The Great British Bake Off returned to screens on Tuesday night and viewers were left in awe of Matt Lucas’ dramatic weight reduction. 

The comedian, 48, was back to front the premiere episode of the thirteenth season of the Channel 4 baking show alongside judges Paul Hollywood, Prue Leith and presenter Noel Fielding. 

The actor ditched his unhealthy lifestyle in a bid to shed some weight after piling on the kilos during lockdown.  

Looking good! The Great British Bake Off returned to screens on Tuesday night and viewers were left in awe of Matt Lucas’ dramatic weight reduction

Nevertheless, Matt’s appearance left viewers stunned as they took to their social media to praise the funnyman. 

Viewers penned: ”Can Matt Lucas drop his weight loss program suggestions please #GBBO’; ‘Wow Matt Lucas has lost a great deal of weight! #GBBO.’; ‘Bake Off Matt Lucas looking skinny #GBBO’

‘Where’s the remainder of Matt Lucas? #gbbo’; ‘Just tuned in, is it just me or has Matt lost lots of weight? #GBBO’; ‘Matt Lucas looks to be getting younger #GBBO; ‘Is Matt Lucas okay? Undecided I’m liking how much weight he has lost! #GBBO.’

Different times: The actor ditched his unhealthy lifestyle in a bid to shed some weight after piling on the kilos during lockdown (pictured left in 2005)

In April 2020, Matt admitted that he was keen to ‘get fitter’ during his time in lockdown, after feeling he had ‘placed on a little bit little bit of weight’. 

He said: ‘The one thing I want to do is get fitter, I even have placed on a little bit little bit of weight, that is my next challenge to do a bit more exercise.

‘I may need to make a game of it when I’m going out an exercise to remain out of individuals’s way. I do not have a garden so I even have to seek out a solution to try this.’

The funnyman was previously told to cut back his each day calorie intake to 1,500 by doctors over fears he may develop diabetes.

Matt took the doctor’s warning serious after tragically losing his own father John to a heart attack in 1996.

Response: Matt’s appearance left viewers stunned as they took to their social media to praise the funnyman

Elsewhere on Bake Off, viewers praised the show for bringing back ‘a slice of happiness’ following the Queen’s death.

The most recent series of the Channel 4 show saw Will, 45, sadly change into the primary baker to be sent home, while Yanusz, 34, was crowned as star baker.

After the episode, viewers gushed that the show had brought ‘comfort’ following the sad news of the Queen’s death, which has seen TV schedules change ahead of Monday’s funeral.

It’s back! Will became the primary person to go away the Great British Bake Off tent as viewers praised the show for bringing back happiness after the Queen’s death

Former charity director Will said he was ‘upset’ to be the primary to go away the tent after he had a difficult few challenges, including forgetting to set his timer in the primary challenge.

‘Anyone has got to go first. Obviously I’m upset, but I’m proud to have made it. I’ve met a stunning bunch of individuals and got an experience I can share,’ he said after his exit.

After the much-anticipated return of Bake Off, viewers were quick to take to Twitter to thank the series for ‘bringing back a slice of happiness’ and a ‘calming distraction’ at a time of mourning following the Queen’s death.

‘Slice of happiness’: Viewers expressed their joy on the show’s return, saying it brought ‘comfort’ following the sad news of the Queen’s death

‘Comfort’: The most recent series of the Channel 4 show kicked off on Tuesday night and saw Might be the primary baker to be sent home, while Yanusz (pictured) was the primary to be crowned star baker

One person wrote: ‘Oh bake off, thanks for bringing back a slice of happiness.’

One other said: ‘Bake Off is the calming distraction I want from all the pieces right away.’

A 3rd commented: ‘Its not even funny how much i’ve been counting on the promise bake off for happiness all week.’

And a fourth added: ‘Happiness had been restored bake off is back on TV.’

While a fifth gushed: Never been so grateful bake off was moved to C4. Need the sunshine entertainment at this point within the week.’

‘Bake Off is the calming distraction I want’: Viewers were quick to take to Twitter to thank the series for ‘bringing back a slice of happiness’

The Great British Bake Off aired as planned on Tuesday amid recent scheduled changes following the Queen’s death.

Her Majesty passed away aged 96 on Thursday afternoon at Balmoral Castle and her coffin arrived at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday ahead of her funeral on Monday. 

Amid a period of mourning following the death of the country’s longest-reigning monarch, many TV shows have been cancelled in favour of stories coverage.

Strictly Come Dancing’s launch show has been postponed until Friday September 23, after originally being set to air on September 17, but Channel 4’s Great British Bake Off went ahead as planned.

So sad: The country’s longest-reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, died ‘peacefully’, aged 96, at Balmoral in Scotland on Thursday