The World’s Strongest Man is great entertainment (Picture: Stoltmanbrothers.com / SWNS)
Each year, Channel 5 give us all a belated Christmas gift in the form of World’s Strongest Man.
While we’re all nursing our Boxing day hangovers, and/or trying to recover from the holiday overstimulation, the broadcaster airs its first of six instalments of the beautiful TV show.
The fitness contest brings together a bunch of freakishly powerful athletes to find out who is the best of them all.
They descend on California’s Sacramento in May, but good things come to those who wait, and every deadlift, car pull and stone throw is brought to our TV screens in December.
Rather than seeking out spoilers when it happens, those who value it as a key part of Twixmas avoid finding out the results so they can enjoy the event in its full glory months later.
Here is why it is practically perfect TV…
The sportsmanship is beautiful
They may be mighty but they are also gentle (Picture: World’s Strongest Man)
Their statutes and the volume of their grunts doing testing tasks may come off a little scary, but these men, I hope they don’t mind us saying, are darlings.
Like any great sportsperson, they offer support for their fellow competitors. After each event, they’ll hug, high five and often, they’ll even cheer each other on if one person finishes significantly quicker than the other. It’s heartwarming stuff, that matches the wholesomeness of the Christmas period.
The storylines are surprisingly cute
Rob Kearney calls himself the ‘World’s strongest gay’ (Picture: Instagram/ Rob Kearney)
It’s not just the events featured in the programming, there are multiple interviews which allow us to get to know the people more and understand their drive to compete.
In a particular standout moment from 2024, Rob Kearney was celebrated. The athlete was retiring after qualifying four times for the World’s Strongest Man.
He was eliminated from the contest but rather than be downbeat, he spoke about what an honour it was to be the first openly gay professional strongman. As Rob, with his multi-coloured beard, kissed his husband after his last car walk, it was a completely joyful moment.
It’s ridiculously fun
The organisers are inventive (Picture: Allison Joyce/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
The organisers of the event, which has been going for 47 years, are very imaginative when it comes to the events.
They continually surprise viewers with a unique variety of events each year. One of the heat events has been the webster stones, which requires each man to carry one stone that is 136kg, and another that is 113kg, so they shuffle along with a kind of lopsided slant. There’s also been the Globe Viking press, with each person attempting to lift a giant circular object overhead as many times as possible.
The commentator Colin Bryce has Iain Stirling on Love Island energy, in that he will gently rib the competitors but you know it all comes from a place of love. If there’s a stumble (but no serious injury) you know he’s ready with a joke or two.
Plus, there’s something undeniably fun about watching people exercise while eating leftover Christmas chocolates.
It provides structure in a time of disarray
World’s Strongest Man provides structure (Picture: Allison Joyce/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Twixmas is a confusing time for us all, with many people not really knowing the day of the week, so any type of structure goes out of the window. However, knowing that World’s Strongest Man is on each day at 7pm brings just a little bit of routine back to viewers’ lives.
The final airs on New Year’s Day, which then perfectly coincides with many people returning to work the next day. It’s the perfect show to bridge the gap between Christmas and the return to reality.
It’s something for the whole family
Everyone can enjoy World’s Strongest Man (Picture: Allison Joyce/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Often at Christmas more people are in one household than usual, and they may be trying to spend as much quality time together as possible or at the very least, not argue too much over the remote.
It’s hard to find a show that’s appropriate for everyone, but there is something about World’s Strongest Man that can transcend generations, interests, and sexes. There’s something for everyone from people who appreciate a good sporting event, to those who just want to marvel at the ridiculousness or enjoy the men’s stories. It’s not too taxing to watch, and nothing truly bad happens so a safe, cosy time can be experienced by all.
It’s for all these reasons, we hope Channel 5 continue being a key part of Twixmas.
World’s Strongest Man 2024 continues tonight at 7pm on Channel 5.
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