I want to look as good as Gary Barlow by 40, says Rob Beckett who reveals struggle with his weight... (original) (raw)

HE may be one of the biggest stars in showbiz, but Rob Beckett wants fans to see less of him.

The presenter and comic — half a brilliant double act with Romesh Ranganathan — wants to lose weight and get buff by his 40th birthday.

Rob Beckett says he wants to get in top shape by time he reaches 40Credit: ITV

The dad-of-two joked: “My diet is an absolute horror show.

“I’m being kind to myself because this year has been really busy, but from next year, you watch.

“I turn 37 in January which gives me three years to do a Gary Barlow and get absolutely ripped before I’m 40.

“You can call me in three years and double check!”

'ABSOLUTE MONSTER'

Rob, who is married to teacher Lou and has two daughters aged six and four, said: “I got more sleep on that stag do than I’ve had in years — that’s how hard parenting is.

“You can actually go on a stag do to Ibiza with Joe Swash and come back feeling rested.

“We’d all start drinking at midday and I’d finish about midnight.

“So I’d go to bed, get ten hours sleep and because the rest of the stag party wouldn’t be drinking again until midday, I had time to write in the morning.

“It was the greatest writer’s retreat of all time. I’m not sure if JK Rowling or John Grisham do that, but it worked for me.”

The podcast took off in April 2020 when Covid torpedoed Rob and Josh’s regular work.

More than 50million downloads later, they now have a lucrative deal with Spotify and an arena tour next year, which includes dates at the O2 and Wembley.

Rob said: “We can’t believe how big it’s become. But when you think about it, of course people are going to like a comedy show moaning about how hard it is to have kids.

“We’re not experts, we’re just parents who really care but don’t always feel very good at it and I think that’s most people.”

Rob says Take That's Gary Barlow is his body inspiration as he bids to get fitCredit: Rex

Among his favourite guests have been DJ Russell Kane, Corrie actor Simon Gregson and Myleene Klass — for her intense style of parenting.

He said: “Myleene was like, ‘In our house we do a fire drill and then two hours of piano’. Oh f*** off! I’d have hated to grow up in that house. I can’t get my kids to clean their teeth.”

Rob’s big break came in 2012 on ITV2’s I’m A Celeb spin-off. And after years of being skint, he finally had some money in his pocket.

He said: “The first time I could fill my petrol tank was a big moment.

“For years I could only put five quid in here and there and I remember putting £45 in one day and feeling like an absolute G.”

However, he says there are downsides to fame, like being approached for selfies while sunbathing in his trunks.

He said: “You’re topless on a beach and they say, ‘Can I have a photo?’, and then go to take it full length. I’m like, ‘Are you mental!’.”

On Queens For The Night, Rob will judge as celebs including fitness guru Mr Motivator and ex-EastEnder Adam Woodyatt battle it out in drag.

He said: “What was most shocking was seeing Mr Motivator, who I think is about 305, still ripped and with more energy than I’ve ever had. That man is an absolute monster.”

Perhaps Rob can tap him up to help with his mission to become a lean, mean machine himself.

Queens For The Night, ITV, tonight, 8.30pm.

Leigh-Anne pin up

Leigh-Anne Pinnock wowed in a black and ivory dress at the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever premiereCredit: Getty

LITTLE Mix singer Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Alexandra Burke showed they had bags of style at the premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

The popstars posed on the black carpet alongside the film’s stars including Michaela Coel, Danai Gurira and Lupiat Nyong'o.

Leigh-Anne shone in a black and ivory dress, which showed off her pins, while Alexandra dazzled in a bright red gown with glittering diamond earrings.

Alexandra Burke wore a bright red gown with glittering diamond earringsCredit: Rex

Neither of the X Factor winners are strangers to film premieres.

Alexandra made her movie debut in Pretty Red Dress this year and Leigh-Anne, who is working on her debut solo album, starred in her first-ever film, Boxing Day, last year.

She said: “Singing is my number one passion but I do feel like I’ve got the acting bug now.

“I loved every second. But I uncovered a talent that I didn’t really know I had, so I’m just excited to keep nurturing it and see where else this takes me.”

'Appy Ellie wants new mates

Ellie Goulding now has a Raya account purely to make friendsCredit: Instagram

SHE is a married mum-of-one but that hasn’t stopped Ellie Goulding from opening a Raya account.

But the pop star is not looking for love like some of the app’s other famous users, instead Ellie is looking for some pals.

The All By Myself singer already counts Prince Harry and Katy Perry among her close friends but now it seems she has more A-listers in her sights.

Insiders revealed Ellie has opened an account on the celebrity app using her proper name, Elena, and included photographs from her Instagram.

Ellie also uses Kishi Bashi’s 2011 song, It All Began With A Burst, as her profile’s soundtrack.

A source added: “Ellie is happily married to Caspar Jopling but she kept her Raya profile open to connect with interesting people.

“She makes it clear her profile is only for mates as she includes the tag line, ‘Here just for friends,’ so it’s nothing untoward.”

Ellie has been hard at work over the past few months finishing her upcoming fifth album, Higher Than Heaven.

She said the songs were inspired by lockdown, adding: “There was definitely a darkness about [the past two years] that was palpable in the studio, with everyone having gone through it differently.

“I think for that reason, nobody wanted to sit and agonise over some relationship or some drama.

“So that’s how this album came together.”

Ed rest

Ed Sheeran is signing off for the rest of 2023 to take a breakCredit: Getty

ED Sheeran is taking a well earned break until 2023.

The Bad Habits singer has told fans he’s officially “signed off” for the year.

Alongside this snap of him gazing out at the ocean, Ed wrote: “Signing off now until 2023. See you in the new year. Much love, Ed x.”

Ed Sheeran told fans he will see them in 2023 when he goes on tourCredit: Instagram

Ed will kick off 2023 by returning to life on the road with his Mathematics tour in New Zealand before shows across Australia, USA and Canada.

His sixth studio album – his first since 2020’s Equals – is expected to have been released early next year.

Beefing up is the splits for Hugh

Hugh Jackman is bulking up ahead of his role as Wolverine in Deadpool 3Credit: Rex

HUGH JACKMAN is going to extreme lengths to get into shape to reprise his role of Wolverine.

The actor, who is currently starring in The Music Man on Broadway, admits he’s split two pairs of trousers in the past few weeks as he beefs up.

One split happened minutes before he was due on stage.

Hugh said: “I had about two minutes. I said to the stage manager, ‘New pair of trousers!’ I had my trousers around my ankles.

"I thought, ‘if my dresser doesn’t get here in time, it’s better to go on in split trousers than no trousers’.

"I saw him running from stage right to stage left, top speed. We made it just in time.”

I am also bulking up at the moment – but it’s more beer and chips than chicken and veg.

AJ wins

ANTHONY Joshua is enjoying the taste of sweet success.