BUSTER Bloodvessel - Bad Manners’ ebullient frontman - is famous for his larger than life personality and bigger than average waistline, writes Matty Airey.

He won a place in the nation’s hearts in the 1980s as the bald headed, tongue wagging, can can dancing boot-boy who sang Lip up Fatty, Special Brew and My Girl Lollipop.

But now the man known for never doing things by halves - is quite literally half the man he used to be.

The plus-sized pop-star has slimmed down from 31 stone to 13 stone - losing an amazing 18 stone.

The Hackney-born vocalist, who once ran a hotel in Margate called Fatty Towers, with extra-large beds and a Belly of the Year contest, said: “In the end I was so over-weight that I collapsed during a show.

“I guess I was a prime candidate for dying on stage.

“Hopefully that’s not on the cards, but I’d rather go out like that, than sat in an old people’s home.

“People worry that I’m not the same man that I was, but rest assured, I’m probably a better man than I’ve ever been.

“Losing so much weight has increased my will to live and has made my health and fitness so much better – I’m performing like I was 18 again.”

Buster and Bad Manners return to the Sub Rooms as part of their Christmas tour, on Tuesday, December 30, at 8pm.

“Singing is my life. There’s just no substitute for the feeling I get when I jump on to the stage and belt out all those great songs.”

Watch Buster and Bad Manners in action