Veteran radio presenter Robin Bailey has revealed she was left 'furious' and confused after her axed breakfast show was unexpectedly reinstated in a dramatic corporate backflip, leading to a tense live-on-air confrontation with her boss.
A Stunning Reversal Sparks On-Air Confrontation
In a surprising turn of events, ARN Media announced in December that the KIIS FM Brisbane Breakfast show hosted by Robin Bailey, Kip Wightman, and Corey Oates would be returning to the airwaves. This came just two months after the network had declared the popular trio would be leaving by the end of 2025. The shock reinstatement prompted Bailey to directly question ARN's CEO, Michael 'Stepho' Stephenson, during their broadcast on Monday, demanding to know if the entire saga was merely a 'stunt'.
Stephenson was quick to deny any publicity ploy. 'It absolutely was not a joke. There's no stunt about this,' he stated. He admitted the initial choice to end the show was an error, telling the presenters, 'Obviously, we made a decision at the end of last year, and quite clearly, it wasn't the right decision.'
The Overwhelming Reason for the U-Turn
The CEO then disclosed the compelling reason behind the network's unprecedented change of heart. Upon starting his new role, he was met with a consistent message from the Brisbane community. 'Every person that I spoke to... said, "We love Robin, Kip and Corey. When are they coming back?"' Stephenson explained. He took this overwhelming listener feedback to ARN's leadership in Sydney, asking if they could reverse their decision, to which they reportedly replied, 'No one's ever done that before.'
However, Bailey was not fully placated by the explanation. She bluntly asked Stephenson if he realised during the process that axing the show had been a 'really dumb arse decision'. The CEO conceded, highlighting the unique connection radio has with its audience. 'The feedback was overwhelming. Every single person I spoke to said, "We love this breakfast team and we want them back."'
Gratitude and a Commitment to Brisbane
Following the on-air reckoning, the focus shifted to the future. A spokesperson for ARN emphasised that the priority remains delivering the shows audiences love, a commitment reflected in the reinstatement. They praised the trio's 'warmth and relatable humour' and their 'strong commitment to the local community'. The show is now set for a 2026 return, promising new segments and interactive content to engage Brisbane listeners.
Robin Bailey, 55, has since expressed profound gratitude to the listeners who fought for the show. 'Brissy, you did it! Thank you so much,' she said. 'We are coming back because of you... A reversal like this is a first.' Derek 'DB' Bargwanna, Head of the KIIS Network, confirmed that 'Brisbane listeners were clear about what they wanted,' leaving the door open for this unique reunion.
