Ten has revealed The Biggest Loser will be back next year but there will be some cast changes.
Michelle Bridges and The Commando have exited the series as the format gets revamped.
Hosted by Fiona Falkiner with trainers Shannan Ponton and Libby Babet, The Biggest Loser: Transformed will see a group of everyday Australians tackling relatable weight issues and undergoing transformations of their bodies and their minds.
The reimagined and uplifting show will take the latest advancements in health and fitness to create a contemporary and goal-driven approach to transforming people’s lives.
Epic physical tests and dynamic new food challenges are part of The Biggest Loser: Transformed. But the new series will also take a unique approach to helping people transform not only how they look, but also how they think and feel.
Shannan Ponton returns as trainer in the new season. With over 20 years’ experience in the fitness industry, including as a trainer on The Biggest Loser since 2007, Shannan boasts extensive knowledge and skills in the areas of health, wellbeing, exercise, fitness, nutrition and people management.
Shannan said: “I’m stoked to be back. This is the version of The Biggest Loser I’ve always dreamed of making, something every Australian can relate to but also empower them to transform their own lives.”
Libby Babet, the founder of Australia’s first “entertrainment” group the BUF Girls and the athletic performance studio AGOGA, is a health and fitness specialist for everyday people and joins The Biggest Loser: Transformed as a trainer. Her approach to fitness is to make it fun, stimulating and exciting.
Libby said: “I’m so thrilled and honoured to be joining the The Biggest Loser team and to be part of the show’s evolution.
“The Biggest Loser has already had an incredible impact on health and fitness in Australia by transforming lives and inspiring the nation. I feel such a strong sense of responsibility to continue that mission, perhaps with a bit of my own spin on things.
“My approach to fitness is to help people create a positive and uplifting association with being fit and active, so it becomes something fun you actually look forward to. And I believe good nutrition is easy nutrition, you just need to know some basic principles that I can’t wait to share,” she said.
Eleven years after she appeared as a contestant in Australia’s first season of The Biggest Loser, Fiona Falkiner returns as host for the second year.
Fiona will again provide inspiration, support and encouragement to the contestants of The Biggest Loser: Transformed as they embark on their own journeys of self-discovery and weight loss.
Fiona said: “I am so thrilled to be returning as host this year. The Biggest Loser has been such a positive influence on my life and I’m so excited to be a part of this incredible journey for our new bunch of contestants. I also feel so lucky to be able to share this experience with them.”
Network Ten Chief Programming Officer, Beverley McGarvey, said: “The Biggest Loser is an iconic brand on Australian television and an important and enduring show for Network Ten.
“The Biggest Loser: Transformed will reposition that iconic brand for contemporary Australia by focusing on people’s minds, bodies and souls. Our fresh approach will deliver the most remarkable, emotional and relatable transformations in the history of The Biggest Loser.
“We are very pleased to welcome back Fiona and Shannan, and to welcome Libby. They make a great team for a series that will be entertaining, aspirational, informative and – above all – transformative,” she said.
Endemol Shine Australia Chief Executive Officer, Mark Fennessy, said: “We’re enormously proud to be producing a fully reimagined version of The Biggest Loser for our partners at Ten.
“Although transformed, the program will retain much of its traditional storytelling heritage whilst embracing greater health, fitness, self-empowerment and physical makeover aspects for today’s fast paced world.”
The Biggest Loser: Transformed will commence production later this year and will premiere on TEN in 2017.
