“Ben, Liam and Belle” will be Nova 100’s new breakfast show in Melbourne, filling the void left by “Chrissie, Sam and Browny”, who will depart at the end of the year.
Ben Harvey and Liam Stapleton, alongside long-time producer Belle Jackson, are currently at the helm of Adelaide’s Nova 91.9 breakfast show, known as “Ben and Liam”.
The show had previously been the national Triple J breakfast show, and before that it was heard on Adelaide’s community station Fresh 92.7.
The “Ben, Liam and Belle” breakfast show will also have a presence in Adelaide, with a local broadcast going to air each weekday from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. The station’s main breakfast show will be announced soon, Nova said.
Ben Latimer, head of programming for the Nova Network, said when Harvey and Stapleton joined Nova three years ago, it was clear they were talented broadcasters with great potential.
“They had built an incredible following during their time as Triple J’s national breakfast show before moving to Nova 91.9 in Adelaide, with their long-time producer Belle.
“Over the past few years, proud Melbournian Belle has taken a more prominent role on air and, combined with Ben and Liam’s chemistry, compelling stories and quick humour, their breakfast show has delivered outstanding results in a short time. We can’t wait to share their unique show with Melbourne listeners.”
Harvey added: “We are all so grateful for the opportunity to wake up with the people of Melbourne every day – we love the city and can’t wait to call it our home. Melbourne has Australia’s most competitive radio market and we are looking forward to proving ourselves against some of the biggest shows in the country.”
Stapleton said: “We’re so stoked to be dropping the ‘producer’ part from Producer Belle’s title. She’s done the hard yards with us for the last five years and we can’t wait to have her on-air more. Belle moved from Melbourne to Sydney, to Adelaide and back to Melbourne for the show. We introduced her to our hometown and now she’s going to return the favour. We can’t wait for Melbourne to fall in love with her and put up with us.”
Jackson said she can’t wait to step into her new role and teach her co-hosts a thing or two about her hometown.
“I can’t wait to return to Melbourne after five long but incredible years away and, while coming back home is exciting, to be doing it on-air alongside Ben and Liam is a dream come true,” she said. “I have loved every minute of ‘looking after’ the boys as their producer.”
In the most recent radio ratings survey, the “Ben and Liam” show had an 11.9% share in breakfast, making it the leader in the FM market.
Swan will remain with the Nova Network next year, hosting her own national afternoon show.
