Angus O’Loughlin and Ash London to host Shazam Top 20 Countdown

HE was fired from his first job and she used to write condom commercials. Meet the team who have risen to one of the top spots on Australian radio, but done it the hard way.

Angus O'Loughlin and Ash London are teaming to host a new national radio show

HE was fired from his first big job and she used to write condom commercials, but now Angus O’Loughlin and Ash London are teaming up for a national nightly countdown show.

The pair will front a new 2DayFM evening show, the Shazam Top 20 Countdown, from next Monday, replacing the Bump Show which O’Loughlin has hosted solo for two years.

Using the daily data of popular song identification phone app Shazam, the pair will present the hottest tunes around with a mix of pop culture and big name celebrity guests.

From humble beginnings ... Angus O’Loughlin started out working in promotions and earning $24,000 a year. Picture: Supplied

TV star ... Ash London has been hosting music television show The Loop. Picture: Damian Shaw

Both presenters have worked hard to reach top billing on major networks, with O’Loughlin starting out as a low paid promotions worker in Townsville in 2007.

“I was essentially flipping sausages and earnt $24,000 a year, and had to live in a backpacker hostel. I lived pay cheque to pay cheque but it was the best time of my life.”

After nagging his way into weekend hosting shifts, he landed a gig at a station in Tasmania two years later and moved south, but was fired after three short months.

“They didn’t think I was very good,” he said.

Rising star ... Angus O'Loughlin, pictured with pop star Ariana Grande, has climbed through the radio ranks to become a popular presenter. Picture: Instagram

Meanwhile, around the same time in 2009, London was working as a radio advertisement copywriter with the dreams of one day being on air herself.

“I once had to write a condom commercial. I’m the biggest prude in the world. I ended up doing the voice for it too.”

Lots of chemistry ... Ash says Angus still makes her blush when he’s around. Picture: Damian Shaw

Thankfully they both climbed the commercial radio ladder and worked together in 2013 hosting the Take 40 countdown show. They developed an undeniable chemistry, she said.

“Angus makes me physically blush most times I see him. I need to stop reacting. He makes me laugh.”

The new show will launch next Monday with the help of Australian boy band 5 Seconds of Summer.

The ‘It’ band ... 5 Seconds of Summer will help launch the new Shazam Top 20 Countdown next Monday. Picture Cameron Richardson

Other big name guests for the first week include British singer Olly Murs and country pop sweetheart Taylor Swift.

“Before we go on, Ash wanted to know what our code was for when I say something inappropriate — our safe word,” O’Loughlin said of preparations.

“You know what it was?” London said. “Commitment. That’s the one word that makes him feel nervousness and fear in his heart.”

The Shazam Top 20 Countdown begins next Monday at 7pm across Australia on the 2DayFM network.