Chris Appleton, the celebrity hair stylist, has revealed a dramatic body transformation following his short-lived time on Strictly Come Dancing. Despite being the first contestant voted off the show alongside professional dancer Amy Dowden, the 43-year-old says his brief stint still led to significant weight loss.
Appleton, who was already in good physical condition before the show, took to Instagram to showcase his rippling six-pack after dropping 30 pounds due to the gruelling training regime. He shared a before-and-after side-by-side image and wrote: "30 pounds down, before and after. I saw dancing as entertainment, but the physical side is something else."
Reactions to the Transformation
Among those commenting on his post was Amy Dowden, who simply shared a flame emoji. Loose Women star Denise Welch also joked: "Is that like one of those strap on chests???" Another follower told him: "Been watching Strictly for years and those pro dancers are athletes. You and Amy should have got further in but looked like you enjoyed your time."
The duo were sad at their premature exit but have made sure to tick off a number of their wishlist moments in the aftermath, including a rendition of the iconic Dirty Dancing lift. Appleton, best known for working with megastars like Kim Kardashian, Ariana Grande, and Jennifer Lopez, shared the moment on social media, saying: "Couldn’t hang up my dancing shoes without attempting THAT lift. Amy I’ve had the time of my life."
Emotional Exit and Tributes
Following his exit from the show, Appleton burst into tears while appearing on It Takes Two alongside his dance partner. Speaking to host Ellie Taylor, the pair were shown a selection of his best bits from the show. Becoming teary, Appleton said: "Why did you have to show that? Oh my God, it's just been a phenomenal experience. I said to my kids...I can't even talk...just challenge yourself and do it anyway."
He added: "I'd literally go out there shaking and there's times I didn't know if I could do it but I did it and I would just look at Amy and see her smiling and knew she was with me. It says so much about the show, all of the cast and the people behind the scenes who don't get a mention. You do need that because it's such a phenomenal one, and if you're lucky enough to do it, jump at it."
Amy went on to pay tribute to him for his braveness and eagerness, saying: "From the first day to dancing on Saturday night, he grew and grew and grew [in confidence] and I'm just gutted that we didn't get the chance to continue. I honestly think there was so much more to come."
