Michael Perrin during the British National Bodybuilding Federation championships (Picture: SWNS)

This IT worker proves that you can’t judge a book by its cover.

Michael Perrin, 22, spends his days offering technical support for John Lewis, but he shakes off the nerdy, string-armed stereotype in his spare time.

Underneath his clothes he has an impressive body that has seen him win a string of world titles for bodybuilding.

He hits the gym five nights a week and can lift more than 500lbs – the equivalent to a fully-grown polar bear.


Michael sticks to a strict dieting regime that sees him eat eight meals a day.

Michael said: ‘I’m just a normal guy with a hobby, really. Most IT workers like playing computer games in their spare time, while I love going to the gym and working out.

In his day job, Michael works in IT support for John Lewis (Picture: SWNS)

‘It’s quite funny to see colleague’s reaction when they call for IT support and I show up. I think people expect us all to look like the guys from The IT Crowd.



‘But you could say I am probably Britain’s toughest IT geek.’

Last year the muscle man, who only took up competition bodybuilding aged 19, won the Junior World Bodybuilding Championship, held in Miami, Florida, and later this month he is returning to America to try to defend his title.

Proud mum Karen, 49, said: ‘We’ve gone all over the world to support Michael.

MORE: Burly father changes from body builder into model

MORE: Muscle mum: Bodybuilder stays in shape using children as weights

‘I’m so proud of him. The fact he’s doing it naturally, with no performance-enhancing drugs, is all the more impressive.

‘Steroids ruin lives, and I’m glad my son only enters competitions which have strict drug tests.’

Tough Michael is a British Junior Powerlifting Champion, when he managed to deadlift an astonishing 507lbs (230kg).

He can also bench press 350lbs (158kg) and squat 430lbs (195kg) – despite weighing only 188lbs (13st 6lbs) at competition weight.

Michael eats an incredible eight meals a day (Picture: SWNS)