Gethin Jones makes his Sky1 HD debut with the brand new quiz show format Sell Me The Answer. Sky1 caught up with the Welsh pin-up to chat about his new project, wrestling alligators and dancing.
What can the audience expect from Sell Me The Answer?
A thoroughly entertaining quiz show. There are loads of different ways to play the game and it's been more emotional than we thought it would be. And it's certainly been a lot funnier than we expected. It's also been quite frustrating and, at times, I've wanted to clout a few traders because they've said they know they answer, taken the money and then not had a clue what the right answer was. And some of the players are there to make a life-changing amount of money, so it's frustrating to see that taken away from them. It's going to be great to watch.
Are you able to spot the traders who are misleading the player?
I've got to know the traders so sometimes I can. I'd like to play the game to see what it's like. The players say that it's really horrible when they shout "sell me the answer" because all the traders go mental and want a chance to take the player's money. Some traders are picked more than others and the psychology behind that is really interesting. And the traders are conniving too. In recording breaks they'll try to speak to the players so their faces are remembered.
What attracted you the project?
The freedom it offers. It's the first show I've done where there's an opening link and then after that it's all down to me. I run the ship for an hour. I have to judge when it's time to have a laugh and then rein it in for the serious side of the negotiations. And it's great TV. Seeing two people argue for 30 seconds over money is great. The lure of cash does strange things to people. I've loved every second so far.
If you could be a contestant on any game show what would it be?
I'd love to have a go at Sell Me The Answer, but I'd be very cynical and wouldn't trust anybody. I’d like to go on Celebrity Juice too because Keith Lemon's hilarious and I've been asked to do Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? a couple of times, but haven’t.
Do you keep up the ballroom dancing practice?
Only on my own when no one's watching! Actually, I'm doing a couple of gigs with Flavia [Cacace, who Gethin partnered on the 2009 Strictly Come Dancing tour] over the summer. It's nice to keep it going. It was four months of my life and then I did the tours and had such a great time, so it'd be a shame to let the skills I learned go to waste.
What's the most useful skill you gained from Blue Peter, other than presenting?
I know how to capture an alligator, which is quite handy in London. I did butler service which is useful at posh dos when there are 17 knives and forks on the table. But on a serious note, I learned about determination and pushing my limitations. It was an amazing three-and-a-half years that I'll never forget - and I have a bad back to remind me!
What's the strangest story you've ever read about yourself?
That I appeared in The Mighty Boosh and I was a contestant on Blind Date in 1997. They were both on Wikipedia for about two years. Neither is true.
