George Jones (radio presenter)
| George Jones | |
|---|---|
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| Occupation | Radio and TV personality |
George Jones (born 1943, Bloomfield, East Belfast) 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.
Music career
As a teenager, he was a member of the band the Monarchs which included his boyhood friend, Van Morrison.[1] The Monarchs toured Europe for three months as the International Monarchs before returning to Belfast and disbanding.[2] George Jones moved to comedy cabaret by forming the well-known band Clubsound.[3] 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 Radio. 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.[4]
After the BBC radio show ended, George started to present on Sunday mornings on U105 and as of 22 January 2007 he presented his own show on the same station from Mondays to Fridays from 3 to 6p.m. However he then presented the Sunday night show on U105, Sunday Sizzler, 6pm to 9pm, until early 2012. He returned to Downtown Radio with his Drivetime show 4pm to 7pm, now he has a mid afternoon show on the station between 2pm and 4pm daily. George has announced on 24 March 2014, that his last show is on 25 March 2014. This was announced on the day he returned from a skiing holiday.
Television career
He has also appeared on television shows such as Town Challenge and Children in Need.
Legal action
On 31 August 2007 George took legal action against Gerry Anderson 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.
Other projects
In April 2010 George took a place on Irish Comedy Tour Give My Head Peace.
George has also starred in the Irish musical, On Eagles Wing (later On Irish Wings) along with Peter Corry.
Personal life
Jones and his wife, Hilary live in Greyabbey and have a son, Jason (Jay) Jones and a daughter, Natalie.[5]
Notes
- ↑ George Jones, David Hull Promotions
- ↑ Rogan 2006. pp55-70
- ↑ Rogan 2006. p335.
- ↑ "I'm the guy who axed George Jones". Belfast Telegraph online. 12 March 2007. Archived from the original on 19 March 2007. Retrieved 11 April 2007.
- ↑ "George Jones: Secrets and Lies". Belfast Telegraph online. 3 February 2007. Archived from the original on 5 March 2007. Retrieved 8 April 2007.
References
- Rogan, Johnny (2006); Van Morrison: No Surrender, London:Vintage Books ISBN 978-0-09-943183-1