ARN has finally ended months of speculation over the future of KIIS FM, confirming Dr Chris Brown, Amy Gerard and Jack Charles as the new faces of Sydney Breakfast.
The trio will officially take over KIIS 1065 from Monday, November 9, almost seven months after the spectacular collapse of The Kyle and Jackie O Show left one of Australian radio’s biggest breakfast slots vacant.
“This is a big moment for ARN and the future of KIIS Sydney. We’ve brought together big names and fresh new talent to create the best content for radio, video, social and in real life experiences,” ARN chief executive Michael Stephenson said.
“We have the biggest radio brand in the country, and we now have a team that is building something very special for listeners and creating big, new, integrated opportunities that brands will love.”
Who are the new KIIS FM hosts?
Brown had emerged as one of the biggest names linked to the breakfast gig as speculation intensified over who ARN would choose to rebuild the station following Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson’s departure.
The 48-year-old has built a lengthy career across television and radio, appearing on programs including Bondi Vet, The Living Room, I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! and Dancing with the Stars.
“Waking up with the city I love and bringing a huge dose of real life, warmth and (hopefully) humour is truly a dream come true,” Brown said of his new gig.
“This show will be all about sharing our mornings, some laughs and maybe a few secrets together. I can’t wait. Plus, these hours are also a great way to beat the Bondi Road traffic so it’s a win-win.”
Gerard will make the jump to the permanent breakfast slot after already becoming familiar to KIIS listeners as a regular fill-in host on KIIS Breakfast and host of KIIS Weekends.
“I’m genuinely pinching myself that I get to be part of this show. The chemistry between Chris, Jack and I already feels so natural, it’s fun, unpredictable and there’s a very good chance we’ll be completely unhinged before most people have had their first coffee,” Gerard added.
Charles, meanwhile, crosses over from rival network Nova after recently ending an 11-year stint.
He said he was “pumped” to join his new co-hosts.
“Amy is an absolute gun, and her stories often leave me with my jaw on the floor. Chris and I have a history of bringing out the worst – or possibly best – in each other. I have a feeling Sydney’s in for a pretty fun ride!” Charles said of his co-hosts.
Experienced broadcaster and producer Natalie Penfold will round out the team as the show’s newsreader.
Months of speculation finally over
The announcement puts an end to months of rumours surrounding one of the most closely watched jobs in Australian commercial radio.
Ash London had been among the names linked to the position after announcing in early September that The Ash London Show on New Zealand station The Edge was ending and telling listeners she was pursuing “a job opportunity” in Australia.
Carrie Bickmore had also been floated as a possible addition to the new line-up.
The shake-up comes amid broader changes at KIIS, with Will McMahon and Woody Whitelaw recently announcing they will leave ARN at the end of 2026 after eight years with the network.
ARN has signalled it is pursuing a “refreshed approach” to its line-up heading into 2027.
But its biggest upheaval came earlier this year with the dramatic end of The Kyle and Jackie O Show.
Sandilands and Henderson had been the network’s highest-profile and highest-paid duo before their partnership unravelled following a heated on-air exchange.
The dispute began after Sandilands criticised Henderson for discussing birth charts and astrological signs, comments she described as a “mean and nasty” attack.
Henderson subsequently took time away from the program before informing ARN she could no longer continue working with her longtime co-host.
Sandilands was later suspended over “serious misconduct” and given 14 days to remedy the alleged breach, with The Kyle and Jackie O Show pulled from the air.
It never returned.
ARN terminated Sandilands’ contract in March, prompting the radio heavyweight to launch a $100 million lawsuit against his former employer.
The dispute was ultimately settled for $12 million in June, before Sandilands launched his subscription program, Kyle Sandilands Live, in August.
Henderson, who maintained she “did not quit or resign” from ARN, subsequently launched her own $82.25 million legal action against the network, with her contract claim due to reach court in October.
Now, after months of turmoil and speculation, KIIS has locked in the trio it hopes will begin a new chapter for Sydney Breakfast.
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