“We’ve already got three kids under five. But, yeah, she likes what she’s seeing.”

Sam Aston has revealed he’s lost more than a stone through his Dancing on Ice training routine, claiming the rigorous rehearsals are whipping him into the best shape of his life.

The Coronation Street favourite, who portrays Chesney Brown, has noticed his physique changing much to the delight of his wife Briony. The couple, who live in Rossendale, got engaged in 2017 and married two years later.

Sharing details of their personal life, the former Haslingden High School pupil said: “We’ve already got three kids under five. But, yeah, she likes what she’s seeing.

“She saw me do a knee slide across the ice and she got a bit giddy. I don’t weigh myself a lot but I’ve lost about eight kilos. I’m feeling the strongest I’ve ever felt, definitely.

“Corrie might have to write it into the scenes that Chesney has toned up a bit…”

Sam, 31, also confessed that despite an increase in fitness, the rigorous schedule of the ITV skating show leaves him exhausted, telling the Mirror: “I’ve got these little niggling injuries, so it’s tit for tat.”

This season of Dancing on Ice hasn’t been without its share of injuries. Dame Sarah Storey suffered a broken ankle before the show hit TV screems, comedian Josh Jones exited due to an ankle twist, and professional skater Vanessa Bauer had to withdraw following a knee ligament tear.

Sam, who is paired with Molly Lanaghan, dislocated a shoulder when his skates clipped together and he fell just hours before a live show. He said: “It’s a bit crazy, we’ve said there must be some bad juju in here, some bad energy.

“We’re dropping like flies. My body twisted and I went down on the ice right on to my shoulder. When we got up, I said to Molly that it didn’t feel right.”

“I carried on for a bit, which was probably wrong. The physio came down and said I’d dislocated it and she needed to pop it back in.”

However the physical toll does not stop there. Sam added: “Touch wood, my shoulder doesn’t feel too bad. My knees, on the other hand, are killing me.

“I think it’s because when you skate they want you to bend and then push through your knees. I’ve never had bad knees but now I feel like I need two knee replacements. I feel like an old man.”

Despite the setbacks, Sam, who has played Chesney on Coronation Street since he was 10, is enjoying the opportunity to reveal his true self to his fans. He expressed his feelings about the experience: “It’s really nice to do something for me.

“I’ve been in Corrie a long time, so it’s nice to just step out of your comfort zone. As cheesy as it sounds, I do feel proud of myself. I don’t think people expected I’d be any good or maybe they were thinking Chesney wouldn’t.

“The vibe I get when I’m out and about, it’s like, ‘Oh, I saw you, you’re actually quite good on that ice… I didn’t think you’d skate so well! ‘ It’s really sweet. I’m not saying I’m good or anything but maybe people think I’m more like my character and they wouldn’t expect him to do well.”

With Corrie hit by spending cuts, Sam is proud the show is continuing to keep viewers hooked. He says: “The storylines we’re ­tackling, we’re still telling amazing stories that impact people and are important ones to tell.

“That’s what we do best. Just look at the one we had with Paul and his MND, they smashed it. For me it’s about showing up on time, knowing my lines, doing my best and not having regrets.

“You have to put your heart and soul in.” It is the same with Dancing on Ice. Sam says: “I just want to know I can look in the mirror and think, ‘I didn’t half-a*** it. I gave it 110%. But it would be lovely to make the final…”

*Dancing on Ice continues tonight on ITV1 at 6.30pm