Dozens of Darren Day's jilted ex-girlfriends and fiancees may well be smiling smugly today following the appearance of the man once labelled 'Britain's Number One Love-Rat' at a London court.

The former West End star cut a rather podgy figure as he arrived at Cardiff Magistrates' Court to plead not guilty to drink-driving charges, the middle button of his suit struggling under the strain of his expanded waistline.

His puffy, bloated face rendered him almost unrecognisable from the 1990s heart-throb who once starred in a naked covershoot for Cosmopolitan magazine.

Podgy: Former lothario Darren Day arrived at a Cardiff court today to plead not guilty to drink-driving charges

Remember when: Darren in his heyday

The 39-year-old, who shot to fame after he was plucked from obscurity to take the title role in Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,  was once equally as well known for his womanising ways.

In 1994, he began a relationship with the nation's sweetheart Anna Friel, which lasted three years during which time he proposed.

Two weeks after dumping her, he started dating Coronation Street actress Tracy Shaw - whom he met while on tour with Summer Holiday in Manchester - giving her the £30,000 engagement ring meant for Miss Friel.

After a stormy relationship, the pair split and Day told of their cocaine-fuelled sex binges, before hooking up with Home And Away actress Isla Fisher, who was co-starring with him in Summer Holiday.

At the time, he insisted: 'She's the first girl I've been in love with.' They too became engaged but split because of their 'hectic lifestyles'.

He enjoyed brief flings with Joan Collins's daughter Tara Newley and Sophia Thierens before falling for 24-year-old dancer Adele Vellacott, whom he met when they appeared together in pantomime.

Day declared: 'We will be together for a long time.'

Piling on the pounds: A life of excess appears to have caught up with Darren, pictured right in 2001

However, eight months after announcing their engagement it emerged he had seduced his co-star in Summer Holiday, Hear'Say's Suzanne Shaw, now 24.

Within months they announced they were expecting a baby and Day again proposed, vowing that he was a changed man.

Shortly after, he cheated on Miss Shaw with Joseph co-star Cecilia Carneby. On Mother's Day 2005 - three months after Miss Shaw gave birth to their son Corey - he walked out on them declaring that he 'didn't do family'.

Day married Stephanie Dooley in 2007 and the pair have a daughter, Madison.

Day, who was left bankrupt after years of cocaine addiction, has credited his wife with getting him back on track.

He has said: 'She's pretty much 100 per cent responsible for changing my life around and my children have been inspirational too - life's fantastic.'

Day, who earned £1 million a year at the height of his fame, is currently appearing as Cornelius Hackl in a production of Hello, Dolly! at the Empire Theatre, Liverpool.