Kip Wightman joins 97.3FM as breakfast co-host in 2022

Hugely popular Brisbane broadcaster Kip Wightman is making a shock return to breakfast radio, joining a rival station just months after quitting Nova to spend time with family.

Kip Wightman will co-host Brisbane’s 97.3FM breakfast show in a move that will see him rival his former Nova colleagues.

The station confirmed industry rumours on Monday that the experienced radio host and anchor will replace the recently resigned Bob Gallagher on the program in 2022, joining Robin Bailey and Terry Hansen

It comes after Wightman’s sudden departure from Nova’s breakfast show in October after 15 years.

97.3FM's new breakfast show Robin, Terry & Kip

At the time he said he had been “faking it” on the top-rating show and wanted to take a break from the industry to focus on his personal life as a newly single parent to son Rafael, two.

“The last couple of years I’ve kind of been phoning it in. I haven’t been doing my best work, I haven’t really been proud of what I’ve been doing. I knew I was missing mornings with Raffy that I would never get back,” he said at the time.

The broadcaster was taking calls from radio bosses within the week and was snatched up to anchor 97.3FM’s breakfast show after Gallagher decided to resign.

Kip Wightman with son Rafael 2yrs at home. Photo: Annette Dew

“I’m stoked to be working with Robin and Terry, I’ve been loving my time away from radio but the opportunity to work with these two was too good to pass up, even if I have to start waking up before the sun again,” Wightman said on Monday.

“I haven’t looked forward to getting into the studio like this in years. Robin and Terry are such a great mix of funny and relatable, 2022 is going to be epic.”

Terry Hansen, Bob Gallagher, Robin Bailey after Gallagher resigned from the 97.3 breakfast show, which he has hosted since 2006, Milton, Friday 3rd December 2021. Photo: Steve Pohlner

97.3FM finished 2021 as the overall radio winners in Brisbane, taking Nova’s crown, while the finished second in breakfast behind stablemates 4KQ.

It relegated previous winners, Nova’s Ash, Luttsy & Susie, to third in what was the show’s first official survey without Wightman on the show.

“Brisbane audiences love Kip, and he loves Brisbane; it’s a perfect combination,” ARN’s chief content officer Duncan Campbell said.

“He brings great energy and enthusiasm, perfect for starting the day, and we are excited that he will be part of the new energised breakfast show on KIIS 97.3.”

Robin, Terry & Kip will go to air next Monday. The new program was delayed by one week to allow Bailey time to recover from Covid-19, sharing last week that she had tested positive after New Year’s Eve celebrations.