Omid Djalili has taken up football refereeing to help him lose weight.
The 54-year-old comedian started officiating amateur matches after he was forced to quit the game when the cartilage in his right hip wore away due to being "tremendously overweight".
Speaking to The Sun newspaper’s Bizarre TV column, he revealed: "I’m trying to lose weight and I’m reffing on Sundays, whenever I have one free, to run around a bit. I’m reffing the old game I used to play in.
"And, slowly, if I lose a bit of weight I can start kicking a ball again, so I’ve got a trainer. I’m working on it as I’d love to play football again."
Omid suffered further health worries this year when he underwent hip replacement surgery to insert a metal bar through his bones.
He added: "The only problem now is, every time I go to airport security I always go off and I always have to put my hands up. That’s the only thing that annoys me. But I’m treated like a terrorist everywhere I go."
However, the funny man is finding light at the end of the tunnel as he hopes his new fitness regime will help him perform his own stunts in future roles.
The ‘Mean Machine’ star last appeared on TV in the ‘Celebrity Apprentice’ earlier this year.
Omid starred alongside Rylan Clark-Neal, Russell Kane, Richard Arnold, Sam Allardyce, Ayda Field, Amanda Holden, Kelly Hoppen, Tameka Empson and Rachel Johnson on the charity version of the business reality show.
Rylan – who was the project manager of the guys’ team – admitted he struggled with the task, because he doesn’t actually have many showbiz contacts.
He said: "When I finish my job, I go home, I get a tracksuit on and watch ‘Birds of a Feather’. That’s what I do. I don’t go out, I’m not really celebby or anything like that.
"So when it comes to my phone, unless it’s like my mum or Dan, I don’t know what to do. So to try and call on these contacts, it was quite difficult."
Omid Djalili has taken up football refereeing to get fit
