NBC has announced fifth edition of The Biggest Loser will premiere with a two-hour episode on Tuesday, January 1, just two weeks after the finale broadcast of its currently-airing fourth installment.

NBC's decision to debut The Biggest Loser 5 as primetime midseason programming represents the first time the network has aired two regular The Biggest Loser editions in the same television season.  This is most likely to due to the ongoing writers' strike.

Also for the first time in the show's history, The Biggest Loser's fifth-season contestants will compete while paired in teams with somebody they have a pre-existing relationship with (such as a family member, friend or coworker).

Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels will both return for the show's fifth edition; however Kim Lyons-- who replaced Michaels as the Red Team's trainer prior to the show's third season - will not.

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