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Quiz champion distraught after watching herself on TV loses almost four stone

Frankie Fanko was spurred into action when she saw how large she had become while appearing on long-running show Eggheads alongside host Jeremy Vine in November 2022

[Frankie Fanko has been on Mastermind, Only Connect and Eggheads]

Frankie Fanko has been on Mastermind, Only Connect and Eggheads(Image: Frankie Fanko/Triangle News)

A veteran telly quizzer lost almost four stone after she saw herself on a quiz show and was shocked at how much weight shed gained.

Frankie Fanko has taken part in dozens of programmes over the years, including Mastermind, Only Connect and Eggheads. She was also Counterpoint champion in 2022 and is a permanent panellist on BBC Radio 4s Round Britain Quiz.

But she was spurred into action when she saw how large she had become while appearing on long-running show Eggheads alongside host Jeremy Vine in November 2022 and vowed to lose the weight.

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Weighing in at 14st 3lb, she has since lost 3stone 11lb and hopes to smash the four stone mark by Christmas.

Frankie, 40, whose daughter Jemima is four, said: My daughter was born in October 2019 and I ate a lot of chocolate and sweets to keep me awake through long night feeds as a substitute for caffeine, which needs to be limited when breastfeeding.

[Frankie on Eggheads]

Frankie's appearance on Eggheads last year shocked her into action(Image: TRIANGLE NEWS)

The first lockdown hit when Jemima was about five months old and I did a lot of comfort eating to cope with suddenly not being able to go out to baby groups or see friends and family. It was a really isolating time and I ate to get me through it.

I have been on Make Me an Egghead, Only Connect, Mastermind and Eggheads.

Eggheads is the most recent one, broadcast in November 2022, and shocked me into action, together with knowing my 40th birthday was coming up in August.

[Frankie Fanko has been on Mastermind, Only Connect and Eggheads]

Frankie before the weight loss. She had done a lot of 'comfort eating' during the first lockdown(Image: Frankie Fanko/Triangle News)

Ive also been on several radio quizzes, including Brain of Britain, Brain of Brains and Counterpoint, and am now a permanent panellist on Radio 4s Round Britain Quiz.

Watching my most recent TV quiz appearance, I was shocked at just how big I looked. I decided I was going to lose weight before my big birthday and my mum recommended Slimming World as the best way to do it.

[Frankie Fanko has been on Mastermind, Only Connect and Eggheads]

Frankie after the weight loss having joined Slimming World(Image: Frankie Fanko/Triangle News)

In January of this year, weighing 14st 3lbs, she walked into her first Slimming World group near her home in Market Harborough, Leics.

She began using the groups Food Optimising scheme, which allows you to eat as much of certain foods as you like, while counting others.

She said her confidence had soared, her mental health was boosted and she could now keep up with her daughter while running round her local park.

Frankie added that her Slimming World experience had improved her own life so much that she wanted to share that with others. She has now set up her own group in Market Harborough, which started last month.

She said: Im heading into my 40s feeling the happiest and healthiest I have for years, and running my own Slimming World group will be the perfect way to keep that positivity going.

I cant wait to support other people.

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