January 29th, 2010
Talk about cutting out the fat.
Australia’s version of The Biggest Loser, which begins its fifth season this weekend, was forced to edit out one contestant, after police allegedly found child pornography in his home.
Deryck James Ward, a 26-year-old communications specialist, was charged earlier this month after Queensland police reportedly made the discovery, according to the Courier Mail.
He was competing on the weight-loss show along with his sister, both of whom had already been eliminated from the show before the charges surfaced.
However, Network Ten and FremantleMedia Australia took the extra step to edit out both contestants, airing the series as if they had never been a part of the show.
The two were the second pair eliminated from the competition, which has reportedly been filming in Sydney for several months. The series has since been re-edited to follow nine teams instead of 10, according to the Courier Mail.
“Given the seriousness of these charges and that this matter is to be resolved in the courts, the network decided it will not broadcast any episode in which Mr. Ward would have appeared,” a Ten spokeswoman told the Courier Mail.
Along with the charge for possessing child pornography, Ward received one count of using the Internet to access images of child exploitation, the Australian news outlet reports.
Tags: the biggest loser australia