Andrew ‘Cosi’ Costello responds to being dumped by SAFM

Media personality Andrew ‘Cosi’ Costello has spoken out after being dumped by SAFM’s breakfast show – again. And he’s promising a comeback.

Media personality Andrew ‘Cosi’ Costello says he will “definitely” return to radio airwaves after being dumped from SAFM’s breakfast show – again.

Costello was told Friday morning that he was to leave the program, effective immediately. His co-hosts, Rebecca Morse and Anthony ‘Lehmo’ Lehmann, will continue until the end of November before the show breaks for summer.

It’s not the first time SAFM has given Costello the flick. The station, which gave Costello his start in media 23 years ago, dropped Costello from the plum breakfast gig in 2010, when he was presenting with Amber Petty, Dave ‘Rabbit’ Rabbetts and Dale ‘Louie’ Lewis.

Andrew ‘Cosi’ Costello, centre, has been dumped from SAFM’s breakfast show with Rebecca Morse and Anthony Lehmann.

“Eleven years ago … they sat me down and they sacked me,” Costello said. “I was mortified. I walked out onto Greenhill Rd and just bawled my eyes out.

“I said, OK, I’ll never get in that position again; I’ll never fall victim to a station dictating my future like that.

“Fast forward to yesterday and they’ve done it again, but I’m not sad this time. Because I’ve got so much else going on.”

Costello launched his successful local travel show, South Aussie with Cosi, in 2011, which last year switched networks from Channel 9 to Seven.

He also runs two charities, Cows for Cambodia and Cows for Botswana, and on Sunday launches a coffee-table book, Top 100 Places to Visit in SA, available from southaussiewithcosi.com.au.

“I’m super glad I’ve created that environment where I can walk out of SAFM and go, all right, it doesn’t really matter. I’m disappointed, but I’m not sad. They were four great years of employment.”

Costello said he wasn’t given a reason for his sacking.

Former SAFM breakfast radio team Dave "Rabbit" Rabbetts, Amber Petty, Dale "Louie" Lewis and Andrew "Cosi" Costello, in 2008.

Mark Soderstrom. Picture: Matt Loxton

It’s unknown whether Morse and Lehmann will continue with SAFM in 2023, but there is speculation former Mix 102.3 co-host Mark ‘Soda’ Soderstrom will join Morse.

Costello was coy when asked about rumours of his joining Mix.

“It’s hard to comment on that,” he said. “I’ve got nothing signed with Mix, but I dunno … what I can say is I have not approached any other radio station.”

Costello’s Facebook post advising of his departure from SAFM yesterday received 2700 reactions and more than 700 comments, overwhelmingly in support of Costello.

“It (yesterday) was a very bad day,” Costello said.

“I’ve got this saying about Adelaide; if you look after Adelaide long enough, Adelaide starts looking after you. And I really feel that.”