Viewers were frustrated by the winners of the thrilling celebrity edition of Ireland’s Fittest Family.
The hit RTE show returned to Irish screens for the final time in 2021, as the Happy Pear brothers, David and Stephen Flynn won €10,000 for their chosen charity Hometree which is ‘all about reforesting Ireland’.
The brothers were up against model Grainne Gallanagh and her family who competed for Alone Donegal, comedian Neil Delamore’s family who chose The Alzheimer Society of Ireland and comic Sinead Quinlan who competed for the Cork Simon Community.
No family went home empty handed as each team won €1,000 each for their chosen charities in the Christmas special.
Some viewers weren’t pleased the ecosystem charity won the prize money over the other charities, with one Twitter user writing ‘€10,000 going to the Trees #irelandsfittestfamily.’
Another viewer said: ‘Ah come here I’m all for charity but €10000 for trees give me a break and loads of charities out there looking for help.’
One viewer was happy for the brothers but wasn’t impressed by the charity, writing: ‘Fair play to the happy pears and all but wished the money wasnt off to some plants.’
Not every viewer was angered by the brother’s win, one viewer said: ‘Well done the vegans!’
2fm presenter Donncha O’Callaghan was praised for coaching the brother’s to the win on the special.
Good man @docallaghan4, never in doubt,Davey can’t catch a break at all Rolling on the floor laughing Love this show #IrelandsFittestFamily,’ one viewer wrote.
The celebrities faced a series of challenges, including a trek through a bog, in the action packed episode. Former Miss Universe Ireland Grainne Gallanagh said that she was ‘traumatised’ after participating in the show.
‘It was not just a laugh, of course it was fun, but it was competitive, it was hard and the real challenges they face on fittest families and as soon as we knew what the first challenge was, I was like, “Oh my God, no”
I was still like it is going to be fine, I really didn’t realise how difficult it was going to be’, she said.
‘It was kind of literally about 10 seconds into the first challenge I thought, “Oh no, I know I’ve messed up here”‘.
The regular version Ireland’s Fittest Family was won by the Kinsella family in a thrilling finale with fans eagerly awaiting the next season of the show.
