Brisbane 4BC Drive host Neil Breen announces his departure

Posted on 7 May 2023

Breen will finish at 4BC on June 23

Neil Breen, the Brisbane 4BC host who helms the station’s weekday afternoon Drive show, announced on Friday that he would be quitting his radio show, telling listeners it was time to prioritise his family.

Breen relocated from Sydney to Brisbane to take over the breakfast slot from Alan Jones when he retired before shifting to the afternoon Drive slot. Breen names this as the main reason he decided to step away from the position, as he had been commuting between NSW and Queensland and living in Brisbane five days a week.

He stated he had struggled with loneliness on the nights he was separated but had pushed through it.

“It was a very tough time because of Covid and all the rules, it was very difficult to get my family here,” he said.

“It’s taken its toll and I’ve told the bosses at Channel Nine I’m going to resign from 4BC radio.

“It’s very sad for me and I think it’s going to be quite upsetting for a lot of the listeners.

“Please don’t think I take it for granted, I see your emails and I hear the phone calls and I get the texts and I know you enjoy the show.

“…But I’ve given you three of the best years I can possibly give to you but it’s time for me to give many, many more years than that to my family and dedication to my family and be with them seven days a week.”

Breen will finish at 4BC on June 23.

Mediaweek spoke to Breen in 2020 when he had taken over from Jones and he discussed how he was receiving some negative reactions when he took over, but said that he always respected the audience’s right to an opinion – good or bad.

“I received a torrent of emails saying ‘get this guy off! What has happened here?’, and I didn’t let it get to me after the first week or two – I understood Alan’s audience, and had respect for his audience and respect for Alan. But then slowly over the coming weeks, the reaction began to change and people were saying that they were enjoying it,” he said.