Matt Lucas, 48, says his father’s ‘sudden’ death at age 52 persuaded him to lose wight

Matt Lucas has revealed that his father who died at a young age persuaded him to get in shape after gaining weight during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The comedian, 48, showed off his newly trimmed frame as he presented the premiere episode of The Great British Bake Off on Tuesday.

Speaking of his weight loss, he said his father died of a heart attack at age 52 in 1996 when Matt was 22 years old, and it made him think about his health as he approaches 50.

Matt said he also decided to change his lifestyle after gaining weight by eating ‘a lot of baked potatoes’ and being less active during the lockdown.

Speaking with Gabby Logan on The Center podcast, he said, “I’m 48, my dad died when he was 52, very suddenly, his dad died at 56 I think, so I looked at the law of averages here.

“I was very big and I actually got bigger during the pandemic. Not being very active a bit, not really going out, not seeing people, just eating a lot of baked potatoes. I can’t tell you how many baked potatoes I ate!’

Matt said he’s slimmed down from a XXXL to a medium and explained that he doesn’t eat as much as he used to, but still enjoys the occasional sweet treat.

Health: Speaking of his weight loss, Matt (pictured in 2020) said his father died of a heart attack in 1996 at the age of 52, and it made him think about his health as he approaches 50

Weight loss: Matt (pictured left in 2016 and right in 2022) said he was also thinking about his lifestyle, having gained weight after being less active during the lockdown

“I was so big I couldn’t fit on the screen anymore,” he continued.

“The point is that when you grow up, and besides, I still have quite a belly, at least I’m not skinny, I just lost some weight.

‘I went from maybe an XXL, sometimes I was a XXXL, now I’ve gone to a medium, I think.

“Although sometimes medium is big for me and sometimes small for me.”

The Little Britain actor said he feels better about himself after losing weight, says he leads a healthier lifestyle and drinks ‘barely’ alcohol.

Diet: The Little Britain actor said he feels better in himself after losing weight, says he leads a healthier lifestyle and drinks ‘barely’ alcohol

“I do feel a little better, I feel a little relieved, because the point is I don’t do drugs, don’t smoke and hardly ever drink, so it’s just the food,” he said.

In addition to changing his diet, Matt said he stays active by regularly walking along a canal near his home.

He said, ‘I walk, I like to walk. I live not far from a canal and I love taking long walks along the canal when the weather is nice, with a friend or alone.’

Podcast host Gabby asked Matt if he worked out at all with his roommate, who is a personal trainer, but Matt replied, “We used to do some exercise sessions. I think I have a natural predisposition to be horizontal. I just prefer to enjoy it.’

His comments come after he showed off his slimmed-down frame on Tuesday’s episode of The Great British Bake Off, with viewers praising him for his new look.

Fitness: In April 2020, Matt (pictured in September 2020) admitted he’d like to get “fitter” during his lockdown, after feeling like he’s “gained on a bit”

On Twitter, one viewer wrote: ‘Can Matt Lucas drop his diet tips, please #GBBO’; “Wow Matt Lucas has lost a lot of weight! #GBBO.’

While another said ‘Matt Lucas look skinny #GBBO’, and a third said ‘Where’s the rest of Matt Lucas? #gbbo.’

A fourth commented, ‘Where’s the rest of Matt Lucas? #gbbo’, and a fifth wrote: ‘Just tuned in, is it just me or has Matt lost a lot of weight? #GBBO.’

In April 2020, Matt admitted that he wanted to get “fitter” during his lockdown period, after feeling he had “gained on a little”.

He said: ‘All I have to do is get fitter, I’ve gained a little weight, that’s my next challenge to move a little more.

“Maybe I should make a game of it when I exercise to stay away from it. I don’t have a garden, so I have to find a way to do that.’

The prankster was previously told by doctors to reduce his daily calorie intake to 1,500 for fear he could develop diabetes.

Matt took the doctor’s warning seriously after he tragically lost his own father John to a heart attack in 1996.

Looks good: His comments come after he showed off his slimmed-down frame on Tuesday’s episode of The Great British Bake Off, with viewers praising him for his new look