Sammy J replaces Sami Shah and Jacinta Parsons in ABC Radio Melbourne breakfast slot
Comedian and regular radio contributor Sammy J will be stepping into the breakfast slot for ABC Radio Melbourne in 2020, following current presenters Sami Shah and Jacinta Parsons moving on to other roles with the broadcaster.
Sammy J is best known for his man/puppet comedy show Sammy J & Randy, which has toured Australia and is the basis of his ABC TV sitcom Sammy J & Randy in Ricketts Lane. He is a regular contributor to ABC Radio Melbourne, guest-presenting the Breakfast show in September and taking part in big events.
Sammy J is in at ABC Melbourne Radio as Jacinta Parsons and Sami Shah are out
ABC’s Melbourne manager, Dina Rosendorff, welcomed Sammy J to the Breakfast role next year, saying he had already established himself as a popular and engaging personality through his various roles on the station across the year.
“Sammy is an acute observer of the world around us and we look forward to his take on Melbourne life in 2020,” said Rosendorff.
Current Breakfast hosts Shah and Parsons remain with the station and both move to other roles in 2020. These will be announced in the national presenter line-ups to be released next week.
Regarding Shah and Parsons, Rosendorff said: “They are both extremely talented broadcasters and communicators. They have brought a fresh new sound to Breakfast along with a whole lot of new listeners. There is absolutely no way we would want to lose their skills.”
“This balance between existing and new audiences will be a focus for us in the new year. That doesn’t take away the from the exceptional job Sami and Jacinta have done building their show since early 2018 and we will give both plenty of opportunity to use their skills in the future. They are very much part of the ABC Radio Melbourne family.”
Despite promising Shah and Parsons would stay in the radio team, the announcement hinted that ratings may be the reason behind their departure, with Rosendorff saying the show brought in many new listeners but didn’t ‘connect as strongly with its existing audience’. Shah and Parsons have been in the role two years, replacing Red Symons.
— Sami Shah (@samishah) November 28, 2019
After Shah and Parsons took the role the ratings dropped off, falling to ABC Melbourne’s lowest smallest breakfast share in decades. The ratings have since improved, rising to 10.4% as of GfK survey seven.
Sammy J said: “Like a stray kitten in need of some food the ABC has welcomed me into their radio household and I couldn’t be more excited. I’m a proud Melbourne nerd and can’t wait to learn, engage, and disgrace myself with an on-air gaffe within a fortnight.”
Sammy J will start on-air in his new role on Monday 20 January 2020. This year also saw Virginia Trioli replace Jon Faine in the Mornings slot.
topics
ABC
ABC Melbourne
ABC Radio Melbourne
Jacinta Parsons
Melbourne radio ratings
Red Symons
Sami Shah
Sammy J
Can’t believe they lasted so long. Disastrous move by the ABC to remove Red Symons.
They have paid the price.
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I looked forward to waking up when Red was on the radio. Now I listen to nothing. Red was one of a kind. We were lucky to have him for so long.
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I stopped listening to these two after day one. They were irritating and not a scratch on Red Symons who was brilliant and should never have been dopped rather ABC management should have been fired for mismanagement!
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Hooray! Two-up breakfast hosting is for sleazy FM stations. Let’s hope Sammy can bring back the irreverence, comedy and conversations with US, not someone sitting alongside him!!
About time!
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With respect… Sammy and Jacinta are like two hyped up teenagers on Red Bull talking over each other… may be ok on an FM teen demographic station but not on 774.
Red Symons is sadly missed!!!!
Alex B
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I still miss Red’s humor and wit every day. He was such a skilled, in-tune Presenter. He was a friend you could tune into. Its not a criticism against Jacinta and Sammi, but Red was across all age groups, especially over 50 listeners. Red had a special skill of being able to weave several themes together throughout the morning. Red was older but was still across young people’s issues and was skilled wtih interviewing all age groups. We miss Red 🙁
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Agree. Jacinta domineering
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ABC SYDNEY AND MELBOURNE REPLACED ADAM SPENCER AND RED SYMONS WITH MORNING HOSTS, WE CALL THE MR AND MRS BIEGE SHOWS!!!
PLEASE BRING BACK SOME ELEVATED THINKING TO BOTH STATIONS.
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