A changing of the guard is underway at the popular Nova 106.9FM breakfast show with Olympic champion turned radio presenter Susie O’Neill set to be replaced by comedian Nikki Osborne after O’Neill announced she would be stepping down from hosting duties.
Osborne who has featured on Hughesy, We Have a Problem, I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, and the 2024 season of Dancing with the Stars will join fellow hosts Ash Bradnam and David “Luttsy” Lutteral from Monday, January 20.
Osborne said she is looking forward to having “a good laugh” with listeners when she takes her place at the breakfast desk.
“I have big flippers to fill but I’m confident Brisbane will warm to my ways,” she said.
“Sure, I get in trouble a bit, but I’ve got two big brothers in Ash and Luttsy and I have no doubt they’ll steer me even further off course! I love Brisbane. I grew up here and I look forward to having a good laugh with our listeners in this amazing city.”
While fans were initially upset over O’Neill’s departure from the popular breakfast show, they were equally overjoyed at news of Osborne coming aboard.
“Wooohoooo… this will be just as good… looking forward to listening in 2025,” one fan wrote.
“Best news ever!!!!!!”
“This super exciting! Can’t wait to hear @nikkiosborneofficial on the Brisbane airwaves!” commented another.
“O yay ! Love this for you! Will definitely be tuning in.”
O’Neill shocked listeners when she revealed her decision to resign from the popular Nova 106.9FM breakfast show.
Following a successful swimming career, O’Neill joined Nova in 2013 as a sports reporter before jumping on board with David “Luttsy” Lutteral and Ashley Bradnam in May 2016 as part of the breakfast team.
On Friday, October 18, a tearful O’Neill announced “with a very heavy heart” her decision to resign, telling listeners that the decision to leave “wasn’t easy”.
“Ash and Luttsy are like brothers to me, they brought me into their world a little over a decade ago and they have always been my biggest supporters,” O’Neill said at the time.
“We have formed an incredible bond over the years, which made this decision even harder. I’m proud to call them my friends, as I am the entire Nova breaky team.
“It’s hard for me to articulate exactly why I’m leaving. I think turning 50 last year I realised I’m at a whole new stage in my life. Our kids have grown up and I just feel the next chapter will see me pursue other goals, both professionally and personally.
“I feel like I want to get back to the grass roots of sport, and to involve myself more in the wider community. And while it’s going to be an emotional final day on November 28 saying goodbye to everyone, including our listeners, I do know whatever this next chapter brings, that my Nova family won’t be far away.
“Nova has been amazing to me – a huge shout out to all of you who helped me navigate my way from the very beginning of my radio career, I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to front such an awesome show.
“Both on and off air, it’s been a privilege and honour to learn a whole new set of skills and for people to get to know me beyond the sporting world.
“And to our listeners, you are who I am going to miss the most – I’ve loved my time with you and nothing pleases me more than when one of you comes up and recount a story I have shared on air. You are the reason we get up at the crack of dawn, so thank you for the hundreds of wonderful memories.”
O’Neill’s final broadcast with the Nova 106.9 breakfast show will be on Thursday, November 28.