Forget the flaxseed oil, I want a chippy

HOW TO LOSE WEIGHT WELL (CHANNEL 4)

I’ve always been a believer that diets make you fat.

Start denying yourself treats and, before you know it, you’re fantasising about curries, crisps and food you haven’t eaten in decades but start craving (Mint Cracknel, since you ask).

But, like so many, I had one too many mince pies at Christmas. So I decided How To Lose Weight Well would inspire me to stick to the tedious business of not being greedy.

An hour-long programme of chubbies testing out diets? It doesn’t sound the most exciting 60 minutes, but it was strangely watchable.

This was mainly thanks to presenter Dr Xand van Tulleken and his charm.

But the diet guinea pigs were a game bunch and, frankly, it’s just as well.

With diets including the Peanut Butter Diet (no thanks), the Flaxseed Oil Diet (eewww) and the Sirtfood Diet (no, me neither), the programme highlighted how we’ll try anything – except pure willpower. It was enough to drive you to the chippy.

But the testers all stuck to their task, give or take a Pizza Express or two. All were thinner by the end of the programme.

It would be interesting to revisit them in a year and find out if they’ve kept up their new regimes. How much flaxseed oil can one person slurp before deciding life’s too short?

Anyway, it was an enjoyable hour. Of course, it was made even better because I enjoyed a big wedge of lemon meringue pie while watching it.

RICK STEIN’S LONG WEEKENDS (BBC2)

Fed up of The One Show? Try Rick Stein’s Long Weekends instead. Rick eats and drinks his way round fantastic cities, meets some lovely locals and has a ball in every episode.

Ever felt you’re in the wrong job?