Mark Levy has been announced as Ray Hadley’s replacement on 2GB.
Levy, who has worked at 2GB for for more than 17 years, currently hosts the Wide World of Sports program, and has also filled in for Hadley over the summer break.
Levy won plaudits – and an award – for his live, rolling coverage of the tragic Westfield Bondi Junction stabbings earlier this year, proving he is more than capable to tackling breaking news.
Levy has long been considered Hadley’s right-hand man, and the pair have a close friendship that extends beyond their professional relationship, with Levy attending Hadley’s wedding in 2021.
In July, Levy, along with a friend experienced in the hospitality industry, opened a restaurant called Pronto Sylvania in Sydney’s southern suburbs.
‘I just want to create a little community hub, it’s like a safe place for people to come along and have a coffee, have a chat and also get an affordable meal because you know, in the midst of a cost of living crisis people are doing it tough, so we want to make sure they come in and get value for money,’ he told Nine at the time.
Levy made headlines after trying to stop an altercation at a pub involving his mate, footy legend Paul Gallen.
Gallen was filmed being restrained by up to four men at a time during a late-night confrontation on October 28 last year at the Shoalhaven Heads Hotel on the NSW south coast.
Levy could be heard in the background of the brawl footage shouting: ‘Stop it. Enough, enough. Gal, stop’ as a group of men struggled to contain Gallen and shocked drinkers watched on.
Gallen told Daily Mail he had been involved in an ‘altercation’ after being struck first and denying he had thrown any punches ‘in retaliation’.
Hadley will sign off from his top-rating morning show for the final time on December 13 despite having about two years left to run on his multimillion-dollar deal at Nine.
Daily Mail exclusively revealed the veteran broadcaster met with executives at Sky News within hours of announcing his retirement from 2GB.
Sources said Hadley arrived at news channel’s Sydney HQ for the covert chat after most of the broadcaster’s staffers had already headed home for the day.
He then spent more than an hour in deep conversation with the News Corp-owned network’s chief executive, Paul Whittaker, and head of programs, Mark Calvert.
Sky News insiders said the network was determined to lure the award-winning broadcaster – and his loyal audience – to the political news channel, with Whittaker personally rolling at the red carpet for the potential marquee signing.
Although it is understood Hadley’s contract precludes him from appearing on a rival radio network, sources said he could be free to join Sky News under the terms of the agreement as the television channel does not directly compete with Nine Radio.
Any deal between Hadley and the network would likely see him taking a break over the summer to spend time with his family before commencing on-air duties in the new year.
Sources said Hadley’s strong political views actually meant he had long been more in step with Sky News ‘s sensibilities than those of Nine and would be a natural fit for the network.
There are suggestions the potential deal could also see the rugby league commentating great continue calling football games for Fox Sports.