Ian Wright's Unfit Kids, thankfully, was exactly as I'd hoped. Sulky children and a sulky bullish Wrighty. Wright, all round entertainer and former England footballer, cares deeply about getting the nation's kids fitter, and so, went to a chosen secondary school, and conducted some tests... ultimately, to see who the most unhealthy teens were.
With astonishing results, one child was shown to have 51% of his body made entirely of fat. Frightening. The worried sick look on Ian Wright's face said it all. Instead of chastising the kids (this comes later) he gritted his teeth and set about shaping them up. This however, won't come easy as Wright finds more obsticles in his way that previously thought.
Naturally, Ian Wright is a gifted athlete. Even now he's no longer involved in football (only as a pundit). he's managed to stay in decent shape. That accounted for, he's a former world-class athlete, so you'd half expect it. The kids in last night's show had great enthusiasm for the initial tasks... mainly because Ian Wright was around... but the novelty soon wore off to reveal the excuses.
"I don't want no excuses... they're being lazy... they're giving lip 'cuz I'm pushin' them" was soon to be heard from Wright. If you're reasonably fit and/or decent at sport, you're used to orders being barked from the sidelines. Orders, which are usually designed to encourage and push you that little bit further. The really fascinating aspect of this programme is how Wright is also going on a personal journey. He isn't dealing with sporty people who have let themselves go... he dealing with kids who are picked on and left to fester in sports activities.
When he realises that is tactics aren't working, Wright tries to find other ways to get the kids active. The 'shouting' brought Wright at loggerheads with one of the kid's mums. Her words "I don't care if it's the f**king Queen - I don't like my son being shouted at an' comin' home in tears!" Even if the call is a little misguided, you can't really argue.
So various activities are introduced (fencing being a popular one because "we got to play with swords!") but with mixed success. Then, in the defining moment of this first of a three parter, Wright gets the parents to don tracksuits, and take the kids on at a game of handball. On first viewing, it is a rousing success, with the kids and their parents giggling and playing together. However, one mother refuses to take part (as she's a little overweight herself) telling Wright that she doesn't want to be "made a fool of on national TV". The bullish Wright starts a huge row, without taking a step back to inform the mother that she'd be doing great things for her son's moral, and that if she thinks she's embarrassing herself, then surely, that's the message she's sending to her son? In a strange way, this is what makes this show so rewarding. You don't have some plumbed BBC cad talking mind-numbing stats... you have one fiery bloke desperate to get kids healthy. Not for his ego, because these kids are dangerously unwell. Next week, it'll be more of the brilliant same.[Mof Gimmers]
i think my mum should fuck ian wright
yer bruv dnt get rude or u will get a bite mark on ur tit
Hi think jerome is trying his best likewise robert w\s not into sports but now he his good luck to them Ian has alot to do.
Well done wrighty, well done too all of the kids who took part, I am a fitness/martial arts instructor and would love too help. Got ant ideas? I'm sure there other who would help too
Yer Yer Big Up Jerome and da FBS Mandem. Jerome is me homme from me old school joint at Friern Barnet. Bruv keep the fat down or like we say at our school BELLY'S GONNA GET YA!!!!
Dear Ian, i was so impressed by what u are doing to help these kids that i was emotional through out the program. U kept it real and put ur heart and soul into it and im proud of what u achieved. I would like to help u with these kids for free in my spare time. If u are interested, pls email me. Well done again for caring for our next generation.
Kind regards
Elle
This is a message to Ian Wright.
If anyone reading this has the possibility to pass my message on to Ian I would be very grateful.
I have just watched your third episode of "... Unfit Kids" and I wish to commend and congratulate you on your vision and determination. It is wonderful what you want to achieve and a pity there is not more passion out there such as you demonstrate.
I am 45 and got bullied and traumatised at school. It has affected my whole life. Therapies, counselling and medication later, I am slowly getting there. This year I watched the London Marathon and an accompaning program showing the progress made over six months by a bunch of 'normal' folk all with various background traumas. I was inspired how they rose to the challenge, supported by professional assistance. I felt to myself, this is the sort of challenge I would benifit from, as I have very little self-discipline and a lifelong habit of giving up and running away.
Your series also showed how individuals can grow, even the most difficult case, with professional support. It is wonderful that people such as yourself can realise such a vision.
I have thought of going to schools and talking about my difficulties to overcome my insecurities and how they don't go away, but get bigger and bigger and bigger. Also going to schools to involve kids in projects such as making a film (about themselves, their environment) as a way to encourage growth and awareness of individuality and identity. My low self-esteem and inability to engage with life has up till now held me back, mainly hiding under the sheets.
When I saw the kids scrambling up that hill I knew that such an activity can bring me out of myself. Could you, or do you have an associate in the industry, envision such a series with withdrawn, shy, 'normal folk' such as myself? Or is there a place for me on your team where I could help kids build up a vision of what they might become through helping them see through my journey what they would better do to avoid?
I wish you success in your vision and your fundraising towards it. This first success shows the potential, and funders will be drawn in through it and your enthusiasm.
Gary L. 27.9.06
dear Ian congratulations on the outcome of your show.I am really impressed by your efforts and determination in helping these kids.i myself work in a school and see for myself the refusal and fear of being accepted in a p.e class.Well done and i hope your efforts pay of in the future.
Hello all. Quite an interesting and varied response to the article I wrote.
Firstly, I'd just like to point out that here at TV Scoop, we don't tend to have much contact with the people featured in shows, so your messages won't be passed on by me at least.
Its lovely to think that Wrighty might be scouring our site for reviews and the like, and so he may well have read your comments.
Regarding your comments, may I advise that maybe the comment board on a TV site like this may leave you open to criticism from others, and maybe you'd prefer to email them in future. Details can be found on the site.
Just to clarify. I am not Ian Wright.
Cheers
Mof Gimmers
Will Ian Wright read this? I had my own business - an After School children's fitness club which focused on the 5-8 year olds. They have fun and to them it does not feel like they're having to compete or infact exercising. With the use of space hoppers, parachutes, hoops it makes it all enjoyable. I've had to stop this while I have other commitments but would be interested in starting again in the New Year.
I believe it is important to start the children at a young age and then they will continue to be active into their adult life (hopefully). I teach adults as well as children and cannot understand why the government is always issuing statements about obesity in children - yet they will not build it into league tables for schools or focus on exercise in the national curriculum as a child who exercises will perform better mentally as well as physically.
Please could you keep me informed if these clubs become countrywide and if I can be of any assistance kindly contact me.
Regards
Hi Teresa, I'm Mof, the person who wrote the review. I don't really have a clue if Ian will read the articles and comments or not... I'd like to think so, but at best that is just a speculative punt.
I think it's great to see you all feeling for the show with such passion, and it's good to see that there are people in the world trying to make a difference. It shows that you don't have to be a former pro footballer to get kids working hard and having fun... maybe these comments are more encouraging than any celebrity fitness programme? I certainly think so. It's easy to get kids working if you have played for England... not as easy if you're just a concerned member of society. Well done all.
Mof Gimmers
hey ian i loved your show n congratulations on it aswel but i think every 1 would like to know when you are startin the program again i think it was a good way to ge t kids to eat healthy.hope you start another program loads ov luck
this show was shit. incase you didnt know, i was on it. ian beat us with chains and said "CRAZY FOOL" every time we said no to his request for anal sex.
have a nice day,
Yusuf Narcin
CUNTING NIGGER, THIS MAN KNOWN AS IAN WRIGHT USED TO WORK ON MY PLANTATION. HE WAS VERY OBEDIENT, AND DID NOT MIND US CHANGING HIS NAME FROM UNGUEKA TAK DUMA, TO IAN. THANKS CUNT. I AM GOING TO RAPE HIS CHILDREN WHICH DON'T EVEN LET HIM VISIT. HAHA. KIND REGARDS. KUNTER KINTE
hekk
erh dont think so jerome
u fat b*****ds hahahahahahahahaha
The above two comments were not posted by me, a request to remove them has been made