Adelaide radio star Ali Clarke back on Mix 102.3 after second breast cancer surgery

Following her second breast cancer surgery, Mix 102.3’s Ali Clarke was feeling “so sore and sorry for myself” – but she’s back on-air and celebrating a listener’s big win.

Ali Clarke is sounding chirpy – celebrating a big win, and up with all the news, after making her return to Mix 102.3’s breakfast show.

Clarke has returned from what she and co-host Max Burford dubbed a “tropical holiday”.

In reality, she’s back after undergoing a mastectomy as a “safety” precaution. It is her second mastectomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Openly talking about her health battle on-air, she has become an advocate for raising awareness of the disease, which affects 1 in 7 Australian women during their lifetime and 1 in 556 men.

Mix 102.3’s Ali Clarke revealing to listeners that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Picture: Supplied

Following her return to Max & Ali in the Morning, Clarke admitted she had been feeling “so sore and sorry for myself” after her most recent surgery.

Clarke told Burford and listeners while looking at her scars was difficult she was grateful: “(There's) a little bit of drug stuff in the future but compared to what other people go through …”

Mix 102.3 Max Burford and Ali Clarke. Picture: Supplied

Ali Clarke in hospital after her first breast cancer surgery. Picture: Instagram

The show included a listener Jack – who has just returned from Italy after working there for 10 years as a teacher – winning a huge cash prize.

He answered every question correctly in the $10,000 Minute quiz on his mum Sue’s birthday. Clarke and Burford also chatted to mother and son about his win.

Deliberately not tuning into news while recovering to shield herself from any negativity, Clarke enjoyed getting an update from Burford.

In what sounded like a prerecording – with Clarke reacting as it played – Burford listed all the goings on in Adelaide and the world. They included Burma the elephant’s arrival, with Burford adding “Wang Wang and Fu Ni have taken their bamboo and moved back to China to continue not having sex”, the US presidency and Melbourne Cup wins, and a “tear-jerker”, the rumour that Hugh Jackman is off the market.

Burma settling in to her new home at Monarto Safari Park. Picture: ZoosSA

Hugh Jackman and his rumoured new love, Sutton Foster, at the 75th Annual Tony Awards in 2022. Picture: Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic

Max & Ali in the Morning finished fifth in the breakfast timeslot in the latest radio ratings. The No. 1 show was Triple M’s brekky show, hosted by Mark Ricciuto, Chris Dittmar and Laura O’Callaghan, who have been in top spot for 14 consecutive surveys.

Mix 102.3 is Adelaide’s No. 1 station overall. It was a back-to-back win.