In February of this year, Triple M added a new voice to its stable in famed athlete turned media personality, Candice Warner. Warner co-hosts the Dead Set Legends program on Saturday mornings with Dan Ginnane and Richard Freedman, and Mediaweek caught up with Warner to talk about how she is settling into the station and her future goals for radio.
When asked how her deal with Triple M came about, Warner said that the wheels were set in motion years ago on the Moonman in the Morning breakfast show.
“A few years ago, I did a few little spots in the breakfast slot with Moonman (Lawrence Mooney) when Jess Eva was filming I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!. I was also doing a Wide World of Sports program with another station and then I got the call from the program director Rex (Morris) one day saying ‘we’ve loved what you’re doing, and we’d really love to have you as part of our Dead Set Legends program’. The show is something that I’ve actually listened to growing up and something that I’ve always loved, so I was really excited about the opportunity.”
Warner said that she is settling in well to life at Triple M, and said that the team of Ginnnanne and Freedman feels like family.
“It’s like they’re my big brothers, the way they treat me and the way they look after me. We have lots of fun on a Saturday morning – we don’t take ourselves too seriously, but we take sports seriously.”
When asked how she is finding the Saturday morning timeslot, Warner said that it is a good slot, despite some scheduling conflicts.
“It can be a bit of a juggle for me because two out of the three daughters play netball on a Saturday morning. I go to the netball and then I quickly race into the studio and we do it. It’s a really great way to start the weekend, and the show is doing quite well so it must mean that what we’re doing is entertaining. People are taking their kids to sports, and they want to tune into something that’s a little bit light hearted but informative at the same time.”
Warner said that after her sporting career she knew she was keen on a career in media but wasn’t sure in what form. She now finds herself assimilating well into the radio industry.
“I wanted to be in the media somewhere, just wasn’t quite sure in what way. The more radio that I’ve done, the more I feel really comfortable and now I know that’s my place and that’s where I want to continue and develop.”
Earlier in the year, Warner featured on Triple M Sydney’s Rush Hour drive program, filling in for Wendell Sailor, an experience that she said she greatly enjoyed. When asked what the future holds, Warner said that it would be great to earn greater opportunities with more hours on the mic each week.
“I love my time on Dead Set Legends on Saturday mornings for a couple of hours but it’d be great to do more somewhere along the line but for the time being, I’m absolutely loving it. I really enjoyed filling in for Wendell in the afternoons, but at this stage, I’m just signed on to Saturday mornings.
“My goal would be to go into a bigger program, which is more than just once a week. Everyone has goals and aspirations but I’m also very new to it all. So for now, small stepping stones and learning along the way. Being coached and just getting my head around how radio works and what makes a radio program successful.”