Finalists raise their game in a bid to be selected as ‘Operation’ leaders

Inspirational Operation Transformation leader Deirdre O’Donovan told 19 hopefuls facing the final cut yesterday she lost seven stone (about 44kg) and gained a “fantastic” lifestyle in just 12 months.

Deirdre, a young mother of two from Carrignavar, Co Cork, weighed 18st 9lbs when she was one of the six finalists for the hit RTÉ show last year.

“I want to learn how to stop emotional eating,” Deirdre declared during a poignant circle of truth session with RTÉ’s John Murray.