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The Chase’s Beast Sheds 10 Stone Thanks To 'Personal Trainer' Golden Retriever

The Chase’s Beast Sheds 10 Stone Thanks To 'Personal Trainer' Golden Retriever

He claims that it only costs him 'half a carvery' for his time

Tom Sanders

Tom Sanders

The Chase's Mark 'The Beast' Labbett has revealed how he managed to drop over 10 stone in weight thanks to the help of his 'personal trainer' golden retriever.

Mark - who goes by the nickname 'The Beast' on the hit ITV quiz show, has spoken about how his dog Baloo helped him get into the habit of exercising more frequently while appearing on ITV's The Pet Show; a new programme that aims to celebrate the UK's obsession with animals.

In the show, Mark chats with hosts Dermot O'Leary and Joanna Page about how Baloo has become a huge motivating factor for him when it comes to exercising.

He also told the presenters a bit more about his pet, claiming that when he and his wife saw Baloo they 'fell in love' with him instantly.

"My wife promised me that when we first got him she would take care of everything - feeding him, walking him and so on," he explained.

"That lasted about two weeks before she decided 'Actually Mark, look at your belly - you need the exercise!'"

It didn't take long for Mark and Baloo to bond with each other though, and his wife's insistence that he needed the exercise ended up being the start of a wonderful and productive relationship.

He now even calls the golden retriever his very own 'personal trainer', and a cheap one too, as he only charges him half a carvery.

"I was walking him around the fields, taking me places... I think he's helped a lot, simply because I'm doing more activity."

Mark has previously been candid about his weight loss mission, revealing how he made the decision to change his lifestyle after being diagnosed with type-2 diabetes back in 2017.

"Since then I have prioritised my overall health and fitness and have been on a real-life weight loss journey losing nearly 10 stones since my diagnosis," he claimed in a captioned Instagram post.

At one point the 6ft 6 quizmaster was tipping the scales at over 29 stone but later discovered that he had shed 10 stone when he last weighed in back in May, marking a tremendous turnaround and an incredible weight loss journey.

And it couldn't have come at a better time too, with The Beast recently making the jump overseas to star in the US version of The Chase which was broadcast earlier this year.

Let's just hope that Baloo doesn't miss him too much while he's away!

Featured Image Credit: ITV

Topics: Pets, the chase