‘Ugly’ Phil O’Neil to host 2GB’s Overnights midnight to dawn timeslot

In a major shake-up for Australian radio, Ugly Phil O’Neil is set to leave WSFM and take over the Overnights slot on 2GB and 4BC in 2025.

"Ugly" Phil O'Neil with Jackie O, pictured in 1998, once worked together.

Sydney’s 2GB have announced that multi-award-winning broadcaster Ugly Phil O’Neil will take over as Overnights host in 2025.

The move marks a major shift for O’Neil, who has been leading WSFM Sydney’s morning show with strong ratings and recently claimed the 2024 ACRA award for Best Music Presenter.

His career spans decades, with top-rated shows in both Australia and the UK, earning multiple Sony, New York Radio and British Radio awards.

O’Neil became a household name with hit programs like Ugly Phil’s Hot Hits Chart Show and Ugly Phil’s Hot 30 Nightly, which captivated millions of listeners for over a decade.

O’Neil’s journey in radio began in the 1990s, where he hosted the Hot30 Countdown and later held prime slots on stations like Nova 969 and Triple M.

Ugly Phil won the ACRA award for Best Music Host (Metro), at last month’s ACRA awards. Picture: supplied

He was also briefly married to Jackie O Henderson in the 90s.

The two were once the golden couple of Australian radio, meeting when Jackie O called in to a Gold Coast radio station where O’Neil was working.

They married soon after but separated in 1999. Their former working relationship and his charismatic style have made O’Neil a distinctive voice in radio.

Radio broadcaster Ugly Phil O’Neil. Picture: Supplied

His recent success at WSFM made headlines in November when he unexpectedly dethroned 2GB stalwart Ray Hadley in the morning radio ratings, securing a 12.7 per cent audience share — surpassing Hadley’s 11.1 per cent and SmoothFM’s 11.2 per cent.

Reflecting on the move, O’Neil said, “All the roads I’ve travelled have led to this moment. There are no finer radio stations to pursue my talk radio aspirations than at 2GB and 4BC. This really is the most exciting and pivotal moment of my career.”

Nine Radio Content Manager Greg Byrnes added, “Phil will bring fresh energy to overnights and is an exciting addition to our new lineups in Sydney and Brisbane. He’s engaging, entertaining and has a loyal following. Phil loves talk radio, and our early morning listeners are going to love getting to know him.”

Overnights with Phil O’Neil will air Tuesday to Friday on 2GB and 4BC, beginning Tuesday, March 4, 2025.

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Originally published as ‘Ugly’ Phil O’Neil to host 2GB’s Overnights midnight to dawn timeslot