The Chase star Mark Labbett claimed he has been asked to apply for I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! four times but has always been rejected due to his weight.
The famous quizzer, known as The Beast on The Chase, admitted he's been getting "jacked off" with the ITV show after being asked to apply. Speaking to the Daily Star at the National Television Awards, Mark, 57, said he'd love to take part in the show, but his weight has always been an issue.
He said: “Four times I’ve been asked to apply for an ITV reality TV show. But at every point they’ve gone from really wanting me to suddenly my weight is an issue. I’m getting a bit jacked off about that. Especially now that I’m down to the weight I am.”
Explaining why he believes he’s been ruled out, Mark continued: “They really worry on I’m A Celebrity about big stars who have shut down. They don’t allow for the fact that a guy like me, 3000 calories is a diet.”
The quiz whiz added: “I’d love to do it. I know one thing I’m safe from - they’re never going to get me on a parachute! It’s just really annoying that they invite me in for an interview and then weight is mentioned and I’m out.”
Campmates who take part in the ITV reality series are on a heavily restricted diet of just beans and rice - which equates to 700 calories a day. If he did take part, Mark wouldn’t be the first Chaser in the camp, as co-star Anne Hegarty, aka The Governess, was a contestant in 2018.
The brainiac is happy with his new slimmed-down size, but has also said he ‘still has work to do’ on toning his figure, after going from a size 5XL to XL. Chatting with the Loose Women panel in March last year, Mark credited dropping a staggering five trouser sizes to a low sugar and carb diet and ‘running after a hyperactive toddler.’
The TV personality has been documenting his weight loss journey after shedding 10 stone when he decided to prioritise his health after being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. The quizmaster enlisted a personal trainer to aid with his transformation, resulting in him losing the 63kg over a year.
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