Derrick Evans was born in Manchester Parish, Jamaica, to a single mother who gave him away when he was just three months old. He moved to Leicester in the UK with his adoptive family. He worked hard from a young age which led him to teaching fitness classes at a local church in North London. His classes became extremely popular with the locals and eventually got the attention of the British Heart Foundation who asked him to lead classes throughout the country.
Derrick saw a gap in the market for a daytime TV fitness instructor and so he would regularly head down to the ITV studios often and ask them to take him on. The name 'Mr Motivator' came from street performances that he, Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan gave to crowds in shopping centres and streets. The couple currently live in Manchester, England with their youngest daughter. After his time away from daytime TV, and during the recent lockdown, Mr Motivator has returned to doing what he does best, keeping the nation fit and healthy.
His wife Sandra also got involved with some of the workouts by demonstrating alternative movements for those who prefer to stay seated.
Mr Motivator exclusively told Thrillz: "These workouts are aimed at everyone, any age, any abilities. It is very important to show how each exercise should and can be done from a chair. Palmer has always had this very important role in my videos.
Mr Motivator also partnered up with Thrillz for ' Fitness for the Nation ' during the January lockdown. Along with his trusted sidekick, Sandra, Mr Motivator held live Facebook workout classes on the Thrillz Facebook page as a way to encourage the nation to keep fit during the isolation months.
In April this year, Derrick told the Manchester Evening News that over this past year he has had time to reflect on what really matters in life.
Yes, it happens now. The biggest demand is from conferences because at 1. Normally there's a surprise element where I'm hiding around the back. The director wants to make a speech, so stands up and says: 'I need to wake you up, and there's only one man who can do it.
For 20 to 30 minutes, I'll talk to them about surviving against all odds and tell them that they have got to believe in themselves — that they have the ability to be great, not mediocre. By the time I leave, the music is pumping away and everybody's on their feet screaming. What was the best year of your financial life? It was I had started performing my fitness regimes on GMTV and suddenly everyone wanted me. I made two videos in one year and one of them went on to become the biggest selling video ever in the UK.
I think it still holds the record: around 1. I made so much money — a good six-figure sum — that I was able to buy two houses in Harrow, North London, with cash. What is the most expensive thing you bought for fun?
Probably a Range Rover. I don't remember what model it was or how much I paid for it but I do remember it was black. When you don't need money or you are not going hungry, you tend not to think about what something costs you. And once you have paid for it, you tend to dismiss it and forget about it. I will never forget the very first car I bought though: a red Ford XR3i. I remember the salesman almost not wanting to show me it because I don't think he thought I could afford it.
I said to him: 'I want to buy that one. He almost fell off his chair. Serves him right, the cheeky brute. The best money decision you have made? Buying the houses in Harrow. After I bought the first one, I purchased the one next door by making the owners an offer they couldn't refuse.
Then I knocked them together into a seven-bedroom house with a huge garden which I could play cricket in. What is your biggest money mistake? Selling that home in Harrow. It was my first real home and it was a really happy one. We used to have wonderful parties there with fireworks in the garden. We decided to sell in because our daughter had breathing problems that we found went away when we travelled to Jamaica.
So we decided to move there for her. I turned the house back into two separate homes before I sold up. Not any more. I used to think pensions were a good idea and that saving into one was important. But I no longer think that. I've attended the university of life and my current view is: you should live your life now like there is no tomorrow. I have lost too many friends who had all these wonderful pensions and ideas about how they were going to spend their retirement. They died or fell ill and never got the chance.
You change your attitude when that happens. Now, I think people should forget about saving for a pension, especially if you own your home. Instead, enjoy yourself while you can: have a holiday with the money and do not take your health for granted. Do you invest directly in the stock market? I'm not interested. I think it's speculating. I don't do any of that. Yes, in Jamaica. It's worth a couple of million pounds. We have about 30 acres of land up in the hills.
There's a six-bedroom house on the property, a seven bedroom apartment and a three bedroom house, as well as a business where we do zip-lining and paintballing. But we're selling it and looking for a place to buy in the UK. While that is happening, I am renting in Manchester. What is the one little luxury you treat yourself to?
I love a really good meal. About once a month, I go to a local Italian restaurant I know where the food and the service is great. If you were Chancellor what would you do? I would find a way to get some money together to cure homelessness in this country. I hate seeing people living on the street. I think it's a crime considering we are such a rich country. I think it's disgusting the Government allows it to happen.
I believe we have the money, or we can find it. Even if people don't want a place to live permanently, just a bed at night, we should provide them with that. It really grieves me every time I walk past someone who is homeless.
It reminds me of when I was homeless and what I went through. Yes, I do a lot of work for Help4Harry, a charity that helps a young man who has muscular dystrophy. I am also hoping to do more in the future to help people who are homeless in the UK.
How are you going to cope with everything that life throws at you? The show is being launched to directly address the concerns of viewers who are in self-isolation, offering tips, especially to older viewers, on how to keep healthy and happy.
In addition Motivator is launching a short daily livestreamed workout at midday every day, titled the Daily Dozen, on his Twitter and forthcoming YouTube channel. Motivator said his childhood in Jamaica experiencing extreme weather had shaped his approach to the lockdown. If you have been affected or have any information, we'd like to hear from you. Only the Guardian can see your contributions and one of our journalists may contact you to discuss further.
Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. Get dressed. Put your trainers on. Every hour my alarm clock goes off and reminds me to get up and do something.
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