Triple J Drive hosts Lewis Hobba and Michael Hing have announced that they’re leaving the station. The Hobba & Hing show has been on air since 2020, with Hing joining Hobba after the departure of Veronica Milsom.
The pair’s last show will be next month.
In their time on air, Hobba & Hing have produced their radio segment-turned-hit podcast Simply the Jest, designed Triple J’s first-ever mascot, Dr. Um, rummaged through Hing’s horrific teenage diaries, created the world’s first festival-scented candle, auditioned for Magic Mike, and searched for the country’s weirdest contest on Australia’s Best Competition Competition. They’ve also been at the forefront of the station’s broadcasts for events like Triple J’s Hottest 100 and Splendour In The Grass.
On leaving Triple J, Lewis Hobba said: “Hosting the Drive show has been my dream job since I was 12 and listening to Triple J on the bus home. Spending my afternoons with millions of friends for the past 8 years has been a huge privilege. It’s brought me more joy than you can imagine (although sometimes you are super disgusting, you know who you are). Thank you to everyone who got involved in our silly show; I have zero doubt that the wildest stories in the world come from Hobba and Hing listeners. It’s hard to leave the best job in the country, and I’m going to miss it so much. But it’s the right time to hand the keys over to someone else who will be as excited as I was when I got this job.”
Michael Hing could not be contacted for comment, but a representative for Mr Hing said, “My client had no idea that ‘embezzling company funds’ was a serious crime and- oh, this is about them leaving? No, sorry, yes, he’s loved working at Triple J and loved working with Lucas Hobbes? Hobba? Yes, Lewis Hobba, that’s what I said. No, I’m pretty sure I said Lewis Hobba.”
A note on Mr Hing’s desk said, “If anyone is trying to chase me down for money I owe them, good luck. I’m free like the bird”. It is unclear if he realises he is contracted until mid-August.
With their departure, Triple J is giving the pair a send-off with Hobba & Hing’s Last Show Ever* (the live farewell tour). Saying au revoir and thanks to the Triple J audience, Hobba & Hing’s victory lap will hit venues across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Bendigo and Newcastle this August-September. Tickets are on-sale at midday on 17 July; head to the Triple J website for further information.
Whilst they may be leaving Triple J, this isn’t the end of the road for Hobba and Hing at the ABC. They’ve got a new comedy podcast called Silver Bullet, available now on the ABC listen app. The new project sees the pair try all the gadgets, hobbies, experiences, and wellness trends their celeb guests swear by to find the one silver bullet that solves all their problems. The first three episodes featuring Abbie Chatfield, Chris Parker, and Grace Tame are live now.
On Silver Bullet, Hobba adds: “I’m so lucky that Hing and I got to have so much fun together, particularly in some very tough years. You spend more time with a radio partner than anyone else; it’s a very unusual relationship. Luckily, Hing’s a very unusual guy. I’m looking forward to delving deeper into his brain on our new podcast. There are secrets in there—dark secrets.”
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