Latest news with #BluePeter
South Wales Argus
a day ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Matt Baker climbs pylon in Vale of Glamorgan for new show
Matt Baker, best known for presenting Countryfile and Blue Peter, scaled the structure near Aberthaw as part of the final episode of his More4 series, Matt Baker's British Isles. The episode, which aired on Tuesday, June 24, featured Mr Baker working alongside National Grid engineers as they carried out essential upgrades to transmission pylons on the South Wales coast. Gareth Davies, an overhead line engineer who mentored Mr Baker during the climb, said: "It was great to show Matt how our overhead lines teams operate, and talk him through what's involved. "We're proud of the work we do to keep power flowing safely around Wales and beyond, and hopefully, viewers of the show will be interested to learn what we do and how we do it. "We're always looking to bring in new talent to our overhead lines teams across the country. "Hopefully, this will encourage people to look to these roles as a career. "It's rewarding work, and there aren't many offices with such a good view." Before the climb, Mr Baker completed safety training at National Grid's centre in Eakring, Nottinghamshire, and a familiarisation climb on a de-energised pylon. He then joined the team in South Wales to observe the replacement of ceramic insulators with lighter polymeric versions. The upgrade work forms part of National Grid's wider investment plans. The company is planning to invest £35 billion in its transmission network across Wales and England between 2026 and 2031. The investment aims to support growing demand from data centres, gigafactories, and new electricity generation sources such as wind and solar. The National Grid team has since completed upgrades along the full route from Aberthaw to Cilfynydd substation, helping to futureproof the energy network in the region.
Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Times
Janet Ellis: ‘I thought my travels were over when my husband died'
Janet Ellis, 69, is a TV presenter, actress and writer best known for presenting Blue Peter and starring in Doctor Who alongside Tom Baker'. She lived in Chatham, Kent, until she was four before moving to Germany when her soldier father was posted there. She has three children: the singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor, 46, from her first marriage to the director and producer Robin Bextor, and Jackson, 37, and Martha, 34, from her marriage to the TV producer John Leach, who died of cancer in 2020. Ellis lives in west London with her grandson Sonny, 21, the son of Ellis-Bextor and her musician husband, Richard Jones. I went to some incredible places with Blue Peter in my twenties and, having spent much of my childhood in Germany, it was great to explore the British Isles. I remember filming at Calke Abbey in Derbyshire, where the last descendant of the family who had lived there for decades was moving out and the National Trust was taking over. He lived in a tiny kitchen-bedsit set-up and the rest of the house looked frozen in time: board games mid-play, stuffed animals, pressed butterflies — it was extraordinary. My first long-haul trip was to the Sri Lankan capital Colombo in 1984. I was so excited that I didn't sleep on the flight, then I had just 90 minutes after landing before interviewing the prime minister. I fell asleep on arrival in my room and woke up feeling like my head was filled with Polyfilla. John and I adored Japan and went there four times. Every time we'd start in Tokyo then visit different places. On our last trip there, in 2017, we walked the Kiso Valley, between Kyoto and Tokyo. It was breathtaking, but not the flat — like much of the terrain — and disused railway track I'd imagined. We stayed in a ryokan — traditional inns where dinner is served at 6pm and there's nothing to do afterwards. It's hard to eat badly in Japan, though sushi and sashimi are more of a dinner thing; lunch is mostly noodle-based. In Kyoto we stayed at the Screen, a sweet little hotel. It's a university city so everyone rides bikes and the skyline isn't as intense as that of Tokyo. We went to our first onsen — the single-sex, communal, naked bathing in hot springs — on an island off Hiroshima. I had to return John's passport after he died and it was so hard; all those memories of the trips we'd taken together. Sophie actually came with us on our honeymoon, to Bali in 1988. We left Jack as he was coming up to a year and John's mum looked after him, but I don't think it occurred to us not to bring Sophie, so thank you, John. We had a lovely time. • 14 of the best places to visit in Japan John and I spent lots of time in Italy too. Sophie has a house in Puglia, where we've holidayed the last four Augusts. I fell for Sicily after Martha, my daughter, returned from a trip there as part of her history of art degree. There was a lot she hadn't seen and she wanted us to take her back, which we did twice. I particularly love the southern towns — further on from Noto and Ragusa — that survived the 1693 earthquake. They were built in baroque style, so they're very beautiful, with a gorgeous coastline and fantastic food. After John's cancer diagnosis — but absolutely not because of it — we bought a tiny house in Modica, in southeast Sicily. After he died in 2020 the kids were really keen for me to go back there and took me. I felt the sensation that he knew I'd return without him. The house holds so many memories, which is lovely, but I'm not aiming to spend time alone there; I like having someone to play with. My favourite pastime abroad is visiting hardware stores, supermarkets and chemists. I can easily spend days doing very little apart from going for a stroll to buy a brilliant little kitchen knife for pennies. After John's death I believed that my long-haul travelling days were over, unless the kids invited me somewhere. It's fairly easy to find friends for a weekend trip, but it's difficult aligning diaries for longer breaks when you don't have a partner. So when I was invited to join a Just You group tour to South Africa last year I was apprehensive. It was my first solo trip, but everyone was in a similar position — widowed, divorced or single — and hearing that everyone was nervous was incredibly bonding. My instinct when I arrive anywhere is to message John and show him where I am — I don't suppose that will ever stop. • 15 of the best South Africa holidays and tours The trip was a good spread, through the country from Cape Town to Johannesburg, like a geography textbook brought to life. I was fascinated to learn about the 17th-century Dutch settlers, who brought everything they owned on their backs, seeking fertile land. We went on safari at Featherbed Nature Reserve and Kruger [National Park], spotting the big five and, even better, the little five, all hoping not to get eaten. Janet Ellis is an ambassador for Just You ( In our weekly My Hols interview, famous faces — from the worlds of film, sport, politics, and more — share their travel stories from childhood to the present day. Read more My Hols interviews here
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Sophie Ellis-Bextor puts her husband first
Sophie Ellis-Bextor puts her husband first The Murder on the Dancefloor hitmaker has been married to Richard Jones - with whom she has sons Sonny, 21, Kit, 16, Ray, 13, Jesse, nine, and six-year-old Mickey - since 2005 Sophie Ellis-Bextor (Image: Debbie Hickey, Getty Images ) Sophie Ellis-Bextor will always "choose" her husband over her children. The Murder on the Dancefloor hitmaker has been married to Richard Jones - with whom she has sons Sonny, 21, Kit, 16, Ray, 13, Jesse, nine, and six-year-old Mickey - since 2005 and she credits some advice she was given from her mother, Janet Ellis, for their long relationship as the former Blue Peter presenter told them to always put each other before anyone else. She told the new issue of Good Housekeeping UK magazine: "When we got married, we'd already had our first baby. "My mum said: 'Make sure you always choose each other over anything else, even the kids.' "She was right. Even though the kids might roll their eyes if they see us hugging or whatever, they're happy that we're happy. And we have fun as a family, too. Last year, they came with us for a lot of the tour." Janet lives around the corner from Sophie's family and the pair are "very close". Article continues below The 46-year-old singer said: "We're very close. [She's] always been so good at encouraging me and giving me the toolkit I need to get out and do what I do. Raising a family alongside that is a constant thing." And Sophie's eldest son, Sonny, is currently living with his grandmother. She said: "He moved in when he was doing a foundation course at uni a year and a half ago. "She lives 10 minutes away and was on her own, so they've got each other. It's given him his own space, but also kept him close – he comes over all the time." Sophie has always had open dialogue with her sons about the dangers of the online world and toxic masculinity, but she doesn't want to "demonise" anything in case they are left feeling alienated. She said: "I've always had a lot of faith in my boys. We've openly chatted about toxic masculinity for a long time. My eldest is very articulate about these things, so none of it was new to my house. Article continues below " Sometimes people have an idea of what boys are like, as if they're a different species. As I far as I'm concerned, I'm raising five people who happen to be boys. "I keep an eye on [mobile phone screen time], because that's parenting, but if you start demonising things, you shut down communication. Then you're like those parents in the 1950s who made kids burn their rock 'n' roll albums." The full interview can be read now in the August issue of Good Housekeeping UK and visit for more.
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Sophie Ellis-Bextor puts her husband first
Sophie Ellis-Bextor will always "choose" her husband over her children. The Murder on the Dancefloor hitmaker has been married to Richard Jones - with whom she has sons Sonny, 21, Kit, 16, Ray, 13, Jesse, nine, and six-year-old Mickey - since 2005 and she credits some advice she was given from her mother, Janet Ellis, for their long relationship as the former Blue Peter presenter told them to always put each other before anyone else. She told the new issue of Good Housekeeping UK magazine: 'When we got married, we'd already had our first baby. 'My mum said: 'Make sure you always choose each other over anything else, even the kids.' "She was right. Even though the kids might roll their eyes if they see us hugging or whatever, they're happy that we're happy. And we have fun as a family, too. Last year, they came with us for a lot of the tour.' Janet lives around the corner from Sophie's family and the pair are "very close". The 46-year-old singer said: 'We're very close. [She's] always been so good at encouraging me and giving me the toolkit I need to get out and do what I do. Raising a family alongside that is a constant thing.' And Sophie's eldest son, Sonny, is currently living with his grandmother. She said: 'He moved in when he was doing a foundation course at uni a year and a half ago. 'She lives 10 minutes away and was on her own, so they've got each other. It's given him his own space, but also kept him close – he comes over all the time.' Sophie has always had open dialogue with her sons about the dangers of the online world and toxic masculinity, but she doesn't want to "demonise" anything in case they are left feeling alienated. She said: 'I've always had a lot of faith in my boys. We've openly chatted about toxic masculinity for a long time. My eldest is very articulate about these things, so none of it was new to my house. " Sometimes people have an idea of what boys are like, as if they're a different species. As I far as I'm concerned, I'm raising five people who happen to be boys. "I keep an eye on [mobile phone screen time], because that's parenting, but if you start demonising things, you shut down communication. Then you're like those parents in the 1950s who made kids burn their rock 'n' roll albums.' The full interview can be read now in the August issue of Good Housekeeping UK and visit for more.
Wales Online
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Strictly's Helen Skelton says 'never' as she imposed 'strict rule' on Gorka Marquez
Strictly's Helen Skelton says 'never' as she imposed 'strict rule' on Gorka Marquez Former Blue Peter presenter Helen Skelton appeared on the BBC show three years ago and made it all the way to the final, but she had a very different approach to her co-stars Helen Skelton and Gorka Marquez came close to winning Strictly in 2022 (Image: BBC ) Helen Skelton revealed she had a specific rule for her Strictly Come Dancing partner Gorka Marquez when they teamed up on the BBC show three years ago, reports Devon Live. At 41, Helen decided to join the dance competition following her public separation from her husband of eight years, Richie Myler, with whom she has three children: Ernie, nine; Louis, eight; and Elsie, four. Despite her busy life as a mother, the dedicated and adventurous Helen is no stranger to embracing significant challenges — including an ultramarathon, cycling to the South Pole, and kayaking 2,010 miles down the Amazon River — all to raise money for charity. When discussing her strategy for tackling daunting tasks, Helen explained that she prefers to stay grounded in the present rather than worry about the future. "I take it one day at a time, and I don't overthink things," Helen divulged. "My motto in life has always been, 'How do you eat an elephant?'" She continued: "You just go little by little, bit by bit. I break it down, and I use that approach with everything." Article continues below Richie Myler and Helen Skelton split in April 2022 (Image: getty ) Helen, who also presents Morning Live, appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2022, dazzling viewers with her moves. Reflecting on her experience, Helen confided to Bella magazine that her unique approach set her apart from her fellow competitors and possibly aided her during the competition. The presenter shared: "When I did Strictly Come Dancing, my friends would be thinking about what their next dance was, but I never let Gorka talk about the next week. Think about what you need to do today and tomorrow. That'll get you closer to where you'd ultimately like to be." Helen's performances on the dance floor consistently drew acclaim from both the audience and the judging panel, which included Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Anton Du Beke, and Motsi Mabuse. Yet, despite the high praise, Helen and her dance partner Gorka Marquez just missed out on clinching the coveted Glitterball trophy, which was ultimately won by Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystał. Although she didn't take home the top prize, Helen left the competition with a newfound passion for dance and a rejuvenated spirit after a challenging year, which saw the end of her relationship with Richie in April. At the time, she shared: "Very sad to say that Richie and I are no longer a couple. He has left the family home. We will be doing our best to co-parent our small children." Strictly's Helen Skelton and Gorka Marquez wowed the judges and the viewers on the BBC show (Image: BBC ) Article continues below During an emotional segment on the BBC programme, Helen opened up to viewers, saying: "I did Strictly this year because sometimes you just need to jump on the opportunity and chance to put a big smile on your face." In a heartfelt moment with Gorka on the show, Helen expressed her gratitude: "Strictly have given me so many things already. It's helped me remember who I am and what I am about." Speculation is rife that Helen is now romantically linked with fellow presenter Gethin Jones, although neither party has officially confirmed the rumours.
