Australians have a new set of voices in their ears every weekend morning on the Hit Network.
Jimmy Smith and Nathan Roye from Hobart’s #1 breakfast show Jimmy & Nath have hopped onto the national stage, welcoming listeners to their new weekend breakfast show Jimmy & Nath Up Early.
With seven years of experience on-air together hosting a mix of national and local radio shows, the duo welcomes their new 7-9 am weekend breakfast slot with open arms.
Mediaweek spoke to Jimmy and Nath ahead of their first national show about stepping up onto a bigger platform, working seven days a week and their close-knit friendship.
Moving to a bigger stage
In addition to their weekday show on Hobart’s Hit 100.9, the Tassie duo will now be able to enjoy the fun that comes with a larger audience. Roye said they are excited to be able to play on a bigger playground.
“We absolutely adore what we do at Hobart; we love the audience as they are as much a part of the show as anything. We just think it’s a bigger playground and more people to have fun with. We can’t wait to bring show our little Hobart show to the national stage.”
The pair want to keep the essence of what they do in Hobart and bring the fun to the rest of Australia. Smith said they want it to feel like listeners are an active part of the conversation instead of passive listeners.
“We essentially want to try and do the same sort of show for Australia. We’re going to be able to get out when we can, travel when we can, and just join in that conversation.
“So imagine that there are a bunch of people sitting at a table at a pub, Nathan and I pull up a chair next to them and say ‘hey, what are you guys talking about?’ we want to be a part of something rather than just on a stage being the entertainers.”
Being best friends
Aside from their on-air friendship, the duo and their producer Grace Garde spend time together outside of the studio.
“We are lucky that we’re best friends – we go to the gym together before the show, we all go play golf together, we drink together, we play footy together. So we can have conversations about the show, even outside classic office hours,” said Smith.
Roye said the show’s success comes down to the authentic relationship they all have together.
“I think that’s the beauty of what our show is – that it doesn’t stop because we love it so much. We love each other, and we like to bring that into the audience. So any idea from anywhere is always acceptable with us.”
Working seven days a week
Taking up the new national gig means the pair are on air seven days a week. However, Smith says the early weekend rises are no different to their life before the show.
“Nathan and I were getting up on the weekend anyway to do F45. If we can get up at 6am on Saturday and Sunday to work out we can get up on the weekend to talk shit.”
Jimmy and Nath have gone from strength to strength over the past three years on Hobart’s Hit100.9, where they claimed #1 Breakfast Show in 2021. Smith said their love for the show lies with the people they interact with.
“I mean, at the end of the day, we love radio because of the people.
“We just want to join their conversation. It’s not ‘hey this is what we are going to do, we want you to be a part of it’ it’s ‘hey what are you doing, we want to be a part of it.’ Whatever the audience is willing to do, we will do it.”
Jimmy & Nath Up Early, on the Hit Network, 7am – 9am weekends and Jimmy & Nath, on Hit 100.9 weekdays 6am -9am or listen via the LiSTNR app.