The line-up for the second series of Celebrity Operation Transformation has been revealed.
X Factor singer Mary Byrne, chef Gary O'Hanlon, beauty writer Triona McCarthy, presenter and social media influencer James Patrice and singer Kayleigh Cullinan have been confirmed to take part in the four-part series which will air in September on RTÉ One.
The show will follow the five leaders over a month as they try out the Operation Transformation food and fitness plan and face the scales at their weekly weigh-ins.
Follow the leaders! @MaryByrneMusic @KayleighSinger @JamesPatrice @triona_ie @gazzachef join @RadioRayRTE in studio for #celebOT now pic.twitter.com/HzvNazJWst
— RTÉ Radio 1 (@RTERadio1) July 31, 2017
Host Kathryn Thomas said: "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."
Singer Mary Byrne who was a semi-finalist on 2010's X Factor, said: "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.'
"I was over-excited and still in disbelief. I had to ring my manager back to find out was she messing so I was thrilled, really thrilled. Two years ago I did a juicing diet and I lost near enough two stone and I’ve kept that off for two years only due to my daughter but I haven’t lost anything since that.
"But the one thing I did notice was two weeks ago I was in the bedroom and I was looking through tops and I put a top on that was sleeveless - now I know I have big arms but they were always big and firm-ish but I never noticed since the two stone went off how wobbly my arms have become and I was sick and I had changed my whole way of living before that dieting wise trying to keep healthy but that was my moment when I said `Thank God I was asked to do this show because this is going to make me really, really want to do this.'"
Beauty and fashion journalist Triona McCarthy said: "I actually feel I have the opposite of body dysmorphia. I actually always think I look alright and that it’s other people who seem to be more concerned about my weight - it’s like my mum or my sisters are always saying to me 'Triona if you just lost a few pounds your life would be so much easier' and I have to go 'Guys it’s ok - I’m actually happy.'
"I don’t see it. In this beauty obsessed world - it’s what I do for a living and I don’t have a huge amount of vanity. I prefer writing about other people's beauty but for myself I think I need to be more vain.
"Also if I see a photo where I look particularly heavy I think 'Oh that’s just a bad angle' or I just stood in a funny position or whatever but then it can get a bit embarrassing if I have to do a photo shoot for something or a job and somebody asks me what size I am and I’ll say I think I’m oh maybe a 10 or 12 and the clothes arrive and the dress can’t get zipped up or the buttons are all open at the back."
Chef Gary O'Hanlon said: "I'm most looking forward to a change of lifestyle. Very few chefs look after themselves. The trigger was probably wee Ollie being born last year, Cora’s three and a half, my daughter, and the wee boy’s 11 months old.
"He’ll turn one right when we start and you know what? I don’t want to be an out of shape daddy when they start getting more active. I’m at a stage now where I’ve put a big graft into the restaurant for the past nine years, we’re well established now and I need to started taking a wee bit more time for myself instead of just pushing on and pushing for stars and everything else."
"Social influencer" James Patrice said: "When they (the production company) 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! 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."
Singer Kayleigh Cullinan said: "I know being a lot overweight does 100% play on your confidence, but it also does play on your energy levels and what you give to people.
"I know Operation Transformation is the stepping stone but it’s something I will be keeping on. It’s the kick in the bum I need so it’ll be nice to be able to go out and buy nice dresses and look well.
"Lately I definitely feel sluggish all the time. Myself and Mary are actually carrying around the weight of another person so we’ve been joking around saying it will be nice to get the girl off our back! It’s definitely a long time coming but I’m extremely excited to be involved in the series."
The five leaders will start the food and fitness plan on Monday August 28 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.
