The Biggest Loser UK is a British reality competition television series based on the American show of the same name in which overweight contestants compete to win a cash prize by losing the highest percentage of their starting body weight.
The series premiered in the UK on Living TV on 6 October, 2005. It moved to ITV from the third season on. There are three seasons to date.
The Biggest Loser UK premiered in South Africa on e.tv on Sunday 15 November 2009, at 16h00. See "Seasons" below for seasonal broadcast dates and times.
Season 2 premiered on e.tv on Sunday 7 February 2010, at 16h00. New episodes air weekly. There are 12 hour-long episodes in the second season.
Synopsis
Twelve contestants are divided into two teams - The Red Team and The Blue Team. Each team has a fitness trainer who, with the help of health experts, help them to transform from fat and unhealthy to lean and in good physical shape.
Both the teams undergo reward challenges and weekly weigh-ins. The team who has collectively lost the least amount of weight has to eliminate a team member.
The last one standing at the end of the series is crowned the Biggest Loser – and the winner of £25,000 (R322,000), and a new healthier body.
The series is hosted by racing driver and TV personality Vicki Butler-Henderson (who hosted the original series of Top Gear and later another motoring programe, Fifth Gear).
Angie Dowds is the trainer of the Red Team. She believes in maximum pain being inflicted on her charges, using equipment made famous by Russian athletes.
The trainer of the Blue Team is the more moderate Mark Bailey, who prefers to put his Contemporary Psychotherapy, Clinical Hypnosis and Neuro-Linguistic Programming qualifications to good use (i.e. a supportive, caring approach).
For some of the 12 contestants, the successful conversion is life-changing while shedding the extra kilos will spike the confidence levels of others.
One thing is certain for all: a radical makeover in the pipeline for those brave enough to follow through.
Seasons
(All season air exclusively on e.tv, on Sundays at 16h00)
Season 1 (12 episodes)
Premiere: 15 November 2009 | Finale: 31 January 2010
Season 2 (12 episodes)
Premiere: 7 February 2010 | Finale: 25 April 2010