The One Show

''The One Show'' is a British television magazine and chat show programme. Broadcast live on BBC One weeknights at 7:00 pm, it features topical stories and studio guests. It is currently co-hosted by Alex Jones, Jermaine Jenas, and Ronan Keating. Various reporters also assist with subject-specific presenting, both in the studio and on location, or through filmed segments. Originally produced in Birmingham and then in the BBC Media Village in White City, London, since 2014 the studio has been based in Broadcasting House, the BBC's headquarters in London.

Launched with a pilot series in 2006, leading to a full series from 2007, it has had various previous permanent and temporary hosts. After initial low ratings, the partnership of Adrian Chiles and Christine Lampard from 2007 to 2010 has been credited with boosting ratings and establishing the show as a popular staple of British viewing. The longest-serving partnership was between Jones and Matt Baker, who hosted together between 2011 and 2020.

The programme is usually 30 minutes long, although it is occasionally extended to an hour. It runs all year round, apart from a two-week break at Christmas and a four-week summer holiday, with the summer slot filled with a highlights show, ''The One Show: Best of British'', presented by Matt Allwright and Lucy Siegle.

Launching the full series represented a major financial commitment for the BBC, and was seen by it as a first test of a wide-ranging restructuring of the BBC's production arm into a more flexible and creative organisation, with the show seen as a potential platform for piloting other programme ideas.

Format

As a topical magazine programme, ''The One Show'' covers a variety of stories, ranging from light-hearted humour to serious issues or tragic current events. The broadcast features a mix of in-studio presenting, outside live broadcasting, and pre-recorded segments. Reporters and other experts are included to provide contributions on various topics, both in the studio and as part of segments. Special guests are usually introduced at the top of the show, and remain throughout, often being encouraged to interact with it in various ways, as opposed to simply answering questions.

Inside the studio, videotaping is done in front of a small standing audience, and focuses on two sofas (one for the two presenters, one for guests and contributors) arranged around a coffee table, often serving a practical use, e.g. during food tasting. Use of the forecourt of Broadcasting House for outside live broadcasts is common, allowing for a larger audience and/or a bigger stage for a performance or demonstration.

The show often takes an active part in events such as Comic Relief/Sport Relief and Children in Need. Cross-promotion of other BBC shows is common, although under BBC rules the show cannot give the BBC preferential coverage.

Typically the show airs in a 7pm timeslot on BBC One, however it is occasionally moved later in the evening or to BBC Two to allow BBC One to broadcast extended breaking news coverage or due to overrunning sports events such as Wimbledon.

History

''The One Show'' was initially commissioned for a four-week trial run. It was broadcast on weeknights at 6:55 pm between 14 August and 8 September 2006. The programme was billed as a topical magazine show that was to showcase stories of interest from around the United Kingdom. The trial was hosted by Adrian Chiles and Nadia Sawalha, featuring reports from a variety of people across the UK. The show was intended to be an updated version of the BBC news magazine show '' Nationwide'' (1969–83).

After favourable viewing figures for the pilot, the show returned for a full series after being revamped on 9 July 2007. Team members were Adrian Chiles, studio presenter, Hardeep Singh Kohli, head roving reporter, and 13 other reporters or contributors. A number of changes were made to the format. The show was moved from Birmingham to London. Sawalha was replaced by Myleene Klass. Klass then left in August to give birth to her first child, and was replaced by Christine Bleakley. The line-up was completed by the addition of a new team of reporters. The show replaced '' Real Story'', and '' Holiday''.

The show's 400th episode aired on 18 March 2009; this was an hour in length instead of the usual 30 minutes. From September 2009, ''The One Show'' included a 60-minute episode every week, after successfully trying the format in May 2009.BBC One announces The One Show extends to an hour once a week
BBC Press Office, 3 August 2009 The hour-long format continued until December 2009, and was revived in April 2011.

On 13 April 2010, it was announced the show was being revamped with an hour-long Friday episode, to be hosted by Chris Evans.Chris Evans to host the Friday edition of The One Show
BBC News, 13 April 2010 He was not due to start until after the summer break, but prior to this, both Chiles and Bleakley left the show. Chiles departed first, this being announced on 19 April, his last appearance being on 30 April. His replacement was announced on 26 May as Jason Manford, to begin in July. Bleakley continued alongside stand-ins until the last show before the break, on 10 June 2010, with her departure confirmed during the break, on 8 July.BBC confirms Bleakley 'One Show' exit
Digital Spy, 8 July 2010 The BBC had also confirmed that following the break, ''The One Show'' would be broadcast in high-definition, with the set updated to HD standards.

The show returned on 12 July with stand-in presenters. On 26 July, S4C presenter Alex Jones was announced as the new female co-host. The new lineup of Jones and Manford on Monday to Thursday, and Jones and Evans on Friday, did not debut until the week beginning 16 August, Evans' first show being Friday 20 August.

On Friday 19 November, it was announced Manford was resigning; his last show had aired that Wednesday, for – owing to the Children in Need telethon being on Friday – Chris Evans had presented the end-of-week episode on Thursday. Filling in, Jones was joined by guest presenters including Matt Baker, Alexander Armstrong, and Matt Allwright on Monday to Thursday, with Evans also presenting extra episodes on occasion.

The show began broadcasting from New Broadcasting House on 6 January 2014 with revamped opening title sequence graphics. The opening sequence is also enhanced for the run-up to Christmas each year with extra vocals and visual sparkle.

On 25 January 2011, Matt Baker was announced as Manford's replacement.Matt Baker named as new One Show presenter
BBC News, 25 January 2011 On 19 June 2015 it was announced Evans would be leaving, his last show being 10 July 2015. Following the departure of Evans, the Friday show has been presented by Jones alongside various guest presenters, the first being Patrick Kielty on 17 July.

On 26 January 2015, an FA Cup draw was performed on the show for the first time, for the 2014–15 FA Cup Fifth Round Proper. The BBC regained the broadcasting rights for the Cup from that season and since then, draws have been a semi-regular occurrence on the programme.

On 1 February 2016, the show broadcast an extended one-hour tribute to TV and radio host Sir Terry Wogan, who had died the previous day. This format was repeated (albeit for the usual 30-minute duration) on 31 March 2016 as a tribute to comedian Ronnie Corbett who had died earlier in the day.

On 17 May 2016, the show broadcast a 25-minute '' EastEnders'' special, ''EastEnders: Last Orders'', to mark the end of the era of the character Peggy Mitchell, who was to be leaving the soap for the final time; the show went out live from Albert Square, with cast members talking about Peggy and the show itself.

On 6 January 2017, Jones presented her last show before going on maternity leave; guest presenters Angela Scanlon and Michelle Ackerley began to take over for Jones effective 9 January. Jones called into the show on 26 January to announce that she had given birth to a baby boy.

In April 2019, Jones went on maternity leave for a second time. Jones' maternity cover was provided by: Michelle Ackerley, Angellica Bell, and Angela Scanlon, among others.

On 4 December 2019, Matt Baker announced he would leave the show in Spring 2020 to spend more time with his family, but reassured viewers that he will continue to work with the BBC. Baker left on 31 March 2020, and the BBC confirmed that he would not be replaced, with the programme instead relying on guest hosts to present alongside Jones on a permanent basis.

In July 2020, ''The One Show'' aired its 3,000th edition. It aired on 3 July, and was presented by Alex Jones and Alex Scott.

In April 2021, the BBC
...