TV BROADCAST OF RECORD-BREAKING JONES SHOW

The show–stopping, record–breaking Jones Jones Jones event – which saw Grace Jones and a host of famous Joneses perform to an audience of Joneses at the Wales Millennium Centre earlier this month - is being broadcast this Sunday, 26 November on S4C.

The event, which attracted global interest, set a new Guinness World Record for the largest same surname gathering – 1,224 Joneses – beating the previous record held by 583 Norbergs in Sweden.

Presented by Blue Peter’s Gethin Jones and S4C presenter Gwenllian Jones, who now lives in Australia, the show sees Grace Jones perform her greatest hits Slave to the Rhythm and Pull up to the Bumper.

Other Joneses from the world of entertainment taking part include rock performers Heather Jones and Elin Fflur Jones and well–known comedian and presenter Dai Jones, the fictional Jones family from soap Pobol y Cwm and entertainer Caryl Parry Jones, who composed a song especially for the event.

West End performer John Owen Jones and opera singers Dame Gwyneth Jones, Leah Marian–Jones and Gwyn Hughes Jones also perform, along with former Opportunity Knocks star Tammy Jones, who travelled from her home in New Zealand to take part.

Actors John Pierce Jones and Mei Jones revived their best–known roles – Mr Picton and Wali Thomas from the classic comedy series C’mon Midffild – to entertain the audience.

Betsan Powys, presenter of popular quiz show Mastermind Cymru, lends a hand to quiz stars on the Jones surname. Special messages from Sir Tom Jones, Bryn Terfel Jones and Aled Jones are also featured during the show.

Meirion Davies, S4C’s Commissioning Editor Entertainment and Events says, “The Jones Jones Jones record-breaking show certainly captured people’s imaginations around the world. This unique event saw the Joneses of Wales come together in some style to set a new Guinness World Record while enjoying a feast of entertainment and fun at the same time”.

JONES THE RECORD-BREAKER

1.244 Joneses in one place!
Jones Jones Jones
Sunday 26 November 9.00pm
Watch a clip of the concert here... Go to the official website...

Wales is celebrating after setting a new Guinness World Record for the largest same surname gathering by staging a mass get-together of Joneses.

The new record - 1,224 Joneses - was set on Friday, 3 November at the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff as part of S4C's Jones Jones Jones variety show, which will be broadcast on the channel on 26 November 2006.

A host of famous Joneses, led by pop icon Grace Jones, took to the stage to entertain an audience of Joneses, comfortably beating the current same surname record held by a group of 583 Norbergs in Sweden.

Iona Jones, S4C's Chief Executive, said, "It has been a wonderful record-breaking evening of entertainment and an unforgettable international celebration of the Jones clan."

Amarilis Espinoza who attended the event on behalf of Guinness World Records in order to validate the new record, added, "This was certainly a unique event and we're delighted that a new mass participation record has been set."

She added, "This marks the beginning of our annual Guinness World Records Day Week and it's fantastic to kick it off with such a great event!"

The show, produced by Cwmni Da in conjunction with Mr Producer, was hosted by Blue Peter's Gethin Jones and presenter Gwenllian Jones, who travelled 10,000 miles from her home in Sydney, Australia to attend the event.

Joining Grace Jones, who sang her iconic hits Pull up to the Bumper and Slave to the Rhythm on stage, were opera singers Dame Gwyneth Jones, Gwyn Hughes Jones and Leah-Marian Jones and West End performer John Owen Jones.

A host of other Welsh Joneses including Caryl Parry Jones, Heather Jones, Dai Jones, Elin Fflur Jones and the fictional Jones family from Welsh soap Pobol y Cwm also took part.

Special messages from Sir Tom Jones, Bryn Terfel Jones and Aled Jones were also read out during the evening.

For further information please contact Hannah Thomas, S4C Press Office on 07810 794853