Alex Jones talks to Naomi Clarke about her new BBC Two sequence Reunion Lodge, which sees people who find themselves linked by a singular story introduced collectively.
Alex Jones from Reunion Lodge. PA Photograph/BBC/Darlun Cyf.
If you happen to had the prospect to attach with somebody who performed a big function in your life, would you seize it?
Presenter Alex Jones and her group are giving folks the distinctive alternative to make this occur in a brand new BBC Two sequence which guarantees to supply laughter, tears and emotion.
The tales explored on the Reunion Lodge embrace a younger girl who’s given the prospect to satisfy the person who saved her life after she fell on to the London Underground tracks, a person who’s reunited along with his long-lost brother after discovering he had a secret sibling and a Sixties woman band who reconnect with their favorite boy band 50 years on.
Primarily based within the picturesque Iscoyd Lodge in North Wales, some members examine in to hunt forgiveness whereas others want to say thanks or get the solutions they’ve longed to know.
“I believe it’s reaffirming when it comes to humanity and the way type persons are and truly we do dwell in a stunning world, there are good folks on the market,” says Jones.
“It wasn’t all the time unhappy tears, they had been typically pleased.”
The One Present presenter, 46, admits she did really feel quite a lot of duty as she helped the people share their tales and guided them into the reunion.
Alex Jones from Reunion Lodge. PA Photograph/BBC/Darlun Cyf.
“These are life-changing moments for lots of people being reunited,” she explains.
“However a lot of the tales, they had been very severe, some had been very pleased, however the vary I believe is what’s unbelievable in regards to the sequence, each story may be very sudden and one thing you’ve by no means heard earlier than.
“Sure, there are adoption tales and there are programmes that try this very effectively but it surely feels prefer it’s very totally different since you get that side-by-side with one thing that you simply’ve by no means imagined.”
Amid the present challenges many individuals face, the presenter additionally feels this programme provides a welcome reduction.
“I believe it’s actually essential for folks to have escapism, one thing that seems like a heat hug, simply fascinating tales, good folks, and it takes you away from all of the issues that we’re consistently bombarded with every day. I believe it’s the fitting time to have a programme like this.”
Lately, Jones has spoken about her personal private experiences of getting a miscarriage within the 10-part sequence Making Infants and the problems that may include having a child at an older age within the documentary Fertility And Me.
The mom of three believes her open nature has been useful on this newest challenge as she thinks it is crucial that those that are sharing their private tales really feel like they know her.
“They put such belief (in us), they arrive in and share every little thing, typically issues which are actually troublesome.
Alex Jones from Reunion Lodge. PA Photograph/BBC/Darlun Cyf.
“I believe that there must be an trade. They need to know me in order that they know who the particular person is that they’re confiding in and I don’t draw back from it, I’m fairly an open e book.
“I believe sharing stuff makes you extra empathetic, and it makes you extra human. Fairly often folks are likely to put people who find themselves on telly up on a pedestal however I don’t assume folks do with me as a result of there’s the trade.”
She provides that this new sequence and Making Infants are the 2 initiatives she is most pleased with, as she feels they uncover essential tales, ones that she feels are sometimes extra fascinating than these shared by the movie and TV stars who she interviews on The One Present.
“I’m tremendous fortunate in my on a regular basis job and get to speak to movie stars and tv stars and all the remainder of it however what’s all the time fascinating for me is actual folks’s tales.
“These folks, after all, are unbelievable and so they’re tremendous gifted, however typically the individuals who we met on the lodge had been a lot nicer and so they’ve bought a extra fascinating story to inform.
“And I believe this sequence actually showcases how wonderful folks from all walks of life might be, once you put all of them collectively in a single lodge like we do it actually creates one thing actually particular.”
The style wherein the present was filmed was additionally fastidiously thought of, versus having a big group directing the motion, a rig with no cameraman was used to permit for extra genuine conversations.
Jones feels this enabled folks to open up a lot faster and created a hotter environment because the people might chill out and be much less self-conscious about feeling filmed.
Nonetheless, the stakes are as excessive as dwell tv – if no more so – because the group doesn’t get a second take to seize these once-in-a-lifetime moments.
The TV presenter says her years of dwell TV did assist her assume on her ft however she additionally simply approached it as if she was in a room with two mates or kinfolk to assist ease the pressure.
“You possibly can solely do what feels proper within the second, you’re studying the room as you’re going and reacting and that’s why it’s almost like a dwell programme in a way as a result of you possibly can’t return and redo something.
“You do what you assume is greatest actually and hope that that’s proper. However we’ve bought our counsellors and our adoption specialist when it will get actually heavy, and if I really feel like we have to get knowledgeable in right here they’re available, so we’re effectively buffered.”
The primary episode of Reunion Lodge airs on BBC Two and BBC One Wales at 8pm on Thursday April 6.
