Ashley Taylor Dawson at the Inside Soap Awards
Ashley Taylor Dawson has already shed two stone since training started for 'Strictly Come Dancing'.
The 'Hollyoaks' actor has been missing meals since he began rehearsing for the BBC One ballroom competition because of his hectic schedule, and as a result he now has someone sponsoring him with healthy food throughout the competition to ensure he doesn't pile on the pounds with snacks here and there.
Speaking at the Inside Soap Awards at London nightspot Ministry of Sound last night, he told BANG Showbiz: "I've lost nearly two stone since I started the show. I always find it hard to put on weight so I was trying to get a bit more muscle on me.
"But since starting 'Strictly' weight was just dropping off me. So I've now got a guy who is sponsoring me food now so they are sending me food because I just miss meals.
"You just start eating crisps and chocolate and all sorts of crap so this guy said he would sponsor me.
"I'm not a refugee, I don't feel sorry for myself! It's not like that."
The 31-year-old star - who has two sons, Buddy, two, and three-week-old Mason, with his fiancee Karen McKay - admits he was delighted to be partnered with blonde dancer Ola Jordan on the show because she is also in a long-term relationship, with husband and fellow 'Strictly' dancer James Jordan.
He added: "The hardest thing when I started the show was being partnered with someone.
"Ola is married to James, they've been together 15 years and married 10 years, and I've been with my missus 10 years, so when I got Ola it made everything so much simpler. It made it a lot easier.
"We went out for a meal and we had so many stories to share that were so alike, like you do when you're in a relationship.
"It was just nice to show each other that we're in the same boat."
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