Former ABC Adelaide radio host Stacey Lee talks about the reasons behind her move to FIVEaa’s afternoons shift

A former ABC breakfast radio host says she won’t hold back when she takes control of her new FIVEaa gig in the new year.

Former ABC Adelaide radio host Stacey Lee isn’t afraid to speak her mind Picture: Supplied

Former ABC radio host Stacey Lee is excited about the freedom to voice more opinions as she takes on a new role at rival station FIVEaa.

The Adelaide media personality announced last month she was quitting ABC’s breakfast show after two years, and making a high-profile switch to FIVEaa’s afternoons shift in 2024.

Lee defended her ratings record at the national broadcaster – after ABC’s radio boss claimed the station wanted to be “more competitive” in the timeslot – and told The Sunday Mail she was thrilled to be in charge of her new solo program, which will launch in mid-January.

“Every job has limitations. I’m excited for a little bit more freedom moving forward,” Lee said of her former role.

“I had a news and opinion show on Sky News before I started at the ABC and I used to have a weekly Advertiser column too so I’m not afraid to speak my mind.

“Now I have the opportunity to voice some of those opinions again, it’s been a while so I have a lot to say.

“I can also be more creative, the way I want to shape interviews and the people I want to talk to. And I want to have a bit more fun.”

Stacey Lee’s new solo program, the FIVEaa’s afternoons shift, will launch in mid-January Picture: Supplied

Earlier this month, ABC’s head of audio content Ben Latimer told The Sunday Mail that while they were surprised by Lee’s decision to move networks, they had planned to change the breakfast program anyway due to falling ratings.

But Lee said she and co-host Nikolai Beilharz had presided over ABC’s highest rating breakfast show nationally, and there had been no discussion about switching timeslots.

“We won quite a few surveys, we won six of eight in the first year so for me, I’m pretty proud of that. In the second year, we didn’t win as many but I think we did really important journalism,” said Lee, noting the duo won a Press Club SA award prize for their coverage of the state election.

“Not that it’s about awards or ratings, but that’s the only way you get constant feedback, finding out what people really think and what they really listen to.”

The decision to move stations was “business, not personal”, said Lee, but admitted she’d have liked to explain herself to her listeners.

“I’m totally happy and settled with my decision but that was the one thing to me that is a shame,” she said.

“I would have liked to be able to tell people. I would have liked the opportunity to say thank you for having me on your radio for the last couple of years and I’ve been offered something else and I’m taking up another opportunity … but I get it, that’s the way things are.”

Stacey Lee and Nikolai Beilharz. Picture: Supplied by ABC

Now Lee will line up against Beilharz in the afternoons shift, with her former co-host taking over the same timeslot at the ABC.

“It’s quite funny. But I’m not competing with Nikolai, I’m just doing a different job at a different station and it just happens to be at the same time,” she said.

“I think it’s quite poetic that we’ll still be talking at the same time on radio, just on different frequencies.”

And it’s going to be the same friendly and forthright Lee, whether it’s grilling politicians or talking to callers on-air.

“I am who I am. I don’t think I’ll change who I am at all from being on ABC to being on FIVEaa. I love to have fun, I love a good pun, I love a good chat,” she said.

“I also love politics and the politicians aren’t going to be getting off the hook just because I’m on a different station. They can expect I’ll ask the questions that Adelaide expects me to ask.”