Morning Live

Welsh TV presenter Gethin Jones has opened up about his love life over the years

Gethin Jones is a much-loved Welsh TV presenter.

The 48-year-old played rugby union while studying at Manchester Metropolitan University and, upon graduating, kicked off his television career on Welsh language channel S4C, where he hosted children’s shows including Popty, Mas Draw and Uned 5.

In 2005, Gethin became the 31st presenter of the BBC’s beloved children’s programme Blue Peter. Then in 2020, he took on the role of host on the BBC’s weekday magazine show Morning Live, which is broadcast from studios in Salford.

He regularly appears on the programme alongside Helen Skelton, Michelle Ackerley, Gaby Roslin, and Janette Manrara.

That’s not all, as Gethin has also featured on Celebrity MasterChef, comedy drama Stella, and even took to the Strictly Come Dancing dance floor during season 5. What may come as a surprise to some fans is that Gethin once had a very well-known ex-fiancée, so here’s everything you need to know about the star’s romantic history, reports Wales Online.

Who is Gethin Jones’ famous ex-fiancée?

Gethin had a serious romance with Welsh opera singer Katherine Jenkins after the pair first crossed paths in 2007, while he was competing on Strictly.

The couple announced their engagement in February 2011. However, by December of that same year, both confirmed they had decided to part ways.

Reflecting on the break-up, Gethin previously opened up on Tom Bryant’s Outdoors in Mind podcast, saying: “I was engaged and then breaking up, afterwards, or even during that period, it was just awful… I definitely had a bad bout of depression during that time.” He continued: “It was horrible… a lot of what I read about myself wasn’t right.”

Gethin notably sought counselling in a bid to work through his emotions, explaining: “I saw someone, I had therapy for a couple of years and I still do my homework on that.”

Katherine has since moved on with American painter Andrew Levitas, with the pair tying the knot in 2014 and going on to have two children together.

Past romances and rumours

Three years after his separation from Katherine, Gethin enjoyed a brief romance with former TOWIE star Lucy Mecklenburgh. The pair reportedly began dating in August 2014 after crossing paths at a Give Me Sport event.

Lucy later confirmed the relationship was short-lived, saying: “We went out a few times a while ago but it was bad timing for both of us.”

Gethin also dated model Katja Zwara in 2017, and was rumoured to have been linked to First Dates waitress Cici Coleman – though neither have confirmed a relationship.

There has also been considerable speculation in recent years surrounding a potential romance between Gethin and his Morning Live co-star Helen Skelton, though both have firmly denied they are dating.

When addressing the speculation in December 2025, Helen moved to quash the rumours, saying: “We just work together, we are not together. No, no, no. We are just work friends. They printed pictures of us at work and that we’re together because we are at work together.”

Speaking candidly about his friendship with Helen last year, Gethin revealed to The Sun: “We are very supportive of each other, we like to look out for each other. I think that’s fair to say on and off camera. You sometimes could get… you might need a little pep talk every now and then. Because she’s very passionate.”

Morning Live airs weekdays on BBC One at 9.30am

Penny Smith was one of the familiar faces of ITV’s GMTV alongside Lorraine Kelly and Eamonn Holmes, but left the show in 2010

TV icon Penny Smith made a triumphant return to daytime telly.

The popular presenter was famous for her role on GMTV and joined as the main newsreader in April 1993 and remained on the show until June 2010.

The star – who worked alongside Eamonn Holmes, Lorraine Kelly and John Stapleton among others – was treated to clips of her best bits on her final day in the studio.

She was also reunited with Curtis Stigers, her former partner from BBC’s singing show Just The Two of Us, who serenaded her with his hit You’re All That Matters To Me.

Now, 67-year-old Penny has made a comeback on another daytime show when she landed a slot as a roving reporter on BBC’s Morning Live on Friday, May 29 – and fans were delighted to see her return.

Penny presented a special segment investigating the chaos faced by tourists caught up in the EU’s new fingerprint scanner during the show which was hosted by Gethin Jones and Michelle Ackerley, reports the Daily Mail.

Penny was out on the ground at Manchester chatting to people travelling through the airport while also meeting up with a young woman who missed her flight due to the chaos.

She then tried a number of different substances on her hands, from water to moisturiser and an alcohol wipe, to see how it impacted the results on the fingerprint scanner. All produced different results.

Penny’s return to daytime television was welcomed by viewers who took to social media to express their delight.

One said: ‘Can we please see more of Penny Smith on Morning Live?’ while another said: ‘Great to see Penny Smith back on TV’.

Penny began her career as a reporter and feature writer on the Peterborough Evening Telegraph in 1977.

Penny later helped launch Sky News in February 1989, and four years later she joined GMTV, where she stayed until 4 June 2010.

She has since hosted several radio shows, including the weekday breakfast show on BBC London, Talk Radio, and Magic Classical.

Elsewhere, she has appeared on Have I Got News for You, Just the Two of Us, and Never Mind the Buzzcocks.

Last year, she reunited with former GMTV co-star Eamonn during a short stint on GB News. At the time, Eamonn said: “I’m delighted to be working with Penny again after all these years.”

Morning Live is on BBC One weekdays at 9.30am and BBC iPlayer