The top contenders for Ali Clarke’s position on Mix 102.3’s breakfast show have been revealed after she revealed her shock cancer diagnosis live on radio this week.
The Adelaide radio star, who co-hosts Max & Ali in the Morning with Max Burford, broke down in tears during Tuesday’s show when she revealed she has breast cancer.
While Ali is set to undergo a mastectomy later this week, the network has begun the search for a temporary replacement for the mother of three. The news will be confirmed on Friday.
According to the morning radio station, there are nine women who will take on the role of understudy, but it is unlikely that it will be a man due to the gender balance. The Advertiser.
Two women have reportedly already been approached to take over Ali’s position while she is on leave.
Kelly Noble, Kelly Nestor, Kelly Golding, Tiffany Warne, Erin Phillips, Mel Greig, Belinda Heggen and Hayley Pearson and Lauren De Cesare are all rumoured to be in the running for the role of breakfast presenter.
Noble reportedly has ‘ambitions’ to get into radio, with the Glam Adelaide owner appearing on the station to host the weekly What’s On segment for lifestyle news site Mix 102.3.
Meanwhile, Nestor is a popular TV and radio presenter, returning to ABC Radio Adelaide in 2023 as a stand-in host.
The top contenders to take Ali Clarke’s place on Mix 102.3’s breakfast show have been revealed after she revealed her shock cancer diagnosis live on radio this week
She has had a distinguished 25-year career as a journalist, having previously worked for Sky News and Channel 10, but has not had a regular media role since leaving Channel Nine’s Adelaide News in 2009.
Some of the major events she covered include the death of Princess Diana, the September 11 attacks and the tsunami attacks in Asia.
Channel Seven presenter Kelly Golding has already worked in radio, presenting Adelaide’s More Music Breakfast program for digital station SmoothFM.
She presented travel and lifestyle programs for the program Discover and started her television career in 2003 as a weather girl.
There are nine women who will take on the role of understudy, including Kelly Noble (left) and Kelly Nestor (right)
Kelly Golding (pictured) is a presenter at Channel Seven and has had a career in radio for some time, presenting Adelaide’s More Music Breakfast show for digital station SmoothFM.
Tiffany Warne is currently a weather presenter on Channel 10 Adelaide and has worked with Max Burford, the program’s current co-host.
She and Burford have appeared on radio in the past, including as co-presenters of Jodie Oddy’s Nova 919 Saturday morning breakfast show.
Meanwhile, AFLW star Erin Phillips could make a stunning return to the Mix, just months after her departure at the start of the year.
She occasionally appears on SAFM Breakfast, but is currently busy as a sports presenter for AFL matches, meaning her tip is unlikely.
Tiffany Warne (pictured) is the weather presenter for Channel 10 Adelaide
AFLW star Erin Phillips (pictured) could make a stunning return to the Mix radio station, months after her departure earlier this year
Former radio star Mel Greig, who now works as a public relations and media manager after being unable to find another job in radio, worked at Mix 102.3 in 2010.
She currently lives on the Gold Coast in Queensland, but rumours suggest she may return to Adelaide to fill in there.
Belinda Heggen is a former television journalist at Channel 10 and is now a media and public speaking coach and runs her own company FLUENT Media.
Meanwhile, friends Hayley Pearson and Lauren De Cesare co-hosted SAFM Breakfast over 10 years ago, but there may be more than one understudy for Ali.
Ali shocked listeners on Tuesday when she announced she would be taking a break from radio due to her treatment for breast cancer.
Mel Greig, who now works as a public relations and media manager after being unable to find another job in radio, worked at Mix 102.3 in 2010. She currently lives interstate on Queensland’s Gold Coast, but rumours suggest she may return to Adelaide to take up her position.
“I thought it was very small and manageable. But I found quite a few small cancers. And that means I’m going to have quite a major surgery later this week, and I’m going to have to take some time off to recover, as you can imagine,” she said.
“You know, you know me, I’ve never dressed scantily, I’ve never put my breasts on display. They’ve been absolutely functional. In fact, when I was growing up, you know, they were almost in the way of me playing sports.”
The radio presenter burst into tears as she spoke emotionally about ‘losing a part’ of herself.
“I really fought with myself. I was angry at myself because I almost felt vain because I had lost a part of myself,” she said.
Belinda Heggen (pictured) is a former television journalist at Channel 10 and is now a media and public speaking coach who runs her own company FLUENT Media.
Friends Hayley Pearson (left) and Lauren De Cesare (right) co-hosted SAFM Breakfast more than 10 years ago, but there may be more than one stand-in host for Ali
“But when I think about it, I lose a part of myself that society has always told me makes me a woman and that it’s absolutely necessary. The other, big part of my brain knows that this is really what needs to happen to be good.”
Despite the heartbreaking diagnosis, Ali admitted she has been “very, very lucky” with the quality of healthcare she has received so far.
In January, Ali’s morning show Mix 102.3 underwent a major overhaul following rumours that The Kyle and Jackie O Show would be axed due to its expansion to Adelaide.
The programme changes its name from The Ali Clarke Breakfast Show to Max & Ali in the Morning after Max Burford joined the team last year.
In January, Ali’s Mix 102.3 breakfast radio show underwent a major overhaul following reports that rumoured expansion of The Kyle and Jackie O Show to Adelaide was to be scrapped. Pictured: Ali Clarke (R) and Max Burford
Burford, who is also a presenter at Channel Ten in Adelaide, brings his knowledge of sport and local news to the team.
The full team now consists of hosts Clarke and Burford, alongside Shane Lowe and Eddie Bannon.
In August 2023, Mix 102.3 achieved the highest ratings of any radio station in Adelaide with 376,000 weekly listeners.
Ali Clarke’s show had an audience share of 11.2 percent, making it the second most popular morning program in Adelaide.
