3AW terminates afternoon host Dee Dee Dunleavy
Nine Radio’s Melbourne station 3AW has dropped its afternoons presenter Dee Dee Dunleavy, terminating her on-air role immediately.
In a statement, the station said: “3AW has agreed to an early conclusion for Dee Dee Dunleavy’s on-air role, after informing the broadcaster her contract would not be renewed at the end of the year.”
Dunleavy said that she was “happy to leave on a high, and with a record that I feel very proud of”. She moved to the afternoon slot in 2020 from her weekend spot with long-time co-host Peter ‘Grubby’ Stubbs.
Dunleavy
The announcement came on the eve of the third GfK metro radio survey results of the year. In the survey two results from April, Dunleavy’s afternoon spot was the only slot where 3AW didn’t hold the most share.
Nevertheless, Dunleavy managed to secure a 12% afternoon share in the latest survey, a slight increase from where she started – 11.5% in the first survey of 2020 that measured the beginning of her tenure as the afternoon host.
“I took over the Afternoons program just as the pandemic plunged us into lockdown, and so I faced the dual challenge of navigating a new show – remotely – while keeping the audience informed and entertained,” Dunleavy continued in the statement.
“I am forever grateful to all the callers who shared with me on air their grief at losing loved ones, and their anguish at losing their jobs and businesses. For those who were isolated I hope I was part of the comfort and connection that radio brought to them during that time.
“I am grateful to 3AW for giving me the opportunity to grow my skills as a talkback presenter for the last 11 years.”
3AW station manager Stephen Beers said “I want to thank Dee Dee for her three and a half years on Afternoons and before that her stint on Weekend Break with Grubby. She’s been a great part of the 3AW line up.”
Elise Elliott will fill in this week on 3AW afternoon from today.
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Darcy Song was a reporter at Mumbrella, covering media owners, adtech and social platforms. She left in October 2023.
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My husband and I always enjoyed DeeDee’s afternoon show. Best radio commentator in this slot for a long time.
Very disappointed in 3AW’s decision to dismiss her suddenly like they did. We won’t be listening at that time anymore. DeeDee will be hard to replace. We don’t enjoy the breakfast show anymore since John Burns left. Still enjoy Neil Mitchell and Tom Elliott.
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That’s the final AW straw for me. The station this year is football, football and more football. Plus, breakfast is a shell of it’s former incarnation since Burnso left.
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why was dd dropped, they are not saying, what’s the big secret
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Why ?? Odd that Mrs Elliott has replaced DD, or is it !!!
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Fed up of the non stop commentary on football on 3 AW. A real turnoff.
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Bring DD back it’s an uninteresting mess at the moment
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Don’t like the morning sessions now Only Ike Neil and grubby and Simon and de de can’t stand tony moclaire and his bloody planes
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What a shame DD has gone. Fantastic show with her. Sorry 3aw it’s goodbye to you from me.
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I’m devastated there will be no more DD on 3AW afternoons. Why has she gone.?
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