RTE star Kathryn Thomas has told of the reason she originally turned down Operation Transformation.
The TV presenter said she was “terrified” about replacing Gerry Ryan.
The 40-year-old mother of one began hosting the hit weight loss show in 2010 after previous host Gerry passed away suddenly at the age of 53.
The Carlow native told how she only agreed to host the popular show after she got the go-ahead from the late RTE star's family, RSVP Live reports.
Speaking on the Real Health podcast with Karl Henry, Kathryn said she was "terrified" taking on the show.
She added: "I felt like I was stepping into Gerry Ryan's shoes and nobody can step into Gerry Ryan's shoes.
"Gerry had been doing the show for three years and I got a phone call from Mary Curtis, a brilliant woman who was very good to me throughout my career in RTE. She phoned me and asked me if I’d be interested in doing it.
"Straight away I said no. I said ‘That is not for me, that’s Gerry's show, how can I take this on, how can I do it?" she explained.
The TV beauty added: "She (Mary) said you need to come at it with your own personality and bring a different slant.
"I met the production team and I was and still am friends with Mick Ryan, Gerry’s brother, so I rang Mick and said ‘What do you think?’
"This was less than a year after Gerry’s passing so it was all very soon and sudden.
"He said ‘Absolutely, this is the show for you, it’s a great gig, you’re perfect for it and you’re great with people’.
"I said I’m going to it differently because I can’t do it the same. He said it to (Gerry's ex wife) Morah. Once I had their backing, it made the decision easy for me."
The official date for the new series has yet to be confirmed but like previous years, we can expect it back not long after the New Year in 2020.
