Joe Wicks: ‘Jamie Oliver told me to keep my feet on the ground!’
Despite his rumoured £12million fortune the fitness superstar still likes to take the Tube
With two million Instagram followers, record-breaking book sales and an estimated £12million in the bank, the UK’s most popular fitness guru Joe Wicks is now taking over your TV too.
His new two-part series, Joe Wicks: The Body Coach, sees him help ordinary people transform their bodies with his 90-day diet and exercise plan.
“It’s a combination of transformations, exercises and recipes,” explains personal trainer Joe, 31, whose big break came thanks to his snappy ‘Lean In 15’ videos on social media.
“I meet all different types of people from different backgrounds on the show.
There’s a girl who has four kids and was a junk-food addict, a guy who would have fish and chips for lunch at work, and a couple who own a pub and like a drink so they were really up against it, but the ones you think won’t stick to it end up being some of the best transformations.”
Indeed, Joe himself wasn’t always the six-pack-sporting hunk we know today.
“I was always really skinny growing up,” says the Londoner. “I wasn’t happy with my body. As soon I was 16, I was in the gym trying to build up.”
Now an inspiration to millions, Joe refuses to let his success go to his head.
“Jamie Oliver gave me some lovely advice which was to keep my feet on the ground, stay passionate and remain authentic,” he reveals.
“I think I’ve done that – I’ve just got a nice house!
"It took two or three years before I even made a single penny off social media, but I’ve kept the same message and haven’t let money or fame affect me.
"I sit on the Tube and no one really notices me. I’m quite private and I’m not that fun!”
Joe has made no secret of the fact that he doesn’t want to be a celebrity either.
“There was a rumour that I was going to do Strictly Come Dancing but I would never do that because I’m a terrible dancer,” he admits.
“My show suits me because it’s me talking about my message. I don’t just want to be on TV for the sake of being on TV.”
But with his trademark bouffant almost as famous as his sculpted physique, surely he’s been offered megabucks to star in a shampoo ad?
“People always ask me about my hair!” he laughs. “They must think I use some miracle product but it’s literally shampoo, conditioner and that’s it.
"Would I ever shave it off? Only if I started to lose it, but I’d probably have a comb-over before that!”
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