TV heartthrob Gethin Jones is lacing up for the thrilling Wheely Big Challenge alongside Helen Skelton, yet he once suffered ice skating injuries that left him reeling.
The charismatic Morning Live host, 47, will embark on a 24-hour marathon of roller-skating mayhem to reel in cash for Comic Relief on Thursday, March 20. But for Gethin, skating isn’t a strong suit.
Only recently did Gethin Jones find himself red-faced at Archie’s Atomic roller disco in Manchester. Recalling the cringeworthy incident, he confesses, “I went to Archie’s Atomic during half-term,” and ruefully adds, “I wasn’t even allowed on the rink, I had to go around the side with full pads and a helmet. I’ve never felt like such a loser.”
Endurance challenges aren’t new territory for Gethin, who in 2023 swung into a non-stop dance extravaganza for a whole 24 hours for the same charitable cause.
He fondly remembers, “That was one of the best experiences of my life,” So when Comic Relief dialed his number again, he was game—until reality struck. “Skating petrifies me,” he confesses. “I can’t do this. I have no idea what I’m doing, I’ve never done it before.”
His past misadventures weigh heavy; Gethin shares, “I’ve been ice skating,” followed by the grim admission, “I got a concussion and broke my arm – twice.”
Nonetheless, Gethin isn’t plunging into the deep end solo. Helen Skelton, his Morning Live co-star, will be by his side, as they both dive wheels-first into action come March 20th.
They intend to push through the day and night until their grand finale on Friday’s Morning Live, as part of Red Nose Day festivities on March 21st.
Gethin Jones is thrilled to have Helen by his side through thick and thin. He shares, “What’s different this time is that we have each other,” and adds, “We’re best friends. We’re very honest with one another.”
(Image: Andrew Whitton/Comic Relief)
(Image: Andrew Whitton/Comic Relief)
Keen on mastering his technique before the upcoming challenge, Gethin has been hitting YouTube for guidance, saying “I watch YouTube videos to figure out what I’m doing,” and admits, “We all learn through the Internet.”
Yet, online tutorials can’t cover it all. That’s why Gethin and Helen have been training under the skilled Jamie Capewell, a seasoned pro from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s skating musical, Starlight Express.
Of course, there have been bumps along the way. Recalling one particular snag, Gethin recounts, “Jamie was giving me instructions, I couldn’t get it right,” After a tedious two hours, a revelation hit when he removed his skates— one of the wheels was jammed.
Annoyed, he reveals, “I was fuming,” and vents, “I said: ‘This is already hard enough, now my wheels don’t work.'” Nevertheless, Gethin hasn’t let these hiccups halt his progress.
He celebrates a recent win, “I had a breakthrough after buying new boots,” and proudly shares, “I did a turn without falling.” However, with the countdown on, stress levels are on the rise.
Gethin acknowledges the crunch time, noting, “I’ve got to get as much done as possible beforehand,” and recognises both the fun and the gruelling aspects, stating, “Learning new techniques is fun, but it’s also brutal.”
The daunting prospect of staying up for an entire 24 hours looms ahead, with Gethin recalling, “When I was dancing at 3 am, I thought, ‘This is hard. You’ve got hours to go.'”.
The crack of dawn is putting even the tightest bonds to the test. Gethin Jenkins opened up about the strain, admitting, “I’m interested to see how we cope and how we help each other,” as he gears up for a challenging day. “We’ll need to. Seeing people leave and come back refreshed is going to be a test.”
Despite the cautioned whispers to step down, Gethin remains the steadfast face of Morning Live. He shared a nugget of wisdom from his doc, revealing, “He prescribed me more golf,” and emphasised, “He says I need to switch off.” However, downtime isn’t on Gethin’s agenda: “I struggle to find a good balance,” he confessed.
Post-challenge plans? No rest for the weary, as he teases what comes next: “We finish at 10 and then head back to the studio to give our reactions,” hinting at a quirky return trip, “It’s only 100 yards away, but we’ll need a taxi. Or we’ll skate there.”
BBC One watchers, get ready to join Gethin and Helen Skelton’s Wheely Big Challenge festival on Thursday and Friday’s Morning Live, with catch-up sessions on BBC iPlayer or the breakfast show’s official webpage.
View news Source: https://www.ok.co.uk/tv/exclusive-morning-live-worst-nightmare-34809656
