DVD REVIEW: Rosemary Conley’s Brand New You!

Our Kate Diamond has been testing the latest fitness DVDs and turns her leg-warmed ankles to Rosemary Conley’s latest offering.

X factor
UK diet and fitness legend Rosemary Conley leads the action, dishing out instructions and compliments like a loveable grandmother. A loveable grandmother who could kick your ass on the treadmill, that is.

She’s joined by Coleen Nolan, who was obviously paid in pizza for the Iceland ads, if her before photo is anything to go by.

Expert credentials
It’s Rosemary Conley, CBE, for crying out loud!

Soundtrack
The warm up alone features Irene Cara and Lionel Ritchie. This is eighties cheese at its best. Very impressive.

Filming locations
The action takes place in what looks like a roller disco hall, complete with flashing florescent lighting. Neat.

Leg warmer count
Sadly lacking. The team are dressed in drab, polyester-based gym kit which is generally unflattering. The young one with the good legs has even been coerced into a pair of scary shorts.

The Workout
Five sections each 10 minutes in length, incorporating various levels of aerobics and toning for the whole body. If you’ve done aerobics before you’ll know the drill, all the standard steps are thrown in and there’s nothing new or complex here.

Explanations
Rosemary talks throughout, ensuring you’re picking up the moves correctly. Some safety tips during the crunches section wouldn’t go amiss - watching Coleen yank her head towards her chest is painful.

Fun factor
The music helps, as does the nifty countdown clock which shows exactly how many minutes of grapevine you have left to endure.

Repeat appeal
If you enjoy old school back to basics aerobics, you’re sorted. However there’s nothing much to set this apart from any of the others and repeat viewings could prove a little dull.

Square footage
Sufficient room to grapevine left and right, and take four steps forward and back. A mat and some form of hand weight (Coleen manhandles two large water bottles) required for toning.

Score
6/10

Wanna buy it?

Rosemary Conley’s Brand New You!