Frontrunners set to take over from Ali Clarke revealed after radio host's shock cancer announcement
The top contenders to take Ali Clarke's position on Mix 102.3's breakfast program have been revealed after she revealed her shock cancer diagnosis live on-air this week.
The Adelaide radio star, who co-hosts Max & Ali in the Morning with Max Burford, broke down during Tuesday's show when she revealed she had breast cancer.
As Ali undergoes a mastectomy later this week, the network has started the search to find the mother-of-three's temporary replacement and will confirm the news on Friday.
There are nine females tipped to take on the fill-in role and it's unlikely to be a man due to breakfast radio's gender balance, according to The Advertiser.
Two women are said to have already been approached to take Ali's position while she is on leave.
Kelly Noble, Kelly Nestor, Kelly Golding, Tiffany Warne, Erin Phillips, Mel Greig, Belinda Heggen and Hayley Pearson and Lauren De Cesare are all rumoured to be in the running for the breakfast host role.
Noble reportedly has 'aspirations' to move into radio, with the Glam Adelaide owner appearing on the radio station to host the lifestyle news site's Mix 102.3 Weekly What's On segment.
Meanwhile, Nestor is a popular Tv and radio presenter, who returned to work for ABC Radio Adelaide in 2023 as a fill-in host.
The top contenders to take Ali Clarke's position on Mix 102.3's breakfast program have been revealed after she revealed her shock cancer diagnosis live on-air this week
She has had a distinguished 25-year career as a journalist, having previously worked at Sky News and Channel 10, but has not had a regular media gig since she left Channel Nine's Adelaide News in 2009.
Some of the major events she has covered include the death of Princess Diana, the 9/11 attacks and the Asian tsunami attacks.
Channel Seven presenter Kelly Golding already has a stint in radio, hosting Adelaide's More Music Breakfast show for digital station SmoothFM.
She has been a travel and lifestyle host for the show Discover and began her television career as a weather presenter back in 2003.
There are nine females tipped to take on the fill-in role including Kelly Noble (left) and Kelly Nestor (right)
Channel Seven presenter Kelly Golding (pictured) already has a stint in radio, hosting Adelaide's More Music Breakfast show for digital station SmoothFM
Tiffany Warne is currently Channel 10 Adelaide's weather presenter, and has worked alongside the show's current co-host Max Burford.
She and Burford have been on radio in the past — co-hosting Jodie Oddy's Nova 919 Saturday morning breakfast program.
Meanwhile, AFLW star Erin Phillips could make a stunning return to Mix months after her departure at the beginning of the year.
Occasionally appearing as a guest on SAFM Breakfast, she's currently busy as a sports presenter for the AFL matches, which may mean her tip is unlikely.
Tiffany Warne (pictured) is Channel 10 Adelaide's weather presenter
AFLW star Erin Phillips (pictured) could make a stunning return to Mix radio station months after her departure at the beginning of the year
Former radio star Mel Greig, who now works as a public relations and media manager after failing to find another job in radio, used to work at Mix 102.3 back in 2010.
She's currently living interstate on Queensland's Gold Coast, but rumours suggest she might make a return to Adelaide to fill in.
Belinda Heggen is a former television journalist at Channel 10 and is now a media and public speaking coach running her own business FLUENT Media.
Meanwhile, friends Hayley Pearson and Lauren De Cesare were co-hosts at SAFM Breakfast more than 10 years ago, but there may be more than one fill-in presenter for Ali.
Ali shocked listeners on Tuesday when she announced she will take a break from radio as she undergoes treatment for breast cancer.
Mel Greig, who now works as a public relations and media manager after failing to find another job in radio, used to work at Mix 102.3 back in 2010. She's currently living interstate on Queensland's Gold Coast but rumours suggest she might make a return to Adelaide to fill in
'I thought it was very small and manageable. But found quite a lot of small little cancers. And so that means that I'll be going in for some pretty big surgery later this week, and I'll have to take some time off to recover as you can imagine,' she said.
'You know, you know me it's I've never dressed skimpily like I've never put my boobs on display. They've absolutely been functional. In fact, when I was growing up, you know, they almost got in the way of playing sport.'
The radio host then broke down in tears as she emotionally opened up about 'losing a part' of herself.
'I've really battled with myself, between being angry at myself for almost feeling vain about losing a part of me,' she said.
Belinda Heggen (pictured) is a former television journalist at Channel 10 and is now a media and public speaking coach running her own business FLUENT Media
Friends Hayley Pearson (left) and Lauren De Cesare (right) were co-hosts at SAFM Breakfast more than 10 years ago, but there may be more than one fill-in presenter for Ali
'But when I sit back and try to reason with it, I'm about to lose a part of me that society has forever told me actually makes me a woman and it's absolutely necessary, and the other biggest part of my brain knows that this is really what needs to happen for me to be good.'
Despite the heartbreaking diagnosis, Ali admitted she is 'so freakin' lucky' regarding the quality of healthcare she's received so far.
In January, Ali's Mix 102.3 breakfast radio program underwent a major change following reports The Kyle and Jackie O Show's rumoured expansion to Adelaide would see it axed.
The program is changing its name from The Ali Clarke Breakfast Show to Max & Ali in the Morning after Max Burford joined the team last year.
In January, Ali's Mix 102.3 breakfast radio program underwent a major change following reports The Kyle and Jackie O Show's rumoured expansion to Adelaide would see it axed. Pictured: Ali Clarke (R) and Max Burford
Burford, who is also a presenter at Channel Ten in Adelaide, has brought his knowledge of sport and local news to the team.
The full team now consists of host Clarke and Burford, alongside Shane Lowe and Eddie Bannon.
In August 2023, Mix 102.3 managed to top the radio ratings survey in Adelaide with 376,000 weekly listeners.
The Ali Clarke show scored an 11.2 per cent audience share, making the second most popular breakfast show in Adelaide.
