Yumi axed by MixFM

Scandal-hit celebrity Yumi Stynes has been dealt another blow, with the MixFM Network announcing today it will be replacing her on the national radio program the 3pm Pick-Up with actress Jane Hall.

It rounds out a difficult few months for Stynes who, along with George Negus, made a gaffe about Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith on daytime television program The Circle. Stynes and Negus went back on air to apologise and Corporal Roberts-Smith said he accepted the apologies.

However, it has done little to ease a tough few months for Stynes, whose program The Circle was axed last month. Co-host of the 3pm Pick-Up Chrissie Swan will keep her spot on the show and will partner with Hall.

The decision to replace Stynes comes despite her being nominated for a gong at the Australian Commercial Radio Awards in the best newcomer category.

MixFM has released a statement saying Swan and Hall already shared a Melbourne breakfast timeslot and it wanted to extend that.

National content director Duncan Campbell said: ''We've been impressed by the success and the unique dynamic that Chrissie and Jane have added to the breakfast landscape in Melbourne and the transition to Jane Hall as co-host of 3pm Pick-Up means we extend that combination nationally across the Mix network.''

Swan said that Stynes was one of her closest friends but the new format would mean the show could be taped daily.

''Yumi is philosophical about it,'' she said.

''We would pre-record the show and by the time Friday rolled around the content would be 10 days old. That was because of our schedules. We need to do it daily.''

A spokeswoman for Mark Morrissey & Associates, which manages Stynes, said the presenter would take time off.

''The contract was always up in August, it's been planned towards, it's part of our strategy,'' the spokeswoman said.

''Yumi is going to go overseas and she is getting married at the end of the year and taking a well-earned break.

''We're planning things for 2013.''

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