David Beckham, Ben Shephard & Idris Elba show some blokes get better with age – but is it worth the sacrifice?  ...Middle East

FORGET middle-aged spread – today’s male celebs are all about middle-aged SHRED.

Instead of letting nature take its course when they hit 50, this ­generation are more likely to become toned gym bunnies.

A sports car and hair dye isn’t enough for these blokes to prove they’ve still got it — they want the body and fitness of a man half their age, too.

Not content with landing the top job hosting This Morning last year, Ben Shephard stripped off for the cover of the latest issue of Men’s Health, revealing a pumped physique at odds with his school-dad-next-door persona.

And his transformation has thrilled his fans on social media.

One woman wrote: “If my future ­husband isn’t a copy of Ben Shephard I don’t want it.”

Others called him a pin-up and even a DILF (Dad I’d Like To F***).

Ben admitted that hitting the half-century in December was his motivation to get even buffer than when he last posed topless for the magazine in 2012.

He consumed up to 2.2g of protein per kilo of bodyweight each day, because “abs are really made in the kitchen”.

Ben explained: “My wife does most of the cooking.

“We came up with an agreement that I would get what I needed in terms of protein during the day so I could enjoy our dinners.”

How romantic!

The presenter worked with long-term trainer Steve Coleman, doing four strength sessions a week, plus lung-busting Digme spin classes.

His regime also included ten minutes using a foam roller to decompress his lower spine each morning and cutting out most alcohol.

Nothing but respect and admiration for the way Ben has approached his 50th birthday

Ben said: “To get stronger, physically and mentally, is definitely harder the older you get.”

Gordon Smart, The Sun’s former Bizarre Editor who did the interview, wrote on Instagram: “Nothing but respect and admiration for the way Ben has approached his 50th birthday.”

The 45-year-old journalist and presenter added: “Considering he is not a professional athlete, the application, commitment, discipline and effort that has gone into this is pure inspiration to men like me.”

After this year, the next batch of 50-year-olds have a lot to live up to.

Who can forget that Men’s Health issue in February where David ­Beckham, who turned 50 this month, showed off his ripped physique?

Actors Pedro Pascal, Bradley Cooper and Ryan Phillippe have also entered their sixth decade this year.

They join Hollywood legend Dwayne Johnson, 53, plus hunky British blokes Idris Elba, 52, Dermot O’Leary, 51, and soap star Jamie Lomas, 50 — former husband of Corrie actress Kym Marsh.

Forget beer bellies and grandad-style slacks — this is the hottest generation of fiftysomethings yet. But what’s changed?

“When a man hits midlife and ­suddenly gets ripped, flaunting that new body, it’s not just about vanity or ­showing off,” says life coach and human behaviour expert Bianca Best.

Pedro Pascal is so hot he’s hurting my feelings

“He’s staring down the barrel of grey hairs, shrinking muscle and a fading sex drive.

“A transformation is a way to fight back against that creeping feeling of decline.”

Narcos actor Pedro Pascal is another middle-ager who has upped his exercise, reportedly losing 80lbs in recent years — and the sight of his biceps on the Cannes red carpet amazed fans.

“Pedro Pascal is so hot he’s hurting my feelings,” wrote one on social media.

Another added: “I think he’s the ­sexiest man I’ve ever seen in my life.”

When asked his secret, the Mandalorian actor modestly stated: “My workout routine is just the basics.”

‘I was under pressure, then trained for 14 weeks’

But Brit trainer David Higgins, who first worked with Pedro on the ­Kingsman films, revealed he focuses on calisthenics and body weight exercises, such as mountain climbers, squats, push-ups and planks.

“He doesn’t necessarily realise how good he is,” he told GQ.

Lucky for some, eh?

As a former footballer, you’d expect recent birthday boy Becks to take ­stripping off in his stride.

But after signing an advertising deal with Boss, he quit his beloved red wine for more than three months to model nothing but a pair of tightie whities.

He confessed: “I actually told my team, ‘I’m not going back into my underwear’. And then we signed the Boss deal.

“I was under quite a bit of pressure at that point . . . and then I trained for 14 weeks.”

His regime included playing racket sport padel three times a week and workouts alongside wife Victoria for five to six days with trainer Bobby Rich.

David told Men’s Health that his go-to drink is a protein shake with creatine, coconut water, two bananas, almonds and lots of ice.

And Idris Elba embarked on a strict diet before filming a topless scene in the 2023 Luther movie, asking his ­personal chef King Enekeme to make him look the “bee’s knees”.

The Brit actor, once named Sexiest Man Alive, drank smoothies packed with greens and banned junk food.

For these hunky celebs, 50 is far from over the hill — which actor Bradley Cooper proved recently when he went public with supermodel girlfriend Gigi Hadid, who is some 20 years his junior.

The actor and director keeps in shape using a Peloton bike at home, only ­eating red meat once a month and avoiding dairy and gluten.

Sounds fun.

Meanwhile, heart-throb Ryan Phillippe is enjoying a career kickstart at 50, starring in new Amazon teen drama Motorheads.

The actor has barely aged since his Nineties breakthrough movies I Know What You Did Last Summer and Cruel Intentions, and regularly shares topless snaps on his socials.

He was also named People’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2021, crediting 90- minute workouts of calisthenics, free weights and sprints five days a week, plus skiing, waterskiing, hiking and paddleboarding, for his enviable shape.

His other motivation? His 21-year-old son Deacon with ex-wife Reese Witherspoon.

He admitted: “We’ll do the same workout, and the way he looks afterwards ­compared to the way I look is really defeating.”

While getting older is ­certainly inevitable, these gym-obsessed stars are proof that blokes do really get better with age.

But with little booze, boring protein-rich diets and days upon days spent in the gym, is it worth the sacrifices?

Cake? No. Thanks

By Will Barker

HITTING 50 when I was a kid seemed to be a moment when you could put your feet up and head down the pub.

Dads proudly waved their beer bellies about while doing little to nothing at the weekends.

But here I am, reaching my half century today, and my fellow fifty-somethings seem to have read a different memo.

Ben Shephard flashing his abs, Becks posing in his pants and Pedro Pascal ageing like a fine wine.

Come on, lads – how can we keep up?

Hard living in journalism is par for the course. Long hours in the office, heavy drinks nights and heavy dinners with contacts.

I haven’t lived the gym life – but whether it is the envy at the hench celebs or the doom at reaching this landmark, something triggered in me a few months ago.

Maybe it’s time to lose the paunch.

My mates went full midlife crisis and have taken to riding bikes while clad in Lycra.

That’s not for me.

Work colleagues discussed how many lengths they do at the pool or the weight they benched at the gym. No thanks.

But in lockdown I turned to the Couch To 5k programme and, whisper it quietly, I quite liked it.

And recently my wife persuaded me to download a calorie-counting app and pack up the fags.

Who knew pork pies made up pretty much all of your daily calorie allowance?

Beer really is bad for you.

And after a night out, walk on past the kebab house.

It’s still a work in progress and Becks won’t be losing his Men’s Health front cover just yet.

But a pipe and slippers are not on my present list today – and I’ll pass on the cake this year, thanks.

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