Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Alex Jones recalls Matt Baker’s headline-making question to David Cameron: ‘I don’t think he meant it like that’

A 2011 interaction between Matt Baker and the former Prime Minister has gone down in ‘The One Show’ history

Nicole Vassell
Thursday 20 April 2023 02:26 EDT
Comments
David Jason leaves One Show viewers uncomfortable with 'bend down' comment

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Alex Jones has looked back at one of The One Show’s most memorable interviews involving her former co-host Matt Baker and the then-Prime Minister, David Cameron.

Jones, who has been a main presenter on the BBC One evening magazine show since 2010, has been present for some of the programme’s landmark moments.

During an appearance on the Off Menu podcast this week, Jones was asked about The One Show’s 2011 live interview with Cameron.

Towards the end of the segment, Baker had a quick additional question for the Conservative politician: “How do you sleep at night?”

Viewers were surprised and entertained at the hard-line implication of the presenter’s query, as it clashed with the usual lightness of the programme.

“I’ve always managed to sleep okay,” Cameron replied. “If you work hard during the day and get your stuff done, try and put it behind you. At the end of the day, if you’re exhausted you’ll make rotten decisions.”

However, Jones has doubts about the intention of Baker’s infamous question.

“I don't think he meant it [like], ‘How do you sleep because of all this terrible stuff going on in your mind?’” she told show hosts Ed Gamble and James Acaster.

“I think he meant, ‘Because you’re so busy, do you sleep? You’re running a country, how do you sleep?’ And I think Matt ran with it because it was a bit cooler, the other version. But who knows what was in his brain at that time.”

Despite the confusion at Baker’s question, the crew at The One Show revelled in Baker’s moment of controversy all the same.

Matt Baker and Alex Jones in 2011
Matt Baker and Alex Jones in 2011 (Getty Images)

“They got T-shirts printed at work with that question on the back,” Jones revealed.

Another meme-worthy moment came when Sesame Street icon Cookie Monster appeared on the programme wearing a Remembrance Day poppy in November 2016.

“I didn't even know how they were gonna pin it on, to be fair, without hurting him!” Jones joked.

“That's not an outfit he’s wearing; that's his body. They were actually stabbing the Cookie Monster through his blue fur. That's how much he loves The One Show. He was like, ‘I'm gonna take this stabbing through my body to put a poppy on, not to upset Britain.’”

Jones, who also hosts the BBC Two programme Reunion Hotel, also recently spoke about how her relationship with presenter Steve Jones ended over a betrayal involving Angelina Jolie.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in