Yahoo News Strictly's Nick Knowles shed nearly two stone ahead of dancing competition
After a summer filled with controversy involving former pros Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima, who departed the BBC show, Strictly Come Dancing has made its anticipated return.
Not only is the mental health of the contestants being attentively catered for this year, but also their physical condition is being closely monitored. DIY expert Nick Knowles, joined by dancer Luba Mushtuk, has reported that producers are determined to support him through the rigorous demands of the competition.
Sharing his thoughts with the Daily Mail's Weekend Magazine, the 61-year-old TV personality disclosed: "Bits of me are knackered but they've already made sure I've got physio support."
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He added insight into the psychological support in place, remarking: "I've spoken to psychologists about my state of wellbeing. I know who I can talk to if I have issues. So, yeah, all I can say is that everything appears to be in place."
Nick has been rigorously prepping his physique to ensure he's in prime condition for the challenging 14-week dance contest, managing to drop nearly two stone through dedicated dietary control and a workout plan, reports the Express.
Explaining his intense preparation routine, Nick mentioned that after finding the first training session demanding and added: "I realised I needed to work harder in the gym.
"So that's what I've done over the last six weeks, as well as losing 10 kilos by controlling my diet and eating one meal a day."
His nutritional strategy he listed as: "Keeping off carbs. Protein, green vegetables and an enormous amount of gym work."
The well-travelled presenter once joked that he'd only consider a liquid diet "once you can juice pork pies and scotch eggs", but in 2017, he spent a month at a wellness retreat in Thailand.
He claims to have lost nine kilos as a result of the experience, after which he took up yoga and adopted what he referred to as a ''vegan flexitarian" diet. Nick hasn't had much opportunity for formal dance training yet, aside from learning a few Tango steps while filming a travel series earlier this year. "It's a beautiful dance but it's also very manly. If I'm nervous of anything, it's the bouncy things, the Charleston and stuff."
He may have learned a step or two from his ex-wife Jessica Rose Moor, a professional dancer, although they separated in 2017.
Nick's three sisters are also dancers, so he's likely to receive plenty of advice in the coming weekends.
