When Chris met Paddy!

Chris, who manages Slimming World groups in Coleraine, was delighted to get a chance to cuddle up to Paddy when he co-hosted the Slimming World Awards with the organisation’s chair and founder Margaret Miles-Bramwell OBE.

Bolton-born Paddy, who shot to fame in Channel 4 comedy Phoenix Nights alongside school friend Peter Kay before becoming a popular stand-up comedian and TV presenter on shows including ITV1’s Take Me Out, said he thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

He added: “I have to admit the most I knew about Slimming World before the awards was a gag in Peter’s routine that refers to Slimming World as being a £1 cheaper than its competitors!

“Jokes aside, I was genuinely amazed to hear about what a difference people like Chris who run and manage Slimming World groups make to people’s lives.

Every single one of them told me that they couldn’t have done it without the support of their Slimming World group.”

Chris said meeting Paddy at the event, which was held at Birmingham’s International Convention Centre, was the cherry on the top of a great year for Slimming World: “Obviously the most important thing of all is that our members have lost weight and improved their health throughout 2013 and we’re so proud of all of our members – many of them have achieved their target weights and been able do things they never thought possible before slimming down, including doing more with their families, taking up new hobbies, reducing medication or simply fitting in smaller-sized clothes. And they’re helping their entire family to eat more healthily too.”