Alex Jones forced to miss The One Show and self-isolate for two weeks after friend tests positive for coronavirus

ALEX Jones was forced to miss tonight's episode of The One Show after a close friend tested positive for coronavirus.

The 43-year-old star and her family are now self-isolating for two weeks - despite testing negatively for the illness.

The presenter appeared on the BBC show via video link this evening as she explained her absence to viewers.

Getting into the Halloween spirit with a spooky spider hat on her head, Alex shared: "I'm really sorry, I'm absolutely gutted I'm not there.

"What's happened is a friend of mine, somebody outside of work, who I saw a few days ago has tested positive for coronavirus.

"So we have done the right thing as a family and we are just isolating."

The Welsh favourite continued: "I've taken a test and thankfully it's negative, by the way, my friend is fine as well.

"But we are staying in as we are following guidelines - I'll probably be back at work the week after next."

Alex became the sole lead presenter on The One Show after Matt Baker, her long-standing co-host, left earlier this year after almost a decade.

She has been joined by a rotating cast of guest presenters including Gethin Jones, comedian Chris Ramsey and Angellica Bell.

Under current rules, people need to self-isolate if they test positve for coronavirus, or have symptoms of the disease.

They also need a 14-day quarantine if they have had contact with somebody confirmed to have covid - even if they themselves test negative.

Alex is not the first celeb forced to miss TV commitments due to this rule, with Little Mix star Jade Thirlwall previously unable to go to the studio for the band's live episode of talent show The Search at the weekend.