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Triple M confirms breakfast host Matty Johns’ exit

Southern Cross Austereo’s Triple M has confirmed the exit of long-standing breakfast host, Matthew ‘Matty’ Johns.

Johns, who was rumoured to exit earlier this week, has decided to quit breakfast radio after eight years as part of Triple M Sydney’s Grill Team.

The 2018 Triple M Grill Team: Emma Freedman, Gus Worland, Matthew Johns and Chris Page

The former rugby league star will focus on his duties outside of radio, including his work with Fox Sports.

Triple M’s Grill Team first launched in 2009, and was the fifth attempt in seven years to successfully create a breakfast show. The program began with Mark Geyer, Gus Worland and Stuart McGrill. Johns joined the team in 2011.

Mike Fitzpatrick, Triple M’s head of content, said he was grateful to have had Johns as part of the Triple M family for the last eight years, and understood his other media commitments.

“We’ll use this opportunity to explore all options, get the best person to join our breakfast team in 2019, and keep delivering a great entertaining Triple M breakfast show for Sydney,” Fitzpatrick said.

In the most recent radio ratings survey, The Grill Team, which Johns hosts alongside Gus Worland, Chris Page and Emma Freedman, climbed 0.5 points to a 6% share. In Sydney, Triple M’s Grill Team sits in fourth place on the FM bandwidth.

Johns thanked the Triple M team and his breakfast show, describing his time with the SCA-owned station as not feeling like an actual job.

“The challenge has been juggling my late-night commitments with Fox Sports, along with the early hours of breakfast radio. After eight years, that can take a toll and for that reason I’ve decided to take a break from radio. Not an easy decision, but the right one,” Johns said.

“Once again, thank you to all at Triple M, you’ve been terrific to me.”

His exit follows Mark Geyer, who departed the breakfast show after eight years in November last year. Geyer continued to work with Triple M on its NRL coverage this year. Following the departure of Geyer, Mumbrella asked Fitzpatrick whether it would impact on ratings.

He said:  “The shows are the sum total of their parts. You know it’s like in football – no one team is more than just one team player.

“MG was much loved and he’s still on the station, but I think that the real star of that show is Matty Johns. I certainly don’t feel like losing him will affect the results when we’ve had a great result.”

The Grill Team’s last day on air for the year is December 7.

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