Mr Motivator
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Mr Motivator Fitness instructor and motivational speaker | |
---|---|
Years active | 1993–present |
Known for | Mr Motivator exercise routines on GMTV |
Spouse |
Sandra Evans (m. 1996) |
Children | 4 |
Website | mrmotivator |
Derrick Errol Evans
Early life
Evans was born on 15 November 1952 in Manchester Parish, Jamaica, to a single mother who gave him away when he was three months old.[1] His adoptive father, Stanford Rose,[2] was a farmer on a small farm in Jamaica.[citation needed] Evans said he was sexually abused as a child.[1] In 1961, his adoptive family moved to Leicester in the UK, where his father worked as a labourer in a knitwear factory.[2] His mother, Teresa, left the UK after two years because of the climate, but his adoptive father stayed until Evans was 17.[2]
Career
Pre-fitness career
Evans' first job at 17 was working for the East Midlands Gas Board in the customer complaints department.[2] He sold costume jewellery in high street shops and became financially secure.[3]
Origins of Mr Motivator
In 1983, he taught exercise classes at a church hall in Neasden, North West London. His classes became popular and he was asked by the British Heart Foundation to give classes throughout the country. He applied repeatedly to be taken on by ITV and In 1992 his friend Tessa Sanderson recommended him to the producer of the Thames TV health education series the Full Treatment, where he appeared giving fitness advice for one series. In 1993, Greg Dyke hired him for the breakfast show GMTV.[1]
Evans said the name Mr Motivator came from street performances he, Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan gave to crowds in shopping centres and streets. Finnigan shouted that Evans was a motivator and the name stuck.[1]
GMTV (1993–2000)
Evans found fame on the British breakfast programme GMTV in 1993 as Mr. Motivator, promoting health and fitness as a way of life. He performed fitness routines live on-air in highly coloured outfits, which quickly became his trademark. His appearances on GMTV led to Evans becoming (as Mr Motivator) well known in the UK.[4] Evans' popularity on GMTV led to the release of a number of fitness videos including Mr. Motivator's 10 Minute BLTs, Mr. Motivator's 10 Minute Workouts, Body Conditioner: Shot in Barbados, BLT2: Shot in Australia, and Bums Legs & Tums. He is reported to have sold the most fitness DVDs in the UK.[1]
Evans left GMTV in 2000, and went back to Jamaica because his daughter had breathing problems.
After settling back down in Jamaica, Evans then started up a tourism business called H'Evans Scent, which offers activities such as
GMTV return (2009)
In 2009, Evans returned to GMTV as Mr Motivator for a three-week-long special to promote the
Return to television (2014–2016)
In June 2014, the BBC announced that Evans would compete on a new Saturday gymnastics competition programme Tumble,[6] but he had to withdraw after dislocating his knee, necessitating surgery.[7]
Since 2015, Evans has performed fitness routines on stage at the annual Y Not Festival held in Pikehall, Derbyshire.[8]
In 2016, Evans appeared on Lorraine to promote his new book titled The Warm Up.[9]
In 2020, he joined BBC television's HealthCheck UK Live[10] to "keep Britain fit in lockdown"[11] during the COVID-19 pandemic, in line with the resurgence in home-based workout routines. Evans also worked with in May 2020 performed live workouts on Ideal World for a workout routine all in aid of AgeUK.[citation needed]
In February 2021, Evans announced a partnership with Umbrella Training, where Evans hosted a series of online exercise classes, titled "No More
Also in February 2021, he recorded a special video message of support for Swindon's famous Oasis Leisure Centre, which permanently closed due to the pandemic.
In April 2021, Evans worked with
In May 2021, Evans worked with
Later that month, Evans also provided a morning workout routine for people taking part in Centrepoint's STAY:UP campaign to raise money to support young homeless people.[18]
Personal life
Evans lives with his wife Sandra Palmer
Evans was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2020 Birthday Honours for services to health and fitness.[21]
Bibliography
- Evans, Derrick (2016). The Warm Up, Filament Publishing, Croydon, UK ISBN 978-1910819579
References
- ^ a b c d e f Holland, Kay (29 January 2016). "TNT meets... Mr Motivator". TNT Magazine. Archived from the original on 5 May 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
- ^ ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
- ^ a b Power, Vicki (19 March 2016). "Where are they now... ? Mr Motivator". Daily Express. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
- ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
- ^ Rajani, Deepika (30 March 2020). "Mr Motivator returns to TV – here's all you need to know about Derrick Evans". INews. Archived from the original on 27 July 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
- ^ HR / SM4 (13 June 2014). "Celebrity line-up revealed for new BBC One show, Tumble". BBC Media Centre. Archived from the original on 20 June 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Mr Motivator leaves BBC's Tumble after suffering knee injury". The Independent. 25 July 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
- ^ Ball, Jon (29 April 2021). "14 top acts you can catch at Y Not Festival this year". Derbyshire Times. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
- ^ Kelley, Lorraine (1 February 2020). "Mr Motivator is back and ready to get us moving". ITV. Archived from the original on 20 January 2017. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
- ^ Langley, Edwina (26 March 2020). "Mr Motivator returns! Iconic '90s fitness instructor joins BBC One's new HealthCheck UK Live show". Radio Times. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
- ^ Waterson, Jim (26 March 2020). "Mr Motivator makes TV return on BBC to keep Britain fit in lockdown 26 March 2020". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
- ^ "Mr Motivator returns to hospitality serving wellbeing". Hospitality & Catering News. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
- ^ "Mr Motivator Gets Essex Seniors Moving". The Carer UK. 22 April 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
- ^ Adams, Tim (30 April 2021). "Greg Rutherford on Smart Energy GB and his bobsleigh ambitions". Athletics Weekly. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
- ^ "Christian charities team up with TV's Mr Motivator for 'Body and Soul'". Keep The Faith. 16 April 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
- ^ Parry, Tom (12 May 2021). "CATCH UP WITH MR MOTIVATOR'S TRAVEL INDUSTRY WORKOUT CLASS". Travel Trade Gazette. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
- ^ Harrison, Ellis (29 November 2018). "The Real Meaning of Employee Wellbeing". Keka. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
- ^ "Vicky Pattison stays up all night for youth homelessness". CharityTimes. 4 May 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
- ^ Lewis, Helen. "Literally PR authors – Derrick Evans – Mr Motivator – The Warm Up". Literally PR. Archived from the original on 13 January 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
- ^ Laws, Roz (17 July 2010). "Ron Atkinson will have last laugh on Tessa Sanderson's MasterChef disaster". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
- ^ "No. 63142". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 October 2020. p. B68.
External links
- MrMotivator.com Derrick Evans official site
- Mr Motivator at IMDb