A lardy estate agent who shed four stone is now being inundated with female admirers – because he keeps being mistaken for OLLY MURS.
Craig Cooper tipped the scales at 16st 3lbs and could barely fit into size 48 inch jeans after years of gorging on fast food, takeaways and crisps.
The 28-year-old decided enough was enough when he got stuck in a pair of XXXL trousers as he was trying them on in a changing room at Tesco.
Craig joined the Lighter Life diet and has lost an impressive four stone since January, slimming down to a healthier 11st 12lbs.
He is now constantly stopped in the street by members of the public who ask for photos and autographs as they believe he is X-Factor hunk Olly Murs.
His new look has also proved a hit with the ladies who also mistake Craig for the chart-topping singer and TV presenter.
Craig, from Southampton, says: “It has been good with the ladies. I can’t complain because he is a good-looking guy.
“Me and my mates did convince a group of girls at a music festival that I was Olly Murs’ twin brother once.
“They genuinely thought I was. I got a kiss out of it. So it can be handy with the ladies that’s for sure.
“I can’t say I’m his number one fan but everyone seems to think I look just like him. All my mates keep saying I am a dead ringer.
“I often get stopped in the street. It is bizarre really. People ask for autographs and pictures and sometimes even when I tell people I’m not him, they still want a photo with me.”
Craig said his problems with his weight started when he was bullied at school and found it difficult to make friends during his teenage years.
But he decided to fight the flab following the embarrassing incident in front of dozens of other shoppers at Tesco.
He added: “It was difficult at school. I had been bullied a lot about my weight and things worsened from then really. I had no confidence whatsoever.
“I struggled to make friends and by the time I was in my late teens, I was very large. I did little exercise and ate very unhealthily.”
“It was takeaways, crisps, fast food, everything. It was a terrible diet.
“The trigger came when I was in Tesco trying on trousers. I tried the 48 inch size, which was their largest.
“I remember I tried to put them on in front of my mum and they just wouldn’t fit. I got pretty much stuck in them,it was awful. The shop was busy and people were watching.”
Since joining Lighter Life, Craig says he has felt happier and more confident – especially with his new lookalike status.
He plays football and swims regularly and has replaced his fatty diet of takeaways with salads after becoming a vegetarian.
The University of West London graduate added: “It is remarkable really. I am confident and love life now.
“I enjoy music and performance but I don’t think I’ll become an Olly Murs tribute act.
“I may look like him, but I’m not sure I’d fancy that. He’s OK – but I prefer my music a little bit more rock and roll.”
