Derrick Evans

Derrick Errol Evans (born 15 November 1952), better known as "Mr Motivator", is a Jamaican-born British fitness instructor. He rose to fame in 1993 through appearances on the UK breakfast television show GMTV, where he performed live fitness sessions and offered tips and advice to viewers. Mr Motivator would often perform these workout sessions live before Power Rangers would air as part of GMTV programming. Mr Motivator mostly wore tight fitting and very colourful spandex outfits for his fitness sessions. In response to the popularity of his fitness sessions, he released a number of fitness and workout videos in the 1990s.

Mr Motivator
Born
Derrick Errol Evans

(1952-11-15) 15 November 1952
Manchester Parish, Jamaica
OccupationFitness instructor and motivational speaker
Known forMr Motivator exercise routines on GMTV
Spouse(s)
Sandra Evans (m. 1996)
Children4
Websitewww.mrmotivator.com

Early life and career

Evans was born in Manchester Parish, Jamaica on 15 November 1952 and moved to Leicester in 1961.

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. 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.

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 ziplining and paintballing. Evans continued to make personal appearances at events in the UK for the following decade. After leaving GMTV, and together with his son Benjamin, Evans formed his production company "Wicked Productions" and continued to release fitness videos, as well as making personal appearances, leading sales conferences, instructing team building exercises, and motivational talks for companies and organisations.

GMTV Return (2009)

In 2009, Evans returned to GMTV as Mr Motivator for a three-week-long special to promote the public health programme Change4Life. This led to Evans meeting the then British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, in promotion of the NHS Change4Life campaign. Evans also soon released his autobiography, which chronicled his story of growing up in Jamaica.

Other media

In 2007, Evans made a comeback to TV, advertising his all new BLT workout. The exercise video was shot on location at various locations around Jamaica and was directed by Benjamin Earl Evans. The video focused on the bums, legs and tums areas, and combined dance steps and original music composed by Jamaican native Ross Cassa.

In 2010, Evans appeared as Mr Motivator at the 2010 Bestival on the Isle of Wight as a special guest on the main stage. He performed a fitness routine while encouraging the crowd to join in and generally increase the amount of exercise they do and their enjoyment of doing it. Evans has made numerous such appearances since, including Reading Festival and Truck Festival, at which he has performed every year since 2016.

In 2014, the BBC announced that Evans would compete on a new Saturday gymnastics competition programme Tumble.[1] On 25 July, it was announced that he had withdrawn from the programme after dislocating his knee, necessitating surgery,[2] and would be replaced by actor Peter Duncan.

In 2016, Evans appeared as "Mr Motivator" on Lorraine, where he was interviewed by his old GMTV friend Lorraine Kelly, discussing his new book titled The Warm Up.[3] He also appeared on the BBC documentary Back in Time for the Weekend discussing 1990s exercise trends.[4]

Return to television

In 2020 he joined BBC television's HealthCheck UK Live[5] to "keep Britain fit in lockdown"[6] during the COVID-19 pandemic, in line with the resurgence in home-based workout routines. In May 2020 he is set to join Ideal World live everyday at 12pm for a workout routine all in aid of AgeUK [7]

Personal life

Evans lives with his wife and youngest daughter in St Ann, Jamaica, dividing his time between Jamaica and the United Kingdom. In addition to his media, motivational and fitness work, Evans and his son own and operate H'Evans Scent,[8] an ecotourism resort, and PaintSplat, Jamaica's first paintball operation.[9] He had previously been in a relationship with Olympic javelin champion Tessa Sanderson.[10]

Charity work

In 2007, Evans presented Move It For MS, an exercise DVD for people with multiple sclerosis produced by the MS Trust. He described working with people with MS as "One of the most rewarding experiences of my career. Movement and exercise makes people feel good, valued and puts a smile on everyone's face."[11]

In 2009, Evans started supporting Breakthrough Breast Cancer joining the Breakthrough Running Club as a celebrity expert, helping motivate runners of all standards.[12]

On 12 June 2009, Evans entertained the crowds at the Manchester Midnight Walk in aid of St Ann's Hospice, performing routines and then starting the walk off at midnight.

Music career

In 2012, Evans made the move to the music scene, with his release of "In Da House" music video. The video was directed by two&fro,[13] and featured Evans as Mr Motivator getting members of the public to become more active. The video was shot on location in London, England.

References
  1. BBC announce line up for Tumble: retrieved 23 July 2014
  2. "Mr Motivator leaves BBC's Tumble after suffering knee injury". Independent. 25 July 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  3. "Mr Motivator is back and ready to get us moving".
  4. "Working out with Mr Motivator, The 90s, Back in Time for the Weekend – BBC Two".
  5. 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.
  6. Waterson, Jim (26 March 2020). "Mr Motivator makes TV return on BBC to keep Britain fit in lockdown 26 March 2020". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  7. @IdealWorldTV (28 April 2020). "Tweet" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  8. "H'Evans Scent Zipline and Paintball Adventure Ocho Rios, St Ann, Jamaica". www.jamaicascene.com. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  9. "Jamaica Tourist – Island Adventures – The Adventurous "Mr. Motivator" – Jamaica Tourist Issue 14". www.jamaicatourist.net. Archived from the original on 3 May 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  10. Laws, Roz (17 July 2010). "Ron Atkinson will have last laugh on Tessa Sanderson's MasterChef disaster". birminghammail. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  11. "Move it for MS!". Way Ahead. 11 (4): 1. October 2007. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
  12. Mr Motivator – Breakthrough Breast Cancer: retrieved 8 October 2012
  13. "two&fro (@twoandfrotv) | Twitter". twitter.com. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
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