Failed Breakfast Line-ups on 2Day FM

The Hughesy, Ed and Erin radio show is the latest in a long line of breakfast shows for 2Day FM to be axed.

The network announced that the breakfast show had sensationally come to an end on Wednesday.

‘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,’ Hughsey, Ed and Erin said in a statement.

‘So with a heavy heart we are moving aside so 2DayFM can find the team to take them forward in Breakfast.’

The program will be replaced with loveable night shift larrikins Jimmy Smith and Nath Roye, who currently host The Jimmy and Nath Show.

The news came after 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 network has gone through seven line-ups in an effort to claw back some ratings from Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O Henderson, who defected from the network to KIIS FM in 2013. 

Daily Mail Australia look at 2Day FM’s failed breakfast line-up’s over the past decade.

The Hughesy, Ed and Erin radio show is the latest in a long line of breakfast shows for 2Day FM to be axed

The Hughesy, Ed and Erin radio show is the latest in a long line of breakfast shows for 2Day FM to be axed

Merrick Watts, Jules Lund, and Sophie Monk with Mel Brown – 2014

Merrick Watts, Jules Lund, and Sophie Monk with Mel Brown took over breakfast radio following Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O Henderson’s move to KIIS FM in 2014.

However, the group didn’t last long, with their radio show ending by January 2015.

Former Spice Girl Mel B was the first to go after her six-month contract expired, followed by Sophie Monk, who cited early starts as the reason for her departure.

Merrick and Jules were eventually removed from the timeslot to make way for Dan Debuf and Maz Compton.

‘I know it looks like a nightmare on paper but for me personally I learnt a lot,’ Merrick told Confidential at the time.

‘I learnt a lot about radio, about myself as a broadcaster.’  

Merrick Watts, Jules Lund, and Sophie Monk with Mel Brown took over 2Day FM's breakfast radio following Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O Henderson's move to KIIS FM in 2014

Merrick Watts, Jules Lund, and Sophie Monk with Mel Brown took over 2Day FM’s breakfast radio following Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O Henderson’s move to KIIS FM in 2014 

However, the group didn't last long, with their radio show ending by January 2015

However, the group didn’t last long, with their radio show ending by January 2015

Dan Debuf and Maz Compton – 2015

After presenting both national night and drive-time slots, Dan and Maz were offered the illustrious Sydney breakfast program in 2015.

Dan and Maz lasted only eight months in the breakfast position before they were bumped to weekends in favour of a new show starring Rove McManus and Sam Frost.

At the time of their axing, Dan and Maz had failed to gain traction in the Sydney radio market, sitting on a 3.6 per cent audience share.  

After presenting both national night and drive-time slots, Dan and Maz were offered the illustrious Sydney breakfast program in 2015 but lasted only eight months in the slot

After presenting both national night and drive-time slots, Dan and Maz were offered the illustrious Sydney breakfast program in 2015 but lasted only eight months in the slot

Rove McManus and Sam Frost – 2016

Another high-profile duo that failed to capture audiences’ ears were Rove McManus and Sam Frost.

Taking over the slot in November 2015, the pair struggled to gain traction.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported at the time that they began 2016 with just a 3 per cent share of the Sydney radio market. 

In January 2017, Rove and Sam moved from the breakfast slot, to a national nightly program.

Another high-profile duo that failed to capture audiences' ears were Rove McManus and Sam Frost

Another high-profile duo that failed to capture audiences’ ears were Rove McManus and Sam Frost

Taking over the slot in November 2015, the pair struggled to gain traction

Taking over the slot in November 2015, the pair struggled to gain traction

 Em Rusciano and Harley Breen – 2017 

Em Rusciano and Harley Breen took over the slot in 2017.

However after just 12 months, Harley announced in November that he was leaving the station to focus on his stand-up comedy career.

Following his announcement, Em broke down live on air, admitting she was ‘really sad’ about Harley’s departure. 

Six months after leaving the 2DayFM breakfast show, Harley revealed to news.com.au that he no longer speaks to Em.

‘Ah, no, we haven’t been hanging out for spritz’s in the afternoon,’ he said.

Taking the slot in January 2017, Em Rusciano and Harley Breen lasted only 12 months on air

Taking the slot in January 2017, Em Rusciano and Harley Breen lasted only 12 months on air

Em Rusciano, Ed Kavalee and Grant Denyer – 2018

In December 2017, it was announced that Grant Denyer would join Em Rusciano and Ed Kavalee to host 2Day FM’s breakfast show.

However, just eight months after they took over the ill-fated slot, Em announced in early September, that she would be leaving to focus on her comedy career and the birth of her third child. 

‘Casual bombshell alert. This Friday will be my last day on air for 2Day FM breakfast, and I want to make it crystal clear that this is entirely my decision and not one I made lightly,’ she said on air at the time.

‘The truth is when I found out I was pregnant, I made my mind up on the spot that this year would be my last year of breakfast radio.’

Ash London was brought in as a replacement before joining the show permanently in January 2019. 

In December 2017, it was announced that Grant Denyer would join Em Rusciano and Ed Kavalee

In December 2017, it was announced that Grant Denyer would join Em Rusciano and Ed Kavalee

Grant Denyer, Ed Kavalee and Ash London – 2019 

Grant, Ed and Ash continued to flounder in the breakfast slot.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported at the time that the trio saw the show crash for its ‘worst ratings in almost two years’.

In the July 2019 Sydney radio survey, they had just 3.1 per cent of the total breakfast audience.

Speaking to the I’ve Got News for You podcast in 2023, Denyer revealed his exit from 2Day FM’s Sydney breakfast show was probably his most painful dismissal. 

‘One what hurt probably I think more than many [was] breakfast radio,’ he said. 

‘That one really hurt because I’d had lunch with a head executive a week earlier, who promised me they were going to sign me for, like, another five years,’ he continued.

‘And then a week later I finish a show and at 9.05am I walk into a meeting and they say, “Well, that was your last show! I hope you enjoyed being in radio!”‘

Grant, Ed and Ash continued to flounder in the breakfast slot after taking over in 2019

Grant, Ed and Ash continued to flounder in the breakfast slot after taking over in 2019 

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