Talent Watch
BY RadioToday Network November 28, 2023
Talent Watch July 29, 2021
Sacha Barbour finishes up as KIIS 101.1 Breakfast newsreader
KIIS 101.’s Breakfast show is undergoing even more staffing changes, with newsreader Sacha Barbour not moving across to the new program.
Barbour had been with the Jase & PJ Breakfast show since 2018, but revealed on social media she won’t be returning for the new Jase & Lauren in the Morning show, which kicks off in August.
“I’m gutted that I won’t get to say goodbye to you all properly on air, it’s not the way I wanted to go out,” she said on social media.
She said the program had been a huge part of her life, and thanked listeners and the show’s community for its love and support.
The Australian Radio Network (ARN) confirmed Barbour’s departure and thanked her for her amazing work and contribution to Jase & PJ. The network revealed Barbour would be moving to sister station GOLD 104.3 as Workday newsreader.
ARN also said the move for Barbour was part of wider shifts and changes for the show.
“KIIS 101.1 are launching a new breakfast show – Jase & Lauren in the Morning on Monday August 9. The refreshed show will see a number of changes to the content and contributors on the show,” a spokesperson said.
Lauren Phillips will join co-host Jase Hawkins from August 9, replacing Polly ‘PJ’ Harding, who moved back to New Zealand.
The show also recruited a new executive producer, Caitlin McArthur, earlier this year.
Earlier this week, it was revealed the show had dumped former AFL player Dane Swan as a contributor.
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it’s getting worse for fans on J&PJ
Sad to see such a talented journalist being moved to workday news. She is a big part of KIIS breakfast. I think this is a very bad management decision. Her talent lies in breaky news reading. Best of luck to Sach, she will be a asset for GOLD!
This is a terrible decision!!
Really REALLY poor decision letting Sacha go. Jase & PJ have a huge following of die-hard fans who were all pretty willing to give the new show their support, but Sacha was a massively beloved part of the team and the energy that endeared so many people to the show in the first place. It’s one thing to want to create some new buzz and refresh things a little to usher in a new program, but removing every single piece of the puzzle that formed the internationally successful predecessor is NOT it mate and the back-handed way it appears this was done is especially egregious to the fans. It’s unfortunate that Jase is stuck in the middle; his considerable talents are being undermined by these poor decisions.
Well I think this show is going from bad to worst. Sash is the key component to the show. It’s definitely put the last nail in the coffin.
Sacha’s chemistry with Jase on air and in the post-show podcast was second only to PJ’s chemistry with Jase.
The keep the existing 6% share who are devoted fans and to continue to build on that Sacha should have been made cohost.
It’s a ludicrous decision to remove her. It smacks of management who are not in touch with the audience at all.
Jase and PJ had the sixth highest cume in the country. They suffered only because four progs with higher fumes were also in Melb.
KIIS have just alienated most of that audience with this reckless, ill-considered move.
Sacha was part of the solution.
Um, let’s just look at a few things here.
1. The show wasn’t working. Plan and simple.
2. This “fan base” people speak of was too small to justify the show continuing in previous form.
3. ARN have been kind enough to continue this girls employment in another role. They didn’t have to do that.
I know we all have friends that take our side in these situations, but sometimes it’s best to just accept the cards you’ve been dealt and look at the positives. Point 3, well that’s a massive positive.
all these comments saying she was the key performer on the show, if that’s the case there is a problem with the show. bottom line is it didn’t rate, wasn’t different to any other show and if everyone thinks the news reader was the draw card, the show should be taken off. it’s like kyle – jackie show, their reader is on to much, you remove him and their show is still the same and stays successful.
Nup. That seals the deal. Was keen to hear the new dynamic with Lauren joining the show and bouncing off Jase, Sach and the team but now it’s not looking good. Im pretty sure KIIS have just lost a big chunk of their listeners with this one.
If a newsreader is a major reason to listen to a show, you are in trouble. GFK would suggest that is one of the reasons the Jase and PJ show was in trouble. Hardcore fans can cry all they like, there was not enough of these people to keep it a float.
I think it’s funny that all the people here chatting about ratings fail to realize that J&PJ had an international following – those ratings you consider so valuable don’t cover the massive growth they had in so many other arenas – the podcast was trending on multiple platforms, their social media following was huge – all this for a little brekky show out of Melbs is pretty impressive and on all those fronts, Sacha was a popular asset.
I agree that the management is clearly out of touch with the audience. They’ve taken what was a unique show that clearly resonated with people across the world, slapped on sports chat to copy everything else that’s being done, and threw the rest away. Crap decisions all around.
I was willing to give the new show and lauren a go until I found out Sacha was being replaced with a balding 40 year old. the show will go down the toilet fast and I hope they both get dumped off the air.
Well if Sash is gone so am I.
The show can be funny but honestly Sash provided some of the most hilarious moments of it due to her ability to dump on Jase for his hake news and because she remembered the crap he pulled. She was not just a news reader on the show like all the other production staff she was a contributor and a very funny one at that. Now we will not get to see that comedy side of her.
Also her ability to tell stories from her past that really shocked some people I will guess was funny in lots of ways.
And who’s is the replacement Clint Stanoway are you kidding…………………….
I doubt we will see the crazy stunts and competitions between Lauren and Jase we saw between PJ and Jase. KiiS you have stuffed this up royally I will listen to any other from now on and try and catch Sahs if I get the chance read the news during the day.
Hate that she is gone.
PJ was leaving was one thing, but I Find it hard to listen now as it seems like with Lauren brought a clean out that wasn’t needed.
I can’t be bothered giving it a go.
Very bad decision.
Has really went downhill since PJ and Sash left.