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Dolly Parton may be known for her glamorous wigs and full face of make-up, but Alex Jones says, before she becomes Dolly on stage, she is “still absolutely striking”.

The TV presenter first met the American country singer, who is said to be “tickled pink” about her Welsh roots, in a dressing room before an interview at the start of her long stint as The One Show host.

“In front of me she transformed into Dolly and I thought how special that we all know her as this vivacious, very made-up beautiful woman,” she recalled in a chat about her most memorable guests for the show’s 20th anniversary.

“But actually she was equally striking and equally impressive because she is just a nice person.”

Jones told Vernon Kay on BBC Radio 2 that, as a young host, she was called into Dolly’s dressing room.

“She was like, ‘Come in darling… come and sit’,” she said.

“She had no make-up on, so it was before she becomes Dolly.”