The One Show host Alex Jones broke down in tears as she shared an emotional story about a special gift her parents gave her and her younger sister, Jennie, on their 18th birthdays.
Speaking to the These Three Things podcast, the presenter, who is set to host Have I Got News for You tonight (Friday, October 9), revealed she has a particularly special watch that she has worn every day since turning 18.
“Now, this watch is no ordinary watch,” she said. “It is a watch that I have had on my wrist. I've only pulled it off this morning. Long story. Started doing weights. Don't ask. Awful.”
Parents' plan since birth
Alex explained that her parents “didn't have a lot of money” and that she did not travel abroad until the age of 14, with family holidays spent in Pembrokeshire instead.
When she turned 18, however, she received a Rolex watch from her parents, as did her sister. Over the years, she came to appreciate what an extraordinary gesture it was, given that even the cheapest models from the luxury brand can fetch many thousands of pounds.
She recalled the message her parents wrote in her card: “We have had this plan since you were born. We've put money aside every month for this moment because we want you to be able to explore the world and travel. But if you ever get into trouble, you've got something to sell.”
Emotional reaction
Alex became emotional, describing the gesture as “amazing” and a “sign of dedication and commitment to being really, really good parents.”
This follows an incident on The One Show on Monday (October 5), when guest Amol Rajan, who appeared among 21 celebrities on Celebrity Traitors, asked Alex to “stop giving me a hard time” during an interview.
After becoming the first contestant to be “murdered” on the Claudia Winkleman-fronted programme, Amol joked: “I've been knocked out of Traitors, first of all, millions of people have seen me humiliated.” Alex quickly reassured him, insisting “it's not humiliating.”
Alex hosts Have I Got News for You on BBC One tonight (Friday, October 9), from 9.30pm to 10pm.
