Celebrities line up for TV slim-down in first series of Celebrity Operation Transformation

Sat, 23 Jul, 2016 - 01:00

Evelyn Ring

Taking part in the new spin-off series are comedian Katherine Lynch; solicitor Gerald Keane; TV3’s Midday presenter, Elaine Crowley; comedian Karl Spain; and RTÉ radio reporter Brenda Donohue.

Kathryn Thomas will present three one-hour episodes airing in early autumn on RTÉ One that will follow the five celebrities over a month.

“I have every confidence that they will inspire the nation to get up and get moving,” Thomas said.

Gerald Kean, 58, from Cork but now based in Dublin, said he weighs more than 19 stone and has type-two diabetes, but was quick off the mark when asked to participate in the show.

“Friends of mine are doing marathons, and I’m struggling to tie the laces on my shoes,” he said.

Karl Spain, 44, from Corbally, Co Limerick, said he is determined to get back into a pair of white jeans he had when he was skinny. “My weight used to fluctuate, and now it’s just gone up and up,” he said.

Brenda Donohue, who celebrated her 50th birthday last week, said she is at the proper weight for her height two years ago but since then has put on two stone.

“For my heart, my joints and my health I need to give myself the best chance and make significant changes,” the Kildare-born broadcaster and mum of three said.

Elaine Crowley, 38, originally from Mallow, Co Cork, said she wants to get fit and stay fit and hopes the programme would give her the tools to do just that: “I did a 10k race in December but in April I got a bad chest infection so my fitness levels are pretty much at zero now.”

Katherine Lynch, 44, originally from Mohill, Co Leitrim, said she is too heavy for her height and has two stone to lose: “I’m one of these people who pays for a gym membership of €500 a year and ends up going once so it is a very expensive hobby.”