Hughesy and Ed set for 2021 but will Marty Sheargold land at Triple M?

The puzzle pieces are falling into place for the 2021 radio season but is Marty Sheargold set for Triple M a sure thing or a red herring? Check out the latest news on Melbourne’s movers and shakers with Alice Coster.

Carrie Bickmore and Tommy Little. Picture: Supplied

It’s that ear-tingling time of year when many of our on air talent’s contracts are winding up and they start playing radio microphones.

Many of them drum up stories about leaving, or been headhunted in the hope of driving up their pay packets.

You have to cut through the spin and after confirmation Dave Hughes and Ed Kavalee are leaving Hit network’s, Drive, for Sydney’s trouble-plagued brekkie show with Erin Molan the rest of the ducks may fall into place soon.

Ed Kavalee, Dave Hughes and Erin Molan.

Their move, which will see their show syndicated in the afternoon to double down on the Hughesy appeal.

It’s also allowed the announcement of an extended show for Tommy Little and Carrie Bickmore who will now anchor Hit’s national drive show.

The last remaining puzzle piece is Marty Sheargold and the much talked about rumour that he’ll be taking on what was formerly Hot Breakfast’s domain.

Even Eddie McGuire joked about it to Sheargold’s former Nova team Katie and Tim wondering if he was “cutting his lunch”.

Would early starts work for Sheargold again? Just think of Mick Molloy. Or will Sheargold be joined by someone if he takes over from McGuire and Luke Darcy?

Marty Sheargold.

Everyone thinks you need a wingman until Christian O’Connell came along, solo, with just a panel operator.

All the naysayers said a Pom could never rule over a show on our brekkie radio, only for him to take out the number one spot on Gold FM.

But O’Connell has had a sweet spot for Triple M since the early days, considering it his dream gig if he moved from the UK.

Word is SCA wasn’t interested in O’Connell for Triple M. But that was then.

O’Connell’s now deleted tweets about Sheargold joining Triple M certainly raised eyebrows by management at current employer ARN.

Stranger things have happened, with networks poaching talent under each others’ noses. That’s why nondisclosure agreements are signed off.

And will the Fifi, Byron and Fev line-up be getting an extra voice? It’s all the goss in radio land.

GUESS WHO?

THE AFL rumour, well just one of the doozies currently sweeping Melbourne in off season at the moment, is the one about the keenness to limit a payout to a former partner, which has played a hand in a disastrous back-ended contract fallout.

PATTI BEATS THE PAPS

THERE’S no business like show business and Patti Newton still reigns queen.

After eyeing a few patients and their families taking snaps of husband Bert in his gown in the hospital corridors, the showbiz royal posted her own pic.

Bert Newton in hospital. Picture: Instagram

Rather than seeing Bert in his gown with a beat-up splashed across the glossies, she jumped in first on Instagram.

“So people can know the real story.”

Patti says the 82-year-old still has plenty of years left to spend with “the apple of his eye,” daughter Lauren’s three-month-old baby Alby, her sixth child which she named after him.

Patti says Newton is in hospital for a thorough once over and some rehab after being a bit “wobbly on his feet”.

“He’s in there having a bit of maintenance.”

Like all of us, Ol’ Moonface has been somewhat sedentary during the COVID crisis.

Take a bow queen Patti.

JUDGE TICKS OFF TRIPOS

EX-Bachelor contestant Georgia Tripos was quick to thank an understanding judge when she avoided a jail term on Friday for trafficking drugs.

A contrite Tripos said she couldn’t thank the judge enough after she was given a three-year Community Correction Order.

It was almost like receiving a red rose.

The 29-year-old, er, beauty salon owner, showed her marketing smarts in using online site Craigslist to sell cocaine under the code “White VIP”.

The former reality contestant who appeared on the 2016 edition of the reality dating series vying for Richie Strahan’s love, pleaded guilty and admitted to selling drugs with a friend on Craigslist in 2017.

Tripos in The Bachelor.

Tripos outside court. Picture: Josie Hayden

“Tickets sorted? Grab some White VIP for $350,” was the line on one of the ads posted on Craigslist.

“It’s been a tough time for everybody, but you’ve demonstrated with conviction and with treatment and support, you can change,” Judge Irene Lawson told Tripos.

“I can’t thank you enough for giving me that confidence, Your Honour,” Tripos responded.

She was caught drug dealing after her friend and co-accused Kristiana Karakostas sold a gram of cocaine worth $350 to an undercover police officer at a Mt Waverley carpark. Duh!

Karakostas was sentenced to a three-year Community Correction Order after pleading guilty to drug trafficking and dealing with the proceeds of crime.

Tripos, who also pleaded guilty to dealing with the proceeds of crime, was found with $3136.70 cash in her car.

A raid on her home uncovered $3350 in a safe together with resealable bags containing a white powder and one containing 0.1 grams of cocaine.

Police said 68.5 grams of cocaine was sold and cocaine purity test kits were found in a bathroom.

The judge took into account the “remarkable” turnaround shown by Tripos and her commitment to drug treatment for her addiction.

Extreme media attention was also taken into account by the judge. Tripos must complete 150 hours of unpaid community work.