George Jones (radio presenter)
Encyclopedia
George Jones is a radio and TV personality from Belfast
, Northern Ireland
.
Born and brought up in the east of Belfast, Jones started entertaining in the showbands era in Northern Ireland
.
. The Monarchs toured Europe
for three months as the International Monarchs before returning to Belfast and disbanding. George Jones moved to comedy cabaret by forming the well-known band Clubsound
. Other avenues of entertainment he has involved himself in include stand-up comedy, theatre shows, radio disc-jockeying and television presenting.
. He went on to work for the BBC
, appearing mostly on radio. He had his own show, Just Jones, for BBC Radio Ulster
, which won him a Sony Radio Academy Award for best local radio presenter.
In June 2006, after twenty-one years of presenting Just Jones, he was dropped from the line-up on BBC Radio Ulster. He presented his last afternoon show on 30 June 2006.
After the BBC radio show ended, George started to present on Sunday mornings on U105
and as of 22 January 2007 has presented his own show on the same station from Mondays to Fridays from 3 to 6 p.m.
.
and the BBC
for alleged defamatory remarks made on Radio Ulster in relation to tax evasion. The action was settled in November 2007 with a full apology published.
and have a son, Jason (Jay) Jones and a daughter, Natalie.
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
.
Born and brought up in the east of Belfast, Jones started entertaining in the showbands era in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
.
Music career
As a teenager, he was a member of the band the Monarchs which included his boyhood friend, Van MorrisonVan Morrison
Van Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
. The Monarchs toured Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
for three months as the International Monarchs before returning to Belfast and disbanding. George Jones moved to comedy cabaret by forming the well-known band Clubsound
Clubsound
Clubsound were one of the more successful showband groups from Northern Ireland during the 1960s and 1970s. The original line-up of the band featured George Jones and drummer Tommy Thomas who wrote all the comedy material...
. Other avenues of entertainment he has involved himself in include stand-up comedy, theatre shows, radio disc-jockeying and television presenting.
Radio career
His first break into radio came with a Sunday slot on Downtown RadioDowntown Radio
Downtown Radio is an Adult Contemporary music radio station based in Newtownards, County Down, that serves all of Northern Ireland using a network of FM and AM transmitters.- History :...
. He went on to work for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, appearing mostly on radio. He had his own show, Just Jones, for BBC Radio Ulster
BBC Radio Ulster
BBC Radio Ulster is one of two Northern Irish BBC radio stations, the other being BBC Radio Foyle located in the city of Derry. BBC Radio Ulster is located at Broadcasting House in the Ormeau Avenue area of Belfast city centre...
, which won him a Sony Radio Academy Award for best local radio presenter.
In June 2006, after twenty-one years of presenting Just Jones, he was dropped from the line-up on BBC Radio Ulster. He presented his last afternoon show on 30 June 2006.
After the BBC radio show ended, George started to present on Sunday mornings on U105
U105
U105 is a Belfast based radio station, providing a mix of music and speech as well as hourly news bulletins. It is owned by UTV Radio and was launched at 6am on Monday 14 November 2005....
and as of 22 January 2007 has presented his own show on the same station from Mondays to Fridays from 3 to 6 p.m.
Television career
He has also appeared on television shows such as Town Challenge and Children in NeedChildren in Need
Children in Need is an annual British charity appeal organised by the BBC. Since 1980 it has raised over £500 million. The highlight of the Children in Need appeal is an annual telethon, held in November. A teddy bear named "Pudsey Bear" fronts the campaign, while Terry Wogan is a long...
.
Legal action
On 31 August 2007 George took legal action against Gerry AndersonGerry Anderson (broadcaster)
Gerald Michael Anderson, known professionally as Gerry Anderson , is a Sony Award-winning radio and television broadcaster from Derry, Northern Ireland who works for BBC Northern Ireland, and is a member of the Radio Academy Hall of fame...
and the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
for alleged defamatory remarks made on Radio Ulster in relation to tax evasion. The action was settled in November 2007 with a full apology published.
Personal life
Jones and his wife, Hilary live in GreyabbeyGreyabbey
Greyabbey or Grey Abbey is a small village and townland located on the eastern shores of Strangford Lough, on the Ards Peninsula in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies south of Newtownards. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 1,011 people...
and have a son, Jason (Jay) Jones and a daughter, Natalie.