Jason ‘Jase’ Hawkins and Lauren Phillips will go head-to-head with rivals Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O’ Henderson simply months after the KIIS FM duo hosts have been introduced as their shock replacements.
The Melbourne-based pair have been collateral harm within the monster $200 million contract supplied to Sandilands and Henderson that noticed the pair’s KIIS FM present broaden into Melbourne for the primary time, at the price of Hawkins and Phillips’ personal breakfast present.
After being unexpectedly pressured off the air by KIIS-FM bosses in November final yr, Hawkins and Phillips have now been introduced because the hosts of rival Nova 100’s new breakfast present, Jase & Lauren, in Melbourne.
Regardless of being made redundant on the time, Hawkins and Phillips had been having fun with report scores, and the pair at the moment are eager to hold that success into 2024 with their new present and with a brand new station.
“I’m rapt to have a job once more,” joked Hawkins. “I’m much more over the moon that we get to hitch Nova. My complete profession, I’ve at all times wished to be part of this community, it’s the proper match for Loz and I.
“So, I’m sorry Nova, we’re by no means leaving. Melbourne, we’re again! So be part of us and are available over to Nova.”
The pair was left devastated after being informed simply hours earlier than occurring air in November that their KIIS FM present was being axed to make room for The Kyle and Jackie O Present.
A teary Phillips broke the information to listeners on the time, saying that they “didn’t have a selection” and that it “actually was not the best way we wished to bow out”.
Regardless of the sudden time off-air, Phillips managed to profit from the state of affairs however she’s excited to get again to doing what she does finest.
“I’ve made essentially the most of getting a number of months off, however my plans of changing into knowledgeable canine walker at the moment are on maintain,” teased the presenter. “I’m so able to get again to work with Jase right here in Melbourne.”
Brendan Taylor, group programming director for the Nova Community mentioned “Lauren and Jase are world-class radio broadcasters and their monitor report speaks for itself”.
“As hosts of the second-highest ranking present in Melbourne, we knew their mix of humour, honesty and chemistry would really feel proper at residence on the Nova community,” he mentioned.
“We needed to pursue this chance and never let a fantastic group disappear from the airways. The timing was proper they usually’re such a pure match for us. We are able to’t wait to welcome them to the Nova household.”
Nova 100’s present breakfast present group, Ben, Liam & Belle, will host a brand new nationwide present, Late Drive, from 6pm to 8pm weekdays.
The trio mentioned “internet hosting a nationwide present collectively is a dream. We’re pumped that we’ll have the ability to join with much more listeners across the nation.”
Sandilands and Hawkins have had a tense rivalry in current months, which may make for fairly the scores battle.
Sandilands hit out at Hawkins on-air in October, calling him “a canine”. The controversial radio presenter’s outburst got here after Hawkins had days earlier claimed the shock jock was a stoner.
The 2 males shared a home within the early 2000s after Hawkins made the transfer from Triple M in Brisbane to 2DayFM in Sydney, the place Sandilands introduced him over to the community to reply calls and be this system’s stunt man, “Labrat”.
Nevertheless, following their axe from KIIS-FM, Hawkins did verify he had spoken privately with Sandilands.
“I mentioned, ‘You guys are very fortunate to have the folks we have now listening to this present’,” Hawkins mentioned. “We now have had simply an absolute ball the final couple of years.”
Nova additionally introduced that it will introduce a brand new reside and native workday slot from 9am-2pm.
The brand new slot will likely be hosted by Mel Tracina in Melbourne, Adam Value in Sydney, Daniel Cassin in Adelaide, Maddy Rowe in Brisbane and Ross Wallman in Perth.
In the meantime, KIIS FM was pressured to play a prerecorded episode of the Kyle and Jackie O Present final week after the shock jock suffered a nasty tumble shortly earlier than he was set to go reside on-air.