Brennan calls it a day

Iconic Sydney radio programmer, John Brennan, has today announced his retirement after 62 years in the industry. Whilst Brennan stepped back from day to day programming some years ago, he has more recently consulted 2UE on programming.

Brennans legacy is impressive, having identified and mentored some of the biggest names in Sydney talk radio – John Stanley, Stan Zemanek, Peter Overton, although unquestionably the biggest two careers he has launched were those of Alan Jones and Ray Hadley.

Brennan once described Jones as the 'alpha man of radio' saying he was "the best broadcaster I have ever heard because of his ability to connect with listeners and his efficiency of description". Hadley's big break came, after being a member of the 2UE football commentary team, Brennan put him into Breakfast for six weeks across Christmas 1992 to fill in for John Laws..

However, Brennan speaking recently in the Sydney Morning Herald said that it is the listener who drives the agenda on talk radio, rather than the host "We, like no other medium, reflect the audience's opinions and we validate them," he said "We explain complex issues, particularly political stuff, in a very simple manner, which can be understood by the average person. The presenter is reflecting their frustrations and he is offering solutions."

Having worked over his career at 2UE, 2GB and 2SM, Brennan has left an impressive mark on talk radio, and the Brennan name remains with his son Peter, the current Program Director at 2UE.