The Biggest Loser (Australia)

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The Biggest Loser is a Network Ten reality television show that began broadcasting on 13 February 2006. Hosted by AJ Rochester, it involves twelve contestants who are overweight to varying degrees participating in a contest to lose the most percentage of weight. Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels are the two personal trainers responsible for training the contestants, and appeared in the American version of The Biggest Loser.

Applications for the program closed on 11 November 2005. Over 6,000 Australians applied to take part.

The show was broadcasted at 7pm every weeknight for approximately ten weeks. The eventual winner of The Biggest Loser, as decided by percentage of weight lost throughout the entire show was Adriano "Adro" Sarnelli, who won AUD$200,000.

The second place went to Harry, who had been eliminated and returned in the Super Challenge. Although commenting "I'm gonna win this", and losing an amazing 66.2 kg in total (37.00%), he lost out to Adro's marginally better 37.58%, who in total lost 51.3 kg (37.58%). For Harry's efforts, he won $30 000. Third place went to Kristie, who lost an astounding 37.8 kg when once considers she was the second lightest contestant to begin with. This translated to a percentage weight loss of 36.93%, only 0.07% below Harry and within a percent of the winner, Adro. She won a total of $20 000. Coming in fourth was the lightest and youngest contestant, Fiona, who lost 29.18% (29.5 kg), and won $10 000.

The winner, Adriano (Adro) Sarnelli

At the end of the show, Adro could only manage to yell, "this is unreal" as the stage was invaded by loved ones and elated contestants. As Wal shouted 'Young Bull' at the top of his voice and the crowd cheered. On the Sunday night following the finale, 30 April 2006, a special episode of the will air show to reveal 'Secrets of The Biggest Loser' which includes all the diet and nutrition tips used as part of the show as well as a behind the scene look at the show itself.

1 Contestants
2 Controversy
3 Trivia
4 Music
5 Season 2
6 External links

[edit] Contestants

Contestants for the first series were initially divided in two teams, Red and Blue. When only eight contestants remained, they were paired. After one week of pairs, contestants were on their own. Currently, all (except two) of the contestants have been brought back to the competition; one will become a wildcard contestant. The two contestants not participating are Tracy, who declined, and Wal, who was brought back but gained weight and had to leave the competition.

Blue Team: (trained by Bob Harper)

Artie Rocke (Starting weight: 156 kg)- Eliminated in week 5 along with partner Tracy.
Cat White (Starting weight: 158 kg) - Eliminated in week 3.
Tracy Moores (Starting weight: 110 kg)- Eliminated in week 5 along with partner Artie.
Fiona Falkiner (Starting weight: 101 kg) - Fourth place, won $10 000.
Harry Kantzidis (Starting weight: 179 kg) - Eliminated in week 4. Returned when the eliminated contestants took part in the Super Challenge to add one additional member to the final three. Second place, and winner of $30 000.
Vladimir (Wal) Milberg (Starting weight: 177 kg) - Moved to Red Team in week 3 as a balance, eliminated in week 6. Won the eliminated contestants challenge on the finale to win $50 000.

Red Team: (trained by Jillian Michaels)

Adriano Sarnelli (Starting weight: 137 kg) - Eliminated in week 10. Brought back into the finale for "fairness". Biggest Loser and winner of $200 000.
David Hilyander (Starting weight: 197 kg) - Eliminated in week 1.
Jo Cowling (Starting weight: 108 kg) - Eliminated in week 2.
Kristie Dignam (Starting weight: 105 kg) - Third place, won $20 000.
Ruth Almeida de Campos (Starting weight: 155 kg) - Eliminated in week 7.
Shane Giles (Starting weight: 154 kg) - Eliminated in week 8.

Pairs The pairs, decided by Wal were:

Artie and Tracy
Fiona and Shane
Adro and Ruth
Wal and Kristie

The winner of the eliminated contestants, as decided in the final, was:

Wal (Won $50 000)

The finalists were:

Harry (Final weight: 112.7 kg. Total loss: 66.2 kg. Percentage: 37.00%)
Fiona (Final weight: 71.6 kg. Total loss: 29.5 kg. Percentage: 29.18%)
Adro (Final weight: 85.2 kg. Total loss: 51.3 kg. Percentage: 37.58%)
Kristie (Final weight: 66.1 kg. Total loss: 38.7 kg. Percentage: 36.93%)

[edit] Controversy

During week four's Blue Team elimination, Harry was eliminated. While this was going on, the Red Team swapped rooms with the Blue Team (without permission). This considerably distressed the remaining Blue Team of Artie, Tracy and in particular Fiona, who refused to speak on camera for some time and contemplated leaving the show. Eventually she decided she would not, stating "I don't wanna be a quitter," as her reason for staying.
When the competition reached the final three; Fiona, Adro and Kristie but in a twist the eliminated contestants were invited back; only one declining - Tracy. However, any contestant who gained weight had to immediately leave. Wal, to shock of the other contestants, gained weight and was forced to leave the competition.

[edit] Trivia

Trainer Bob Harper was absent for the second week of the show after his mother suddenly died of a heart attack.
In the first week of the show, contestant Ruth thought she was pregnant and almost left the show. She tested negative and returned to the competition.
The returning eliminated contestants trekked through 3 km of Sand Dunes for the "Super Challenge"; then chose the lowest calorie meals from the table and whoever chose the lowest three calorie meals would have a chance to be in the final 4.

Coming First; Harry chose the second lowest in calories which was the canned Roma Tomatoes. Coming in Second; Jo chose the lowest calorie choice; Ribena Light. And although coming in last place; Cat chose the Tuna in Oil; the third lowest but due to her knowledge of calories in meals got her next chance.

A weigh in decided who was a part of the final 4; Cat weighed in last (losing 0.9 kg); Jo weighed in just before Harry losing 2 kg, Harry losing 10.7 kg and claiming his place in the final 4.

Adro was then subsequently eliminated in the next vote, which was between him and Fiona. However, he was brought back for reasons of "fairness".

A number of The Biggest Loser records were set during the first week of the Australian version, with contestant Wal losing 15.5 kg (34.17 pounds) - the most weight lost by any contestant in a week; together with the greatest total weight loss for all contestants with 97.8 kg (215.61 pounds); and the Blue team losing the most weight by a single team with 56.4 kg (124.34 pounds). Kristie lost the most percentage of body weight in the first week of any show. In later shows, Shane, Fiona & Kristie are the only contestants to gain weight, Shane gaining 2.3 kg and Fiona gaining 2.6 kg, both "Water Loaded" so they could lose more weight next week. One week on, Fiona who is the underdog and the smallest, lost a massive 7.8 kg and was the biggest loser for the week.
Kristie; who earned immunity later in the game also used the water load technique gaining a 5.9 kg; a hard decision for the mother which did pay off, her being the biggest loser of that week with a weight loss of 8 kg. Fiona also gained 0.1 kg one week, even though she didn't have immunity nor did she "Water Load".
The water loading technique was then officially banned after Kristie's decision; gaining weight resulted in being put up for elimination; even if Immunity was gained it would be disregarded.

[edit] Music

The music used in the advertising and opening for the show is "Lift" by Shannon Noll.
Teaser music used to advertise the show on Network TEN prior to start: "Long Way To Go" (Track 9 - Session five, premiere song sampler).

[edit] Season 2

The second season of The Biggest Loser (Australia) is currently in production and will begin airing in early Feburary 2007. Both trainers, Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels, have returned for the season. This season will see Bob and Jillian not only help the contestants, but they will also be training new trainers (Australian versions of themselves). Season 2 will be on six nights a week, with weigh-ins moving to Sunday nights to become even more pivotal to the week. Some controversy occurred when reports that obese singer and Australian Idol Series 2 winner Casey Donovan applied for this season. Ten dismissed her reply, but Donovan's Dad is still sure she will try to make healthy life choices.