Michael McIntyre admits he has put on a ‘little bit of weight’ in lockdown

Michael McIntyre revealed he has put on a ‘little bit of weight’ in lockdown and recalled an embarrassing airport incident which prompted him to get fit during an appearance on the Jonathan Ross Show.

The comedian, 44, spoke candidly about his weight-loss journey and joked he would ‘look better if he wasn’t sat next to Joe Wicks during the chat, due to air on Saturday’s episode.

The star said: ‘I put a little bit of weight on [in lockdown]. I’m wearing all black in the hope…

‘Now we’re trying to get out of the lockdown for Christmas. Christmas is a time where there’s a lot of panic buying, then everything’s closed and then you’re at home arguing with your family, drinking and you don’t know what day it is – that’s lockdown! 

‘We’ve already had that for most of the year. We’re trying to unlock to relock. Boris should say, ‘It is Christmas every day!’ 

‘A lot of deliveries, a lot of weight gain… New Year it’s all about Joe Wicks getting fit again – we’ve done all of this!’

The star also revealed he was prompted to lose weight after an incident in France in which security gates identified him as two people.   

He said: ‘I had an incident last year and I thought I should try and lose weight. In an airport, the E gates. 

‘I went in there in France and it wouldn’t let me out. It said on the screen, this was a low point, it said “only one person”. 

‘So I got to the stage that I was the size of two Frenchmen. I had to go round the other way. It was convinced I was two people. I was inspired then to lose weight. Then the pandemic… I would, I just injure myself.”   

Earlier this year Michael revealed he previously lost one-stone in just six days during a trip with his pal.

The funnyman explained how he visited the Mayr clinic in Austria with his friend Paul Tonkinson in February 2017.

Speaking on Jessie Ware’s Table Manners podcast, he said the pair ‘starved’ during the trip and only ate soup and crackers.  

The Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow star shared: ‘You drink the Epsom salts first thing and then within 20 minutes, the whole of the clinic – which is full of wealthy fat people – are all rushing to the lavatory.

‘I lost a stone – we were only there six days. I was so emotional, depressed and confused and Paul was skeletal.’

Revealing more about the stay, the TV star said he and Paul decided to leave early after his pal ‘nearly died’ following an incident which was ‘a bit grim and cleared them out’ during a hike.

The Jonathan Ross Show airs on Saturday at 9.50pm on ITV.