Gethin Jones planned to quit TV after failing to land Strictly It Takes Two job

25 December 2023 , 17:02

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Gethin Jones said he thought about quitting TV when he was overlooked for It Takes Two (Image: BBC)

Gethin Jones has told how he was planning to quit TV for good after failing to get the Strictly spin-off show presenting gig.

The star joined the nightly show It Takes Two in 2016 as a roving reporter. When Zoe Ball reduced her number of days, Gethin thought he might be in with a shout to take on half the presenting duties. But instead Rylan Clark job-shared with Zoe, sending Gethin back to academic pursuits.

He said: “I was going to quit telly, and I went back and did a master’s. I thought my career was going in a different way.”

Rylan Clark was preferred to Gethin for the job

Speaking to the Mirror’s Outdoors in Mind podcast, in association with mental health charity Mind as part of their Hats On For Mind campaign, he added: “I was doing It Takes Two for a couple of years, three years. And then, one year when Zoe was sort of doing part-time because of her Radio 2 job, Rylan came in. Nothing to do with Rylan whatsoever, but I was like, ‘Oh, God. I was hoping if I hung around, I might get that job.’ I didn’t.

“So, I was like, ‘Actually, this is mad. I can’t make a plan. I can’t decide what I do in the future with TV. It’s completely out of my control’.” But Gethin, who competed in Strictly alongside Camilla Dallerup in 2007 and the live show with Flavia Cacace in 2009, said he was at peace with that decision.

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Gethin was speaking to the Mirror's Outdoors in Mind podcast

Gethin said of some wise words offered by his father: “He said, ‘Whatever happens, I feel like you’ve lived two lifetimes already.’ So, I was really at ease with it and I was more grateful for the times I had rather than being angry about what hadn’t happened. My dad also says, “Imagine if you had a real job.” I’m like... it’s annoying when he says it, but he’s kind of right.”

Despite the disappointment, Gethin, 45, went on to fill in for Zoe in the main presenting gig when she was ill – and proved a huge hit with viewers. And it wasn’t long before he was snapped up as the main host of the BBC ’s Morning Live, which has turned out to be a massive ratings hit.

Gethin said: “Morning Live came along for an eight-week pilot. I’m like, “Oh, god. How am I going to do this with a master’s now?’”

Gethin eventually completed his master’s in sporting directorship. The presenter, who was once engaged to singer Katherine Jenkins, had previously told the podcast about his depression, saying: “I didn’t know why I was in a rut and I just couldn’t work it out.”

• For support go to Mind.org.uk

Tom Bryant