Ray Hadley pulls the plug on 43-year broadcast career

Ray Hadley, who has won 160 consecutive radio ratings surveys dating back more than 20 years, has told listeners that his last broadcast will be on December 13.

Ray Hadley has quit his top rating radio show. Picture: Tim Pascoe

One of Australia’s most successful talkback radio hosts, 2GB’s Ray Hadley, has announced his retirement.

Hadley, who has won 160 consecutive radio ratings surveys dating back more than 20 years, told listeners on Thursday that his last broadcast will be on December 13.

“Back in September I turned 70 and started to think, ‘how long I have got left on this Earth’, and do I want to keep getting up at 3.30 in the morning, meaning I go to bed early.

“At social events, I’m always the first out the door. I don’t want to be the first out the door anymore.”

Hadley started his working life “as an auctioneer, wanting to be a race caller”.

After working as a cab driver to sustain himself during lean times, Hadley got a job calling greyhound races on Saturday afternoons.

In 1986, he moved into rugby league radio commentary, and six years later, got his first taste of talkback radio when filling in for John Laws on Sydney radio station 2UE.

In 2002, he moved to 2GB at the urging of the station’s owner John Singleton.

In July, he celebrated his 160th consecutive ratings win in that timeslot.

Hadley’s departure comes just weeks after Nine Entertainment, owner of 2GB, released the findings of the independent review into the company’s workplace culture.

There is no suggestion that the findings of the review played any part in Hadley’s decision to announce his retirement.

When the findings of the review ere made public last month, Hadley said he thought he knew the identity of some of the perpetrators. “Some are no longer in the business, but unfortunately some are still in the business,” he said last month. “How they’re still in the business, I’m not quite sure.”

Hadley also admitted that he hadn’t always treated male colleagues in the most appropriate fashion.

“As you all know, 10 years ago, I decided my rather robust way of dealing with some matters had to change, particularly in relation to my dealings with men I work with,” he said.

In a statement on Thursday, 2GB’s content manager Luke Davis said: “Ray Hadley’s contribution to Australian radio and millions of listeners over the years can be marked by volume, impact and tenure. A new host for the 2GB Morning Show will be announced in due course.”