Coronation Street star Colson Smith has been on quite the weight loss journey this year and he puts a big part of his transformation down to the “proper food” Manchester-based meal delivery service Fit Chef provides him.
Smith – a regular on Manchester’s most famous cobbles since 2011 playing Craig Tinker – has been regularly sharing updates from his fitness journey on social media since the start of 2020 and most notably received an outpouring of support from stunned fans after taking to Instagram to share a post-run picture back in May.
The soap star made his return to screens for the first time since filming suspended during the coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown on Friday’s episode, and for his brief scene, Smith was seen looking much slimmer as his character with some even said that he looked “unrecognisable”.
This is all thanks to Fit Chef, a popular, healthy subscription meal service for busy people who love to eat but don’t have the time to cook. The meal prep business helped Colson drop the pounds for both his on-screen, and off-screen transformations, by providing him with restaurant quality food straight to his door every week.
Colson recently revealed his weight loss at the start of the UK coronavirus lockdown.
Speaking on his podcast Sofa Cinema Club – which he co-hosts with fellow Corrie actors Jack P Shepherd and Ben Price – about his weight loss journey particularly in conjunction with returning to film for Coronation Street, Colson said: “We are in direct continuity, but I’ve almost lost about ten stone since we left work,”
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“I might be wearing a wig and a fat suit when we go back,” he joked.
As well as attributing running, rowing and weight lifting to being fundamental parts of his transformation, and also calling No 1 Bootcamp – a fitness, weight loss and wellness retreat in Norfolk – his “second home” back in February, Colson has put a large part of his weight loss down to the “proper food” he’s been tucking into from Fit Chef.
The Manchester-based company is run by chefs Will Lee and Matt Williams – two professional cooks who knew meal prep was “top of the list” for Colson at the start of his fitness journey.
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Speaking to The Manc, Colson said: “At the start of the year, I sat down to plan out how I was going to make everything as easy as possible for myself [and] top of the list was meal prep.”
“I knew I wanted to keep normality in my food rather than your standard ‘Chicken, Rice & Peas’, so as soon as I saw FitChef’s menu, it just made sense.”
“Sweet Potato Hash for breakfast and Lamb Hot Pot for lunch? Yes please.”
He continued: “The first time I ever met Will & Matt, the brains behind Fitchef, we [just] clicked. They knew exactly what I was after.”
“It’s like eating from a restaurant every day, just with that hint of home love too”.
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Fit Chef UK
“Whenever people have spoken to me and asked what I’ve been eating, their normal reaction is a state of shock, but I guess that’s what Fit Chef stands for – it’s lifestyle thing,” he continued.
“Proper food, proper results.”
Colson regularly shares updates on his fitness journey via his Instagram.
The COVID-19 pandemic may have taken its toll on industries of all shapes and sizes over these past few months, but supporting local/independent business has never been more important than it is right now.
The Manc is #BuzzingToBeBack – find out more about eats in Manchester here.
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Mancs wanted to take part in a new series of the ‘hardest quiz show on TV’
Emily Sergeant
Call yourself a clever clogs? The BBC is currently looking for contestants to take part in what is widely considered the hardest quiz show on TV.
That’s right – Only Connect is back for another series on BBC Two.
Presented by Victoria Coren Mitchell and first broadcast all the way back in 2008, Only Connect takes TV quizzing to the next level, as it sees two teams compete against each other by finding connections between seemingly unrelated clues.
In this quiz show – which viewers have dubbed one of the most challenging there is – knowledge only takes you so far, as the ability to think laterally is also deemed ‘vitally important’.
A casting call for the upcoming 2027 series has been shared on the BBC website, with people from Greater Manchester encouraged to apply.
Mancs wanted to take part in a new series of the ‘hardest quiz show on TV’ / Credit: BBC
The casting call reads: “The popular BBC Two quiz show presented by Victoria Coren Mitchell returns for a new series in 2027.
“Only Connect is seeking teams of three players OR single applicants or teams of two looking for like-minded teammates to pool their combined wits to solve fiendish conundrums and vexing puzzles.
“This is the quiz series where, as in life itself, knowledge will only take you so far: patience and lateral thinking are also vital. It’s all about making connections between things which may appear, at first glance, not to be connected at all.”
Reckon you’ve got what it takes then? Applications are now open, and all applicants must be aged 18 or over and a resident in the UK or Channel Islands.
Massive student night returns to Trafford Centre next month with up to 50% off on big brands
Emily Sergeant
Students can get themselves up to 50% off on food, activities, and loads of big-name brands at the Trafford Centre next month.
With thousands of new and returning students starting to arrive for the new academic year at Greater Manchester‘s universities, one of the region’s biggest student nights will be making a long-awaited comeback for one night only next month – and there’ll be loads of exclusive offers and free entertainment to make the most of across the evening.
Taking over the Trafford Centre in early October, the popular one-off student night is happening in partnership with Student Beans, and gives cash-strapped students the chance to shop a variety of incredible discounts all under one roof.
Just some of the big brands offering big discounts include 25% off at Levi’s and Boux Avenue, 20% off at Gymshark, Hollister and Abercrombie & Fitch, and 15% off at KIKO, Rituals, and Sephora.
It’s not just retail brands you’ll be able to save some pennies on either, as many of the Trafford Centre’s restaurants and cafes will also be offering discounts and freebies on the night too.
Alongside the offers, students can expect plenty of live entertainment and in-store experiences throughout the evening, including a DJ set and drinks at Calvin Klein, in-store fitness challenges and at Gymshark, an exclusive piercing event at Lovisa, and a Beauty Hub takeover at Sephora.
There’ll also be ‘spin-to-win’ opportunities at places like schuh, River Island, and YO! Sushi.
Massive student night returns to Trafford Centre next month with up to 50% off on big brands / Credit: Supplied
“Student Night is one of the highlights of our autumn calendar, and we’re excited to welcome students for an evening of brilliant offers and feel-good experiences,” explained Simon Layton, who is the Centre Director at the Trafford Centre.
“Whether they are updating their wardrobe, stocking up on beauty favourites, grabbing a bite to eat or enjoying the atmosphere with friends, there is plenty to discover across the centre.
“With simple transport links from Manchester city centre and across the region, Trafford Centre is the perfect place for a student night out.”
The Trafford Centre’s Student Night is happening on Thursday 1 October from 6-10pm, and students can now reserve themselves a spot by registering online HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
10th August 2020 
