Ben Fordham quits Ninja Warrior hosting gig to focus on 2GB

Ben Fordham has confirmed he won’t return to co-host the next season of Ninja Warrior, as he focuses on his successful radio gig.

Ben Fordham has stepped down from his Australian Ninja Warrior hosting gig.

The 44-year-old journalist, who has hosted the Channel 9 show alongside Rebecca Maddern since its premiere in 2017, told The Daily Telegraph he wanted to focus primarily on his successful radio show on 2GB.

“I’ve decided that it would be better for me just to focus on the main game, which is breakfast radio. For the sake of my mental fitness and also my family, I think it is better to call it a day on Ninja Warrior and focus on radio,” Fordham told the publication.

Rebecca Maddern and Ben Fordham have hosted Australian Ninja Warrior since 2017.

The father-of-three stepped in to host the popular breakfast show after veteran Alan Jones, who had held the position since 2001, retired in May last year.

Jones, 80, dominated the airwaves in the early timeslot for many years, and Fordham has managed to continue delivering strong ratings for the broadcaster.

There was a momentary slip in July when 2GB was surprisingly toppled by Kyle and Jackie O – marking the first time in more than 15 years that it lost the title of ‘Sydney’s top-rating breakfast show’ – but Fordham quickly managed to claw straight back to the top.

Ben Fordham is the king of breakfast radio in Sydney. Picture: John Feder/The Australian.

In the August round of radio ratings, Fordham went up 3.5 points to have a 16.8 per cent audience share, whereas Kyle and Jackie O fell 3.4 points to have a 12.1 per cent audience share.

He further cemented his lead this month, climbing 2 points to have an 18.8 per cent audience share, making 2GB the most listened to station in Sydney on both AM and FM dials.

Fordham said he would continue to work with the Nine Network, which he’s been involved with for more than 20 years.