‘Genuinely shattered’: Dee Dee Dunleavy returns to the mic after shock firing

After taking a break for her wellbeing following a shock sacking from 3AW, radio host Dee Dee Dunleavy has returned with a new true crime podcast about the disappearance of 12 year-old Terry Floyd in Avoca.

Former 3AW host Dee Dee Dunleavy says she had real difficulty getting back behind a microphone. Picture: Instagram

Former Melbourne radio host Dee Dee Dunleavy has revealed she was “terrified” to get behind the microphone again after her sacking from 3AW two years ago.

Dunleavy said her shock axing from hosting afternoons was a bitter blow which has taken years to come to terms with. Now she is returning to the airwaves with a new true crime podcast she’s worked on for the past 18 months.

“I had real difficulty, to be honest I was terrified to get behind a microphone,’’ Dunleavy said.

“I’d done all the research, written the whole podcast and I stalled. I just needed that little push and Mike Liberale, who’s got a mobile podcast and has worked with Hamish and Andy, came over and got me going.

“I don’t mind people knowing now that I was genuinely shattered. It has taken me a while because you’re effectively being told by the powers that be that you’re no good.”

Dunleavy left afternoons with a final ratings win on 12.9 per cent.

Former 3AW broadcaster Dee Dee Dunleavy is returning to airwaves with a new true crime podcast. Picture: Instagram

Her podcast out today, The Boy in the Gold Mine, is a nine-part series that examines the disappearance of 12 year-old Terry Floyd in the small country town of Avoca in 1975. It features former homicide detective Charlie Bezzina who has been working as a private investigator on this case since 2011.

Dunleavy is doing a chat with ABC Melbourne breakfast duo Sharnelle Vella and Bob Murphy on Tuesday morning — her first radio spot since she was dumped.

“I don’t want to sound nasty about radio because I loved radio,’’ she said.

“For my own health and wellbeing I had to take a break. I’d been doing it for 37 years and I always said I know we’re just background noise — and I’m not diminishing anyone’s role — but it is just a part of our daily lives. To me it was everything. I still get people who come up to me now and say lovely things.

“I’ve enjoyed doing this podcast, Charlie came to me one day and mentioned what he was doing. June 28 this year is the 50th anniversary of the day Terry went missing and it’s still an active investigation. I’m not making money from this I’m doing it purely to help Terry’s brother Daryl in his search for the remains and to uncover the truth.”

Originally published as ‘Genuinely shattered’: Dee Dee Dunleavy returns to the mic after shock firing