Where did those come from? Daring Dawn French wears an above the knee skirt and shows off her legs for the first time in years

By J J Anisiobi


For years she chose never to reveal her body and always covered up.

Now after her dramatic weight loss Dawn French has finally begun to embrace her slimmer figure.

The curvy comic was spotted leaving Heathrow Airport and was showing signs of her new found confidence today.

Confidence: Dawn French departs from Heathrow Airport and shows off her legs for the first time in years, today


The 54-year-old comic was dressed all in black but for the first time in many years showed off her legs as she got ready to fly to America.

Dawn wore a long double breasted coat with a an above the knee dress and black boots.

The silhouette of her legs was the clearest view we have ever had of her newly trim body as she almost always used to wear trousers or long dresses.

Heading out: Dawn wore an all black outfit for her flight


Dawn's has lost over six-and-a-half stone from eating healthy and taking long walks with her dog close to her Cornwall home.

She separated from Lenny Henry in October 2009 and their divorce was finalised a year later.

Lenny has also trimmed down since the break up and has been seen with a new flame.

Moving on: Lenny Henry is dating Lisa Makin who shares a resemblance to his ex-wife Dawn


Henry, 53, is seeing producer Lisa Makin, 45, a high-profile figure in the theatre industry.

The dark-haired Miss Makin bears more than a passing resemblance to Miss French – particularly now the comic actress has dramatically lost weight.

A close friend of Henry told the Mail: ‘Lenny and Lisa have been dating for several months. They are very happy together.’ The couple are said to have met through mutual friends.


The good old days: Lenny and Dawn back when she was fuller figured and married in 1999



source:dailymail

'Shut up Anne Diamond': Comedienne Dawn French hits back at gastric band speculation

By Kerry Mcqueeney


Incredible shrinking woman: Dawn French (left) insists her weight loss was down to healthy eating and walking more, while Anne Diamond (right) has suggested she could have undergone gastric band surgery


Her dramatic weight loss has attracted admiration as well as speculation over how she did it.

However, it would seem funny girl Dawn French has had enough of rumours over her method of shedding the pounds.

In a radio Christmas special due to be broadcast on Radio 2 tomorrow, the actress - along with her comedy partner Jennifer Saunders - hits back at TV presenter Anne Diamond, who suggested her weight loss could have been the result of gastric band surgery.


According to The Sun, French sarcastically says in the comedy special: 'Thank you, Anne, for putting me right.

'Aren't I lucky to have Anne Diamond telling me how to live.'

Comedy partner Saunders adds: 'Dawn, have you swallowed a gastric band?', to which French replies: 'No, I have not.'

The comedy pair then both shout in unison: 'Shut up, Anne Diamond.'

Diamond, who herself shed the pounds after having a gastric band fitted in 2006, speculated that French's 'astonishing transformation' could have been the result of undergoing the procedure.

In an open letter to French last month, Diamond asked: 'Dawn, how did you do it? Was it really just ‘eating less and walking more’ as you have said? The slimming world is abuzz.

'Some say it has to be one of those "meal replacement" programmes such as Lighter Life, where your unhealthy relationship with food is deconstructed and then built up again.


Before: Dawn French was famous for her larger frame (left) while Anne Diamond (right) also struggled with her weight before shedding the pounds after having a gastric band fitted

Dynamic duo: Dawn French with her comedy partner Jennifer Saunders. The pair recorded a Christmas special for Radio 2


'Others say it can be done just by dieting and exercise, as with Slimming World or WeightWatchers.

'But it’s unusual to go so smoothly, without falling off the wagon or hitting frustrating plateaux.

'I spoke to an obesity surgeon who said that the easiest way to guarantee your sort of dramatic and consistent weight is to have a gastric band or a gastric bypass. Your spokesman insists that’s not the case.'

In last month's open letter, Diamond spoke about her own weight loss through gastric band surgery.

She added: 'What I do know is that I made the terrible mistake of keeping quiet after I had gastric-band surgery, and I paid a heavy price for that when I was betrayed.

'I had gone to Belgium to have my band fitted in secret, but it all went wrong when a fellow patient saw me on television and rang the papers.

'Then I was pilloried for cheating, when all I had done was try to end the misery of a problem I couldn’t shift any other way.'

The French and Saunders Christmas special is due to be broadcast tomorrow, Christmas Day, on BBC Radio 2.



source:dailymail

Looking great, Dawn - but how about ditching the black? Slimline Miss French plays it safe again in her favourite colour

By Georgina Littlejohn


Watch the awards below...

Playing it safe: Dawn French is managing to maintain her new slimline figure - but once again opted to wear black instead of getting a bit more adventurous


Last month she left mouths agape when she showed off her gorgeous new slimline figure.

Four weeks on and Dawn French is doing wonders to maintain her stunning new frame - except update her wardrobe.

The comedienne made an appearance at an award ceremony last night looking very pretty in a cute embellished dress.


But once again, the 54-year-old played it safe by opting for black, her favourite colour.

As every woman knows, black is a very slimming and flattering colour, and Dawn possibly used to wear the shade a lot in her heavier days.

Little Miss Happy: Dawn was in a giggly mood as she stopped for the cameras upon her arrival


But having shed four stone this year, maybe it's time that she got a bit more adventurous with her wardrobe by adding a splash of colour.

She looked amazing though and couldn't stop smiling as she happily posed for the cameras that couldn't leave her alone all night.


Looking good: Dawn's hard work and rigorous dieting has certainly paid off

The main man: Dawn posed with former Prime Minister Tony Blair whose foundation held the awards


Dawn was a guest at the Faith Shorts 2011 awards ceremony at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) in London.

The ceremony was in association with the Tony Blair Faith Foundation, which aims to 'promote respect and understanding about the world's major religions and show how faith is a powerful force for good in the modern world.'

Special guests: Dawn and Mr Blair were joined by director Lord Puttnam and TV presenter June Sarpong


The former Prime Minister attended the event and posed with Dawn for photographs inside the venue.

Also attending was TV presenter June Sarpong who joined Mr Blair and Dawn for a photo.

According to the foundation, the awards were held for 'fun, celebration and more importantly the opportunity to show a positive alternative to the often-pessimistic portrayals of faith today'.


Spouse support: Mr Blair's wife Cherie was by her husband's side for the event




source:dailymail

Looks like it's the Dawn of a new era: Comedienne French shows off her svelte figure at the Galaxy National Book Awards

By Daily Mail Reporter


Slim pickings: Dawn French beams as she proudly displays her svelte new figure at the Galaxy National Book Awards in London

Dawn beamed as she posed for pictures on the red carpet, having shed a staggering four stone in recent months.

She looked great in her black dress which sat just above her knees, matching the number with a black handbag and a pair of black heels.

French won the 2011 Specsavers Popular Fiction Book of the Year with her fiction book A Tiny Bit Marvellous.
The novel is about the comedic struggles of mother-of-two Mo Battle and her chaotic family.

Her new look was a far cry from the Dawn French of old, who was famously said: 'There are two types of women: the ones who like chocolate and complete bitches’.

However, that attitude has completely changed and she is now 16 stone, down from 20.

In her first interview since shedding the pounds, she explained her latest look.

‘I’m eating healthily, taking care of myself and feeling very happy indeed,’ she said. ‘Life is good. I want to go to Pilates classes, actually.’

Now Miss French, whose Vicar Of Dibley character Geraldine Granger shared a penchant for chocolate, is restricting herself to an occasional Fruit & Nut bar. She has also given up chips, opting instead for salads.

Miss French announced she had separated from husband Lenny Henry, 52, in April last year after 25 years of marriage. The couple – who have an adopted daughter Billie, 19 – saw their divorce finalised six months later.

Speaking in the latest issue of Woman magazine, she revealed that she is still single – though admitted she had been enjoying the company of new men and ‘gentlemen callers’.

‘The only thing that’s new is meeting new chaps,’ she said. ‘But what is that other than extremely exciting and very good fun? I don’t even want to call it dating, like some teenager.

‘I’m just trying to have a bit of fun every now and again. I’m taking some people up on offers and I’m not taking up other people.’

Miss French admitted she would consider marrying again but insisted she enjoys being single.

‘I’m open to marrying again but I’m certainly not thinking about it right now,’ she added.

‘I’m absolutely not finding it hard to be single. It’s all great.'


Big and buxom: Dawn ballooned to 19st a few years ago


It's all over: Dawn and her former husband Lenny Henry divorced last year after 25 years of marriage



source:dailymail