Ed Gamble says he only lost weight 'for a vain reason' after tipping the scales at 19st at his heaviest - as he reveals his type 1 diabetes leaves him feeling 'burnt out'

Published: 10:40 EDT, 7 November 2026 | Updated: 11:06 EDT, 7 November 2026 Ed Gamble has said that he only lost weight 'for a vain reason' after tipping the scales at 19st at his heaviest – as he detailed the struggles of his type 1 diabetes. The comedian, 40, has said he wanted a transformation so he could get more work and look better on camera.The Traitors: Uncloaked host said: 'I lost weight for a vain reason. At my heaviest, I thought, I'd like to lose weight before I go on this TV show, because I'd heard the camera adds 10lb and I thought, that is 10lb I cannot be adding. 'A few months after I lost the weight, I played a member of the royal family in a show and I don't think I would have got that part before.'In the new interview Ed also discussed his type 1 diabetes – describing keeping on top of his health as 'like having a 24-hour job'. He said: 'You've got to keep an eye on your blood glucose levels. They have crashed on stage a couple of times, but not to a worrying level.' Ed Gamble has said that he only lost weight 'for a vain reason' after tipping the scales at 19st at his heaviest – as he detailed the struggles of his type 1 diabetes (pictured in 2011) The comedian, 40, has said he wanted a transformation so he could get more work and look better on camera (pictured last month)Ed added to The Times: 'I just felt a bit shaky. Illness can affect it. Weather can affect it. It's never straightforward. It's a lot of admin. Sometimes you get very burnt out with it.'The condition was genetic bad luck rather than the result of his diet, though it inevitably affected his relationship with food. He has previously told The Daily Mail: 'I definitely have a tendency to put on weight easily, but I also combined that with eating as much as I possibly could because I loved food.'It wasn't because of trauma or unhappiness. I just genuinely loved eating.'I'd walk down the high street and buy lunch from four different places. A huge sandwich from the Italian deli, pastries from Greggs, biscuits from the corner shop. Basically, I'd have a week's shopping for lunch. 'Then there would be fast food late at night: kebabs after drinking, chicken and chips.' Ed has been busy in recent months hosting the Traitors: Uncloaked podcast and show amid Celebrity Traitors.Fans of the hit BBC One series tuned in to see Faithfuls Romesh Ranganathan and Sebastian 'Bash' Croft crowned the winners last Friday night after successfully banishing Traitors Maya Jama and King Kenny at the final hour.And while critics claimed the final episode was 'underwhelming' and 'anticlimactic', the nail-biting conclusion drew the biggest UK overnight and consolidated TV audiences of 2026 so far.The average overnight audience of 11.2 million (later peaking at 11.6 million), was up from the 11 million who tuned in to the 2025 series final which saw Traitor Alan Carr emerge victorious. Mock the Week star Ed has been busy in recent months hosting the Traitors: Uncloaked podcast and showViewers applauded Romesh and Sebastian for beating Traitors Maya and Kenny, who went under the radar until Thursday's episode, when their fellow Traitor James Acaster revealed his identity in a moment of stress.They scooped £41,500 each for their chosen charities – Choose Love for Sebastian and the Refugee Council for Ranganathan.They shared an embrace as host Claudia Winkleman congratulated them on their big win.'I trusted Bash and I was right to. I cannot believe it! I just really hope my mum is proud,' the comedian said.In his exit interview, he added: 'I think my biggest highlight is making a friend in Bash - relying on the fact that I thought he was a friend in that end game and that paying off, that is something I feel really good about.Sebastian broke down in tears and said: 'That was just incredible. This might actually be the best day of my life.'Adding what the highlight of his experience was, the actor shared: 'It was the moment that Rom said the word Faithful, and the hug that we had was just wild, it was crazy.'The duo then joined the host and celebrity finalists outside the picturesque Ardross Castle, where they raised a glass around the fire pit.