Joe Wicks surprises couple with combined age of 182 with personal workout
Fitness coach Joe Wicks surprised Rosie and Irvine Devitt, married 66 years and with a combined age of 182, with a personal workout in County Down.
How it was covered
- ITV was the only channel found covering it.
- Channel 5, BBC News, BBC One, BBC Two, Channel 4, GB News and Sky News: not found in tracked broadcasts.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story. Facts only one channel reported are attributed to it.
Fitness coach Joe Wicks has surprised an elderly couple with a personal workout after they wrote to thank him for keeping them fit during the pandemic. Rosie and Irvine Devitt, from County Down, have been married for 66 years and have a combined age of 182. They have followed Joe Wicks's online workouts every week since the first Covid-19 lockdown.
In May, the couple wrote to Wicks, known as The Body Coach, to thank him for helping them stay active. Their letter inspired him to visit them in person. When he turned up at their home, Rosie was stunned. "I can't believe it," she said. Wicks told them: "You're an inspiration." He then led them through a session, praising Rosie's technique. "You're squatting deeper than most teenagers do," he said.
The couple say they keep fit with daily walks, weekly workouts with Wicks, and a salad for lunch. They also describe themselves as best friends. After the session, Irvine, who is approaching his 95th birthday, and Rosie, two years shy of 90, said they now have a reputation to keep up. Wicks said he was "blown away" by their energy and outlook on life. His message was simple: sleep more, focus on food, and have fun. The couple have gone back to their tablet to continue their routine, after a workout they will not forget.
Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, grouped by how many channels reported each one. Select a dot to see the source excerpt.
| Claim |  |
|---|---|
| Only on one channel | |
| The couple have a combined age of 182 and have been married for 66 years. | Reported by ITV |
| The couple have worked out weekly with Joe Wicks since the Covid-19 lockdowns. | |
| The couple wrote to Joe Wicks in May to thank him, which led to the surprise visit. | |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The report focused on the heartwarming surprise and the couple's enduring commitment to fitness, presenting it as an inspirational story. It highlighted Wicks's admiration for the couple and his broader message about simple, healthy habits, while also noting the setting in County Down and the couple's ages.
- “I've come to do a workout with you. How are you, Rosie? I can't believe it.”
- “You're squatting deeper than most teenagers do.”
- “It's take care of yourself. It's sleep a bit more. It's focus on the food you're eating and have fun.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.