Radio host Lawrence Mooney’s future at Triple M to be decided imminently

Lawrence Mooney’s future at Triple M will be decided shortly with the breakfast radio host absent from his Moonman in the Morning program for over a week.

An announcement on Lawrence Mooney’s future at Triple M is imminent.

Confidential understands that after much closed door discussion, the comedian could be leaving the station despite having a year left on his contract.

This column earlier this week highlighted the fact Mooney had been absent from his Triple M Moonman in the Morning breakfast show since mid last week.

At the time, a representative for Triple M parent company Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) said: “Lawrence Mooney is currently off air”.

Comedian Lawrence Mooney.

Industry speculation has focused on rumours of ongoing tension in Mooney’s team, which also includes reality TV favourite Jess Eva and show anchor Chris ‘Pagey’ Page.

Meanwhile, executives have been busy looking at the whole station line-up for 2022.

Mick Molloy recently left Triple M drive and Confidential can reveal weekend team, Deadset Legends will be taking on that timeslot.

Deadset Legends is made up of trio Gus Worland, Jude Bolton and Wendell Sailor.

Meanwhile, 56-year-old Mooney has been with Triple M breakfast since the beginning of 2019. Jess and Pagey have been holding the fort in Mooney’s absence.

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

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

Radio ratings released on Tuesday showed the Moonman in the Morning 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. Triple M management had high hopes for the show but it has struggled to find its footing.

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.

“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.”

Triple M Deadset Legends trio Wendell Sailor, Jude Bolton and Gus Worland. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Mooney’s absence follows anchor Pagey 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 would not comment.