Lauren Phillips opens up on ‘brutal’ axing and what comes next

On the eve of her final breakfast show, dumped host Lauren Phillips has revealed how she coped with the shock news and questioned whether a Sydney-based show can work in Melbourne.

Dumped radio host Lauren Phillips has questioned whether a Sydney-based show will work in her beloved Melbourne hometown.

On the eve of her final KIIS breakfast program, an emotional Phillips opened up to the Herald Sun on her highs and lows and what’s next for the recently engaged star.

“It’s still pretty raw and pretty fresh,” Phillips said describing the firing as “brutal”.

It was revealed last week that the Kyle and Jackie O program, will be simulcast to Melbourne next year after the Sydney shock jocks signed a record breaking $200-million contract with the radio network.

The decision meant the axe fell on the Melbourne-based Jase and Lauren show after two-and-a-half years.

“There are not many other jobs in the world where you have to announce to the whole state that you’ve lost your job and who is replacing you,” she said.

Piper-Heidsieck ambassador Lauren Phillips pictured at Fawkner Park Tennis Centre. Picture: Ian Currie

“I was at home when I got the call the night before to say that the show was no longer.”

Her first calls were immediately to her co-hosts, Jason “Jase” Hawkins and long time friend and colleague Clint Stanaway.

“Jason’s at home trying to juggle three kids and Clint came straight over,” she said.

“He’s a regular piece of furniture. We had a champagne and we called our parents together because we both felt like naughty kids who had just got fired.”

Phillips love of Melbourne is hard to match, which is exactly why she thinks it is a sticking point for her Harbour City replacements.

“It was very much a Melbourne show,” Phillips said.

“We talked about the things that Melbourne wanted to talk about.

“It was a safe place when this great city had gone through a lot of things, from lockdowns to the cost of living. We made it a place for people to laugh and for people to cry.

Kyle Sandilands and his on- air partner Jackie O will be beamed into Melbourne next year to justify their $200 million ten-year deal. Source: Instagram

Lauren Phillips says she won’t be going anywhere. Picture: Ian Currie

“Our listeners wanted that and they are smart. If I walk away from it with just one person saying the show belongs to Melbourne than I would be pretty proud of that.”

But Phillips, 36, won’t be going anywhere, anytime soon.

While she may have a lavish wedding to plan with her aviation tycoon Paul O’Brien, the much-loved TV personality has already lobbed in her next working gig, as ambassador to the Australian Open’s champagne sponsor Piper-Heidsieck.

“It’s seriously my favourite time of the year in Melbourne,” she said, adding with a laugh, “I’ve spent many an afternoon in the champagne bar at the Australian Open, so it’s nice to back working in an official capacity and with a brand I absolutely love.

“I truly think Melbourne is the greatest city in the world.”