A pair of familiar faces will be among those trying their best to avoid temptation on the upcoming 17th season of NBC’s The Biggest Loser.
The season’s list of contestants was revealed on Tuesday, Dec. 1, and includes Survivor Season 1 winner Richard Hatch and The Voice Season 2 finalist Erin Willett. The new batch of episodes, premiering Monday, Jan. 4, center on the “Temptation” theme, which involves such real-life indulgences as not only food but also shopping and using electronic devices.
Hatch, 54, knows a thing or two about facing off against opponents, thanks to his two seasons on CBS’ Survivor and one season on NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice. However, he tells Us Weekly that he doesn’t plan to spend too much time dwelling on strategy during his latest reality-show venture.
“This isn’t me competing against any of them,” Hatch says. “Whoever loses the least amount of weight has done that themselves. I’m not involved, so my whole experience is focused on being above that goddamn line [for weight lost], that’s it.”
Hatch, who was released from prison in 2009 after serving a 51-month sentence for tax evasion, was known on Survivor for his lack of clothing, and Biggest Loser viewers shouldn’t expect that to change.
“Yes, I’m naked here, too, all the time,” he admits about the weight-loss show, pointing out that he doesn’t consider himself an exhibitionist. “It’s just not an issue for me. If it’s an issue for someone else, please tell me. I’ve asked them, ‘Does this bother you?’ That kind of thing. And people say no.”
Hatch hopes that his carefree attitude toward showing skin will encourage some of his more inhibited fellow contestants to not worry about what others think of their bodies.
“We know we’re fat, for Christ’s sake — it’s not a secret,” the reality star says. “Many of us, I don’t think, are interested in hiding it, and the makeup, and the covering clothes… I think that’s just stupid.”
The Biggest Loser‘s Season 17 premiere airs Monday, Jan. 4, at 9 p.m. ET on NBC.
