Laga'aia to leave Home And Away

Home And Away star Jay Laga'aia is to bid farewell to Summer Bay, amid controversy over his departure.

The 48-year-old Samoan actor, who made his debut on the Australian soap in 2010 as good guy Rev Elijah Johnson and returned last March, took to his Twitter to voice his feelings about his upcoming exit.

"As someone who lost his job on H&A because they couldn't write two ethnics that weren't together, I'd like the chance to ply my trade freely," he wrote.

It is thought the 'two ethnics' Jay refers to are his character and Leah (played by Greek Cypriot-born actress Ada Nicodemou), who dated but later split up.

The actor, who has appeared in Star Wars Episode II: Attack Of The Clones and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith, later posted: "I think commercial TV should take a leaf out of children's TV in this country. We are a rainbow nation in kids TV. No tokens here."

Australian broadcaster Channel 7 strongly denied Jay's claim that he was sacked and that Home And Away was racist, insisting that his contract ended because his character's storyline "reached a natural conclusion".

"Jay's comments are offensive. We have great regard for Jay and his work on Home And Away during the last two years," a spokesman told Australia's Herald Sun.

"It is insulting to suggest that Home and Away is racist. His character's storyline reached a natural conclusion," they added.

Details of Elijah's exit storyline are being kept under wraps, but his final scenes are due to air in Australia in April.