Bill Bailey on keeping moving and growing older

Comedian and actor Bill Bailey isn’t one to take it easy.

“I don’t tend to dwell on what’s happened,” he tells us. “I just keep going, and I always look to what’s around the next corner.”

Bill’s love of challenging himself has certainly been evident in recent years: as well as touring all over the world with his live stand-up performances, Bill has found time to release multiple books, hike around the UK in his Perfect Pub Walks series, and dazzle on the dancefloor by winning Strictly in 2020.

But today he’s speaking to Age UK about national campaign We Are Undefeatable, which he’s partnered with for the second year in a row. In a new comedic video, Bill demonstrates how a Sit On Fitness Apparatus (S.O.F.A) workout can help those living with long-term health conditions to find accessible ways to get more active from the comfort of home.

How do you think the S.O.F.A workout will help?

“There are so many people for whom the idea of exercise and physical activity is quite daunting. Something like 16 million people in Britain are living with long-term health conditions, of which I am one – I’ve been living with asthma since childhood.

“So, I know full well what it’s like to feel a bit worried about taking on physical activity. You might think, ‘is this going to exacerbate my condition? Am I going to get breathless? Will I be able to carry on with this?’. It can really dent your confidence and can become an obstacle.

“Some people might also find that they’ve lost a bit of strength because of their health condition. For example, Tania, who features in one of the workout videos, has just come through treatment for cancer. She’s been in hospital for a while, which has meant she hasn’t been able to use her muscles as much, but she said that this workout has been a great way for her to get back into being more active.

“The other thing is that with so many long-term health conditions, whether it’s Parkinson’s or arthritis, you have good days and bad days. Days where you feel like you want to do something and days where you don’t.

“What’s key with this campaign is that the exercises are primarily tailored to people who are finding it difficult to engage in any activity, but the workout’s something we can all benefit from. It’s a very achievable, sustainable set of exercises – and there’s no need to feel like you can’t get involved, because you can get involved from your own sofa! And let’s be honest, for the vast majority of us, the sofa is our happy place. But it’s also a bit of fitness apparatus! Who knew?”

What has your own physical activity journey looked like?

“Well, I’ve always loved being outdoors. I was very lucky to have grown up in the West Country, and where I lived was very close to a lot of lovely country lanes. I remember very fondly getting out on my bike, cycling around those lanes and going off blackberry picking. It seems idyllic now, and sounds like something out of an Enid Blyton novel. But it sort of was!

“I think very often, getting outdoors isn’t just about exercise or feeling fit. It’s about all these other things at play. You hear the wind in the trees, you feel the sun on your face, you hear birdsong. These things all nourish you, and there’s an immense richness to all those experiences.

“I think that’s something which has stayed with me throughout my entire adult life. I’d hate it if I was impeded in some way so that I couldn’t ride my bike, or go for a long walk. I’ve just been on a hike in Scotland called the Cape Wrath trail, which is 250 miles and it’s the toughest hike in the UK. And I just think – at 59, I managed that and I want to keep doing those kinds of things for many years to come.

“Staying healthy for me is paramount, because I want to still be able to do all the things I love to do.”

Talking of physical challenges, you remain the oldest contestant to have won Strictly Come Dancing. What message do you hope audiences took from your success?

“I hope that it would have encouraged people of my vintage – men and women – that it’s never too late to take up an activity like dancing.

“I think a lot of men in particular can be a bit self-conscious on the dancefloor, and don’t want to be labelled as ‘dad dancers’. But in the time after I won, I heard that dance schools and academies saw a bit of an increase in men and women who are slightly older taking part and coming along.

“That’s the way it should be. There shouldn’t be a stigma attached to age for anything, much less dancing. Dancing is one of the most joyous things you can do. When you look at little kids and toddlers, they love dancing! I’ve never met a child yet who didn’t like dancing. They don’t even know what they’re doing, they just go for it. And I think that’s our natural state. If you look at any culture in the world, they’ll have some kind of formalised dance as part of their culture. It’s one of the oldest forms of expression and it shouldn’t be something that we are denied just because of our age.”

What would you say to someone who wants to be more active, but is struggling to know where to start?

“Start small. Start with something that you can manage to do every day. There’s no point doing a little bit and then letting it go for a week, a month or longer – particularly as you get older.

“I feel the odd creak, or funny little ache or pain. Things will seize up before you know it. You can think, ‘what happened? Why’s my knee not working?’ and then you realise it’s because you haven’t used it for a few days. But I find that moving every day helps to make those aches and pains better.

“Whether you’re an Olympic rower, or you’re just doing a little short walk around the block, consistency is absolutely the key. Keep at it, and keep doing something every day – it doesn’t matter what it is. Some gentle exercise, some stretches, some core muscle exercise to get your blood flowing – even from a sitting position.

“The vast majority of people want to do more physical exercise, but they perhaps aren’t aware that you can do it from your sofa!”