Shaun Williamson, famous as bumbling Barry in EastEnders, lost 10lb for his latest role, but assures fans he will not become a “romantic leading man”.
Shaun, 54, who played Barry for a decade from 1994, had to get trim to cope with the physical gags in Mister Winner, a new BBC2 sitcom.
He said: “I lost 10lb – by drinking gin instead of beer. But I also power walk. Three miles to Tesco’s then three miles back holding the shopping. It took 10lb off over six weeks.”
But he won’t lose more and risk dropping out of his “pool”, which he says includes Mark Benton, John Thomson and Victor McGuire.
Shaun, husband of Natalie (Lucy Speed) in Enders, said: “You have a type. If I go down too much I’m among the 12st actors. Why try to be better looking and thinner like guys my age who have looked after themselves and are known as romantic leading men?”
In Mister Winner, he plays the prospective father-in-law of Leslie Winner, and says the show is like Some Mothers Do ’Ave ’Em, promising hilarious stunts.
He said: “I think there’s a lot of similarities with Frank Spencer.”
It’s certainly more fun than Enders. He said: “There are no deaths, no drug-taking, no-one is being pushed off a cliff.”
He is hoping that the new series will appeal to older viewers.
“I’d like to be in a sitcom that older people can appreciate because I think there’s a lot of them thinking, 'People aren’t writing comedy for me any more’."
Since leaving EastEnders, Williamson has starred in a string of West End shows plus Extras and Life’s Too Short.
*Mister Winner, tonight, BBC2, 10pm
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