NUDE table tennis and a randy ram were just two of the obstacles which confronted Candice Edwards-Marchrones as she embarked on the 1920s diet for the television cameras.

Not only did the Radcliffe student have to eat like a slimmer at the turn of the last century, she also had to get fit like a slimmer of the time, too, and that entailed doing exactly as as Channel 4's diet doctors demanded.

At one stage, she was led into a room where she was expected to strip off and play ping pong. On another occasion, while jogging, a ram took a fancy to her and chased her along a country lane.

Candice (pictured), 21, lost almost a stone on the diet and says that the experience has had a lasting impact on the way that she eats.

Candice was one of nine 21st Century slimmers who spent 24 days taking part in a unique experiment testing the weight loss diets and fitness regimes which were popular in years gone by, namely the late Victorian, Edwardian and `roaring Twenties' periods.

The idea was to examine which worked best. Would it be the Banting diet, first published in 1863? The 'chew chew' diet of the early 1900s? Or the first calorie-counting 'Lulu' diet, one of the best-selling non-fiction publications of the 1920s?

"It was lettuce, lettuce and cucumber," recalls Candice, 21, a student at Salford University. "Then, at one stage, they led us to a room where these people were playing table tennis in the nude. I agreed to play, but only if I could wear my bra and bloomers.

"On another occasion, the TV crew seemed to think it was funny when I got chased by the ram and they had to rescue me."

Candice was asked to take part after Channel 4's researchers visited the Carol Godbys Theatre Workshop in Bury, where she is learning media and performance.

Big built

"In terms of build, I'm a bit above average," she adds. "I'm tall-ish for a girl and I'm big built, but I have always been confident with my body.

"I have a big bum and I love it and it gets me attention as well.

"I went in there as someone who only needed to lose a stone or so. I also wanted to tone up a bit but I never had the kick up the bum to do it."

From time to time, the show's organisers would place temptation in the way of the housemates, including plates full of chocolates.

So has it worked?

Calories

"It has changed my eating habits. I'm looking at the calories on everything. I'd have three glasses of juice a day without realising how bad they are for you and now I'm drinking water all the time.

"I still have my chocolates and my treats but I really watch what I'm eating."

However, Candice believes that the mental coaching she received was just as important as the diet itself and says that the 1920s diet might not be the answer to everyone's prayers.

"It would be very difficult for the 1920s diet to work for everyone because of the fast food chains and the way that people's lifestyles have changed since the 1920s.

"A man would come home from work and his wife would have made him a meal and that meal would have been fresh.

"It is quite expensive to eat healthily but I'm glad I had the opportunity."

Passing her verdict on the 1920s regime, Manchester based nutritional therapist Elizabeth Harfleet says: "My first thought is who was going on this diet? At that time we had a lot of poverty, particularly in Manchester. I would guess this was a diet for a well-to-do lady who wanted to fit into her corset. I'm not sure it would have enough nutritional value to keep a modern working woman going until lunch time

"There are elements that I think are still good advice today - the hot water with lemon when you get up is great 'grandmother's advice'.

"Similarly, the afternoon snack is a good idea, as it boosts your blood sugar levels.

"Today, I'd say the calorie count is about right but I would recommend much more fruit and vegetables."