Amanda Holden left Paul Mescal blushing on Friday as she told how his buff body felt ‘as solid a a kitchen worktop’ after they shared a hug.

The presenter, 53, and co-star Jason ‘K’ King, 49, were interviewing the Gladiator II star, 28, about the blockbuster on Heart Radio when things took a flirty turn as she commented on his physique.

Keen to share just how great the Irish hunk felt, Amanda said: ‘Having just given him a little hug, you still feel as solid as a kitchen worktop. 

Clearly flattered by the compliment, Paul responded: ‘Excellent, my trainer will be delighted.’

JK then chimed in: ‘You ever been described as a kitchen worktop before?’, with Paul quick to admit that ‘it’s a first’.

Continuing with her worktop analogy, Amanda went on to add: ‘I’m going to say, well I won’t say marble because that’s porous, I’m going to say granite.’

Amanda Holden left Paul Mescal blushing on Friday as she told how his buff body felt ‘as solid a a kitchen worktop’ after they shared a hug

The presenter, 53, and co-star Jason ‘K’ King, 49, were interviewing the Gladiator II star, 28, about the blockbuster on Heart Radio when things took a flirty turn as she commented on his physique

Despite the unusual comparisons, Paul took Amanda’s comments in his stride as he responded: ‘Brilliant, even better.’ 

Meanwhile, Amanda questioned Paul about the extreme steps Paul’s trainer took in preparation for the actor’s starring role in the Gladiator II, in which he plays Lucius Verus.

She asked: ‘Is it true when you started for this, your personal trainer literally circled you to see what he could do with you?’

To which Paul replied: ‘Oh, fully up in the H๏τel bedroom he was like ‘strip down to your boxers’ and I was like ‘okay.’ Circled around and then just did this like mind palace of what my body could potentially look like in x amount of months.’

Amanda then went on to ask when steps Paul took to get his body in shape for the film, querying whether he had to make ‘sacrifices’ he had to make when it came to his normal diet and drinking habits.

Paul shared: ‘The diet and the training were the main sacrifices because it just requires time and diligence but thankfully, I was able to obviously drink within reason and everything.’ 

Amanda then remarked: ‘Yes, because wine is good for you and the Romans invented it and drank it’, with Paul then quipping that drinking wine is simply ‘method’ acting.

Paul recently revealed he became so ripped he felt his body ‘could inflict real damage’ after his intense training sessions for Gladiator II.

Keen to share just how great the Irish hunk felt, Amanda said: ‘Having just given him a little hug, you still feel as solid as a kitchen worktop

Meanwhile, Amanda questioned Paul about the extreme steps Paul’s trainer took in preparation for the actor’s starring role in the Gladiator II, in which he plays Lucius Verus

To which Paul replied: ‘Oh, fully up in the H๏τel bedroom he was like ‘strip down to your boxers’ and I was like ‘okay.’ Circled around and then just did this like mind palace of what my body could potentially look like in x amount of months’

Gladiator II sees Paul star as Lucius Verus, the former heir to the Roman Empire who is forced into slavery and eventually pushed to fight in the Colosseum in an effort to restore glory

Paul recently revealed he became so ripped he felt his body ‘could inflict real damage’ after his intense training sessions for Gladiator II 

Read More How Paul Mescal got the body of a Gladiator: Inside the actor’s gruelling workout regime

The Irish actor explained that after working out with a fitness coach, riding horses and learning to fight, he felt powerful enough to take on the role of Lucius.

The star, who had no previous experience of body building or working out, transformed himself for the role in Ridley Scott’s sequel, which was released on Friday.

He told The Sun: ‘You start feeling like your body can inflict damage, which is weird.

‘It changes the way you move and operate. And that’s a fun kind of place to live when it’s make-believe.’

The thespian, who rose to fame as Connel Waldron in the BBC’s lockdown smash hit Normal People, plays the son of Russell Crowe’s legendary Maximus.

Although the character is long-since ᴅᴇᴀᴅ and buried, it is vengeful Lucius (Paul) who must fight for his liberty in the film after being taken into slavery and ripped away from his wife and daughter by general Marcus (Pedro Pascal).

Gladiator II takes place several decades after the first instalment, and features Lucius (the son of Connie Nielsen’s Lucilla) who is now living in Numidia, a region of northern Africa.

Although he was sent to Numidia as a child, the film follows Lucius’ return to Rome to reunite with his mother—and coming into conflict as he does so.

The film, which was 20 years in the making has been a hit with critics and fans have praised Paul’s performance.