As soon as Nova announced that the Chrissie, Sam and Browny Melbourne breakfast show would be ending, speculation was that filling the slot from 2023 would be Ben and Liam.
Currently hosting breakfast at Nova 919 in Adelaide, Ben and Liam moved to Nova in January 2020. Three years seems to be the attention span the duo has for radio gigs. They hosted breakfast for three years at triple j before the three years in Adelaide.
Not all the speculation about their move was about getting a breakfast slot in a bigger market. Some observers thought Ben and Liam might be the next hosts of national drive across the Nova network.
The duo today explained to their Adelaide listeners why they were ending their #1FM Adelaide show. “This is by no means a goodbye. You will still have us on your radio.” Ben, Liam & Belle will continue to have a presence in Adelaide, hosting a local early breakfast show from 6am to 7am.
One change that has surprised some is that the show has promoted producer Belle Jackson to an on-air role and she gets her name on the label.
Ben & LIam. Top with new co-host Belle
Nova released the following statement confirming the interstate move this morning:
Nova Entertainment announced that broadcasters Ben Harvey and Liam Stapleton, with their long-time producer Belle Jackson, will be Nova 100’s new breakfast show – Ben, Liam & Belle.
Ben & Liam built a loyal national following during their three years as hosts of Triple J’s breakfast show and, since joining Adelaide’s Nova 919 breakfast show in 2020, they have made a big impact both on-air and on social media. Ben & Liam has consistently been the most listened to breakfast show in Adelaide.
Ben Latimer, head of programming for the Nova 96.9, Nova 919 and national shows spoke about both success to date and the future potential of Ben, Liam & Belle.
“We knew that Ben & Liam were talented radio broadcasters and had great potential when they joined the Nova Network three years ago. They had built an incredible following during their time as Triple J’s national breakfast show before moving to Nova 919 in Adelaide, with their long-time producer Belle. Over the past few years, proud Melbournian Belle has taken a more prominent role on-air and, combined with Ben & Liam’s chemistry, compelling stories and quick humour, the breakfast show has delivered outstanding results in a short time. We can’t wait to share their unique show with Melbourne listeners,” Ben said.
Ben and Liam with Nova’s Ben Latimer
Ben Harvey said, “We are all so grateful for the opportunity to wake up with the people of Melbourne every day – we love the city and can’t wait to call it our home. Melbourne has Australia’s most competitive radio market and we are looking forward to proving ourselves against some of the biggest shows in the country.”
Liam Stapleton said, “We’re so stoked to be dropping the ‘Producer’ part from Producer Belle’s title. She’s done the hard yards with us for the last five years and we can’t wait to have her on-air more. Belle moved from Melbourne to Sydney, to Adelaide and back to Melbourne for the show. We introduced her to our hometown and now she’s going to return the favour. We can’t wait for Melbourne to fall in love with her and put up with us!”
Over the past three years Ben & Liam and the team have constantly looked at ways to not only entertain but also support their listeners and the community. Ben and Liam spent five days living and broadcasting from a glass box in Rundle Mall to create awareness and raise funds for mental health and, with the help of their listeners, they raised $100,000 for Lifeline. Covid-19 was at its worst in Australia just weeks into Ben and Liam starting with Nova 919, and they introduced themselves to the audience by delivering groceries and essential items to listeners in need. Recently Ben, Liam and Belle supported the historic first AFLW Showdown by leading a celebrity pre-showdown game on the Adelaide Oval.
As well as hosting Adelaide’s #1 FM breakfast show, the show has been heard around the country on Sunday mornings for over two years and in August 2021 Ben & Liam’s Lunchbreak was introduced in Sydney and Melbourne.
Belle Jackson said, “I can’t wait to return to Melbourne after five long but incredible years away and, while coming back home is exciting, to be doing it on-air alongside Ben and Liam is a dream come true. I have loved every minute of ‘looking after’ the boys as their producer. I can’t wait to step into this new role with them and teach them a thing or two about my hometown.”