Dr Ranj is set to return to our screens tonight with the return of the ITV hit consumer show, Save Money: Lose Weight.

But the Medway-born resident doctor of This Morning has revealed, ahead of his 40th birthday, that he is on a mission to feel fitter and healthier - and it's thanks to his time on Strictly.

Speaking to Gemma Dunn, Dr Ranj, best known for co-creating and presenting the CBeebies show, Get Well Soon, said: "I've got my 40th birthday coming up; it's a big milestone for me and I need to fit into my party wear.

"I'm going to have a month of celebrations throughout June. But I am really conscious right now of how I look, so I want to be as healthy as I can and I want to feel comfortable - everybody wants to look great on their birthday, don't they?"

Following his appointment on Strictly Come Dancing at Christmas, partnering professional Janette Manrara, he revealed he now takes dance classes as part of his fitness push.

"I found dancing became my exercise and I loved it and my body changed and I got fitter and healthier. And it's a great way to manage my weight. It's all about finding that thing that you love doing."

Back with a brand new eight-part series of Save Money: Lose Weight, he and co-presenter Sian Williams will again look at how we can we beat the bulge without breaking the bank - from uncovering vital money-saving tricks to debunking weight loss myths.

"One of my friends put it in a great, succinct way, he goes: 'There are two types of shows that I love watching: one is health and two is money'," he recalls. "And this show combines those two things that everybody worries about into one, and I think that's why it's so successful.

"It also cuts a lot of the nonsense out and gives people useful information that they can use in their everyday lives - and everyone is interested in that sort of stuff."

The eight diet plans to be featured - which range from Slimfast Vitality and Vegan Keto to the new Dukan Diet and the Chloe Madeley Diet - will be tested by people from about 30 to 54.

"This is the typical age that, one, people will notice the effects of their weight; and two, they will want to be losing weight. So it's very much the right window of people to be looking at.

"But the results are translated downwards too and people in their twenties, if they're struggling, can get tips and tricks that they'll find useful as well."What we have to be careful about is that you do not need a medical degree or a nutritional or dietetic degree to put out a diet. Anyone can do it," he said.

"Just because something is endorsed by a celebrity, it doesn't necessarily mean that it's accurate or that it will give the results you want," he continues. "And that especially becomes the case when you go onto social media, where there's a huge issue around celebrity endorsement of health plans and diets.

"It falls to people like myself and other healthcare professionals to try and provide balanced, accurate information that is evidence based," adds the NHS-trained clinician.

The same caution should be applied to the numerous products, treatments and gadgets peddled online - with Ranj recruited to investigate a variety in the show, from bodyfat measuring devices to slimming creams and beyond.

"I look at the science behind appetite suppressants and metabolism boosters; there's a huge market for these," he said.

"We also do some DNA testing because that's being marketed quite heavily at the moment as well: 'Test your DNA to find out which diet and exercise is best for you'."

"I'm dubious about this because I don't think there's good enough science yet," he admits. "But I'm interested to find out what the results will be."

Does he feel an additional pressure to look good himself, being in the public eye?

"Yeah, absolutely. But I'm not perfect and I'm not saying I always make the best food choices and I get enough exercise all the time. But I'm trying."

Save Money: Lose Weight starts on ITV tonight.

Read more: All the latest celebrity news across Kent.