Radio and TV host Erin Molan ‘would have loved’ a job on The Today Show

She’s one of the busiest women in the Australian media, but radio and TV host Erin Molan reveals she has been overlooked for several jobs, including on The Today Show.

“I’m such a different person now.” (Picture: Michael Comninus)

Erin Molan should be exhausted. For the past two weeks she’s been up well before the sun to work on her new 2DayFM breakfast radio show with Dave Hughes and Ed Kavalee, before heading off to read the sports bulletin at the Nine Network, where she’s also about to start covering the Australian Open.

But being a mother to Eliza, 2, has taught her that sleep is more a mental thing.

“I haven’t had any actual sleep for two-and-a-half years. So this is no different,” she tells Stellar On Friday. “And I’m on such a high working with the guys, which is serving me well.”

Ed Kavalee, Dave Hughes and Erin Molan for 2Day FM breakfast. (Picture: Supplied)

There’s no doubting Molan’s enthusiasm for her new gig. In November, it was announced the 37-year-old would be making the move to breakfast radio, on a station that has struggled to find success in the morning slot since iconic duo Kyle Sandilands and Jackie “O” Henderson left in 2013. But Molan doesn’t find the challenge daunting.

“Two years ago I would have felt the pressure immensely. The only reason I could take this on is that I’m now in a position where it’s not going to make me feel anxious every day,” she says.

“Before I would have rode every wave, felt every blow, read every article and that would have impacted the way I act and the person I am. I’m such a different person now. Honestly, I’m excited by the first ratings period.”

Molan is no stranger to the competitive nature of the media industry, telling Stellar On Friday that she has been overlooked for jobs. “There have been openings on Today and I would have absolutely loved to have had a call-up, and it hasn’t happened. That’s life. You deal with that a million times over in any industry.”

Erin Molan has told Stellar she’s always hoped to be offered a position on Nine’s The Today Show.

However, it’s the public criticism that has built up her true resilience. A victim of online abuse, Molan became a champion for abolishing cyber-bullying.

In December, her efforts were rewarded when the Federal Government announced, in a world-first, the introduction of fines of up to $111,000 for individuals who abuse, threaten, intimidate, post revenge porn or bully children online.

“I never wanted to talk about it. In fact, I used to get quite embarrassed when people would ask how I dealt with it because it’s almost like saying, ‘All those people hate you, how do you feel about it?’ When I realised it wasn’t a reality-TV star problem or a public-profile problem and it affects everyone, I knew I had to use my platform,” she says.

“When I look back at my career I think this will certainly be up there with one of my proudest achievements.”

And it may not be the last. When asked if she has thought about entering politics like her father Senator Jim Molan, she doesn’t rule it out.

“I’m passionate about making a difference and fighting for things I believe in. It’s certainly something I wouldn’t say no to,” she says, adding, “The beauty about what I’ve been through is there’s almost nothing left that could hurt me. Politics is brutal, but I’m like, ‘Is that all you’ve got?

Find more exclusives inside this Sunday’s Stellar.

“You should have seen me on that last year of hosting The Footy Show!’ My resilience, through sheer necessity, is now my armour. I think it would be a huge honour to go into politics and represent the people of Australia.”

But right now, her focus is on radio. Even if that means being an open book about her relationship with homicide detective Sean Ogilvy, to listeners.

“I did say to Sean, I’m going to have to tell some stories and he reluctantly agreed. I don’t have a filter and unfortunately for Sean, he knew that when he met me,” she says, before joking, “But if you’re writing break-up stories in six months, you’ll know why!”