Star of ITV's Biggest Loser falls to her death 'after jumping from Beachy Head'

-Angie Dowds had overcome battle with drink and drugs
-She split from her girlfriend earlier this year


By Leon Watson


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Fitness guru: Ms Dowds (right) with The Biggest Loser host Davina McCall. The pair have been on the show since it began in 2005


An award-winning celebrity fitness guru is believed to have jumped to her death from the cliffs at Beachy Head.

Police this morning confirmed the body of Angie Dowds, 42, was found on the beach near Eastbourne, East Sussex.

The trainer on hit ITV show the Biggest Loser is believed to have earlier this year separated from her long-term partner Corrie Preece, to whom she was engaged.

Ms Dowds won a Personal Trainer of the Year Great Britain award in 2006 and had reportedly battled drink and drug problems in the past.


A Sussex Police spokesman said: 'Just after 4.30pm on Sunday members of the public reported that a woman was seen to jump or fall from the top of cliffs at Beachy Head.

'Coastguards found the body of woman at the foot of the cliffs about an hour later.

'There are no suspicious circumstances and it is believed that the body may be that of a 42-year old woman from London.'
The Biggest Loser host Davina McCall led the tributes to Ms Dowds.

A message posted on her verified Twitter account read: 'Rest in peace Angie Dowds @angechops. So so sad.'

There was also a tribute from Natalie Dowds, saying she is Angie's younger sister. Last night she posted on the star's Facebook page: 'My big sis rest with the angels rip xxxxx'.

There was also this Facebook tribute from Natalie Dowds, Angie's younger sister

On a Facebook page dedicated to the star, fan Mary Higgins said: 'RIP. Thought she was amazing on the biggest loser. Tragic.'

Another fan tweeted: 'R.I.P Angie (@angechops) Dowds. You helped inspire & educate millions with both a growl n a smile. You'll be missed. #inaquietplacenow xx.'

Canadian-born Ms Dowds, who moved to the UK when she was four, has appeared on the slimming challenge programme since 2005.

She discovered drink and drugs after having moved to Wales after her mother remarried, said The Sun.

By the time she was 13 she was taking drugs and drinking, she revealed, and at the age of 15 she moved to London.

'I was a victim and I had every reason in the world to be,' Ms Dowds would later say.

The Biggest Loser, based on the hit US series of the same name, sees competitors battle to lose the most weight over eight weeks in a bid to clinch a £25,000 prize.

It was first screened on LIVINGtv in 2005 before moving in its third year to ITV. The fifth series is due to air next year.

But after being recognised as Personal Trainer of the Year at the International Fitness showcase Awards after she began on the show, she said: 'Getting industry recognition felt fantastic. Ten years ago I said to myself, 'I want to be the best at whatever it is I end up doing'. I've always had that inside me."

In February, Angie was temporarily axed from The Biggest Loser after she had told her team of dieters to cheat by going on an extreme diet of just nuts and apples.

Ms Dowds blamed it on her 'competitiveness', and she was allowed to return for the final episode, hosted by Davina McCall.

The fitness trainer and Ms Preece, 37, moved in together in 2003 and got engaged in 2006.


Witnesses say they saw a woman fall to her death from Beachy Head in East Sussex




source:dailymail