Entertainment

97.3 Breakfast team reshuffle, co-host Robin Bailey leaving the show

Brisbane's 97.3 breakfast radio team has had a shake-up, with co-host Robin Bailey leaving the station.

Australian Radio Network announced changes to its 97.3 breakfast team on Monday, with national content director Duncan Campbell citing the station and Bailey were in contract negotiations for a "long period of time" and were unable to agree to terms.

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"Robin has had a great 10 years on-air with 97.3 and we're sad to see her go," he said in a statement.

"While we worked hard to keep Robin as part of the team, we're disappointed that we were unable to agree terms.

Terry Hansen and Bob Gallagher say goodbye to their co-host Robin Bailey.
Terry Hansen and Bob Gallagher say goodbye to their co-host Robin Bailey. Photo: Supplied

"Unfortunately, based on the information ARN was consistently given throughout the negotiation process, we were led into a position where we were unable to proceed with contract renewal.

"We're extremely excited about 2017 and the fun and compelling content we will have on offer for our Brisbane listeners – both loyal and new alike."

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Bailey told Mamamia she had been in contract for negotiations for "some time" and was "completely and utterly gobsmacked" when she found out she was sacked.

"I assumed these were going well, although we had not received any feedback or an actual offer from ARN," she said.

"That's until Monday morning; I was called into a meeting with three ARN executives and told my services were no longer required."

Terry Hansen will remain and will be joined by a new host and Bob Gallagher will continue as the show's anchor.

Bailey kicked off her career in Sydney as a TV journalist before making the switch to radio and moving to Brisbane where she became an on-air favourite, joining the 97.3 team in 2006.

She is also a regular contributor to the national New News Now program during the afternoon news bulletin is a regular guest on Nine's Weekend Today.

Bailey spoke openly to her listeners in 2014 when her husband, Tony Smart, died after battling depression, leaving her and their three sons behind.

Bailey said at the time that while she did not want to be the poster girl for depression or suicide, she did believe her "media experience could be used in a way to start conversations".​

The breakfast team have been in close competition to Nova's Ash Kip and Luttsy throughout the year and had managed two strong Brisbane radio surveys that helped them knock Nova's breakfast dream team out of the water in September.

Their reign as kings of breakfast radio took a dive in the latest ratings, with 97.3 falling to second place again behind Nova's breakfast team.

When approached by Fairfax Media for comment, Bailey said she was "not in a position to talk about it".

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