Comedian Joel Creasey will join Kate Ritchie and Tim Blackwell as Nova’s Kate, Tim & Joel drive show from next month.

He has just been revealed on air in today’s show as the replacement for Marty Sheargold.

Speaking to radioinfo earlier today, Joel told us he feels comfortable with Kate and Tim because they have been friends for some time.

“It’s good that it’s public now, it’s been a while that I’ve had to keep the secret. Conveniently, I’ve been using the masked singer as my cover story, pretending I’m the wizard on the Masked Singer… I can’t sing, all the clues for the wizard sounded like me but then unfortunately when the wizard sang and blew my cover.”

radioinfo: Unlike stand up comedy, where you can prepare your routines for months and do the same show night after night, radio is a voracious medium, it demands new material every day. How are you going to make the transition to this medium?

“My standup style is very autobiographical, so I really just recount the crazy stuff that happens to me in my life… I seem to attract crazy stuff so I’m never short of material. I may have to go out of my way now to find more crazy stuff.”

radioinfo: How will Covid affect your content?

“It certainly has completely changed my year, I was meant to be on tour now I’m locked down in Melbourne. I think people need a break from it so I won’t be doing too much Covid stuff.

“It dominates the news so much but I always say in my stand up shows, you’re not going to learn anything, we’re not going hear something political, you’ll possibly leave dumber but you will have had a good time! Neighbours has introduced Covid into its storylines, but I wonder if people actually want to watch that after experiencing it so long.”

radioinfo: You’ve been a guest on this show from time  to time, tell me about the dynamic between you, Kate and Tim.

“I dread going in to play quick draw with Kate, she takes it very seriously, she likes to win, but so do I. That competitive nature will still come through! We haven’t defined any roles but we have known each other for a long time and  we’ve had many nights out, so I think the dynamic will come naturally. I’m mad for anything glittery and pop culture so I will bring that to the show. I love to laugh so they will have a new laugh track in there.”

radioinfo: You’ve just turned 30, Tim will no longer be the youngest in the team.

“I’m going to remind them a lot that I’m by far and away the youngest… I think Gen Y’s are a sassy generation who get a hard time. We are very savvy and we work hard and want to fix a lot of wrong doings from the past… so I will fly the flag for Gen Y.”

radioinfo: Have you got some Daniel Andrews lockdown jokes in your routine?

“I’ll have to put my Northface jacket on… You know his daily press conferences are event viewing in Melbourne, I watch them every day, I scream to my partner across the house Dan’s on, it’s all we talk about. I though he was named Andrew Daniels for such a long time but perhaps I’m not the best person to ask about accuracy, because I don’t care much about serious news.”

radioinfo: Did you enjoy hosting Eurovision?

“Oh, I was always a huge fan of Eurovision. It’s camp, it’s over the top, it’s the perfect tonic to what is happening  in Melbourne at the moment… I used to host Eurovision parties in pubs and bars before Myf and I hosted the tv show, so it was a natural for me. Actually hosting those live gigs has actually helped me with live radio.”     

Having started stand up in Perth, WA at age 15, Joel Creasey is one of Australia’s most popular and charmingly controversial comedians and presenters. Joel has had multiple sell out tours of Australia, Asia, London and New York after cutting his teeth touring as support act to the legendary Joan Rivers who referred to him as “a f**king star”. He has stand up specials on Netflix and Amazon Prime, as well as on Channel Ten and annually appears on the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala.
 
For the last four years Joel has held the prestigious position of Australian host and commentator of Eurovision Song Conte st as well as helming the Sydney Mardi Gras TV broadcast. He’s hosted dating phenomenon Take Me Out , appears on panel shows from Talkin ‘Bout Your Generation to Spicks and Specks , is a regular ‘funnies chair’ host on The Project and who could forget Joel’s time in the African jungle on the very first season of I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here where he bitched and moaned his way to the finals.
 

has been the number one national drive show across Australia for 26 consecutive surveys and have won seven ACRA’s – Best Networked Program in 2015, Best On Air Team in 2016 and 2017, Best Syndicated Australian Program and Best Networked Show in 2018, with Kate Ritchie was also awarded an ACRA for Best Entertainment Presenter that year, and Best Networked Program and Best Syndicated Program in 2019.
 
NOVA Entertainment’s Chief Programming & Marketing Officer, Paul Jackson, said: “For over six years Nova’s drive team have built a loyal following with their audience. When looking for the right person to co-host the show, we wanted someone quick witted, energetic and who had great chemistry with our popular drive hosts – Kate and Tim. Joel is no stranger to Nova’s audience, having appeared as a guest on many of our on air shows, he has national appeal and already has a good relationship with the team. Joel was the perfect choice to join Kate and Tim on drive and we can’t wait to get them on air together.”

Kate Ritchie said: “It’s kind of embarrassing for Joel that he felt the need to join our show permanently, if all he was looking for was yet another attempt at Quick Draw. I’ve loved beating him, and he’s always been an okay guest, so Tim and I would have welcomed  him  back  in  a  heartbeat,  albeit  briefly.  In  all  honesty  though…we  are looking forward to having him join the team!”
 
Tim Blackwell said: “I’ve known Joel for years and have no doubt he’ll fit in seamlessly with Kate and I. I’ll just have to make sure I run him through some of the FM radio basics before our first show…for example: DJ Khaled and Khalid are not the same person, Nova’s Red Room isn’t a nightclub and you must be able to go to the toilet and back during an Ariana Grande song. Nail these basics and there will be no stopping us!”
 
Joel Creasey will replace Marty Sheargold, who will depart Nova on September 11, after 10 years with the network.

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