Eddie McGuire announces he’s leaving Hot Breakfast on Triple M
Eddie McGuire and Luke Darcy had different views on how the coronavirus pandemic was handled by Premier Daniel Andrews. While rumours swirl their frayed relationship was the final nail in the coffin of the breakfast show, Darcy says it was just a passionate debate.
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Luke Darcy admits he and radio co-host Eddie McGuire disagreed over Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews’ handling of the COVID-19 crisis.
But he says their passionate and often firey debates on their show, Hot Breakfast, were not the reason for walking away from the microphones.
Insiders claim the relationship between the pair has cooled.
Darcy was praised for a hard-hitting interview with the Victorian Premier in September where he grilled the politician on the state’s lockdown measures.
The former Western Bulldogs ruckman focused on the mental health effects of the “barbaric” policy and revealed his father, David, had died a month earlier from “isolation and loneliness” caused by the government’s mishandling of the pandemic.
Darcy and his family also run a pub and hospitality group which has been crippled by the lockdown.
McGuire has constantly praised Andrews for how he has continually fronted up in difficult circumstances.
But they’ve both denied that difference of opinion was anything more than what listeners heard on air.
“It’s been a really emotive year for Victorians, and Ed and I weighed into that with a lot of passion, a lot of thought and a lot of care,” Darcy said.
“I’ve had people ringing me saying, ‘How are you and Ed going?’ I say, ‘Absolutely fine.’ We don’t have to agree with each other, but at the end of it, Ed loves a contest of ideas.”
McGuire says in fact it was a conversation with wife Carla and sons Joe and Xander that inspired him to walk away after warning the broadcaster: “Enough. This is going to kill you.”
McGuire and Luke Darcy, who have co-hosted Triple M Hot Breakfast for 11 years, announced on Wednesday they will quit the popular radio show on November 27.
McGuire and Darcy said it was time to explore fresh opportunities in a new media landscape, and there were key moments during 2020 when they knew this would be their final year on air.
In January, after broadcasting the show from his holiday home, McGuire planned a short nap at 10am and didn’t wake up until 3pm.
“Carla and the boys said to me at that stage, and they were very strong on this, ‘Enough. This is going to kill you.’”
McGuire added: “As much as I try to put as much into every working day, there comes a time where there’s a breaking point. I got too tired in the end. I would nod off in meetings, nod off at home, and I’d be zoned out at dinner.
“That’s part of life, that’s what every business person does. I’m not crying for help here. But in the end it was enough.”
McGuire and Darcy denied a tweet, posted by Derryn Hinch on Wednesday, claiming Triple M management had fired them.
“We spoke as late as last week with Triple M,” McGuire said. “They were keen to look at planning for the next five years, and we thought, ‘This is a good way to finish.’ But, in my mind, it was probably since June I’ve known it would be the last year.”
While McGuire and Darcy are looking forward to sleeping through the 4.30am alarm, they still have high profile jobs at Channel 9, Fox Footy, and Channel 7, respectively.
Darcy will also continue calling games on Triple M Footy, and McGuire is working on new projects for the station.
“If I died tomorrow, people would go, ‘Yeah, he was a good bloke or broadcaster, but he kept working all the time. He didn’t have a life,’” McGuire said. “You get to a stage in your life where, no matter how much you enjoy doing the show, it hurts every morning.
“You’re sore, and you’re tired, and life goes on around you.”
McGuire and Luke Darcy made the announcement about quitting their radio show early on Wednesday.
McGuire said it was an “honour and privilege” to do the top-rating show for the past 11 years, but it was “time to move on”.
“I joined Triple M 32 years ago as a young journo and this year has been a year like no other for all of us,” he said.
“We found ourselves able to broadcast six hours a day and on weekends when COVID-19 hit.
“Whilst gruelling, it has also been a true honour and pleasure for us to be with Melbourne every step of the way and the most important year in our show’s history.
“Without listeners, radio is nothing and we have enjoyed the immediate connection with them day in day out and dominated our key target demos.
“Those closest to me have always known that I continued with breakfast radio while my boys were at school and, now my youngest has finished, it’s time, too, for me to finish up a wonderful 11-year run with a 4am alarm.
“I plan to take some time to reflect and recharge with my family and, after a good, long break, have a look at what the next project for Triple M looks like in 2021, building on new ground we forged back in 2009.
“Now we change and innovate again. We wish whoever sits behind this microphone going forward the best of luck.”
McGuire paid tribute to former Hot Breakfast co-hosts Tony Moclair, Mieke Buchan, Mick Molloy and Wil Anderson, and the show’s long time voice of reason, Rosie Walton.
“I remember as a schoolboy saying, ‘I’d love to be on the radio, it sounded exciting’,” McGuire said.
“I was told you need to have a special voice to do so. I heard Derryn Hinch a couple of weeks later and realised you need to have something to say, news to break and a connection with your fellow person.”
The past 11-years had seen “children born, parents buried, and ups and downs aplenty,” McGuire said.
Darcy said he was privileged to do the show.
“Some of the best experiences in my life have been in the past 11 years,” he said.
“The last 11 years has been the most enjoyable experience you could imagine.”
Darcy said he told his youngest son Max about his plan to quit Triple M on Tuesday.
“That’s cool, Dad,” Max replied. “I’ve never seen you in the morning. You haven’t walked me to school before.
“It’s been magnificent, humorous, mischievous and extraordinary at the same time.
“I had no idea of the privilege it was to talk to Melbourne every day. I didn’t understand it. I do now, and it’s an incredible honour.”
Southern Cross Austereo’s chief content officer, Dave Cameron, said: “I’d like to sincerely thank Eddie and Darce for what has been a wonderful 11 years in the toughest spot in radio.
“We are very grateful for the professionalism and loyalty Eddie and Darce have shown to Triple M and our listeners.”
Triple M Head of Content, Mike Fitzpatrick, said: “Eddie has brought a unique insight into our city every day.
“It’s been a pleasure and a highlight to work with this show and the incredibly talented people, both on and off air, who’ve made it.”
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