ARN confirms new KIIS 101.1 Breakfast show with Jase Hawkins & Lauren Phillips

Former Editor & Content Director

The industry’s worst-kept secret in recent times has been confirmed, with the Australian Radio Network (ARN) announcing Lauren Phillips will be replacing Polly ‘PJ’ Harding on KIIS 101.1 Breakfast in Melbourne.

Phillips joins co-host Jase Hawkins from Monday, August 9.

ARN also flagged there will be further announcements coming “very soon” on who else will be joining the program.

ARN said Phillips is “one of Australia’s most loved presenters”, and together with Hawkins she will create Melbourne’s “freshest” Breakfast show.

“A genuine and relatable Melbourne girl to her core, Lauren will bring her local knowledge, humour and upbeat warmth to listeners each morning, starting conversations about all the things that matter to Melburnians – from what’s hot and fun around town, to the latest in footy and more,” ARN publicity said.

Phillips’ media career has mainly been in television. She currently presents the weather on Channel 9’s Weekend Today and has featured on the Victorian travel show Postcards. Throughout her 13-year media career, she’s also appeared on Helloworld Travel, Carols By Candlelight, Today Extra, Getaway and 20 to 1. 

ARN’s chief content officer, Duncan Campbell, said KIIS 101.1 will now deliver Melbourne’s “show in the know”.

“Together with their love and passion for Melbourne, Jase & Lauren in the Morning will be fun and fresh, keeping listeners in the loop across all the news around town,” he said.

“Lauren was part of our KIIS Summer Breakfast Show and was an immediate hit with listeners for her likeable nature and infectious laughter. We are so pleased will now be joining Jase, she was the perfect choice to take over from Polly ‘PJ’ Harding after she announced she was leaving KIIS to return home to New Zealand.

“Jase and Lauren each have a terrific sense of humour, plus their easy-going rapport makes them a perfect fit for the show and KIIS 101.1 They will be a dynamic duo in the Melbourne market.”

Phillips said she’s so relieved the secret is finally out.

“I’m beyond excited to get started and I can’t wait to wake up with Melbourne every morning,” she said. “Being part of the ARN family is a dream job for me. I love to have a laugh and a chat, and I can’t wait to do that with KIIS 101.1 listeners.”

Hawkins added that he can’t wait for Melbourne to see what the show had planned.

“Lauren and I have had quite a few covert catch-ups over the past few months, where we’ve been plotting and planning the new show and it’s been a lot of fun,” he said. “I’ve been a fan of Lauren’s work for years and she makes me laugh, a lot. She’s got the perfect energy for Breakfast radio – you just want to be around her.”

The show will kick off with a listener competition, ‘Jase & Lauren’s $50k Wordplay’. The game will be played at 7:30am each day and requires listeners to match five words with either Jase or Lauren to go into the running to win $50,000.

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Recent comments (11)
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Phoebe Buffay
22 Jul 2021 - 9:28 am

Mind blown!!!
DID NOT SEE THAT COMING!
What a complete surprise!
Brand new information!

Scott
22 Jul 2021 - 9:32 am

What a huge overhyped, drawn out process to announce a footy players ex partner. Did ARN management not listen while on holidays over the summer break?

Much better talent out there deserving of an opportunity who have proven themselves in smaller markets.

The Truth
22 Jul 2021 - 9:50 am

This is a good choice because Jason Hawkins is an average broadcaster who needs a strong co host

Dans Mate
22 Jul 2021 - 9:54 am

Oh Gosh ARN….we are all so shocked by this! *yawn*
Longest drawn out process ever!

Lead Balloon..
22 Jul 2021 - 9:56 am

Exactly what I imagined happening, the obvious and rumoured choice. A very dumb reveal I’m my opinion. Congrats to Lauren, she is lovely and all the best to the show but there was actually zero point to this. I often wonder what happens in these brainstorm meetings, must have been getting some breaky show advice from Gemma Fordham.

Long time listener
22 Jul 2021 - 10:15 am

Why does this sort of announcement remind me of ARN’s rebrand of 5AD Adelaide back in 2001. Rough recollection..”We asked listeners what they liked and what they wanted to see. So many of you have told us you love our music mix that we’ve made it our name…Mix 102.3″.

So genuine that Mix102.3’s ratings plummeted for years until Triple M/SAFM blew up ahead of Nova launching.

I’d love some truth in media releases. In the meantime, I’m spending some time with my family and concentrating on my blog.

Jane
22 Jul 2021 - 10:34 am

I’ll never understand the people who go to the effort of posting negative, toxic, and slanderous comments on this page.

Jaded radio people – I see you and it’s about time you realized that you’re destroying the industry from the inside, if you’ve got nothing constructive to add, step away from the keyboard!

Lauren has incredible energy and Jase has a wealth of experience, let’s see what they can do!

Tim
22 Jul 2021 - 10:41 am

A weather girl really ?

Mick C
22 Jul 2021 - 12:28 pm

Woopie do

Still wont get better ratings

Really Guys?
22 Jul 2021 - 5:54 pm

Where’s the positivity in here? Jase & Lauren will be different, sure – how about we all give them a Survey or two before kicking the heels in? Best of luck to PJ with the move home and let’s see what the new show beings. PS I don’t work for ARN.

Bray
22 Jul 2021 - 6:12 pm

I’m curious how much it kills some of you to just be happy for people? Turn off your computers & maybe go outside? I hear that’s quite therapeutic 🙂

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