He lost more than a stone in weight after dramatically overhauling his diet and embracing a healthy, active lifestyle.
And Jason Manford admits the wake-up call that prompted him to doggedly abstain from white bread and ‘bad carbohydrates’ began following a potentially traumatic episode while holidaying with his family last August.
Speaking to Wednesday’s edition of Loose Women, the comedian, 36, recalled the embarrassing moment his bulkier frame got wedged on a waterslide during an otherwise relaxing getaway with partner Lucy Dyke and their children.
Awkward: Jason Manford admits the wake-up call that prompted him lose weight began following a potentially traumatic episode while holidaying with his family
‘I was hot and sweaty,’ he admitted. ‘I got halfway down and I just stopped. I heard someone else coming; I was like, “Is this my slide or is it a neighbouring slide?” I thought it’s not ideal but if this person gets here at least he’ll free.
‘My kids were waiting at the bottom. In my mind I’m still there; I eventually freed myself with absolute panic. In that moment I thought I’ve got to sort this out.’
The star consequently lost more than a stone and a half in weight, an achievement he attributes to cutting out the unhealthy foods that had been a constant prior to his sobering holiday experience.
Slimming down: The Manchester based star consequently lost more than a stone and a half in weight, an achievement he attributes to cutting out the unhealthy foods that had been a constant prior to his sobering holiday experience
Traumatic: Speaking to Wednesday’s edition of Loose Women, the comedian, 36, recalled the embarrassing moment his bulkier frame got wedged on a waterslide during an otherwise relaxing getaway with partner Lucy Dyke and their children
A father of five – the comedian shares four children with ex-wife Catherine while raising a daughter with Lucy – he remains firmly based in Manchester suburb Stockport.
And he admits to being surprised when comparing his own humble upbringing on Manchester’s self-styled ‘triangle of death’ – an area notorious for drug related crime – with the rather more sophisticated tastes enjoyed by his children.
‘You don’t want to raise kids posher than you, ‘ he reflected. ‘You don’t want to raise kids you wouldn’t be friends with when you were a kid.
‘They’re like “This smashed avocado isn’t nice,” I say “it’s mushy peas.” They’re ordering hummus in a restaurant – I didn’t see a chickpea until i was married. It’s great to watch the differences.’
Opening up: ‘I was hot and sweaty,’ he admitted. ‘I got halfway down and I just stopped. I heard someone else coming; I was like, “Is this my slide or is it a neighbouring slide?” I thought it’s not ideal but if this person gets here at least he’ll free’
Embarrassing: ‘My kids were waiting at the bottom. In my mind I’m still there; I eventually freed myself with absolute panic. In that moment I thought I’ve got to sort this out’
Upbeat: Jason was in high spirits as he chatted to the Loose Women panelists on Wednesday
Appearing on the show to promote debut covers album A Different Stage – a collection of the comedian’s favourite show tunes – Jason admitted his beloved Grandmother convinced him to record it.
But while she is his staunchest supporter, he revealed she was also his staunchest critic after hearing the album, which he recorded with the Prague Symphony Orchestra, for the first time.
‘I was walking past the front room and she had the album on the CD player,’ he recalled. ‘It got about halfway through a track and I heard her fast forward to the next one.’
Inspired: Appearing on the show to promote debut covers album A Different Stage – a collection of the comedian’s favourite show tunes – Jason admitted his beloved Grandmother convinced him to record it