Joe Wicks opens up about father's battles with drug addiction

Joe Wicks has opened up about his father's struggles with heroin addiction, saying he refused to let himself suffer a similar fate.

Talking on Russell Brand's Under The Skin podcast, the popular fitness coach said he and older brother Nikki instead focused on exercise and playing sport.

"Because of my dad's addiction, and the damage I saw that cause, me and Nikki steered clear of it," he said.

"We weren't smoking weed, we were training, exercising and playing sport. Along the line, I decided that wasn't going to be my destiny - that wasn't going to be my path."

Wicks said his father ended up in and out of rehab throughout the fitness star's childhood.

However, the pair now have a much better relationship.

"Now, when my dad's going through a low period, I'm texting him and ringing him and asking how he is - I'm not judging him for being an addict," Wicks said.

"He'll always be an addict - he relapses all the time."

Wicks, also known as The Body Coach, encouraged others to use exercise as a way of keeping your mind healthy.

He said: "Before you turn to binge eating, addiction, drugs or anti-depressants, try exercise.

"It's hard, my dad says the last thing he wants to do when he's going through his low points is exercise. But I say, 'Dad, you know how it makes you feel - you always feel better'."

Wicks is a father to daughter Indie, one, and son Marley, three months, with his glamour model wife Rosie Jones.

The 33-year-old is currently holding 30-minute PE lessons on YouTube from his living room to encourage schoolchildren to keep active during the coronavirus pandemic.

He told Sky News: "It's going to really let out some steam - make them feel a bit positive and a bit more optimistic and everyone should get involved.

"It's all about feeling energised, motivated and positive and we need that more than ever right now."