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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Entertainment
Jessica Sansome

ITV The Chase star Mark Labbett addresses surgery claims as he shares admission about 10-stone weight loss

The Chase star Mark Labbett has addressed surgery claims after recently showing off his weight loss. The quizzer, who is a regular on the hit ITV show, has lost a whopping 10 stone and said previously his change was kick-started by the coronavirus lockdown.

Back in December, fans were left stunned when he shared a new snap of himself backstage in pantomime. Mark, who is nicknamed 'The Beast' on the quiz show, floored followers on social media as he posted a picture from behind-the-scenes at the Northwich pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk.

Mark, who was playing the villain Fleshcreep in the show, tweeted a photo of himself holding a Pointless board game based on The Chase's rival BBC show. "This was my secret Santa at the Northwich Panto. I suspect @richardosman," he joked. But fans were distracted by Mark's weight loss as they commented on how trim he was looking.

READ MORE: Gemma Atkinson laughs off daughter's 'overweight' comparison after fans' worry for pregnant star

Now Mark has revealed that the changes he made have helped him. Speaking about his weight loss journey and how he lost the weight, he told The Sun: "I think the major one – I’ve said various ones but they all chip in. Exercising the dog, the diabetes medication helped, running around my five/six year old during the pandemic.

"One of the major things, I notice that people say I eat a fraction of what I normally eat. I have a standard carvery and I struggle to finish it – I eat so less but I drink so much more liquids, so my stomach's filled up."

He also addressed claims he's had surgery to aid his weight loss. He added to the publication: "I’m not really trying to diet, I’m just being sensible, people say you’ve had the gastric sleeve or band and I haven’t. And how you can tell is look at my face, do I look like I’m drawn? I’ve lost it slowly."

Mark at the National Television Awards in October (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

But Mark, who weighed 378lbs at his heaviest and said he is 'feeling good' about being back in a size 38 jeans, was tempted by undergoing surgery but opted against it following advice from a doctor. "I was tempted by the gastric band but a good friend of mine who's a GP, said my problem is sugar, I have a sweet tooth," he said.

"A gastric band is useless for me because sugar metabolises quite quickly, so I’ve done it the old fashion way by eating a bit less and I’ve tried to go to the gym."

Back in 2021 Mark, who became a 'chaser' in 2009 on the Bradley Walsh-fronted show, said he was feeling 'leaner and meaner' after shedding the pounds. The 57-year-old quizzer looked almost unrecognisable as he showcased his weight loss with before and after photos posted side-by-side.

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