Get your runners laced up and your water bottle filled, Operation Transformation is set to make it's return for its 17th season this coming January.
The new season will kick off on RTÉ One on Wednesday, 3 January at 9:35pm with five brand-new leaders as it continues to connect communities all over Ireland with the aim of improving their health and wellbeing.
This year's show will move to a new home in Kilbeggan, Co Westmeath. Each week the five leaders (who will all be revealed in early January) will have their Health Check-In at St James Hall.
In partnership with Westmeath County Council, the county will host the weekly Ad Break Challenges where Karl Henry gets groups from across the county moving, as well as the audience at home.
Kathryn Thomas will return to present the long-running show, and cheer on the brand new bunch of inspirational leaders as they embark on a health and wellness journey under the supervision of four qualified experts.
Devising the health and wellness plan and guiding the class of 2024 leaders in a new chapter of self-improvement are the team of OT experts: principal clinical psychologist Dr Eddie Murphy, dietitian Sophie Pratt, general practitioner Dr Sumi Dunne and fitness expert Karl Henry.
This season will see the launch of a brand-new Meal Plan devised by OT expert, CORU registered dietitian, and member of the Irish Institute of Nutrition and Dietetics, Sophie Pratt, aiming to aid a more sustainable approach to healthy eating that also reflects the cost-of-living crisis.
With this year's Meal Plan Sophie hopes to improve the cooking skills of the nation. So, this year OT wants to encourage young people all over the country to learn how to cook, a key life skill to put them on the pathway to a healthier future.
For the first time, the series has opened the OT Meal Plan to secondary schools across the country, with the Main Meal plan featuring three recipes from Home Economic students across the country. During the series, Sophie will visit each school, cook dishes, and educate students about the value of cooking as an essential life skill.
In another OT first, an Operation Transformation National Blood Pressure Day in association with the Irish Pharmacy Union will take place on Thursday, 18 January. With a membership of just over 1800 pharmacies across the country, each participating pharmacy will offer free blood pressure readings to their community.
To find out more information on OT 2024, visit ot.rte.ie.
