Published 21:46 16 May 2022 GMT+1

People Moved By Emotional Joe Wicks Documentary

He became the nation's PE teacher during Covid-19 lockdowns, but he had to battle through a tough childhood to get to where he is today

Jake Massey

Viewers have been moved by an emotional documentary about Joe Wicks. Watch a touching conversation with his dad here:

Throughout the horrific Covid-19 lockdowns of recent years, Wicks offered countless families across the country invaluable relief.

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The fitness coach's PE lessons were livestreamed by millions, and served as a precious means of keeping fit, blowing off steam and clearing heads when we were confined to our homes.

But Wicks' childhood was a far cry from the life he lives today, and it is quite remarkable that he has become the pillar of fitness that he is.

The 36-year-old grew up in a council estate, and his parents' lives were far from healthy.

His dad was a heroin addict, while his mum had obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), eating disorders and anxiety.

The documentary features many moving moments.

BBC One

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Consequently, he spent prolonged periods without his parents, as they spent many months in rehab facilities.

Wicks - aka The Body Coach - reflected on this challenging upbringing in new documentary Joe Wicks: Facing My Childhood, which aired on BBC One tonight (Monday 16 May).

The hour-long doc is littered with touching moments, as Wicks confronted his past and shared candid conversations with friends and family.

On numerous occasions, Wicks was moved to tears - and it seems like many viewers at home were too:

Wicks has two children, Indie and Marley, with wife Rosie, who he married in 2019. The couple are expecting their third child in September.

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He aims to give them a very different upbringing to his, but he thinks it is important that they are not sheltered from it.

BBC One

He said: "I think it's important to bring them into the conversation and let them know about my history.

"Because they live in this wonderful house… and I want them to understand that not everyone lives in these houses and has the holidays that we do.

"I want them to appreciate our life and be grateful and thankful and know that the history of our family really created all of this, it really did.

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"So I'm going to talk to them openly and get them talking about their mental health as much as I can when they start going to school and get on phones and stuff like that."

You can catch up with Joe Wicks: Facing My Childhood on iPlayer.

Featured Image Credit: BBC One

Topics: TV and Film

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey

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Published 21:46 16 May 2022 GMT+1

People Moved By Emotional Joe Wicks Documentary

He became the nation's PE teacher during Covid-19 lockdowns, but he had to battle through a tough childhood to get to where he is today

Jake Massey

Viewers have been moved by an emotional documentary about Joe Wicks. Watch a touching conversation with his dad here:

Throughout the horrific Covid-19 lockdowns of recent years, Wicks offered countless families across the country invaluable relief.

Advert

The fitness coach's PE lessons were livestreamed by millions, and served as a precious means of keeping fit, blowing off steam and clearing heads when we were confined to our homes.

But Wicks' childhood was a far cry from the life he lives today, and it is quite remarkable that he has become the pillar of fitness that he is.

The 36-year-old grew up in a council estate, and his parents' lives were far from healthy.

His dad was a heroin addict, while his mum had obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), eating disorders and anxiety.

BBC One

Advert

Consequently, he spent prolonged periods without his parents, as they spent many months in rehab facilities.

Wicks - aka The Body Coach - reflected on this challenging upbringing in new documentary Joe Wicks: Facing My Childhood, which aired on BBC One tonight (Monday 16 May).

The hour-long doc is littered with touching moments, as Wicks confronted his past and shared candid conversations with friends and family.

On numerous occasions, Wicks was moved to tears - and it seems like many viewers at home were too:

Wicks has two children, Indie and Marley, with wife Rosie, who he married in 2019. The couple are expecting their third child in September.

Advert

He aims to give them a very different upbringing to his, but he thinks it is important that they are not sheltered from it.

BBC One

He said: "I think it's important to bring them into the conversation and let them know about my history.

"Because they live in this wonderful house… and I want them to understand that not everyone lives in these houses and has the holidays that we do.

"I want them to appreciate our life and be grateful and thankful and know that the history of our family really created all of this, it really did.

Advert

"So I'm going to talk to them openly and get them talking about their mental health as much as I can when they start going to school and get on phones and stuff like that."

You can catch up with Joe Wicks: Facing My Childhood on iPlayer.

Featured Image Credit: BBC One

Topics: TV and Film

Jake Massey

@jakesmassey