The Biggest Loser: just don’t call it ‘Arafat’

Whatever you do, don’t call it ‘Arafat.’

And please remember that Ararat is “one of” the most overweight communities in Australia -not the fattest town in the country.

That’s the take-home message from The Biggest Loser‘s ninth season, coming soon to TEN.

Ararat is hoping to market itself through The Biggest Loser: Challenge Australia, and the promos for the Shine series certainly look good. Prior to the show filming, 68% of its adult population were overweight or obese.

However, TEN is delicately hoping the wording used by media won’t offend the locals, with a publicity request that Ararat is not to be referred to as the fattest town in the land. News Corp has previously reported it is Victoria’s fattest town.

But trainer Shannan Ponton told must not have heard the memo when he told Wake Up last month, “We’re training Australia’s fattest town.”

Meanwhile Ararat Rural City Council held a meeting on Friday after TEN execs advised them the 11 week series would be launching soon.

Ararat Rural City Mayor, Cr Paul Hooper told the Ararat Advertiser, “It is starting early in the new year and they are starting to tease us with some shorts now, which is very exciting.

“It is going to air a bit sooner than we anticipated it would. We called this special meeting because with the new information we need to act now to fully capitalise.”

Preparations are in full swing for a marketing campaign to be launched but the Council has had to drop plans for TV advertising during series at ‘$50,000 to $1,000,000 per advertisement.’

Council manager community development and client services, Angela Hunt, instead outlined ‘Challenge Ararat’ community activities, online promotion, and information on healthy living.

“We are also looking to run an event on the first airing day which will be a large screening where the community can come and watch that first episode together,” she said.

TEN is also looking to sponsor a local billboard on the Western Highway.

“The billboard…out at the old airport, Channel TEN are keen to get their hands on and it will be great exposure for the 6000-odd vehicles that go past on that road each day,” Cr Hooper said.

“We will be aiming to get all of this happening by mid-January, but given the Christmas break I don’t know if that is realistic.”

The series finished filming several weeks ago.