Nova’s Ben Harvey, Liam Stapleton and Belle Jackson on their move to a national drivetime show

SA’s Nova radio star trio have admitted it was a ‘surprise’ to lose their Melbourne breakfast show, but it might have been a blessing in disguise.

There’s no denying losing their Melbourne breakfast radio show after just one year came as a “bit of a shock” to Nova’s Ben Harvey, Liam Stapleton and Belle Jackson.

But the Adelaide trio say they couldn’t be happier with the freedom of their new national drivetime program, with incoming duo Lauren Phillips and Jason Hawkins given the huge task of taking down the Kyle and Jackie O early morning juggernaut.

Three weeks after switching to a 6-8pm weekday shift, Harvey said it feels like the shackles have been released and they can be themselves on the ‘Late Drive’.

“It just kind of feels like the right fit for us,” he said.

“With breakfast comes a lot of restraints. There’s a lot of information and news stories and it does weigh the show down because that’s the kind of show you have to do.

“I think this new timeslot has allowed our show to be more what they (Nova bosses) wanted it to be, which is more of us just talking and being ourselves, which is nice.”

But Stapleton admitted they weren’t really expecting to switch shifts so soon.

“It was a bit of a surprise. At the start it was a bit of a shock but we completely see their reasoning and we’re really happy with Nova’s decision and the show they’ve made for us,” he said.

“Doing breakfast for all these years... we were always jealous of the drive timeslot.”

Nova's national drive trio Ben, Liam and Belle. Pics: Supplied.

Harvey and Stapleton made their name as Triple J breakfast hosts before heading back home to front Nova Adelaide’s early morning show in 2020.

The top-rating duo added longtime producer Belle Jackson as they moved to Melbourne at the start of 2023, replacing outgoing trio Chrissie Swan, Jonathan Brown and Sam Pang in the high-profile shift.

“Moving to Melbourne, it’s all exciting and new, but you also are living in the city for the first time and you’re trying to find your way around that. That’s why it sometimes takes a little longer to really find out what the city is talking about and what gets them ticking,” Stapleton said.

“Now in drive, it’s just about human experience, or life experience – it’s got to be relevant to someone in Perth, Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide, as well as Melbourne.”

Jackson described the change to drivetime as a “blessing”.

Jase Hawkins and Lauren Phillips in the Nova studio.

“It just makes sense to have a fantastic duo like Jase and Lauren up against Kyle and Jackie O and not – while we try our best – but not some kids from Adelaide trying to take down Kyle and Jackie O,” she said.

“Jase and Lauren are doing such an incredible job and then we get to wake up late and talk about whatever we want later in the day. It really has been a blessing for us.”

The trio are now all happily settled in Melbourne, though they make regular visits back home to Adelaide.

Stapleton wed longtime partner Sarah Crisanti in an intimate Adelaide Hills ceremony just before Christmas. The couple said ‘I Do’ at Mount Barker’s Mandalay House & Garden, two years after the couple announced their engagement.

In August, Harvey welcomed his first child Freddie James with wife Samantha Wallace.

But they haven’t ruled out a return home sometime down the track.

“Maybe some day we’ll be doing drive from Adelaide, that’d be nice,” said Stapleton.

“I think honestly that is probably the dream – that’s probably been the dream from the start.”

‘Late Drive’ with Ben, Liam & Belle is live across Australia from 6-8pm on Nova.