Radio host Diane ‘Dee Dee’ Dunleavy dumped from 3AW Afternoons Melbourne

A prominent Melbourne radio host has been blindsided after being let go from 3AW, declaring she had been having “the time of my life” in her role.

Melbourne radio host Diane ‘Dee Dee’ Dunleavy has been axed from her hosting role on 3AW Afternoons in Melbourne.

The prominent personality, who had held the job for three years, said she was “devastated” by the station’s decision not to renew her contract at the end of the year, making the call to step down effective immediately.

“I was having the time of my life in my job. I’m devastated that it has come to an end. I am extremely happy to be leaving with ratings that I am proud of,” Dunleavy wrote on Twitter Monday morning.

“I will miss my team and my dedicated audience. I have always been grateful that they have shared their lives with me.”

Dunleavy’s axing comes as a huge surprise, with her show holding the number one spot on the AM dial in the 12-3pm timeslot, according to the most recent radio survey which dropped in April.

Taking the FM dial into account, she held the number two spot behind Gold 104.3 with Toni Tenaglia. The latest survey is set to be released on Tuesday.

Dee Dee Dunleavy has been axed from her hosting role at 3AW Afternoons in Melbourne.

Dunleavy has been with 3AW for 11 years, and prior to her gig on Afternoons, she worked as a presenter on The Weekend Break with Grubby.

3AW station manager Stephen Beers said: “I want to thank Dee Dee for her three and a half years on Afternoons and before that her stint on Weekend Break with Grubby. She’s been a great part of the 3AW line up.”

In a statement released by 3AW, Dunleavy added she was “happy to leave on a high”.

“I took over the Afternoons program just as the pandemic plunged us into lockdown, and so I faced the dual challenge of navigating a new show – remotely – while keeping the audience informed and entertained,” she said.

Dee Dee hosted the show through the Covid pandemic.

“I am forever grateful to all the callers who shared with me on air their grief at losing loved ones, and their anguish at losing their jobs and businesses. For those who were isolated, I hope I was part of the comfort and connection that radio brought to them during that time.

“Every day, I have thoroughly enjoyed hearing diverse opinions and discussing the stories that matter to Melbourne.

“I am grateful to 3AW for giving me the opportunity to grow my skills as a talkback presenter for the last 11 years.”

Elise Elliott will fill in on the show this week, with a permanent replacement to be announced at a later date.

Dee Dee’s career on the airwaves spans 30 years, with the radio star affectionately known as “Queen of Melbourne radio”, having taken over Afternoons from the beginning of 2020 after Denis Walter moved to the evening time slot.

She was previously part of Fox FM’s Morning Crew in the 1980s, before moving to the breakfast show on Gold FM in 2000.

Originally published as Radio host Diane ‘Dee Dee’ Dunleavy dumped from 3AW Afternoons Melbourne