BBC presenter Alex Jones has opened up about the reasons she and her husband, Charlie Thomson, 

ultimately decided not to purchase the home of legendary food writer and former Great British Bake Off judge Mary Berry. 

Although the property was undeniably charming, the couple found that its layout wasn’t ideal for their needs—particularly for Charlie, who stands nearly six feet three inches tall.

A Beautiful Home That Didn’t Quite Fit

Speaking on the White Wine Question Time podcast with host Kate Thornton, 

The One Show star reflected on their house-hunting experience and their visit to Mary Berry’s former home. 

While she described the house as “lovely,” Alex explained that it featured two distinct architectural styles merged into one, with part of the property resembling a quaint cottage.

This, however, posed a significant problem for Charlie. Given his tall stature, he found the proportions of the house less than ideal. Alex humorously compared the situation to Roald Dahl’s beloved character, the BFG, trying to live inside a Polly Pocket house. With this in mind, the couple ultimately decided against purchasing the property and instead found a different home more suited to their family’s needs.

After 11 years in their previous house, Alex and Charlie recently moved to a new home with their three children. Their household has also grown in another way, as the couple recently welcomed a new furry family member—a Labrador puppy named Scout.

A Surprise Addition to the Family

Taking to Instagram, Alex shared a heartwarming story about how her husband surprised her with their new puppy. She recalled returning home one evening to find Charlie standing in the driveway, holding what she initially thought was a jumper. However, as she got closer, she realized that the “jumper” had moved.

She was taken aback, asking, “Whose dog is that?” to which Charlie simply responded, “It’s ours.” Alex introduced their new 10-and-a-half-week-old puppy, Scout, to her followers, calling him “gorgeous.”

The couple’s decision to bring Scout into their lives comes during a significant period of transition, including their move to a new home and overcoming personal challenges that have deeply affected their family.

Balancing Career and Motherhood

As a mother of three, Alex has spoken candidly about the difficulties of juggling her career with raising a family. In a previous interview with Fabric Magazine, she admitted that the struggle often leaves her feeling overwhelmed.

“I feel super guilty when I have to leave them,” she said, referring to her children. However, she emphasized that she loves her job and that it plays an important role in supporting her family.

To maximize her time with her kids, Alex revealed that she spends as much time with them as possible before heading to work and makes it a priority to return home in time to read them a bedtime story. “I haven’t found the perfect solution—I just basically try to do it all,” she admitted.

Charlie’s Struggles with Mental Health

Amid their busy lives, the couple has also faced significant personal challenges. Last year, Alex spoke about the devastating impact that her husband’s mental health struggles had on their family.

Charlie, who has battled both viral meningitis and Lyme disease, went through a particularly difficult period that left Alex fearing she might lose him. In a deeply emotional revelation, she described feeling helpless as she watched her husband suffer.

Speaking on Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place podcast, Alex opened up about her own struggles in trying to support him. While she didn’t share too many personal details out of respect for Charlie’s privacy, she acknowledged how difficult it was to witness his decline.

“At first, I went very 1980s about it,” she admitted. “I was raised with the idea of ‘Come on, snap out of it.’ But I quickly realized that approach didn’t help. It was grim. I didn’t know what to do.”

She reflected on the common tendency for people struggling with mental health to keep their pain to themselves, making it even harder for loved ones to offer support.

A Brighter Future

Thankfully, Charlie has made significant progress and is now in a much better place. Looking back on the toughest moments of his illness, Alex admitted that she barely recognized him during his lowest points. “I was looking at him and thinking, ‘I’m hearing someone who is not my husband,’” she said.

Now, however, things have improved, and Alex has become an advocate for speaking openly about mental health. She encouraged others facing similar struggles to reach out for help, reminding them that they don’t have to suffer in silence.

With Charlie’s recovery, their new home, and the addition of Scout to their family, the future looks brighter for Alex and her loved ones. Despite life’s challenges, she continues to balance her career, motherhood, and personal life with resilience and optimism.

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