Ray Hadley’s retirement: How and why the veteran broadcaster decided to leave 2GB

Ray Hadley’s retirement announcement on air on Thursday morning may have shocked his listeners, but the broadcaster had been considering ending his stellar 40-year career for some time. Read why.

In a restaurant behind the Arc de Triomphe, midway through the Paris Olympics, talkback radio king Ray Hadley dropped his bombshell retirement plans to his unsuspecting boss.

Nine Radio chief Tom ­Malone had invited Hadley for a meal. It was early August, the swimming events which Hadley had called at his ­seventh Games were coming to an end.

As Malone was to learn, so too was Hadley’s stellar four-decade career in radio, two years before the planned expiry of his multimillion-dollar contract.

“Tom said ‘is everything going OK?’ and I said ‘yeah, but we might need to have a talk about a replacement’,” Hadley recalled of their conversation at the Atelier du Marche restaurant.

“He said ‘you’ve got two years to go’.

“I said, ‘I don’t think I’m going to last two years’.

“Tom said ‘have a think about it when you come back’, so I thought about it and went to him last week.”

Ray Hadley as a radio sports commentator in 1992.

Hadley after his 150th consecutive ratings win in 2023.

The 70-year-old father of four and grandfather to seven admitted the pre-dawn starts to prepare for a show that remains unbeaten in a record 160 consecutive surveys, were becoming “a bit of a battle”.

Hadley said a desire to spend more time with his grandchildren was also key to his decision.

“They’re the world (to me),” he said.

“I want to see them more … You’re not ‘Pop the radio broadcaster’ to them, you’re just Pop.

“A couple of mates once told me it (grandchildren) would change my life. Well it has, ­immeasurably, for the better.”

Malone will now accelerate the search for a replacement, with Hadley announcing on-air on Thursday that he was signing off from the 2GB airwaves on ­December 13.

The Daily Telegraph understands Ben Fordham will remain as breakfast host and Hadley’s morning slot would likely be filled by an internal candidate from a list including Chris O’Keefe, Mark Levy and Luke Grant.

Hadley had no comment on the 2GB succession plan, saying: “There’s nothing worse than someone who’s bowing out making choices on who replaces them.”

Hadley with his wife Sophie — spending more time with family was a key reason for his retirement. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Whoever is appointed, they will follow a Radio Hall of Fame broadcaster with 35 Australian Commercial Radio Awards since starting in the ­industry in 1981. Two years later, he signed his first full-time contract for $19,500.

“It was less than I got in 1979 as an auctioneer,” Hadley said. “Thankfully things have been rectified more recently.”

Hadley has not lost a ratings survey for more than 20 years at 2GB, where he joined after 19 years at 2UE. He has put his morning show to air more than 5000 times and during his two-station career called about 3000 rugby league games, including a record 35 grand finals and 99 State of Origin matches.

Senior broadcast engineer Harish Samineni with Hadley on Thursday. Picture: Rohan Kelly

He told listeners yesterday: “It’s been a hell of a ride from a young bloke wanting to call the races to being the old bloke sitting in this studio for so long, but the time has come for someone else to do the job.”

Fordham told The Daily Telegraph: “I’ve known Ray for nearly 30 years and I’m ­shocked. I just didn’t see it coming.

“He’s the most versatile broadcaster in the history of Australian radio.”

NSW Premier Chris Minns called into 2GB following Hadley’s announcement, paying tribute to a “distinguished and fearless career”.

Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton also praised Hadley, calling him a “great mate” and “true patriot”.

Inside 2GB, the most emotional tribute came from broadcast engineer Harish Samineni, who has worked with Hadley for six years.

“I’m an immigrant from India,” he said through tears. “I never dreamt of working with a big personality like Ray.

“I’ve always looked at him like my father. He’s my biggest supporter.”

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Originally published as Ray Hadley’s retirement: How and why the veteran broadcaster decided to leave 2GB