Joe Wicks inks ‘£1 million deal’ with major publisher to write books for children

Joe Wicks’ star continues to rise in 2020, now inking a deal to write children’s books with publishing giant HarperCollins.

The Sun reports that the deal is worth £1 million and will lock Body Coach star Joe, 33, in for multiple books.

The deal comes off the back of his mega-successful PE With Joe lessons, which have been keeping the children of the UK – and beyond – active during the COVID-19 lockdown.

The deal is also said to incorporate further books for adults – with Joe already being the author of the The Lean In 15 series which most recently expanded to his latest book, Wean In 15 for parents with babies.

Joe – reportedly worth £14.5 million currently – said: ‘I can’t wait to start developing new adult books with HarperCollins and to create children’s books for the first time. 

‘I’m on a mission to get the world fitter, stronger, healthier and happier. Books play a crucial part in that.’

Lean In 15 was published by Bluebird, and became the second bestselling food and drink title of all time at 1.37 million copies sold after its 2015 release. 

To date, he has sold 3.2 million books about food and fitness.

The news comes after it was reported he has been chosen to lead a new physical education curriculum on behalf of the government, following in Jamie Oliver’s footsteps.

Joe is said to be the favourite to head the scheme that will help tackle the UK’s obesity crisis amongst children, according to The Mirror on Sunday.

A source for the publication claimed that Secretary of State for Education Gavin Williamson is interested in getting Joe’s assistance with the new scheme.

They explained: ‘Having seen first-hand the impact Joe has had and his online reach and influence – especially to the younger generation – they feel bagging Joe to help them on their mission to combat obesity could be very successful at reaching the Government’s targets over the next two to five years. 

‘Joe’s positive impact has put him on the radar of thousands of teachers and senior figures within education. 

‘Gavin Williamson has been leading the dialogue around how Joe is able to carry the message of the importance of physical education.’ 

MailOnline has contacted Joe’s representatives for comment. 

If Joe does take part in the programme he will be following in fellow chef Jamie Oliver’s footsteps, who famously campaigned for healthier school meals for children. 

Family man Joe has helped parents and children through the current COVID-19 lockdown by tutoring PE classes online.

And his efforts have reportedly lined him up for an OBE, after he was put forward by his legions of fans.

Joe has raised more than £350,000 for the NHS through his YouTube classes amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and roped in his wife Rosie Jones to help when he was sidelined with a hand injury. 

According to The Sun, Joe’s social media fans have nominated him for the summer Honours list after the work he has done to raise money.

A source told the publication: ‘Joe has become a household name since lockdown started and he’s become a figurehead in isolation because of the PE classes he puts on every morning.

‘Hundreds of requests putting his name forward for an OBE have been handed to the Honours committee. Many have been written by children who think Joe is fantastic.

‘Those around Joe think the chances of him getting a nod are high, especially given the praise he’s had from No10 and the fact that Prince William’s three children — George, Charlotte and Louis — all do the class daily.’

The source added that the fitness expert had no idea his classes would become so popular and getting an honour from the Queen would be the ‘icing on the cake’.