You are in > manchester.com  > News > Gethin slams 'squeaky clean' label

TV

Gethin slams 'squeaky clean' label

08/12/2007

Strictly Come Dancing contestant Gethin Jones has bemoaned his "squeaky clean" label as the BBC1 show enters its final weeks.

The Blue Peter presenter, partnered with Camilla Dallerup on the dancing programme, has criticised the media assumption that his day job on the children's show means he's whiter than white.

"That whole squeaky-clean tag really annoys me," Gethin told The Mirror. "Yes I'm a Blue Peter presenter but I'm also a normal 29-year-old bloke. I love going out with my mates to the pub and having a drink.

"Last year on Blue Peter I puked in a Red Arrow, was attacked by an alligator and escaped a leopard in the wild. Just because I'm not swearing with a fag hanging out my mouth when I'm doing all that, it makes me squeaky-clean. Well, I'm not and I don't understand it."

Gethin received glowing praise from the judging panel after he and Camilla dazzled the audience with a superb salsa.

But while he was delighted to score 39 out of a possible 40, the Welsh presenter admitted he wasn't happy with the wardrobe department on the show.

"I work on Blue Peter. I've been dressed as a mermaid in Battersea Park. But a see-through sparkly shirt? Nah, I'm gonna have issues with that," he explained.

"They gave me a different top to wear in the rehearsal so I didn't realise it was transparent until I saw myself on the monitor and thought, 'What the heck is that?' Thanks very much to wardrobe for that one!"

He also confirmed recent rumours that he's been dating Welsh opera singer Katherine Jenkins, telling the newspaper: "We've known each other for a while and we've been on a few dates."