Alex Jones, the beloved presenter of The One Show, has candidly shared the heartbreaking mental health battle her husband, Charles Thomson, endured, admitting she felt like a "failure" during his darkest days. The Welsh television star, who is stepping in to host Saturday Kitchen Live this weekend, opened up about the family's struggles away from the spotlight.
Alex Jones' Husband's Downward Spiral
In 2023, Alex Jones revealed that her husband, an insurance broker, suffered a severe mental health crisis. Charles Thomson fell into a deep depression, becoming a "shadow of himself" after being diagnosed with Lyme disease and viral meningitis. Speaking on Gabby Logan's podcast, The MidPoint, Alex recalled watching him "fall apart" as he grappled with these physical health issues, though she thankfully noted he is now in a "much better place."
Alex's Feelings of Failure and Struggle to Understand
On Jamie Laing's Great Company podcast last year, Alex delved into her own emotional turmoil during her husband's ordeal. "I thought I'd been depressed but then I saw it and thought 'no I haven't,'" she began. She described the challenge of letting go of judgment, saying, "I had to bite my tongue so hard from saying, 'Come on. Let's go for a walk. Come on.'"
Alex admitted to a friend, "Don't be so ridiculous," realizing that her husband could not even get out of bed, let alone go for a drink. She reflected, "I hadn't understood it and that's my own failing," highlighting her sense of inadequacy in supporting him through his mental health struggles.
Family Life and Recent Milestones
Alex Jones and Charles Thomson have been married since 2015, after tying the knot in a beautiful ceremony at Cardiff Castle. They share three children and now reside in the Berkshire countryside, having moved from London. Despite the challenges, things seem to be looking up for the family-of-five.
At the end of 2025, they spent time in Charles's home country of New Zealand. On New Year's Eve, Alex took to Instagram to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary, posting throwback photos with the caption: "Today, we celebrate 10 years as husband and wife. Then and now. We married in the northern hemisphere so it was only right to mark a decade, with our children in the southern hemisphere. It's all about compromise. We are so grateful to our family and friends who made that day extremely special and continue to make life a lot of fun!"
Alex Jones' Television Role This Weekend
This weekend, Alex Jones is taking over presenting duties for Saturday Kitchen Live on BBC One, stepping into Matt Tebbutt's shoes. She will team up with chef Bryn Williams, alongside chefs Mike Reid and Adejoke Bakare, and comedian Phil Wang, promising to cook up a storm for viewers. The show continues every Saturday at 10am on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Through her openness, Alex Jones sheds light on the often-hidden struggles of mental health within families, offering a message of hope and resilience as her husband continues to recover.
