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Triple M’s drive host Merrick Watts set to depart this year

Southern Cross Austereo’s Triple M drive host and comedian Merrick Watts is set to depart at the end of the year.

Mike Fitzpatrick, head of content at Triple M, said: “Merrick notified us a couple of days ago that he has chosen to end his Triple M radio show this year. While we are obviously disappointed we understand he wants to do some different things.

Watts is set to depart Sydney’s Triple M drive show

“Merrick has been an integral and much loved part of the Triple M team across the years and I’m confident he will continue to appear as a guest from time to time, and perhaps even return to the fold in future.

“As a staunch Collingwood supporter, Merrick’s farewell will most likely be during AFL finals as he clearly won’t be flying to Melbourne for any AFL finals.”

Triple M’s national drive show ‘Merrick and Australia’ which featured Merrick Watts and a rotating cast of co-hosts, was revamped in December last year to become a local Sydney drive show ‘Merrickville’, which currently airs from 4-6pm on weekdays with Watts as the sole presenter. 

“Local is really key for Triple M. We want Merrick to focus on Sydney, it’s his strongest market and it’s where it needs the most attention in drive; he really resonates in that market.

“By focusing on a local show we’ll be able to integrate sport better,” Fitzpatrick said at the time of the show’s repositioning.

Watts returned to Triple M in November 2015 taking on the national drive show after his stint at sister station 2DayFM hosting its breakfast show with Jules Lund, Mel B and Sophie Monk.

At the time of his return to Triple M, Fitzpatrick, said: “Triple M listeners have been asking us to bring Mez back, ever since he left at the end of last year. Now they’ll wake up on January 19 and it’ll feel like the whole thing was a dream, like he never left. Merrick is a great radio performer and we’re so glad to have him back home.

“The announcement of a co-host will be made in due course, but rest assured it will be a unique offering, custom built for Triple M. Dudes will dig it.”

It is unclear who will be replacing Watts.

 

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