Alan Jones retirement: Ben Fordham visits radio veteran
Alan Jones had a special guest at his home studio in the Southern Highlands this morning as he began his farewell week – his 2GB breakfast host predecessor.
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Alan Jones began his final week behind the microphone of his ratings topping breakfast show by reminding listeners: “This time next week it will be the Ben Fordham show.”
Drive host Ben Fordham was in Jones’s home studio in the Southern Highlands this morning to watch the master in action.
“I did work experience with you when I was 15 and I’m here again doing work experience at 40-bloody-three.” he said.
Fordham drove up and stayed the night in order to be up for the show that has seen Jones deliver a record 226 ratings wins.
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After some gentle ribbing about his passion for bacon sandwiches and coffee Jones offered his replacement some sage advice: “Just be yourself. You’re not Alan Jones, you’re Ben Fordham. Be yourself.”
Fordham agreed and said: “All I can do is do my thing and try and bring my own colour to it. I’m learning along the way from the master.”
At the heart of Jones’ success he said was plain and simple hard work. “I know a lot of people say ‘oh, you don’t appreciate what goes on behind the scenes,’ well I’ve seen it,” he said.
On Friday Fordham delivered a heartfelt farewell to listeners to his drive show. “I just want to say a few thank yous before I say goodbye, because a lot of people have helped me in the nine and a half years I have been doing this shift, and a lot of people are helping me make the transition to breakfast,” he said.
He will be taking his team with him to help him transition to the early starts. Morning listeners will also be adjusting to the change with Jones telling them “Ben will speak in a gentler voice than I will but you’ll enjoy it.”
Originally published as Alan Jones retirement: Ben Fordham visits radio veteran