‘It would take a lot’: Could Hamish & Andy return to airwaves as radio wars heat up?
Andy Lee has discussed the possibility of himself and Hamish Blake returning to the airwaves as the Australian radio wars heat up in 2024.
Appearing on a new co-presents episode of Mumbrella’s one-on-one podcast and The Plug podcast, Lee discussed the current radio landscape, which has seen the Melbourne market in particular dominate headlines on the back of Kylie & Jackie O entering the game this year and Nova’s Jase & Lauren taking over top spot for breakfast.
Hamish & Andy left drive radio in 2017 and have since moved to the podcast world, where their weekly show has continued to command Australian charts. Given constant movements, particularly at Southern Cross Austereo over the years, Lee admitted that the duo have fielded offers many times.
“That’ll constantly happen. I think,” Lee told host Neil Griffiths.
“Which is great and lovely, but… they’re pretty aware that Hamish and I are very, very pleased with doing the podcast. And when we say just doing the podcast, we pour our heart and soul into that. It’s so fun.
@theplug.podcast Will @Hamish & Andy ever return to the airwaves as Australia’s radio wars heat up? @Andy Lee joins the latest episode to talk all about it! Hit the link in bio to listen🎧 #andylee #hamishandandy #hamishblake #radio #australia #australianradio #podcast #listnr #australianpodcast #theplugpodcast
“So, I think it would take a lot. And when I say take a lot, it’s not money. Just from my place specifically, I can’t speak for Hame, but I don’t know what would have to happen for me to go back to radio. Even though I love the medium, the flexibility of the pod and the way we interact with that and the way people interact with that and use that online audio, definitely scratches that itch for us.
“So yeah, I can’t really see it happening.”
While the duo made their radio careers as the #1 Drive show, it was often speculated as to why Hamish & Andy did not move to the coveted breakfast slot, especially given that SCA has struggled to fill that spot following the departure of Kylie & Jackie O in 2013.
Its latest show, Hughesy, Ed and Erin, was abruptly axed mid-week last month, with the network looking to announce a replacement for 2025.
But given their hectic schedules – Lee’s hosting duties with Nine show The Hundred and his kid’s book series and Blake’s Lego Masters gig – a breakfast show slot is definitely not on their radar.
“We never wanted to juggle a TV show, a full time TV show and radio shows [at the] same time,” he said.
“I feel like, historically, people get burnt out when they have done that. And we always thought for us, the way we approach shows, we knew that one would suffer. It’s about balancing that stuff out. And that’s why podcasts for us being once a week, is the right amount.”
Listen to the full episode with Lee here.
The latest season of The Hundred is on Nine now.
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Neil Griffiths is the Managing Editor of Mumbrella. He joined the company in October 2023.
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