Ricky Gervais has said that his substantial weight loss was inspired by his fear of a premature death.
In an interview with The People, the Cemetery Junction comedian spoke about his decision to slim down, reportedly losing 22lb in just one year: "I've never had a problem with weight.
"I was thin until I was about 29. Then I hit 30 and there was a decade of eating and drinking.
"I thought, 'Oh my God, I'm going to die' so I decided to do something about it. Losing the weight wasn't a problem. I just decided I'd work out and slim down because I didn't want to die."
He previously said that he would have slimmed down sooner if others had been up front about his figure: "Why didn't anyone tell me I was fat?
"People say I look great now. They then say I used to be pear-shaped. Why didn't anyone tell me? I would have worked out earlier."
