Abbie Chatfield scores her own radio show

Abbie Chatfield host of LiSTNR’s It’s A Lot podcast has her own show on the Hit Network.

Hot Nights with Abbie Chatfield will air across 50 Hit stations nationally from 7-9 pm weeknights from Monday, January 17.

Abbie will delve into what’s currently firing across entertainment, her own unpredictable life, and her special guests that are brave enough to sit in her hot seat.

Abbie first became known from her appearances on Network 10’s 2019 season of The Bachelor, season three of Bachelor in Paradise in 2020, and she was crowned 2021’s winner of I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here by popular vote.

“I am beyond excited to start Hot Nights! I’m thrilled to be given this opportunity and can’t wait to make this show as amazing as possible for the Hit Network,” Abbie said.

Abbie will be joined every night by co-host and anchor, Rohan Edwards. Edwards has been with the Hit Network for over six years and joins the show from his most recent role as Afternoons Announcer on Brisbane’s B105.

Radio Today readers have speculated in recent stories Mike E and Emma who hosted breakfast until last year on ARN’s The Edge 96.1, would take over the slot left vacant by Ash London. Since they are not doing that, we wonder where they will turn up next?

 

After her stint on The Bachelor, Abbie has honed her audio skills with a podcast called It’s A Lot. Describing the podcast she says:

“After The Bachelor finished airing, and I was left heart broken on a rock in South Africa, I began to use my Instagram in the way that I wanted to, discussing sex, mental health, the patriarchy and everything in between. I would receive countless DMs from followers letting me know how much they appreciate my IDGAF approach to all of these taboo topics, so I decided to start this podcast to house all of my thoughts in one place.

“It’s A Lot is a place for people to be involved in casual conversations about serious topics, feeling like having a wine with friends. On the podcast, my guest of the week and I answer listener Q&As ranging from sex and dating to career advice, then do a deep dive into their area of interest.

“​It’s A Lot is a podcast full of laughs, advice, education and relatable life experiences. The classic “education but make it fun” mantra.”​

 

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Pete S
13 Jan 2022 - 10:26 am

This article is atrocious. “Podcast Host”? You’d call anybody else by their name. Unprofessional. Do better.

    Editor
    13 Jan 2022 - 10:41 am

    Pete, we didn’t think it was so bad, just trying for variety of headlines, but fair enough, happy to listen to your comment. Story title is now changed.

Bryce donaldson
13 Jan 2022 - 10:37 am

An Instagram influencer never done radio .. stupid choice .. well played !

No talent time
13 Jan 2022 - 11:04 am

Again programming execs choose talent who lack a radio background.

Hire genuine communicators who know how to creatively sell to their audience. Do you not have any of that calibre left to employ to such a role?

A big step down in quality from Ash London.

More excuses and PR spin in the same style of the laughable justification of 2DAY breakfast?

Why do the instos allow the board to support such hapless decision makers? Hundreds of thousands of dollars per person for such poor decisions, why is this allowed to keep going? Answers anyone?

Mel
13 Jan 2022 - 11:27 am

@Bryce…
Yeah, someone who has one of the most listened to podcasts in the country, a heavy social media presence and appeals to the target demo of nights radio…but sure give the gig to Wango from Dubbo because…ReGiOnAl.

Radio nerd
13 Jan 2022 - 11:45 am

Apparently Mike e and Emma are doing a new afternoon show on the hit network. 5-7pm slot straight after Carrie and tommy!

Pierre
13 Jan 2022 - 11:50 am

Could mike e and emma be doing nights at kiis
There playing a breakfast show at night

Radio Vet
13 Jan 2022 - 11:55 am

Unbelievable. Insult to every jock grinding away for what? Who made this decision? Terrible for the industry.

Speculator
13 Jan 2022 - 12:10 pm

Maybe Mike E & Emma for a national ARN network night show?

HKN
13 Jan 2022 - 12:38 pm

How its going to work with 2DayFM, sorry…. New2DayFM which is playing oldskool music , the hits you love from 90s till now ( playing 80s fav A-ha, Toto, Culture Club, Cyndi Lauper, Lionel Richie , Belinda Carlisle)…
What a messsss…..not even worth 2%…

Ex radio man
13 Jan 2022 - 12:50 pm

When I did radio school, I really wish they would have said the truth: ‘don’t try to hard to master this radio course, just sign up to a reality show.’

Criesinthecorner
13 Jan 2022 - 12:50 pm

How do you possibly spin this to the talent pool of kids who’ve spent money- suffering in regional markets, grinding and honing their craft in radio?
There is no point training to be a radio announcer- that’s the truth when as a company you have this level of disrespect for your own talent pool.
This isn’t Abbies fault- it’s a lack of maturity from those in management decisions to learn from mistakes and make the right decisions.

AJ Melbourne
13 Jan 2022 - 2:13 pm

@ Editor

You’re doing a wonderful job keep up the amazing work…. & just remember he can’t please everybody

Adam
13 Jan 2022 - 2:51 pm

Cue the triggered boomers complaining that Rocko who’s been doing sell, swap and buy in Coober Pedy for 18 years was robbed of this spot and should have had a chance.

T&O
13 Jan 2022 - 4:03 pm

Imagine if she had joined Tom & Olly. Would have been a powerhouse of a show.

Andew Maxim
13 Jan 2022 - 5:17 pm

Gemma’s out the door but SCA’s up to their fav trick of giving flash-in-the-pan reality stars a show in a format that has failed them time and time again.

I wonder if Rove and Sam will be invited to mentor Abbie?

Pete
13 Jan 2022 - 6:47 pm

This looks like another repeat of the Em Rusciano experiment for hit network

Meh
13 Jan 2022 - 8:56 pm

She is terrible. Can’t believe another great time slot has gone to another Reality TV personality…

Same bad decisions by the same bad network.

Mike
13 Jan 2022 - 10:13 pm

No diversity. This network just shows there aiming for the white 40 year old woman. They can’t even rate on 2dayfm breakfast. She’ll be doing the breakfast show next year. Or drive. Usually they test on late nights but she’s gone straight to the 7pm slot.

Kenny
14 Jan 2022 - 4:47 am

On brand for SCA, killing (real) radio one step at a time.

Look Deeper You Plebs
14 Jan 2022 - 9:36 am

Is everyone ignoring the fact that Rohan has been working his way up to a national show.. full time.. for years now… A true radio bloke! Yes his names not in the show title but who cares, he’ll basically be the Co-host and it’s a great step up for him! True talent hasn’t been forgotten when building this show. There’s also an amazing experienced Nights team behind the show, many of which are coming from working with Danny Lakey, Ash London & Tom + Olly.

Congrats to everyone! (Including Abbie who has an amazing podcast already) ^-^

Irene
14 Jan 2022 - 10:25 am

Great move, well done SCA.

Brad
14 Jan 2022 - 12:40 pm

It’s really disappointing to see very valid criticism of this decision dismissed with an “OK Boomer”.

Fair enough, Dobbo in Inverell who has been slogging away for 15 years has probably done everything he’s going to do in radio. But to suggest that there is no regional talent capable of doing an awesome job if they were given this opportunity is just ignorant.

And yes, Abbie absolutely has a following. So what? People knowing your name doesn’t automatically make you an effective communicator. Her audience might tune into the show to check it out, but if she’s terrible because she’s very much in over her head, will they stay? I doubt it.

Yet another lazy “Bring somebody in with an existing audience and cross our fingers it works so we don’t have to try and create a star ourselves” effort from SCA. Disappointing, but not at all surprising.

Simon
14 Jan 2022 - 2:07 pm

Personally don’t agree with her pro-lockdown/vax mandate ranting, but no-one can deny she regularly entertains and sometimes informs. She brings a big audience from It’s A Lot, Instagram and TikTok so it looks like Hit Network wants to skew younger again (they’ll need to drop the golden oldies though). But I wonder if she’ll rein it in a bit for radio because she loves to drop a lot of f-bombs on podcast? Inspired choice.

Peter Johnson
14 Jan 2022 - 4:24 pm

It must be great to be an announcer at SCA because there is no pressure to achieve anything at all in the ratings

Truth Bomb
14 Jan 2022 - 6:05 pm

This might sting a bit but its facts. I have seen people blow up about reality stars getting gigs time and time again. Truth is they get cast on tv because they have a huge X factor, they can communicate well, they talk alot and often irreverent. They don’t cast the average person, you need to be a standout. It doesn’t work all the time (sam frost cough) but there is some great talent to come from that side.

Radio isn’t radio anymore, its entertainment. On air, social media, podcasts and a profile defiantly helps with clicks. The issue with regional radio presenters is more often than not, they arnt any good and odds on their PD has never worked in a cap city station so their training is not up to speed anyway. Its still doable but you need to hustle hard. How many regional “radio”presenters (or cap city for that matter) angry about it actually reached out to demo and have their stuff heard? You did but you didn’t get a reply? then keep emailing till you do.

I actually think this is a good move, plus they have a radio brain on anchor. Rohan can drive the ship and Abbie can go nuts and be the wild child she is.

Abbie fan
14 Jan 2022 - 8:19 pm

Today ARN referenced a ‘Podcast to Broadcast strategy,’ (Life Uncut being brought to air). it’s a natural progression to bring podcast talent across to on air, and a lot of podcast talent are media/reality stars! Who knows what more shows we will see brought on air both from ARN and SCA (maybe nova too?)

We can’t complain about these personalities being given these opportunities. They’ve built great brands for themselves. Abbie will be great. She is very funny and is obviously a smart business woman with the collaborations she’s done to date and now jumping ship to SCA and being given this opportunity.

Radio is not always the first point of call for audiences anymore, current and emerging; tik tok, podcasts and other. Don’t fight it, embrace it.

ollie
15 Jan 2022 - 1:46 pm

I reckon Mike E and Emma for either Hit or Nova Weekend Breakfast.

Ex radio star
15 Jan 2022 - 9:12 pm

It would be different if she had just finished the Bachelor. She’s managed to stay relevant and create a following, so as much as I usually hate reality tv appointments in radio this actually makes sense and I think will work well.

Richard
16 Jan 2022 - 10:43 am

Sorry but I can’t fine Abbie’s It’s a Lot podcast anywhere on Ranker. I can find Carrie and Tommy at Number 80, Woops.
Abby’s Podcast is not even in the Top 100.
I’ll give this 6 months, she’ll go back to being an influencer or want to do TV.
Won’t last.

Roger That
16 Jan 2022 - 6:14 pm

Meanwhile there’s a brekky gig going in Moree that they cant fill ? Tells you a bit about the state of the industry at the moment.

PL
18 Jan 2022 - 10:33 am

I like Abby so after all the hype listened last night. Underwhelming with a capital W.
Sounds like many before her, more of the same. Hope it’s not another Sam Frost type
debacle.

David
18 Jan 2022 - 12:58 pm

Listened last night and Abby sounds like
an Instagrammer on radio. Early days, jury’s out but did not live up to the hype unfortunately.

    Editor
    18 Jan 2022 - 1:56 pm

    This comment has been edited.

Bianca+Dye
18 Jan 2022 - 4:09 pm

I think Abbie is bloody fabulous fresh raw talent ! I adore her authenticity – it’s electric and NEEDED in an industry sounding really tired on a lot of shows…
I am in complete awe and totally “jelly” (in a good way! Bcos when I hosted a national nights show across Australia (aLONG time ago!) I would have KILLED to have been my brash naughty R Rated cheeky raw self! I had to pull back who I really am BIG TIME!! (I get it! It was a long time ago!!) BUT abbie gets to be totally herself ( R rated and all!) and THATS A BRAVE AWESOME MOVE FOR SCA to back her on and I LOVE it!!!! I’m behind her – let’s give her a GO….? The reality is IF YOU HAVE TALENT U CAN HAVE A RADIO GIG! That’s how it works now?! I have been “paying my dues” for 29 years and missed out on heaps of gigs I DEF think i “DESERVED” more than some little reality tv turd trust me but that’s SHOWBIZ baby and we all have to accept that! #TeamAbbie #gotheRAWHONESTchix !! Xxx

Definitely not Rohan
19 Jan 2022 - 12:49 pm

Oi how good’s rohan though? Can we get some more rohan chat in here pls.

Pierre
19 Jan 2022 - 3:20 pm

Does anyone know if Mike E and emma are not doing nights at 2day FM where are they going?

Hkn
21 Jan 2022 - 10:05 am

@Pierre

Rumour has it that Mike E and Emma are going to host late Drive on Hit Network after Carrie and Tommy ( Pick Up/early Drive)

Julia
17 Feb 2022 - 7:37 pm

She is the worst person to listen to. Get her off the radio. It is embarrassing to Australia.

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