Basil Zempilas, Jenna Clarke and Xavier Ellis to front Triple M Breakfast in Perth

The new 92.9 Triple M in Perth has announced its Breakfast lineup for 2021.

The show will be anchored by Perth’s Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas, who recently left his Breakfast role at Nine Radio’s 6PR.

Nine Radio had said Zempilas could not continue on-air if he was successful in his electoral bid, however it seems Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) has no such issue, releasing a statement this morning declaring “The Mayor is on air!”

Radio Today had previously speculated that Zempilas was in line for new Triple M gig.

Zempilas started his media career at the Seven Network as a sports reporter, and has also served as co-host of Weekend Sunrise.

He will be joined on air by Xavier Ellis, formerly part of the 92.9 Breakfast show Xavier, Juelz & Pete when the station was part of the Hit Network.

SCA recently switched its Mix 94.5 station over to become part of the Hit Network instead, with Pete Curulli – the ‘Pete’ in Xavier, Juelz & Pete – moving over to replace Dean ‘Clairsy’ Clairs on its Breakfast show. Juelz Jarry will also remain with SCA, it said, however her new role is not yet clear.

Also joining the Triple M Breakfast lineup is Jenna Clarke, the assistant editor of The West Australian. 

Zempilas was full of enthusiasm for his new role and his co-hosts.

“I love Perth, I love to have a laugh and I love sport – so when Triple M arrived, it was the perfect fit. I’m a local through and through, and the opportunity to take that even further with Triple M is really exciting – and I’m so thrilled to share the experience with Xav and Jenna. Xav has the footy banter covered, and Jenna is one of the most accomplished journalists in the business. We’re locals so we’re looking forward to giving our listeners a show that is important to our community. It’ll be a great ride,” he said.

SCA’s chief content officer, Dave Cameron, said: “There’s no-one more ‘Perth’ than Basil Zempilas, and having Baz be a part of launching 92.9 Triple M with a brand-new breakfast show in 2021, reinforces the fact that Triple M is here to cement itself with local content delivered by locally loved personalities just for local listeners.

“Baz combined with Eagles favourite and current 92.9 host Xavier Ellis, plus razor-sharp journalist Jenna Clarke make this a hugely exciting new local show, and we can’t wait to finally give listeners what’s long overdue at breakfast – something fresh and fun to wake up with. 92.9 Triple M has arrived – time to shake the city up a bit.”

Head of the Triple M Network, Mike Fitzpatrick, added: “This will be an FM breakfast show that is different from everything else on the radio in Perth. It will give listeners a real alternative to the regular breakfast offering. Think of it as radio’s version of a chilli scramble, not plain old cereal.”

SCA said Triple M – which launched in the city on December 1 – brings Perth listeners “their first, true rock station” offering a “unique blend of rock, sport and comedy”.

The station has already announced its Workday lineup.

The new show kicks off at 6am on January 18.