D-Day for Ajay
After pleading guilty to welfare fraud, Biggest Loser host Ajay Rochester returns to court today.
- Published by David Knox
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Biggest Loser host Ajay Rochester returns to Downing Centre Court today to learn the outcome of a fraud case which made headlines as far back as June last year.
After pleading guilty to 23 counts of receiving the single-parent payment from Centrelink between 2002 and 2005 when not eligible, the host had previously denied the allegations.
She will be sentenced today.
Last week it was reported Rochester had gathereded “celebrity witnesses” including E.T’s. (Entertainment Tonight) Leeza Gibbons and ‘aspiring singer’ Chantelle Delaney.
In recent weeks Rochester’s name hasn’t been visible on promotional material for Network TEN whenever The Biggest Loser has rated a mention. In its announcement of the show’s return, only Shannan Ponton and Michelle Bridges were named.
Even on Sunday’s Press Release for its MasterChef Australia cast said, “TEN has been proud to create household names such as Ian ‘Dicko’ Dickson, Jason Coleman, Bonnie Lythgoe, Matt Lee, Shannan Ponton and Michelle Bridges in the past and, with these new faces, MasterChef Australia is set to continue this tradition.”
Last year TV Tonight specifically quizzed TEN and FremantleMedia on Rochester’s continuation in the hosting role. Both emphatically assured she would be back.
By now the show would have episodes in the can, making things very interesting….
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- Tagged with E.T., MasterChef Australia, The Biggest Loser
8 Responses
I hope she cops a big fine and lots of community service. A non celebrity would be dealt with more harshly.
@Burt – AJ was hired because she is a weight loss winner, having previously lost a lot of weight. No one wants a host who is just a pretty face and is genetically blessed. We want normal ‘flawed’ people, just not criminals.
They should get that guy…I think his name was the “commando” who was on the BL last year and trained the black team. Hes fit and sexy and ties in nicely with BL! No more nice hosts…
If Ten have to get a new celeb host for TBL, maybe they can get someone
who’s actually fit, exercises and is slim.
Agreed Dan. Jackie-0 could kill a cactus I reckon.
This is another case of a high profile person being used to send a message to anyone in the general public who is trying the same thing. Rowena Wallace was a similar case. Geln Wheatley another.
I thought I had read somewhere that she had repaid the money. As did Glenn – but it didn’t stop them going for blood. But one case like this, every year or two, probably save them big dollars elsewhere as a deterrent.
A custodial sentence has never been seriously touted – fines, good behaviour, community service, suspended sentence – are much more likely outcomes.
If she is banged up please channel 10 do not make Jackie O the new host otherwise the only good reality program you have left will get the kiss of death
There’s never any question of Jail time.
They want the money back, which they’ll get, with interest.
She’ll get off lightly….she’s a “celebrity”, plus she has a son who may not have anywhere else to go if his mum goes to jail….