Mix 102.3’s Mark Soderstrom and Erin Phillips off air again

Mix 102.3 again insisted its host Mark “Soda” Soderstrom was sick and would be back Monday, meanwhile he appeared on Channel 7 news and at a Norwood cafe.

Mix 102.3 morning show host Mark Soderstrom at Surreal Eats on the Parade on March 26. Picture: Matt Turner.

Mark “Soda” Soderstrom and Erin Phillips will return to their top-rating FM Mix 102.3 breakfast radio program on Monday – but mystery still surrounds their absence from the airwaves on Thursday and Friday.

The station on Friday continued to claim Soderstrom was ill despite him presenting sport in his usual role on Channel 7 on both nights and being seen at a cafe.

Soderstrom looked a picture of health as he enjoyed a coffee with a friend on The Parade on Friday.

For the second consecutive day, the crucial breakfast timeslot was on Friday filled with music and hosted by regular anchor Shane Lowe, a former star of rival station Nova 919.

A Mix 102.3 spokeswoman doubled down on their initial statement on Friday, telling The Advertiser: “The Mix 102.3 Breakfast Show was off air on Thursday and Friday as Mark Soderstrom was unwell. ARN won’t comment further on our team members’ health but we are excited to tell you that Erin and Soda will be back on air on Monday.

“They are both looking forward to being back on air and we know their listeners are, too.”

Erin Phillips with Soda on the Mix 102.3 brekkie show.

Soderstrom and Adelaide Crows AFLW star Phillips could not comment when contacted on Friday, but station insiders said “Soda” was not ill.

“He’s not sick at all. He was on Channel 7 last night, he’ll be on it again tonight,” the insider said on Friday.

“He’s working for Seven on Sunday and is expected to commentate on the footy – the same game Erin is playing in. It would be pretty funny if he interviewed her.”

A Channel 7 spokeswoman confirmed Soderstrom would fulfil his on-air duties with the network over the weekend.

“Mark will be presenting with 7News tonight and commentating the Adelaide Crows game on 7mate on Sunday when they take on Collingwood,” she said.

7 News Adelaide presenters Jane Doyle and Mark Soderstrom on the March 25, 2021, 6pm bulletin.

The Crows also announced Phillips would train with their AFLW team on Friday night, and is expected to play in their Round 9 clash with the Magpies at Norwood Oval on Sunday – the same game that Soderstrom will commentate.

The latest controversy comes after longtime Mix 102.3 co-host Jodie Oddy abruptly left the station in November without explanation. Oddy has since refused to talk about the reasons for her departure. Another insider hinted there have been issues with new content director Richie Wright, who was appointed to the position in October, replacing Barry Keohane.

The Advertiser asked the station if Wright had anything to do with the current situation but they would not comment directly.

Phillips took over full-time from Oddy in January and helped the new-look breakfast program maintain top spot on the FM dial in the year’s first ratings survey.

Phillips and Soderstrom are behind only ABC Adelaide radio presenter Ali Clarke and FIVEaa duo David Penberthy and Will Goodings in the overall breakfast ratings.

Behind the scenes, the Mix 102.3 show is still without an executive producer after Geoff Watts moved to a new role within the station.

Watts replaced Alexis Kuchel, whose short-lived stint as executive producer last year is one of several changes to the breakfast program in recent years.

Another radio insider said the show’s executive producer role had been a “revolving door”.

“There has to be more to it,” the source said. “It’s very unusual during the survey period to have both (breakfast) presenters off air.”