Christine fits in to tacky DVD market

OH dear, Christine. What were you thinking?

Ulster's favourite TV girl Christine Bleakley has entered the tawdry celebrity fitness DVD market, traditionally the domain of the desperate Z-list 'celebrity' and fading reality show contestant.

But given her reputation as a genuine fitness fanatic, it's perhaps no surprise she is the latest celebrity to release her own exercise DVD.

The Daybreak presenter waltzed her way to the quarter-finals of Strictly Come Dancing, water-skied across the English Channel for charity and helped her sister shed a staggering seven stone.

Now, in Christine Bleakley -- The Workout, the presenter, fiancee of Premiership footballer Frank Lampard, teams up with sister Nicola and personal trainer Maria Fenn to produce a fitness programme aimed at weight loss and body sculpting.

Typically, the release date is Boxing Day, a peak time for purchases of exercise DVDs.

Not all DVDs have been well received, particularly when the celebrity piles the weight back on. So is this a good move or is she just the latest celebrity to jump on the bandwagon?

Belfast actor Gerard McCarthy was among those who defended her move into the market.

Currently training with 'body transformation expert' Jay Benedetti for a role in Titanic: Blood And Steel, the ex-Hollyoaks star said Bleakley was the perfect candidate for an exercise DVD.

He said: "Unlike many of the other celebrities, Christine is already a fitness fanatic so will know what she's talking about. She looks great, has a lovely figure and if she wants to share with other women how she stays in shape, then fair play.

"Some celebrities have weight to lose and that's why they do it. Christine is obviously motivated by her love of exercise."

PR boss Cathy Martin thinks many women would be keen to learn how Bleakley keeps in shape and that her DVD would be a huge success.

"Christine has a fabulously toned figure which isn't too skinny nor too muscular, it's a shape and level of tone which many women aspire to and one which is achievable."

Liam Gordon, manager/personal trainer at Muscle Gym, Carryduff, said Bleakley's fitness DVD would be a credible one.

"Everyone knows who she is and that she is a fitness fanatic," he said. "I think her DVD will work for many women and will be a success. It's great she's putting that resource out there and encouraging people to get fit for the new year."

Bleakley says much of her inspiration was sister Nicola, who, after reaching a UK size 24 aged 18, lost seven stone.

She said: "Training for Sport Relief was the thing that really awakened me to some of the science of exercise, introducing me to some pretty hard-core interval training which helped me become lean.

"I can tell you it isn't easy, but Maria, Nicola and I had real fun doing it and I hope everyone has the same fun at home ... between groans of utter exhaustion obviously."

THE WORST CELEBRITY DVDS

* Coleen Nolan's Disco Burn -- The Loose Women star's first solo fitness DVD is as cheesy as they come. Her weight crept up again later.

* Hannah Waterman's Body Blitz -- The ex-EastEnders star went from a size 16 to six through a diet and exercise plan.

* Beverley Callard's Body Blaster -- The Coronation Street star is a former fitness instructor but her DVD was deemed confusing.

* Kerry Katona Real Fitness -- The reality TV star shed the pounds.

* Natalie Cassidy's Then and Now -- EastEnders' Sonia Cassidy released her fitness DVD in 2007. But it came bottom in a poll of fitness DVDs and unsurprisingly, she piled the weight back on.

Originally published by MAUREEN COLEMAN, newseditor@belfasttelegraph.co.uk.

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