Ben Fordham, Mark Levy, Jason Morrison on list of possible successors for Ray Hadley at 2GB

OPINION: He’s ruled the morning airwaves for two decades but after announcing his retirement, who will take over from Ray Hadley on 2GB's morning show?

With Ray Hadley set to step down from 2GB’s morning slot next month, Sydney’s top-rated morning show is about to face one of its biggest transitions yet.

The question now reverberating across the radio landscape is: Who will step up to fill Hadley’s shoes?

The 2GB morning slot, which currently sits slightly ahead of WSFM, KIIS and Smooth FM in the fiercely competitive morning shift, is a coveted position in Australian radio.

Hadley’s departure leaves a major gap, and speculation is running high about who will be his successor.

One strong contender is Ben Fordham, 2GB’s breakfast show host.

Veteran broadcaster Ray Hadley announces his retirement on air at 2GB on Thursday. Picture: Rohan Kelly

Fordham, known for his engaging style and connection with Sydney listeners, is rumoured to be eyeing the morning shift, which could allow him to reach an even broader daytime audience across several states.

Such a move would likely prompt a reshuffle across the line-up, potentially bringing Clinton Maynard from overnights to drive, while Chris O’Keefe, another established voice, could move into the breakfast slot.

Will breakfast show host Ben Fordham move into mornings? Picture: Rohan Kelly

Could Clinton Maynard move from nights to drive at 2GB? Picture: Supplied

But for Fordham to be considered as Hadley’s replacement, management would need to be confident that the breakfast replacement would be able to maintain and increase the large audience in that slot.

There’s also the possibility of Mark Levy moving into Hadley’s seat.

He’s a longtime friend of Hadley’s, filling in for him regularly when the veteran broadcaster was on leave, and has twice been overlooked to be the drive time presenter.

Levy’s strong presence and rapport with listeners might make him a natural fit to carry forward Hadley’s legacy, particularly because he has the same passion for sport as Hadley.

Mark Levy could be a natural fit to take over from his mate Hadley. Picture: Supplied

Another wildcard is Stephen Cenatiempo, a seasoned Canberra morning host whose recent success at 2CC has put him on the radar. Cenatiempo’s years of talkback experience in the Hunter Valley, and his recent ratings boost, could make him a compelling choice, especially if 2GB is looking to bring in a seasoned but new voice to Sydney listeners.

And then there is the former 2GB veteran Jason Morrison, who is well-known by the radio station’s audience for his straightforward approach.

He’s recently been hosting shifts on Triple M, and has previously had conversations with Nine Radio executives.

Meanwhile, some fans are wondering if the network might consider bringing back other past 2GB presenters like Steve Price or Chris Smith.

Both are experienced talkback hosts, and could each be in the running to rejoin the fold and potentially recapture the core audience Hadley has cultivated.

If Nine Radio’s executives want to hire a presenter who is in regular contact with state and federal politicians, then the decision could come down to either Jason Morrison, Chris O’Keefe or Clinton Maynard, who all are respected by the Premier, PM and MPs.

Whoever replaces Hadley will need to maintain 2GB’s dominance and appeal to a broad and diverse audience.

The choice will undoubtedly shape the station’s future — and signal to listeners and rivals alike how 2GB plans to evolve in the post-Hadley era.

News Corp’s Brenden Wood has previously been the executive producer for radio shows in Sydney and Brisbane