Troubled Aussie radio star eyes comeback after stepping away from spotlight

After being unceremoniously booted from the AFL grand final, the radio presenter stepped away from the limelight.

A Melbourne radio host who was reportedly unceremoniously booted from the AFL Grand Final earlier this year is eyeing a comeback after stepping out of the limelight.

Triple M’s Marty Sheargold, who hosts The Marty Sheargold Show in Melbourne, stepped away from his on-air position in October, with anchor Troy Ellis filling in for him.

Triple M breakfast host Marty Sheargold took time off earlier this year. Picture from Triple M.

It came after the Herald Sun claimed Sheargold was asked to leave a corporate area inside the Melbourne Cricket Ground at halftime after complaints were made about his behaviour by other attendees.

Now, three months later, neither Sheargold or Triple M have confirmed if the star will return to airwaves in 2024.

However, Sheargold will instead be returning to his roots in stand up as he stars alongside comedians Mick Molloy, Lawrence Mooney, and Sam Pang for a special event called The Comedians at the Geelong Arts Centre in February.

The show will be a “no holds barred, good old fashioned stand-up comedy show” with the stars promising to “bring all the laughs to the stage.”

In October, a spokesman for SCA, the company that owns Triple M, claimed Sheargold “left the cricket ground of his own accord”.

“Marty Sheargold left the AFL Grand Final at halftime of his own accord,” said the spokesman.

“We will continue to support Marty’s request for personal leave to spend time with his family and we look forward to having him back on air soon.”

Sheargold has yet to announce when he will be returning to his show. Picture Supplied.

Last month, Sheargold’s radio show scored a big ratings jump, hitting a 7.2 per cent audience share, which was up 1.4 per cent from the previous survey. However, sadly for Sheargold, the audience increase came without him sitting in the hot seat.

When he took a step away from airwaves in October, Sheargold cited “exhaustion” as his reason for needing a break.

The presenter went on to share that he’s been feeling “mentally exhausted” and is in desperate need of time away to recuperate.

“I think it’s important for people like myself who have a public voice to admit that I am exhausted mentally from my range of commitments across TV, radio and live shows, in an attempt to continue to remove some of the roadblocks and stigma around mental health,” he said.

“I need to set aside some time to get my work/life balance back into something that feels better than it has over the last couple of years. Thank you to everyone who has reached out, your support has been welcome and enriching.”