Triple M breakfast radio Lawrence Mooney host off air

Triple M’s star breakfast host has been off air for a week with industry speculation suggesting he may not make a return at all.

Triple M owner Southern Cross Austereo is providing little information as to the reason behind star breakfast host Lawrence Mooney’s mystery absence on air.

Confidential has requested comment regarding Mooney not being on the show since Wednesday last week.

When contacted, a representative simply stated that: “Lawrence Mooney is currently off air.”

When Mooney will return to the FM 104.9 dial is a mystery.

Comedian Lawrence Mooney.

The 56-year-old has been with the show since the beginning of 2019 and is joined on his Moonman in the Morning program by Chris Page and Jess Eva, who have been on air as a duo for the past few days while he has been away.

Last week, SCA announced rugby league great Mark Geyer would be joining the team in 2022.

Industry speculation has suggested Mooney may not return to the show at all this year or, in fact, at all.

He has one year left on his contract with the network.

Radio ratings released on Tuesday showed the team to keep steady with a 4.6 per cent share of the breakfast market, well below Ben Fordham at number one on 2GB with his share of 19.8 per cent.

Earlier this year, Confidential broke news that Mooney had breached Covid regulations by travelling to Byron Bay during Sydney’s lockdown. At the time, he was forced to apologise for the mistake.

Triple M's Moonman in the Morning breakfast team — Chris “Pagey” Page, Lawrence Mooney and Jess Eva.

“I know how serious this is and the impact lockdowns are having across the state and am

very embarrassed by my misunderstanding and stuff up,” Mooney told Confidential in July.

“I feel like an absolute goose for not realising I wasn’t permitted to travel to Byron Bay during my break.”

Mooney’s absence follows anchor Chris “Pagey” Page in August taking an extended break due to alcohol addiction. Page at the time implored high profile people to be honest about their demons.

“It really bothers me, particularly anyone in the media, or anyone in the public eye, you often read about someone taking extended leave for exhaustion,” Page told Radio Today at the time.

“That’s crap. If someone says they’re taking leave for exhaustion, they’re in rehab. And there’s a real, there’s a stigma around rehab. And if people can’t be open about it, then no one’s going to talk about it, and that stigma just grows.”

Mooney’s management did not respond to requests for comment.