bed. But in a few years that will change – it’s always changing.

“When you become a mum, you go into overdrive, questioning everything you do. And then you end up overthinking things. I just need to keep it simple and try to do a great job. And I do as much as I can with them, and that’s the best I can do.”