GUEST INTERVIEW

Blame it on the boogie!

Known to parents and children alike as Boogie Pete from the award-winning BBC show Boogie Beebies, Pete Hillier is an experienced West End performer and dancer as well as a REPs member and personal trainer.

Journal: What made you decide to become a PT?

Pete: As a dancer I’ve always enjoyed being active and going to the gym, and while recording Boogie Beebies I began to really

understand the importance of fitness during all stages of life. That led to me deciding to study as a PT, which I do between filming Boogie Beebies and touring the UK with my own children’s theatre show - Boogie Pete Live.

Journal: Do you find there’s much crossover between your two careers?

Pete: While most of the time I’m using the knowledge learnt on my personal training course, my background in dance and children’s television means I can often put a

slightly different slant on some exercises. I’m really interested in putting the fun back into exercise and getting people who really don’t enjoy the gym to enjoy being active again.

Journal: Boogie Beebies is obviously aimed at children – how important do you think it is to encourage youngsters to be active? Pete: It’s really important for children to make activity a part of everyday life. It’s too easy for them to just sit and watch a

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TV show or play a computer game. Add this to a poor diet and it’s no wonder there’s an obesity problem in this country.

The great thing about a show like Boogie Beebies is that it encourages viewers (parents and children alike) to get up and join in. Moves are set to songs and are repeated

making it fun and easy for the children to learn.

Journal: In your experience what do you think could be done to encourage more activity among children?

Pete: I think more classes for children would be a great step, and would love to see family fitness sessions too. I get enough adults showing me dance moves from Boogie Beebies, and repeating my on-screen catchphrases to know that they’re joining in with dancing with their children at home!

Education plays a big part too, if we can show children the

benefits of exercise in a fun way coupled with the benefits of good nutrition we’re halfway there.

Pete works at the Nuffield Health and Wellbeing Centre, Letchworth as well as touring with “Boogie Pete Live”. For more details visit www.boogiepete.com

Editors note: REPs has recently introduced a new children’s category (see www. exerciseregister.org for more details) and hopes many more REPs members will undertake this module to give them the skills to help encourage more children to exercise.

The REPs Journal 2010;17(June):4