Winter Olympic hero Eddie the Eagle joins British Gas engineers after document callouts

Brutal weather has led to record call outs for the British Gas team – but look who is winging his way in to help them out

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British Gas has already fixed more than 600,000 broken boilers this winter, which is shaping up to be one of the coldest and stormiest in recent years.

The energy giant has dealt with a record number of callouts in January as icy temperatures and severe weather hit households across the UK, including in some of the country’s most remote locations.

To help prepare trainee engineers for some of the challenges they face, Winter Olympics legend Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards has shared his insights on resilience, preparation and performing under pressure in the chilliest conditions.

The former ski jumper’s role is particularly timely as athletes from Team GB and ParalympicsGB head to Milan-Cortina for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

“I’ve spent my life learning how to cope with cold, pressure and the odd moment where everything feels stacked against you,” Eddie said.

“Being hard-working, resilient and able to perform under pressure are qualities every Olympian needs, and they’re exactly what I saw in British Gas engineers too.

“Whether it’s freezing temperatures or tough conditions, they just get on with the job and make sure people are looked after.”

British Gas, which is a partner of TeamGB and ParalympicsGB, has shared key tips on ensuring your home is as winter-proof as possible.

These include regular boiler services, bleeding radiators to keep heating systems efficient and having a plan in place in case of an emergency.

The advice comes as new research reveals just how worried British households are about winter breakdowns – and how badly prepared we are for extreme conditions.

Just two per cent of adults rated their cold-weather endurance as “Olympic-level” with three quarters admitting they struggled when temperatures dropped.

The study, conducted by British Gas, also found that 66% rated a broken boiler as the winter scenario most likely to disrupt their life, ranking higher than power cuts (61%) or burst pipes (60%).

More than half (55%) said a breakdown would become a serious problem within 24 hours while four in ten thought waking up without heating is the most frustrating winter problem. This outweighed concerns such as losing internet access (13%), television (12%) or mobile phone signal (8%).

Peter Knowles, technical repair engineer at British Gas said, “I see first-hand how much pressure winter can put on households when temperatures drop suddenly or severe weather hits.

“That’s why it’s so important we have priority engineers ready to respond – even in tough conditions or hard-to-reach locations. Whether it’s snow, ice or customers being cut off, our focus is always on taking care of things for households as quickly as possible, including same-day support when it matters most.”

British Gas provides same-day boiler repairs for anyone, including people who aren’t customers, who call before 11am. The company is also offering free boiler service health checks for remote homes this winter. To be in with a chance to win one, go to @britishgas on Instagram.

How to winter-proof your home in five easy steps

• Checking boilers and having regular services to make sure its working efficiently
• Knowing where stopcocks are located in case of frozen or burst pipes
• Bleeding radiators to keep heating systems running efficiently
• Insulating pipes and lofts to help retain heat
• Having a winter plan in place, including emergency contacts