Listeners were shocked and saddened, following news the Hughesy, Ed & Erin breakfast show was axed after 2Day FM spent huge money on the gamble.
Millions of dollars were reportedly shelled out to salvage the long-running radio program, but nothing was able to be done to keep the show on the airwaves.
The announcement came on Wednesday evening with the embattled hosts given one more show on Thursday to finish up – but they decided against going back on air.
According to radio insiders, the departure was a ‘long time coming’ for the trio and their plummeting ratings was the ‘final nail in the coffin’.
‘SCA (Southern Cross Austereo) have spent millions trying to make this show a success, including having Hughesy relocate from Melbourne to try “connect” with Sydney listeners more by actually living there, but it’s still always struggled to find an audience,’ one radio source told Yahoo Lifestyle.
‘They brought in a new executive producer at the start of the year who they poached from KIIS, but even that wasn’t enough and no one is surprised it’s now been scrapped.’
The Hughesy, Ed & Erin breakfast show sensationally came to an end amid spiralling ratings and ‘commitment issues’.
The program, hosted by Dave Hughes, Ed Kavalee and Erin Molan managed a mere 3.6 market share in the last ratings survey.
Millions of dollars were reportedly spent to salvage the Hughesy, Ed & Erin breakfast show, but nothing was able to be done to keep the show on the airwaves. Pictured: Ed Kavalee, Erin Molan and Dave Hughes
2Day FM announced the news on Wednesday evening, informing listeners that they’ve opted to pull the plug on the show, and replace it with loveable night shift larrikins Jimmy Smith and Nath Roye, who currently host The Jimmy and Nath Show.
‘We’ve loved our time together on 2DayFM Breakfast, however, due to some of our families living in different cities we are unable to commit to 2025, so with a heavy heart we are moving aside so 2DayFM can find the team to take them forward in Breakfast,’ Hughsey, Ed and Erin said in a statement.
‘We are so grateful to Sydney for their support, and to double the number of listeners in three years is something we are immensely proud of, and we will miss each and every one of them.’
Southern Cross Austereo went on to thank the radio hosts for their ‘passion and commitment’ following the announcement.
‘We are incredibly thankful to Hughesy, Ed and Erin for their unwavering dedication in making the 2DayFM Breakfast show a fun way to wake up Sydney each morning since 2020, and we wish them the very best with the continuation of their outstanding careers,’ said SCA Chief Content Officer, Dave Cameron.
‘As we look to 2025, we are preparing for a change for the 2DayFM Sydney Breakfast show and will make further announcements in due course.’
The program hosted by Dave Hughes, Ed Kavalee and Erin Molan managed a mere 3.6 audience share in the latest ratings survey
The Jimmy & Nath Show – currently on the Hit national night shift – will temporarily move into the Breakfast timeslot.
The GfK Radio 360 Survey 4 saw Hughesy, Ed and Erin drop 1.4 points to a 3.6 market share earlier in the year.
The announcement follows rumours Hughes is getting set to reunite with Kate Langbroek, 58, to reboot their popular Hughesy and Kate show.
The pair last hosted Hit FM’s popular show in 2019, before Langbroek took a step back from the program to move to Italy.
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2DayFM axe Hughesy, Ed and Erin breakfast show amid dismal ratings and 'commitment issues'
In July, the Herald Sun reported that Melbourne is abuzz with rumours that Langbroek and Hughes, 53, are getting ready to bring back the program.
Meanwhile, Hughes recently did a guest spot on Triple M’s The Rush Hour in Melbourne which was a big hit with listeners.
Hughes and Langbroek first teamed together in 2001 for Nova 100’s Melbourne breakfast show.
Langbroek currently co-hosts the popular podcast The Buck Up with Nath Valvo after leaving her last commercial radio gig on KIIS FM The Pick Up two years ago.
She teased a potential radio reunion with Hughes last year.
‘We’re full of love for each other and nothing is off the table for us,’ she told the Herald Sun last August.
‘I love Hughesy. I’m not doing radio at the moment but I will always love radio because it’s such a natural medium for me.’
In March 2023, Langbroek issued a lengthy apology after publicly exposing a gender pay gay dispute between herself and Hughes on The Project.
She claimed she earned 40 per cent less than Hughesy during their time hosting Hughesy & Kate on the Hit Network for almost two decades.
The announcement follows rumours Hughes is getting set to reunite with Kate Langbroek, 58, to reboot their popular Hughesy and Kate show. Both pictured
Langbroek currently hosts the popular podcast The Buck Up alongside co-host Nath Valvo after leaving her last commercial radio gig on KIIS FM, the Pick Up, two years ago. She is also a regular panelist on Channel 10’s The Project. (Pictured)
Clarifying her shock admission on Instagram, Langbroek said she hadn’t explained the full context of the situation due to the ‘time constraints’ of the Channel 10 show.
‘Nor did I explain that when he found out, Hughesy was mortified – properly shocked – and immediately sought to rectify the situation,’ she admitted.
‘I had already procured parity for myself, by the way, but his instincts were so honourable he offered instantly to take a pay cut,’ she added.
‘He also vowed that from that point on, we would always negotiate together on the show we had built together, and we did, the following year, when we moved to SCA. Knowing that we could speak freely about our negotiations, and that we were treated as true equals at our new radio network was the best.’
She confessed Hughes had been ‘hurt’ by her comments on The Project, which is why she felt the need to clarify them.
She also said that she and Hughes weren’t ‘estranged’ and that she was ‘mortified’ she had led people to believe that.