When Lockdown 3 was announced, Joe Wicks made an online video discussing how he felt about it. He cried more than once.
This man, renowned for his endless bouncy optimism had been broken by the current situation, just like the rest of us. Tigger had become Eeyore, and who could blame him?
And so, when he announced that he’d be resuming his PE With Joe Sessions the following week, it felt more like a betrayal than a lifeline. On top of everything we’re dealing with at the moment, you’re going to make us exercise? READ THE ROOM JOE.
I say this as someone who fully acknowledges they only survived Lockdown 1 because of Joe. I’d never exercised before in my life, but we did it every morning, as a family, and it was the reliable kickstart to the day we all needed.
But now I couldn’t have been less interested in re-starting my relationship with Captain Seratonin, and I would have got away with it if it weren’t for those pesky kids.
One of my six year old son’s friends told him PE With Joe was starting again on a Zoom, so there was no getting out of it.
When Monday morning came, Albie woke up and announced he had “Mondayitis” – a syndrome applicable to every day of the week at the moment. I seized my chance to suggest we gave Joe a miss, but no dice.
Joe cartwheeled into shot, tears long forgotten, so brimming with upbeat cheer that I was exhausted just looking at him witheringly. Then came the bombshell.
His brother Nicky, – yes, Nick Wicks – usually the voice in his ear, providing information for viewer shout outs, which lead to the catchphrase, “Let’s ‘ave some shauuut auuuts Nickaaaaay!” isn’t there.
It’s going to be done by Joe’s friend Dom now. In my fragile state, this is almost more than I can bear.
Luckily I don’t have much time to dwell on it, because soon I’m bunny hopping, kangaroo jumping and Spiderman lunging like in the good old bad old days.
Joe reveals that there are 120,000 live viewers, somewhat down on the record breaking numbers he achieved in Lockdown 1 (955,185 on March 24) but nothing can smash his spirit today. “120,000?” he says, “that’s millions!”
At the end of the workout, Joe makes us give ourselves a round of applause, and asks us how we feel. My son tells me that his Mondayitis is gone, and now he feels “like I’ve been shot out of a rocket!”
Oh Joe, you’ve done it again. We’ll never forget you though, Nicky.
