Les Dennis had been diagnosed with pre-diabetes but has been able to reverse it (Picture: BBC)
Strictly Come Dancing star Les Dennis has opened up further about overhauling his lifestyle after being struck down with an illness.
The Family Fortunes host, 69, has revealed he has lost three stone after having the ‘biggest wake-up call’ in 2017 while in a touring production of The Addams Family.
Les, who has three children sons Thomas and Philip and daughter Eleanor, has dropped from 15 stone to 12 stone after sticking to healthy habits including cutting out alcohol and completing 10,000 steps a day.
The comedian had previously revealed he fell ill with laryngitis while playing Uncle Fester in the stage show, and missed the final 10 weeks, which he described as ‘like an alarm bell’ and prompted him to take action.
During this time, Les said he ‘piled on the pounds’ after eating unhealthily and surviving off takeaways, with a doctor warning him he was ‘pre-diabetic.’
But, now, due to his new regime Les told The Sun he has been able to reverse the Type 2 pre-diabetes diagnosis.
Les saidhe had overhauled his lifestyle for his children (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock)
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He explained: ‘Luckily I caught it early enough to say, “Right, here we go, I have to do something.”
‘It has made me take responsibility for my own health. Being an older dad I want to be there for my kids. I want to be here when I am 100. They are the most important thing to me. I have to fulfill the responsibility to my kids.’
Les was the 15th and final contestant revealed for the BBC show and will appear alongside the likes of Bobby Brazier and Amanda Abbington.
Les was previously married to Amanda Holden (Picture: Getty Images)
However, he accidentally let slip he had joined the line-up the week before the official announcement when he tweeted a playlist intended for producers, titled ‘Strictly by Les Dennis.’
In a statement following his official reveal, Les said he was ‘thrilled’ to be taking part.
He said: ‘I’m thrilled to be doing this iconic wonderful show as I approach my 70th birthday!
Les has lost three stone over the past few years (Picture: Getty)
‘In my career I’ve always gone for challenges outside my comfort zone and this is the ultimate one! Can’t wait.’
Les, who was previously married to Amanda Holden, had been heavily rumoured to be in the line-up, with an insider telling The Mail on Sunday: ‘He might be about to turn 70 but he is a showman and he will be great entertainment for those watching at home.
‘There is genuine excitement about Les taking part.’
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The Celebrity Big Brother star is no stranger to dancing, as he has starred in West End productions including Hairspray, Legally Blonde, Only Fools And Horses The Musical, Chicago and The Addams Family.
Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One and iPlayer later this year.
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‘I had the biggest wake-up call.’