Australia needs to lighten up and take The Shire for what it is - entertainment, says Tegan Rogers, who appears for the first time in tonight's episode.
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Rogers, who was in Canberra to shoot a music video with her band Atlantis Awaits can't understand the backlash over the show and hopes that as the season progresses people will start to see the funny side.
''I haven't been on the show yet, so I haven't copped much of the brunt. But, you know what, I think that people are taking it too seriously. It wasn't meant to be a life-changing show … in some cases I have found some of the reactions quite disgusting and embarrassing,'' she said.
On tonight's show the audience will be introduced to new characters including Rogers.
''I think if people give it another chance, and meet the new cast members … you'll love some cast members and you'll hate others, you're never going to like everyone in any show.''
Rogers is the frontwoman of Atlantis Awaits and is happy the band is coming on the show with her.
''My music career and my work with the band is a really serious ambition for us … It's exposure for who we are, which is nice because not many bands get that, and to be able to be exactly who we are, that's fun for us,'' she said.
The Canberra band hopes to release its album at the end of this year.
Rogers tries to get to Canberra whenever she can but the boys don't mind coming up to stay in her beachfront apartment in the shire.
When the band was looking for a new frontwoman Rogers was asked.
''Their old singer left and then they contacted me over the web at first.
''I wasn't going to respond because I had never done anything like this before …
''I'm so glad I decided to meet up with them, because it's been a ball. It's the best thing I've ever done,'' she said.
And it means she can let out her wild side. ''In my everyday life I am a nanna. For me, this is my alter ego, I can let loose.''
When asked whether she is worried about how the band will be portrayed, she said: ''They are crazy and however they portrayed it's probably how they are, we are who we are. All our involvement in the show is very light hearted.''
Rogers isn't worried about how she may appear either. ''However, the public chooses to perceive that, it's up to them. If they chose to be enraged by it, then by all means waste your energy by being enraged by it.
''But for us it's just a part of our life and we enjoy it,'' she said.
■ The Shire is on Channel 10 at 8 pm.
