Showbiz

Surprising Frontrunners Emerge for KIIS FM Hosts

With the dust starting to settle around the shock axing of The Kyle & Jackie O Show, the big question still remains: who's next?After terminating Henderson ...

Surprising Frontrunners Emerge for KIIS FM Hosts
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Bintano News

March 19, 2026

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With the dust starting to settle around the shock axing of The Kyle & Jackie O Show, the big question still remains: who's next?

After terminating Henderson and Sandilands' contracts, the Australian Radio Network now faces the unenviable task of finding new talent to fill the breakfast slots in both and .

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Mumbrella publisher Tim Burrowes said the vacant chairs could not have come at a worse time.

'It is a terrible time of year to try to make that hire because the most talented people currently in radio are probably contracted until the end of the year,' he said.

He also claimed that instead of one show to serve both the Sydney and Melbourne markets, ARN were 'likely' to create two. 

However, in spite of those hurdles, there are quite a few names emerging as potential candidates, according to industry chatter.

With the dust starting to settle around the shock axing of The Kyle & Jackie O Show, the big question still remains. Who's next?

there are quite a few names emerging as potential candidates, according to industry chatter. Chief among them are broadcasting veterans Carrie Bickmore (left) and Dr Chris Brown (right) 

Chief among them are broadcasting veterans Carrie Bickmore and Dr Chris Brown.

However, it could be a case of wishful thinking as Bickmore currently helms a 2Day FM show with Tommy Little and is reportedly under contract until the end of the year.

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Further, Brown had been a frequent guest on The Kyle & Jackie O Show.

However, it has been suggested that KIIS are 'likely' to .

Sophie Monk had also previously been earmarked as a contender to take the chair beside Sandilands', which now seems unlikely given the shock jock's departure.

However another name that has been thrown into the mix is Mitch Churi, who was . 

Churi certainly knows the KIIS ropes, having also frequently filled in for Sandilands on The Kyle & Jackie O Show.

One Aussie celeb but forward as 'an outside chance' is comedian Jim Jeffries, with one insider revealing to The Daily Telegraph that his name had 'definitely been mentioned'. 

Sophie Monk (pictured) had also previously been earmarked as a contender to take the chair beside Sandilands' which now seems unlikely given the shock jock's departure

Another name that has been thrown into the mix is Mitch Churi (pictured), who was axed from KIIS FM in December 2024 after a decade with the station. Churi certainly knows the KIIS ropes, having also frequently filled in for Sandilands on The Kyle & Jackie O Show

One Aussie celeb put forward as 'an outside chance' is comedian Jim Jeffries (pictured), with one insider revealing to The Daily Telegraph that his name had 'definitely been mentioned'

When it comes to outside chances, Burrowes added that Sunrise weatherman Sam Mac (pictured) could very well be a contender

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Just an hour after his bombshell statement, news.com.au reported that ARN chief executive Michael Stephenson announcing that The Kyle & Jackie O Show had been axed.

 News of the show's axing sent shockwaves through KIIS staff, with the publication reporting that not all show staff are directly .

An insider told news.com.au that staff were worried for their futures and angry at how the situation was handled.

'Many staff found out through social media instead of an official statement. It wasn't until after the news broke that staff were advised officially,' the insider said.

'I am just so angry about how it has all been handled. It's not how the situation should be handled, especially when the team that worked on that show are still showing up every day to work.'

Daily Mail reached out to ARN, who declined to comment.

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