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The Chase's Mark Labbett talks weight loss

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

From Digital Spy

The Chase star Mark Labbett shared a photo showing his recent weight loss on Twitter last week, and has now confirmed that he has lost five stone.

The quiz champion – who goes by the moniker 'The Beast' on the ITV favourite – talked about coming down with suspected COVID-19 symptoms in late February, and how this, combined with findings from a recent medical, prompted him to take a decision to lose weight.

Speaking to The Sun on Sunday, Mark said: "I got suspected COVID at the end of February, and got sent home from work, for the first time in 15 years, on Wednesday 27. ITV were brilliant, and took no chances.

Photo credit: Mark Labbett - Twitter
Photo credit: Mark Labbett - Twitter

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"Because the testing capacity was so limited then, I never formally got a test but all I can say is that for two weeks I had complete loss of appetite, no sense of smell, a temperature, exhaustion and the worst fever of my life.

"Apparently one of the symptoms they're discovering now is rapid attacks. One morning I woke up at 1.30am shivering uncontrollably. I had to go downstairs to alter the central heating, and I couldn't hold a pint of water in one hand because I was shaking so much.

"As a self-proclaimed fatty, of course I was aware that having COVID wasn't good, and clearly increased the severity of my risk. At my last medical, the tests were based around a Christmas tree system – red, amber and green. Although I am fat I've always been quite fit, so everything else was in the amber zone except my weight which was firmly in the red.

Photo credit: ITV
Photo credit: ITV

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"I basically didn't eat for two weeks but since then the weight has continued to drop off because I have continued to eat sensibly. I knew I had to. I am still losing weight and beginning to notice the difference in photos which, I can assure you, are not ­Photoshopped!"

Recently, Mark's Chase co-star Anne Hegerty revealed that she is really enjoying lockdown and doesn't want it to end, except for returning to the studio to film more episodes of the show, of course.

The Chase airs on ITV.

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