Meet the Hit Network’s new state-based regional Breakfast shows

Amid the decision to call time on 19 regional Breakfast shows around Australia, the recent talent shake-up saw four existing lineups move to state-wide syndication.

Shows in NSW, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia are now broadcast from regional hubs across the network, joining the Allan & Michelle show in Western Australia.

You might already know them, but let’s re-meet the Hit Network’s new state-wide regional shows, complete with audio of their first state-wide breaks.

Gawndy & Ash Pollard – NSW

Daniel ‘Gawndy’ Gawned has hosted Breakfast with Ash Pollard on Hit101.3 Central Coast since 2018. Now, they are being broadcast across the state’s other Hit Network stations.

Gawndy has been on the show since 2016, having got his start in radio at Radio West, also racking up experience on Weekdays and Weekend Breakfast at NOVA Entertainment.

Pollard got her big break in the media care of reality shows My Kitchen Rules, Dancing with the Stars and I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!.

But she’s set to be absent from the show for the next few months on maternity leave, with Maz Compton heading back to SCA after three years away from radio.

Tim & Jess – Victoria

Victoria’s show is broadcast out of Hit104.9 The Border in Albury, with Tim Bolch and Jess Pantou.

Tim & Jess have been working together as a duo since 2017 when they got their break via SCA’s Hubble Talent Masterclass program at Hit96.1 Limestone Coast.

Following that, they jumped to Hit102.9 in Central Queensland, before getting their break in the bigger market of Albury at the start of 2019.

Before breaking through at SCA, Bolch had experience working at 2SM, i98FM and c91.3, while Pantou got her start in radio at 3MBS Melbourne and also worked for over three years at SYN.

Cliffo & Gabi – Queensland

Hit’s regional stations in Queensland are now hearing the Cliffo & Gabi Breakfast show in the mornings, with the show broadcast out of Hit103.1 Townsville.

Guy Clifton has been hosting Breakfast in Townsville since the station was Hot FM, and previously worked as an announcer at Hot FM Western Queensland and Hot FM Mackay.

Meanwhile, Gabi Elgood has been working at Southern Cross Austereo since 2013 as a Breakfast presenter across multiple markets, with roles at Star FM Orange and Hit100.7 Darling Downs.

Bec, Cosi & Lehmo – South Australia

Instead of a regionally based show, new SAFM Adelaide breakfast show, Bec, Cosi & Lehmo is now heard on the newly-rebranded SAFM Limestone Coast in Mt Gambier.

The show is hosted by Rebecca Morse, Andrew Costello and Anthony Lehmann, who returned to the station in June as it was rebranded from Hit107 under its heritage name.

Lehmo got his start in radio at SAFM and also worked alongside Cosi from 2003 to 2007.

“Lehmo is synonymous with SAFM and has obviously led the number one show there before,” Hit Network head Gemma Fordham told Radio Today.

“So he was really chuffed and loved the idea of returning the brand to SAFM.”