‘I burst into tears’: As The One Show celebrates its 20th anniversary, Alex Jones reflects on her favourite moments

On August 14, The One Show celebrates its 20th anniversary on air. After a week of special episodes in the run-up to the show's very special birthday, the festivities culminate on Friday's episode with an extended hour-long anniversary special.

The One Show at 20 will see Alex and Roman joined by the wider family of presenters, including Angellica Bell, Clara Amfo, JB Gill, Lauren Laverne and Vernon Kay. Former presenter Matt Baker will also make an appearance.

Much to the delight of fans of the show, there will be a trip down memory lane as Christine Lampard returns to the sofa to look back on her time on the show, and she'll be accompanied by a special film from former co-host Adrian Chiles.

As the iconic series marks 20 years on air, Alex Jones reflects on some of her favourite moments from her 16 years at the helm.

Speaking to Vernon Kay on BBC Radio 2's Tracks of My Years, Alex shares that it's "really tough" to pick her greatest times. "When you go back over the last 16 years, there's so many moments where I still can't believe I was in it," she says.

However, she does recall the 500 Words competition as being a particular highlight. This was a creative writing competition for children aged 5 to 11, tasked with writing an original story in 500 words or less.

Alex and Roman hosted the grand final at Windsor Castle. "Paddington sang a song and I burst into tears," she says.

Alex explains, "As a young girl, to ever think that I could ever go from West Wales and end up at Windsor Castle with the Queen and Paddington and all these aspiring writers, I thought, 'this is incredible, how has this happened?'"

The presenter also says that her bond with the audience is one of the greatest things to come from the show. "I trust them," she says of the audience, adding, "Because they accepted me when I was so green and so new to this world - they stuck with me until I was able to put a sentence together without falling over my words."

In conversation with TV Times, Alex offers further insight into some of her proudest moments from The One Show.

"The One Show has raised over £57 million for Children in Need across our 20 years," she says, adding, "so to be a part of that fills me with pride."

Alex continues, "But also, this show is a reflection of what's going on in Britain at the time, and we've been at the heart of some really big events like royal weddings, the D-Day anniversary and when Queen Elizabeth ll passed away."

However, while she adores being part of the series, there is one down side for the presenter.

"Something always has to give," she tells OK! magazine, explaining, "I always have mum guilt." Alex is a mother to Teddy, Kit and Annie with husband Charlie.

"I'm paddling away furiously under the surface," she says, adding, "I don't think we've cracked it and sometimes I think the balance is all wrong. But I do try my best."

Sometimes she's joined in bed at night by four-year-old Annie. "Darling, you need to start sleeping in your own bed," she sometimes tells her daughter.

Annie has sometimes responded with, "Mama, I haven't seen you and you haven't picked me up from school. I won't see you until tomorrow."

Alex concedes, "It's clever. She's got me!"