Gethin Jones “Delighted” to return to ITV’s Daybreak

Former Blue Peter host Gethin Jones is to re-join struggling breakfast show Daybreak as a special reporter from next week.

“Gethin will be visiting different hospices around the country each morning meeting children and their families and looking at the great work they do. He began filming last week when he took a group of children from a hospice to meet Simon Cowell on the set of Britain’s Got Talent.” – ITV

The following week Gethin will front the Jubilee Jamboree feature, a series of special broadcasts from around the UK to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Gethin first presented a special Hospice Week feature on Daybreak before Christmas.

Gethin said: “I’m delighted to finally announce that I’m joining the Daybreak team! Filming started a few weeks ago, involving preparation for Children’s Hospice Week and the Diamond Jubilee. I hope you can join us to share the stories of these remarkable children and to celebrate the 60th anniversary in style!”

Daybreak is undergoing a transformation from the hard news and magazine series launched by presenters Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley in a purple themed set two years ago into a reworked version of warm and cosy GMTV with its light magazine feel and welcoming red and yellow set.

Editor of Daybreak, David Kermode, said: “We’re so excited to have Gethin on board.  He has bags of enthusiasm, he’s brilliant at putting those he meets at ease and he has loads of experience of live TV.  He’s going to be a big star in our new line up.”

Jones was one of five celebrities who last year took up the challenge issued by the Get On campaign to learn to ride a motorbike and spend a week in the mountainous kingdom of Lesotho working with Riders for Health to deliver antiretroviral drugs. Gethin is also the host of ITV’s Holding out for a Hero.

Daybreak airs from 6am on ITV