Paddy McGuinness proudly displayed his toned physique and impressive muscles on the cover of the April issue of Men’s Health UK, posing without a shirt to highlight his fitness transformation.

The 52-year-old television star recently completed an intense 75-day weight-loss challenge. In a candid interview accompanying the photoshoot, he shared how he had reached a personal low point before deciding to significantly change his lifestyle.

Paddy humorously remarked that his initial appearance was so unflattering that people believed his ‘before’ picture was digitally altered with AI.

During the shoot, the comedian sported black jogging pants and lifted a 20kg weight plate, aiming to inspire other men by demonstrating that achieving such results is possible.

Reflecting on the challenge, Paddy explained, “I figured I would indulge excessively and hit a low point.”

He added, “It’s not something I’d suggest to others, but for me, it was about seeing if I could pull myself out of it.”

Paddy McGuinness showed off his six-pack and bulging biceps as he posed shirtless in a new photoshoot on Tuesday

The TV personality, 52, who has completed a 75-day weight-loss challenge, revealed how he  ‘hit rock bottom’ before overhauling his life as he fronted the April edition of Men’s Health UK

He continued: ‘You look at Men’s Health over the years, and the people who’ve been on the front of it, and you go, “My God, they look like they’ve been carved out of stone”.’

‘Just on a personal note, being 52 and a regular bloke, it’s nice to show other blokes it’s attainable.

‘A few people went, “Clearly you’ve AI’d the first picture”. F**king hell, you’re supposed to AI the after picture, not the before! I thought, “Jesus, that’s how bad I looked!”‘

Paddy explained how since overhauling his life he has felt a sense of clarity that he didn’t have when his diet was bad. 

He did however, celebrate the end of his challenge with a curry and a milkshake, but it didn’t live up to expectations. 

‘I ate it, but I didn’t get from it what I thought I was going to get I just felt like sh*t. It actually changed something in my brain, habit-wise,’ the comedian explained. 

As he discussed his own mental health and the importance of seeking help, Paddy added: ‘Knowing a few people who’ve done that [suicide], it makes me really think about my emotions more. 

‘I wouldn’t want to end up in that space where everyone thinks you’re alright and you’re not and then it’s too late.’

Paddy joked that he ‘looked that bad’ before embarking on his fitness journey people initially assumed his before photo was altered with AI

Earlier this year, Paddy stunned social media followers by revealing his muscular physique after taking on the military-style programme

In the accompanying photoshoot, he wore a pair of black jogging bottoms and posed with a 20kg plate in hopes to show ‘other blokes it’s attainable’ 

Paddy explained how since overhauling his life he has felt a sense of clarity that he didn’t have when his diet was bad

Earlier this year, Paddy stunned social media followers by revealing his muscular physique after taking on the 75 Hard exercise method – a military-style programme combining exercise, diet and rigid self-discipline. 

Experts warn that while some people may see impressive results, the programme is not suitable for everyone, requiring strict adherence to a set of seemingly arbitrary rules.

Launched in 2019 by American entrepreneur – and self-styled ‘certified dominator’ – Andy Frisella, the 75-day high-intensity regime claims to offer a holistic approach to health and often results in significant weight loss.

The full interview with Paddy McGuinness can be read in the April issue of Men’s Health UK, on sale from March 17

There are five crucial elements to the programme: following a non-specified but ‘clean’ and challenging diet with no cheat days; drinking at least a US gallon of water a day (around 3.8 litres); completing two 45-minute workouts daily – one of which must be outdoors; reading 10 pages of a non-fiction book; and taking daily progress pictures.

Crucially, if you compromise on any one of these rules – for example, by reading nine pages instead of 10 – you must start again from day one.

Alcohol is strictly prohibited, as are ‘cheat meals’, and participants are not supposed to modify the programme to make it easier – regardless of their baseline fitness.

For the Paddy this meant kicking a two-month binge-eating habit that saw him gorging on cakes and biscuits, washed down with beer.

Appearing on the Scott Mills Breakfast Show in January, he said: ‘The best advice if you’re doing a challenge like that is, don’t do too much straight away.’ 

He added: ‘The 75 is two training sessions a day, 45 minutes each, one’s got to be outdoors, one’s got to be indoors. Indoors can be yoga, it doesn’t have to be a gym. Outdoors can be a nice hike or whatever, it’s just about getting yourself out and doing it.’

‘I [smashed myself to pieces] for the first two weeks and I literally couldn’t get out of bed, my limbs were aching and everything else, so I just started training a bit different.’

Paddy decided to take on the viral trend through boredom, and used his former Children In Need challenge – during which he raised £7.5million for charity by spending five days riding across the UK on a customised 1970s children’s bike – as motivation.

The full interview with Paddy McGuinness can be read in the April issue of Men’s Health UK, on sale from March 17