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Daily Record
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Siobhan Macdonald

The Chase star The Beast says diabetes medication helped his impressive weight loss

The Chase star Mark Labbett stunned fans as he showed off his slimmed down physique on Loose Women as he revealed his medication aided his weight loss.

The TV personality, known as The Beast on the ITV quiz show, appeared on Mondays instalment of Loose Women as he discussed his impressive transformation. Looking smart in a black blazer, the father-of-one was told by host Gloria Hunniford: "You are much thinner. You had a bit of belly the last time you came."

As the audience giggled, Mark also saw the funny side, saying: "You know the rules, your good friends can be as rude to you as they like and you don't mind."

Opening up about his incredible weight loss, he continued: "I'm down to 21 stone now - I was 29 stone, 2lbs at my heaviest. My diabetes meds help because I eat so much less. I also drink a lot more fluids."

Mark was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 2017. Initially the TV star said he felt "numb" when he was diagnosed, however four years later he opened up about dealing with diabetes.

Mark Labbett discussed how his medication aided his weight loss (ITV)

He's now the "smallest" he's been in 30 years after shedding around 64kg, still standing tall at 6 ft 6. The Chase star really started shedding the pounds during the first Covid lockdown in 2020.

He'd managed to drop around three stone in the years running up to it, but when the nurseries shut and he had to chase around his "hyperactive" toddler for weeks on end, even more weight started to come off.

Speaking to the Express, he said: “I don't drink, I don't smoke, I don't do drugs, gamble, God knows, there's no loose woman in my life. My sin was chocolate and sweets. I've always had a ridiculous amount of sugar, so my view was I've done the crime so it's time to do the time."

Fans noticed he was looking trimmer than ever (Instagram)

Speaking to the Loose Women panel last year, he explained: "I found at the end of the evening instead of going to the fridge for late night snacking, all I could do was collapse on the bed."

He also has his pet Labrador Retriever Baloo to thank for his transformation, as he revealed on ITV's The Pet Show with Dermot O'Leary and Joanna Page. He said: "I was walking him around the fields, taking me places... I think he's helped a lot, simply because I'm doing more activity."

Mark's furry friend Baloo motivated him to get moving (markthebeastlabbett/Instagram)

Speaking to the Loose Women ladies on Monday, he added: "I'm so busy. I've got two free days off in December from the panto and then I'm going to collapse in a heap in January."

Mark is starring as the villainous Fleshcreep in Northwick Memorial Court Theatre's Jack and the Beanstalk. He will be joined by Hi-de-Hi star Sue Pollard, who shot to fame in the cult classic BBC show as chalet maid Peggy Ollerenshaw.

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