‘A knife through the back’: Tim Bailey joins 2GB & recalls 10 axing

Former Channel 10 Sydney weatherman Tim Bailey has started a new gig at Nine Radio’s 2GB.

As The Daily Telegraph reports, Bailey received a shock phone call telling him his services were no longer required. It was a moment that made the 57-year-old “question everything”.

But like fellow 10 personality Joe Hildebrand, he has now landed a new job at Nine Radio.

He announced the new gig on Sunday (September 20), revealing he’d be joining both Ben Fordham’s 2GB Breakfast show and Jim Wilson’s Drive show each weekday.

“Some personal news. Thanks to @BenFordham and Tom Malone, I start at 2GB tomorrow morning at 6.30am and will also be talking to @JimWilsonMedia at 5.45pm,” said the cult figure in a tweet on Sunday.

“Cannot. Bloody. Wait.”

Some personal news. Thanks to @BenFordham and Tom Malone, I start at 2GB tomorrow morning at 6.30am and will also be talking to @JimWilsonMedia at 5.45pm. Cannot. Bloody. Wait. @BenFordhamLive @2GB873

— Tim Bailey (@dailybaileylive) September 20, 2020

The TV icon joined Fordham for the first time on Monday (September 21), presenting the day’s weather at 6.30am.

Later in the show, Fordham gave Bailey a proper on-air introduction.

“I’m not going to tell you the weather, because there’s a bloke about to come on who can probably do that for you,” Fordham said.

“He’s been on our screens for 40 years… And I can’t think of anyone with more energy and enthusiasm. Now the weather guru has joined 2GB.”

Bailey then spoke about how he ended up at 2GB and the experience of being sacked from 10.

“20 minutes after I was sacked from Channel 10, my phone rang, and before I had a chance to fall down, a bloke by the name of Benny Fordham picked me up,” he said.

“Him and his boss, who is the best wrangler of a Lazy Susan in Sydney – Tommy Malone – offered me a job… I am proud to be part of the family.”

Reflecting on a whirlwind week, Bailey sad that losing his TV job was like “a knife through the back and through the heart, it’s the best description of it”.

He added: “It was brutal and I was very, very, sad.”