Chaser Mark ‘The Beast’ Labbett is one of the most feared TV brainboxes in the business.
But recent unearthed footage of the quiz ace from 15 years ago has left TV fans stunned by the star’s transformation.
Mark, 55, has lost 10 stone in weight since he packed in his supply teacher job for TV stardom.
However, back then Mark looked noticeably heavier and sported glasses as he went on to pocket £32,000 for his brief stint on the show.
Clips of Mark competing on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire back in 2006 really shows just how much the brain wizard has changed.
He fell agonisingly short of doubling his money on the hit ITV show, but despite missing out on more welcome cash, has come a long way since then
“I’m now under 20 stone, and I am really feeling the difference, as well as seeing it,” Mark revealed in an interview with The Sun.
“I’m now down to a 44-inch waist, my chest is 54 inches, while my neck measurements are down to 19 inches, which is fantastic for me and the top end of a normal man’s range.
“My knees really feel the difference. I will never be athletic again but I just move so much better for not carrying that extra weight.”
Mark revealed he was called horrible names by many of his students when he was a supply teacher.
But now he’s the one having the last laugh as one of the toughest Chasers to beat on the ITV quiz show.
“Hulk, Godzilla – basically any time there’s a monster flick, for some reason that’s what my name becomes,” he recalled.
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@MarkLabbett/Twitter)
“I can’t intimidate kids but I can intimidate adults very easily.”
Nicknamed The Beast for his scary demeanour, Mark has appeared on The Chase since the show launched in 2009 and he’s also gone on to star on Australian and US versions of the show.
With his very impressive level of general knowledge it’s no surprise he’s been a contestant on some of the UK television most prestigious shows including Eggheads, Mastermind and University Challenge.
But his appearance on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire is unlikely to have resonated with TV fans until this latest footage surfaced.
Mark breezed through the early rounds of the show until host Chris Tarrant asked him the question: “The best-selling novel Miss Smilla’s Feeling For Snow is set chiefly in which country?”
After using his remaining 50/50 lifeline, he answered Canada, which was incorrect as Denmark was the right answer.