The One Show's 20th anniversary special was interrupted by a government emergency alert on Friday evening, prompting host Alex Jones to reassure viewers as the live broadcast continued.
Anniversary Special Disrupted
Alex Jones and Roman Kemp returned to television screens to present an hour-long special edition of the programme. They were joined in the studio by Angellica Bell, Clara Amfo, JB Gill and Vernon Kay to celebrate the milestone. Former presenters Matt Baker and Christine Lampard also returned to the green sofa, and a special film from original host Adrian Chiles was featured.
As Alex and Roman briefed viewers on upcoming segments, an alarm sounded off-camera. Alex told audiences: "You couldn't make that up could you. I think it's a fire alarm but we'll continue for you and I'm doing my best to keep a straight face."
Government Alert Goes Out
It later emerged that millions of people across England and Wales had received an emergency notification on their mobile devices from 7pm, cautioning against igniting anything that might trigger a wildfire, including barbecues, campfires and fireworks.
Viewers took to social media to share their reactions. One posted on X: "Blimey! I thought I was the only one who received that alert! #TheOneShow." Another commented: "It's a government alert #theoneshow." A third remarked: "WTF woz that nearly had a heart attack then it's started going off on #TheOneShow too."
A Look Back at the Show's History
The One Show has featured numerous well-known presenters since its debut in 2006. Initially commissioned as a four-week experimental run, Adrian Chiles and Nadia Sawalha hosted the inaugural episodes. Nadia fronted the show during its trial period before being succeeded by Myleene Klass and then Christine Lampard, until Alex Jones took over and has remained for 16 years.
Reflecting on her long tenure, Alex said: "I can't believe it. Ultimately, it's not about us who host it. The show itself is an institution, and it's really found a way into people's hearts. Especially since the pandemic I think, it's become part of Britain's daily routine." She added: "People switch on at 7pm and they know that they will get really good guests but also there's always interesting VTs or we're out around the UK celebrating individuals who've done something amazing in their community. It's impossible to turn The One Show on and say I hate everything. I just don't believe that you can."
