Breakfast Musical Chairs – many answers still awaited

Despite an announcement expected this week on Clive Robertson’s replacement on Classic FM, many leading networks and stations are yet to settle on new breakfast presenters for the new year.

Robertson, 57, came off air last Friday to be told his contract would not be renewed after three years as breakfast presenter. Initial speculation pointed to his replacement coming from within ABC radio.

Amid much upheaval in recent months and weeks, several stations have already revealed their new breakfast line ups for 2005:

* 2Day FM, Sydney – Kyle and Jackie O swapping with Judith Lucy
* Triple J – Jason Whalley and Lindsay McDougall (Frenzal Rhomb), replacing Wil Anderson and Adam Spencer
* 101.7 WSFM, Sydney – Amanda Keller confirmed to come in for Kayley Harris with Jonesy.

However, many networks and stations are yet to decide or announce their new breakfast teams, with the ABC prominent. There is no word from:

* Classic FM (as above)
* Radio National – Peter Thompson
* ARN’s Mix 101.1, Melbourne – Des Dowling, Lawrence Mooney and Michelle Van Ray (although Jane Marwick is holding the fort during summer)
* 666 ABC Canberra – Chris Uhlmann and David Kilby
* FM 104.7, Canberra – The Mob
* SEN1116, Melbourne – Garry Lyon
* Triple M – Tim Smith on ‘The Cage’.

And, it does not stop at breakfast. In other shifts, there is still no word on replacements for:

* 774 ABC Melbourne – Lynne Haultain on afternoons, who finishes up this Friday.
* 891 ABC Adelaide – Kevin Naughton on drive.
* Gold 104.3, Melbourne – Wilbur Wilde’s ‘Classic Cafe’ program.

While the newspaper Radio Columns go into hibernation over December and January and some subscription publications take a holiday, you can stay tuned to radioinfo for announcements over the Christmas-New Year period.