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Hamish and Andy quitting Today Network’s drivetime show

Hamish_Andy_Absolute_radio_mumbrellaHamish & Andy are quitting their nationally syndicated Today Network drivetime show – the most listened to in Australia – the duo have announced.

However, they will continue to do a weekly podcast and show for the Austereo-owned network.

Hamish & Andy – Hamish Blake and Andy Lee – told their listeners during this afternoon’s show that the decision came so that they would have time to work on other projects.

The move does not come as a major shock as the industry was already aware that their contract was up for renewal. In June, Austereo boss Guy Dobson told the Mumbrella podcast that he was in talks to keep them in some form. And Ten programming boss David Mott has also made no secret of wanting to do more with the pair.

The weekly show could be the next step in an internationally syndicated radio show with the duo already heard in the UK and Middle East.

Hamish and Andy are also due to talk about their plans on tonight’s edition of The 7PM Project on Ten.

The pair make their announcement:

The Austereo announcement:

The Hamish & Andy show will be a little smaller in size but equally as tasty in 2011.

Hamish & Andy and Austereo announce today the boys will do a free weekly podcast that will air a 2-hour radio show once a week on the Today Network and syndicated stations. There is also the option left open to pop up and work on additional projects with Austereo throughout the year.

Hamish & Andy said: “The idea of giving up the show completely was never considered as it is the most fun in the world. In addition to that, the listeners create the show just as much as us, so if we were to stop, we’d have had to consult every one of them. That’s an expensive phone bill.”

“We’ve had a ball doing the show in its current form and thanks to everyone who’s listened, we’ve literally got to live our dreams. This decision is simply an evolution of that, and we’re really excited for the next chapter of our adventure, because we’re big believers in what Abraham Lincoln always said during the brief period he was a greengrocer, ‘keep it fresh’.”

The change will allow the duo the time and flexibility to develop projects and ideas that are simply not achievable alongside a 5-day a week radio schedule.

“Many ideas have been put on the backburner over the last 5 years as they couldn’t work in conjunction with daily radio. We thought 2011 was a good time to put some of those ideas on the front-burner,” Andy said.

“I’ve always wanted to do a life drawing of Andy every day for an entire year, so I could capture his changing body shape through all the seasons. 2011 could be the year,” added Hamish.

CEO Austereo, Guy Dobson said: “It’s great to have Hamish & Andy continuing to share the journey across the next two years. They are an integral part of the Austereo team. It’s going to continue to be awesome for the Today Network brand.”

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