The first of the five leaders for the new run of Operation Transformation was revealed today (Nov 21) on The Ray D’Arcy Show on RTÉ Radio 1.
Kathryn Thomas surprised 25-year-old Seán Daly at Specsavers Opticians at The Mill Shopping Centre in Dublin, where he works as a retail manager.
Daly lives at home with his parents Lorraine and Alan in Dublin's Clondalkin, and shares a room with his younger brother Darren, who's 19.
His family have been a great support to him since he came out to them as a gay man five years ago. Mother Lorraine is very proud of him and tells everyone he's gay. Seán has only been to one gay bar and has never been on a real date. He told Operation Transformation researchers that he doesn’t know how someone else could love him if he doesn’t love himself.
Seán is currently so unhappy with his weight that he has been considering going to Poland to get a gastric band fitted.
He said on The Ray D’Arcy Show: "I'm over the moon, I can’t believe it. I said that if they come in and reveal me the first thing I'll do is give up the smokes, so they’re gone from today."
Operation Transformation expert Dr Ciara Kelly explained some of the reasons why Seán was chosen for the show.
"He's a young man, he’s only 25 years of age . . . at 25 his weight is already holding him back . . . he represents a lot of young men; young men who haven’t found their healthy adulthood path yet."
Season ten of Operation Transformation will air on RTÉ One from early in January 2017. The Ray D’Arcy Show on RTÉ Radio 1 is the official radio partner to the TV series.
