Alex Jones has opened up about her first experience of heartbreak with her "first proper boyfriend." Talking to Vernon Kay through songs that hold special meaning for her on BBC Radio 2, she shared how Celine Dion's Think Twice triggered a bittersweet memory.
The One Show presenter revealed she was 19 when she and her first boyfriend went to Turkey for two weeks – but their relationship ended in a way she didn't see coming.
Holiday in Turkey
She explained: "I was with a lovely boy, my first proper boyfriend and we went on our first big holiday together. And this was big, I was only 19 and we went to Turkey," the 49-year-old recalled. "And because we were broke, we picked this hotel, the hotel hadn't been finished, the pool was like half done, there were cranes everywhere, it was really bad."
Despite this, the Welsh presenter said they "made the most of it" until her now-ex, who she did not name, "started to be very distant." The presenter claimed this was very out of character for him, as he was usually "very attentive and lovely."
Discovery on the Beach
Worried about where he was, Alex recalled walking down to the beach to see if she could find him – only to discover him with another man. "There he was with another boy," she shared. After Vernon briefly paused, appearing stunned, Alex added: "We didn't see that coming did we."
She went on to explain: "Anyway, after a big conversation, and he was so lovely about it, he said, 'I don't want this, I just like boys' and I said, 'Well okay, shall we stay anyway for the extra week?' And we did and then we broke up when we got back, but I was actually devastated, even though he could never be mine."
Reflecting on the experience, Alex said that while she was heartbroken, she admired him for being honest about the "difficult" admission. Asked by Vernon if she still speaks to him, she replied: "I don't but my parents know his parents and they're doing well," with a laugh. She added: "If I saw him now I'd love to have a chat and go, 'Do you remember that mad two weeks in Turkey?'"
Finding Love Again
Fast forward the years and the BBC presenter is now married to her long-term husband, Charlie Thomson, with whom she shares three children. Alex and the insurance broker from New Zealand met in 2011 and married at Cardiff Castle four years later.
Previously opening up about the early stages of their relationship, she admitted there was a question mark over whether they would make it work. Speaking to Woman & Home magazine, she said: "I feel proud that Charlie and I made our marriage work. We celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary in Auckland over New Year. We spent the week on the beach with the kids and it made me take stock. When we were first dating, there was a question mark over whether he'd go back to New Zealand, but he decided to stay. I'm grateful he did that for me and that we're able to raise our children here."
The One Show airs tonight at 7pm on BBC One.
