The Chase star Mark Labbett has revealed that bosses have bought him a new suit to fit his slimmed-down frame after he shed 2.5 stone.
The 52-year-old quiz mastermind – who is known on the game show as The Beast -was rewarded by the ITV quiz show for the impressive weight loss he achieved in just six months.
Mark set himself the target in October 2017, when he weighed 27 stone, during an appearance on Loose Women where he opened up about being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes after years of heavy sugar consumption.
In a series of tweets, the former Sugar Free Farm star shared: ‘#TheChase lost four inches off my chest and six inches off my belly in last six months.
‘So they have bought me a new suit for the show. First target achieved.’
Mark Labbett appeared on Loose Women in October 2017 where he shared his plans to loose weight and get a new suit
Mark set himself a target of losing weight to get a new suit by January for the NTA Awards, pictured on the red carpet with his wife Katie Labbett
The Chase star revealed that he had reached his target and bosses of the ITV quiz show had rewarded him with a new suit
It’s a huge improvement for Mark, as last year he revealed he turned down I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in 2016, because he didn’t think the basic diet of rice and beans would be substantial enough for him.
Mark joked that he would probably have to resort to munching on his fellow campmates in order to stay alive.
He said: ‘I’ve been asked to do the jungle but the base calorie intake is about 700. Look at me! If I survived a week I’d drop three stone and cannibalism would be on the cards.
‘On Sugar Free Farm the weight fell off me because I couldn’t eat enough. Does The Chase need me big?
‘Put it this way, whenever I start losing weight because I’m doing a fitness kick of whatever, the producers go past me and hand me a second portion of pudding.’
The Chase star has said in the past that he was happy with his body but his health problems meant he needed to reconsider his diet
Mark appeared on ITV’s Sugar Free Farm in 2016 in a bid to battle his addiction to sugar which had led to him being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes
Mark explained last year on Loose Women that he had been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, a disease often associated with obesity which can be prevented with a healthy diet, unlike Type 1 diabetes which is often inherited.
He said at the time: ‘I have a very good relationship with my body. It’s generally done me quite well. I’m in pretty good shape but recently I’ve been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
‘I’m not going to complain; I’ve done the crime [eating too much sugar] so now I’m doing the time.
‘I’ve enjoyed being this heavy, I’ve generally got away with it – now I haven’t so the weight’s coming off. I’ve lost a couple of stone so far. It’s a lost easier when you know you have to.’
Mark, pictured here in 2012 with The Chase star Bradley Walsh, has lost 35lbs (2.5st) in just six months
Mark wrote to actress and super slimmer Lisa Riley saying he hadn’t reached her level, but she encouraged him to keep going
Mark’s followers congratulated the quiz master for his weight loss efforts as he shared his results on Twitter
Mark was also praised by former Emmerdale actress and super-slimmer Lisa Riley after he sent her a message.
He said: ‘@Reallisariley I am not at your level yet but in last six months dropped 2.5 stones, four inches off chest and six inches off stomach (sic)’.
Congratulating him on reaching his target, Lisa echoed the sentiments of many of his followers, writing: ‘Mark that’s FANTATSIC… and now you keep strong and keep going.
‘With ZERO pressure doing it at your own pace, this is for YOU and nobody else CHAMPION, I’m crazy proud of you @MarkLabbett (sic)’