97.3FM radio host Bob Gallagher has quit the popular breakfast show

Popular 97.3FM breakfast show Robin, Terry & Bob rocked by the sudden departure of stalwart broadcaster Bob Gallagher.

Radio host Bob Gallagher has quit the 97.3FM breakfast show to enjoy time with his family.

ARN announced on Tuesday that the Brisbane broadcaster would present his final show with co-hosts Robin Bailey and Terry Hansen on Friday after 19 years working breakfast radio hours.

The Robin, Terry & Bob show, which returned to 97.3FM in early 2020, has recently climbed the radio ratings to become the second most popular FM breakfast show behind Nova.

Gallagher indicated that he hoped to return to radio after a hiatus.

Bob Gallagher has quit the 97.3 breakfast show. Photo: Supplied

“I leave the show in great shape and I’m looking forward to a sleep in after so many years of early morning starts,” he said.

“I am still very passionate about the future of commercial radio and hope that after a break and enjoying some time with my family, I’ll be back doing what I love in radio.”

The news comes after Kip Wightman resigned from the top-rating Nova breakfast show in October to focus on his personal life.

Gallagher has been a stalwart member of the 97.3 breakfast show since 2006 when he joined with Bailey and Hansen as the anchor of the show.

While Bailey was axed from the show in late 2016 and Hansen resigned soon after, Gallagher continued with the program alongside new co-hosts Bianca Dye and Mike van Acker.

Following declining ratings, 97.3FM subsequently reinstated the original trio of Robin, Terry and Bob in January 2020.

The station confirmed Bailey and Hansen will continue to host the show in 2022, returning January 17.

97.3FM's Robin, Terry and Bob. Photo: Supplied

Gallagher began his career in regional radio in the early 1970s, working on air at Triple M Sydney, FM104 Brisbane and SeaFM Gold Coast.

He joined 4KQ as program director in 1992, a position he held for 14 years before he returned to the studio as anchor for Laurel Edwards and Mark Hine.

Of his most memorable moment, Gallagher said: “Taking 20 listeners to Tangalooma Resort on Moreton Island where we all got to stay and experience the beauty of the place with our listeners. We woke up, got dressed, and stepped on straight onto the beach to broadcast our show.”

ARN’s chief content officer Duncan Campbell said Gallagher had been a “constant voice both on air and behind-the-scenes in the radio industry for almost 50 years.”

“Bob has been instrumental to the overall success of 97.3FM and has been a wonderful mentor to his on-air colleagues and staff overall and I know he will thoroughly enjoy resetting his alarm clock to any time after 9am,” Campbell said.

“Bob, your passion and professionalism have been amazing, and we are all very grateful to you. I can’t thank Bob enough for his unwavering commitment and wish him nothing but the very best as he begins his next chapter.”