Gareth Jones (presenter)
Gareth Jones | |
|---|---|
 Jones with former partner Violet Berlin in 2003 | |
| Born | 5 July 1961 St Asaph, Wales |
| Other names | Gaz Top |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Website | garethjones |
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[1] 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.[2]
Career
[edit]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.[3][4]
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.[5] 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. Whilst chiefly an audio podcast there are occasional video episodes such as the London Grand Prix and Don't Call Me Carface. Many major British and international motor sport stars have appeared on the show, such as Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton, Robert Kubica. New editions are published roughly every 12 days and over 350 episodes in total have appeared to date.
Personal life
[edit]Since March 2024, he has lived in north Wales. He moved away from North London after an amicable separation [6] from his long-term partner, Violet Berlin. They have two sons together.[7] He is a Welsh language speaker.[3]
Credits
[edit]| 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 | Holly and Stephen's Saturday Showdown |
| 2005 | Guest | Ministry of Mayhem (ITV50 Special) |
| 2005 | Guest | Dick & Dom in da Bungalow |
| 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[8] on Bravo |
| 2003 | Presenter | Tomorrow's World[1][8] |
| 1997 | "The Joker" | Megamaths |
| 1996 | Presenter | It's Not Just Saturday |
| 1996–2001 | Presenter | The Big Bang[1][8] |
| 1992 | Presenter | Clwb Clebran |
| 1990–2006 | Presenter | How 2[8] |
| 1990–1991 | Presenter | The Children's Channel |
| 1986 (as Gaz Top) | Presenter | BMX BEAT |
| 1986–1988 (as Gaz Top) | Presenter | Get Fresh |
| 1985–1986 (as Gaz Top) | Presenter | Music Box |
| 1979–1985 (as Gaz Top) | Roadie | The Alarm[9] |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Gareth Jones, The Right Address.
- ^ "TV star Gaz Top scoffs 5,000 calories a day to complete epic 60km swim challenge". Tivysideadvertiser.co.uk. 6 October 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- ^ a b Gareth 'Gaz Top' Jones Archived 16 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine, BBC
- ^ "BBC Radio Wales - Roadies". BBC. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- ^ "WhizzBang - Independent Media Production". Whizzbang.tv. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- ^ "Gareth Jones On Speed #486 for 14 March 2024 - YouTube". YouTube.html. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ FAQ at Jones's official web site
- ^ a b c d 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"
- ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: The Alarm 1988 Tour Report with Gaz Top on Get Fresh Children's ITV – via YouTube.
External links
[edit]- Growing up: Gareth Jones BBC, "my old school, Ysgol Gwenffrwd in Holywell"
- YouTube video clip of Gareth Jones interviewing
- Gareth Jones' official website
- Gareth Jones at IMDb
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