In recent years, Jones has spoken about her own personal experiences of having a miscarriage in the 10-part series Making Babies and the issues that can come with having a baby at an older age in the documentary Fertility And Me. The mother of three believes her open nature has been beneficial in this latest project as she thinks it is important that those who are sharing their personal stories feel like they know her.
“And I think this series really showcases how amazing people from all walks of life can be, when you put them all together in one hotel like we do it really creates something really special.” The manner in which the show was filmed was also carefully considered, as opposed to having a large team directing the action, a rig without a cameraman was used to allow for more authentic conversations. Jones feels this enabled people to open up much quicker and created a warmer atmosphere as the individuals could relax and be less self- conscious about feeling filmed. However, the stakes are as high as live television – if not more so – as the team does not get a second take to capture these once-in-a-lifetime moments. The TV presenter says her years of live TV did help her think on her feet but she also just approached it as if she was in a room with two friends or relatives to help ease the strain. “You can only do what feels right in the moment, you’re reading the room as you’re going and reacting and that’s why it’s nearly like a live programme in a sense because you can’t go back and redo anything. “You do what you think is best really and hope that that’s right. But we’ve got our counsellors and our adoption specialist when it gets really heavy, and if I feel like we need to get a professional in here they’re on hand, so we’re well buffered.”
“They put such trust (in us), they come in and share everything, sometimes things that are really difficult.
“I think that there has to be an exchange. They have to know me so that they know who the person is that they are confiding in and I don’t shy away from it, I am quite an open book. “I think sharing stuff makes you more empathetic, and it makes you more human. Very often people tend to put people who are on telly up on a pedestal but I don’t think people do with me because there’s the exchange.” She adds that this new series and Making Babies are the two projects she is most proud of, as she feels they uncover important stories, ones that she feels are often more interesting than those shared by the film and TV stars who she interviews on The One Show. “I’m super lucky in my everyday job and get to talk to film stars and television stars and all the rest of it but what’s always interesting for me is real people’s stories. “These people, of course, are incredible and they’re super talented, but often the people who we met at the hotel were much nicer and they’ve got a more interesting story to tell.
The Reunion Hotel is aired on BBC Two and BBC One Wales.
Photo: PA Photo/BBC/Darlun Cyf
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