Familiar voice returns to Overnight airwaves
Beloved broadcaster Tony Moclair is set to return to 3AW’s Overnight program, just months after being dumped in favour of a nationally syndicated program.
Fiona Byrne
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Much loved radio broadcaster Tony Moclair is returning to 3AW’s iconic Australia Overnight program with Sydney host Michael McLaren dumped.
Moclair returns to the airwaves on Sunday night, less than four months after he was moved sideways as Overnight became a nationally networked program through Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane with McLaren as host.
Such was listener sadness at his departure that a Change.org petition was quickly established in January calling for his return.
Moclair, a comedian, writer, broadcaster, ARIA award winner, and noted aviation enthusiast, said he was delighted to be returning to the midnight shift.
“I am thrilled to be returning to the arms of Australia’s best overnight audience,” Moclair said.
“The bad news is that my producer, has imposed Stage 4 restrictions on dad jokes and any talk about aircraft.
“The good news is I’ll be out of the house and not doing home schooling. Which explains why I’m working for free.”
Nine Radio Head of Content Greg Byrnes said the decision to bring back Moclair and make Overnight a local Melbourne program again was a result of listening to the 3AW audience.
“At the start of the year, we made the decision to return our evening programming to the local market with Denis Walter on 3AW and John Stanley on 2GB,” Byrnes said.
“The big audiences that both Denis and John have attracted at night shows our listeners seek the companionship and connection of a local voice.
“Returning Tony to overnights in Melbourne is recognition of that, as well as the high regard in which we hold him as a 3AW broadcaster.”
McLaren will continue to host Australia Overnight in Sydney and Brisbane.
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