2FM DJ Laura Fox has been announced as the new host of Ireland’s Fittest Family alongside new coach Sonia O’Sullivan.
Galway native Laura will replace Mairead Ronan on the RTE One show, while Olympic medallist Sonia will replace Anna Geary, who will be on maternity leave after welcoming her first baby.
Sonia will join fellow coaches Davy Fitzgerald, Nina Carberry and Donncha O’Callaghan on the show.
READ MORE: New RTE 2FM DJ Laura Fox wants to 'bring sexy back' to radio as she prepares for first show
Laura, who presents Laura Fox on 2FM at Weekends, said she is delighted to be presenting one of Ireland’s most popular family series, set to return to RTÉ later this year.
She said: "I’ve been a fan of Ireland’s Fittest Family for a long time, it’s such a feelgood, brilliant programme for all the family. Mairead Ronan was a fantastic presenter on the show, and I’m just delighted to be following in her footsteps.
"I can’t wait to get started working with the incredible team of coaches on the show and the super-fit families who are going to be coming our way to take part later this year. It’s a dream job for me."
Commenting on taking on her new coaching role, Sonia said: "I have always loved Ireland’s Fittest Family as it’s a positive promotion of fitness, so it makes it extra special to be joining the line-up of coaches this year.
"I’ve big shoes to keep warm for Anna Geary, but of course I’m in it to win, so Donncha, Nina and Davy… I’m here to compete and I’m very excited to get started."
Alan Tyler, Head of Entertainment Commissioning RTÉ, said: "We’re delighted to announce Laura Fox joining Ireland’s Fittest Family as presenter, whilst the legendary Sonia O’Sullivan is coming onboard as a coach for the upcoming season. Laura is a rising star with a genuine passion for the show and this is a fantastic opportunity to bring her to screen.
"Ireland’s Fittest Family is a positive celebration of fitness, focus, and family, Sonia is the perfect addition to the line-up. Whenever Sonia competes, she plans to win, so it’s bound to make for another exciting competition this year."
The announcement comes just days after Ray D’Arcy’s wife Jenny tipped her Radio 1 presenter husband to be the show’s new presenter.
Jenny told Evoke: "He'd be very good... They have actually tried to get him to do it before (to compete), but I said, ‘Are you mad?!’ Imagine!’"
In April, former show host Mairead shocked fans when she sensationally announced she was quitting the show after 10 years.
She said on her podcast with Jenny, Jenny and Mairead Now: "I am no longer the host of Ireland’s Fittest Family.
"I did it in early February. I got the call to say, ‘It’s back on this year, series 11 and we’ll meet up and we’ll do the chats and talk about that new contract.’ And all that kind of stuff that you have to talk about.
"I was like ‘cool’, and then I met them and I said ‘I’m not going to go back.’ I've been thinking about it since I filmed the final episode last year. I have been thinking about it loads and loads and loads.
"I’ve been there from year one to year 10, I've watched it go from this little, small home-grown format in Ireland to this pillar in the RTÉ schedule.
"But I've done it and there’s no more I can do and I just would love to do something else, I would love a different challenge," she said.
"Having stepped away from the radio, then I enjoyed the change and I'd love a change in this area too.
"It's funny because some of the lines and some of the things I said to the bosses of the show the day I gave them the news, I then heard Ryan Tubridy saying about a month later on the radio. Like, I know when it’s time to leave the party and I’ve gone home in the taxi.
"And the funny thing is, I have said I always know when to leave a relationship. I always know when to leave a party and I always know when to leave a job.
"And this is the right time for me to leave this job, it just is. But I've loved working with them. I've worked with that gang for 12 years. They’re like my telly family."
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