2UE goes further left field with choice of co-host for Dicko
2UE’s 2013 breakfast slot team of Ian Dickson and Sarah Morice
Sydney Fairfax radio station 2UE has gone in-house to choose 29-year-old newsroom reporter Sarah Morice to co-host the new breakfast program with Ian “Dicko” Dickson.
The unexpected choice follows former channel Ten Breakfast co-host Kathryn Robinson’s withdrawing the program at the last minute, thrusting Morice into the most commercially important and highest profile shift in radio.
2UE boss Chris Parker announced the decision today as part of a plan to take the station to a more leftish and slightly less opinionated platform to differ itself from dominant talk rival 2GB.
The decision caught many in the industry by surprise, and indicated 2UE had few other options for a co-host for the high profile Dicko – who previously worked the breakfast shift on Vega’s Sydney and Melbourne stations.
Morice joined 2UE in 2006 as a researcher on the John Laws program before moving to the newsroom as a bulletin reader and then reporter. Last year she won the prestigious Brian White award at the industry awards for excellence in journalism.
Parker said: “Sarah is the brightest young talent to emerge from within 2UE in years – she will bring a fresh and unique news perspective to the breakfast time slot.
“Dicko has already shown to be a big hit with listeners and Sarah Morice is a proven on-air talent with a fresh perspective on news and entertainment.
Dicko, who has already filled in on shifts for 2UE, said he was aware of the challenge ahead to lift 2UE’s poor ratings, given the breakfast shift sets up the pattern of listening on all stations for the rest of the day.
“This is definitely one of the biggest things I’ve tackled in my professional career,” he admitted.
“I’m not one to mince my words or hold back, but I think I can make a reasonable point without banging the table and screaming at listeners down the microphone.
Morice said: “I love working here and I believe Dicko and I can provide a really entertaining and engaging alternative for Sydney radio listeners. We want to give Sydneysiders a real voice – a place where people can have a say.”
The duo replace Jason Morrison, who moves to the drivetime slot as part of a wholesale shakeup following the failed relaunch of 2011.
Good choice!
And with the lead-in of the great overnight show which i believe comes out of Melbourne and rates relatively well, you’re on a winner.
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For heaven’s sake! I heard her at the weekend with Tim the gadet man – and I think she’ll be the stronger of the two, but surely they don’t believe this couple will get anywhere near Alan Jones. What a silly shakeup of the station! And what is to happen to Mike Jeffries – he should be retained for sure.
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We thought 2UE had reached rock bottom a few years ago, now 2013 will be it. It is a shame because the 2011 line up looked to have promise, but then sacking Smith, the debarcle of nights, Oldfield……….the wheels have fallen off. They might as well just broadcast the stream from 3AW – that would rate better.
I genuinely feel sorry for Jason Morrison. There is no way he deserves a demotion and yet look who they replaced him with. He did a great job at breakfast and it wouldn’t surprise me if he leaves. It is a shame because he is a talent and is popular with listeners. I also feel sorry for Paul Murray (he will have no lead in to work with), and loyal presenters like John Stanley who miss out again.
Breakfast is your key slot – if you don’t rate there, you don’t rate the rest of the day. As a 2UE listener, I can’t find anything positive about Dicko – looks like I am back to FM radio for breakfat.
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I agree that Mike should stay!
Sarah Morice is fantastic in her reporting and the longer airtime I have heard her on I think she will be a great addition to the team, looking forward to it! (I am a long term 2ue listener and am Generation Y).
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I thought it was illegal to interfere with a corpse!
Love their new tagline though: “Enjoy Your Constipation”
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Why didn’t they move Jason Morrison to mornings? Sydney listeners have shown over the years they want opinionated comment from people like Lawsie, Steve Price and Ray Hadley. I hardly think putting a mumbling pommy into the shift – who is best remembered for telling a talent show contestant to “lose a few pounds” – will be any threat to Hadley at all.
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I thought talk radio was a place for refined, qualified comment by hard hitting grumpy seasoned journos with compelling opinion who’d slogged it out in newspapers for years before they’d even be considered for a mid dawn gig!
2ue have decided on a self confessed alcoholic / reality guy and a 20 something girl straight out of uni to keep the bastards honest?
It’s almost like us they’re trying to sabotage themselves.
They’ve lost me forever.
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Angela Catterns and Wendy Harmer on 2UE breakfast?
Proven success on Sydney radio. Professional.
And available.
Good luck 2UE with Dicko. Good luck.
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I cant fathom why people throw stones at new on air teams who haven’t commenced on air yet. Give them a chance, have a listen and then decide if you like them or not. I hope they go well.
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they had to do something, Jason Morrison was struggling in Breakfast; the last survey before he started the audience was 196,000 now its 142,000…not a good lead in for the rest of the day. Paul murray in drive was also struggling – 164,000 listeners in the last survey before he started – 106,000 now…
These guys were meant to help 2UE but unfortunately they haven’t and its put pressure on the station. I’m surprised they are still employed
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Radio Fanatic…oops, your sexism is showing. Morice is a woman, not a girl. I doubt you’d describe a man of nearly 30 as a ‘boy’.
And I wish her all the best. It won’t be an easy job but I applaud 2UE for giving her a go.
And despite my best efforts to dislike him, I don’t mind Dicko either. The fact that he’s not a hard bitten, cynical, politically affiliated commentator (in reality very few of the other radio hosts have any journalistic pedigree) may be the refreshing change the audience needs.
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Cameron – did you hear Dicko when he filled in for mornings? It made me pine for Stuart Bocking…he just isn’t a talk back host. He’s a talented guy but talk radio isn’t one of them!!
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Great move new listeners will come to 2UE most likely from Sydney FM, posible from 702 ABC Sydney not a chance from 2GB.
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Sorry, what a big mistake you have made with Dicko, his voice is enough to put you off. Not sure about the other presenter,I wish her luck. 2UE is going to need it. Not really sure what they were trying to achieve putting a beige team together like this. Certainly does not fit into any genre on radio. My question is who is going to listen?Certainly not me and most of my friends who listened to Jason have told me they just turned off, unfortunately back to Alan Ned
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