Neil Mitchell to step down after 34 years on Melbourne morning radio
Neil Mitchell will step down from his top-rated Melbourne morning radio show after 34 years in the role. His final show will be December 1.
The 3AW morning show presenter will stay on as an employee of Nine Entertainment, the owner of the network (and publisher of The Australian Financial Review), but in a different role, the company said in a statement. He will continue to present his podcast, Neil Mitchell Asks Why.
3AW radio host Neil Mitchell.
Mitchell’s replacement in the morning slot, which has been rumoured to be drive presenter Tom Elliott, will be announced in coming days.
Mitchell, 71, has helmed the powerful slot since 1990. His most recent radio ratings, released this week, put him at a 20.1 per cent share of the audience – 143,000 people on average. He has a cumulative audience over his three-hour show of more than 450,000.
He has won Walkley, ACRA and Quill awards for his work, and began at 3AW as a weekend presenter and fill-in host for Derryn Hinch in the morning slot in 1987.
Mitchell told listeners on Friday morning it was his decision to leave, and in fact 3AW management had tried to convince him to stay.
“No tears, no spin, no PR crap, it’s time to go, it’s time to do something else. Friday, December 1st,” he said. “It’s unquestionably the right thing. I’m really looking forward to a new thing next year… Radio and 3AW are my home. But after 54 years, God help us. The leg’s getting a little bit tired of pedalling. I can only work one way, and that’s flat out.”
He said he would have a weekly podcast, regular news commentary across 3AW, and maybe some writing. “I also think I can hear champagne corks popping up at Spring Street,” he added, saying that was a bit premature. “I’m here for another three
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