Joe Wicks, the body coach and TV presenter, visited a Herefordshire primary school today.

Peterchurch Primary School welcomed Joe Wicks today after winning a reading competition which 40,000 schools entered into.

Peterchurch was one of 10 schools that Wicks has visited this week.

The school hall was decorated with balloons, bunting and a display of 'welcome Joe' posters and cards.

Upon his arrival, Wicks did exercises with the pupils in the school hall. Many of them had enjoyed his lockdown fitness videos during the pandemic.

After a thorough workout, he then read his new book, The Burpee Bears, to the children, before answering pupils' questions.

He told the children he got into fitness through doing PE when he was at primary school and said his favourite forms of exercise were swimming and cycling.

He said he started his fitness Youtube channel to inspire people to start exercising

Wicks said: "What I love the most is seeing young children getting out and exercising.

"It's important to emphasise the connection between movement and mental health."

Wicks was born in Epsom and studied sports science at St Mary’s University, Twickenham. After graduating, he worked as a teaching assistant before becoming a personal trainer.

In 2014, Wicks began to gain a following for his fitness and nutrition related content on social media and launched his website called The Body Coach for marketing a range of fitness and nutrition plans.

Wicks published his first book Lean in 15: The Shift Plan in 2015, and it became an instant bestseller. 

The Burpee Bears is his first children's book, and comes after a rise in popularity with online workout videos during the first coronavirus lockdown which started in March 2020.

Hereford Times: Joe Wicks did exercises with the children and read his book to them Joe Wicks did exercises with the children and read his book to them

He said: "I did the book because I really wanted to continue inspiring children to exercise. The idea of it is to tell a story about movement through the book.

Headteacher, Jason Avards, said: "Working out with Joe today in our hall will no doubt help to inspire our children further to lead healthy, active lives.

"It has been very exciting to welcome him into our school."