'Exercise was my escape from stress at home'

Joe Wicks tells new what being active did for him as a child and how he's sharing the love

- NIKKI ONAFUYE

He kept us all moving during lockdown. Now, fitness guru Joe Wicks, 39, is back with a new mission - getting kids (and their grownups) off the sofa and loving exercise again.

But while The Body Coach might be all energy and endorphins online, at home he's just dad to Indie, six, Marley, five, Leni, two, and 13-month-old Dusty. Married to model and fellow fitness fan Rosie Jones, 35, since 2019, Joe - fresh from a family holiday to Turkey - admits that juggling four kids, work and regular workouts is no mean feat. Here, Joe tells new about the chaos of parenting and how fitness has saved him.

Hi, Joe! How are you?

Good! I just got back from holiday. Amazing, lying on a sunbed. Well, not that relaxing with four kids there. I went to Turkey with my wife, kids, and my mum. There was this amazing outdoor gym, they had classes, ice baths... But honestly, just being with the kids in the pool, riding jet skis, that was the best bit. I see exercise as bonding time.

How much does fitness help with your mental health?

Massively. From a young age, exercise was my escape from stress at home. I did a documentary on parental mental health, and I honestly believe that without PE and exercise, I would have struggled mentally or fallen into some kind of addiction. It gave me control, and I always felt better after. That's why I want kids to fall in love with movement early - it's much harder as an adult.

You have four children - you've mentioned wanting a fifth child, are you ready for another one?