Full name: Gethin Clifford Jones, Geth for short
(Gethin means dark or dusky)

Place of birth: Cardiff, Wales
Date of Birth: 12^thFebruary 1978
Star sign: Aquarius
Height: 5ft 10
Weight: 80-85kg
Hair: dark brown
Eyes: Brown
Father: Goronwy, is Welsh and is a headteacher
Mother: Sylvia, is of Polish background and is a music teacher
Siblings: One older sister Mererid (known as Mez)
Other: One nephew, Alby. Welsh is Gethin’s first language, and he attended Welsh-speaking schools.


Detailed Background
His sister used to dress him up as a girl……

Gethin claims that a basin haircut, thick glasses and braces on his teeth made his teenage years less than productive on the romantic front, however, since he got a haircut, contacts and started working out, things have changed!

He is very short-sighted and wears glasses or contact lenses. His short-sightedness has not been a handicap in playing Rugby, though it did stop him undertaking a boxing challenge for Blue Peter. He excels in most sports, though his first love is Rugby (he plays number 9 or ‘scrum half’). He was Captain of his university’s Rugby Union First XV and had trials with Sale RFC. He won the Northern British University Sports Association Championships, and also represented the Lancashire under-21 teams.

He supports Everton Football Club and Cardiff Blues Rugby Club.

He is a talented musician, has a Grade 8 in violin, Grade 6 piano and was leader of his County orchestras.

He attended Manchester Metropolitan University, gaining a second class honours degree in Economics and Geography.

Neither parent was keen on Gethin taking up Rugby.  His mother worried he would damage his hands and therefore not be able to play the violin, and his father didn’t see it as a fit career, so would not financially support him in pursuing it.

Gethin won the title of Company ‘Bachelor of the Year’ in 2003.

He was a presenter on Welsh TV channel S4C, on such programmes as Uned 5 and Popty.
In April 2005, Gethin became the 31^st presenter to join the BBC’s Blue Peter programme. He has faced many challenges for Blue Peter, including being the first civilian to successfully complete the Royal Marine Commando 30 mile ‘yomp’, acting as a Cyberman in ‘Doctor Who’, and undergoing fire fighting training with the US Air Force.

He guest starred as himself in The Sarah Jane Adventures pilot "Invasion of the Bane".
Since moving to London, he has qualified to fly a plane.

He has presented events such Cardiff’s Mardi Gras, and Jones, Jones, Jones (the largest gathering of people sharing the same surname) in Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium, and co-presented the BBC’s New Year Live programme 2007 which drew in 9.2 million viewers.

Most recently, he won the hearts of many, becoming a semi-finalist on Strictly Come Dancing, having no previous dance training. He only entered (he says) because his sister would have killed him if he didn't take part!