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BY ANGELA KELLY
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Taking responsibility for our health
IF we’re not careful, we Brits could apparently become the fattest nation in Europe in the next decade. According to the World Health Organisation, we’ve become our own worst enemies where health and fitness is concerned. And the NHS added their weight to this debate with research showing a “startlingly small” five per cent of us do the recommended amount of exercise each week.
Only one in 20 adults in England do two and a half hours of moderate-intensity physical exercise per week. This includes activities like brisk walking, cycling or pushing a lawmower. We should also do muscle-strengthening activities like carrying heavy shopping bags, lifting weights and heavy gardening at least two days a week. Researchers examined data on 249,614 Brits aged 18 to 65 who responded to the Active Lives Survey. They also quiz a representative group of people across England about their exercise routine twice a year. All this comes at a time when 65 per cent of adults in the UK are officially overweight or obese - with figures continuing to rise each year - and child obesity poses a huge healthcare challenge. What I don’t understand about these latest findings and predictions is that, surely, it makes genuine sense for all of us who can to take responsibility for our own health and fitness? I know there are many individuals with debilitating health problems and conditions who can’t but there are certainly enough of us basically healthy folk who can. What is currently happening to the NHS with its severely over-stretched resources will simply get worse – to the point of completely breaking down. The number of people with smoking-related and other selfinflicted illnesses and conditions is already helping bring it near breaking point. So expecting us all to do at least a small amount of regular exercise to keep our bodies in reasonable condition doesn’t seem very much to ask. It’s not like you have to be training for a marathon regularly, lifting massive weights or hitting the gym daily. The basic recommendations are really modest by anyone’s standards. What is also sad is that exercise can give you a real physical and mental boost. All those feelgood endorphins they prompt actually make you happy. So what’s not to like? It’s not really to do with age as everyone can do some exercises – even those with common conditions like arthritis.
What it is to do with is having respect for your body and your health and taking responsibility for the physical shape you’re in. If we don’t all do this, the health of the NHS will become drained to a standstill, quality of life will decline for many and thousands more people will die prematurely.
Is this the Countdown to Ann returning to TV?
FORMER Tory MP and Cabinet minister Ann Widdecombe is definitely a Marmite sort of person – you love her or hate her. Whatever category you fall into, though, there’s no denying that she is a character it’s hard not to notice.
So, the news that she has been talked about as a new host for Channel 4’s Countdown promises a potential welcome shot in the arm for the programme’s viewing figures. Just like acerbic Anne Robinson, who is bowing out of presenting Countdown this Summer, the other Anne has very definite views she is not frightened to air. She herself has a formidable vocabulary and brain to go with it (she studied philosophy, politics and economics at Oxford University and was active in the Oxford Union) and has already had spells in Countdown’s Dictionary Corner.
Perhaps more importantly for viewers, she’s great fun and has a wicked sense of humour – as she proved in a mind-boggling stint on Strictly Come Dancing. I interviewed her a few years ago for Fifty Plus magazine and she was very honest about this. She partnered the notoriously patient Anton du Beke, whom she really liked, and the pair hit it off well. However, Ann admitted herself that she was not a natural dancer. “One of the earliest things he said to me,” she explained, “was ‘Ann, it will be much better if we do our best to keep your feet off the floor.’”
What followed on Strictly was appearances where, indeed, Ann flew in or was somehow suspended off the floor, in spite of her fear of heights. The public vote kept the couple on the mega-popular series for nine weeks and placed Ann firmly in the public psyche as someone willing to tackle anything. Whatever happens with Countdown, she definitely needs to be back onscreen doing the thing she does best: being Ann Widdecombe.
Silent Witness has proved an enduring hit
ONE thing that lockdown did for many of us was to emphasise the joys of Netflix and b-sets and to reintroduce us to previously much-loved programmes. Line of Duty and The Crown were two of my favourites but, somehow, I’d always missed out on crime drama Silent Witness. I’m squeamish about most things medically-related but who would have thought we would all be absolutely fascinated by autopsies? In fairness, Silent Witness has provided consistently entertaining storylines and well-written, first-class drama in the hands of a group of talented actors and actresses. Viewing the series from the beginning with Amanda Burton in the central role as Dr Sam Ryan, it was fascinating to see how Emilia Fox, who succeeded her, not only grew as an actor as Dr Nikki Alexander but also grew up.
Interestingly, what she wore through the series entranced some viewers as much as how skilful her alter ego proved to be in helping solve complex murder cases. The series, which looked meticulously researched, helped us all to understand more about what forensic pathology is all about. It also encouraged many young people to study forensics at university and helped boost the profession’s image. The Silent Witness storylines have continued to reflect real-life, social problems and themes and still attracts a huge audience. Long may it continue.
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