Treading their own path: Cliffo & Kate serve up Breakfast on Triple M Townsville

Just to make things clear from the outset: Guy ‘Cliffo’ Clifton and Kate Jeboult have no intention of filling Steve Price’s shoes.

This week, as they officially take over the Breakfast hot seat from local legend Pricey on Triple M Townsville, Cliffo and Kate are bringing along their own pair of shoes, determined to tread their own path.

As Clifton tells Radio Today, trying to replicate a show that’s been around for 32 years would be tantamount to insanity.

“At the end of the day, all we can be is ourselves,” he says.

“You can’t fake breakfast radio. You’d get caught out instantly. So, all I’m going to do is turn on that microphone and be 100% myself every single day. Let’s just hope Townsville wants to tune in.”

Radio Today also caught up with Jeboult, who says “It’s so important that we are ourselves. We can’t emulate another show, or another person. I plan on being my genuine self. I also plan on having plenty of laughs along the way!”

Good chemistry is an excellent place to start, and it would appear the Townsville locals have got that in spades.

Clifton says they share a similar sense of fun, and he felt like he’d struck gold when he found out Jeboult was going to be his on-air partner.

“If you don’t like this person you’re sitting opposite, breakfast radio can be a horrible job. Chemistry is the number one thing I’m looking for when demo-ing. It can be loose – the tight radio stuff will come – but how is the fit on a human level?”

“It’s just so important and lucky for us (that) Kate and I clicked instantly. All new shows have teething issues, but chemistry won’t be one of ours.”

Jeboult agrees on-air chemistry is important.

“It needs to sound like two mates having a chat, and in the podcasts and demos we’ve been doing, it sounds exactly like this.”

It certainly helps that she and Clifton have loads in common.

“Cliffo and I are of a similar age, we both have two young kids and so we naturally have a lot to chat about.”

Clifton this year chalks up 24 years in radio, but having all that industry experience doesn’t mean he’s not nervous about the adventure ahead.

“A little bit of nerves is a good thing,” he says. “I really care about this gig and love the team we’ve put together.”

While Jeboult is a first-time radio host, she’s already built a solid local following via her online news portal Townsville Scoop.

She says she’s feeling 10% nervous … but 90% excited.

“This is my first gig in radio and Monday was my first day on air, so there is definitely an element of nerves, but mostly I’m itching to get started.”

And she says she’s lucky to have been paired with Clifton.

“He’s been a great sounding board and a massive support for me over the last few months.”

So, while the hosts might be new, they say the goal remains the same: to continue to provide the kind of entertainment local listeners have come to love.