18 July 2023 , 19:30
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Timothy Spall is back on screens in the nail biting true life drama The Sixth Commandment - but some fans may be surprised at the sight of the BAFTA nominated star.
The 66-year-old actor plays Peter Farquhar in the new BBC drama which focuses on the chilling murders committed by Ben Field in Buckinghamshire in 2015 and 2017.
Timothy has enjoyed a long and illustrious career, playing major roles in a string of much-loved TV shows including Auf Wiedersehen, Pet and in films including the lucrative Harry Potter film franchise.
But while Timothy’s career has continued to expand over the years, fans will notice that the actor himself has become much more slender.
Timothy, pictured in 2014, said he simply wanted to make a lifestyle choice that led to him losing weight (Getty)
By watching what he eats, the TV and film star shed the lbs (FameFlynet.uk.com)Speaking about his decision to shed pounds, Timothy said that he simply wanted to live a healthier lifestyle - and the weight dropped off as a result.
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He told Radio Times previously: “I wanted to change my lifestyle and lose weight and it’s done what I’d always hoped it might.
“As a character actor, it’s put me in a position where I’m not hobbled by being a certain shape. I’m no longer that avuncular round bloke. It does feel liberating on many levels.”
Indeed, Timothy has admitted that losing weight meant he was no longer suited to play larger sized characters on screen.
But he didn’t let that fear hold back his weight-loss goals.
Speaking to the The Independent, he said: “I knew it was risky because it can shut doors, but I knew that if I was lucky it would also liberate me.
“I don’t know whether I’ve missed out on [parts], but only because nobody’s ever called me up and said, ‘Ahh, we were going to use you when you were fat but now we can’t’.”
The star opened up to Lorraine Kelly in the past to detail exactly how he lost the weight - and it seems the classic approach of watching his diet played a huge part.
He told the ITV star: “If I was going to write a diet book, it would be two pages. The first one is, food and booze is lovely and exercise is horrible.
“Right, turn over the page. If you eat too much and drink too much, you put on weight. If you eat about the right amount, you don’t. And that’s it really.”
Timothy has been praised for his role in The Sixth Commandment which sees him play the tragic author Peter Farquhar who was murdered by Ben Field in 2015.
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After the first episode became available to watch via BBC One and iPlayer, TV fans have flooded social media to praise the Harry Potter star’s performance.
One tweeted: "Just give Timothy Spall all the awards now #TheSixthCommandment.”
While another agreed, writing: “This is what TVs for. Give Timothy Spall all the awards. Give [screenwriter] Sarah Phelps more commissions. Give roles like this to older actors and let them shine".