has shared his joy at being awarded an MBE for keeping the nation moving during the coronavirus lockdown.
The fitness guru, 36, better known as The Body Coach, had during the lockdown, in order to keep kids and their families fit as schools and gyms closed down indefinitely.
The sessions proved seriously popular and he was lauded for giving people access to the free content while everyone was forced to stay indoors.
Joe kept fans up to date with his excitement at heading to to be presented with his medal by Princess Anne, taking his brother Nikki along with hi,.
He told PA that the MBE was just as much Nikki’s as it was his, explaining: ‘Nikki is my brother, he’s also my best friend.
‘Every single time I did PE with Joe, he was in my ear. I couldn’t have done it without him. We had mornings where we just weren’t in the mood for it but said come on, let’s give them the best workout of their lives.
‘Together we just managed, just through Nikki’s voice in my ear and his energy, it really picked us both up.
‘He was kind of like my right-hand man who you couldn’t see.’
Joe had also shared footage of him getting ready to head to the castle, adding: ‘I always thought “what an amazing castle” and now to be inside – I’m blown away.’
He revealed on Instagram that the Princess Royal had asked him if he ever thought PE With Joe would get as big as it had, and admitted he didn’t expect it to be so huge.
Joe was previously awarded a Guinness World Record in 2020 after more than 950,000 viewers tuned in to his livestream in March.
He added that spurred him to turn to a career in fitness and ‘lifting people’s mental health and spirits’ through exercise/
‘I wanted to provide something that would make it easy for families,’ he explained. ‘We lived in a small house, basically on top of each other. Exercise and PE and everything was my release.
‘My childhood, without a doubt, if I hadn’t had that upbringing, I wouldn’t have had that true determination and drive. I might have done a couple of them but would I have been the Body Coach?’
Joe was among 187 people being honoured at the ceremonies at Windsor Castle on Wednesday and was recognised for services to fitness as well as charity in the UK and abroad, having helped raise £2 million for Children in Need with a 24-hour fitness challenge.
