Gareth Jones (presenter)
{{short description|Welsh television presenter and celebrity (born 1961)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2012}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Gareth Jones
| image = Violet Berlin and Gareth Jones.jpg
| caption = Jones with former partner Violet Berlin in 2003
| birthname =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1961|7|5|df=y}}
| birth_place = St Asaph, Wales
| death_date =
| death_place =
| other_names = Gaz Top
| occupation = {{hlist|Television presenter|podcaster}}
| years_active = 1985–present
| website = {{URL|garethjones.tv}}
}}
Gareth Jones (born 5 July 1961), also known as Gaz Top, is a Welsh television presenter.
Best known for his work as a presenter of children's television and science programmes[http://www.therightaddress.co.uk/gareth-jones Gareth Jones], The Right Address. such as How 2 and Get Fresh, he has more recently moved to presenting motorsport podcasts and directing and producing programmes. In the summer of 2021 he became the first person to swim across Wales from south to north, whilst making a three-part documentary series for Welsh broadcaster S4C called Gareth Jones: Nofio Adre.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tivysideadvertiser.co.uk/news/19628393.tv-star-gaz-top-scoffs-5-000-calories-day-complete-60km-swim-challenge/|title=TV star Gaz Top scoffs 5,000 calories a day to complete epic 60km swim challenge|website=Tivysideadvertiser.co.uk|date=6 October 2021 |access-date=26 May 2022}}
Career
Jones was born in St Asaph, Wales, and grew up in Holywell, Flintshire. When he began his career in 1979, he used the name "Gaz Top", a name he earned whilst working as a roadie for The Alarm.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b090bp31|title=BBC Radio Wales - Roadies|website=BBC|access-date=26 May 2022}}
Gareth Jones On Speed is a car and motorsport podcast written and performed by Gareth Jones and made by TV and podcasting production company WhizzBang.{{Cite web|url=https://www.whizzbang.tv/|title=WhizzBang - Independent Media Production|website=Whizzbang.tv|access-date=26 May 2022}} Hosted by Jones, the show has an irreverent style and features a regular cast of Zog (AKA musician and journalist Paul Ireson) Richard Porter (creator of cult web-site Sniff Petrol and Script Editor previously of BBC's Top Gear and now of Amazon's The Grand Tour) and TV presenter and writer Violet Berlin. The show began in August 2005 after a visit to the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
Personal life
Since March 2024, he has lived in north Wales. He moved away from North London after an amicable separation{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7QMWBjZ6DY|title=Gareth Jones On Speed #486 for 14 March 2024 - YouTube|website=YouTube.html|access-date=18 April 2024}} from his long-term partner, Violet Berlin. They have two sons together.[http://www.garethjones.tv/faqtext.html FAQ] at Jones's official web site He is a Welsh language speaker.[http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northeast/guides/halloffame/showbiz/gareth_jones.shtml Gareth 'Gaz Top' Jones] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016105255/http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northeast/guides/halloffame/showbiz/gareth_jones.shtml |date=16 October 2007 }}, BBC
Credits
| class="wikitable" |
| Date
! Role ! Show |
|---|
| 2021
| Presenter/Executive Producer | Gareth Jones: Nofio Adre (Swimming Home) |
| 2020
| Presenter | Gwilio Ser Y Nos (Watching the Night Stars) |
| 2015–2017
| Actor (as Miff Ferrie) | The Tommy Cooper Show |
| 2015
| Actor (as "Gaz Top") | Caryl A'r Lleill (Caryl & The Others) S4C |
| 12/9/2015
| Contestant | Pointless Celebrities |
| 2015
| Interviewee | Wales in the 70s |
| 2014
| Interviewee | 50 Greatest Kids TV Shows |
| 2014
| Actor (as "Gaz Top") | Caryl (S4C) |
| 2012
| Interviewee | 30 Years of CITV |
| 2006
| Guest |
| 2005
| Guest | Ministry of Mayhem (ITV50 Special) |
| 2005
| Guest |
| 2005–present
| Presenter/Producer | Gareth Jones On Speed (Podcast) |
| 2005–2006
| Pit Lane reporter | A1 Grand Prix worldwide TV feed |
| 2004
| Presenter | Speed Sunday ITV1 |
| 2002–2004
| Director | Gamepad[http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=583 Gaz Top to present ECTS awards ceremony] gamesindustry.biz, "partner and co-presenter Violet Berlin", "from HOW 2 to a stint as an MTV VJ" on Bravo |
| 2003
| Presenter |
| 1997
| "The Joker" |
| 1996
| Presenter |
| 1996–2001
| Presenter |
| 1992
| Presenter |
| 1990–2006
| Presenter | How 2 |
| 1990–1991
| Presenter |
| 1986 (as Gaz Top)
| Presenter | BMX BEAT |
| 1986–1988 (as Gaz Top)
| Presenter |
| 1985–1986 (as Gaz Top)
| Presenter |
| 1979–1985 (as Gaz Top)
| Roadie | The AlarmArchived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/UAkhOiaadcY Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20201024033823/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAkhOiaadcY Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAkhOiaadcY| title = The Alarm 1988 Tour Report with Gaz Top on Get Fresh Children's ITV | via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.garethjones.tv}}
- {{IMDb name|0428100|Gareth Jones}}
- [http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northeast/sites/holywell_town/pages/gareth_jones.shtml Growing up: Gareth Jones] BBC, "my old school, Ysgol Gwenffrwd in Holywell"
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLoIqI0PlhY YouTube video clip of Gareth Jones interviewing]
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Category:Welsh television presenters