0:00:04 > 0:00:07These are the leafy suburbs of Chiswick, west London.
0:00:07 > 0:00:10I'm here to meet an old pal of mine.
0:00:10 > 0:00:12We're both from South Wales,
0:00:12 > 0:00:15and I'd like to think I helped her on her way to TV stardom.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18Only joking. She's a wonderful talent,
0:00:18 > 0:00:20and ideally suited for The One Show.
0:00:32 > 0:00:37Charlotte Alexandra Jones was born in Ammanford in 1977,
0:00:37 > 0:00:41the daughter of bank manager Mary, and sales executive Alun.
0:00:41 > 0:00:43She was educated locally, through the Welsh language,
0:00:43 > 0:00:44and was a keen dancer.
0:00:45 > 0:00:49After studying Film, Theatre and TV at Aberystwyth University,
0:00:49 > 0:00:52she joined the TV industry as a researcher.
0:00:52 > 0:00:54However, it was as a presenter that she shone,
0:00:54 > 0:00:59with early appearances on S4C children's shows and other programmes,
0:00:59 > 0:01:01including the Jonathan Chat Show.
0:01:01 > 0:01:03Alex Jones.
0:01:03 > 0:01:07In 2010, she got her big break as the new face on The One Show,
0:01:07 > 0:01:09and she's been there ever since.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12She's currently expecting her first child with husband Charlie Thompson,
0:01:12 > 0:01:14who she married last year.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21Alex has got the builders in renovating her house,
0:01:21 > 0:01:22builders from Swansea,
0:01:22 > 0:01:26so we've arranged to meet outside the Bull's Head Pub,
0:01:26 > 0:01:29on the bank of the River Thames, one of her favourite spots.
0:01:29 > 0:01:31So you can't get more English than that.
0:01:37 > 0:01:38And here she is!
0:01:39 > 0:01:41Alex Jones. Hello!
0:01:41 > 0:01:43Hi, darling, you all right? Very well, how are you?
0:01:43 > 0:01:46Good to see you. Looking gorgeous! Thank you. Look at this!
0:01:46 > 0:01:48I know, starting to show now.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51Starting to show now. So, hey, lovely spot, lovely spot.
0:01:51 > 0:01:52Shall we go for a little walk?
0:01:52 > 0:01:55Come on, let's go, let's walk and talk. Come on.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59Chiswick's a lovely area. Did you specifically pick it?
0:01:59 > 0:02:03Well, I think lots of Welsh people gravitate naturally towards Chiswick,
0:02:03 > 0:02:06because it's one of the most western points in London,
0:02:06 > 0:02:08so it's quick access to the M4.
0:02:08 > 0:02:11When I arrived here, I didn't know anybody at all.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14It does feel like home now, yeah.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17Everything seems to be going absolutely fantastic for you.
0:02:17 > 0:02:22Your little one on the way, recently married, job going great,
0:02:22 > 0:02:24renovating your new house.
0:02:24 > 0:02:26Do you actually sit there and go...
0:02:26 > 0:02:27God, and pinch yourself?
0:02:27 > 0:02:32I do. I mean, it's been a long journey, but everything has,
0:02:32 > 0:02:33as you said, come together.
0:02:33 > 0:02:37And it's really difficult to have it all, but, I think,
0:02:37 > 0:02:40at this point in my life, I do pinch myself,
0:02:40 > 0:02:42because I think we've just got the balance right.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44Just got married, very happy.
0:02:44 > 0:02:45As you say, baby on the way,
0:02:45 > 0:02:48that we didn't know we'd be lucky enough to have.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51And the job going good, my dream job.
0:02:53 > 0:02:57Every day I feel incredibly lucky, really.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00There we are. Go on, where you going to take me now for brekkie?
0:03:00 > 0:03:03Well, there's a lovely little spot just up the road here.
0:03:03 > 0:03:05They do a lovely brunch and a good coffee,
0:03:05 > 0:03:08so we'll try there, shall we? Let's go.
0:03:12 > 0:03:14You're a very proud Carmarthenshire girl, Ammanford girl...
0:03:14 > 0:03:18Yeah. Why did you get married in Cardiff Castle and not back home?
0:03:18 > 0:03:20It took us ages to find the right place.
0:03:20 > 0:03:23Then my sister said, "Try the castle."
0:03:23 > 0:03:25Went to the castle, perfect.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28You put your own vows into your wedding vows.
0:03:28 > 0:03:31What kind of vows? Is that allowed?
0:03:31 > 0:03:33I don't know.
0:03:33 > 0:03:34But it's your last chance, isn't it?
0:03:34 > 0:03:37Yeah. So what were the specific vows?
0:03:37 > 0:03:42So I thought, right, Charlie's main failing, was that he's very late.
0:03:43 > 0:03:45All the time, he cannot be on time.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48Good match, then. Hey, I'm not as bad as he is.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51If you think I'm bad, you should try living with him!
0:03:51 > 0:03:53We can't go anywhere until an hour after we're supposed to be there!
0:03:55 > 0:03:58So I thought, right, this is my last chance to make a difference,
0:03:58 > 0:04:01so, in our vows,
0:04:01 > 0:04:06he had to vow to stop being so late and to work on it.
0:04:06 > 0:04:08And take less time in shower.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11Any other specific vows?
0:04:11 > 0:04:12Well, obviously, it wasn't a one-way street.
0:04:12 > 0:04:17No, I thought, if you can do it, what could he put in?
0:04:17 > 0:04:22He likes the outdoors, so my vow was, I will try and embrace the outdoors,
0:04:22 > 0:04:27and, this is the big one for me, develop patience.
0:04:27 > 0:04:31OK. Now, you're the same, impatient!
0:04:31 > 0:04:33Yes, you are! You're so impatient!
0:04:33 > 0:04:35No, I'm not.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37I've got better as well.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40So, I had to get better, because between him being late,
0:04:40 > 0:04:42and me being impatient, that leads to arguments.
0:04:42 > 0:04:46Oh, it does, yeah. So we've had to make a pledge.
0:04:46 > 0:04:51But, having worked with you, I know you're not the outdoor,
0:04:51 > 0:04:53brave type who wants to do things.
0:04:53 > 0:04:58All of a sudden, I see you getting involved in Sport Relief and charities.
0:04:58 > 0:05:02I know! Tell me about hanging off a rock in Utah.
0:05:02 > 0:05:07As part of the job, The One Show is very involved in Children in Need
0:05:07 > 0:05:09and in Comic Relief and Sport Relief.
0:05:09 > 0:05:15And I sort of knew, starting that job, my time was going to come.
0:05:15 > 0:05:17They were going to ask me to do something ridiculous.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20And, sure enough, the suggestion came,
0:05:20 > 0:05:25would Alex like to climb a 1,000-foot rock in America,
0:05:26 > 0:05:32which meant two nights sleeping out on the side of the rock, suspended.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35I had no training in climbing whatsoever.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38No. But like I do really often, I just said, "Yes."
0:05:42 > 0:05:43Right, so where is it?
0:05:44 > 0:05:47That's it there, this big pillar going up there, can you see? Oh, no.
0:05:51 > 0:05:53No, I can't!
0:05:53 > 0:05:56I don't know what to do, I'm not standing on anything!
0:05:56 > 0:06:00All I genuinely want to do now is get off this wall.
0:06:00 > 0:06:04But I will not be defeated!
0:06:04 > 0:06:05It sounded really epic.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08I know. And I think, you know, if you're going to do it...
0:06:08 > 0:06:11And it was epic. It was epic. And if you're going to do it,
0:06:11 > 0:06:13you've got to go for it.
0:06:13 > 0:06:15And it took three full days.
0:06:15 > 0:06:17It was the hardest thing I've ever done.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20I've never been so glad to touch solid ground.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23Because, of course, you're just suspended, for three days...
0:06:23 > 0:06:25And the thing is, you could die.
0:06:25 > 0:06:27Well, you could. That's another worry, I suppose.
0:06:27 > 0:06:29Thanks for that, but... Yeah, you could easily die.
0:06:29 > 0:06:30Yeah, you could easily die.
0:06:30 > 0:06:35Then, from that, then, the next challenge which I think was
0:06:35 > 0:06:37horrific, was the sailing one.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39Exactly. So, two years later, they came back.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42And I thought, oh, I could see them coming through the office,
0:06:42 > 0:06:44and I sort of hid behind my desk!
0:06:44 > 0:06:46And they said, "We've got a new one for you."
0:06:47 > 0:06:50Great(!) And they said, this time,
0:06:50 > 0:06:55we're thinking of getting you on a racing yacht.
0:06:55 > 0:06:58Which meant nothing to me. I thought, that sounds nice.
0:06:59 > 0:07:01Down the Towy? Well, I was thinking somewhere hot.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08You have to literally brace yourself against everything.
0:07:08 > 0:07:12It's pretty impossible to put anything away, or even get to bed.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15This challenge was truly dangerous.
0:07:15 > 0:07:17It had a lot of jeopardy.
0:07:17 > 0:07:21At times, I have never felt fear like it.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24Can you imagine, the Irish Sea in March?
0:07:24 > 0:07:28I mean, I'm cold at the best of times, I couldn't speak,
0:07:28 > 0:07:31I couldn't feel anything.
0:07:31 > 0:07:32And the waves just washed...
0:07:32 > 0:07:36They had to tie us to the side of the boat, because it was that dangerous.
0:07:36 > 0:07:38I'd rather do the rock.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41Yeah, the rock. Looking back, the rock was more
0:07:41 > 0:07:43pleasant than the boat.
0:07:43 > 0:07:46So, this year, supposedly, you've got an excuse not to do anything.
0:07:46 > 0:07:48This is why I got pregnant. That's the reason.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51So I don't have to go sailing and I don't have to go rock climbing!
0:07:51 > 0:07:53I'll get pregnant!
0:07:53 > 0:07:57Time now to see just how much money your amazing challenge has raised.
0:07:57 > 0:07:59Are you ready? I think so.
0:07:59 > 0:08:03OK. We can now reveal that you raised an incredible...
0:08:07 > 0:08:13?1,281,476!
0:08:16 > 0:08:19You know, both challengers, I've raised nearly 4 million.
0:08:19 > 0:08:23And that is a life-changing amount of money for so many families.
0:08:23 > 0:08:24And then they send you over there,
0:08:24 > 0:08:26and suddenly you're in the middle of it,
0:08:26 > 0:08:28and you're meeting families and children.
0:08:28 > 0:08:33And you can be with... I was with a set of twins on the first day of filming.
0:08:34 > 0:08:35Beautiful twins.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38And the parents, they had nothing.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41They were trying to make us a cup of tea, but actually they didn't have
0:08:41 > 0:08:45water, and you couldn't drink it, because it was infested with all sorts.
0:08:45 > 0:08:47The next day, we went back to finish filming,
0:08:47 > 0:08:49and the twins had died of HIV.
0:08:49 > 0:08:53It's just the most horrific thing.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55And it doesn't get any easier.
0:08:55 > 0:08:59After you come home, it stays with you for months.
0:09:01 > 0:09:03In three...
0:09:03 > 0:09:04Three trips to Africa,
0:09:04 > 0:09:09I don't think I've ever seen a little boy look so sick.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12I mean, it seems so unfair, at two and a half years old.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15If only he had maybe that net, just to prevent the malaria,
0:09:15 > 0:09:16it would be a start.
0:09:17 > 0:09:22There's no way, then, you can say no to doing these challenges when
0:09:22 > 0:09:26you've seen first-hand the people affected.
0:09:26 > 0:09:28Thank you. Thank you!
0:09:34 > 0:09:36You're on telly five nights a week, right?
0:09:36 > 0:09:38Are you conscious of your fashion?
0:09:38 > 0:09:42You have a quirky look about you, haven't you? A quirky look!
0:09:42 > 0:09:44What does that mean now, Jonathan Davies?
0:09:44 > 0:09:45A quirky look! It's just your own style.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48Well, I think you've got to be aware of it.
0:09:48 > 0:09:54But I never wear anything on television that is really expensive,
0:09:54 > 0:09:56that people couldn't find on the high street.
0:09:56 > 0:10:00Because I think the joy of watching television, for me as well, is,
0:10:00 > 0:10:02you know, seeing a presenter wearing something,
0:10:02 > 0:10:04and knowing I can go and get it on the weekend.
0:10:04 > 0:10:06So it's all very much high street stuff,
0:10:06 > 0:10:08but of course you put a bit of thought into it.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11Because it's part of the job, I suppose.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14Are you also a shopaholic, are you? I'm not a shopaholic.
0:10:14 > 0:10:19In fact, I've gone off shopping a bit, since doing the job.
0:10:19 > 0:10:21Because it becomes kind of part of your everyday life,
0:10:21 > 0:10:24thinking about what to wear. You must feel the same?
0:10:24 > 0:10:26Yeah, because if you wear one thing on television
0:10:26 > 0:10:29and people remember it, you can't wear it again. Exactly.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32So you have a big team behind you?
0:10:32 > 0:10:37Yeah, we do have... I do have a stylist, which is lovely. I haven't.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40Haven't you? As you can see. Well, you've done such a good job, see?
0:10:40 > 0:10:42I've made an effort today, I've made an effort today.
0:10:42 > 0:10:47And when I talk about fashion, what was Strictly like?
0:10:47 > 0:10:51Well, Strictly was amazing. I mean, it's a very unique experience.
0:10:51 > 0:10:53Four months of really hard graft.
0:10:53 > 0:10:57Right. I mean, it might not look it on the television, but, actually,
0:10:57 > 0:11:01doing eight hours of dancing a day is pretty hard when you're doing a
0:11:01 > 0:11:03full-time job. You know, it's...
0:11:04 > 0:11:07I knew I was never going to be a professional dancer.
0:11:07 > 0:11:10Some people go on it, and they get really obsessed, they think,
0:11:10 > 0:11:12this is it, I'm going to become Darcey Bussell.
0:11:12 > 0:11:14Well, you're not. So you might as well just enjoy it.
0:11:14 > 0:11:19So I went in thinking, I'll give it a good crack.
0:11:19 > 0:11:21Enjoyed it, got to the semifinals,
0:11:21 > 0:11:24even though I was the most uncoordinated person.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27I remember, the first time my dad said,
0:11:27 > 0:11:29"How long is this going to go on for, Alex?
0:11:29 > 0:11:31"You're spoiling it for me now, I'm nervous!"
0:11:31 > 0:11:34But it was a brilliant...
0:11:34 > 0:11:36It was a brilliant experience.
0:11:36 > 0:11:38But, erm...
0:11:38 > 0:11:41I was glad when it was done as well, just to get back to normal.
0:11:41 > 0:11:43I know. Right, OK, we've got a...
0:11:44 > 0:11:46This is brilliant, this place. A vintage shop here,
0:11:46 > 0:11:49so let's go and see if we can pick something up for your house.
0:11:49 > 0:11:53Yeah, OK. This is a great place, this is.
0:11:53 > 0:11:54MUSIC PLAYS
0:12:02 > 0:12:04Anything that catches your eye here or not?
0:12:04 > 0:12:06I love this sort of stuff, do you?
0:12:06 > 0:12:08You're bit confused by this style, aren't you?
0:12:08 > 0:12:10No, no, I've been dragged around plenty of these places,
0:12:10 > 0:12:13I just don't get excited about it, you know? Why?
0:12:13 > 0:12:17It's amazing, you can find loads of different bits and pieces.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20Yeah, lovely. You think it's overpriced, don't you?
0:12:20 > 0:12:22Good chair, good, red chair. You know?
0:12:22 > 0:12:24?45. ?45 for a red chair.
0:12:24 > 0:12:29I don't get it. We'll go down here, I'll show you some nice lights.
0:12:29 > 0:12:33Try and interest me, try and interest me. OK.
0:12:36 > 0:12:37What are we looking for now?
0:12:37 > 0:12:41Right, we need lights to go over the island in the kitchen.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43What do you reckon, these are quite nice, aren't they?
0:12:43 > 0:12:45We need three, you see?
0:12:45 > 0:12:47That's three there. So...
0:12:47 > 0:12:49225... Copper's very in.
0:12:49 > 0:12:51Is that for all of them, or for each?
0:12:51 > 0:12:54No, each. The bulbs are ?35!
0:12:54 > 0:12:56They are quirky, quirky...
0:12:56 > 0:12:58Is it a yes from Jonathan?
0:12:58 > 0:13:02I'll have to see, what colour's your island...?
0:13:02 > 0:13:03It's a French blue.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06I'll tell you what, I mean, there's loads of options here.
0:13:06 > 0:13:08I'll show you another three options now.
0:13:08 > 0:13:10Don't think that's French blue. Three options?
0:13:10 > 0:13:11No, that's copper.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21You always wanted to be a presenter, ever since you were a little girl.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24Why is that? I think it's because,
0:13:24 > 0:13:28ever since my mother used to put me in front of the television,
0:13:28 > 0:13:30when she was making lunch or something for us,
0:13:30 > 0:13:33and I'd been watching children's television, and I just thought,
0:13:33 > 0:13:36well, they look like they're playing all the time.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39So that looks like a brilliant job to me.
0:13:39 > 0:13:42Because you went to Aberystwyth. Yes. Studied drama.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45I did. Theatre, Film and Television.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48With a view of working behind the camera, really.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51Right. Maybe producing or directing.
0:13:51 > 0:13:55But, I think, secretly, I always harboured a little want to present,
0:13:55 > 0:13:57but I just didn't think it was going to happen.
0:13:57 > 0:14:01You did your finals in Magaluf, of all places?
0:14:01 > 0:14:02Yes, in Magaluf.
0:14:02 > 0:14:06Not my parents' proudest moment.
0:14:06 > 0:14:10They were looking for a team of Welsh people to take part in sort of
0:14:10 > 0:14:13a dating game show on the beach.
0:14:13 > 0:14:16And it was happening in Majorca.
0:14:16 > 0:14:18So they said, it's happening in May.
0:14:18 > 0:14:22I thought, "Oh, that's the same time as my finals."
0:14:22 > 0:14:24Mam and dad were beside themselves.
0:14:24 > 0:14:28So I did four of my final exams out in Magaluf.
0:14:29 > 0:14:33So, the day before the exam, I'd be on a catamaran, over there, filming,
0:14:33 > 0:14:35trying to look at Shakespeare.
0:14:35 > 0:14:37And then all the rest, who'd had few cocktails,
0:14:37 > 0:14:39would chuck all my notes in the sea,
0:14:39 > 0:14:41and that would be the end of that, and I thought,
0:14:41 > 0:14:44"Oh, no, my degree is up the spout."
0:14:44 > 0:14:47Please be careful with Alex's bikini, please!
0:14:47 > 0:14:49But we did the exams, and it was really bizarre,
0:14:49 > 0:14:53because I was in a gymnasium, as you would be, in Wales, on my own,
0:14:53 > 0:14:56just a little desk, with Davina McCall timing me
0:14:56 > 0:14:59and doing little links, as she does, on the side.
0:14:59 > 0:15:01So it was a bit bizarre, really.
0:15:01 > 0:15:02That was the first time I met her,
0:15:02 > 0:15:05and we still can't believe now that that actually happened.
0:15:05 > 0:15:09That kind of was synonymous with your early career.
0:15:09 > 0:15:11Because you've done some crap shows, haven't you?
0:15:11 > 0:15:13Oh, Jonathan...! Crap jobs.
0:15:13 > 0:15:17You said it!
0:15:17 > 0:15:20So, started as a researcher, but, yeah, dogsbody, basically.
0:15:20 > 0:15:22And there were a few...
0:15:22 > 0:15:24Yeah, there were a few mishaps.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27So the first company I started working for suggested, they went,
0:15:27 > 0:15:31"Look, you might be better off on camera. So let's give that a go."
0:15:31 > 0:15:33I mean, they were very patient, to be fair.
0:15:34 > 0:15:38And instantly I thought, well, this is a way better laugh.
0:15:39 > 0:15:41Less responsibility.
0:15:41 > 0:15:44But actually, I wasn't very good at it at the beginning.
0:15:44 > 0:15:46I wasn't very good at all.
0:15:46 > 0:15:53But, you know, beneath the exterior of quite ditzy and very laid-back,
0:15:53 > 0:15:57I'm quite conscientious, really, always have been.
0:15:57 > 0:16:03So I would watch everything back and think, how can I improve on that?
0:16:03 > 0:16:06And it took a long time, but I worked really hard at it,
0:16:06 > 0:16:10because once I was in it, I knew that that's what I wanted to do.
0:16:10 > 0:16:15So those ten years of plotting, really, up until The One Show, you know...
0:16:16 > 0:16:19I had a real focus in mind.
0:16:19 > 0:16:21I wanted to be on network television.
0:16:21 > 0:16:23It's been an interesting path, your career path.
0:16:23 > 0:16:29It has. So, obviously, we start on a show together, a chat show.
0:16:29 > 0:16:33You, me and Nigel Owen, the international referee.
0:16:33 > 0:16:35A dangerous combination that they gave us.
0:16:35 > 0:16:37Yeah. Did you enjoy that experience?
0:16:37 > 0:16:41I loved it. Because I think, for me, that was a real turning point.
0:16:41 > 0:16:46It was the first time that I was doing something that was, sort of...
0:16:46 > 0:16:50A bit more adult and entertaining.
0:16:50 > 0:16:53I was into adult entertainment, but that's all a different thing.
0:16:53 > 0:16:57But I loved it. Nobody was more excited then Dad.
0:16:57 > 0:16:58I think that was his proudest moment.
0:16:58 > 0:17:00I mean, forget The One Show.
0:17:01 > 0:17:03Go on, Dad! You know, Jonathan!
0:17:03 > 0:17:05That's amazing!
0:17:05 > 0:17:07But it was great, we enjoyed having you there.
0:17:07 > 0:17:09It was very short lived, because...
0:17:09 > 0:17:12It was! All of a sudden, right, The One Show,
0:17:12 > 0:17:17Christine Bleakley was leaving and there was rumours in the backroom...
0:17:17 > 0:17:21Yeah, well, what happened, I got this phone call, out of the blue,
0:17:21 > 0:17:22from somebody called Gareth.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25And he said, "Hiya, Alex, my name's Gareth Collet.
0:17:25 > 0:17:29"I'm ringing from the BBC in London and we were wondering whether
0:17:29 > 0:17:33"you could come up and see us about The One Show."
0:17:33 > 0:17:36I thought, there's somebody winding me up here.
0:17:36 > 0:17:38So I put the phone down.
0:17:38 > 0:17:39Anyway, he rang back, and said,
0:17:39 > 0:17:41"Why are you putting the phone down on me for?
0:17:41 > 0:17:43I said, "I think you're making it up."
0:17:43 > 0:17:48He said, "No, no, no, we are actually looking for a female presenter."
0:17:48 > 0:17:50And before I knew it, it was like a whirlwind.
0:17:50 > 0:17:52I was in the middle of this thing that I didn't realise
0:17:52 > 0:17:56I was going to be part of. But, funnily...
0:17:57 > 0:17:59Some part of me knew it felt right.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04Hello, and welcome to The One Show with Alex Jones...
0:18:04 > 0:18:07And Jason Manford, and it's our first day.
0:18:07 > 0:18:07It's exciting.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13They were a bit shocked, at first, by the accent.
0:18:13 > 0:18:15And I've never been able to hide my accent.
0:18:15 > 0:18:17You know, and I don't want to, it's who I am.
0:18:19 > 0:18:23But, by now, people have got used to it. But it takes a while.
0:18:23 > 0:18:25You know, you've got superstar guests on.
0:18:26 > 0:18:30How do you cope with them? Do you get starstruck?
0:18:30 > 0:18:34No, I don't really get starstruck, never have.
0:18:34 > 0:18:38I think that's what enables me to do the job.
0:18:38 > 0:18:41I think people get confused with our show, you see,
0:18:41 > 0:18:42especially the Americans.
0:18:42 > 0:18:45Because they come on, and you ask them a bit about their album or
0:18:45 > 0:18:47their film, and then you ask them about bird feed.
0:18:47 > 0:18:49And they look at you like you've got three heads.
0:18:49 > 0:18:52Exactly, yeah. You know, Bon Jovi, the other day,
0:18:52 > 0:18:55he was looking at me as if to say, I mean...
0:18:55 > 0:18:57I've got a garden, but I've never seen it.
0:18:57 > 0:19:00But our viewers are brilliant.
0:19:00 > 0:19:02That's what keeps the show going.
0:19:02 > 0:19:05And it's what keeps us as presenters going, knowing that...
0:19:05 > 0:19:10There's a loyal viewership, and they feel like family.
0:19:10 > 0:19:12I mean, now that we've announced the baby,
0:19:12 > 0:19:15there's been so many lovely viewers that have knitted blankets and
0:19:15 > 0:19:17booties, and that's lovely.
0:19:17 > 0:19:19You haven't changed at all, have you, really?
0:19:19 > 0:19:23No. My parents would be the first to slap me down. I know, I know.
0:19:23 > 0:19:24SHE SPEAKS WELSH
0:19:24 > 0:19:26That's what I'd have!
0:19:34 > 0:19:38So, on your drive in, you do your reading, and...?
0:19:38 > 0:19:39Yeah, normally
0:19:40 > 0:19:46I'd read my brief on the way in, so that, by the time I got there then,
0:19:46 > 0:19:50into the meeting, we all knew who the guests are,
0:19:50 > 0:19:52what we need to talk about.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55Do you get nervous at all? Or adrenaline when you come in?
0:19:55 > 0:19:58Not really. I mean, I used to, at the beginning,
0:19:58 > 0:20:03but I think it's more of an excitement than a nervousness now.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06How do you cope with pressure then? Do you feel any pressure or not?
0:20:06 > 0:20:11I do feel pressure, because it's the flagship show on the BBC,
0:20:11 > 0:20:14and there's always a big audience, there's millions watching you.
0:20:14 > 0:20:16And, because they see you every day,
0:20:16 > 0:20:19and they're inviting you into their lounge,
0:20:19 > 0:20:22it's like being a guest in anybody's house, isn't it?
0:20:22 > 0:20:26You've got to behave yourself, you've got to watch what you say.
0:20:26 > 0:20:29Do you like the London life? I do, actually, yes.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32I always wanted to live in London at some point, so I think,
0:20:32 > 0:20:37in the back of my mind, it was part of the plan.
0:20:37 > 0:20:41I've never been to this BBC building. Haven't you?
0:20:41 > 0:20:46I've worked for them for nearly 20 years, but never to this one.
0:20:49 > 0:20:53This is the green room. Oh, look at these stars! Look at these stars!
0:20:53 > 0:20:57Yeah. So, this is a me with a variety of...
0:20:57 > 0:20:59It's amazing, isn't it? ..of people.
0:21:01 > 0:21:03Hillary Clinton's there.
0:21:03 > 0:21:06Keith Richards, isn't it? Keith Richards, who, by rights,
0:21:06 > 0:21:08should be dead, but is very much functioning.
0:21:08 > 0:21:12He looks dead there, to be honest. He was actually a really nice bloke, though.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14I know, he's mad, isn't he? Elton John.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18Looking a bit worse for wear there, to be fair.
0:21:18 > 0:21:20Kate Winslet and me and Grimmy.
0:21:20 > 0:21:24Neil Diamond. We sang with Neil Diamond, that was a shambles.
0:21:24 > 0:21:26# Sweet Caroline...
0:21:26 > 0:21:27# Oh, oh, oh...
0:21:27 > 0:21:31We also sang with Stevie Wonder, and he said to me,
0:21:31 > 0:21:33"I sure hope you're pretty."
0:21:33 > 0:21:37That was nice of him, wasn't it? Lovely.
0:21:38 > 0:21:41And then, down here, we've got the star room,
0:21:41 > 0:21:42where we sometimes put our guests.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45And Matt's dressing room, and then my dressing room.
0:21:45 > 0:21:47Alex Jones! My...
0:21:47 > 0:21:50Alex Jones, oh, look at the shoes.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52There's a mess in here, now, though.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55Mess! But there seems to be a cake here.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58See, it's funny, you never know what might get delivered
0:21:58 > 0:22:01on a day-to-day basis. Look at that.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04To be fair, I'd have tidied up, if I'd knew we were coming.
0:22:04 > 0:22:07Yeah, of course. I've known you too long now.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10Right, well, I need to go to the meeting now.
0:22:10 > 0:22:11You can have that, look.
0:22:11 > 0:22:13Take it, have a cuppa in the canteen, down that way.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16Look at that, thank you very much. See you in a bit.
0:22:16 > 0:22:17Cheers, Al!
0:22:20 > 0:22:23Al, do me a favour, don't put the "now" on the front of it.
0:22:23 > 0:22:25No, OK. Chatty. Yep. Yep.
0:22:27 > 0:22:31You see Matt and Alex behind, they're just doing their last
0:22:31 > 0:22:34rehearsal, half hour before the show.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37And kind of emotional day for the BBC, with the memorial for
0:22:37 > 0:22:42Terry Wogan and Ken Bruce coming on, so it's going
0:22:42 > 0:22:43to be an interesting programme.
0:22:51 > 0:22:53Hello, and welcome to The One Show, with Matt Baker...
0:22:53 > 0:22:57And Alex Jones. Now, promising sun, sea and a whole load of secrets,
0:22:57 > 0:23:01our guests in the studio are the crime-fighting double act from
0:23:01 > 0:23:03ITV's new police drama, The Level.
0:23:03 > 0:23:05Noel Clarke and Lindsey Coulson are here.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09Evening!
0:23:09 > 0:23:13First though, in the words of the late, great Sir Terry Wogan,
0:23:13 > 0:23:15let's just pause for thought...
0:23:18 > 0:23:20It's really hard, isn't it,
0:23:20 > 0:23:22to get your head round the fact that he's been gone eight months?
0:23:22 > 0:23:25I know! He still feels very present, doesn't he?
0:23:25 > 0:23:27Especially coming up to Children in Need.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30Children in Need especially, Proms In The Park was another thing,
0:23:30 > 0:23:33because I got there, and I was just... Terry's not here!
0:23:33 > 0:23:37As you can see, it's all started, everything going well.
0:23:37 > 0:23:41Other guests are coming on. Snuck on the audience, I've been thrown off.
0:23:41 > 0:23:46So this is the only way I get on The One Show, I think.
0:23:46 > 0:23:47Well, that's it for today. It is.
0:23:47 > 0:23:49Thank you very much to our guests, to Ken Bruce,
0:23:49 > 0:23:51to Noel and to Lindsey.
0:23:51 > 0:23:53The Level, there you are, on ITV, Friday night, nine o'clock.
0:23:53 > 0:23:55On tomorrow's show, brace yourselves,
0:23:55 > 0:23:57because we are heading back to the boardroom,
0:23:57 > 0:23:59Lord Alan Sugar will be right here.
0:23:59 > 0:24:01He's a softie, really. But to play us out, one of Sir Terry Wogan's
0:24:01 > 0:24:04favourites, this is Ward Thomas with Cartwheels.
0:24:04 > 0:24:05Thanks, girls.
0:24:06 > 0:24:11# I'm beside you at the mirror... #
0:24:11 > 0:24:14Oh, thank you!
0:24:14 > 0:24:14What a reception!
0:24:17 > 0:24:18Hello. So, how do you think...?
0:24:18 > 0:24:23Smooth show tonight? Yeah, I think the show was fine, you know.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26The guests were really nice.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29It always helps, doesn't it? When they're talkative, you know.
0:24:29 > 0:24:30Yes. Bit emotional, wasn't it...?
0:24:30 > 0:24:33Really emotional, with Sir Terry.
0:24:33 > 0:24:37I thought it was fitting to have Ken Bruce on,
0:24:37 > 0:24:40and he spoke brilliantly about the memorial.
0:24:40 > 0:24:42Do you still get a buzz out of it? Yeah, definitely.
0:24:43 > 0:24:49You still feel that adrenaline after you've finished the show.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52I don't think it'll ever go away, actually, with a live show.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55I snuck on, as well, snuck in the audience.
0:24:55 > 0:24:57Yeah! Did people see you at home?
0:24:57 > 0:25:00I think my daughter text me, going, "Just seen you on The One Show."
0:25:00 > 0:25:04I've made it now, yeah. So, how do you unwind now?
0:25:04 > 0:25:08Where are you taking me? Well, I am taking you now to a little
0:25:08 > 0:25:09place I know, Jonathan...!
0:25:10 > 0:25:14On Greek Street, it's not too far, still in central London,
0:25:14 > 0:25:15it's called L'Escargot.
0:25:17 > 0:25:18Right, have a look at the menu.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21Come on, then. Have a look at the menu, like we're abroad, on holiday.
0:25:21 > 0:25:24Coq au vin? Scallop and prawn tempura.
0:25:24 > 0:25:25Chicken schnitzel.
0:25:25 > 0:25:28Is it to your liking? Any food's to my liking. And me.
0:25:38 > 0:25:40We've had lots of memorable nights here.
0:25:40 > 0:25:45But here, in particular, was one of the first places I came, actually,
0:25:45 > 0:25:46when I started on the show.
0:25:46 > 0:25:49Very posh, though, isn't it? Very posh. Well, it's not that posh.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52Isn't it? Well, it's fish fingers and chips, ultimately.
0:25:52 > 0:25:54Yeah, posh fish fingers and chips.
0:25:54 > 0:25:56You won't get them in chip shop, let me tell you now.
0:25:56 > 0:25:58So, six years now on The One Show, right?
0:25:58 > 0:26:01Mmm-hmm. Seems to be going a very, very well.
0:26:01 > 0:26:06But I've noticed you've done the fertility documentary. Yeah.
0:26:06 > 0:26:10Shop Well For Less and Tumble and Sport Relief.
0:26:10 > 0:26:13Is that where the next move for Alex Jones is?
0:26:13 > 0:26:16Well, I think it's hard to know.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19I'm really happy doing my day-to-day job.
0:26:19 > 0:26:25And I think the toughest thing in this industry is actually sustaining longevity.
0:26:25 > 0:26:29People say to me, a lot, are you looking at entertainment,
0:26:29 > 0:26:31and other big Saturday night shows?
0:26:32 > 0:26:35It's not about that... You've done a few. I've done a couple.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38Did you like it? I absolutely loved it.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41But, you know, it's stressful, a Saturday night,
0:26:41 > 0:26:44live show on BBC One, comes with a lot of stress.
0:26:44 > 0:26:46I really enjoyed the challenge of it.
0:26:46 > 0:26:48But, I have to say,
0:26:48 > 0:26:53it's harder to keep the standard on something that's daily and in
0:26:53 > 0:26:56somebody's lounge every day, in a sense.
0:26:56 > 0:27:00Yeah, yeah. For me, the biggest challenge is to
0:27:00 > 0:27:04make what we do on a daily basis relevant, enjoyable,
0:27:04 > 0:27:06and to stay there for as long as possible.
0:27:06 > 0:27:09They'll have to wheel me off with my zimmer frame.
0:27:09 > 0:27:14So what about, now, you've got the important little matter of a little
0:27:14 > 0:27:15baby coming.
0:27:15 > 0:27:20Yep. Will you have to think then of the life balance, with work and...?
0:27:20 > 0:27:23I think so. Especially the early years.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26Ultimately, family is first.
0:27:26 > 0:27:30So this, to me, is the biggest challenge and the most important one.
0:27:30 > 0:27:35So, you've got a Kiwi husband, father.
0:27:35 > 0:27:37A Welsh wife, mother.
0:27:37 > 0:27:40Yeah. Where do you see yourself in a few years?
0:27:40 > 0:27:44Is it New Zealand, Wales or London?
0:27:45 > 0:27:48It's hard. I think Charlie and I are both
0:27:48 > 0:27:53quite alarmed that our baby is going to be born in England.
0:27:53 > 0:27:56Because he's thinking, I want an All Black.
0:27:56 > 0:28:00He would still very much like to go back to New Zealand, but, I think,
0:28:00 > 0:28:04you know, quietly, we both know that's not going to happen.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07I see us going back to Wales at some point.
0:28:08 > 0:28:11But you've just got to enjoy and embrace the life you've got.
0:28:11 > 0:28:15This is where we met, this is where our son or daughter will be born.
0:28:15 > 0:28:17And, for now, it suits.
0:28:17 > 0:28:20Whether it suits in five years, maybe not.
0:28:20 > 0:28:22You never know what's round the corner.
0:28:22 > 0:28:26You've just got to live day by day.
0:28:26 > 0:28:30There we are, thanks, Jonathan. Nice to speak to you.
0:28:30 > 0:28:32Yeah, nice to see you.
0:28:32 > 0:28:34All the best, lovely. Thanks so much, it's been lovely.
0:28:34 > 0:28:39Yeah, it's been a great day, thanks very much. Ta-ra! Cheers. Ta-da!
0:28:42 > 0:28:45It was lovely to spend the day with Alex today,
0:28:45 > 0:28:48and it's great to see her so happy in work and in life.
0:28:48 > 0:28:51She's genuinely one of the nicest people you could ever wish to meet,
0:28:51 > 0:28:53and one of the most naturally talented.
0:28:53 > 0:28:58A Welsh gem. I'm so happy that the nation have taken her to their hearts.
0:29:27 > 0:29:28It's interview week.
0:29:28 > 0:29:30When I look in your eyes, I think, "Where's the energy?"
0:29:30 > 0:29:32You're not exactly a forceful character.
0:29:32 > 0:29:33I don't know what you're doing here.