River City
star Tom Urie opens his heart about conquering weight demons
Big Bob says
he has beaten booze and cigarette addiction and is now determined to lose
weight.
River City
star Tom Urie has decided it’s time to address the elephant in the room. And
the Oyster Cafe. And The Tall Ship. And the ticket booth at the Shieldinch
subway stop.
That
elephant, by his own admission, is him.
Tom has
conquered alcoholism and his addiction to nicotine but now faces an even bigger
challenge – losing weight.
The
43-year-old actor and musician has become one of Shieldinch’s most popular
residents since he joined the BBC Scotland soap two years ago as Big Bob
O’Hara.
He’s stopped
by fans in the street to talk about storylines such as Bob’s marriage, his
relationship with his battle-axe mother and the pain of being the dad of a
still-born child.
The most
obvious talking point, though, is never addressed.
But Tom
believes all that’s about to change now the River City writers are putting Big
Bob’s life in jeopardy with a cardiac arrest.
By doing so,
they might just be saving Tom’s.
Paisley-born
Tom has opened his heart to the Daily Record in his most candid interview ever,
revealing his alcoholism for the first time.
He hasn’t
touched a drop in over a decade and admits he “was mental with it”.
He said: “One
day I had one of those hangovers where I said, ‘Never again’. And I didn’t, ever
again.
“Beer was my
drink, but I don’t miss it. I do miss a cigarette, though. If there was a
nuclear bomb on the way, I’d have a cigarette.
“The smoking
was a battle, the drinking was a battle.
“Those things
got out of control and now this issue (his weight) has as well. So I’m treating
this the same way.”
Tom admits he
has always been overweight.
He said:
“People have been on at me about my weight since I was a wee boy. My brother
was a football referee and is still a very keen golfer. My sister is a football
coach and was a PE teacher.
“But I
wouldn’t go out and play sports. I’d prefer to sit in and watch Grease.”
