Aled Jones reveals he launched Toys R Us in UK as teenager
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Aled has been a household name since the Eighties. He will forever be remembered as one of the world’s most successful sopranos, making his professional debut aged just 12. This was in the role of the Angel in Handel’s Oratorio ‘Jephtha’ on BBC Two and BBC Radio 3.
The next four years saw Aled appear in a torrent of TV performances, later invited to record three flagship TV programmes for the BBC from Israel.
These programmes were massive hits, and the resulting two album releases sold over a million copies.
At one point both albums were in the top five official UK Album Charts.
One of the things he is best known for is singing the now famous Christmas song, ‘Walking in the Air’.
While Aled has gone on to achieve global fame, there are a few parts of his career that are less well-known.
Today, appearing on Sunday Morning Live, he revealed how as a 15-year-old, he helped to launch the American toy company, Toys R Us, in the UK.
Talking about how singing at Bangor Cathedral as a young boy was one of the “happiest” times of his life, he noted how being a Chorister had helped “fuel” his love of Christmas.
It was here that, going through his success at Bangor, he revealed: “I actually launched Toys R Us in this country and that was used as the launchpad for that.
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“But I’d released something like 11 albums by the time Walking in the Air came.
“It was one of the last things I did.
“I’d had albums in the charts, and that’s why I was chosen I suppose.”
While Aled said he loved singing religious music and carols, he admitted: “You do get to January thinking that you don’t want to sing any carols for a year.”
He is set to go on tour next year — something which has been postponed for two years.
From the end of February all the way through March, he will appear at 26 cathedrals across the UK.
He will return to Bangor Cathedral to perform, the place where it all began for him.
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In 2011, Aled sat down with Express.co.uk and revealed the five things he could not live without.
The first was “being a dad”, as he said: “Before I got married I hadn’t given much thought to children but as soon as Emilia arrived six weeks early I knew fatherhood was going to change me – and it has. Coming home to the children after a TV recording or a radio programme is such a wonderful antidote to my working life.
“All Lucas is really interested in is building Harry Potter sets out of Lego and watching Dr Who.
“He doesn’t care what I’ve been doing all day, which is so refreshing.
“Emilia on the other hand shows much more interest and is shaping up to be a born performer.
“She loves singing and dancing and has had several successful auditions which I’ve deliberately kept well away from.”
The next was Arsenal football club, a team that captured his heart after supporting Bangor City as a child.
He said another thing he could not live without was limo bikes — a passenger service that picks you up and takes you to your destination on the back of a motorbike.
He also said that if his career was not based in the UK he would be off “to Australia in a heartbeat”.
Aled explained: “I have toured there countless times and on each occasion, I fall for it a bit more.
“The climate is fantastic and the food and drink are phenomenal.
“Australians know how to relax and I love that feeling of fun on a Friday afternoon when everyone escapes to the beach.
“My favourite city is Melbourne as it is similar to London but with the benefit of the sun.”
And, the final thing he cannot live without: “Posh nosh.”
He said: “I adore good food and wine and although I can cook I would rather someone else did all the hard work.
“I love nothing better than a meal in a fantastic restaurant. Marco Pierre White catered at our wedding and I also know Marcus Wareing.
“I’m a huge fan. The flavours and quality of good ingredients are sensational.”
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