Proof that fitness is becoming increasingly mainstream is evidenced by Clive Chesser, CEO of PureGym, being invited onto the BBC Sounds Big Boss podcast.

In a candid interview with Sean Farrington, Chesser talks about a crisis which led to a personal paradigm shift, ultimately leading to his decision to leave Punch Taverns and join PureGym.

During Christmas 2021 – when he was in the midst of leading Punch Taverns through a private equity transaction – his father-in-law passed away and then Chesser received a cancer diagnosis.

A marathon runner, Chesser attributes his full recovery to his fitness which allowed him to tolerate more aggressive radiotherapy and additional chemotherapy rounds. 

The experience transformed his sense of purpose and reshaped his approach to life, leading to his subsequent appointment as PureGym’s CEO, which felt profoundly aligned with his personal journey. 

“Exercise is a wonder drug,” he said, arguing that fitness should play a much bigger role in preventative healthcare and there are missed opportunities for a more joined up partnership between the NHS and the fitness sector.

Chesser also talked about fitness trends including Gen Z and Gen Alpha integrating fitness into their social identity; gyms becoming social hubs and women moving away from cardio-dominated routines towards strength and conditioning, which has led to PureGym introducing women-only spaces in more than 50 clubs.

Chesser also used the opportunity to criticise the government’s lack of understanding about the fitness industry, for example with the imminent loss of relief on business rates and National Insurance hikes. He argued the burden of tax should shift away from bricks and mortar businesses towards online retailers.

Launched in September 2025, Big Boss is a weekly podcast featuring interviews with CEOs of global companies, with content featured across Radio 4’s Today programme and Radio 5 Live’s Wake Up to Money. Listener numbers are not reported, but the BBC Sounds platform received an average weekly audience of 4.8 million in Q3 2025. You can listen to the podcast here.