Bob Harper will be wearing two hats, figuratively speaking, when The Biggest Loser returns for its upcoming 17th season. As announced by NBC on Tuesday, Sept. 8, the veteran trainer is replacing Alison Sweeney as host of the weight-loss competition.
"I'm super excited about taking the position of host on The Biggest Loser," Harper, 50, said in a press release about the news. "I've been with the show since Season 1, so I know all of the ins and outs, and let me tell you, the weigh-in room is going to be a completely different ballgame with me at the steering wheel."
According to the release, Harper will still "offer his training expertise to contestants at various points throughout the season," but he'll also be guiding them "through all weigh-ins, challenges, and temptations." Returning stars Dolvett Quince and Jennifer Widerstrom will be the primary trainers.
The news comes after Sweeney's announcement last month that she would not be returning to the franchise for the upcoming cycle. The Days of Our Lives actress, 38, joined the show before 2007's Season 4, and has led 13 groups of contestants since then.
Harper, meanwhile, started as a trainer on The Biggest Loser back in 2004. He is the only person who has been with series since its debut.
