Will Mellor has admitted his Strictly Come Dancing training has left him with painful injuries.
The Hollyoaks star, 46, is making great strides on the BBC show with his dance partner Nancy Xu, 31 - but his body may not thank him for it.
Will reckons the gruelling rehearsals have given him 'purple feet' and knees 'held together with sticky tape'.
The actor made the admission on The One Show on Friday in which he appeared alongside Nancy.
Showing a video of the star nursing his knees with a pack of frozen peas, host Alex Jones joked: "We're all worried about your knees!"
Will replied: ''My knees are bad but my feet are purple - I don't think that's normal.
"I'm sat there with my feet - found my wife's foot spa and I've got ice in too. Honestly, my knees are like a Blue Peter project.
"I've got that much sticky tape on there, just holding it all together. It's not for old people is it, this show. My body doesn't know what's going on."
With his tight trousers and sequinned snake hips, Will has fast become the heartthrob of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing.
Happily married to his wife of 15 years, Michelle McSween, the star says his appearance on the show is having a positive effect on his relationship.
“Sex symbol? Those are your words!” he laughed, speaking to the Mirror. “My wife certainly doesn’t mind… I look good now.
“I’m 46 – I’m not a young man anymore, but I feel the fittest I’ve felt in years. It’s really good.
Will continued: “My friends call me ‘Snake Hips Mellor’. I’ve been getting all that…
“It’s a shame that when Strictly finishes, it’s not summer so I can get my shirt off on a beach somewhere.
“I might have to fly somewhere hot when this is all over just so I can get my new body out!”
Despite his new physique and being tipped to waltz off with the Glitterball trophy, Will reckons he'll 'never' sign up for another reality show.
He told The Sun : "This is it for me. If you're going to do one do the biggest one and I'm glad I've learnt a skill every week.
"I couldn't sit on a show just waiting to be voted out, I'd rather at least learn a skill and put my hand to something and really get my teeth into it.
"I'm enjoying every minute of it and I don't want to just be in a popularity competition, this will be it for me, I think."
• Strictly Come Dancing is on Saturday on BBC One at 6.30pm
