Brian Carlton goes out with a bang, delivering a scathing monologue about station management

Retiring radio host Brian Carlton has delivered a scathing monologue before being abruptly pulled off air. LISTEN TO HIS FINAL BROADCAST

TASMANIAN radio shock jock Brian Carlton has been abruptly pulled off air after he delivered an emotional monologue accusing “management” of poorly handling news of his upcoming resignation.

The Sunday Tasmanian this week revealed the popular radio host, whose Tasmania Talks show is broadcast each morning across Northern Tasmania, was resigning for personal reasons.

The plan had been that his four-year run would end in three weeks, on Friday October 25.

But Carlton began his show today with a seven-minute monologue attacking “management” of bungling the announcement — and minutes later he disappeared from the airwaves.

The remainder of his three-hour time slot was filled with music.

Gone

— Brian Carlton (@Spoonyman) October 6, 2019

During the monologue, which was broadcast live, Carlton claimed the “deal” had been to keep the announcement of his resignation as quiet as possible until the last day.

“We had a deal on that basis,” Carlton said.

“I suggested we develop a holding statement in case there was a discrete media enquiry about, you know, rumours.

“What happened on Friday was an all-staff memo went out with the media release — that was a holding release — attached to it indicating that would be released today.

“Management had emailed me here at my work email, but they’re very aware that I don’t have that email at home so I was not informed of this, prior to this happening, directly.

“So like many of you I woke on Sunday morning, yesterday morning, to the fact that I was a news item.”

Carlton said that as a result, his personal life was “now the subject of much, much speculation” and that was doing him a “huge amount of damage”.

Thanks folks. Your kind words are helping on a very weird day.

I’ll attempt to get back to you all as things settle a tad

— Brian Carlton (@Spoonyman) October 7, 2019

He said his was phone was going “berserk” after the news story on Sunday and social media was “going off”, yet none of the messages he received came from the management of the radio station.

“On the basis that there is a duty of care to employees who are known to be suffering issues, to not make that phone call, I think is unacceptable,” Carlton said on air.

He was taken off air almost immediately.

He later he told the Mercury: “Life goes on. Thanks to my loyal and engaged audience and supportive sponsors. I’ll miss you.”

Former Tasmania Talks radio host Brian Carlton after he delivered a scathing monologue about Tasmanian Broadcasters management. Picture: PATRICK GEE

A Tasmanian Broadcasters spokesman confirmed to the Mercury Carlton had now presented his final show.

“Tasmanian Broadcasters wishes to advise that Brian Carlton will not be resuming with Tasmania Talks,” the spokesman said.

“We are proud of the achievements of the show and are appreciative of Brian and the Tasmania Talks team for making the show the success that it has become.

“We thank Brian Carlton for his service to the company and wish him well for the future.”

The broadcaster has already found a replacement for the show, with Rick Fontaine to host as an “initial arrangement”.

Earlier in his monologue, Carlton described his past 12 months as “hell” and explained his decision to resign was about his desire to “rebuild his life ... elsewhere”.

“This is not how I wanted this story to finish,” Carlton told listeners.

“It is one of the saddest things of my life, ever.

“The decision has been made that I am moving from Launceston, and as a result of moving from Launceston I have to leave this job — the two things are intertwined: I can’t do it from somewhere else; I need to be somewhere else.

“Perhaps then I can put myself back together to be the kind of human being that I like.”

Tasmania Talks is broadcast throughout Launceston, Devonport, Burnie, Queenstown and Scottsdale service areas.

The show is also aired in Hobart on 7HO Classic Hits.