Big John Fisher's tragic reason for turning to food

Big John Fisher ‘found solace in food’ as he shares tragic reason for weight gain.

The social media star known for his love of Chinese takeaways and his catchphrase “Bosh!” has opened up about the real story behind his weight gain.

Appearing on Good Morning Britain on Thursday, November 5, 2026, John Fisher told host Kate Garraway that the loss of his father drove him to food.

“When my dad passed away, I found solace in eating,” he said.

Fisher, 53, is the father of professional heavyweight boxer Johnny Fisher, known as “The Romford Bull.”

He became an internet sensation in part because of his enormous takeaway orders and his signature catchphrase.

But behind the jokes, there was a serious story.

Kate Garraway asked him directly about the grief behind the humor.

“You’ve made a lot of jokes and people sort of warm to you because of your jokes about your obsession with Chinese takeaways and everything,” she said.

“But actually, there’s something serious underneath your weight gain that you’re talking about, aren’t you?”

Fisher replied with a heartbreaking admission.

“Listen, I’m still a big man now but I used to be a fit man,” he said.

“I used to box as an amateur and play football at a high level, but I was always fit when I was a young man.”

He explained that the weight gain started after his father died.

“We had a lot of stress with work and money, and when your dad is no longer there—someone you’ve worked with all your life and is your confidant—when he’s no longer there, I found solace in food,” he said.

He was careful to frame it as an explanation, not an excuse.

“It’s not an excuse, but it’s a reason why I put so much weight on,” he said.

“The thing is, you don’t realise you’re putting the weight on as well, you still think you’re the same person but you’re not.”

Fisher’s weight gain happened gradually, and he said he did not fully recognize the change while it was happening.

Now, he has lost about seven stone over the past year.

That is roughly 98 pounds.

He credited former World’s Strongest Man Eddie Hall with helping him turn his health around.

Hall gave him a blunt warning that Fisher shared on the program.

“Eddie saw us one day and he said, ‘John, if you don’t lose weight within two years, you’ll be dead,’” Fisher recalled.

The warning was a turning point.

Fisher said he cut out carbohydrates and increased his meat intake as part of his new diet.

He also worked with Hall on his fitness.

The journey has been documented in his family’s new reality television series, “Meet The Fishers.”

The show launched on Paramount+ on Thursday, November 5, 2026.

It offers an unfiltered look into the lives of Fisher, his wife, and his children, including boxer Johnny Fisher.

Viewers see both laughter and tears as the family shares their latest adventures.

Fisher acknowledged that he still has a long way to go.

“I’m still overweight, don’t get me wrong, I’ve still got a long way to go, but I was a lot bigger,” he said.

Fans reacted with support on social media after the interview aired.

One viewer wrote: “After you mentioned your loss of father... my sincere condolences, John … look at you now.”

Fisher’s story is one of grief, comfort eating, and a hard turn toward better health.

His father was not just a parent but a work partner and confidant.

Losing that support system, combined with financial and professional stress, led him to seek comfort in food.

The weight gain happened slowly, and Fisher said he did not see himself changing.

Eddie Hall’s warning forced him to confront the reality of his health.

Hall, who won the World’s Strongest Man title in 2017, is known for his own dramatic physical transformations and fitness expertise.

His involvement added credibility to the wake-up call.

Fisher’s weight loss of seven stone over 12 months represents a significant change.

He credited the structure and discipline Hall brought to his training and diet.

The new documentary series captures those moments.

“Meet The Fishers” is produced by the family and gives viewers access to their daily lives.

It airs on Paramount+, the streaming service owned by Paramount Global.

The series is expected to cover not only Fisher’s health journey but also the dynamics of a family navigating fame and personal challenges.

Fisher’s older son, Johnny Fisher, is a rising figure in British heavyweight boxing.

Johnny Fisher has built a following of his own, and the family’s combined social media presence is substantial.

Big John Fisher’s catchphrase “Bosh!” became a viral sensation, often used when he finished a large meal or made a statement.

But the new series and his interview reveal a more vulnerable side.

He described his father as someone he worked with every day.

“Someone you’ve worked with all your life and is your confidant,” he said.

When that person is gone, he explained, the void is hard to fill.

Food became a substitute for the comfort and connection he lost.

He said he did not realize how much weight he was gaining because he still saw himself as the same person.

That disconnect is common among people who gain weight gradually, according to health professionals.

Fisher’s public admission may resonate with many viewers who have experienced similar grief.

Loss of a parent is one of the most common triggers for emotional eating.