Gossip Queen: Gold loses its shine for Jo Stanley and Anthony Lehmann

GOLD FM breakfast duo Jo and Lehmo are facing an uncertain future with their popular show set to be axed.

Jo Stanley and Anthony ‘Lehmo’ Lehmann. Picture: Julie Kiriacoudis

IT seems all that glitters is not gold, with yet another strong radio team set to depart the ARN dial despite far from disastrous ratings.

Gold FM’s breakfast duo of Jo Stanley and Anthony ‘Lehmo’ Lehmann are facing a deeply uncertain future with the axe surprisingly looming over their popular show.

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Both are out of contract at the end of the year and neither of them have yet inked new deals with Gold.

The ‘Jo and Lehmo Show’ was ranked third in the Melbourne FM breakfast shift in the most recent radio ratings survey, with a 7.7 per cent share ahead of Triple M and Nova FM.

One of Australia’s cleverest comics, Lehmann launched his first book This Shirt Won’t Iron Itself on Tuesday.

A rollicking read of a life well lived, the book contains a prophetic comment on radio contract negotiations.

Anthony ‘Lehmo’ Lehmann and Jo Stanley. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

“Over the years I have developed a basic radio rehiring theory if your contract is up,” he writes.

“If you are flying, they start negotiations before June.

“If you are doing well, they start negotiations before August. If they tried to get someone else but had no luck, they will start negotiations before October. If you haven’t started before November, you are f----d.”

Lehmann joined ARN in 2011 hosting Breakfast on Mix FM (now KIIS) for two years with Brigitte Duclos before he and Duclos moved to Gold Breakfast in 2012.

Duclos departed the show at the end of 2015 and Stanley joined Lehmann on Gold Breakfast in 2016.

The mooted changes at Gold come after a major shake-up at sister station KIIS FM. Both Gold and KIIS are owned by ARN.

The ARN 2018 makeover of KIIS announced last month will see Matt Tilley and Meshel Laurie depart Breakfast, and Dave Hughes and Kate Langbroek vacate Drive. Asked about the future of the Jo and Lehmo Show, ARN said via statement: “ARN will make announcements about Gold 104.3 in 2018 when we have news to share.”