The line-up for this year’s Celebrity Operation Transformation has been revealed.
RTE’s health and weight loss show is back for a second season of the spin off.
X Factor singer Mary Byrne will take part in the show as one of the five leaders.
“Well I was shocked when I was approached to take part because I watched the programme last year when Elaine Crowley was on and I said to myself “Jeez I’d love to do that – give it a chance, boost my morale up,” she said.
She will be joined by social media star James Patrice who will be sure to keep us laughing across the series.
“When they said it first I thought to myself “oh maybe they want me to do backstage stuff for social media as I have before and they were like no, no we’d like you to be in it” and my gut reaction was yes straight away because I just thought yeah it’s a great opportunity, I’ll get training, I’ll get diet advice and I think my diddies need to go – it’s time for them to leave!” James said.
He added: “Anyone who’d like to follow me, anyone who needs a bit of change, needs a bit of a lift and needs to hear it from someone who isn’t perfectly ripped on Instagram or doesn’t have that perfect fit life that everyone tries to aspire to. I’m someone who is the opposite of that, I’m someone who will be having their cappuccino and their scone and regretting it afterwards and if you want to get on the bandwagon then come along.”
Beauty expert Triona McCarthy, chef Gary O’Hanlon, and singer Kayleigh Cullinan are also confirmed to take part in the spin-off series.
The show will follow the five leaders across a month as they inspire viewers to get back in shape post summer following the OT food and fitness plan.
Kathryn Thomas is back to present four one-hour episodes airing in September on RTÉ On and said she was “thrilled to be back on board”.
“We have five brilliant leaders on our hands this year who are brave enough to let cameras into their homes and lives as they face this struggle head on and set about losing the weight they feel is holding them back.
“Lots of people across the country will have put on weight over the summer holidays so join us – choose a celebrity to follow and start losing the pounds together.
“We’ve got a determined bunch of leaders on board this year and I have every confidence that they will inspire the nation to get up and get moving this autumn,” she added.
The five leaders will start the food and fitness plan on Monday 28th August and viewers can follow it with them by logging onto rte.ie/ot, where they’ll find all the information they need, including a selection of brand new added recipes, perfect for autumn.
Celebrity Operation Transformation will be supported on RTÉ Radio 1 by The Ray D’Arcy Show. The new leaders will be chatting to Ray today at 3pm.
