Amanda Holden tells Paul Mescal he’s as ‘solid as a kitchen worktop’ during VERY flirty interview – while Gladiator II star admits prep for the film involved him stripping in front of his trainer

Amanda Holden left Paul Mescal blushing on Friday as she told how his muscular body felt ‘as firm as a kitchen worktop’ after they shared a hug.

The presenter, 53, and co-star Jason ‘K’ King, 49, were interviewing the Gladiator II star, 28, about the blockbuster on Heart Radio when things took a flirty turn when she commented on his physique.

Amanda was keen to share how amazing the Irish hunk felt: ‘After just giving him a little hug, you still feel as solid as a kitchen worktop.

Clearly flattered by the compliment, Paul replied: ‘Excellent, my trainer will be happy with it.’

JK then said: ‘Have you ever been described as having a kitchen worktop before?’, with Paul quickly admitting that ‘it’s a first’.

Expanding on her worktop analogy, Amanda added, “I’m going to say, well, I’m not going to say marble because that’s porous, I’m going to say granite.”

The presenter, 53, and co-star Jason ‘K’ King, 49, were interviewing the Gladiator II star, 28, about the blockbuster on Heart Radio when things took a flirty turn when she commented on his physique

Despite the unusual comparisons, Paul took Amanda’s comments to heart as he replied: “Brilliant, even better.”

Meanwhile, Amanda questioned Paul about the extreme steps Paul’s trainer took to prepare for the actor’s lead role in Gladiator II, in which he plays Lucius Verus.

She asked, “Is it true that when you started this, your personal trainer was literally circling you to see what he could do with you?”

To which Paul responded, “Oh, all the way in the hotel room he was like ‘strip down to your boxers’ and I was like ‘okay.’ I was spinning around and then just doing this kind of mind palace of what my body might look like in x number of months.”

Amanda then asked when Paul took steps to get his body in shape for the film, wondering if he had to make any “sacrifices” when it came to his normal eating and drinking habits.

Paul said: ‘The diet and training were the biggest sacrifices because it just took time and dedication, but luckily I was obviously able to drink reasonably well and everything.’

Amanda then commented, “Yes, because wine is good for you and the Romans invented it and drank it,” before Paul joked that drinking wine is simply being “methodical.”

Paul recently revealed he was so ripped he felt his body could do ‘real damage’ after his intense training sessions for Gladiator II.

Amanda is keen to share how amazing the Irish hunk felt: ‘After you just gave him a little hug, you still feel as solid as a kitchen worktop

Meanwhile, Amanda quizzed Paul about the extreme steps Paul’s trainer took to prepare for the actor’s lead role in Gladiator II, in which he plays Lucius Verus.

To which Paul responded, “Oh, all the way in the hotel room he was like ‘strip down to your boxers’ and I was like ‘okay.’ I was spinning around and then just doing this kind of mind palace of what my body might look like in x number of months’

Gladiator II sees Paul starring as Lucius Verus, the former heir to the Roman Empire who is forced into slavery and ultimately forced to fight in the Colosseum in an attempt to restore glory

Paul recently revealed he was so ripped he felt his body could do ‘real damage’ after his intense training sessions for Gladiator II

The Irish actor explained that after training with a fitness coach, riding horses and learning to fight, he felt powerful enough to take on the role of Lucius.

The star, who had no previous experience with bodybuilding or training, transformed herself for the role in Ridley Scott’s sequel, which was released on Friday.

He told it The sun: ‘You get the feeling that your body can do damage, which is strange.

‘It changes the way you move and work. And that’s a nice place to live if it’s a fantasy.’

The actor, who rose to fame as Connel Waldron in the BBC hit Normal People, plays the son of Russell Crowe’s legendary Maximus.

Although the character has long been dead and buried, it is the vengeful Lucius (Paul) who must fight for his freedom in the film after he is enslaved and ripped away from his wife and daughter by General Marcus (Pedro Pascal).

Gladiator II takes place a few decades after the first part and is about Lucius (the son of Connie Nielsen’s Lucilla) who now lives in Numidia, a region in North Africa.

Although he was sent to Numidia as a child, the film follows Lucius’ return to Rome to reunite with his mother – and finds himself conflicted in the process.

The film, twenty years in the making, was a hit with critics and fans praised Paul’s performance.