Alex Jones, a presenter on The One Show for over a decade, has predicted that the programme will “outlive any of us” as it marks its 20th anniversary this year. She described the early-evening mix of topical stories and celebrity chat as still having plenty left in the tank.
Longevity and relevance
“People in television are often obsessed with what's next, but longevity is really hard to sustain,” Jones said. Launched in 2006 as a spiritual successor to the long-running regional magazine show Nationwide, which ran from 1969 to 1983, The One Show has become a fixture in BBC scheduling.
“I think this show will probably outlive any of us,” she added. “It's more relevant than ever and as successful as ever.”
A family atmosphere
Jones attributed the show's success to its combination of looseness and professionalism. “Because the show is so well produced, I think people sometimes forget it's live. We don't over-rehearse because we want to keep it fresh and we enjoy not quite knowing what's going to happen,” she noted. “I get people's names wrong all the time, but I don't think people mind because they're on a journey with us.”
She likened the tight bonds between team members to a family, telling BBC Radio 2's Vernon Kay that she has an “on-show” family and a home family. “When I go to the show, I moan about the family at home, and when I go home, I moan about the family at work,” she said.
No plans to leave
Despite occasional complaints, Jones remains a huge fan of the programme. “If you're bored with The One Show, you're bored with life,” she insisted. “I still really enjoy doing it.” Discussing her future, she told Closer magazine: “If they'll have me, I'll stay as long as they want!”
Dolly Parton highlight
Jones singled out an interview with Tennessee country legend Dolly Parton as her most exciting experience on the show. “I think Dolly Parton stands out because I was very new and one of the producers who worked on The One Show said, ‘Do you want to come and say hi to Dolly? She's here early,'” Jones recalled.
“So I went in and said, ‘Oh, hi Dolly. I'm Alex. Um, I'll be asking you some questions later,' and she was like, ‘Come in, darling,' she said, ‘Come and sit.'” Jones added that Parton had no makeup on at the time. “So it was before she'd become Dolly. I think she's very open in the fact that she wears a lot of wigs and so her hair wasn't done. She was bare-faced, still absolutely striking.”
As Jones watched, Parton began “Dollifying” herself in front of her. “In front of me, she transformed into Dolly,” Jones said. “I thought, how special that, you know, we all know her as this vivacious, very made-up, beautiful woman, but actually she was equally striking and equally impressive because she is just a nice person. That was an hour that I will never ever forget.”
