Get the latest OK! breaking news on WhatsAppOur community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More infoJoin us on WhatsApp Gethin Jones and Helen Skelton are good pals, but Gethin’s worried their next Comic Relief stunt might just push their friendship to the limit. Skating is Gethin Jones’ idea of a nightmare – he even had an embarrassing moment recently at a roller disco in Manchester. “I went to Archie’s Atomic during half-term,” he shared, “I wasn’t even allowed on the rink, I had to go around the side with full pads and a helmet. I’ve never felt like such a loser.” The Morning Live host, 47, is gearing up to lace up his skates for Gethin and Helen’s Wheely Big Challenge – a gruelling 24-hour roller-skating marathon for Comic Relief on Thursday, March 20. It’s not his first rodeo with tough charity challenges; last year, he boogied non-stop for 24 hours for the same cause. “That was one of the best experiences of my life,” he reminisced. So when Comic Relief rang him up again, he was all in – until he got the lowdown. But he won’t be braving it solo. His Morning Live partner-in-crime Helen Skelton will be by his side as they kick off bright and early on Thursday, 20th March, skating through the day and into the night. Their epic challenge wraps up live on Friday’s Morning Live for Red Nose Day, March 21st. Gethin’s thankful to have Helen along for the ride. “What’s different this time is that we have each other,” he said, “We’re best friends. We’re very honest with one another.” Yet, with the countdown ticking away, the tension is definitely rising.
Gethin Jones and Helen Skelton will be skating for 24 hours straight for Comic Relief
(Image: Jordan Mansfield/Comic Relief)
Facing the gruelling task of staying awake for a full 24 hours, Gethin Jones shared his experience: “When I was dancing at 3 am, I thought, ‘This is hard. You’ve got hours to go.'” He also reflected on the potential strain on relationships during such an intense challenge, saying, “I’m interested to see how we cope and how we help each other,” adding, “We’ll need to. Seeing people leave and come back refreshed is going to be a test.” In preparation, Gethin has been proactive, turning to online resources: “I watch YouTube videos to figure out what I’m doing,” he admits, acknowledging the role of the Internet in learning new skills. However, training hasn’t been without its hiccups. Recalling a particularly frustrating incident, Gethin said, “Jamie was giving me instructions, I couldn’t get it right,” It took him two hours to realise that one of his skate wheels was stuck, leaving him exasperated: “I was fuming,” he confessed. “I said: ‘This is already hard enough, now my wheels don’t work.'”. Despite these challenges, Gethin has seen improvement: “I had a breakthrough after buying new boots,” he revealed. “I did a turn without falling.” Balancing his commitment to Morning Live with the physical demands of his new endeavour, Gethin has resisted advice to step back from his presenting duties. His doctor’s unconventional prescription? “He prescribed me more golf,” Gethin shares. “He says I need to switch off.” Unwinding isn’t an option, however. “I struggle to find a good balance,” admits Gethin. There’s no let-up in his schedule once the challenge is over, either. “We finish at 10 and then head back to the studio to give our reactions,” he jokes, “It’s only 100 yards away, but we’ll need a taxi. Or we’ll skate there.”
