BBC Morning Live Host Expresses Concern for Co-Star Gethin Jones During Broadcast
BBC Morning Live returned for a new episode on Monday, featuring hosts Gethin Jones and Louise Minchin. The show, which temporarily moved to BBC Two this week due to Winter Olympics coverage on BBC One, saw a moment of concern early in the broadcast.
On-Air Incident Sparks Worry
Just minutes into the programme, Gethin Jones, 48, began coughing uncontrollably, struggling to continue his presenting duties. Co-host Louise Minchin, 57, quickly intervened, asking "Are you okay?" in a concerned tone. Gethin attempted to lighten the mood by joking "I got emotional, for no reason!" as he took a sip of his drink, but the coughing persisted.
Louise offered to take over, suggesting "Shall I carry on?" as Gethin continued to battle the coughing fit. The presenter humorously questioned whether his breakfast might have been the culprit, quipping "Did I have a different breakfast? I don't know what's going on there" before declaring "I'm back!" and attempting to resume his segment.
Production Adjustments and Guest Lineup
Earlier in the show, Louise had explained the temporary channel change, revealing that BBC Morning Live would air on BBC Two throughout the week while the Winter Olympics dominated BBC One's schedule. Monday's episode featured an impressive lineup of guests in the BBC studio, including former Strictly Come Dancing professional Kevin Clifton, medical expert Dr Xand, and presenters Jacqui Joseph, Rick Kelsey, and Maria Tsiatsiani.
After Gethin presented his segment despite the coughing, Louise told him "You just have a little rest" as she briefly assumed more presenting responsibilities to allow her co-star recovery time.
Relationship Speculation Addressed
The incident comes amid ongoing speculation about Gethin Jones' relationship with fellow Morning Live host Helen Skelton. The presenters were romantically linked last year following reports of dates at a luxury spa, but Helen has recently clarified the nature of their connection.
When questioned about Gethin and whether they had enjoyed more romantic dates, Helen told the Mirror "No. Well, he's in Manchester working away, so yeah, no, all good." She emphasized that they are "just work friends" and always have been, stating definitively "We just work together, we are not together. No, no, no. We are just work friends."
BBC Morning Live continues to air on weekdays at 9:30am on BBC and BBC iPlayer, maintaining its position as a popular morning television programme despite the temporary channel relocation and occasional on-air challenges.
