Cruise 1323 announces Craig “Huggy” Huggins will take over from John Dean – from Melbourne

Cruise 1323 has revealed John Dean’s replacement – and while he’s a familiar voice, don’t expect to see this radio veteran around town. Find out why.

Craig Huggins celebrated 30 years with radio station GOLD FM in 2021. Picture: David Caird

Talk about – to borrow from The Beach Boys’ 1989 hit – Still Cruisin’ (After All These Years).

Cruise 1323’s afternoons host Craig “Huggy” Huggins is taking over the breakfast shift at the station.

Huggy, who lives in Melbourne, will broadcast the show from that city.

He has been heard on air here since 2005 and has been with Cruise’s parent company ARN for close to 35 years.

Craig Huggins in the 1990s. Picture: Advertiser Library

Huggy is taking over from John Dean.

“It’s been an absolute privilege to connect with listeners over the years, and I’m looking forward to starting this new chapter,” Huggy said in a statement.

“The listeners on Cruise 1323 have always been welcoming, and I’m eager to engage with them each morning.”

Huggy starts his new role on Cruise 1323 Breakfast on Monday, April 28.

The announcement follows Cruise beating SAFM in the breakfast spot in the latest radio ratings:

Triple M breakfast hosts Mark Ricciuto, Chris Dittmar and Laura O’Callaghan are celebrating their sweet 16th – after taking out top spot in the ratings yet again.

But their colleagues at sister station SAFM, Bernie Vince and Emma Georgiadis, are still finding their feet as a duo – landing in seventh spot.

Triple M’s Mark Ricciuto, Laura O'Callaghan and Chris Dittmar. Picture: Supplied

In the first radio ratings survey for 2025, Triple M’s Roo, Ditts and Loz won the brekky timeslot with 14 share points.

That result was 2.1 down from last survey, but more than enough to secure them the No. 1 position for the 16th consecutive survey.

Second place went to ABC Adelaide breakfast presenters Jules Schiller and Sonya Feldhoff with 12.9, after an impressive gain of 2.8 since last survey – when they finished fourth.

ABC breakfast duo Sonya Feldhoff and Jules Schiller. Picture: Supplied

FIVEaa brekky duo David Penberthy and Will Goodings were in the No. 3 position on 11.8 after a dip of 1.3.

Finishing fourth, Nova 919’s Jodie Oddy and Andrew Hayes were not far behind on 11.6, down 0.8.

Mix 102.3’s Hayley & Max in the Morning – hosted by Hayley Pearson and Max Burford, who are also a new duo – was fifth, with 10.2, down 0.5.

Mix 102.3's Hayley Pearson with Max Burford. Picture: Ben Clark.

Cruise 1323’s breakfast hosts John Dean, who is retiring from the timeslot this month, was sixth – with 7.4, up 0.4.

In seventh place, SAFM’s Bernie & Emma G – Best Mates for Breakfast recorded 6.8, down 0.1.

Triple M is still Adelaide’s No. 1 station with 14.0, followed by Mix on 12.4 and Nova on 12.0.

Originally published as Cruise 1323 announces Craig “Huggy” Huggins will take over from John Dean – from Melbourne