Strictly speaking, Alex Jones is still on maternity leave, having only given birth to her third child, Annie, in August. She’s made the odd trip back to The One Show studio since then but if anything was going to lure her to the green sofa it was always going to be The Surprise Squad – a One Show fundraiser for BBC Children in Need.
Already in full flow, The Surprise Squad is made up of five truly inspirational young people – Ore (19), Joseph (19), Nathan (17), Roisin (16) and Dylan (18) – who have been supported by BBC Children in Need in the past and now want to overcome their own challenges to give back and lend a hand to others.
Joined by Alex – and fellow One Show presenters Ronan Keating and Jermaine Jenas – The Surprise Squad has been heading to locations around the country where they complete surprise challenges for BBC Children in Need funded projects that are in need of a little help with something.
Creating a secret garden for a children’s hospice and organising a much-needed community fundraising event to give a local project a boost are just a couple of examples of the ‘Surprises’. Alex couldn’t wait to get on board.
“To see the looks on the faces of the people that the Surprise Squad is helping is just wonderful,” she enthuses. “Things have been so difficult for everyone these past 18 months, so hopefully these surprises are going to make a huge difference and leave a legacy behind that will help everyone who uses their services for years to come, including the children and young people who need our support.”
Now a mum of three – she has sons Teddy (4) and Kit (2) in addition to baby Annie with husband Charlie Thomson – Alex says her involvement with Children in Need goes straight to the heart.
“What I enjoy most is getting to meet the incredible young people and hearing their stories. As a mum, hearing their stories is always so powerful and inspiring and seeing these young people taking on challenges and wanting to make a difference to others, after facing tough times themselves, is incredibly humbling.
On the One Show, we have been doing Children in Need challenges for more than ten years and the stories of those young people always stick with me. With regards to The Surprise Squad, One Show viewers are enjoying a magical journey of fun and laughter, with a few tears thrown in too, so I hope the tissues are at the ready! If you are able to, then please donate as your money really does make a massive difference to young people all across the UK.”
Over the years, The One Show has raised more than £40million for BBC Children in Need. That’s an incredible sum. “I can’t believe that we’ve raised that amount! The viewers always get behind us year on year, from throwing their support behind the Rickshaw Challenge and going to meet the team out in the cold, wet weather, to calling up to donate after watching one of our young people’s stories. The generosity of viewers is astounding, especially when you see where that money goes and what a huge difference it makes to those who receive it."
Aside from Children In Need, how is maternity leave going for Alex? As a mum of three under-fives, life is undeniably hectic but very happy.
“Being at home with my family is what makes me happiest,” she says. “Watching Ted and Kit with their little sister is just the best and we can’t believe how lucky we are to have the three of them and to be a family of five. Charlie always said he’d be a really good dad and he is. He had this feeling it would be his thing and he’s right. He’s just so patient. We’re like yin and yang in that respect but I do have a lot more patience now I’m a mum.”
She also has never-ending gratitude for the parenting skills she’s picked up from mum Mary and dad Alun.
“It’s like watching the masters at work as parents,” she has said. “My sister Jen and I are so lucky to have two people who’ve been so hands-on and so present in every stage of our lives. Becoming a mother has made me need and appreciate my own mum more than ever.”
• BBC Children in Need, BBC 1, Friday November 19, at 7pm.
If you’d like to support The Surprise Squad, visit bbc.co.uk/pudsey
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