Ali promises a Mix of news and fun ahead of debut show

With the much talked about Mix 102.3 breakfast show making it’s debut, Ali Clarke reveals how the station will lure her old ABC listeners.

After much publicity and headlines over the past few months, the brand new Mix 102.3 breakfast show is at the starting gates, ready for its first day on air on Monday.

It will be the first chance listeners get to hear Ali Clarke in her new home since her shock departure from the ABC at the end of the last year and the much-loved radio veteran is hoping to combine her love of news and current affairs with the lighter side of life.

“The idea is to give people the news and information they need to step out into their day, but also give them a lot of fun,” Ali says.

“We’ve just been through two years of the pandemic and we are heading into three elections essentially.

“I for one think people really do need to know what’s going on, but also need to take a breath because it’s just been a long two years.”

Mix 102.3 breakfast team Ali Clarke. centre, with Erin Phillips and Eddie Bannon. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Ali and her co-hosts Crows superstar ErinPhillips and comedian EddieBannon have spent the past week trialling and finessing the new show, but say there will still be many aspects of the Mix breakfast show that fans enjoy.

“There will still be some of the things people are used to hearing on Mix, but our main aim is to surprise and delight with the listeners always our number one focus,” Ali says.

The new show comes after the much talked about departure of Mark Soderstrom from Mix 102.3 following a tumultuous 2021 which saw him walk off air at one point.

Mix bosses will no doubt be hoping that Ali can drag some of the rusted-on ABC loyals over to the FM dial after she spent most of the time at her former station on top of the radio ratings.

“The invitation is there for anyone,” she says. “We don't care who you’ve been listening to in the past or what your morning routine is, we just ask you to come on over and give it a try and you’ll always be welcome in this Mix family.”

And the family is already getting close. Yesterday both Ali and Eddie headed to Norwood Oval to watch Erin’s AFLW match against Melbourne. “It basically was me spending two hours explaining to Eddie how football actually works,” Ali says.

The Ali Clarke Breakfast show starts tomorrow morning from 6am on Mix 102.3