One Show star Alex Jones makes surprise admission | Books | Entertainment

The One Show star Alex Jones has revealed she was so shy at school she never spoke in class – admitting her “12-year old self would be very surprised about my chosen career path”. Speaking ahead of World Book Day today, the BBC broadcaster said: “I had great teachers in school who took the time to really see me, not just as another pupil, but as a young person with something to say. Their patience and belief helped me feel capable and that’s why I’m so passionate about literacy support. When a child struggles with reading, it can chip away their confidence.”

Jones, 48, has been working with the Bookmark Reading Charity on its ‘Mind the Gap’ campaign – focusing on bridging the literacy gap in young people. “It really brought home just how big an issue the literacy gap is for children in England today,” she continued. “We’re talking about something that doesn’t just affect schoolwork, but their future. Hearing from others how this gap shows up in their worlds made it so clear that this isn’t something happening in isolation – it’s a national problem.

“It’s not an easy problem to fix and we can’t just expect overstretched schools to be doing more, we have to collectively make an effort to support the children who are falling behind. The literacy gap deserves more attention, and it’s encouraging that people are committed to changing children’s stories for the better.”

The National Literacy Trust recently revealed that reading for pleasure amongst children is at a 20-year low – causing alarm among teachers, parents and publishers.

“It always shocks me when I hear statistics like that,” said Jones. “Stories are such a gift that I think every child should experience. We’re told that children who genuinely enjoy reading will develop good literacy skills from an early age that will set them up for academic success.

“That’s very true, but it’s about so much more than just academics. Stories are doors into other worlds, helping children develop an understanding of themselves and the world around them. They’re an escape away from screens that build imagination, empathy and confidence, skills that will stay with them for life.”

Bookmark sends volunteers into schools to support reading, partnering with primary schools and community groups in disadvantaged areas. Volunteers offer a safe, calm space for children to make mistakes and learn. “There’s a big emphasis on building reading confidence, which goes beyond the classroom and can really help set a child up for life,” said Jones.

Reading, she explained, had helped her own job as a broadcaster and journalist.

“Through my love of reading, I’ve learnt what it means to be a storyteller; how to treat someone with empathy, truly listen to what they’re saying and respond to that,” she said. “In my job I meet people from all different walks of life and I truly think that my own love of reading has helped me to understand all sorts of people and ultimately do my job well.”

The Welsh-born broadcaster, who lives in Berkshire and has three children with husband Charlie Thomson, explained: “In our house, we make story time a priority and I love that bonding time. I read with all of my children as often as I can, and I let them pick out which book they want to read. That way I know that it’s something they’re invested in and actually want me to read (or in the case of my eldest, read himself). I never want them to see reading as a chore, or something they ‘have’ to do.

“I think my favourite book to read with my children is probably Horrid Henry, it makes the boys howl with laughter. It’s created a real shared bond between me and my children and it’s such a funny story too, one that makes me laugh as well as my children!”

As a cold, she added that reading Malory Towers by Enid Blyton had a big impact.

“It made me obsessed with going to boarding school! Even now, I can remember all the characters and I can picture what I imagined them to look like in my head. It’s really a story that has stayed with me.”

• Alex Jones is supporting Bookmark Reading Charity’s “Mind The Gap” campaign, raising awareness of the literacy gap in the UK. To learn more about volunteering opportunities with Bookmark Reading Charity, visit BookmarkReading.org