Gethin Jones revealed how he narrowly survived a near-death experience whilst filming Blue Peter (Image: Getty)
Former Blue Peter star has opened up about a harrowing experience when he ‘nearly died’ while filming a nail-biting segment for the iconic children’s show.
Reflecting on his action-packed past, the Cardiff-born presenter delved into thrilling tales from his broadcasting beginnings, recounting a particularly perilous adventure in Namibia, Africa.
Speaking to , the adventurous 46-year-old recalled: “Some of the most memorable trips during my time on the show were when I got to ride bareback with cowboys in El Paso, Texas, and when I nearly died while scaling the Spitzkoppe peaks in Namibia.”
Gethin left his role on Blue Peter in 2008 (Image: Getty)
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His African escapade turned dangerous after a successful initial climb. Gethin explained: “The first attempt went fine, but the producer asked me to do it again so they could film a wide shot and I lost my bearings and got into difficulties because of how windy it was,” reports
Prior to his time on the hit children’s show, Blue Peter, he first began working in the world of TV when he landed a role on Welsh channel, S4C, where he presented Popty and Uned 5. Rising to fame on children’s television, it was through Blue Peter that Gethin became widely recognised, taking on three years of globe-trotting challenges. His daring experiences included surviving alone in the Bolivian jungle and escaping an alligator’s clutches in Louisiana.
During his discussion with the Times, he recounted these tense moments, revealing: “I also have a scar on my ankle from when an alligator attacked me in a Louisiana swamp.
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“Apparently, the alligator wasn’t hungry, otherwise I wouldn’t have survived. I also built a shelter on my own in the Bolivian jungle because the two people I was with weren’t that interested in helping.”
Since his stint on Blue Peter, Gethin has been hosting One’s Morning Live since landing the role in 2020, sharing presenting duties with Michelle Ackerley.
This evening, Gethin will appear alongside celebrities Tiff Stevenson, Kate Thornton and Gary Wilmot on Richard Osman’s House of Games on Two at 6pm tonight (Monday, February 10).