‘Huge honour’: Neil Mitchell’s replacement named

The successor to one of Australia’s most popular radio hosts has been named, and he says the new gig is a “huge honour”.

The successor to Neil Mitchell as host of 3AW’s Mornings radio program has been announced.

Tom Elliott will step in to take the helm from Mitchell in January 2024 after the beloved host announced he would be stepping down in December after 33 years in the role.

Elliott, who was widely tipped to be Mitchell’s successor, has been with 3AW since 2002, hosting their Drive program for the past 10 years.

“Neil has been an enormous force in my life and a force for good,” Elliott told Drive listeners on Friday in a glowing tribute to the man he will be replacing.

Tom Elliott will replace Neil Mitchell as host of 3AW Mornings. Picture Jay Town

Mitchell has spent 33 years in the role. Picture: Nicole Cleary

Elliott continued to praise the outgoing host when he was confirmed as Mitchell’s successor on Monday morning.

“It’s a huge honour to succeed Neil Mitchell in hosting 3AW Mornings,” he said in a statement on the 3AW website.

“Ever since I started at the station in 2002, Neil has been the gold standard for how to host this iconic talkback show. I have always looked up to Neil and cannot wait to talk with the Mornings audience in January 2024.”

Elliott is the son of former Carlton club president John Elliott and has worked in banking as well as radio.

Before hosting Drive, he served as the finance reporter under Mitchell on 3AW Mornings.

Mitchell isn’t shying away from public commentary. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui

Mitchell, the much-loved but sometimes controversial host who has had high-profile adversaries such as Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, had a word of warning for those who thought they had seen the back of him.

“For those cheering my plans to step down from daily radio be warned: I intend to make almost as much public commentary through weekly podcast, radio, possible column and TV,” he wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Originally published as ‘Huge honour’: Neil Mitchell’s replacement named