Alex Cullen’s surprise new gig after Nine axing

Six months after that bizarre Block scandal, Alex Cullen has landed a new media gig – and it means a big move for he and his family.

Former Today reporter Alex Cullen has landed a new job on radio, six months after he was dumped by Nine for accepting a $50,000 gift from Block billionaire Adrian Portelli.

Radio network ARN this morning announced that Cullen will join Melbourne’s The Christian O’Connell Show on GOLD104.3 as the show’s “resident sports guru,” a role that will require relocating with his wife and children from Sydney to Melbourne.

It comes after a quiet six months for the TV presenter, who was let go by Nine in January after he publicly responded to a challenge set by billionaire Portelli.

Portelli had pledged to award $50,000 prize to the first journalist or presenter who would publicly refer to him by his new nickname, “McLaren Man,” based on his latest preferred luxury car.

Alex Cullen parted ways with Nine in January.

Cullen dutifully obliged on-air, and Portelli sent him the money – but the fallout was swift, with Cullen’s employer appearing none too pleased with what had very publicly transpired.

“Nine is taking this matter extremely seriously,” the network said, before Cullen was let go without having a chance to say goodbye to viewers.

Now, after reports last month that he might be picked up by rival network Seven, Cullen will in fact move to radio for his next role.

Cullen at right, with his new colleague Christian O'Connell.

O’Connell called his new colleague “a real talent, and a very funny and likeable guy,” in a statement released today.

“I called him out of the blue a few weeks ago and we hit it off like old mates. He came over for a rigorous interview with me, that to onlookers may have looked like a long lunch with flowing red wine, but we bonded over being dads and a shared love of storytelling and how sport could be delivered on my show,” said O’Connell.

Cullen called the new job “an exciting next chapter,” pointing out that he’d started his media career on radio.

Cullen also said he was excited for the move from Sydney to Melbourne that the new job would entail: “My family and I are thrilled to be making it our new home.”

The news comes after O’Connell’s on-air co-host announced last month he’d quit the show.

“It has been one of the hardest decisions I’ve had to make in my life,” Post wrote on Instagram.

“I love this show deeply, and it has given me so much. But there is something in my gut telling me it’s time to close this chapter and write the next one.

“It’s time to step away again, make space, and see what’s next,” he wrote.

Originally published as Alex Cullen’s surprise new gig after Nine axing