Kyle and Jackie O bringing hit show to Melbourne in massive shake-up for Jase and Lauren

An emotional Lauren Phillips has revealed how she found out her KIIS breakfast show was being dropped as Kyle Sandilands and Jackie “O” Henderson signed a landmark deal to be broadcast in Melbourne.

It’s official — Kyle Sandilands and Jackie “O” Henderson will be broadcast in Melbourne next year.

The ARN network announced they had signed a new landmark deal tying up the powerhouse duo until the end of 2034.

Speculation has been rife for months they would expand into Melbourne breakfast but KIIS FM had remained silent.

The news was sent out in a media release while Jase Hawkins and Lauren Phillips were on air with Clint Stanaway.

It means the Jase and Lauren In The Morning show, which started in August 2021, will no longer continue. In last week’s ratings survey the show had climbed to an impressive 8 per cent.

Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O will be broadcast in Melbourne. Picture: Supplied

“It’s a really hard day in here,’’ an emotional Phillips said on Wednesday.

“Not just for us, not just for our production team. For everyone. There’s a lot of very sad people here this morning and it extends well beyond the three of us.

“Last night we got the call just after 6 from management to say the Jase and Lauren Show is no longer.

“It has been a big day for all of us, our production, KIIS Melbourne, it’s a very sad day in here.”

In August, Brendan Fevola, who broadcasts on rival FOX FM alongside Fifi Box and Nick Cody, dropped the bombshell that he’d heard the rumour about Kyle and Jackie O moving into the Melbourne market.

Fevola said he’d received a phone call from someone who works in the radio industry in Sydney.

“He said, You might have competition next year. Someone in our city is now gonna be in Melbourne,” Fevola said.

“Kyle and Jackie!”

Jase Hawkins and Lauren Phillips will no longer be hosting their Jase and Lauren radio show. Picture: David Caird

Fevola insisted Kyle and Jackie O wouldn’t work as a breakfast show in Melbourne.

“That’s not the right DNA,” the former AFL star said. “That’s a Sydney show. Surely they’re not coming to Melbourne ... What the hell?”

Co-host Fifi Box agreed: “You should be in Melbourne when you’re broadcasting to Melbourne.”

On Wednesday, Phillips said: “There are some people licking their lips that they think they knew about this for a long time but it was news to us”.

“It’s not the way we wanted to go out, we love waking up with Melbourne in the mornings and they haven’t taken our swipe passes yet. We don’t have to but will be going through until Friday next week.”

Phillips and Hawkins became more emotional as they reminisced about the experiences they’ve shared.

“We wouldn’t have it any other way,’’ Phillips said.

“We were put together during lockdown when we couldn’t spend any time getting to know each other and this has just been the most glorious friendship.

“We didn’t want this. We said goodbye to both your mum and dad in those two years, we said hello to your baby Archie, said goodbye to the queen. We have celebrated and had broken limbs and heads.”

Hawkins said: “Since the news broke the lovely Abbey Holmes from Channel 7 dropped off pastries, Keeley who works in our promo department walked in with tears in her eyes and she brought in McDonalds.

“No doubt we’ll have more to say about it over the next couple of days.”

The professional trio continued on with the show.

Kylie Sandilands says he and Jackie Henderson will be ‘continuing with our politically incorrect nonsense for a long, long time’.

Sandilands commented on the $200m mega deal: “Fans of the show will be stoked to hear that this 10-year deal is the longest radio deal in Australian history. Love us or loathe us, Jackie and I will be continuing with our politically incorrect nonsense for a long, long time.

“Speaking of 10 years... 10 years ago the ‘other’ network we were once at told Jackie and I that we were past our used-by date and no longer relevant. So that’s a fun little observation that’s worth mentioning on such a momentous day.

“Cheers to ARN for the great partnership and to the future goals we’ll continue kicking together.”

Jackie O added: “It’s an honour to broadcast to Melbourne again after so many years, and to welcome them back to our craziness is really exciting.

“After 23 years of broadcasting with Kyle, I still pinch myself that our show continues to grow in ratings and in reach.

“We are incredibly thankful for the support ARN has showed us and the belief they continue to have in our show.”

Ciaran Davis, ARN Media CEO and managing director, said the decision to broadcast into Melbourne “was not made lightly”.

“I would like to thank Jase, Lauren, Clint and the team for their tremendous efforts and contribution. Despite believing in the show’s potential, the competitive market and longstanding heritage shows meant we were unable to cut through in the way we wanted.”

ARN also announced it had signed leading GOLD FM breakfast host Christian O’Connell until 2029 and beyond.

“Today I have nothing but deep gratitude at signing my new long-term deal, and that’s how my family feel, as well,’’ O’Connell said.

“It means I get to continue building and growing what I’m doing with my positive corner of the radio dial, where I want my listeners to feel like they belong, and we can share the messiness of being human!”