Radio star Jeremy Cordeaux reveals doctor told him to stay away from alcohol, caffeine

He was supposed to be in court yesterday for his fourth drink driving charge, but now this SA radio star has revealed why he’s now giving up alcohol.

Talkback radio legend Jeremy Cordeaux has opened up about why he’s (mostly) giving up the grog – and it’s not because he’s now facing his fourth drink driving charge.

Speaking to The Advertiser the day after he was summonsed to appear in court on Tuesday morning, the award-winning former FIVEaa presenter turned podcast host has revealed his doctor advised him to give up alcohol after he was diagnosed with Barrett’s oesophagus.

Jeremy Cordeaux has opened up about why he’s (mostly) giving up the grog. Picture by Matt Turner.

“I had never heard of it before,” Mr Cordeaux, 79, told The Advertiser. “I sought some medical advice and after that diagnosis, my doctor said I needed to be watched quite closely.

“I’m told it’s a precursor to oesophagus cancer, which is very nasty, but I can control it by taking some things out of my diet.”

Barrett’s oesophagus is linked to chronic heartburn, but can be associated with a higher risk of developing oesophageal cancer.

The nearly 80-year-old, who has spent 60-years working in the media, radio and television industry across Adelaide and Sydney, said he’s been instructed to cut out alcohol, spicy foods and caffeine.

He was due to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday morning charged with his fourth drink driving offence after police allegedly busted him behind the wheel with a 0.108 blood alcohol reading in the car park of the Feathers Hotel in Burnside. No plea has been entered to the charge.

“That’s over 20 years,” he said of his four charges.

The first offence occurred in 2005, the second in 2016 and the third after a Christmas party in 2019.

Jeremy Cordeaux sitting in his garage. His doctor has advised him to give up alcohol due to being diagnosed with Barrett’s oesophagus. Picture by Matt Turner.

Mr Cordeaux has been charged with drink driving – for a fourth time. Picture Matt Turner.

In 2017, Mr Cordeaux told The Advertiser his second offence occurred after his wife drove to a Christmas party but was unable to drive home, but he did not have an explanation for his alleged conduct at the end of last year.

“The alleged offence happened over twelve months ago. It’s ancient history,” he said on Wednesday.

“I was disqualified from driving for six months so that’s ended already. I knew my day in court would come, and that when it did, the media would be all over it.”

He said, given his recent diagnosis, it’s “highly unlikely” he’ll ever be over the limit while behind the wheel again, but he’s not going to completely deny himself the satisfaction of a cheeky wine here and there.

“With the permission from my doctor, I do indulge in one drink a week – one big glass of red wine,” he said.

“I’m yet to see anyone behind the wheel who can possibly get drunk from one glass of wine a week, so it’s probably very likely I won’t be in this kind of situation again.”

When asked if maybe the “fourth time’s the charm” for his drink driving allegations, he said “I probably won’t be in that position again, that’s all I’ll say”.

Mr Cordeaux, who now hosts his own podcast and radio show – airing every Friday from 9am to midday – recently made digs at his former employer on another radio employee’s LinkedIn post.

A Nova employee revealed he was leaving one of the station’s hit shows, with Mr Cordeaux commenting “good people are hard to find and even harder to keep”.

“As you might know, I’ve been through this sort of thing several times but everything works out.

“Welcome back to SA ,” he said. “Here with 5AA I don’t think they know what they are doing. I watch it with interest but … seriously … the only news talk station (in) town – rating number 7!”

The Walkley Award winning media personality was sacked from FIVEaa after he called former political staffer Brittany Higgins a “silly little girl”.

He is due to return to court to face his fourth drink driving charge later this year.