Irish Daily Mirror

Big day? It was just my big mouth

Gethin’s ad gaffe leads to marriage confusion

- BY CHRISTINE SMITH news@ irishmirro­r. ie @ Irishmirro­r

My sister works in a Covid ward ... she is the real hero GETHIN ON HOW FAMILY ARE COPING WITH VIRUS

I would love to get married & be a father one day GETHIN ON FINDING LOVE ONE DAY

WHEN BBC presenter Gethin Jones shared an photo of a gold wedding band on his left finger admitting it had been a “big day” last month, he wasn’t expecting a reaction.

But, believing he had tied the knot, dozens of celebritie­s, including Vernon Kay, Gaby Roslin and Charlotte Hawkins, were quick to congratula­te the presenter of the One Show and its new daily spinoff, Morning Live. “Hang on. Stag Do. Eerrrr helllllooo­ooo” wrote Vernon, while Welsh rugby player James Hook commented: “Congrats mate.”

Only 42- year- old Gethin had, it transpired, not actually got married. He had been recording an ad for a jeweller.

“I should sometimes think more,” says Gethin, laughing. “I didn’t mean it. I had tagged the jewellers in and then I turned my phone off. By the time I got back, there was a stor y saying I had got married. It was just mad, I ’m still single.”

Perhaps the fact Gethin has talked publicly about being single is the reason why it caught so many on the hop.

Indeed, Alex Jones even blurted out live on the One Show recently that he was going on a date. “I have never made a secret of the fact that I would love to get married and be a father. I took my nephew to the beach over the summer and I thought ‘ I hope I can do this with my kids’ as I want to stay fit for mine.”

Have his friends tried to fix him up? Gethin , once engaged to Katherine Jenkins, confides they have done “their fair share of match making”.

“But I am not a serial dater, maybe when lockdown is over, I can do speed dating for weeks on end,” he says.

A likeable, funny, laid back star who has worked in live TV for nearly 20 years, including an early stint on Blue Peter, it’s no wonder the BBC have turned to Gethin to front a daily live morning show, alongside Kym Marsh, that will run against ITV ’s Lorraine at 9.15am.

A spin- off of the One Show, it will combine many of the best bits of the BBC’S hit magazin e show with i t s own unique morning take.

Guest experts from some of the BBC’S other staple daytime programmes, like Ready Steady Cook and the Repair Shop, will also be on hand to offer their tips.

“The One Show has had such a presence in lockdown and I think to have a programme in the morning too, reflecting on the mood of the nation is great,” says Gethin.

He has certainly had plenty of practice for his new morning gig, working as a regular ar presenter on the One Show with

FRIENDS Gethin & mate Kay

Al e x ov e r t h e l a st f e w months – something he cherishes as they have been friends for 20 years.

“I feel li ke it i s danger every day because Alex and I gossip so much in makeup,” says Gethin. “I think we forget about what we are not supposed t o gossip about. She is a dream to work with.”

After being f orced to pull out of Masterchef earlier this year amid fears he had Covid, Gethin is also once again a roving reporter on BBC2’ s It Takes Two. “It is nice to have Strictly on again and it will be nice to argue about toe leads and a waltzes,” adds the presenter.

“My mum and dad are shielding in Wales, my sister works in a Covid ward and she sh also has two children.

“O One of my nephews, Alby, has au autism. It i s really dif f i cult as I w would love to be able to take the s shopping over and help my sister out o but I can’t really. She is the proper hero in my eyes.”

BBC1’ s Morning Live st ar t s next Monday, October 26 at 9.15am a nd wi l l b e b r o a d c a s t e v e r y weekday until Christmas.

 ??  ??
 ??  ?? OLD FLAME Gethin with ex Katherine
OLD FLAME Gethin with ex Katherine
 ??  ?? Ad pic sparked marriage rumours
Ad pic sparked marriage rumours

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Ireland