Alex is on top of the world with a comedian

Alex Jones’ climb will feature in a documentary to be screened on BBC1 at 3.15pm on Sunday. But the mountaineer behind the adventure, Andy Kirkpatrick, is heading to Lancashire next month
Andy KirkpatrickAndy Kirkpatrick
Andy Kirkpatrick

The man behind Alex Jones’ American rock climbing challenge is heading to 
Lancashire.

The One Show presenter Sport Relief this week scaled the 1,200ft Moonlight Buttress in Zion National Park, Utah.

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She was guided up the rock by UK’s only stand-up mountaineer, Andy Kirkpatrick.

Alex JamesAlex James
Alex James

Since Andy was last in 
Lancaster, he’s been climbing all over the world and has many new stories to tell in his latest show – Inappropriate Climbing.

The maverick 
mountaineer will be talking about climbing El Cap with his teenage daughter – as 
featured in CBBC’s My Life series – revisiting Norway’s Troll Wall and his latest expedition to attempt the North Face of the Eiger.

This hugely entertaining speaker’s show contains strong language and is recommended for anyone aged 16 plus. Day one of the Utah challenge coincided with Alex’s 37th birthday, but there was little time for celebration.

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She said: “The truth is that all I genuinely want to do now is get off this wall.”

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.

By day two, she began to appreciate the views from her commanding position. She said: “The upside of this challenge is that there’s probably no better place to have a cup of tea in the morning.”

Presenter Alex Jones has completed her rock face challenge for Sport Relief – a three day ordeal which has left her fighting tears while inching up a sheer cliff.

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Having survived two tough days and nights on the rock, the star was emotional and relieved when she finally arrived at the summit.

Speaking at the summit, Jones said: “I can’t believe I’m at the top, it’s such a feeling of elation.

“I just wanted to touch solid ground for so long. Everything aches.

“The bottom of my back, my hands are in pieces.”

Jones struggled with her emotions during her uphill battle, which has already raised more than £300,000 for the charity.

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Her climb will feature in a documentary to be screened on BBC1 at 3.15pm on Sunday.

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

Andy Kirkpatrick – Inappropriate Climbing is on at Lancaster’s The Dukes on Saturday, April 5, 7.30pm.

Tickets: £15/£13 concessions. To book, ring The Dukes Box Office on 01524 598500 or visit www.dukes-lancaster.org.