Marty Sheargold has stepped down Melbourne’s Triple M Melbourne Breakfast shift following a mysterious three-month absence and last year’s AFL Grand Final ‘incident’.
Triple M confirmed the news on Thursday morning, stating the 53-year-old comedian and radio broadcaster will not return to the breakfast show, but will continue his podcast and national 3pm slot with the network.
‘Taking an extended break at the end of last year has reinforced the importance of spending more quality time with my family,’ Sheargold said in a statement.
‘As a result, I have made the decision to prioritise self-care, maintaining a better work/life balance and will not be returning to my Triple M Breakfast show. However, I will continue The Marty Sheargold Show podcast, along with the 3-4pm national Triple M show.’
He continued: ‘I want to thank my immediate team and the network for their ongoing support and understanding. And I’d also like to thank the listeners for their loyalty to both the show and the station. Like them, I remain a Triple M fan.’
SCA Chief Content Officer, Dave Cameron, said: ‘SCA supports Marty’s decision to rebalance his personal and work commitments, and we’d like to thank Marty and his team for creating a unique and hilarious Breakfast show for Melbourne since 2021.
‘It is exciting however that our listeners will continue to hear Marty alongside his current team of Troy Ellis, Loren Barry and Will Ralston across both the Triple M network as a national Afternoon radio show and on his fan-favourite daily podcast on LiSTNR, which regularly ranks prominently on the Australian Podcast Ranker.’
The former breakfast host took ‘personal leave’ after an alleged incident at the AFL Grand Final last year in September, which saw him depart at halftime.
Marty Sheargold (pictured) has stepped down Melbourne ‘s Triple M Melbourne Breakfast shift following a mysterious three-month absence and last year’s AFL Grand Final ‘incident’
After returning to the show in January following a three month break, some listeners branded his return to the airwaves as ‘unfunny’ and ‘nasty’.
The troubled Melbourne radio host said he went on an ‘extended break’ because he had ‘burned himself out’.
‘I realised I’d absolutely burned myself out over the last couple of years,’ he explained.
He went on to say he was inspired by AFL coaches Alistair Clarkson and Damien Hardwick, who both stepped away from their respective footy teams last year.
‘Two men last year who put their hands up and said, ‘I need a break.’ And I thought, ‘You know, I need a break,” Sheargold said.
The troubled Melbourne radio host said he went on an ‘ extended break’ because he had ‘burned himself out’
‘Things are changing. I’m not doing routine this year,’ he added, to which his producer Loren Barry said: ‘You’re just doing you.’
Marty then made a bizarre quip, saying: ‘I’m going to do h****n as well. That’ll be fun, so stick around for that. Watch the wheels fall off.’
Late last year, Southern Cross Austereo confirmed Sheargold would return to radio in January after he took three months off the air for a ‘mental health break’.
According to reports, he was ejected by security at the MCG due to offensive comments he made to other guests.
When approached for comment, a Southern Cross Austereo spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia: ‘Marty Sheargold left the AFL Grand Final at halftime of his own accord.’
Sheargold was on air the week after the Grand Final, but disappeared just days later, prompting Anthony ‘Lehmo’ Lehmann to fill in for him.
