I’m A Celeb’s Russell Watson lost 20lb in two weeks on castle diet

I’M A Celebrity Russell Watson lost an incredible 20lb in two weeks after eating just a fifth of his daily calories in Gwrych Castle.

The opera star, 54, exclusively told The Sun that the strict show diet of rice and beans — and the occasional meaty treat — left him considerably lighter than when he signed up for the ITV show.

He said: “I was mainly wearing the leggings for the first few days.

“But once I put my red pants on they were falling down my backside. I lost nearly 20lbs in two weeks in there, the weight literally fell off me.

“I was quite pleased with that, I was a big unit when I went in there, so I put my trousers on today and they fell down, I had to put two belts on to keep them up.”

Russell had already shrank two dress sizes this year after becoming a total fitness addict in lockdown.

Before heading into I’m A Celeb, he told The Sun: “I don’t know how much weight I’ve lost but I’ve dropped two suit sizes and I’m back in clothes I never thought I’d get in again.

“I was watching TV last year when I did my stuff with Aled Jones and I saw myself, and I thought, ‘Jesus – I look huge.’

“The telly adds 14lbs anyway so I asked my wife Louise and she said: ‘You look a bit bigger than you do in real life’ and I thought, ‘That’s it, I’m off to the gym.’

“The only good thing to come out of lockdown and all of this is the opportunity to get fit. I’m constantly on the road touring. So instead of a Caesar salad with some ham on the side it’s a Double Decker and a packet of Hula Hoops.

“Now I’ve been training every day but I’ve not set a goal. Last weekend I did 23 miles on my pushbike, when I first got on I did about seven minutes and it felt like my quads would explode, I was walking like Elvis Presley.

“And I play tennis and do a lot of boxing – and I’ve got a Peloton which is really good.”