Pilko out of retirement for FIVEaa’s new lineup

Tony Pilkington / ACRAs

Adelaide news-talk station FIVEaa has unveiled a new-look line-up for 2020 with the legendary Tony ‘Pilko’ Pilkington coming out of ‘retirement’.

After calling time on his radio career in 2010, Pilko comes back to FIVEaa to fill the afternoon weekday spot following the departure of Alan Hickey. The radio icon say he’s looking forward to walking back through the doors in the new year.

“I thought long and hard… and if KG could make a come-back, so could I! I’m really looking forward to coming home to Adelaide and FIVEaa.”

That’s not the only line-up change announced by NOVA Entertainment. The ‘Rowey & Bicks Drive Sports Show’ will have a new anchor with Jarrod Walsh making the move from Nova 91.9.

“I’ve grown up listening to the FIVEaa sports show since I was a teenager and to have the opportunity to now be part of the Number 1 Sports Show in Adelaide is literally my dream job,” said Walsh.

“I feel like it’s draft day and I’ve been selected to play for my home side in my home city, and I just want to get pre-season over with and get into the real stuff.”

Rounding out the changes for 2020 is the departure of Jane Reilly. After seven years with FIVEaa Breakfast and 44 years working in Adelaide media, she’s made the decision to finish up as a regular contributor with ‘David & Will’ from December 13.

However, she’s not cutting the ties altogether and will be working on special projects for the station. “I’ll still be around on the radio, it’s just that I won’t be up quite so early. I’m really looking forward to not looking at the clock and worrying about sleeping in,” Reilly said.

FIVEaa station manager Craig Munn believes listeners will love the changes that they’ve made. 

“We’re thrilled to welcome Pilko back home and Jarrod to the station. We believe that our audience these additions to the afternoon lien-up as well as continue to connect with all our presenters and programs in 2020.

“For all of us here at FIVEaa, it has been a privilege and delight to work with Jane, who is a treasured and values member of the FIVEaa family.”

Below is the FIVEaa weekday line-up from Monday 20 January 2020:

5.30am – 6am: The Sports Wrap with Tom Rhen

6am – 9am: Breakfast with David & Will

9am – 12 noon: Mornings with Leon Byner

12 noon – 12.30pm: Nine News on FIVEaa

12.30 – 3pm: Afternoons with Tony Pilkington

3pm – 4pm: Conversations with Cornesy

4pm – 6pm: Sports Show with Rowey & Bicks

6pm – 7pm: Sportsday SA with Malcolm Blight and David Wildy

7pm – 8pm: Early Evenings with Jon Blake

8pm – 12 midnight: Evenings with Jeremy Cordeaux