Steve Price axed from radio gig for surprise replacement

Steve Price has confirmed he won’t be returning to 2GB or 4BC after almost a decade presenting for Macquarie Radio.

Steve hosted the afternoon segment since June, replacing Chris Smith.

The Project host and radio personality was reportedly let go after failing to negotiate his return next year, and says it wasn’t his decision.

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph Steve clarified he was not annoyed, just surprised at the decision.

“I’m not annoyed, a little surprised, but not annoyed. It is a big world out there, I have got a big profile, a big brand. The world is my oyster,” he said.

Explaining the unexpected decision, Steve hinted at Nine’s takeover of the station as playing a role in the outcome.

“Channel 9, the new owners, decided to go in a different direction, which just frees me up to do other things, like more of The Project,” he told the paper.

“We just couldn’t agree to what I was going to do next year.”

An email to 2GB staff published by the Telegraph from the Tom Malone, the Managing Director for Radio for Nine confirmed Steve’s comments.

“Unfortunately, Steve and I could not agree on the best way forward for 2020,” he said.

“I’d like to thank Steve for his terrific contribution to Macquarie Radio, and we wish him well for the future.”

Surprise replacement in Deborah Knight

The news has been followed by speculation around Steve’s replacement, and it is Deborah Knight, who has joined Price on the show on a semi-regular basis, taking over the mic in 2020.

Nine confirmed the news this morning.

“I have worked closely with Deb for 20 years, and I rate her so highly as one of Australia’s most talented and hard-working journalists,” Tim Malone said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Deborah is reportedly thrilled at the new gig after a rough year on-air for the network,

“I got my start in journalism behind the radio mic in Wagga Wagga, and I’m really excited about embarking on a new challenge with 2GB and 4BC,” she said.

“I’ve got the best of both worlds – continuing with my TV role at Nine in both news and the Today Show. Bring on 2020!”

Deborah along with co-host and Georgie Garnder were axed in favour of Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon though will reportedly continue to fill in and contribute to the program.

The pair hosted the show since January 2019.

The news is just another announcement in a string of shakeups from the network as 2019 comes to a close.

Nine announced the return of Karl Stefanovic to the Today show after he was dumped in 2018, and Sonia Kruger just walked from the network after eight years.

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