Dr Mumbo

Hamish and Andy to return to Today Network’s drive show?

hamish-and-andy-234x190

Hamish and Andy pick up an ACRA in 2009

September might be the time of year for footy trades, but it’s also the time when our commercial radio networks also recruit, demote and rationalise their best and worst performing presenters.

Last year saw some record-breaking activity, with the big money move that of Kyle and Jackie O from 2DayFM’s breakfast in Sydney to the revamped Kiis1065, as several stations overhauled their line ups.

However, this year it looks like we won’t be seeing the same flurry of activity, with content bosses from the Australian Radio Network and Nova Entertainment telling Dr Mumbo they’re happy with things as they are.

That just leaves Southern Cross Austereo, which already has a vacancy to be filled in the Adelaide brekkie slot. However, all eyes are on the Sydney station 2DayFM, which has struggled since the defection of K&J.

Despite those struggles don’t expect to see major changes there either – yet – with SCA’s content boss Craig Bruce saying they would stick with the line up of Jules Lund, Sophie Monk and Merrick Watts into next year, despite pulling just a 3.3 audience share in this survey saying “we are following through with our plans” for the show. 

Dan Debuf and Maz Compton

Dan Debuf and Maz Compton

But the radio rumour mill has been buzzing about comedians Hamish and Andy, and what role they could play. Bruce admitted there “will be an exciting announcement in the next couple of weeks” adding “but nothing I can speak about yet”.

Tellingly, when asked if it was going to be around Hamish and Andy he went quiet, before saying “I can’t answer that question”. News Corp paper The Daily Telegraph has already speculated the comedians could be in line for a national gig.

If the network isn’t going to change its brekkie line ups, with Fifi Box and Dave Thornton top of the FM charts with Melbourne’s FoxFM, it puts the duo in line for a return to Drive.

The pair filled in for the current national drive hosts Dan Debuf and Maz Compton in June, and are no strangers to the slot having filled it for four years for the network with it the most-listened to show in Australia and picking up 14 Australian Commercial Radio Awards along the way.

They currently do a one-hour shift from 3pm-4pm leading into Drive called Happy Hour, and of course have been taking some sojourns around the world filming their Gap Year series for Chanel Nine. However, that’s not expected to make a comeback at the moment.

Of course that leaves the question of what would happen to the highly talented pairing of Dan and Maz, touted by some as potential replacements for the Sydney breakfast show trio?

They could be shunted to the 3pm slot, or if you were a conspiracy theorist, sent to Adelaide to iron out their breakfast patter before a move to Sydney later next year.

Dr Mumbo might be way off the mark, but the return of Hamish and Andy to primetime would certainly give the network a much-needed shot in the arm.

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