Ben has stunned a stunner with his slimming success; Soap star is bowled over by change.

Byline: BARBARA ARGUMENT

CORRIE sex kitten Michelle Keegan hugged Redcar weight loss hero Ben Edditts - and confessed to being wowed by the handsome six-footer.

Gorgeous Michelle, who plays the Street's Tina McIntyre, told the 23-year-old: "I'm stunned by what you've achieved. You look so fit and healthy.

"One of the best parts of my job is meeting inspirational people. The way you've changed your life is really amazing."

Michelle swapped the unwanted attentions of dastardly ex-lover David Platt to meet super slimmer Ben.

The architecture graduate was once clinically obese at a hefty 26st but lost 11st to win himself a brand-new life.

That brought him a job, a wardrobe of trendy gear and a new-found passion for cooking healthy meals.

Before shedding the pounds Ben, who lives in Raby Road, noshed on two or three mammoth burgers at a time and "every fast food you can think of."

But his determination to slim landed him a coveted place in the semi-finals of Slimming World's Man of the Year 2009.

It also brought him up close and personal with 22 year-old Michelle named Sexiest Female at this year's British Soap Awards.

The pair met up at Slimming World's head office in Derbyshire.

Ben goes to the Redcar group which runs every Wednesday at 5.30pm at Wheatlands School, Hundale Crescent.

Fellow members voted him local Man of the Year for his exceptional weight loss.

Ben said: "Losing weight really has transformed my life and meeting Michelle Keegan was an extra bonus.

"I hope it shows other men in Redcar who want to lose weight that it is achievable."

Slimming World now has 10,000 men members, 75 male consultants and eight men-only groups.

Consultant Nicky Collings, who runs Ben's group, said: "Men are often worried because they see slimming clubs and dieting as women-only zones - but Ben's proved that's not true."

[bar] To contact the Redcar group, call 01642 270870.

CAPTION(S):

SLIMMER: Ben Edditton, before he lost weight, above, and with Michelle Keegan, right