Neil Mitchell rumoured to be replaced by Tom Elliott in massive 3AW shake-up

The biggest shake-up in 3AW history is under way, with Neil Mitchell looking set to hang up the headphones as a rising star joins the ranks.

Neil Mitchell is set to be replaced by Tom Elliott in a major shake-up at radio station 3AW.

The jungle drums are beating that the biggest shake-up in 3AW history is under way, with some big names in and some old names out.

With Neil Mitchell set to hang up the headphones, whispers from inside the 3AW corridor are growing louder that Tom Elliott is the man to move into the Mornings hot seat.

Legendary news breaking king Mitchell will be a hard act to follow for former hedge fund manager Elliott who currently hosts Drive.

Mitchell has been ambiguous about his future plans at the 3AW after an incredible 33 years at the station since joining in 1990, topping the ratings each survey in his timeslot by a country mile.

It is no secret 3AW has a huge obligation to do right by him, with insiders saying it is ultimately Mitchell’s call on when he decides to leave. His current contract was rolled on from June 30 to the end of 2023, to give him the “time and space” to make his decision.

But as they say in the classics, the show must go on, with a road map already in the works of what 3AW could look like in a post Neil era.

It’s a game of musical microphones with other big news at 3AW that former Channel 7 presenter Jacqui Felgate is set to take over the reins from Elliott in Drive.

Jacqui Felgate is set to take over from Elliott in Drive.

Impressed with Felgate’s growing social media following and experience as a journalist, it is not secret she is the new “golden girl” and rising star at 3AW, with top brass from Nine Entertainment’s Sydney headquarters impressed with what they see and hear.

It’s no coincidence Elliott was seen a mere few weeks ago dining at Crown’s networking hotspot Rockpool restaurant with Nine head honchos.

Completing the switcheroo is well liked overnight presenter Tony Moclair, who finally moves into the light and out of the graveyard shift as the new Afternoons presenter, in place of dumped host, Dee Dee Dunleavy.

Keeping up?

The changes will mean that Channel 9’s chief sport’s presenter and regular Mitchell fill-in, Tony Jones, will continue in his current role, rather than take a lead radio position.

Over at Nine, the popular Jones was considered to be in the running to replace much loved longtime anchor Peter Hitchener, when he ultimately decides to retire from reading Nine’s 6pm bulletin, but sources say that Alicia Loxley has been backed in.

Watch this space.