[Red Moon]

Ray Quinn tries the wet T-shirt look as he unveils new toned figure... and shrugs off his alter ego 'Takeaway Ray'

Dancing On Ice star Ray Quinn has showed off his toned torso and bulging biceps in a bid to cast off his nickname 'Takeaway Ray'.

The former X Factor contestant, who used to be a little chubby cheeked thanks to his love of pizza, says he developed his honed physique after buying a men's fitness magazine around a year ago to kick start his new health regime.

Clearly the hard work has paid off. Every week viewers have watched with delight as the 20-year-old skates his way to the top of the leader board in Dancing On Ice.

And during his energetic and consummate routines, Ray has managed to lift, carry and twirl his skating partner Maria Filippov with apparent ease.

But the Liverpudlian was not always so confident.

Clad in a chest-baring wet white T-shirt, he told Heat magazine: 'On The X Factor I did put on a bit of weight – about a stone. I was called “Takeaway Ray”.

'All I used to eat was Dominos pizza – that was actually my favourite takeaway and I’d eat it every night.

'Then, when The X Factor ended and I got a record deal I was just so busy...That’s all you can eat, takeaway. Because you are working 12-hour days.

'Then I had two months off, and I went on holiday – I just felt really awful on the beach.'

However, the former Brookside actor said things changed when he bought a men's fitness magazine, which got him thinking about exercise.

He said: 'I bought myself a copy of Men’s Health and that’s what got me started.

'About a year ago, I started trying to get fit. Your body changes as it gets older and with it changing I realised I could develop some sort of physique.'

And his stint on the West End stage last year also helped and ensured he didn't pile the weight back on.

He added: 'I was also in Grease, which really got me fit, as I was dancing a lot.

'It’s only in the past four months that I’ve been going to the gym.

Source: Daily Mail