Career lifeline at Nova for radio star Mitch Churi after sacking from KIIS FM
A popular Australian radio host who was dealt a major career blow at the end of 2024 has received a lifeline which he’s describing as a “first date”. Here’s what you need to know.
Confidential
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A popular Australian radio presenter has been given a career lifeline after being dealt a major blow in November.
Mitch Churi is returning to the prime time airwaves after being unceremoniously dumped by ARN’s KIIS network at the end of the year.
Nova Entertainment has snapped up the rising radio star and on Monday (tomorrow), Churi will host a national breakfast show across all metro cities ahead of regular teams returning to air on Tuesday.
“Coming from hosting shows daily for almost a decade, the last five weeks off air have felt like an eternity, so to be invited into the Nova world has me feeling all the emotions,” Churi told Confidential.
“Plus, red (Nova’s colour) is so my colour. It’s our big first date tomorrow and I’m a massive flirt, so who knows where it might lead. I have a huge show planned. I’m calling in some major celeb pals to bring some star power, so I’ll see you at 7am.”
Starting at 7am, the show will feature guest appearances from the likes of Meghan Trainor, Tones and I and Calum Scott.
While initially a one-off, it could be seen as a strong sign of more to come for Churi at Nova.
Churi meanwhile had filled in for breakfast duo Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson during non-survey periods.
His departure cast some doubt on the radio careers of well-liked Brittany Hockley and Laura Byrne, with whom he co-hosted The Pick Up from 3pm to 4pm weekdays.
He had also hosted The Night Show with Mitch Churi since 2019.
His axing came as Australian Radio Network (ARN) management were forced to make tough decisions in order to balance the books.
The station has also faced an advertising boycott and soft ratings in Melbourne, where Kyle and Jackie O launched earlier last year.
The push south is part of a reported $200 million being spent over 10 years on Kyle & Jackie O’s salary packages.
Their team is understood to have been quarantined from job losses due to the duo’s contracts with the network so cuts had to be made outside of the breakfast shift.
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