ABC Radio Adelaide Breakfast presenter Ali Clarke quits the station but staff say there are no conspiracies

There are “no conspiracies” behind radio presenter Ali Clarke’s decision to quit the ABC – and colleagues are still in the dark about her reasons, says Spence Denny.

There are “no conspiracies” behind Ali Clarke’s decision to leave the ABC, and colleagues still don’t know the reasons why she resigned.

The Advertiser revealed the top-rating breakfast host’s decision to resign on Saturday, and on Monday morning her colleague, Spence Denny, addressed her leaving on air.

“We’ve had a number of texts through this morning from people really saddened with Ali’s decision to leave the station,” Denny said.

“And that was, I can assure you, entirely her decision. She came in on Friday and she made the announcement.”

He said Ali had been an important part of the station, but to suggest there was a conspiracy behind her leaving was “unfair”.

“She hasn’t let us know what her intentions are … the only person who knows is Ali, and if she’s dealing with someone else, fine, but it may just be a case she wants to spend time with family as well, because she does have three young children she’s obviously passionate about,” he said.

“We are going to miss Ali, I can promise you that, and I know you are going to miss Ali, but there’s no conspiracies here, she made a decision to leave the station, and we wish her all the best in the future.”

Clarke, whose final show on the station was December 3, told the Sunday Mail it was a difficult decision.

“It was heart wrenching to tell my producers Luke Franklin and Eliza Kirsch and very upsetting because the job has been such an important part of my life and I have loved every challenge and minute of it,” Clarke said.

“The team work extremely hard and we’ve been rewarded with success in the ratings,” she said.

Ali Clarke in the ABC studio with David Bevan during her morning radio show. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

“But ultimately, I have a daughter starting high school next year and the kids are getting older which brings different challenges.

“Plus (husband) Matt (Clarke) is the head coach of an AFLW side so it’s a lot to juggle and we need to find the best fit for everybody, so if it’s right for them, it’s right for me.”

The move comes after speculations that Mix were sounding Clarke out for a move back to the FM dial to join the troubled Mix 102.3 breakfast show, but Clarke wouldn’t be drawn into the whispers nor would she confirm her next move.

“My immediate focus is having some time off and time away and I will look forward to whatever comes next,” Clarke said, adding that the move to the AM dial did come with its unique challenges.

ABC radio Breakfast host David Bevan with Ali Clarke – the pair co-hosted a segment of the show every day. Picture: Malcolm Sutton

“I always say that going to AM from FM is like telling a netballer to play basketball because the ball is round but it’s a totally different set of skills,” said Clarke.

“I had always worked with an on-air team and this was the first time I was doing it by myself which was really challenging.

“When I spoke to (co-host) David Bevan on Friday he said ‘I get how lonely it can be behind the mic by yourself sometimes’. But the listeners become your co-host in AM, and my one regret is that I haven’t been able to say goodbye to them on air”.

Rumours of a radio shake up first swirled a year ago when the Sunday Mail reported that Mix were eager to replace former host Jodie Oddy with Clarke when she left the station.

ABC radio Breakfast presenter Ali Clarke. Photo: Mike Burton

Clarke’s name hit the headlines once again last week when she was tipped to take over current Mix breakfast host and Crows AFLW superstar Erin Phillips.
It is understood that Phillips and her co-host Mark Soderstrom are both still contracted to Mix for 2022, but it’s been a bumpy 2021.

Earlier this year the pair walked off air for more than a week after a rumoured dispute with management. It is understood that in recent weeks several producers of the Mix breakfast show have also been let go.

A spokesman for Mix 102.3 said the station had no changes to announce.

ABC’s radio manager Graeme Bennett said the station was “disappointed with Ali’s decision” but “wished her well in her career outside the ABC family”.

“She’s been a great contributor especially over the past two years as we’ve worked so hard to serve the South Australian community throughout the pandemic ABC Radio Adelaide is more than a single person or program and we know the next version of our very successful Breakfast program will be as trusted and valued as it has always been. We will announce Ali’s replacement early in the new year.”