The fourth season of the Australian version of the original NBC American reality television series The Biggest Loser, known as The Biggest Loser Australia: Couples, premiered on 1 February 2009 on Network Ten. Series Host Ajay Rochester reprised her role for the fourth season, along with trainers Shannan Ponton, Michelle Bridges and Steve Willis ("The Commando"). The show also introduced a new trainer Emma Hutton ("Emazon"). Applications opened mid-2008 for potential contestants. On 27 April, Bob Herdsman was crowned the oldest contestant in Australian History to ever win with a record weight loss of 87.6 kg, or 52.21% of his starting weight, and won $200,000 in prize money.
Season Overview
List of episodes
Game variations Couples: Season Four began with contestants split into 10 teams of two, each with a preexisting relationship. These couples were divided into two groups for training purposes only - the contestants challenges, temptations and eliminations in their pairs. In the sixth week, the pairs were dissolved and the contestants were split into a red team and a blue team. Double or nothing bracelets: In the first week, The Walk introduced the double and nothing bracelets to the game. One player was given a gold bracelet (the "double" bracelet) and another player was given a silver bracelet (the "nothing" bracelet). The contestants chosen to hold the bracelets will retain possession of them until the finale or until they are eliminated, whichever happens first. If a contestant with a bracelet is eliminated, he or she must then give the bracelet to one of the remaining contestants. If the contestant in possession of the double bracelet is a finalist and wins the weigh-in at the finale, that contestant will receive double the standard grand prize. If the contestant with the nothing bracelet is a finalist and wins the weigh-in at the finale, however, that contestant will receive nothing. Also, no contestant can have both the double and nothing bracelets at one time. Castaways: In Week 7, after Nathan was "eliminated", he was given a letter by Ajay, instructing him to choose one other person to eliminate with him, and he chose Bob. But they both later found out they weren't technically eliminated from the game, just from the house, and that they would be taken back to Fitzroy Island to be trained by the Commando for the next 5 weeks, and the person that has lost the most weight overall would be guaranteed a spot in the (now) Final Four. That person was Bob, having lost 76.2 kg, or 45.41% to Nathan's 46.2 kg, or 31.82%
Cast and personalities Host: Ajay Rochester has returned for a fourth season. Trainers:s Michelle Bridges and Shannan Ponton have also returned, along with Steve Willis ("The Commando") and new trainer Emma Hutton ("Emazon").Nutrition consultant Professor Clare Collins PhD FDAA
Contestants There are 20 contestants in this season, competing as ten teams of two.
MembersAgeStateOccupationTania Diana28Melbourne, VICInsurance ManagerBrown Team (Newlyweds)Eliminated Week 1Ramses Diana28 Car Rental SupervisorJodi Nolte25Casula, NSWMother of TwoPink Team (Best Friends)Eliminated Week 223Ben Terry29Newcastle, NSWPublic ServantGreen Team (Teammates)Eliminated Week 4Holly Scouler20Perth, WAAccounts ManagerYellow Team (Sisters)Eliminated Week 5Melanie "Mel" Scouler18ReceptionistAmanda Brock34Whitebridge, NSWOffice WorkerPurple Team (Husband & Wife)Red TeamEliminated Week 3, Returned mid-Week 5 - The Walk, Re-Eliminated Week 6Teresa Hamilton28WASupermarket PackerOrange Team (Workmates)Blue TeamBlue TeamEliminated Week 8Andrew Miles23Hervey Bay, QLDDisability Support WorkerBlue TeamRed TeamEliminated Week 9Meaghan Trattles26QLDSocial WorkerDark Blue Team (Mother & Daughter)Red TeamRed TeamSean Doudle38Newcastle, NSWDelivery DriverGreen Team (Teammates)Blue TeamBlue TeamEliminated Week 4, Returned mid-Week 5 - The Walk, Eliminated Week 10Julie Trattles52QLDFabric Store ManagerDark Blue Team (Mother & Daughter)Blue TeamBlue TeamEliminated Week 11Stewart Brock44Whitebridge, NSWPurple Team (Husband & Wife)Eliminated Week 3, Returned Week 11, Eliminated mid-Week 12 - The WalkCameron Fisher 52Gold Coast, QLDTyre Shop OwnerRed Team (Father & Daughter)Red TeamBlue TeamEliminated Week 12Nathan Miles31Hervey Bay, QLDDisability Support WorkerRed TeamCastaways Eliminated Week 1120Gold Coast, QLDTyre Shop ConsultantRed Team (Father & Daughter)Red TeamRed Team3rd Runner-UpSharif Deen26QLDCall Centre Team LeaderOrange Team (Workmates)Red TeamRed TeamEliminated Mid-Week 9 (Walk), Returned Week 11, 2nd Runner-UpTiffany Herdsman22Bunbury, WARoadhouse WorkerGrey Team (In-Laws)Blue TeamBlue TeamRunner-UpBob Herdsman56Roadhouse OwnerBlue TeamCastawaysThe Biggest Loser
Note: * Holly and Melanie were given a "double vote" as a result of Nathan and Andrew's second walk. As a result, Holly and Melanie's vote was definitive in voting Jodi and Jeda off the show.
Note: ** In week three a second "elimination" was performed with incredibly short notice after the normal elimination, resulting in Nathan & Andrew getting four nominations. In another twist Ajay revealed that they had a lifeline, in which they would compete against the average weight loss percentage of the other six couples and if they won they would have the one and only vote at the next elimination.
Note: *** In week 11, both Stewart and Sharif returned to the competition, to compete in singles.
: After the red team chose to eliminate Nathan, he received a letter instructing him to select one other player from either the red or the blue teams to leave the house with him. To increase his brother's chances of winning the overall title, Nathan chose Bob to join him. After leaving Camp Biggest Loser with the belief that they had just been eliminated from the game, Nathan and Bob were greeted by the Commando and informed that they would be returning to Fitzroy Island to spend the next five weeks training with the Commando. At the conclusion of those five weeks, the man who had lost the most weight during their time on the island would receive a guaranteed spot in the finale.
Game elements The episodes and elements of the show are screened on a weekly rotation, generally in the following set up: Sunday: Conclusion of the Major Challenge, Last Chance Training and Weigh-In. Monday: Elimination Tuesday: Warehouse or Challenge Wednesday: Temptation Thursday: "The Walk" Friday: Major Challenge
Teams The contestants originally competed in their couples teams, but were later re-organised into a blue team and a red team (and later, a white team, training with The Commando for a guaranteed spot in the finale). As of week 9, the contestants are competing as singles, wearing black shirts, and even being known as a "Black team" (possibly to counter-act the Commando's "White Team").
In week 11 (second-chance week), the eliminated contestants returned and wore their original couples team colours (although competing as individuals), and competed for 4 "wildcard" white T-shirts.
In week 12, Castaways Bob and Nathan returned to Camp Biggest Loser to weigh in. Bob beat out Nathan to earn a black T-shirt and claim the 4th and final spot in the Final 4.
ContestantWeek123456789101112FinaleDay 1BobIn-LawsBlue TeamCastaways (fake eliminated)FinalistTiffanyIn-LawsBlue TeamBlack TeamFinalistSharifWork MatesRed Team EliminatedEliminated ContestantWildcardFinalistSammyFather & DaughterRed TeamBlack TeamFinalistNathanBrothersRed TeamCastaways (fake eliminated)EliminatedCameronFather & DaughterBlack TeamStewartHusband & WifeEliminatedEliminated ContestantWildcardJulieMother & DaughterBlue TeamBlack TeamEliminatedSeanTeam Mates"Odd Couple"Blue TeamBlack Team Eliminated ContestantWildcardEliminatedMeaghanMother & DaughterRed TeamBlack Team Eliminated ContestantEliminatedAndrewBrothersBlue TeamRed TeamBlack Team EliminatedEliminated ContestantEliminatedTeresaWork MatesBlue TeamEliminatedEliminated ContestantEliminatedAmandaEliminatedEliminatedEliminated ContestantLeft under doctor's ordersHollySistersEliminatedLeft voluntarilyMelSistersEliminatedEliminated ContestantLeft voluntarilyBenTeam MatesEliminatedEliminated ContestantEliminatedJodiBest FriendsEliminatedEliminated ContestantWildcardEliminatedJedaBest FriendsEliminatedEliminated ContestantEliminatedTaniaNewlywedsEliminatedEliminated ContestantEliminatedRamsesNewlywedsEliminatedEliminated ContestantEliminated
Bracelets The two bracelets were introduced in week 1's Walk, and have moved around over the course of the series due to other Walks and Eliminations. The Double bracelet has the power to double the prize money (to $400,000) if worn by the winner of the overall competition, while the Nothing bracelet has the power to deny the prize money (to $0) if worn by the overall winner. If the wearer of a bracelet is eliminated, that person must choose onto which of the remaining contestants to pass their bracelet.
BraceletWeek123456789101112FinaleDouble ($$)HollyTiffanyTiffanyTeresaSammyTiffanyNothingMeaghanMeaghanMeaghanCameronSharif
Weigh-ins Weigh-ins occur every week. They show the contestant's weight, previous weight and difference. Every week contestants are weighed in. While the contestants are in "couples", the two couples with the lowest weight loss percentages are eligible for elimination. When the game shifts to "singles", the two players with the lowest weight loss percentages are eligible for elimination. After the finalists are decided, they go home for a certain amount of time to continue their diets at home until the live finale where they are weighed in one last time and the winner, the "Biggest Loser", is crowned. The contestant's weekly results can be seen below, and are listed in chronological order of elimination, with the exception of the finalists, whose results are listed in order of their position on the leaderboard.
ContestantAgeHeightStartingBMIEndingBMIStartingweightWeekKiloslostPercentagelost123456789101112FinaleBob5716859.528.4 167.8155147.4140.9135.1126.4122114.9 113.9 104.9 101.7 X X X 91.6 80.287.652.21%Tiffany2816342.822.4113.6106.9103.999.595.290.486.983.882.280.276.5X X71.367.959.5 54.1 47.62% Sharif3219248.428.7178.3168.3164.3161.2154146.6145.4137.6132.9LEFT 129.1117.7(117.7)112.2105.872.540.66%Sammy2016245.227.6118.6112.8109.3106.5101.597.394.891.889.18783.8X X80.478.272.546.138.87%Nathan3217646.931.7145.2135.4130.5127.1122.1115.7114.4109.3 109.2 104.2 105.5 X X X 99 98.3 46.9 32.30%Cameron5317851.833.9 164.1154.4150.7147.3142.1137.2135.3132127.4122.6121.9X X115.5114.4 107.5 56.6 34.49%Stewart4418141.626.9136.4128.7123.5121 100.191.6(91.6)LEFT 88.0 48.4 35.48%Julie5216545.329.3123.4117112.6110.2106.4102.9100.296.194.992.589.9X X87 79.8 43.6 35.33%Sean3818140.425.9132.5125120.1115.7106.9 103.899.495.892.891.489.6*89.689 84.8 47.7 36.00% Jodi2616345.732.9121.5114112.5 94.690.5 87.534.0 27.98%Meaghan2617037.925.3109.6103.3100.398.493.991.28884.881.980.6LEFT79.7 73.2 36.4 33.21%Andrew2319039.927.2 144.2136132129.5121.9116.7114.8110.4107105.6 102.1 99.5 44.7 31.00%Teresa2816741.227.3115107.3103.1101.194.690.887.884.582.6 81.8 76.039.0 33.91%Amanda3417059.039.3170.4161.7155.9155.2 142.4136 128.3 113.6 56.8 33.33% Holly2017834.126.0108.2101.998.797.591.488.1 82.7 82.325.9 23.94% Mel1817334.126.810298.595.893.490.387.5 80.3 80.3 21.7 21.27% Ben2918743.828.1153.1146140.9138.2129.7 113.9 98.254.9 35.86% Jeda2316539.031.2106.3101.499.3 86.6 85.0 21.3 20.04% Tania2816947.541.0 135.7131.5 123.7 117.2 18.5 13.63% Ramses2917047.737.9137.9129.8 117.1 109.4 28.5 20.67%
Legend Teams Member of Shannon's Team (Week 6-8) Member of Michelle's Team (Week 6-8) Member of merged team (Individuals, week 9+) The two "Castaways" training with the Commando (Week 8+) Winner $200,000 Winner (among the finalists) $30,000 Winner (among the eliminated contestants) Standings Week's Biggest Loser Immunity (Temptation/Challenge or Weigh-In) Below the Yellow Line