2GB star Ray Hadley reveals heartache before finding love again

Radio star Ray Hadley has opened up about being deeply unhappy for years before finding love with his new wife Sophie Baird.

2GB broadcaster Ray Hadley has credited his wife Sophie Baird with making him a better person.

The twice-divorced radio star told the June issue of Men’s Health that he was deeply unhappy for years before finding love again.

“Just being with her calms you down,” Hadley, 66, said as part of his weight loss story with the publication.

Radio star Ray Hadley married his fiance Sophie Baird at Saddles in Mt White in March. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“... I was a very unhappy person for a long time. I’m not blaming anyone for my unhappiness, but I was very unhappy.

“Professionally, I was happy, but personally, I was very unhappy, without knowing I was unhappy or why. I’m in a high-powered job. I’m expected to perform every day, and sometimes you lose sight of your priorities. You’re not doing what you should be doing in relation to yourself or your family ... if I were giving advice to men... one of the things I note with younger men these days is that they seem to apportion much more time to their children and partners than I did. This generation seems to prioritise the right things. Yes, they’re ambitious and want to succeed, but they don’t sacrifice their families for their ambitions. And that’s a great thing.”

Ray Hadley lost nearly 20kg as part of a weight loss shoot for Men's Health. Pic credit: Giles Park for Men’s Health – one time use only, no archiving.

The June issue of Men’s Health hits news stands on May 6. Picture: Giles Park for Men’s Health

Hadley also spoke about his dramatic weight loss after losing nearly 20kg by making healthy changes to his lifestyle.

“My lifestyle had to change,” he told the men’s magazine.

“The way I was going, I probably wouldn’t have made 70. I’ve been talking about men’s health for a long time on my program – about blokes not getting heart-health checks, not getting skin checks or the prostrate examination. And I’ve done all those things and more for the last 20 years. But despite that, the weight was going to be a significant factor unless I lost a bit of it.”

Hadley and Baird tied the knot before family and friends at friend John Singleton’s restaurant Saddles in Mount White in March.

The couple got engaged in 2019 but were forced to delay their big day three times due to COVID-19.

The latest issue of Men’s Health is on news stands on Thursday.