In a touching moment during Wednesday evening's broadcast, BBC's The One Show host Alex Jones briefly paused the programme to deliver a heartfelt birthday tribute to esteemed guest Peter Capaldi. The veteran actor, who recently celebrated his 67th birthday, appeared alongside fellow guests Sheridan Smith and Michael Socha on the iconic sofa.
A Pause for Celebration
Just moments into the April 15th episode, as Alex Jones and co-host Roman Kemp prepared to interview their distinguished guests, Jones interrupted the usual flow to acknowledge Capaldi's recent milestone. "Before we start, we have to say happy birthday to you," Jones declared warmly. Capaldi, with characteristic humility, noted that his actual birthday had been the previous day, quipping, "This is show business." Roman Kemp humorously extended the celebration window, assuring him, "You get a month, Peter."
Capaldi's Personal Celebration
When asked by Jones about how he marked the occasion, Capaldi revealed intimate details of his celebration. "My wonderful wife took me to my favourite restaurant and had a beautiful meal," he shared. The actor went on to disclose a special gift from his spouse, explaining, "She also bought me a very special piece of... I don't wear jewellery apart from my ring, but she bought me a wonderful bracelet, which wasn't ready but it is coming soon."
A Lasting Partnership
Peter Capaldi has been married to Scottish actress and producer Elaine Collins since 1991, a partnership that has spanned the majority of his four-decade acting career. While Capaldi has achieved fame through iconic roles in Doctor Who, The Thick of It, and Local Hero, Collins has established herself as a formidable creative force behind the scenes.
Professional Collaboration
The couple's professional lives intersect once again in the upcoming second series of Apple TV's thriller Criminal Record, where Capaldi reprises his role as DCI Daniel Hegarty and Collins serves as a producer. Jones inquired about their working dynamic, asking if Collins provides honest feedback on her husband's performances.
"Well, it's very useful to have someone who can be so frank," Capaldi responded. "She says 'You're not really gonna do it like that. Are you?' or 'Don't use your eyebrows so much, that's so over the top' or 'You can't be for real with it.'"
He elaborated on their creative partnership, stating, "So it's just great to have somebody there because I trust her completely - she's brilliant. She and Paul Rutman have created this whole show out of nothing and I'm just admiring them for doing that. She keeps my feet on the ground. I don't always want to have my feet on the ground, but there you are. That's life."
Evening's Other Guests
While Capaldi's birthday tribute provided the emotional highlight, the episode also featured Sheridan Smith and Michael Socha discussing their collaboration in a new BBC crime drama. Jones introduced the trio as "the Tree of Talented Actors," setting the stage for what became a memorable evening of television.
The One Show continues to air weekdays at 7pm on BBC One and iPlayer, blending celebrity interviews with human interest stories in its distinctive format.
