BEEKEEPING SET TO BECOME HOTTEST HOBBY TREND OF 2024

Beekeeping is one of the hottest hobby trends of 2024 thanks to a host of celebrity fans, according to a study.

Stars creating a buzz around the pastime include David Beckham, Beyoncé and Scarlett Johansson, whilst the latest to don the beekeeper overall is Hollywood star Jason Statham, who learned the craft for a new film.

The study of 2,000 people, conducted by Sky ahead of the release of movie The Beekeeper, starring Jason Statham, found 47 per cent are looking for more unusual pastimes this year.

The study also found 14 per cent have found hobby inspiration from a movie, with bee-enthusiasts Beckham and Johansson, and Olympic diver Tom Daley – who loves to knit – voted as the most inspiring celebrity hobbyists.

Sky Original The Beekeeper, in cinemas today, tells the story of one man’s brutal campaign for vengeance, which takes on national stakes after it’s revealed he’s a former operative of a powerful and clandestine organisation known as Beekeepers. The film led Jason Statham to be fully immersed in this new buzzing hobby.

Other new and emerging hobbies featured on the top 25 list of activities for the year ahead include origami, open mic poetry, arranging flowers, pottery, collecting ‘old technology’ like CDs and foraging for snacks in the wild.

49 per cent say they’ll opt out of more sedentary hobbies like reading or blogging and looking for ones that get them outdoors and moving, with 47 per cent liking the idea of getting a bit fitter.

Exactly half said they get enjoyment from pastimes that are in some way good for the environment – like creating bug ‘hotels’ in their gardens.

Sky Original film, The Beekeeper’s Director, David Ayer, said of the results: “It’s good to see people are up for trying new things in 2024. I’m not surprised there’s so much buzz around beekeeping, and I’m hoping our film will only enhance that.

“We did it for real on the set, and Jason Statham genuinely learned how to open a hive and work with the bees. Always one to immerse himself in a movie, he really connected with the whole zen of beekeeping, which was quite therapeutic between all the gruelling action sequences!”

Julia Stuart, Director of Original Film at Sky commented: “Could 2024 be the year that beekeeping becomes cool?! With the likes of David Beckham, Scarlett Johansson and of course now Jason Statham, taking a liking to this exciting hobby, it’s the start of a wonderful relationship with nature. Once you’ve been to the cinema to see the film, you might feel the same!”