The media personality and writer, who recently appeared on an ITV reality programme, revealed that weight-loss injections have helped him lose between 15 and 20 percent of his total body weight.

The 64-year-old, who lives in East Sussex, spoke about his experience with Mounjaro while promoting his new children’s book A Heist Before Bedtime.

He explained that he exhausted his supply of slimming medication during a recent trip to Vietnam.

The former Communards artist said he thoroughly enjoyed Vietnamese food and ate a great deal, but he is now getting back on track.

He added that he is presently taking Mounjaro and it has been really helpful.

He believes he has shed approximately 15 to 20 percent of his body weight, which is the target that Mounjaro users are advised to achieve.

He described it as a positive experience with no side effects at all.

GPs in England began offering Mounjaro prescriptions through the National Health Service in June 2025 for patients with severe obesity who also have multiple associated health problems.

Doctors have warned that while serious reactions are rare, patients should seek medical help quickly if they develop severe stomach pain, ongoing nausea and vomiting, yellowing of the skin or eyes, or signs of an allergic reaction.

Coles became known in the 1980s as part of The Communards before moving into broadcasting and writing after leaving his position as a priest in the Church of England.

His first children’s book, A Heist Before Bedtime, brings together true stories of cons, hoaxes and robberies.

The book recounts tales for young readers including the person who tricked scrap dealers into buying the Eiffel Tower, the theft of many creatures from a Philadelphia insect zoo, and the famous Cottingley Fairies photographs.

Rev Coles said that as well as the wonderful subject matter, what he particularly enjoyed was trying to see things through a child’s eyes again.

He explained that he really loves spending time with children.

He noted that when he was a vicar, he always loved doing school assemblies and getting involved with Beaver and Rainbow groups.

He added that they had such fun, and they put on a great pantomime in Finedon where he was the vicar, which was fantastic.

He served as vicar in Finedon, Northamptonshire for more than a decade before stepping down in 2022.

Rev Coles now lives in Friston, East Sussex with his partner, actor Richard ‘Dickie’ Cant.

His partner jokingly described him as a borderline national trinket after someone called him a national treasure and decided he needed to be demoted.

He remains involved with his local church but misses the regular contact with children he had as a parish priest.

He observed that he is still involved with the church, though the average age of his congregation is probably over 70 rather than under 20.

Rev Coles is also known for his Canon Clement detective fiction series, with the first book Murder Before Evensong turned into a television series in 2025.

He mentioned that his next children’s book might include poems inspired by Spike Milligan, and that he is also working on a supernatural novel for grown-ups.

As well as his writing, Rev Coles sings with the Brighton Festival Chorus and will appear later this year in the four-part Channel 4 series Oti & Richard’s South African Odyssey with dancer Oti Mabuse.