Royal prank call DJ joins 2DayFM’s breakfast team as anchor
Chrisitan sharing a burger with Debuf
Michael ‘MC’ Christian, one of the two DJs behind the royal prank call, is performing the anchor role as part of the new 2DayFM breakfast show lineup.
Last year Southern Cross Austereo announced the new breakfast team Maz Compton and Dan Debuf would replace Jules Lund, Merrick Watts and Sophie Monk, under who the show plunged from first to last place in the FM market after the departure of Kyle and Jackie O at the beginning of last year.
However, Christian’s role as anchor, which he also performed on their national Drive show, was not promoted when Compton and Debuf were shifted to the breakfast slot.
He was one of the two radio DJs involved in a prank call to the hospital where Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton was being treated for acute morning sickness, which resulted in the nurse on the switchboard, Jacintha Saldanha taking her own life.
2DayFM has also revamped its logo to incorporate the new Hits Network branding which was announced before Christmas.
Southern Cross Austereo head of content Craig Bruce said: “The Dan and Maz’ show is a show primarily centred around content driven by Dan Debuf and Maz Compton.
“MC continues to play a critical role as the show’s anchor, as he has done for the last 12 months when the show was on national drive on the Today network.
“Like the majority of shows we’ve built over decades not every voice on a radio show goes into the branding of it.”
The show had its first day on air on Wednesday ahead of the official ratings period which starts on Monday as the network looks to recover from its rock-bottom commercial ratings last year with a more youthful feel.
In a video montage posted to Facebook of their first day Christian can be seen on air with Compton and Debuf, as well as participating in off-air antics with the duo around the office.
On the 2DayFM website, a profile for Christian falls under that of Compton and Debuf, with an answer to the question “What is the biggest #Clang you have ever had happen to you” referencing an equipment failure.
2DayFM is still locked in a legal battle with the Australian Communications and Media Auhority over the publication of a report believed to say the broadcaster committed a criminal offence by broadcasting the segment.
Christian’s fellow DJ, Mel Greig, has not returned to an on-air position, and travelled to the UK last September to attend an inquest in the Saldanha’s death.
“However, Christian’s role as anchor, which he also performed on their national Drive show, was not promoted when Compton and Debuf were shifted to the breakfast slot.”
Really? That’s funny, because it was widely known by one and all in the industry that the whole team was going… must be just you who didn’t know, Mumbrella!
Hardly news. MC anchored Weekend Breakfast with Sophie Monk and Dave Thornton before the drive slot with Dan & Maz as well.
Can’t we drop this ‘one of the two DJs behind the royal prank call’? We’ve moved on, he’s still a fantastic radio personality who has a bright future
good luck. that breakfast show sounds terrible. Unless you’re a 5yo with a bad sense of humour
No, I don’t believe the tagline “one of the two DJs behind the royal prank call” should be dropped in reference to Christian. It was stupidity on a scale of its own. He should be reminded so as not to repeat his mistake.
Get a new story Mumbrella. He’s an awesome radio personality and has worked hard to get where he is. It’s a form of social bullying bringing it up continually – grow a brain and move on Mumbrella.
All commercial radio is stupid. and it was just a prank call, just relax mate
Definitely don’t think the man should have to wear that tag for the rest of his life. Not his fault that someone decided they had to take their own life over a phone call. Takes more than just a phone call for someone to get into that state of mind.