EXCLUSIVE: Carrie Bickmore tipped to leave SCA replacing Will & Woody at ARN

Carrie Bickmore is tipped to replace Will McMahon and Woody Whitelaw in national Drive at ARN as the network prepares a major overhaul of its KIIS line-up.

Multiple sources have told Mediaweek that Bickmore is set to leave Southern Cross Austereo and join ARN, ending her current partnership with Tommy Little on the Hit Network. 

ARN CEO Michael Stephenson is understood to have personally orchestrated the deal.

Sources claim Bickmore is being lined up for national Drive, although they have not confirmed whether she will arrive at ARN solo or whether Little could move with her.

The expected switch follows ARN’s confirmation that Will & Woody will finish on KIIS at the end of 2026 after eight years with the network.

Their departure creates the opening for Bickmore, whose name had previously circulated in industry speculation around ARN’s new Melbourne breakfast show.

While breakfast was floated as one possible destination, Mediaweek understands ARN plans instead to place the Gold Logie winner in national Drive.

Will & Woody to leave KIIS

ARN said it would take a “refreshed approach to national Drive in 2027”, completing a new KIIS Network line-up alongside forthcoming breakfast shows in Sydney and Melbourne.

However, the decision has caused upset inside the company. Staff members at ARN have told Mediaweek they are unhappy with the decision, with sources describing colleagues as “heartbroken” over the Will & Woody announcement.

In a statement, McMahon and Whitelaw said they were “devastated” by the decision.

“We are devastated we won’t be continuing to do what we truly love next year and will sorely miss hearing the stories of everyone who contributed to the show,” the pair said.

“It was always the listeners who made the show, so we are deeply thankful to you all. We are also incredibly grateful to ARN for allowing us to live out our dream for the last eight years … guess we’ll now have to finally figure out how to make LinkedIn profiles.”

The pair joined KIIS Drive in 2018, bringing their long-running on-air partnership to the national network.

ARN chief content officer Kerri Elstub said McMahon and Whitelaw had made a significant contribution to KIIS.

“Will & Woody have been an important part of the KIIS family for the past eight years and have made a huge contribution to the network. They’ve brought their own unique energy, humour and personality to KIIS and we thank them for everything they’ve given the network over the years,” Elstub said.

“We wish Will & Woody all the very best for the future and look forward to seeing what they do next. In the meantime, they still have plenty of great radio ahead of them before the end of the year, and we look forward to celebrating their contribution and giving them the send-off they deserve.”

ARN’s talent overhaul

The changes come as ARN prepares for one of the biggest programming resets in the KIIS Network’s recent history.

ARN chief executive Michael Stephenson announced last month that The Kyle & Jackie O Show would be replaced by separate breakfast programs in Sydney and Melbourne.

However, the decision has caused upset inside the company. ARN staff have told Mediaweek they are unhappy with the decision, with sources describing colleagues as “heartbroken” over the Will & Woody announcement.

“We have spent the last six months developing new breakfast shows and developing fresh new talent, and I’m pleased to say that we’re close to finalising talent agreements for our new shows in both Sydney and Melbourne,” Stephenson said at the time.

He added that “both shows will launch this year.”

Bickmore’s expected arrival would give ARN another high-profile name to anchor its rebuilt national schedule.

What happens to Tommy Little?

Little’s future remains unclear.

He and Bickmore have built Carrie & Tommy into one of the Hit Network’s major national programs. Her departure would leave SCA with another significant programming decision as ARN overhauls its competing KIIS schedule.

Mediaweek has not been able to establish whether Little will remain with SCA, join Bickmore at ARN or pursue another role.

One source familiar with the situation said SCA had been considering moving on from the pair for some time, citing the show’s cost. Mediaweek has chosen not to publish the source’s more personal characterisations of the hosts because they could not be independently verified.

Mediaweek contacted Stephenson, Elstub, ARN chief content officer Dave Cameron and SCA for comment.

No response, confirmation or denial had been received by the time of publication.