Wendy Harmer, Robbie Buck to leave ABC Sydney breakfast radio

Sydney breakfast radio is set for a shake-up with market leader Ben Fordham losing his major rivals after Wendy Harmer and Robbie Buck announced their shock exit.

2GB’s Ben Fordham has lost his major competition in the breakfast radio stakes with the Sydney market set for a shake-up in 2022.

Wendy Harmer and Robbie Buck have hinted more is on the ­horizon for the pair after the

ABC breakfast team made the shock announcement of their departure early on Friday, revealing their last broadcast will be on ­December 10 in what sets the scene for a major radio shake-up in 2022.

“Hopefully it is not goodbye forever and Robbie and I will turn up together on a future project,” veteran media identity Harmer said.

“We’ve got to know each other at the same time as the audience and it has blossomed into a fabulous on-air partnership and a wonderful friendship too. Lots of laughs, great music and, hopefully, keeping our Sydney ­audience informed.

“I’m in awe of Robbie’s radio craft – such an accomplished broadcaster. He’s been a truly generous co-host. Thank you, Robbie, for ­everything.”

Wendy Harmer and Robbie Buck have announced they will depart ABC breakfast radio.

Buck also suggested there will be more in store for the pair.

“I’ve enjoyed every minute of this job and sharing the gig with Wendy over the past three years has been an absolute joy. We’ve been through a lot together,” he said.

“We always enjoyed each other’s company and I think that’s what’s made the partnership so good.

“I now plan to take a year away from the mic and see the world.

“It’s not goodbye to the ABC. You’ll see me back in some capacity in 2023.”

The announcement means breakfast ratings leader Ben Fordham on 2GB has lost his major competition. Harmer and Buck have consistently held second spot in the breakfast slot behind Fordham.

The last GFK radio ratings showed Fordham with a leading share of 16.8 per cent of the breakfast market, followed by Harmer and Buck on 14 per cent. FM breakfast hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson came in third with 12.1 per cent. The next radio ratings are due out on Thursday.

2GB radio host Ben Fordham in his Sydney studio.

Fordham wished them well after hearing the news.

“I just wanted to say to Wendy Harmer and Robbie Buck this morning at the ABC, congratulations on your three years on the breakfast ­program and good luck on your next adventure,” Fordham told listeners on air on Friday.

“Even though we have been radio rivals, Wendy has proven to me that you can still be a nice person and still go hard against each other every single morning.”

Harmer and Buck came together in 2018 when ABC radio executives melded the breakfast and morning shows into a single four-hour program.

“Talk radio has enjoyed a renaissance during the pandemic, drawing in new listeners in search of the ­latest news on bushfires and the ­pandemic,” industry commentator and publisher of Radio Today Jake Challenor said.

“The pending departure of Wendy and Robbie from ABC Radio means the breakfast talk radio battle in Sydney is about to get interesting, especially as more politicians make time in their diary for FM radio rivals like KIIS FM’s Kyle and Jackie O.

“Ben Fordham and his bosses over at Nine Radio will also be hoping the shake-up leads to more Sydneysiders giving the revamped 2GB a red hot go.”

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