Radio veteran and award winning journalist Jeremy Cordeaux was inducted into the Commercial Radio Hall of Fame at the 27^th annual Australian Commercial Radio Awards.

The Sydney born but undisputed king of talkback radio in Adelaide was honoured for his outstanding lifetime achievement and contribution to the radio broadcasting industry at a gala ceremony, attended by more than 1000 of his industry peers at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre. 

With a career spanning more than 50 years across radio, television and print, plus extensive work for Australian charities, Cordeaux’s career started in radio as an office boy and moved on air as a presenter, then into management as a programme manager, managing director and owner of three successful radio stations. 

He started at 2GB at the age of 16 and then moved to 2GF Grafton.  In 1973 Cordeaux took over the John Pearce Morning Show on Radio 2GB. In 1974 he was promoted to the Breakfast Show. He moved to Adelaide in 1976 to pursue talk back opportunities, ahead of 2GB’s conversion to a Rock ‘n’ Roll format. 
The following 30 years saw Cordeaux’s morning show, The Court of Public Opinion on 5DN, top the Adelaide ratings.  While on air, Cordeaux acquired a ten percent interest in 5DN and six months later was promoted to Managing Director.

In 1990, Jeremy Cordeaux sold his interest in 5DN and bought radio stations 5AD and 5SE. Four years later he set up the first ‘radio combo’, owning and running the highly successful number one FM station 5AD and the number one AM talk station 5DN, all while continuing to present his morning talk show from 9am till 1pm.  In 1996, Cordeaux sold his company to the Australian Radio Network. He remained on-air for the next ten years before retiring from 5DN in 2004.

Throughout his career, Cordeaux has won numerous awards for radio, including a Walkley Award in 1984 for best current affairs show in Australia, three gold medals from the International Radio Festival of New York and has been recognised for his service to the industry and community with an Order of Australia Award.

In 2014 Cordeaux returned on air in the evening slot on FIVEaa. He commented at the time: “I decided to take my own long service leave, but I never wanted to retire. I’m glad I had time to recharge the batteries, smell the roses, wash the cars, but I’m very excited to be getting back on air on FIVEaa.” 

In September this year, FIVEaa announced Cordeaux would move from evenings to afternoons.  Cordeaux and his wife, Caroline Peacock live in Adelaide and have one son, and Jeremy has three adult children from a previous marriage.

Commercial Radio Australia chief executive officer, Joan Warner said: “Congratulations to Jeremy on an outstanding career both on and off air in radio and all the best as he continues to produce engaging talk back radio on FIVEaa.”   

The Hall of Fame recipients are nominated by industry peers and are selected by an executive level judging committee.  Previous inductees include last year’s, radio executive Peter Harvie, Kevin Blyton, Graham Mott, Tony Pilkington, Derryn Hinch, Neil Mitchell, John Laws, Bob Rogers, Gary O’Callaghan, Paul Thompson, Bob Francis, Rod Muir and the late Frank Hyde.

The Australian Commercial Radio Awards (ACRAs) are organised by Commercial Radio Australia and cover all metropolitan, provincial and country commercial radio stations, with winners announced for each of these areas in 33 categories, across news, talkback, sport and music.   Tonight’s gala event was hosted by comedian and actor Stephen Curry with more than 1200 radio industry stars, personalities and media executives from around Australia in attendance.

Listen to Jeremy talking to our radioinfo reporters after accepting the award.