David ‘Hughesy’ Hughes has claimed he knows the real and “ironic” reason Kyle and Jackie O are no longer on the radio.
Dave ‘Hughesy’ Hughes has lifted the lid on the “ironic” reason he believes the Kyle and Jackie O Show unravelled, claiming the downfall of the radio juggernaut began years before their recent on-air bust-up.
The 55-year-old comedian and media personality shared his theory while appearing on the Legends with Bevo podcast over the weekend, revealing what he believes was the “beginning of the end” for the blockbuster breakfast program.
Hughes, who has had a long-running and often public feud with radio shock jock Kyle Sandilands, suggested the duo’s record-breaking contract ultimately placed impossible pressure on ARN, the radio network behind the show.
Dave ‘Hughesy’ Hughes has lifted the lid on the “ironic” reason he believes the Kyle and Jackie O Show unravelled. Picture: YouTube @Legends With Bevo
Sandilands, 54, and his longtime co-host Jackie ‘O’ Henderson, 51, were recently taken off air after a heated on-air clash reportedly sparked by a discussion about star signs left Henderson in tears.
The fallout triggered Henderson’s shock departure from the show, while Sandilands has been given 14 days by broadcaster ARN to respond to what the company has described as “an act of serious misconduct”.
The turmoil comes just a year after the pair signed a record-breaking $200 million, ten-year deal with ARN, making them the highest-paid talent in Australian radio history.
Asked what he “made of the whole situation”, Hughesy said he believed the massive contract itself was what ultimately doomed the show.
“I know both of them- me and Kyle have had tiffs over the years, but we’ve certainly made up and I don’t hold any grudges anymore,” the father-of-three said.
“Jackie I used to work with on the Masked Singer for a few seasons and she’s lovely.
“But they signed a contract two years ago, and it was very well publicised, and trumpeted basically, like $200 million or whatever- and I remember at the time thinking, ‘radio can’t afford that’.
“You could rate 100 [per cent audience share] and that’s not enough money to pay that.”
Hughesy said the huge payday may have seemed like a victory at the time, but in hindsight it marked the moment things started to unravel.
“Ironically, it was what should’ve been an amazing moment- but was too much money, it was wasn’t well thought out and, here we are two years later and they’re off air and they may never be back on air in that form.
“So, yeah, I think that the signing of that contract was the beginning of the end for them.”
The comedian also argued the enormous salary package had ripple effects across the industry, claiming it forced ARN to cut costs elsewhere.
“So many people got sacked because they’re trying to find the money to pay these guys and its just- the maths don’t work.”
Hughes added that widespread job losses across the radio industry over the past few years have been difficult to watch.
“I want to email all of them and or message him and go, ‘Guys, don’t take it personally. The industry is struggling for money’,” he said.
Hughesy said Kyle and Jackie O’s huge $200 million radio contract was the “beginning of the end for them.” Picture: NCA
“A lot of good people are getting sacked because they’re on good wages and the company can’t afford it.
“So, they’ll sack an experienced person who’s really good at their job and put someone in for minimum wage just to try to get through to the next end of the next financial year. And that’s the main problem.”
Hughesy’s comments come as fresh details emerge about the dramatic breakdown of the once-dominant radio breakfast show.
Reports have suggested the program’s removal from the airwaves may have been brewing for months, with Henderson allegedly spotted at the London headquarters of Bauer Media Audio UK last year.
According to the Daily Mail, the radio star was recognised by a fellow Australian while visiting the building’s ground-floor café.
“She was at the coffee shop on the ground floor and was spotted by someone who used to work in Australia and recognised her,” a well-placed source told the publication.
However, it remains unclear whether the visit was business-related or purely personal.
“She may have just been visiting a friend.”
On Friday, Henderson publicly disputed claims she had resigned from the show in a strongly worded statement shared by her manager, Gemma O’Neill.
ARN had earlier announced the presenter had quit after telling executives she “cannot continue to work with” Sandilands following the on-air dispute.
However, Henderson insisted she had not walked away from the program or her contract.
“Over the past few days, there has been a lot of speculation and misinformation about my departure from the show. I want to make one important point very clear: I did not quit or resign,” she stated.
“I am deeply saddened by the events of the past week and the possibility of the show ending. This has come as a shock to me, as it has to everyone else.”
Henderson added that the “current media narrative” did not reflect the reality of the situation.
After nearly a week of radio silence, the usually outspoken shock jock addressed the drama for the first time on Monday night during an appearance on Australian Idol.
Sitting in the judges’ chair, Sandilands appeared to allude to the turmoil surrounding his radio career while offering feedback to a contestant.
“Great performance, great song choice, beautiful delivery and a great message, we all need to get by with a little help from our friends,” Sandilands said.
“This week has been tough for me. I had a falling out with a very close friend.”