Review: Ali Clarke’s new Mix 102.3 breakfast radio show with Erin Phillips and Eddie Bannon

Week one is done, but how is Mix’s new Ali Clarke Breakfast Show faring? And will the program really soon be renamed? Read our review and have your say.

Radio listeners and the local media industry were left stunned in December when top-rating ABC presenter Ali Clarke announced she had quit the station.

There was less surprise just over a month later when Clarke revealed she had joined FM rivals Mix 102.3, and would host a new-look breakfast show alongside Erin Phillips and Eddie Bannon.

But after a delayed start and much-anticipation, how does the revamped Ali Clarke Breakfast Show sound?

It’s only been a week, so it’s very early days, but it must be said: so far, so good.

Where once there were stilted conversations between former host Mark Soderstrom and Crows AFLW superstar Phillips, there’s a comfortable ease to the banter between the new trio.

This comes from a long friendship between Clarke and Irish comedian Bannon, while Phillips’ footy connection with Clarke’s husband Matt (the Crows’ AFLW coach) brings a natural familiarity to the on-air discussions.

Mix 102.3 breakfast team Ali Clarke (centre), with Erin Phillips and Eddie Bannon in North Adelaide. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Clarke’s no stranger to on-air trios, having been part of Triple M and Mix 102.3’s top-rating Kym, Ali and Dzelde breakfast show which ruled the airwaves during the early 2000s.

While she controls the conversation, it’s obvious she’s enjoying having a couple of co-hosts to bounce off and it’s working well thus far.

Coming from a strong, news-focused station in the ABC, it’s clear Clarke is attempting to bring a harder edge to the Mix show.

They don’t “talk down” to listeners like some FM shows do, as evidenced in an interview with Premier Steven Marshall on their first day.

Clarke didn’t hold back as she grilled the Premier and, for some, it was like she’d never left the ABC.

That’s not to say everything is perfect just a week into the new program.

The talk breaks are significantly shorter than previously, with only 2-3 minutes of conversation before anchor Shane Lowe puts on another song.

It might be their new style or just an early experiment, but it’d be nice if the hosts had a bit more time to flesh out the topics when they arise.

There was also a bit of debate on social media about why the program was called the Ali Clarke Breakfast Show, given there’s three presenters along with a popular anchor.

Clarke explained it during the week, saying: “It was just the way that they could let people know that I’ve changed and where I am. I’m pretty sure within three months we’ll change it.”

So can the Ali Clarke Breakfast Show scale the radio ratings heights?

We’ll find out next month, when the year’s first survey is expected to drop.

Have you been listening to Mix 102.3’s new show? What do you think? Tell us below.