This season of The Biggest Loser marks another change in the format. Last time it was families, the time before that they tackled the town of Ararat. This time, it’s… people who aren’t grossly obese, just quite obese. Or even just overweight! It’s time to Transform some lives!

At least, that’s the stated goal this time around. Old-hand Shannan Ponton and new trainer Libby Babet take 16 overweight Australians for 8 weeks of intensive training and not eating so damn much. Shannan’s said we should imagine six packs on blokes and women in bikinis on the finale stage. We’ll see, won’t we?

Jake, the diabetic with an insulin pump installed we saw on the ads? He wants to get his health and diabetes under control lest he not be around much longer.

Steph’s postponed her wedding. Needs to go from a size 18 to a size 10 to fit in her wedding dress. Lynton needs to lose weight to keep his pilot licence. Nikki’s never been confident enough to get in a bikini.

The contestants are all being boated across Sydney Harbour to… Cockatoo Island, maybe? There’s a big fancy building with the new (ugly) Biggest Loser logo out front. So they go in!

And inside is all wooden floors and various goal items. So Lynton has a plane and Nikki has a bikini and Sophia, 33, waitress, has a red dress I think?

Nikki’s 25 and lives on the Sunshine Coast. Her partner, Kyle, wants to go to the beach every morning on the weekend. She dreads the beach, even on the hottest days she wears a longsleeve shirt and black tights. Kyle thinks she’s the most gorgeous person in the world and just wants her to be comfortable in her own skin. Nikki wants to be the best version of herself she can be.

Brett’s from Glenmore Park and wants to get back into fighting fit shape. He’s a stonemason by trade, but used to be a professional boxer. Used to train 6 days a week, run 5k for a warmup, now he can barely run 1k. He is 40 though. Since his daughter was born he hasn’t felt like training though.

Steph’s wedding dress is pretty skinny. She’s never worn it yet.

Lynton’s goal thing is a plane! He explains to two of the women that he’s finding it harder and harder each year to pass his medical exams.

Jenny’s a 60 year old intensive care paramedic who wants to do some endurance horse riding. Basically you ride 400km over 5 days and she wants to do it. I assume she hasn’t both because she’s not fit enough and it’d be cruel to a horse to carry someone her size. She thinks the horse will be a lot happier about it if she drops 30kg!

Messages from family, already? On a big sideways TV screen. Best wishes from various munchkins and loved ones. I don’t know all the names if you don’t put them on the screen!

FIONA! HIIII! She’s in an orange dress. Your allegiances better not have changed, Fee. Blue for life!

Fiona welcomes everyone to The Biggest Loser: Transformed. This year it’s not just about losing weight, it’s about transforming your life. Anything is possible. Work hard, train harder and you can reach your goal, Fee tells them all. Sophia tells us she feels quite inspired because Fiona’s been there and done that.

This year there’ll be 6 contestants at the finale competing for the title. 6! Only $50,000 on offer this time.

But wait, it’s not just who has lost the most weight! The 6 finalists will return home for a week for their final transformations. At the end of that week the public will vote who’s had the biggest transformation. Coooooool!

And the winner will take home the grand prize of $100,000!

Well now, that’s a pretty sweet twist, isn’t it?

Time to welcome your trainers, Shannan Ponton and Libby Babet!

Libby’s a personal trainer and owns a couple of businesses related to health and fitness. People call her the smiling assassin because even though she tries to keep it fun, that doesn’t mean it’s easy!

Shannan’s… Shannan. Haven’t you been watching for eleven seasons? Anyway. Shannan’s thrilled to be back, just as passionate and excited as he was back on day one. His style of training is the way he lives his life, hard but fair. No hidden agendas. Hah!

Anna, an apprentice butcher, is really hoping to be on Shannan’s team. She’s wearing blue already!

Libby hopes everyone gets the motivation and energy to get up off the couch and that they have the bodies capable of going on any adventure they want.

Shannan tells us it’s the show he’s always dreamt of making. It’s not just about the numbers on the scales, it’s about a total transformation. Jenny thinks they must have put a fresh set of batteries in him because he’s clearly very pumped up.

Shannan and Libby have handpicked their teams and now they get to announce who’s on which. Libby’s heading up Team Orange this year.

First pick? Nikki! Nikki’s partner is supporting her, his family is big on the beach but she’s never worn a bikini in her life. She’s been with her partner for 3 years and he’s still not seen her naked. What the hell! She’s already a good looking girl. Where have we gone wrong that she hasn’t the confidence to get naked with someone she loves?

Nikki’s starting weight is… 78.1kg.

And now it’s time to see what they’re working with. Her partner’s not seen her this exposed, she says, much less a room of strangers.

Nikki’s knickers shot is… really not that bad. She’s big around the hips, but nothing compared to the girls of yesteryear!

Nikki says her least favourite bit is her caesarian belly, but Libby says it’d be her favourite bit. She gave the gift of life to her child with that belly.

But now, through the magic of computers we see what Nikki might look like at the end of the journey. She looks… thin. And stretched. Where are the muscles?!

One of the guys looks on in “shock”. Not sure I buy that reaction…

Shannan’s first pick is Brett, the former professional fighter. He’s got no fight left in him now, not since holding his tiny baby. He couldn’t imagine going back to a gym to hurt people over nursing the baby.

Brett’s start weight is 116.8kg. He’s got a big old gut on him, but the computer shows him with a shiny new six pack.

Libby’s next pick is… another girl. Sophia!
Shannan picks Matt! He likes the computer version but says he needs a spray tan.
Shannan picks Amy.
Libby picks Steph. Rocketing through here!

Steph wants to get married. She’s 36 and a primary school teacher. She’s been engaged for a year but has put the wedding off. She doesn’t think she’ll ever fit in her dress. She judges herself a lot, Libby thinks. Time to get rid of that.
Steph’s starting weight is 102.2kg. She’s put 30kg on over the last 3 or 4 years apparently.

Current underpants Steph is not a good sight, computer Steph looks a bit plasticised but much happier. Magic!

Simmo’s transformation is quite good, he’s Team Shannan. But the computer only trimmed his beard, not shaved it off. Boo!

Lisa-Faye (not a name!) is on Libby’s team. Lynton’s on Shannan’s team. He’s prepared to do everything to be skinny for the first time in his life.

Anna, who wants to be on Shannan’s team, she even wore blue nailpolish on her toes. But it’s not to be! Libby says her next pick is Anna and Libby says she really appreciates the smile Anna gave her… but they’re just messing with her, she’s on Blue Team of course!

Anna’s a foster mum. She’s tried many, many times to have kids, went through IVF treatment seven times. The hormonal drugs made her feel depressed, so lots of emotional eating. Shannan’s really impressed that despite all that she’s got enough love left in her to look after kids who don’t have parents of their own.

Anna’s start weight is 117.2kg and her computer morphed version looks pretty good for a 40 year old!

Simon’s next on Libby’s team, then Jenny joins Shannan’s team. Jenny’s morphed version looks RIPPED!

Luke’s on Libby’s team. He has too many beers at the footy club. Libby asks “Footy-AFL?” Luke asks if there’s any other!

Sarah’s team Shannan, has put on 30kg in 15 months. Yikes!

Jake’s the Type-1 diabetic, with the insulin pump, which is very serious stuff if you were unaware.

Josh is Libby’s last pick. He’s about a foot taller than Libby and picks her up in excitement. Josh would like the join the police force, but obviously at his current size he won’t get a look in. 147.7kg is a long way off ideal weight, so he’s been doing escalator maintenance for a living. He’s the heaviest contestant on the show this year and he looks like some kind of freaky Ken doll after the computer morph.

So, the team’s are set. And their first training session starts right now! Some shocked faces amongst the contestants, not sure many expected to be straight into action.

Shannan’s team is changed into their workout gear and they’re lead into his brand new gym. It’s “a bloke’s gym”, Jenny says indignantly. She doesn’t do boxing. That won’t get you far!

Matt’s a bit scared, he’s never been into a gym before. If he goes near them he gets anxious, even just from the smell. He’s Matt, he’s from Sydney, and he’s definitely not me, I swear.

Matt was bullied in high school and thus didn’t do sports. Shannan promises he won’t bully him, bullying is one of his pet hates.

Time to get to work. Punch the bags! Matt’s not punching hard or fast enough for Shannan, it’s basically just love taps to the bag and he looks tired already. Shannan says he’s 37 but he looks like he’s still the bullied high school kid. The past is holding him back still.

Shannan’s walking around, pushing everyone along, telling them they can work harder and to keep going, etc. Standard training stuff.

Matt wasn’t expecting to be able to keep going, but he manages to finish the first training session along with everyone else. Seems like a fairly easy first session but they’re also not in the same shape contestants usually are on the first day!

Libby’s gym is quite open air, lots of treadmills and spin cycles and a large workout area.

Time to throw the excuses out. Pick up a kettlebell, drop it on the floor in the middle while putting away an excuse. Lots of “not enough time” “not enough energy” and for Nikki, “not worth the effort”.

Jake tells us exercise can affect everyone with diabetes but he’s got to stop using that as an excuse not to work out.

Sophia’s asked how it feels to be doing something for herself while she’s doing steps. Sophia says, “Can’t talk, exercising!”

Jake’s struggling during the workout, lets out a groan, but Libby gets him to keep going. No excuses! Jake says it felt good to finish the first session, not going to let his diabetes hold him back anymore.

So they’ve had a training session, must be time for the first challenge of the year?

They’re at Middle Head, Fiona tells us. It’s the backdrop for the first challenge. This year teamwork is everything, they compete as a team and they succeed as a team.

The first challenge is to kayak 3.5km across Sydney Harbour, from North Head to South Head. It’s the toughest first week challenge, Shannan says. Get thrown into a kayak with a brand new best friend and cross the Harbour.

If you don’t know Sydney, the Harbour frequently has sharks in it. And the further out you are, the more likely sharks are.

Matt’s a bit scared though he’s not showing it much. Nikki’s in tears, she’s petrified of sharks. But Libby tells her the rest of the team will be with her. Push the fear to the side for a bit, can you do that? Nikki says she can, if she gets to go with Jake! Everyone laughs and they agree to it.

The challenge isn’t just kayaking! First they have to dig up some of their paddles from under the sand and retrieve some of the others from the water. 4 from the sand, 4 from the buoy in the water. Once you’ve got all the paddles you split into twos and paddle across the harbour.

Steph is unwell with a migraine (NO EXCUSES!) and will be sitting out. Luke’s done a bit of kayaking so he’s volunteered to do it solo. So he’s confident, but knows it’ll be a lot of work.

First entire team across the finish line will win The Power. The Power could change the game, etc. If you’ve seen the show before you’ll know that the power could be utter garbage or it could be CRUCIAL.

As the first challenge… who knows what the reward could be!

The race starts… now! Simon’s first onto the beach with his shirt and shoes off and he heads out into the water, telling us we’re all about to see The Jiggle. And it’s really not that jiggly, you’ll be right mate!

Apparently they have to swim out and get the paddles off the buoys first, before they can start digging.

Jake’s wanting to help but after the swim but his shoulder’s hurting. No excuses Jake!

After digging huge holes in their tiny areas the paddles finally start emerging. Team Orange has taken an early lead and are off to the kayaks first.

Luke’s doing it solo and Jake’s worried they may have burned themselves out with frantic digging, but it’s time to get paddling. Luke says that previously if someone had asked if he wanted to go kayaking he’d’ve said they spelled pub wrong!

Jenny and Simmo are first off the beach and Jenny seems to know what she’s doing, they’re taking an early lead over their team… the rest are mostly keeping up but hopefully all the experienced boaters don’t get too far ahead!

Team Orange has run into a bit of trouble already. Sophia and Josh aren’t keeping their strokes in a good rhythm and they’re inevitably the first into the water. And it’s COLD! Sophia’s not sure if she can even get back on top the kayak. Fortunately there’s an ad break for her to recover her composure in!

After the ad break, Sophia’s still struggling and grunting and they’ve finally called for help from the rescue boat. They help the pair back onto their kayak so they can keep going. And now the trainers have shown up to shout encouragement from much nicer boats.

Shannan’s telling them to paddle into the wind, because if they get side on they’ll get blown over. Like Matt and Brett! They’re next into the drink. Matt’s panicking a bit, he’s not sure he can get back on the kayak either. Come on dudes!

Shannan says there’s a difference between fear and a phobia, but Matt looks frozen in fear. Shannan’s trying to tell him he can get back up on the kayak, even though he’s struggling to follow even simple commands.

Eventually, with some help from the rescue boat, Matt’s back in the saddle and the boys get back to paddling.

They’re all already more than halfway across the harbour, well done!

Jake’s struggling due to his shoulder, but Nikki’s up front and trying to keep him motivated, she says she needs him to stay strong, she’s fighting through a lot of fear. Jake’s put his paddle down for a moment while Nikki bravely paddles away…

… SHARK!!! SHAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!

It’s not a very big one, but I’m not sure that’s going to matter to the people nearby. It’s a shark! Fat people are friends not food?

Luke’s getting turned around a bit by the waves and he’s the one who spots the shark and instead of keeping his trap shut he tells Jake and Nikki about the shark, causing Nikki to start freaking out as well. They’ve gotta move, keep going across!

Meanwhile, Sophia and Josh are in last place and back in the water! But they’re back on the kayak again in the shot after, so either they worked out how to get back on or they cut a lot of faffing around this time!

Matt and Brett are back in the water and need rescue again. But this time Matt hasn’t freaked out and they’re assisted back aboard quite quickly. They’re in second last place though, so they’re pretty confident their team won’t come last.

But first across the line is Lisa-Faye (not a name!) and Simon! Fiona has apparently already paddled her canoe across and is waiting for them both on the beach. Well done guys!

Jenny and Simmo are on to the beach in second place. One team from each colour has reached the finish line. But it looks like two more Orange teams are coming in next. Jake’s doing it really tough but Nikki’s still chirping along and Luke’s keeping pace with them. Luke says it was the biggest challenge of his life, but it felt good to get it done.

Nikki was very scared but is so proud of getting it done. And Jake’s got nothing but praise for her, saying that despite his sore shoulder she kept him going.

Sophia and Josh are way off course it seems and they can’t even see any blue teams anymore. Their balance is very poor so they just keep going into the water.

Three duos from each team have hit the beach, but two are still out on the water with their trainers keeping them encouraged… and it seems Team Blue are going to come in ahead of Team Orange? Can’t believe both teams left people behind! It’s a team challenge!

The end is in sight for the Blue boys, though the Orange kayak is 400m behind so they should be safe… nope, back in the water again!

They’re still well in the lead, but getting back on the boat has proven everyone’s weakness.

And the Orange team has caught up while Blue flop around in the water. So long as Orange doesn’t capsize again they’ll probably beat them…

Shannan tells them there’s nobody else to help them, it’s time to help themselves. Matt tells us he feels like he’s letting Shannan down because while it might seem easy to Shannan, he’s too tired to get it done.

But it’s too late! Sophia and Josh have made it to shore and Libby’s support boat comes close to shore, but Libby just jumps in and rushes through the water to her team. Hugs all round!

Team Blue hasn’t given up. Matt’s finally managed to make it back up onto the boat and they’re heading for shore at last. They’re knackered, but both teams are cheering them on from the beach. Nikki gives Matt a big hug because they’d shared the terror of the ocean beforehand.

Time to find out what the power is… Fee has a box! Inside is a bracelet. Each week it will hold a different power and each week one person will wear it. It also grants immunity from elimination.

Team Orange quickly confer and they all agree on Nikki in a matter of seconds. Jake says it’s because Nikki kept them motivated despite her own fears, so they all felt she deserved it.

Nikki’s now immune until after the first elimination. Everyone else will have to do it the hard way, Fiona tells them.

Now a teaser for the rest of the season. Including a Pigs in Mud challenge, so not everything has changed! They will actually be talking to the psychologist, and a nutritionist, including learning how to make healthy versions of fast foods? I’m down for that!

So… Are we keen on the changes this season? Who do we think will win the popular vote at the end? Are we even excited by having a popular vote? So many questions!