Alan Jones may have retired from the airwaves, but that doesn’t meant the 79-year-old broadcaster plans to slow down any time soon. And it has now been revealed that the renowned shock jock will host his own television show on Sky News.
Having worked as a co-anchor at Sky News for seven years alongside Peta Credlin, Jones will now take on a headline role at the channel. His self-titled new show will premiere on Monday, July 6, and will cover political topics, as well as and celebrating the successes of everyday Australians, with Jones promising to be “the voice of people on Struggle Street”.
“How many people who have taken ‘early retirement’ just wither?” Jones says in a new promo video. “We’re an opinion station and that’s what we’re here to offer, but what they want to hear is those opinions being challenged. So I will have a special guest, a perspective on things that out there in the pubs they’re talking about.”
“We at this station here have got to stick to the facts, and by repetition you can make and you can have attitudinal change,” he adds. “We have to seek attitudinal change. This is a nonsense for people to be parading in the streets, weeping and wailing about this dreadful country that’s Australia.”
Fans of Jones responded to the news online on Monday, with many congratulating him on the new venture. One user wrote: “Well done, we need more fearless people like him in the media.” Another commented: “Well done, we need more fearless people like him in the media.”
The announcement comes almost one month after Jones recorded his final program for Sydney radio station 2GB, after 35 years on the job, having made the decision to retire from the role on the advice of his doctors. However at the time he confirmed that he would not be calling time on his work with Sky News or writing for The Australian.
“We are living in the world of coronavirus. The most repeated statement we hear is ‘we must listen to the experts’,” Jones said at the time. “Well, the experts are telling me in no uncertain terms, and not for the first time I might add, ‘Continuing with the present workload is seriously detrimental to your health’. I have listened to the experts and I am taking this opportunity to indicate to my radio family that I will be retiring from radio at the end of this month.”
Jones’ final episode of the show was an emotional one as he thanked his “wonderful, loyal, supportive and critical” listeners. “The program is about listeners, without them there is no reason to be here,” he said. Jones was replaced by Ben Fordham, who previously hosted 2GB’s Drive program, while sports broadcaster Chris Wilson will step into Fordham’s shoes.