Jackie ‘O’ Henderson steps down from KIIS FM radio show

Jackie ‘O’ Henderson has announced she will temporarily step down from her KIIS FM radio show with Kyle Sandilands. Find out why.

Jackie ‘O’ Henderson has announced she is stepping back from the breakfast radio show she co-hosts with Kyle Sandilands.

The ‘Queen of Australian radio’ said she would temporarily leave the top rating KIIS FM Kyle and Jackie O radio show, which took the top gong in the breakfast radio ratings last week.

“I’ve been not very well ever since I’ve had Covid … I’ve been struggling with this fatigue,” she announced live on-air.

“I’ve been to the doctor several times and he said … because I’ve been pushing myself everyday … after the show all I’m doing is just sleeping and I’m not getting any better.”

Co-host Kyle Sandilands echoed her concern, saying “I feel like it’s gotten worse”.

Jackie O said she will be taking a few weeks off from co-hosting the leading breakfast show effective immediately following doctor’s orders.

“I just have to take some time off. Like, as of now. You know how much this show means to me, you know how much I push through anything, and I would not be doing this unless I absolutely have to,” she said.

“Without going into any detail, I’m fine. I’m not dying. I have no cancer.”

“I will be all better and back with you guys soon.”

Jackie "O" Henderson said she has suffered prolonged fatigue from a recent infection. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

In jest, Sandilands said “it’s very disappointing” but that he understood and supported her decision.

Before jumping off air, Jackie O said to her colleagues: “I‘ll miss you guys, I love you and I will get well.”

Kyle responded: “Come home as soon as you feel rested”.

Jackie ‘O’ Henderson and Kyle Sandilands were crowned best on-air team (FM) at the 33rd annual Australian Commercial Radio Awards. Picture: Supplied

KIIS FM duo Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson trumped market leader Ben Fordham on 2GB in the all important breakfast radio ratings last week.

In the seventh GfK radio ratings survey of eight for the year, Kyle and Jackie O registered a 14.9 per cent share of the breakfast listening audience, a smidgen above Fordham at 14.8 per cent.

Jackie O’s announcement comes weeks after Nova 96.9 radio’s Kate Ritchie revealed she would stand down from the drive shift for the remainder of 2022.

Tim Blackwell, Kate Ritchie and Joel Creasey for the Kate, Tim and Marty show on Nova radio. Picture: Supplied

She will however return alongside co-hosts Tim Blackwell and Joel Creasey next year.

“This past year has been incredibly hectic and full on for both me and my family,” Ritchie told listeners last month.

“I have had much change and increased stress in my life, like many of you, in a short space of time. And it has taken its toll. But still, I am so proud that our Nova show, with Tim and Joel and the team, is just powering along, and going from strength to strength.”

Ritchie is a single parent to her beloved daughter Mae and took time off earlier this year to focus on family.

The former Home and Away star is one of our most loved entertainers and is currently also on TV as a judge on Australia’s Got Talent.

She has been part of the top rating Nova drive afternoon show for several years, having joined the network in 2006.

On Monday morning it was announced Nine’s state political reporter, Chris O’Keefe, would be the new host of 2GB Drive.