Ray Hadley steps in for breakfast slot as Alan Jones recovers

EXCLUSIVE: Radio star Ray Hadley will move into the coveted breakfast slot on 2GB tomorrow to temporarily replace Alan Jones while he recovers from a third round of surgery.

Ray Hadley and Alan Jones join John Singleton at a radio celebration. Picture: Justin Lloyd

RADIO star Ray Hadley will move into the coveted breakfast slot on 2GB tomorrow to temporarily replace Alan Jones while he recovers from a third round of surgery.

Hadley is expected to front a marathon 5½-hour shift from 5.30am to 11am, covering Jones’ show as well as his own.

The new arrangement will be five days a week for at least three weeks. Chris Smith, who had previously replaced Jones during several ongoing health issues, will bring his normal show an hour forward to 11am until 3pm.

Alan Jones recovers in hospital from his 13-hour back operation.

Jones is set to make an announcement about his immediate future on the show tomorrow morning.

He returned to the operating table on Friday for his third bout of surgery in as many months, this time on his neck. Earlier operations, which so far have been considered successful, focused on his back.

His absence from the early weeks of the industry’s first radio survey of the year will no doubt put pressure on 2GB retaining its No. 1 ranking.

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Jones’ domination of the breakfast shift allows 2GB to rule the roost for the remainder of the broadcasting day.

The switch to the network’s other big-hitter, Hadley, is designed to shore up ratings as well as advertisers.

Macquarie Broadcasting’s top honchos John Singleton and Russell Tate ‎ are anxious for Jones to return to the microphone — but only when he has returned to full health.

“Alan is the key to the whole operation,” a radio industry insider said yesterday. “There are big advertising bucks involved here.”

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