Triple J names new breakfast team
Triple J has promoted Tom Ballard and Alex Dyson to present its flagship breakfast programme, making them what is believed to be the youngest breakfast team in the country.
They will move from their weekend breakfast slot to take on the 6-9am weekday shift from January 11 next year.
They will replace Robbie, Marieke and the Doctor. Robbie will be moving over the the ABC’s 702, though it is not known at this stage where the other two presenters will be going.
Triple J is also yet to confirm who will replace 19-year-old Ballard and and 21-year-old Dyson on their weekend breakfast shift.
Ballard was named Best Newcomer at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival this year and he has regularly gigs at comedy venues nationally with guest spots on The 7pm Project and Good News Week.
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Kudos, Triple J!
PS. They’re not the only young team in brekky – here at SYN in Melbourne we rotate hosts every 12 weeks and always have hosts aged 12-25 (most regularly they’re aged 18-21).
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what’s happening to Marieke???
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Hi Andrew,
Thanks for your interest. I spoke to Triple J and they would only confirm Robbie’s move. News of Marieke and the Doctor are yet to be revealed.
Cheers,
Camille – Mumbrella
Finally… For a youth radio station they have way to many oldies on the air
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Good news. I was afraid they’d bring Mikey and Helen back!
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T&A are good fellas, but the whole young people/youth angle is a massive furphy that the J’s only really have themselves to blame for. It’s utter bollocks that only young people can have real enthusiasm for indie/collegerock/rap/whatever, or that they are more appropriate – or, certainly, talented – than older announcers; the enthusiasm of a late 20’s Zan Rowe, or the largely late 30’s or older presenters of pretty much every specialist programme on Triple J is undiminished from when each was a young presenter (mostly, in fact, on Triple R in Melbourne, which provides ace radio for serious music lovers and largely inquisitive/left -leaning ears without this ridiculous argument ever coming up). It’s an attitude, and kudos to Buck for simply admitting that his has changed.
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I’m still coming to terms with no Myf in the afternoon!
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I wont be sorry to lose Marieke and and the Doctor, they’d become far too wrapped up in their smug in-jokes.
I welcome a fresh perspective on breakfast
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they seem way too young for me. i’ll be tuning out.
i want older, smug, patronising hosts on a youth station.
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As part of the ‘youth’ market, I very much enjoy Robbie, Marieke & the Doctor. But change is welcome, and Triple J are always very good at it. Hopefully I can change my mind about Tom Ballard when he comes to breakfast because I am currently not a big fan. Farewell RM&D you’ve done well.
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Oh dear… Did anyone actually listen to the fortnight of breakfast that Alex and Tom presented back in Sept/Oct? Weekend trashtalk is a bit of fun, but Monday to Friday is above their comedic genious. We’re not witnessing the birth of a Chaser, Merrick and Rosso or Hamish and Andy here, just the exodus of Triple J loyalists.
Full marks to the boys, but I think that after about 15 years of listening to Triple J, I will be heading to 702 to listen to Adam Spencer instead of interview’s with parents of the hosts…
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@Long time listener, first time caller, maybe it’s time for you to move to 702. Seriously. JJJ is a youth network, for young people. You’re probably in your late 20s, early 30s, so maybe it’s time to move on.
Also, you don’t know where these two will end up. Maybe they’ll crash, but good on JJJ for trying.
That said, there should be a lot more of it. JJJ will remain static and part of a bygone era unless they change.
I’d like to see changes from management down. Marketing, music, programming, presenting, producing: time for a refresh.
So JJJ, just like your father Gough Whitlam, it’s time. It’s time for a change.
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Why people think Triple J is a youth station is beyond me. I’ve been listening to all types of for a long time and I like most of the stuff that is played. Just like the rest of the listeners.
I’ll miss Marieke and the Doctor – real wit and intelligence. I too doubt Tom and Alex’s ability to host the show 5 days a week. I hope they get a really good producer.
I’ll stick with the Js though. Regardless of the presenters the music will still be (generally) good.
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“Triple j is for young Australians. We’re not so interested in the rest.”
That’s fair enough – I don’t mind being outside the stated demographic. BUT JJJ should also be aware that there are a significant many listeners that are officially old (i.e. over 24).
I grew up listening to the J’s, and haven’t moved on – why should I? I’ll just sit in the corner and not say much…I promise.
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I nearly died when tom and alex took over the breakfast show for that week. I thought they were going to get fired on the spot. It was awkward and embarrassing to listen to. Robbie Marieke and the Doctor made my morning 1 hour trip to work bareable. Two immature teenage boys? I can’t stand teenage boys!, no-one can! I am reconsidering this station its already borderline commercial.
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STOKED!!! I was hoping Tom & Alex would get the brekky gig. Great move Triple J! I totally agree with Spunky 1972’s comment. I will not miss MH’s sarcasm … the lowest form of wit … or should that be twit.
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