Gethin Jones broke down on BBC's Morning Live as he paid tribute to his co-star Helen Skelton following their 24-hour skating challenge. The pair completed their mission during Friday's show and later spoke to the day’s hosts, Sara Cox and Kimberley Walsh, about the Wheely Big Challenge which had, at that point, raised more than £700,000 for Comic Relief.
Still in his skating outfit and sitting next to Helen, a clearly exhausted Gethin, who had taken a tumble just an hour before the end, fought back tears as he thanked her for helping him through. He said: "I was really relieved at the end because within an hour and 20 to go when I had that fall it was so weird I just went and got a drink and lost my concentration basically and it really hurt and I've had a bulging disc problem for a while and anyone who's had that will know you can't actually move."
Fighting back tears, he continued: "And actually three hours in I felt it go and I was so worried that I might have to stop at that point. I just didn't want to fail and I wanted to do it together and then it became really hard, it was really painful - sorry it's a bit emotional but I did this two years ago and I've seen where the money goes, the lives it changes." Turning to Helen, he said: "You were amazing, you were incredible. She was just getting me through."
Helen then took his arm and said: "It's a team, it's a big team." She spoke about how she felt like she had peaked too soon after a good start to the roller-skating marathon. "I said to him (Gethin) at one point, 'how are we still here we've got eight hours left to go?"
The pair had been joined on the rink by many famous faces throughout the day, including Dr. Ranj and Kimberley who also took a tumble. Helen said: "I tried so hard to stay up but, like you say, if you lose a bit of concentration or get excited you're gone."
Helen went on to chat about the surrealness of the situation, saying: "We were going around in a circle for 24 hours in a windowless room, we were quite delirious at times and people would pop up. Ranj appeared twice and I was 'I'm sure I've seen you'. It was quite confusing at times, but you were just grateful for people giving up their time."
Gethin admitted that one of the bizarre results of skating for 24 hours was that he was now finding he was leaning towards the left as he walked. Towards the end of the interview, it was revealed that they had raised more than £700,000 up to that point, to which Gethin responded: "Morning Live viewers, you're amazing, you always give so much." Earlier in the day, BBC Breakfast viewers saw Gethin's tumble when the daytime show did a live segment at the skating rink. He admitted: "I actually don't know where to start" before telling his co-star: "Go on Hel, you go." Helen stepped in, saying: "We're so tired. He's literally just stacked it into the side, but he didn't want to miss out on speaking to you guys, and the rules are we have to keep skating the whole time. It has been more of a challenge than what we were expecting."
BBC Breakfast host Nina Warhurst pointed out: "Gethin, I've never seen you like this." Morning Live airs on BBC One weekdays at 9:30 AM and is also available on BBC iPlayer.
In a subsequent segment, Helen Skelton and Gethin Jones were caught swearing on BBC livestream after their relentless challenge. The exhausted pair became more relaxed once the challenge had concluded, which resulted in them being overheard on the continued livestream. Viewers praised the brave pair for skating throughout the night, despite facing some tough challenges along the way. The big finish was aired on Morning Live and while the programme cut back to the studio soon afterwards, the livestream accidentally captured Gethin saying, "fking hell" while embracing his friends and family.
After his sister asked, "You ok?" Gethin replied: "Not really. The fall was quite bad earlier. I am so bad at roller skating. I'm still bad after 24 hours." Shortly afterward, Helen could be heard speaking to producers, telling them what a tough night it had been saying: "You three had the st shift. We were saying, 'these three have got the s**t shift.'"
Thirty minutes before the challenge ended, Gethin suffered another fall. Sara Cox had updated viewers about Gethin's fall earlier during the skate-a-thon, saying: "Now, this is really horrible. Gethin has just had - this is really serious - a massive fall. Look at this. He's so stiff anyway and just seized up. Genuinely it was make-or-break whether he could finish the challenge, but he's determined to get to that finish line."
Fans quickly praised Gethin and Helen on social media for their efforts. One person wrote: "What a magnificent feat. Am absolutely in awe. So well done and Congratulations! You ARE the best." Another message said: "Congrats to Helen Skelton and Gethin Jones on their roller-marathon for Comic Relief. I hope Gethin gets attention from medics sharpish - a bad back, bulging disc, pain, and a severe fall - these are not funny. Seriously."
Gethin and Helen weren't the only stars to take on a huge challenge for Comic Relief. Jamie Laing was also participating in an Ultra-Marathon, although he pulled out of a scheduled appearance on ITV’s Lorraine to discuss his own challenge due to falling behind schedule.
In total, Gethin Jones and Helen Skelton raised over £600,000 for Comic Relief during their Wheely Big Challenge. Reflecting on the significant contributions attendees made to the charity, Gethin expressed his gratitude, stating, "In a time when money is short for so many people, we are already so overwhelmed by the generosity of people." The pair encouraged their audience to keep up the donations and expressed their excitement to contribute to the noble cause in various ways.
The Wheely Big Challenge reminds us how community support can color the lives of many, changing lives through compassion and charity.
