Several high-profile Australian celebrities are being name-dropped as potential replacements for radio star Jackie ‘O’ Henderson after she sensationally quit The Kyle and Jackie O Show on Tuesday.
The frontrunner is veteran presenter Sophie Monk, 46, whose extensive TV and radio career includes frequent guest appearances on the KIIS FM show.
Sophie has developed a reputation for her down-to-earth nature, cheeky banter and a willingness to not take things too seriously.
These qualities make her a prime candidate for filling Jackie O’s shoes, should Kyle return to the hosting gig following his two-week suspension.
And fans online seem to agree, as many have since flocked to social media to call for Jackie to be replaced by Sophie.
‘Really hoping for The Kyle and Sophie Show. They have awesome chemistry!’ one person wrote.
Several high-profile Australian celebrities are being name-dropped as potential replacements for radio star Jackie ‘O’ Henderson after she sensationally quit The Kyle and Jackie O Show on Tuesday
‘Put Kyle and Sophie Monk together. Kyle also makes Australian idol better,’ added another.
Some even went so far as to leave direct messages on Sophie’s Instagram page, begging her to join Kyle on his radio show.
‘Please speak to Kyle Sandilands about teaming up with him… you’d be absolutely awesome!’ said one.
‘Time to join Kyle @sophiemonk!’ commented another.
Other potential candidates to replace Jackie could include several veteran radio stars, including Amanda Keller, Chrissie Swan and Fifi Box, or even reality TV stars looking to make a career change.
It has also been speculated that should Sandilands not return to the program, KIIS FM will bring on a new duo of breakfast stars to fill their spot.
‘You can’t replace a show like Kyle and Jackie O. You just do the best you can and hope the audience will find a way and be patient with whatever you put in, in its place,’ Craig Bruce, who was previously program director at 2DayFM during Kyle and Jackie’s reign at the station, told MediaWeek.
‘It’s going to be a really high-risk, high-reward act for anyone to go in and be the next show.’
The frontrunner is veteran presenter Sophie Monk , 46, whose extensive TV and radio career includes frequent guest appearances on the KIIS FM show
There are two sets of contenders that some radio experts believe may be the top choice to replace Kyle and Jackie in both Melbourne and Sydney.
Bruce said on the latest episode of Game Changers Radio that local favourites Toni Lodge and Ryan Jon Dunn would be the top pick to take over Melbourne KIIS breakfast.
He said ARN’s newly installed Director of Content for Metro Radio, Dave Cameron, will likely make his ‘first phone call’ to the Toni & Ryan Podcast, and given the duo’s immense popularity they ‘could name their price’.
But as for which dream team might take the coveted Sydney breakfast slot, Craig said best mates Luisa Dal Din and Jack ‘Jarch’ Archdale – known as Lu and Jarch on Triple M 2-4pm weekdays – could bring a fresh spin to the position.
‘They would be on a very short list of potential shows that could do KIIS Sydney next year,’ he added.
KIIS FM have currently appointed Kent ‘Smallzy’ Small to fill in during The Kyle & Jackie O Show’s timeslot, as Kyle is on a two-week suspension from the breakfast program and it is unclear when – or if – he will be returning.
Smallzy was left ‘shocked’ and ‘reeling’ on Wednesday morning following news The Kyle and Jackie ‘O’ Show was no more.
‘We are waking up to a very different KIIS,’ he told listeners as he filled in for the radio titans after the popular KIIS FM breakfast show was taken off air following news Jackie had sensationally quit the show.
Sophie has developed a reputation for her down-to-earth nature, cheeky banter and a willingness to not take things too seriously. These qualities make her a prime candidate for filling Jackie O’s shoes, should Kyle return to the hosting gig
And fans online seem to agree, as many have since flocked to social media to call for Jackie to be replaced by Sophie
He went on to pay tribute to the radio stars.
‘I grew up listening to KJ and my first job in radio was on the Hot 30 with them back in the day. I used to drive the Thunders. I lied to get the job, I was on my Ps.’
‘They were very lovely and they were always very kind,’ he added.
ARN announced on Tuesday that Jackie’s $100 million contract has been terminated after she told executives she ‘cannot continue to work with Mr Kyle Sandilands’ following his harsh comments on air that left her in tears.
Kyle has been suspended and given 14 days to ‘remedy’ the breach, or else faces termination.
ARN provided written notice to Kyle stating that it considers his behaviour during the show on February 20 ‘an act of serious misconduct which is in breach of ARN’s services agreement with Quasar Media’.
ARN has offered Jackie the possibility of an alternative show on the network.
Daily Mail has reached out to both for comment.
The duo signed a 10-year deal with Australian Radio Network (ARN) in 2023, and have eight years left on the contract.
They were paid a reported $200 million in that landmark negotiation and earned approximately $47,000 per episode.
Jackie, 51, has been AWOL from The Kyle & Jackie O Show since Friday, 20 February, after Kyle, 54, accused her of being unfocused at work.
During the on-air feud, she broke down in tears when the pair were discussing Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
Kyle got angry at her when she proceeded to read out the disgraced royal’s birth chart.
He lambasted his co-star, claiming that her love for astrology was affecting her work.
An emotional Jackie said she was deeply ‘offended’ by his brutal comments during the clash.
She took a leave of absence following the altercation, and was expected to return to the show on March 2; however, that was not to be.
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