Wynne Evans showed off his noticeably trimmer frame as he headed to a London hotel with the Strictly Come Dancing crew on Monday.
The Go Compare opera star, 52, lost a staggering six stone ahead of competing on the show after being motivated to change because he was struggling to even get up the stairs.
And the gruelling rehearsals certainly seemed to be paying off as Wynne looked the picture of happiness after a tiring day in the studios practicing routines.
The show will launch on 14th September with the latest batch of celebrity contestants paired with the professional dancers before the first live show on September 21.
Shayne Ward, Gladiator star Montell Douglas and Toyah Willcox also headed to the hotel as well as Sam Quek and Dr Punam Krishan.
Wynne Evans showed off his noticeably trimmer frame as he headed to a London hotel with the Strictly Come Dancing crew on Monday
The opera singer, 52, lost a staggering six stone ahead of competing on the show after being motivated to change because he was struggling to even get up the stairs (pictured right 2021)
Aljaz Skorjanec, 34, who is returning to this year’s series as a professional dancer, headed to the hotel with his wife Janette Manrara, 40, and their daughter Lyra, 13 months.
Nancy Xu, 33, and Neil Jones, 42, looked excited as they too arrived at the hotel.
Wynne cut a sporty figure in a brown New Balance T-shirt and orange shorts.
The opera singer has been on a health kick after his weight crept up to 22 stone.
Wynne previously revealed his size increased following his marriage breakdown and the loss of both his parents.
The father-of-two went on to say that he continued working on the radio during the difficult time: ‘The strapline of my show is, “cheering Wales up by one o’clock,” but I was going through the worst depression, clinical depression.
‘I would think about (suicide), I would try and action it… I couldn’t see a way out; I couldn’t see a way of ever being happy again.’
Wynne cut a sporty figure in a brown New Balance T-shirt and orange shorts
The opera singer has been on a health kick after his weight crept up to 22 stone
The TV star has been a fixture on screens since 2009 in his operatic alter-ego Gio Compario and is known for his signature tuxedo and curled moustache
Coronation Street star Shayne Ward, 34, appeared in a good mood as he arrived at the hotel after a day of rehearsals
Gladiator’s Fire Montell Douglas, 37, showed off her athletic frame in a blue gym set
She was helped with her belongings as she arrived by taxi
Sam Quek, 35, and Dr Punam Krishan smiled as they headed into the hotel
Toyah Willcox , 66, was among the stars arriving at the hotel
Toyah appeared in a great mood as she chatted away
Speaking about his impressive weight loss last year, Wynne said he decided to slim down when he had ‘trouble getting up the stairs’.
He said on This Morning : ‘I feel great actually, it’s been calories. I’ve always been fat, I thought ”I’ve got to do something”.
‘I was having trouble washing and getting up the stairs. My mental health hasn’t been great in the last five or six years, and it really helped.’
The father-of-two is best known for appearing the adverts for Go Compare, a role that’s lasted 14 years.
However, the Welsh tenor had a successful career before making it on TV.
He was cast as Ubaldo Piangi, in the 25th Anniversary production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall and has sung at 30 Welsh international rugby matches.
Aljaz Skorjanec, 34, headed to the hotel with his wife Janette Manrara, 40, and their daughter Lyra, 13 months
The pro dancer is returning to this year’s series after a break from the show
Nancy Xu, 33, looked stylish in a polka dot skirt and a silk top
Neil Jones, 42, also headed to the hotel
‘I had no idea that the commercials were going to become so massive, but they have completely changed my life,’ he told MailOnline.
‘Now, I have financial security, an album deal, a little bit of celebrity, everything you dream of.’
The adverts featuring the opera-singing mascot have previously been named the number one most annoying advert in the UK.
STRICTLY LINE-UP 2024
Chris McCausland
Age: 46
Profession: Comedian
Chris says: ‘If anybody out there is thinking – How the hell is he going to do that? – then rest assured that I am thinking exactly the same thing.’
Dr. Punam Krishan
Age: Unknown
Profession: GP and broadcaster
Punam says: ‘I have watched Strictly every year and it feels extra special that it’s the 20th year, I can’t believe I will be the one getting Strictly-fied.’
Toyah Willcox
Age: 66
Profession: Singer, actor, presenter
Toyah says: ‘I’m super excited and love this show. To be a part of it, the spray tan the glitter. Its a landmark year for me I came a pensioner, Glasto and now I get spray tans.’
Pete Wicks
Age: 36
Profession: Reality star
Pete says: ‘Dancing live in front of the nation every Saturday? Absolutely terrifying.’
Shayne Ward
Age: 39
Profession: Actor and singer
Shayne says: ‘I’m no stranger to live TV, but dancing Latin and Ballroom in front of millions is a whole new level.’
Tom Dean
Age: 24
Profession: Olympic medal winning swimmer
Tom says: ‘Now I can officially talk about how excited I am to get stuck into something new, meet some brilliant people and get dancing’
Nick Knowles
Age: 61
Profession: TV presenter
Nick says: ‘I am going to really go for it I will throw myself at it 100 per cent!’
JB Gill
Age: 37
Profession: Singer
JB says: ‘A lot of the ballroom styles are very alien to me – I didn’t do those dances growing up. I am not a trained dancer.’
Wynne Evans
Age: 52
Profession: Opera singer, presenter
Wynne says: ‘The stuff I’m nervous about is the ones that involve jumping, I don’t really want to do the jive, I’m nervous about that.
Tasha Ghouri
Age: 25
Profession: Model and reality star
Tasha says: ‘I’ve been watching the show since I was little – it’s a firm Ghouri family favourite – so this is a total dream come true.’
Sarah Hadland
Age: 53
Profession: Actress
Sarah says: ‘I feel particularly excited to be part of such an iconic show in its 20th year.’
Jamie Borthwick
Age: 30
Profession: EastEnders star
Jamie says: ‘I had a ball doing the Christmas special, so when I was asked to join it was the easiest yes!’
Sam Quek
Age: 35
Profession: Former GB hockey player and presenter
Sam says: ‘I am so relieved it is out there now it has been hard to keep a secret! The rumours were spreading and I had to lie! I am used to dancing on a girls night out but I will give it my all’
Paul Merson
Age: 56
Profession: Former footballer
Paul says: ‘I won’t worry about it until it starts but when it does I will be nervous – I have only danced three times in my life!’
