‘JUGGLING KIDS WITH THE ONE SHOW IS A HUGE BALANCING ACT'

SOFA QUEEN ALEX JONES SHARES HER PASSION FOR FAMILY LIFE AND WHY THE POPULAR PROGRAMME IS STILL CLOSE TO HER HEART AFTER 10 YEARS

- ROZ LEWIS

As a regular fixture on our TV screens during the week, The One Show’s Alex Jones has been a reassuring yet entertaining presence throughout the pandemic, offering a familiar, friendly face during these somewhat strange times.

Since the departure of her co-presenter Matt Baker last year, Alex has been fronting the BBC One show with a host of guest presenters, including McFly’s Harry Judd, ex-footballer Jermaine Jenas and singer Ronan Keating.

“It’s certainly a team effort,” says the 43-year-old. And Alex admits she still gets a rush of adrenaline from presenting the show after more than 10 years at the helm.

Away from The One Show, Alex is mum to sons Teddy, four, and Kit, 19 months, who she shares with her husband Charlie Thomson, an insurance broker from New Zealand. And she’s currently fronting AXA Health’s Feelgood Health campaign, which focuses on the power of music to help people’s mental health and wellbeing.

Here, the Welsh presenter, who lives in west London, opens up about staying in shape, her husband’s “meddling” and how lockdown has forced her to have a better work-life balance and a “more secure” family unit for her children…

Alex, how are you enjoying working on The One Show?

It’s been my favourite year of the show, which may seem like a very strange thing to say. But there’s a feeling of a team really coming together when emergencies like the pandemic strike.

Do you ever get nervous before going live on air?

I don’t think it’s nerves. I think there’s always adrenaline, which is good. I really like that adrenaline, so it’s channelled nervous energy.