EASTENDERS star Natalie Cassidy said she pocketed £100,000 to lose four stone – and then put it straight back on.
The actress – who plays soap favourite Sonia Fowler – was offered a bumper pay cheque to release two weight loss DVDs in 2007.
But Natalie, 40, has since branded the deal a “mistake” and said she regretted it.
Appearing on ITV’s This Morning on Thursday, co-host Ben Shepherd asked the star about her recent revelation on her podcast.
Ben said: “You were talking about your weight loss video, that you were doing as well, and talking about the pressure you were feeling when you had that gig, that job.”
Natalie admitted: “Well, it’s my own fault. They offered me a load of money to lose weight and I did it at the time but actually, looking back, it is something I wouldn’t do now.”
Ben then pointed out that at the time she was “contractually” obliged to do the fitness videos and had to keep the weight off.
But Natalie added: “I didn’t keep it off, I put another four stone on.”
Back in 2022, Natalie appeared on on Grace Dent’s podcast Comfort Eating and admitted her crash diet wasn’t a health way to lose weight for the long-term.
She said: “I was very overweight and they approached me and said ‘Listen, we’re going to give you £100,000, we’re going to get you really fit and you’re going to lose four stone’.
“I was like happy days, let’s go for it. I just thought, that’s a lot of money; but it wasn’t the right thing to do.
“It wasn’t – you are losing a lot of weight in a three or four-month period, twelve or sixteen weeks, low calories and training every day.
“I got there, and as soon as that DVD came out, I ate for England. I put all the weight back on in eight weeks.”
Weight drama
Just last year, Natalie was forced to deny she used diet pills to loose weight.
Her fans were targeted by scams online and the actress took to her social media to clarify how she lost her weight,
Natalie previously lost three stone and she previously spoke out how she achieved her goal, by cutting out treats.
The actress previously told The Sun: “I cut out rubbish. I cut down on alcohol too, even though I love white wine.”
“Alcohol is full of hidden calories, which all add up when it comes to a person’s daily limit.”
One of her co-stars, Letitia Dean, 55, has also raised eyebrows as she previously lost three dress sizes during her recent time on the soap.
