Legendary broadcaster Ray Hadley has announced he is hanging up the microphone and stepping back from his highly successful radio program after 43 years.
“It’s been a hell of a ride,” Hadley told his listeners this morning, adding that December 13 would be his last morning on air.
“The time has come for someone else to do the job.”
Hadley broke news to his team this morning. He met with head of radio Tom Malone during the Olympics in Paris.
Malone suggested Hadley wait until he got back to Australia to consider his future.
The radio veteran said he had reached a point where he wanted to prioritise other parts of his life, including his family.
“Seven years ago, I had no grandchildren. Now I have seven. Over three years ago, I married the most amazing woman, Sophie, for over 18 years she’s been my colleague now, she’s the most supportive, calming loving wife anyone could ask for. And she deserves a break.”
Hadley also admitted he didn’t know how much longer he could endure the relentless early starts of morning radio.
“Back in September I turned 70, I started to think, how long I’ve got left on this Earth, and do I want to keep getting up at half past three in the morning, meaning I go to bed early.
“At social events I’m always the first out the door. I don’t want to be the first out the door anymore.”
Hadley assured listeners he would not be disappearing completely.
“I’m not retiring from work. I’m just retiring from full-time radio,” he said.
“I’ll bob up somewhere in 2025 but not in a full-time capacity, and certainly not on radio.”
Hadley thanked his producers and ‘loyal’ audience.
“To my listeners, thank you for your unswerving loyalty. And I say with much sincerity, I leave here on December 13 with me owing 2GB and my listeners, much more than they owe me.”
Hadley has helped shape the Australian radio landscape during his 24 years at 2GB and 19 years before that at 2UE.
Over his stellar career, he has won 33 Australian Commercial Radio Awards (ACRAs) and was inducted into the ACRA Hall of Fame in 2017.
Nine Radio’s Managing Director Tom Malone said Ray’s incredible longevity as the top-rating program will likely never be matched.
“We’ll likely never see another broadcaster of Ray’s versatility, longevity and ratings success,” Malone said.
“While the 2GB listeners will miss that familiar jingle and voice at 9am every day, I’m sure they wish Ray all the best in retirement with Sophie and the family.”
