TOURING the world and dancing on stage with one of the globe's top Michael Jackson tribute acts is a daunting task – and one that a once overweight Billericay resident never imagined he'd be part of.
At Christmas 2011, Steven Briggs, an assistant manager in a phone shop, weighed 20st 4lb, was self-conscious and didn't like going out in public.
Yet just eight months later, he had lost 7st 7lb and now regularly moonwalks in front of big crowds.
He started to gain weight rapidly following a painful seven year battle with a cancer diagnosed when he was just 18.
Mr Briggs, 34, of Chantry Way, told the Gazette: "I was in a lot of pain so I had to put sport on the back burner.
"Then I just started to think 'I've lost out on a couple of years' and the good living started, going out every night after work and things like that.
"Around that time size wasn't an issue, I just got on with it, but with the take away meals after work and the alcohol, the weight just piled on."
After living like this for years, those close to Mr Briggs became concerned for him and advised him to try to lose some weight.
It was then that he joined a colleague who attended the Slimming World group in Billericay.
Mr Briggs said: "Something just clicked and I went along to a meeting for moral support.
"In the first week I lost 11lbs and in the second, which was Christmas week, I lost 6 and a half pounds and I thought something is working."
Mr Briggs is good friends with Navi, a world renowned Michael Jackson tribute act and, after a period of his weight loss, an opportunity arose to join him.
"During one of Navi's shows I went up for a dance competition and after he asked whether I would like to join the shows," he said.
As a result, Mr Briggs, a keen Michael Jackson fan himself, has danced all over the world.
He said: " One of my first shows was in Lebanon, which was amazing.
"It's somewhere that I would never have gone on holiday so that was a really good experience.
"I still have a day job but whenever Navi's shows come up and when I'm needed and I can do it I'll join in.
"It's really enjoyable."
Mr Briggs added: "To be able to get up on a stage and dance in front of hundreds of people is something I would have not been able to do before.
"The size I was before there is no way I would have had the opportunities that I've had recently.
"One of the major things is that I've literally had to change my entire wardrobe, I've gone from a 44 inch waist down to a 32.
"I've had to get used to my own appearance again and that's been quite a long process."
For more information about Slimming World in Billericay, call Suzanne on 07967 609257 or visit www.slimmingworld.com.
