Gethin Jones has temporarily left his BBC Morning Live role to take on a new responsibility leading the Wales team at the Commonwealth Games.

The former rugby union player has been given a leave of absence from the BBC to serve as chef de mission for his nation. The BBC Morning Live presenter will support Team Wales at this year's Commonwealth Games, assisting athletes, representing Wales at official functions, and acting as the team's official spokesperson.

The Welshman has recently been in Scotland with fellow chefs de mission for workshops, presentations and seminars ahead of the major sporting event. Gethin recently revealed that the BBC have been "incredibly supportive" of his new role, saying: "The detail is just phenomenal.

"Everything is geared towards the athletes being in the best environment to succeed when they come here in the summer and every day, every hour there's something to consider."

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• Gethin Jones steps away from BBC Morning Live as he starts new role

• BBC Morning Live bosses support Gethin Jones as he takes a break from show

Here, Mirror Sport has explored Jones' journey in the public eye, including a painful split and speculation linking him with his BBC colleague Helen Skelton.

Painful split

Jones confessed that his separation from Katherine Jenkins plunged him into depression. The couple ended their relationship in 2011 after five years together, including an engagement. Speaking to the Mirror in 2023, the BBC star said: "I was engaged and then breaking up, afterward, or even during that period, it was just awful.

"I remember doing BBC Radio 5Live and going into the toilet at 5.30 am going, 'All right. Come on. Just focus for the next three hours, and then you can go back to being sad again.'

"I definitely had a bad bout of depression during that time.' I was waiting for a friend to tell me what to do and they can't do that.

"It puts so much pressure on them... you need to figure it out yourself. I saw someone, I had therapy for a couple of years and I still do my homework on that."

Holiday with Man Utd icon's daughter

Jones celebrated his 48th birthday alongside friend and Sky Sports presenter Pien Meulensteen. The duo headed off for a skiing getaway to Morzine earlier this year with the BBC star posting numerous photos on his social media.

The images captured the two friends unwinding in a hot tub with some of Meulensteen's companions. The Sky Sports presenter and daughter of former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen featured in Jones' Instagram upload as they all wore matching hats.

Jones expressed his delight at the trip in the caption, writing: "A quality few days in Morzine with a top class group 'the padel princesses'. First time I went to the mountains I raced half pipe and tried a ski jump, this was around 20 years ago!

"I've been skiing a few times since then but decided to get my first lesson this time, and guess what, it really helped. Waiting for the queen of socials @pienmeulensteen to send some reels. Until then, here's my offering!"

Helen Skelton rumours

Helen Skelton put the swirling rumours surrounding her alleged 'relationship' with Jones to bed in a rare public update in February. Following her separation from rugby player Richie Myler in 2022, gossip began circulating that a romance was blossoming between the BBC pair last year.

The duo had reportedly enjoyed trips to a luxury spa together and appeared close at the Pride of Britain Awards, hugging and leaning on each other on the red carpet. However, Skelton extinguished any suggestion of a romantic involvement when quizzed about whether they were going on further dates.

She said: "No. Well, he's in Manchester working away, so yeah, no, all good."

When pressed on the matter, Skelton was swift to shut down the romance speculation. She added: "We just work together, we are not together. No, no, no. We are just work friends. They printed pictures of us at work and that we're together because we are at work together."

Jones shares the same view, having highlighted their close bond during Comic Relief in 2025. When questioned about whether their 24-hour roller-skating challenge might put a strain on their friendship, the BBC star said: "What's different this time is that we have each other. We're best friends.

"We're very honest with one another."