Dean ‘Clairsy’ Clairs departs Mix 94.5 breakfast, Pete Curulli named as replacement
Southern Cross Austereo’s successful Perth breakfast radio show on Mix 94.5 is losing Dean ‘Clairsy’ Clairs, who has announced his retirement from radio.
‘Clairsy’ has presented the breakfast show at Mix since 2001, most recently as part of the Clairsy, Matt & Kymba show with Matt Dyktynski and Kymba Cahill.
He’ll be replaced on the show by Pete Curulli, a presenter on the soon-to-be-defunct Hit 92.9 breakfast show in 2020. He was previously the drive host at Mix 94.5 from 2015 to 2019.
Clairsy, Matt and Kymba
The announcement is something of a surprise, given SCA’s recent announcement that Clairsy, Matt and Kymba would continue to present breakfast at Mix 94.5 in 2021 with the station set to join the Hit Network.
Clairs made the announcement live on-air this morning (Friday, November 27), informing listeners that he was wrapping up to spend more time with family.
“I started doing radio as a 17-year-old in 1983… I have decided to pull up stumps with my radio career,” Clairs announced.
“I’m leaving to go and tackle some other things in life… spend more time with my family. Other things have been getting in the way… so after 30 years with SCA and 20 years on Mix 94.5 I’ve decided I’m going to finish up on the 11th of December.”
During his time at the station, Mix 94.5 celebrated 100 consecutive ratings wins as Perth’s #1 radio station (between December of 1999 to June of 2012).
Clairsy, Matt and Kymba began as a trio in March of 2016, and since then they’ve been the #1 commercial breakfast show in Perth on 23 occasions.
Clairs also thanked his co-hosts; “I’d like to thank my many workmates past and present, including my most recent on-air teammates, Kymba and Matt, for some amazing radio and off-air memories.
“And to the amazing listeners who have ever tuned in, called the station or said hello around Perth, I can’t thank you enough for helping my radio dreams come true.”
https://twitter.com/Mix945Perth/status/1332123221169156096
Mix 94.5 head of content Erica McGee called Claris an icon of Perth radio. “When I began my radio career at PMFM 92.9 in 1993, the first news bulletin I read was in Dean Clairs’ workday shift.
“And his generosity shone in that very first moment, in a live comment on air praising me for my first ‘live’ news read, and forever coining the nickname he has for me.
“Clairsy is one of Perth’s radio icons. His contribution to our company and our industry cannot be easily rivalled. We will celebrate him over the coming weeks and farewell him in style on 11 December, but our friendship will endure.”
Co-host Cahill thanked Clairs for being an incredible colleague. “Fun, professional and engaging, but most of all he is a very close friend. Clairsy has been my work husband for 11 years and I’m going to miss him greatly.”
Dyktynski added: “Dean ‘Clairsy’ Clairs is a true gentleman in an industry known for its healthy egos.
“To have not only survived but continued at the highest level of broadcasting for over 30 years is nothing short of astonishing and is testament to his talent, professionalism and just how well liked he is throughout the industry. I’m going to miss his smiling face at 4:30 each morning.”
Dean ‘Clairsy’ Clairs has today announced he will be leaving SCA Perth’s Mix 94.5 Breakfast show, Clairsy, Matt & Kymba.⁰⁰Stepping in for Clairsy will be Pete Curulli.⁰⁰Listen to Pete, Matt & Kymba from Monday 11 January 2021.⁰⁰Read more here: https://t.co/4s82NnJCfS pic.twitter.com/cc1zaUOoUF
— SCA (@SCA) November 27, 2020
Curulli started out in radio at ARN in Canberra in 2010, before serving as the afternoon announcer at B105 in Brisbane.
In a statement, he paid tribute to the outgoing Clairs. “I’m very excited to return to Mix 94.5, but this moment isn’t about me.
“I want to take this opportunity to say thanks so much to a radio legend for what he’s given to Perth over the last 30 years, to congratulate him on an amazing career, and to thank him for the friend and mentor he’s been to me over my own career.
“Stepping into Clairsy’s spot is an incredible honour, and if I can have half the career he’s achieved, I’ll be extremely happy. Thanks for everything, mate.”
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Zanda Wilson was a reporter and podcast producer at Mumbrella, specialising in radio reporting. He left Mumbrella in September 2021.
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