Alex Jones, the long-serving host of BBC's The One Show, has candidly discussed her health concerns as she approaches her 50th birthday next year. The 49-year-old presenter admitted she feared experiencing early menopause, just as her mother Mary did at the unusually young age of 33.
In an interview with Woman & Home magazine, Jones revealed: "I worried about early menopause because my mum had hers at 33. She didn't even blink and had no symptoms. She had me and my sister at 24 and 26, so it worked well for her in some respects." Given that early menopause can run in families, Jones acknowledged it was something that troubled her when she wanted to start a family.
Managing Perimenopause Through Lifestyle Changes
Jones confirmed that perimenopause has now begun for her, saying: "Perimenopause has definitely hit me now and the main thing that helps me is nutrition and exercise." She shared that walking her dog "for miles" has helped "lessen their grip" of peri symptoms. Additionally, she practices Pilates, describing it as "gentle but effective," and has started weight training, noting: "You can see a difference so quickly, it spurs you on."
Jones is especially health-conscious as a mother of three young children—Teddy, nine, Kit, seven, and Annie, four—with her husband, Charlie Thomson. She explained: "I'm really, really aware that I need to be around for them, so I started to look after myself more. I can't bear the thought of leaving them. That sharpens your focus - you realise what's important."
The One Show's 20th Anniversary and Summer Hiatus
Jones spoke ahead of The One Show's 20th anniversary celebrations in August. Having fronted the BBC programme for 16 years, she holds the title of its longest-serving presenter. Last week, she confirmed the show would be temporarily taken off air for its summer break. Addressing viewers, co-host Roman Kemp said: "That's all we've got time for tonight, a big thank you to all of our guests." Jones added: "Tomorrow I'll be back with JB [Gill] for the final One Show before our summer break. We'll be joined by Alexander Armstrong and Annabel Croft, plus Gavin and Stacey stars Joanna Page and Mathew Horne."
The announcement followed Jones's brief absence from the show due to illness. Upon her return, fellow presenter Angellica Bell inquired whether she was feeling well, to which Jones responded: "I am slightly croaky, but we'll get through it." She later told her co-host that she had "nearly recovered" from her illness, adding: "Glad to be here."
The One Show is currently observing its annual summer hiatus to accommodate the BBC's coverage of Wimbledon and other summer sporting events. It is due to return on July 27, resuming its regular 7pm weekday slot on BBC One following the four-week break.
