Neil Mitchell reveals he will leave 3AW Mornings after 34 years

Accolades are flowing for radio host Neil Mitchell who will step down from 3AW mornings with even the Victorian Premier — who has famously refused to be interviewed – sending his best.

Radio legend Neil Mitchell has announced he is stepping down from 3AW’s all-important Mornings role.

The veteran broadcaster shared the news on his show on Friday morning, saying “it’s time to go”.

Mitchell, who has helmed the Mornings program for 34 years, said he would step aside early December.

The veteran broadcaster, 71, joined 3AW in 1987 and has been hosting the Mornings show since 1990.

Neil Mitchell is stepping away from the mic after 34 years hosting 3AW Mornings. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

On Friday, Mitchell said that, apart from his family, radio had been his “life and love”.

“I will miss enormously the energy, excitement, and occasional whack that the audience dishes out to me daily,” he said.

“But it is time, after 34 years of 4am starts, peddling flat out is getting a little hard. I will still appear on 3AW as an analyst, will do a weekly podcast, and hope to continue writing and TV work as well.

“And, don’t celebrate yet, Daniel Andrews, I am here until December.

“Thanks to all for the superb support over the years.”

Tributes flowed for Mitchell on Friday with Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews — who has famously refused to appear on Mitchell’s program for years — paying tribute to the presenter.

“It’s a big day, a really significant day,” Mr Andrews said.

“I’d simply say to Neil and to his family, I wish you all the best, it’s a really significant milestone.”

3AW station manager Stephen Beers congratulated Mitchell for his success, and said he was excited to see what the future holds.

“Neil has been an enormous part of 3AW for decades.

“He reinvented talkback radio and the power of the audience in shaping our lives.

“No one story or campaign can sum him up — we can only thank Neil for his ongoing desire to deliver the best radio every day,” he said.

“Neil has shaped the entire radio station.

“He is, and always will be, 3AW.”

Meanwhile managing director of Nine Radio Tom Malone said Mitchell’s more than three-decade long tenure at the station was a record that’s “never likely to be beaten”.

There will be an announcement on Mitchell’s replacement as 3AW Mornings host in the coming days.

Mitchell says he will step away from his role in early December. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

Mitchell has dominated his timeslot in the ratings and came in with a 20.1 per cent share in the gfk survey released this week, well ahead of his rivals.

The move comes after weeks of speculation about his future, with the Herald Sun first revealing the changes set to be made by Nine Entertainment, owner of 3AW, on August 18.

Mitchell’s announcement follows Virginia Trioli on Thursday revealing she will leave her ABC Radio Melbourne Mornings role from the middle of this month.

Mitchell told his listeners he would be standing aside — not doing a Gill McLachlan or a Damien Hardwick — and going on to other roles within the Nine Network.

“I’m not going to do a Gill McLachlan, I’m going to finish up at the beginning of December, three months away, no more,’’ he said.

“I’m not doing a Damien Hardwick. I’m not going to pop up on Radio National next year — not that they’d have me. And contrary to a lot of reports, it’s entirely my decision.

“In fact, the management has attempted to convince me to stay, for which I’m very grateful.”

The veteran journalist added the decision wasn’t an easy one to make, especially after being in the radio hot seat for 36 years.

“Journalism has been my life. And radio has been my journalism for all these years,” he said.

“I’ve had 36 years on radio. I’ve had significant lack of success on television, I’ve had a reasonable newspaper career but I was very lucky.”

There will be an announcement on Mitchell’s replacement as 3AW Mornings host in the coming days. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Mitchell joked he could hear “champagne corks popping on Spring St”, hinting at his long-running dispute with Premier Daniel Andrews.

“I’ll still be around. It’s a great new role, a weekly podcast which is doubling what I do now ... other roles are under discussion, perhaps some TV or some writing. I love writing almost as much as broadcasting. So that’s it. That’s the whole story. Nothing but the story, no dancing girls,” he said.

Before joining 3AW Mitchell was at The Age and the now-defunct The Herald, and first debuted as Derryn Hinch’s fill-in on 3AW. He was inducted into the ACRA Hall of Fame in 2007.

A sincere Mitchell mentioned he decided to share the news now, as he felt there was no better time to do it given he was presenting Friday’s show “on the streets of Melbourne” in a bid to raise awareness for The Alfred Critical Care Appeal.

“When I finally turn off the daily microphone on Friday, December 1st, it will hurt but it’s unquestionably the right thing and I’m really looking forward to a different role next year,” he said.

The popular talkback radio host also touched on his recent success in the gfk survey and thanked his listeners and staff for “giving it a crack”.

“To the audience, I’ve always said to you, you own this program,” he concluded.

“Thank you for your support, thanks for your advice, thanks for your criticism ... (and) most of all thank you for your ears.”

Mitchell says leaving his long-running stint on Mornings is ‘unquestionably the right thing’. Picture: Nicki Connolly

Last Monday Mitchell told his listeners they would be first to know when a decision was made on his future.

“I don’t know everything that is going on, nor should I, I do know there will be changes ahead at 3AW but they are not finalised,” he said.

“Some of what was reported was right, much of it was wrong, I can assure you nobody has sacked me, nobody is trying to drive me out, quite the opposite in fact.

“Management has made it clear I can stay in the job until I reach 100 or 120, which is very tempting.”

Recently Mitchell called for the resignation of Premier Daniel Andrews, who has refused to go on his show for five years, over his secrecy, arrogance and failure to answer key questions.

This year he began a 3AW podcast series called “Neil Mitchell Asks Why” chatting with high-profile guests including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Victoria Police chief commissioner Shane Patton and former Victorian Opposition Leader Matthew Guy.

The Herald Sun reported weeks ago that current Drive host Tom Elliott would move into Mitchell’s seat; former Channel 7 presenter Jacqui Felgate, currently hosting Afternoons, will move into Drive; and well liked overnight presenter Tony Moclair, will take over Afternoons following the sacking of Dee Dee Dunleavy.