Ten past its prime with The Biggest Loser: Transformed resuscitation

Like a dog eating it’s own vomit, Network Ten has commissioned The Biggest Loser for yet another series, with the show returning in 2017 this time as The Biggest Loser: Transformed.

Hosted by Fiona Falkiner with returning trainer Shannan Ponton and new recruit Libby Babet, the network is promising The Biggest Loser Transformed will “see a group of everyday Australians tackling relatable weight issues and undergoing transformations of their bodies and their minds”.

While sponsors such as Subway, Jenny Craig and Lite & Easy are no doubt lining up to invest in this shameless format, viewers have already voted with their remotes. The past 3 seasons have been ratings flops.

Ten has apparently ‘transformed’ the series by failing to re-sign the show’s two biggest stars.

Even though Ten is yet to realise this format is dead in the water, Michelle Bridges and her partner Commando clearly have, both opting to stay clear of the show this time around.

Whether you love (or more likely loathe) the Bridges/Commando combo, their ability to generate publicity has for the past few years been the only thing holding this tired format together.

With the hugely expensive Survivor Australia now regularly rating fourth in its timeslot, I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here quickly running out of D-Grade celebs to humiliate, and The Great Australian Spelling Bee sent off to die on Saturday nights, Ten desperately needs to reinvent it’s reality line-up for 2017 or it risks becoming The Biggest Loser in the Network ratings race (again).

Some fresh ideas and bold decision making is desperately needed, otherwise Ten will again end up filling every vacant hole in the schedule with more Celebrity Family Feud.

Shannan Ponton returns as trainer in the new season and is clearly happy to have see off his higher profile co-stars:

“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:

“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.”