Does anyone else think that ‘Freeze the Fear with Wim Hof’ doesn’t belong on the BBC?

[Coldenough4snow]

I am really enjoying bits of the ‘Freeze the Fear’ programme, but keep wondering where the scientists or doctors are and why they aren’t making more of the beautiful and fascinating location.

Does the BBC still try to ‘inform, educate and entertain’ or is this Channel 5esque reality tv format with Wim Hof (surely, today’s Gillian McKeith) what passes for information, education and entertainment in 2022?

DH says that I should stop mourning the programme they could have made and start celebrating what the BBC have made. To be fair, there are moments when it is quite compelling.

I'll admit I've only seen the bits on gogglebox but I'm convinced it's so when nobody can afford to put the heating on in October we'll think it's ok being cold is character building.

Good. I am pleased we have kicked off with a conspiracy theory 🤣.

It is such an incongruous piece of television. There must be an agenda!

Will Wim Hof be made ‘Minister for freezing your bollocks off’? Assigned to give daily briefings like in the pandemic.

There’s no conspiracy theory. The BBC just makes populist shit these days because it is scared of losing the licence fee.

Did the BBC commission it, @ClaudiusTheGod ? Certainly, it’s no ‘I, Claudius’!

it’s the BBC pedalling pseudoscience that I find really unexpected. Do we just believe any old crap, these days?

and surely Wim Hof will be exposed as a snake-oil salesman in the not too distant future?

Agree he's today's Gillian McPoo.

Most of what's on TV these days resembles the children's TV of the 80s. I only use the TV for watching films/things I've specifically decided I want to see.

I know two people who have fibromyalgia, do a lot of wild swimming as it helps it a lot, and were following the Wim Hof method to do an Ice Challenge. They were pushed so far by the 'trainer' with the breathing that they both worsened their fibromyalgia...

Gosh @SeaRabbit The last thing you want is to make your condition worse. Were they part of an experiment?

I know they keep saying, ‘Don’t try this at home), but they do surely have a level of responsibility to the audience to research their subject better. They are presenting this stuff as fact.

@Greensleeves Gillian McPoo 🤣 Although she wasn’t BBC, was she? The turds were on Ch 5? Or 4?

The thing is, there are actual scientists in universities studying human response to cold. You used to see them on BBC programmes like ‘Horizon’.

Has anyone thought about asking them what is happening physiologically to the ‘celebrities’’ bodies when they are sitting in a barrel of ice water? Or should we just hear from Holly Willoughby?!

I only saw one episode and I was intrigued by how little he featured in it. How they seemed to keep the contestants away from him as much as possible. Is this because he is completely bonkers and can only shout and jump into ice with no other modes of behaviour?

what's the breathing about please?

@VintageGibbon I think you have probably nailed it!

His teaching probably doesn’t bear much scrutiny!

Although I am particularly intrigued by the speedy T’ai Chi / boxing that he does in the credits. Did they ask him to do something crayzeeeey and he came up with that?

I don’t know why I am being mean … he is very likeable and good at swimming in cold water. It is always a relief when he shows up.

@Coldenough4snow I love everything about your reply! 🤣

I saw a bit which was a load of rubbish about cold being essential for the heart. Everyone in hot countries would have keeled over and died at a young age going by what Wim was saying. I hate being cold.

It may not be that educational, it is entertaining though.

@Notdoingthis the challenges are quite entertaining, I agree, but the scuzzy bits where they are all Big Brothering in the same dormitory are quite revolting.

I think the breathing was to do with holding your breath for increasing periods - which was too much for them.

My take on WH 'teaching' is that a person needs to take control of their breathing in order to take control back of their life, possibly after traumatic events. One episode that stood out for me had a lot of deep breathing/relaxation/meditation and all the participants were emotional during and after, feeling like they had let go of a load of pressure. One or two talked about certain events from their past that they had released.

I think the editing has let it down a bit - possibly too much of HW looking stunning in assorted winter wear and not enough of the psychology side which left it being a bit disjointed and neither an entertainment programme or health programme.. I loved WH during the "swim under the ice challenge" when he held the hand of the unsure ones and gave them all massive hugs afterwards!

I watched most of
it last night.

I thought all the contestants faced their fears and decided if the bungy jump was for them or not and was able to reflect in their decision and happy with that. It was quite insightful

I just wish HW didn't bellow so much.He makes Brian Blessed look calm and serene!

Ive really enjoyed it, but i do agree that it's a bit odd that it doesn't really achieve anything, as there's not enough info to make it about the medical side nor the Big Brother side. I hadn't realised how much Tamzin gurns, it's really distracting.

I don't mind HW, but jeez, are her and Dan and Phillip the only people on TV these days?? And Tamzin is Dan's cousin, so it's all a bit nepotistic

Who is Dan?

Was there something going on between Wim and Tamzin?

And why did Holly cry when Tamzin hit her head? Did she think she was going to be sued?

I don’t know. Was Dan in charge of the bungee cord?

Holly's husband

I've just watched the meditation episode and it felt quite cult-y to me. Not that I think anyone was putting it on, but I just got similar vibes to when you see church congregations where people start speaking tongues / faint / feel the presence of God.

I'd also love to understand the science behind it more because the psychology must be fascinating, but I imagine he wouldn't agree to be on a program that questioned his claims.

I agree! I really enjoyed it 🥶👍🏻

How did they get up on the bridge?