The Chase's Mark Labbett says three lifestyle changes were key to losing 10 stone

One of the nation's favourite quizzers has explained how he managed to shed so much weight, to the point that he's lost 10 stone since first appearing on our screens.

On The Chase, Mark 'The Beast' Labbett is so called because his surname sounds like 'La Bete', which is French for his nickname.

But for viewers who are less versed in French, it's also a reference to his rather imposing size, with Labbett standing at an imposing 6ft 6. And at his heaviest moment, he weighed 29 stone.

The 58-year-old, who before his appearances on The Chase made it onto quiz shows such as Mastermind and Who Wants to be a Millionaire? as a contestant, has been on our screens as one of the ITV show's quizzers since 2009.

He made the decision to slim down and overhaul his diet after being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, and has named the three major lifestyle choices he made to slim down.

Speaking to The Sun, Labbett denied that he'd had a gastric band fitted and said he'd been 'tempted' but told it'd be 'useless for me' as high sugar consumption was a major part of his weight.

The Beast's weight loss has been met with the approval of his fellow Chasers. (X/@TheShaunWallace)

Gastric bands can make you feel full sooner and mean you cut down on eating, but lots of sugary things don't really fill you up all that much.

Instead of a gastric band, The Chase star instead went 'the old fashioned way' by changing his diet and going to the gym.

He did ultimately end up eating less as part of his weight loss efforts as he explained that people told him they noticed 'I eat a fraction of what I normally eat'.

Something else that's helped Labbett is getting to the gym more often, as his partner Hayley Palmer shared videos of him working out.

She wrote that he'd 'started to come to the gym with me in the mornings' and the results of his hard work have left The Chase fans stunned.

Labbett has also credited his partner Hayley for helping him get to the gym more often. (Instagram/@markthebeastlabbett)

A better diet and going to the gym aren't the only things about Labbett's lifestyle that he reckons have helped, as the quiz show star said his dog Baloo was his 'personal trainer'.

He explained that having a dog means he's 'doing more activity', and all of it helps.

So there you have it, if you want to shed some weight then eat less, go to the gym more and get a dog that'll make you have to be up and about.

As for mimicking The Beast's quizzing ability, that's going to take a lot more work.