Josie Gibson is left shocked by Mr Motivator’s real age as he makes This Morning appearance to candidly discuss his mental health battles
Josie Gibson was shocked by Mr Motivator’s actual age when he appeared on This Morning on Tuesday.
The presenter (38) was joined by a fitness instructor (70) – real name Derrick Errol Evans – who spoke candidly about his mental health and previous homelessness.
First, Josie asked the star, “Mr. Motivator, I know you’re not supposed to talk about someone’s age, but I have to ask how old are you?”
“You look no different than when I danced with you one morning.”
He then replied: ‘Well I’m 71 next month.’
Young: Josie Gibson was shocked by Mr Motivator’s real age as he appeared on This Morning on Tuesday
Opening: The host, 38, was joined by a 70-year-old fitness instructor – real name Derrick Errol Evans – who spoke candidly about his mental health and previous homelessness
A stunned Josie then gushed: “You don’t even look 71, you look fantastic!”
Viewers at home also couldn’t believe Mr Motivator’s age and took to social media to share their surprise.
One said: ‘Great to see Mr Motivator back on Telly, he never gets old!’
Another added: ’71? Looks good!’
Another wrote: “Looking great for 71”, while a fourth asked: “How does Mr Motivator still look the same as his GMTV days.”
Mr Motivator burst into the limelight in 1993 as a health and fitness guru on GMTV, leading the nation in his early morning workouts.
During the chat, he opened up about mental health and his previous homelessness as he talked about how dark times made him who he is today.
He explained: “When I was in the barrel fighting in the early days, you never dealt with mental health.
“I worked for the charity Mind and they couldn’t get people to donate because families didn’t want to admit someone was depressed.
First, Josie asked the star: ‘Mr Motivator, I know you’re not supposed to talk about someone’s age, but I have to ask how old are you?’
In shock! He then replied: ‘Well I’m 71 next month’, which left Josie speechless and those at home impressed
Shocking: Viewers at home also couldn’t believe Mr Motivator’s age and took to social media to share their surprise
“But I will admit in my family, my kids have depression and you question it, but it has to do with the release of hormones.”
“I know that when I was depressed, I had to start focusing on myself. I had to count my blessings, get up in the morning and tell myself that today is going to be a great day.
“If you practice being positive, negativity is out of the question.” The reason I don’t think about it, about getting three months, about being homeless is because those are the cornerstones that made me who I am.’
Josie then asked: ‘Were you homeless?’
He replied: ‘Yes, I was down by the Arsenal stadium, I was outside the homeless family unit with my daughter on my arm waiting for them to give me somewhere to stay. We and three of the four families had to share the same bathroom.
“I get annoyed when I hear these really young motivational speakers talk about mental health and I just don’t think you’ve lived!” I can climb every mountain in front of me.’
Josie then added from her own experience, “For me, those worst times led me to the best times and I needed that!”
It comes after last month Mr Motivator wowed viewers when he returned to daytime TV for an interview with This Morning.
wowed fans with his youthful looks and burst of energy as he chatted to Holly Willoughby and Dermot O’Leary before demonstrating a workout routine.
The lycra-loving legend revealed that the key to his demeanor is his mindset, explaining: “I know being positive every day means that negativity doesn’t affect me.
‘If you practice being positive, you will always be positive.’
He looked back on the period when he was homeless.
The Jamaican-born fitness expert said: “I used to live near Arsenal and I went to a family homelessness unit and I would sit outside on my suitcase waiting every day for them to give us a place to stay and eat.
“But through it all I really kept hope alive.” We’re all going to go through hardships, but it makes you appreciate when the good times come.’
During his big break on breakfast television, he said: “My aim was to change the way we look at fitness. I didn’t want it to be all crunches and burpees. I wanted it to be fun.’
Speaking about his success, he continued: ‘There was a moment when I got into fitness. I felt this was my journey. I didn’t know where I was going, I didn’t know what doors it would open for me.’
And he’s showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon, as he revealed: “Join me on the mission I’m on – which is to empower young and old people – to realize that as you get older, the greatest thing you can give yourself is to be independent, a healthier view.’
Mr. Motivator then slipped into his beloved Lycra to perform the workout, rocking a red mesh top, colorful shorts and an eye-catching bandana.
Looking at X, formerly known as Twitter, during the segment, viewers called for the star to become a regular on the show.
Viewers shared: “ITV should bring back the exercise segment! I remember the days when Mr Motivator got Britain going in the ’90s when he was on GMTV #This Morning;
‘Every time I see Mr Motivator on TV my mood instantly lifts #ThisMorning’; ‘Okay Mr. Motivator, you now have my full attention’; ‘Mr Motivator made my morning…GIVE HIM BACK’;
‘Love Mr Motivator… now I’m broke.. #ThisMorning’; ‘Mr motivator should be on every week #thismorning’; ‘@MrMotivator should put him back on morning TV # This Morning#still looks the same’; ‘Loved joining #mrmotivator on @thismorning – make it a regular’; ‘My guy Mr. Motivator looks great at 70! #This morning.’
While he is now a national treasure, Mr Motivator previously revealed that he faced resistance when trying to launch his TV career, as he was told viewers wouldn’t like him as a black man.
The Jamaican-born TV personality told the Radio Times: “When I walked into my first job interview and the guy said, ‘Why didn’t you tell me you were black?’, I said, ‘Why didn’t you tell me you were white?’ ?”
Icon: Mr Motivator burst into the limelight in 1993 as GMTV’s health and fitness guru, leading the nation in his early morning workouts
Strong: During the chat he opened up about mental health and his previous homelessness as he revealed how dark times made him who he is today
Brave: He said: ‘The reason I don’t think about it, that I got three months, that I’m homeless is because those are the cornerstones that made me who I am’
Here it is: Last year, Mr Motivator was made an MBE by Prince William during his investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle for his services to fitness
“Later, when television came along, it took me ten years to get a break as an on-screen fitness trainer.”
“Every time I’d go to the studio, the guys would say, ‘Look, for a white lady with two kids, a black guy on TV would never work.’ But I continued to persevere.’
Last year, Mr Motivator was made an MBE by Prince William during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle for his services to fitness.
When he received the acclaimed award, the Duke of Cambridge urged him to ‘keep up what he’s doing’ – but turned down an offer to take one of his trademark Lycra clothes.