Hayley Lewis insists The Biggest Loser is not a sham in awkward interview on Today

KARL and Lisa were digging for dirt on The Biggest Loser this morning, but former host Hayley Lewis was not having a bar of it.

The Today Show’s interview with Hayley Lewis this morning has set a new benchmark for live TV awkwardness.

The interview was promoted all morning as the former Biggest Loser host lifting the lid on the popular reality series being a “hoax” that gives unrealistic advice to contestants about losing weight.

Sounds like a cracking interview ... except that’s not what Lewis thinks at all.

“Olympian and former Biggest Loser host Hayley Lewis says the show gives unrealistic advice about how weight loss should be achieved,” Today co-host Karl Stefanovic said at the start of the segment.

Co-host Lisa Wilkinson crossed to Lewis in Brisbane with this question: “So tell us — is The Biggest Loser unrealistic?”

Not great research ... Karl and Lisa thought they were doing an interview about The Biggest Loser being a scam. But that’s not that Hayley Lewis thinks.

Um, no, was Lewis’s response.

“I don’t think so. I’ve actually never said that, Lisa. I think The Biggest Loser is very realistic,” Lewis said.

She conceded it was not for everyone — after all, thousands of overweight Australians audition every year and only 16 make it on to the show. But that was the extent of her criticism.

“Even though I’m not the host anymore, I’m still a big believer in the show, I’ll still watch the show, I love the show,” she said.

“I’ve never said anything negative about The Biggest Loser. And I won’t.”

In an attempt to salvage the segment, Wilksinson asked about a recent US contestant who appeared to suffer anorexia at the end of her Biggest Loser journey. What did Lewis think about that, she asked.

“I think our trainers (and) the producers of the show monitor that very closely. The fact that that’s never happened in Australia, I think, is a great thing,” Lewis said.

But what about all the contestants who go home and put the weight back on? Isn’t that The Biggest Loser’s fault, Wilkinson asked?

“I certainly know for me, Lisa, that maintaining my weight is hard. It’s a lifelong battle. So I don’t think the show can be blamed for something like that,” Lewis replied.

Shut down.

Supporter ... Hayley Lewis was not going to bag her former employer on national TV.

Viewers thought the five-minute interview was downright bizarre and criticised the show for trying to catch Lewis out with a gotcha moment.

Great to see Hayley Lewis slam both @karlstefanovic and @Lisa_Wilkinson on the @TheTodayShow for trying to dig dirt on the Biggest Loser

— Ashley Evans (@AshEvans24) August 9, 2015

Really tacky @TheTodayShow - trying to smash the biggest loser but Hayley Lewis ain’t buckling. She’s all class. You’re not.

— Jason Olsson-Seeto (@jos70) August 9, 2015

Karl and Lisa just tried 10 different ways to get Hayley Lewis to say The Biggest Loser is bad and she wouldn't bite once

— Jenna Guillaume (@JennaGuillaume) August 9, 2015

Very strange interview with Hayley Lewis this morning @TheTodayShow Spruiking another weight loss 'solution'. Here's one - EAT LESS CRAP

— Mattie (@PrincessMattie1) August 9, 2015

@TheTodayShow awkward interview with Hayley Lewis. I thought you guys were better than this? #keepitreal

— Kate (@katelouise67) August 9, 2015