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Corrie’s Colson Smith achieved his incredible weight loss transformation eating Fit Chef food

Colson Smith has been on quite the weight loss journey this past year and puts a big part of his transformation down to "proper food".

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 10th August 2020
Instagram – @colsonjsmith

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.

Simply put, Fit Chef provides you with all your midweek meals through a personalised menu offering of breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks – so you never have to worry about food prep again.

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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.

For more information about Fit Chef UK, check out their website here, or find them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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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.

Do your bit – support local.

The Manc is #BuzzingToBeBack – find out more about eats in Manchester here.

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Stephen Graham sheds light on the ‘possibility’ of a second season of Adolescence

Danny Jones Danny Jones Stephen Graham on Adolescence series 2

Pretty much everyone has been getting through the incredible yet harrowing experience of watching Adolescence on Netflix this month, and though it may have seemed unlikely at first, series star Stephen Graham recently discussed the possibility of a second season.

For those who aren’t aware, it was never expected that the four-part limited series surrounding a young boy accused of a violent crime would be the global phenomenon it has been, nor was it hoping to secure a deal for another season: the whole point of the show was to tell a powerful but self-contained story.

However, with it becoming the most-watched thing on the platform in just four days – not to mention notching all manner of streaming records – it’s no surprise that the suggestion of capitalising on its smash hit success has come up.

Many feel the kind of narrative it tells is so important that the idea should at least be explored.

Speaking in a recent interview with Variety, co-creator and lead Graham sat down with his wife Hannah Walters, who also helped write and produce the show, to discuss the reaction

When asked quite simply if any discussions have been had about an Adolescence season two, while it sounds like there’s nothing official yet, he didn’t dismiss the concept outright.

“Possibly, let’s see how the figures are, but yeah, there’s the possibility of developing another story”, says the 51-year-old from Kirkby.

It might not be much to go as yet; however, just knowing that there’s room to tell another chapter is good enough – especially given the “smirk” the 51-year-old is said to have responded with during his answer.

Many fans thought the chances of a second series had been dashed early doors after fellow co-creator Jack Thorne recently went on This Morning and dismissed the potential pretty much altogether.

In his words: “I don’t think we’re the right people to tell Katie’s story […] I think there are other makers out there that could tell beautiful dramas about Katie or girls like Katie [the victim in the show], and that those shows should be made.”

That being said, just because he doesn’t sound like he’d be involved will an Adolescence sequel, it doesn’t mean Graham might not be.

You can see his interview here.

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The impact of the show, especially here in the UK, cannot be overstated and not just because of the cross-generational viewing figures.

Fellow Adolescence actor Jo Hartley, who was born down the road in Oldham, joined countless celebrities in waxing lyrical over the importance of the show following what she called an “overwhelming” reaction in just the first few days.

In fact, the shockwaves it sent across Britain and beyond have been so strong that the writers have even been invited to Parliament to discuss the series’ themes and how to help tackle them better.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Netflix (screenshots)

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The free stuff your mum can get in Manchester for Mother’s Day

Danny Jones Danny Jones

If there’s one thing we know for sure it’s that none of us would be lucky enough to be on this planet were it not for our mums, and we think the least they deserve is for things to be made easy, comfortable and, ideally, free wherever possible when it comes to Mother’s Day here in Manchester.

Now, we don’t live in a perfect so unfortunately not everyone Manc mum is going to be able swan into their favourite place and expect a complimentary this and a gratis that.

However, there are guite a few places in Manchester city centre doing the right things and giving away some free stuff for Mother’s Day 2025, so we thought we’d round them up for you and, more importantly, the person who helped bring you into the world.

Let’s get into, shall we?

Six freebies mums can score in Manchester this Mother’s Day

Albert’s Schloss – Deansgate

What better to begin than with a top-notch breakfast spot? Albert’s Schloss on Peter St is not only one of the best places to start or end a day out but they also do brilliant early morning offerings. Plus, this Mother’s Day, you can wash down your Bavarian brekkie with a free spritz, because why the hell not?

You can book online now.

The Trading Route – St John’s

And since you’ve started as you mean to go on, we’d say the only thing better than an early drink (and a free one at that) is a second one, so it’s a good job one of the newest additions to Manchester, The Trading Route, is offering a free cocktail to mums this Mother’s Day.

Best of all, the new S. John’s beer and food hall is located just down the road from the main Deansgate strip and is just next to Spinningfields, so it’s a short walk from Schloss. You can book HERE.

Credit: The Manc Eats

Habbibi – Spinningfields

Speaking of which, if your and/or your mum resisted the urge to grab another bite at Trading Route (we wouldn’t blame them if they did), you could then head from St. John’s to Spinningfields and grab some a sophisticated bit of brunch as you grab your next freebie.

Habibi on Hardman Boulevard is giving away a complimentary luxury gift from home, body and beauty brand, Rituals, to those who book ahead. Consider that killing two gift-shaped birds with one stone.

Nell’s – Kampus/Northern Quarter/Chorlton

Now, we’re not necessarily expecting you stop at every single place on this list – unless your feeling extravagant or your mum really is that mega that she deserves all of this and more – but you’d be a fool not to grab yourself a margarita on the house from any Nell’s location.

Besides, it wouldn’t be the worst thing to grab a slice to further line your stomach.

Platzki – Deansgate

However, if mum hasn’t had a nibble in a hot minute then why not take her back in the direction you came from to beloved Polish restaurant, Platzki, who as well as serving an incredible main menu are also offering a free cheesecake or apple pie to all maternal diners this Mother’s Day.

Open for walk-ins as always, of course, but you can reserve your table HERE.

Credit: The Manc Group

House of Fu – Central

And last but not least, what harm would another free marg do? That’s what on the cards over at House of Fu, which just so happens to be up there with some the best ramen in Manchester if there’s still any room in that well-treated tummy.

Located on Portland Street, it’s also not too far from Picadilly, the bus station or St Peter’s Square tram stop when you and your mum are ready to call a day on this freebie parade… Or, you could always tie off the night with some karaoke downstairs. Now that’s how you put an end to a party.

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We’d like to think that half a dozen options should just about do you and your mums in central Manchester, though we’re sure there’s plenty more free things to snap up this Mother’s Day.

The cynics might want you to believe that this date is just another annual observance created, or at least perpetuated by companies to sell cards, flowers, chocolate and son, but the truth is a special day that deserves to be celebrated properly.

In fact, the truth is that Mothering Sunday started nearly 120 years ago over in Philadelphia, when a woman named Anna Jarvis wanted to honour her mother who spent her life gathering groups to promote female friendship and health during a memorial service at her late mother’s church.

We think that’s wonderful and whatever your relationship with the mother figure in your life, we reckon it’s a sentiment and motivation worth sustaining much more than just once a year.

Much love to all our mums from The Manc, and sorry if we were ever a pain – hopefully a few drinks makes up for it.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — The Manc Group/Rituals

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