Ajay Rochester slams Nine for 'Excess Baggage' axe

Ajay Rochester has slammed Channel Nine for axing Excess Baggage.

The Australian television host, who is taking part in the weight loss reality TV series alongside other celebrities such as Darryn Lyons and Kevin Federline, said that the network should be ashamed for passing them over to digital channel Go! after only two weeks of poor ratings.

Rochester wrote on her Finding my Mojo website: "Come on Channel Nine, have some faith. Excess Baggage is a grower not a shower! Don't flick us off onto another channel in the first week without standing behind the product you sell. Shame on you!

"This is a great show and has the ability to change people's lives for the better forever! It gives real life solutions to healing your life! You want to heal your life, watch our show!"

Rochester acknowledged that her rant could result in her "not ever being employed by Channel Nine again", but continued: "You should have done what you expected all of us to do, which is to dig deep and fight. Have a little faith."

Despite Nine bosses recently stating that they wanted to "dominate" the 7pm timeslot in 2012, their director of programming Andrew Blackwell said of Excess Baggage: "Unfortunately, the show has performed below expectations, so it is a move we believe will provide the best possible audience."

Rochester was previously sacked from her role as the host of the Ten Network's rival weight loss show The Biggest Loser after her involvement in a welfare fraud scandal.

From next week, Excess Baggage will screen at 6.30pm from Mondays to Thursdays on Go!

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