Robin Bailey to depart Triple M Brisbane’s The Big Breakfast this week
Co-host of Triple M Brisbane’s The Big Breakfast radio program, Robin Bailey, will finish up on Friday, 20 September.
Bailey is departing to look after and spend time with her husband Sean Pickwell, who is battling cancer.
Bailey (centre) with her current co-hosts Greg Martin and Nick Cody
Pickwell is a former Southern Cross Austereo executive, and has done work for 2UE, as well as consulting for brands.
Bailey spent a decade with Australian Radio Network, but finished up at the end of 2016 when contract negotiations failed to yield a result.
Upon leaving the Robin, Terry and Bob show (featuring Terry Hansen and Bob Gallagher), Bailey said she had been “blindsided” by ARN’s decision to walk away. She was replaced by Bianca Dye on 97.3 FM.
Bailey was then picked up by Southern Cross Austereo’s Triple M, where she joined co-hosts Greg Martin and Ed Kavalee to form the Marto, Ed and Robin show.
Kavalee, however, departed in October 2017 to move back to Melbourne and spend more time with his family. He was replaced by Lawrence ‘The Moonman’ Mooney.
Mooney stuck around until the end of last year. The 2019 line-up saw Nick Cody take Mooney’s place.
Robin Bailey joined Triple M after being dumped by 97.3FM
Mooney now hosts Moonman in the Mornings on Sydney’s Triple M breakfast show.
In the first radio ratings survey of 2019, Triple M’s The Big Breakfast, featuring Bailey, Martin and Cody fell 2.4 percentage points to a share of 11.7%. This meant the show lost the top spot to Nova’s 106.9 team of Ash Bradnam, Kip Wightman and David ‘Luttsy’ Lutteral.
According to the most recent ratings survey, Triple M has an 11.2% share in breakfast, only marginally ahead of Bailey’s former home of 97.3 FM, which has climbed to 11.1%. Both stations remain behind Nova’s 12.7%.
The show will continue without Bailey
Bailey’s departure, however, has nothing to do with ratings.
Triple M’s Brisbane content director Rex Morris said Bailey’s resignation is marked by great sadness.
“Beyond her obvious talent, Robin has played an outstanding role for her team in the face of the sort of adversity that nobody should have to experience. There have been too many mornings to count where her bright personality and professionalism has masked the fact she may not have slept the night prior, or had just come to work after spending the night in hospital,” he said.
“Everyone at SCA will miss Robin, and while she won’t be behind the microphone with us, Robin will never be far from our thoughts.”
He also noted Bailey’s incredible achievements across multiple radio networks.
“Robin has enjoyed overall number one ratings results with The Big Breakfast, giving her the distinction of achieving number one breakfast show results for three different Brisbane radio stations in three different formats. She has also been part of the breakfast team that delivered the largest audience result in Triple M’s history early this year,” he said.
Bailey’s replacement will be announced in the near future.
In July 2018, Bailey’s husband Pickwell was given six months to live.
Bailey with her husband Sean Pickwell
In a letter today, he revealed why he is grateful for his diagnosis.
“Let’s be clear. I don’t want to die, but I will, and perhaps quite soon. There’s an inherent, self-preservation in us all, even with a diagnosis such as mine, because you never think you’re going to die. As every day goes by, I get more life to live, more joy, and you appreciate time,” he said, paying tribute to Bailey’s dedication, passion and love.
“Let’s not sugar coat this though. This shit has a crappy ending. This toxic and venomous cancer is destroying my body but what has come from this journey is almost impossible to really describe. I hope my words can inspire you to take some action now, before it’s too late.”
Bailey’s first husband Tony Smart died in 2014 after a battle with depression.
If you need urgent help, please contact:
Lifeline 13 11 14 www.lifeline.org.au
Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467 www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au
MensLine Australia 1300 789 978 www.mensline.org.au
Beyond Blue 1300 224 636 www.beyondblue.org.au
topics
Brisbane Radio
Nick Cody
radio
Rex Morris
Robin Bailey
Sean Pickwell
The Big Breakfast
triple M
Triple M Brisbane
Robin you will be so missed on tripplem but you have made the best decision to be with the live of your life,cherish every special moment my thoughts are with you and Sean, always.
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