In a significant development within the Australian radio landscape, Sophie Monk has secured a prominent role on KIIS FM's national drive-time programme, Will & Woody. The network officially confirmed the appointment on Friday, revealing that the 46-year-old actress and Love Island Australia host will temporarily replace Will McMahon as he prepares to take paternity leave.
A Temporary Replacement with Star Power
The announcement was made live on air by Will and Woody themselves, coinciding with news of a major shakeup at competing network Nova. Sophie Monk expressed her enthusiasm for the opportunity in a statement, joking, ‘I’m so excited to be helping out while babies are being made, so Will can take time to enjoy this special chapter with his family.’ She added, ‘It’s such a great show, and I’ve been hanging to be back on KIIS with Will, Woody and their listeners.’
Will McMahon is expecting his second child with his wife Sam imminently, prompting his temporary departure from the show. The Will & Woody team warmly welcomed Sophie, stating, ‘Sophie is an absolute superstar, and we’re so pumped to have her join the show while Will’s spending some special time with his new bub.’ KIIS FM listeners are already familiar with Monk, who has previously served as a fill-in host for Jackie 'O' Henderson on The Kyle and Jackie O Show.
Rival Network Nova Undergoes Major Overhaul
Simultaneously, Nova network has been rocked by one of its most substantial lineup changes in years. The reshuffle sees the popular breakfast show, Fitzy and Wippa with Kate Ritchie, moving to the national drive-time slot. This shift represents a graduation for the trio, who have hosted their breakfast programme for 15 years.
Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli announced the move, stating, ‘After 15 years of doing this breakfast radio show, the Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie show, they have finally completed their apprenticeship, and they're going to be graduating to the national drive-time position.’ Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald emphasised that this is not a farewell but an evolution, explaining, ‘We've been dropping you and the kids off at school every morning, but now we're just going to be driving you home in the afternoon.’
New Breakfast Show and Unclear Roles
Replacing the trio’s breakfast show will be a new programme titled Ricki-Lee & Tim, hosted by Ricki-Lee Coulter and Tim Blackwell, formerly of Nova's Drive show, alongside Joel Creasey. However, the specific role for former drive-time host Joel Creasey in this new setup remains unclear following the network’s announcement.
Kate Ritchie humorously addressed the changes, quipping about her continued presence on the show, while Fitzy expressed pride in their Sydney audience and excitement about expanding nationally. All changes are scheduled to take effect on Monday, February 9, 2026, marking a pivotal moment for both networks as they realign their prime-time offerings.
