Ray Hadley announces Mark Levy as his on-air successor

Veteran broadcaster Mark Levy will replace the retiring radio legend as the host of the morning program on Sydney station 2GB.

Ray Hadley is ending his radio career after 43 years. Picture: Rohan Kelly.

Veteran broadcaster Mark Levy will replace Ray Hadley as the host of the morning program on Sydney radio station 2GB.

Levy is no stranger to the 2GB listeners – he has been a regular fill-in for Hadley and stablemate Ben Fordham in recent years, and has worked for the station for 18 years.

Hadley, 70, announced on November 7 that he was retiring at the end of the year, after a 43-year career in radio.

On Tuesday morning, Hadley told 2GB listeners he was “thrilled” with the news that Levy would succeed him.

Mark Levy

Levy told Hadley that it was “like following Bradman”.

“As a young kid I grew up listening to the talkback kings and to be taking over a timeslot that’s been owned by a mentor and a friend for the last 20 years is something I am excited about and extremely honoured to do,” Levy said on Tuesday morning.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead and I can’t wait to speak to our loyal listeners every morning about the issues affecting them in what’s shaping up as an important election year.”

Like Hadley, Levy cut his teeth in sports broadcasting, and is a well known rugby league caller.

Levy will officially take over the 9am-midday timeslot next Monday, December 16, and will continue his commentary role with the station’s sports team on weekends during the NRL season.

Hadley, who won 160 consecutive radio ratings surveys across 20 years until last month, when he ran second to music station WSFM, will front his final program on 2GB on Friday.