Former EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy has revealed that she has lost nearly a stone in weight while training for Strictly Come Dancing. The 26-year old said that she lost the excess flab while still snacking on chips, biscuits and doughnuts.

She has said that working out for nine hours, six days a week, has helped her to lose the stone.

A source told Now magazine: "Nat's so determined to win, she's really putting the hours in. Her dance partner Vincent Simone is furiously ambitious, too, so he's working her hard to get the routines right.

"They might have Sundays off, but the rest of the time they'll be in the studio in London's West End rehearsing over and over again.

"The funny thing is that she's still eating all her favourite naughty foods, although she's given up booze."

Natalie hit the headlines recently when she revealed that the sexy dance moves on the show had made her feel more adventurous in the bedroom.

She told the News of the World: "Dancing definitely improves your sex life. I'm very excitable at the moment."