Krishnan-Guru Murthy: I did Strictly to maintain up with my a lot hotter spouse – and now I’ve even persuaded my 16-year-old son to return watch the present

It was on Krishnan Guru-Murthy’s 53rd birthday in April that he realised he might now not be what he describes as ‘obese and unattractive’. 

His spouse Lisa, he says, was ‘wanting scorching’ after remodeling her personal health by operating ten miles each different day and becoming a member of a rowing membership. Krishnan, the Channel 4 Information presenter, confesses he felt he was being left behind. 

Seven months later, having signed up for the newest collection of BBC1’s Strictly, he has misplaced two-and-a-half stone… and now wants seven fewer holes to do up his trouser belt.

Final weekend, he and pro-partner Lauren Oakley impressed with a cha-cha-cha to Apache Indian’s Growth Shack-A-Lak.

Wearing an orange swimsuit, he admitted afterwards that he ‘could not cease smiling’.

It was on Krishnan Guru-Murthy’s 53rd birthday in April that he realised he might now not be what he describes as ‘obese and unattractive’. His spouse Lisa (pictured collectively in 2016), he says, was ‘wanting scorching’ after remodeling her personal health by operating ten miles each different day and becoming a member of a rowing membership

Seven months later, having signed up for the newest collection of BBC1’s Strictly, he has misplaced two-and-a-half stone… and now wants seven fewer holes to do up his trouser belt

Talking throughout a break from coaching, in a studio in Elstree – with Taylor Swift enjoying within the background – Krishnan defined that for a few years he had ignored requests to participate in Strictly however this yr, now 12st 7lbs slightly than 15 stone, he says the ‘planets aligned’ and he determined to go for it.

And since starting coaching, his weight-loss has accelerated.

Like so many males of their 50s, he felt the strain to take care of himself extra. Apparently, he says this was impressed by the idea that like so many middle-age males, he had an obligation to maintain up with their a lot fitter womenfolk.

Was he insecure, I ask. ‘Sure, undoubtedly. And I feel that is not essentially a nasty factor if males pull themselves collectively as a result of their wives are wanting hotter than they’re – when you get in that scenario the place all the ladies are wanting good and all the lads are obese and beer bellies.’

You are apprehensive the ladies will go off with youthful males? He replies: ‘That is the good worry.’

‘My spouse is having fun with that I’m a bit bit lighter than I used to be. In a approach, I’ve been attempting to maintain up together with her. She’s wonderful and so I feel she’s happy I’ve began catching and pulling myself collectively, getting fitter and looking out a bit extra presentable.

‘I’m a bit obsessive about being obese and unattractive. My spouse has by no means talked in these phrases however she has all the time talked about me being wholesome. I feel you get your self right into a place the place you quit and assume it is tremendous. I simply reached that stage.’

Warming to his theme, Krishnan says: ‘Males are being led by girls; girls did it first. Ladies of their 50s are wanting wonderful and my spouse and her buddies are all wanting wonderful, so males have turn out to be insecure about having scorching wives.’

Final weekend, he and pro-partner Lauren Oakley impressed with a cha-cha-cha to Apache Indian’s Growth Shack-A-Lak (pictured)

Talking throughout a break from coaching, in a studio in Elstree – with Taylor Swift enjoying within the background – Krishnan defined that for a few years he had ignored requests to participate in Strictly however this yr, now 12st 7lbs slightly than 15 stone, he says the ‘planets aligned’ and he determined to go for it

His new trim look has gained him an unlikely heart-throb standing, one thing he says he hasn’t been accustomed to for 30 years. So now, slightly than be written off as this yr’s Strictly joke act, he gained over tens of millions of viewers – and the judges.

Final weekend, he and Lauren scored a suitable 22 out of 40 from the judges.

Whereas Lauren insists she all the time knew he had the pure strikes, Krishnan admits he was shocked on the optimistic feedback, ‘particularly from Craig [Revel Horwood],’ he says. ‘I believed that his good phrases could be adopted by a “however”, however they weren’t.’

At dwelling, although, there was somebody he was much more decided to impress – his 16-year-old son Jay, who begged him to not seem on Strictly. Not solely did he not need his father to participate, he refused to go along with the remainder of the household to look at him carry out.

‘He begged me to not,’ reveals Krishnan. ‘It acquired to the purpose the place, the week earlier than I began and I hadn’t signed my contract, which I casually talked about, he stated: ‘You have not signed your contract, so you do not have to do it? Please do not do it.’

His new trim look has gained him an unlikely heart-throb standing, one thing he says he hasn’t been accustomed to for 30 years. So now, slightly than be written off as this yr’s Strictly joke act, he gained over tens of millions of viewers – and the judges. Final weekend, he and Lauren (pictured) scored a suitable 22 out of 40 from the judges

Whereas Lauren insists she all the time knew he had the pure strikes, Krishnan admits he was shocked on the optimistic feedback, ‘particularly from Craig [Revel Horwood],’ he says. ‘I believed that his good phrases could be adopted by a ‘however’, however they weren’t.’

Whereas Krishnan’s spouse and daughter had been eager to go to the launch present, Jay did not need to. ‘He stated: “In case you do Strictly, do not contain me,” says his dad.

However final Saturday evening, when Krishnan arrived dwelling after his first efficiency, {the teenager} shocked his father together with his change of tune.

‘His suggestions was very muted to start out with,’ says Krishnan. ‘He got here by the door at 11pm on Saturday evening and stated he had watched the present after which I requested ‘what did you assume?’

‘He then requested if he might come subsequent week, which was nice, it’s such a breakthrough. He did not need me to do it and now he desires to return to the studio and watch.

Krishnan’s willpower to succeed on Strictly means he and Lauren are actually rehearsing in Manchester the place he’s reporting from the Tory celebration convention. He was resulting from interview Rishi Sunak this weekend.

Subsequent weekend, he’ll waltz off to Liverpool with Lauren for the Labour convention the place he’ll come nose to nose with celebration chief Sir Keir Starmer.

For the primary time in Krishnan’s profession, the worlds of politics and showbiz have collided and, off-camera, there is just one subject on the agenda – Strictly.

‘I interviewed Keir and Rachel Reeves [Labour’s Shadow Chancellor] final week and all they wished to find out about was the present. Really, they labored Strictly into the interview.

‘Gordon Brown was the identical after I interviewed him, although he is aware of all concerning the present as a result of Ed Balls [who worked with him in the Treasury when Brown was Chancellor] did it and they’re very shut.’

Krishnan additionally reveals that final week a member of the present Cupboard texted him following his efficiency with the phrase ‘increase’ (after his dance to the tune Growth Shack-A-Lak [pictured above]) and he acquired a ‘effectively accomplished, what nice enjoyable’ from a member of the Shadow Cupboard. ‘So they’re all watching,’ he says

The truth is, he says everyone seems to be being nicer to him. His Channel 4 bosses say he appears to be like as if he’s having the time of his life and put a glitter ball above his desk – till he was instructed it needed to be eliminated for well being and security causes

Krishnan additionally reveals that final week a member of the present Cupboard texted him following his efficiency with the phrase ‘increase’ (after his dance to the tune Growth Shack-A-Lak) and he acquired a ‘effectively accomplished, what nice enjoyable’ from a member of the Shadow Cupboard. ‘So they’re all watching,’ he says.

The truth is, he says everyone seems to be being nicer to him. His Channel 4 bosses say he appears to be like as if he’s having the time of his life and put a glitter ball above his desk – till he was instructed it needed to be eliminated for well being and security causes. Now, viewers usually are not questioning him about why he did not grill an interviewee sufficient. As a substitute, girls are approaching him in Marks & Spencer to inform him how a lot they adore him.

His daughter Jasmine’s college buddies are additionally in awe. Final Sunday, simply hours after his stay dancing debut, he visited her halls of residence at Bristol College to search out her buddies showering him with compliments.

‘They had been catching up with the dance on YouTube, and requested me: ‘Oh my God, is that you just?’ They had been actually shocked that I might transfer in time to the music. I took a few of her buddies for lunch they usually had been like, ‘oh my God, you are actually good’.’

He’s decided to remain within the competitors for so long as doable, begging for a comparability with 2020 winner Invoice Bailey.

An unlikely star, the comic was written off by Strictly followers early on, with most anticipating him to be the subsequent ‘joke’ act

Lauren cheerily chips in to say he has ‘the legs of a ballet dancer that a great deal of dancers would like to have’ 

An unlikely star, the comic was written off by Strictly followers early on, with most anticipating him to be the subsequent ‘joke’ act like former TV political editor John Sergeant or former Tory minister Ann Widdecombe. 

Krishnan sees the similarities, although Lauren cheerily chips in to say he has ‘the legs of a ballet dancer that a great deal of dancers would like to have’.

He admits: ‘Invoice Bailey is my complete hero for Strictly as a result of I did not anticipate him to do it after which when he did you did not anticipate him to be excellent. However he was good. So if I used to be ever in comparison with Invoice, I might be delighted.

‘Folks thought I might be terrible and I did not need to be the one that staggers round for laughs. I did not need Lauren to give you gags to get us some votes to go to the subsequent week.’

Strictly has had its well being advantages for Krishnan, too. He has a genetic coronary heart situation which he is aware of means he might drop lifeless at any second.

A cousin died from the identical illness just a few months in the past and one other died 30 years in the past. However his father, who sat alongside his mom within the viewers final week, is 89 and nonetheless works full-time.

Krishnan additionally suffers from Crohn’s illness and endured an uncomfortable bout of gout earlier this yr.

Shedding a lot weight has meant he has turn out to be a lot more healthy, however does he nonetheless fear about dying younger?

‘My well being worries have all the time been within the background but it surely’s not been a foreground thought since I’ve been doing Strictly and acquired fitter.’

The truth is, the advantages of his coaching imply he’s now not obsessed together with his coronary heart charge.

‘I’ve stopped sporting my Apple watch as a result of I do not really feel I want to observe my coronary heart beat any extra. And that is because of Strictly,’ he smiles.

• Strictly Come Dancing is on BBC One and iPlayer on Saturday evenings.