The second season of the Australian version of the original NBC American reality television series The Biggest Loser premiered on Sunday 4 February 2007 at 7pm on Network Ten, with the finale on 26 April 2007. The show features 14 overweight contestants competing for A$200,000 and the title Australia's Biggest Loser for 2007. The eventual winner was Chris Garling, one of "The Outsiders", who lost 70.1 kg (46.89% of his start weight). Eliminated contestants also had the chance to compete for a runners-up prize of $50,000, which was won by Michael losing 70.0 kg (42.37% of his start weight). Five episodes were screened each week night, with a sixth episode introduced on Sunday nights. Industry experts were skeptical of its success screening on this competitive night. The show averaged more than 1 million viewers each night, peaking at 1,995,000 viewers for the finale and 1,560,000 viewers for a weigh-in show.4 April 2007 Extreme Biggest Loser – noting ratings, and screen times. The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 20 April 2007 Over 10,000 Australians applied, 2,000 more than the 2006 season. The show is licensed and produced by FremantleMedia Australia in association with Reveille.
14 contestants (2 more than the previous season) competed in 2 teams, later becoming pairs and then playing individually. An additional four being introduced throughout the game as part of twists or as replacement contestants. In the first two weeks, one contestant voluntarily quit and one withdrew on medical advice.Biggest Loser under fire . Herald Sun. Retrieved 19 April 2007. Media response to Jules leaving The Biggest Loser
Two new Australian trainers, Michelle Bridges and Shannan Ponton, were introduced to replace the previous American trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels who reprised their role temporarily. Although Michelle states she doesn't like the format of the reality television show, she feels in the end it is helping change people's lives. Jillian was ridiculed for participating in the Australian version and not the American version, she stated that the Australian show represented her more accurately. Contestants were also introduced to former SAS soldier Steve Willis, dubbed "The Commando". Bob and Jillian left at the end of the second week, revisiting in the eighth week for a final time.
Two main new elements were introduced to the game including "The Walk" which gave contestants power to change the outcome of the game and a further two contestants were "secretly" trained outside the house and entered as "The Outsiders".
Before going to air, there were various allegations that Australian Idol winner Casey Donovan had applied to be a contestant and had been rejected. Network Ten argued that Donovan had simply not survived the application process.(7 October 2006) Casey fails as Biggest Loser . The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 5 February 2007 Further criticism was received by exercise experts, saying the show promoted risky weight loss techniques and may endanger the show's viewers. There was also much criticism of contestants leaving on medical advice after multiple health scares.
Season Overview Game variations Immunity: A small change to immunity was that the contestant to win immunity retained it for the following week if no other contestant gained immunity.
"The Walk": A new element known as "The Walk" involved the winner of the immunity challenges having a random choice of four game-altering options. Some options included a 24-hour training prior to the first weigh-in, choosing replacement contestants, swapping team members, giving up immunity, and immediate mid-week elimination.
New Trainers: Two new primary Australian trainers were introduced, who appeared to replace the previous American trainers. A third element was former SAS soldier Steve Willis dubbed "The Commando" who was used for rewards or penalties in challenges. The Commando trained "The Outsiders" at a secondary training secret ranch before they entered the game.
"The Outsiders": Two contestants called "The Outsiders", Chris Garling and Kimberlie Stewart, entered the game in week 7, having been weighed in the white house at the beginning of the game without the knowledge of all other contestants. They were trained with the Commando during the 6 weeks before entering the house and formed a pair upon entering the game.
"Wild card" contestant: As with the previous season, all previously eliminated contestants were invited to return to the game for a second chance "wild card" entry back into the game. The difference with this game element was that only 5 out of the returning 10 contestants could enter the game by winning a qualification weigh-in. All eliminated contestants returned except for walk-out contestants Sarah, Jules and Sam. P'eta chose not to return, similar to Tracy from the first season.
Trainer's Choice Award: At the end of the series a Suzuki Grand Vitara was awarded to Jules by the trainers, recognizing her for "handling herself exquisitely throughout the whole show".Brave Player Rewarded With Special Trainer's Award . 22 April 2007
List of episodes
There were a total of 68 episodes that followed the general weekly format of Elimination, Minor Challenge, Temptation, "The Walk", Major Challenge, and The Weigh-in. In some instances, episodes were replaced with specials where major twists were introduced, or previous events were explained for viewers missing information. Some of these special episodes included: Two contestants leave: Due to unexpected withdrawal of contestants, episode 3 in week 1 focussed on this event. The game so far: In week 6 was a recap episode where all previous episodes were summarised. Duos Decided: In week 6 teams were separated into pairs. Damien won the minor challenge and power to choose pairs. The Biggest Twist Thus Far; The Outsiders: The secret contestants training on the outside for 6 weeks enter the house in week 7. Make Overs: Remaining contestants were given new clothes and hairstyles for a magazine photo-shoot in mid week 8. Fear Challenges: Replacing the regular spot for "The Walk", fear challenges were personal mental challenges that each remaining contestant participated in, for no tangible reward. The 6 remaining contestants were flown to Queenstown, New Zealand. Courtney went on a large cliff swing, Chris used a rocket swing, Damien and Kimberlie rock climbed a 30 m cliff face, Munnalita bungee jumped and Pati participated in white water sports Mountain hike: Contestants participated in a mountain hike, add weighted bags weighing the amount of weight they had lost each week. All contestants reaching the mountain peak carrying the weight they started the show with. The experience was to feel the relief when they removed their backpacks. Kimberlie added an extra 40 kg to match what she was at her heaviest weight. Return of the eliminated contestants: On being invited back for a chance to enter back into the game, contestants went through various challenges: Second chance challenge: Contestants were required to hold two medicine balls whilst balancing on a series of three varied sized logs, each one smaller than the last, for half an hour each. Mel, who had an ankle problem stepped down and was immediately eliminated. Gerard won the challenge, Kelly coming a close second. Second chance temptation: Contestants had a 1 in 6 chance to receive a wild card chance, elimination and other prizes. Laura won a guarantee qualification, Greg was immediately eliminated. Other prizes included a trip won by Kelly, a scooter won by Alex, a small hamburger and chips won by Damien, and a chocolate platter won by Courtney. Michael and Marty chose not to participate in the temptation challenge. Super Challenge: Remaining contestants competed in a sand dune and mental challenge, with the three remaining places going to Michael, Marty and Damien. Courtney, Alex and Kelly were immediately eliminated. Train the trainers: Mid week 11 contestants were tested with their knowledge of training routines in preparation for moving outside of the game. Trainer's Choice Award: The episode before the finale was a consolation for Jules who withdrew from the show on medical advice. She was given a Suzuki Grand Vitara
The Weigh-Ins At the end of each week, contestants must be weighed to determine how much weight they had lost since the previous week or weigh in. Generally the person with the highest weight loss receives immunity. With teams, the total percentage of weight loss for the team must be highest to avoid elimination. With pairs and individuals, players must come in "above the yellow line" which is usually the 2 lowest weight losers of the week. Weigh-in episodes were generally screened on Sunday nights, or left as a cliffhanger and combined with elimination episodes.
ContestantAgeHeightStartingBMIEndingBMIStartingweightWeekKilosLostPercentagelost123456789 1011FinaleChris 23 198 149.5 118.2111.8104.8101.0X93.189.9 79.470.146.89%Marty 38 193 160.6150.2146.0141.6136.8130.1Marty was eliminated in week 5, but was brought back in week 6 after Jules withdrew for medical reasons122.5119.9121.0 117.5 109.9105.094.765.941.03%Pati 26 172 120.2114.9111.5108.9105.1101.496.394.192.690.0X85.484.872.248.039.93%Munnalita 32 170 127.3119.4116.4113.5110.5106.997.997.995.392.9X86.685.074.153.241.79%Kimberlie 32 173 141.8 121.5 119.4114.6110.4X105.2 95.046.833.00%Courtney 21 185 139.2 133.5130.3126.9123.5117.2111.2110.5108.7107.9 107.9 98.340.929.38%Damien 34 188 216.3203.2201.0193.8187.1179.7174.5170.6173.0 X 167.0 141.774.634.49%Laura 20 175 109.2 105.2103.8101.295.794.493.1 88.9 84.225.022.89%Mel 24 183 108.4100.798.796.494.790.288.0 85.0 78.030.428.04%Greg 33 175 148.8138.7134.8132.3126.6121.2114.7 110.6 99.948.932.86%Jules 34 170 126.5120.2118.2115.1111.4106.9 91.634.927.59%Gerard 43 175 133.5126.1 122.1120.6116.4 104.0 90.243.332.43%P'eta 27 179 131.6 127.7126.3 106.724.918.92%Michael 28 192 165.2155.6151.0145.7 120.9 95.270.042.37%Kelly 28 174 117.1112.7108.7 94.4 89.128.023.91%Sam 37 171 128.0121.0 87.440.631.72%Alex 37 167 155.2144.6 121.3 113.441.826.93%Sarah 24 170 X153.3 Did not attend
Standing Week's Biggest Loser Immunity The Biggest Loser Winner of the At-Home prize
Eliminations Each week, after a weigh in, contestants must cast a vote against another contestant and avoid elimination. The contestant that received the most votes left the game immediately. Contestants can avoid elimination by their team or themselves losing the most percentage of weight loss, winning immunity at a temptation challenge. Contestants make themselves an elimination target if they are a threat of losing a lot of weight by the end of the show. Elimination episodes screened on Mondays. Below is a table of voting history for what each contestant voted.
Week Wk 1 Wk 2 Wk 3 Wk 4 Wk 5 Wk 6 Wk 7 Wk 8 Wk 9 Wk 10 Wk 11 EliminatedAlexKellyMichaelP'eta, GerardMartyGreg / MelLauraMartyDamien, CourtneyKimberlieMunnalitaArrived Wk 7 as an "Outsider"CourtneyMartyCourtneyKimberlieMunnalita AlexXXXCourtneyLauraXPatiMunnalita AlexXXXMunnalitaGreg / MelLaura?CourtneyXX AlexXXP'etaMartyGreg / MelXMartyXKimberlieEliminated Wk 11Arrived Wk 7 as an "Outsider"Laura??XAlexXXXMartyGreg / MelXMartyXEliminated Wk 9XKellyLaura?XXXX X Eliminated mid Wk 9XGerardGerardXXXEliminated Wk 7XKellyXGerardXXEliminated Wk 6 (Double elimination)?XXXCourtneyXEliminated Wk 6 (Double elimination)XKellyMichaelGerardWithdrew mid Wk 5 (on medical advice)XMichaelMichael?Eliminated Wk 4? Michael?Eliminated mid Wk 4 "The Walk"XDamienGerardEliminated Wk 3XMelEliminated Wk 2XWithdrew mid Wk 2 (on medical advice) MunnalitaEliminated Wk 1Quit mid Wk 1
Immunity Immunity, unable to vote Below yellow line, unable to vote Finished last in the elimination challenge, eliminated Not in elimination, unable to vote Vote not revealed Eliminated or not in house Last person eliminated before the finale Valid vote cast Elimination notes