The One Show's Alex Jones close to summit in emotional charity climb

Alex Jones is just 200ft (61m) from completing her rockface challenge for Sport Relief after a gruelling climb which has left her fighting tears while inching up a sheer cliff.

The One Show host has slowly hauled herself 1,000ft (305m) up the rock in Utah over the space of two days and is close to finishing - although she has the toughest section to go.

The presenter has been seen struggling with her emotions during her uphill battle, which has already raised more than £300,000 for the charity.

She had just three months of training for the tough task, which would challenge many experienced climbers, and has had to sleep harnessed to a portable suspended ledge, although she has found it difficult to rest with so little room.

Alex will have climbed a height greater than London's Shard building if she manages to scale the Moonlight Buttress in Zion National Park, Utah.

And she has been enjoying the views from her commanding position, observing: "The upside of this challenge is that there's probably no better place to have a cup of tea in the morning."

Her climb will feature in a documentary to be screened on BBC One at 3.15pm on March 23.

The money she raises will be spent to help families affected by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, as well as other projects.

 

Press Association

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Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.