Dubs get off the couch in new TV series

THREE Dubliners, including two Southsiders, are to feature in a new TV series that will follow them as they attempt to turn their lives around by taking on major personal challenges.

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‘Get Off The Couch!’ the new six-part series airs every Thursday on Setanta Ireland from October 24 at 10pm.

The series follows six people including Joseph Grey from Harold’s Cross, Damien McElligott from Ballyfermot and Karen Bowers from Swords as they are guided by Ireland’s top athletes such as Katie Taylor, Sonia O’Sullivan and Pat Falvey in their bid to better themselves.

Teena Gates, 98FM’s head of news, who presents the show, has in the past few years overcome her own personal challenges.

Teena went from 23 stone, where she found everyday simple activities like walking to be painful, to climbing to Everest base camp.

Today Teena enjoys a range of activities from kayaking and hiking to abseiling and brings that enthusiasm forward to encourage the six participants as they battle to achieve their goals and get healthy again.

The show charts their remarkable progress as they get off the couch and go sea swimming with long distance swimmer Fergal Somerville, raft down the Liffey with Ciaran

‘Kipper’ Maguire, and climb Ireland’s highest mountain Carrantuohill with Pat Falvey.

However, each participant must conquer some mental challenges as well as the physical in their bid to succeed in getting out of their living rooms and into the great outdoors.

McElligott (37), from Ballyfermot, is an unemployed chain smoking father-of-five with a debilitating fear of heights. He hopes to overcome that fear by abseiling in Dalkey quarry and climbing mountains. He also uses the motivation of his children and not wanting to end up like his friend who passed away at Christmas.

“I’m hoping to see a fitter, thinner, happier, non-smoking Damien,

? he remarks in the show.

Joe Grey (23) is a natural born athlete who has struggled to fulfill his potential of becoming a top sportsperson through having an appalling addiction to junk food and cigarettes.

These issues combined with the aimlessness that saw him drop out of four different college courses made him want to change and be able to provide for his girlfriend.

“I want to do something, change, completely change from what I’m doing now, because what I’m doing now I really don’t like,

? he admits.

Meanwhile, Karen Bowers (33), a mother-of-three from Swords attempts to juggle her own business with three children while striving to complete an outdoor swim event at Lough Sheelin.

Karen aspires to take up activities that she can do with her family, stating that

“at the end of the day work isn’t everything, your family is what’s important

?.