Nova has sacked Ben Harvey, Liam Stapleton and Belle Jackson, ending their national Late Drive program and setting December 12 as their final show. The network notified staff that the last broadcast would be treated as a farewell celebration, according to an internal message from Nova’s programming team. Brendan Taylor, Nova’s programmer, wrote that the trio are “a hugely talented team who have delivered excellent results for Nova and developed a unique connection to their audience,” and thanked them for “being such valued members of the Nova family.”
The trio rose to prominence after starting their careers at Triple J, before moving to Nova Melbourne to host the breakfast show in 2022. Their rise coincided with a reshuffle that saw Nova shift to a new morning lineup in early 2024. Lauren Phillips and Jase Hawkins were installed as the fresh breakfast duo, replacing Harvey, Stapleton and Jackson. Media Week reported that the trio learned they were losing their jobs only shortly before Phillips and Hawkins staged a secret photo shoot in the Nova studio at the start of the year.
The development comes amid broader questions about Nova’s on-air lineup. Michael “Wippa” Wipfli and Ryan “Fitzy” Fitzgerald, the long-running morning pair, have repeatedly hinted their own show may not be renewed when their current deal ends. In July, Fitzy acknowledged on air that the contract renewal for the breakfast program could be uncertain, saying, “I don’t think they are being renewed. I’m gonna miss it, but we gotta hang up the mic at some stage.” The comment stoked speculation about a transitional phase at Nova, though the network has been cautious about confirming any definitive changes to the breakfast team.
The Nova breakfast show has a longer arc, having premiered in January 2011 with Kate Ritchie joining as a co-host in March 2023. The evolving lineup has included a mix of talent across Sydney and Melbourne markets, with Tim Blackwell and Ricki-Lee Coulter widely reported as potential replacements for one of the morning seats as part of ongoing chatter about the network’s strategy. There has also been chatter that third co-host Joel Creasey might not join the proposed new setup, with an insider telling Daily Mail that Creasey’s outside commitments could complicate a full-time move got the morning show, though it remained unclear who would ultimately fill any vacant chair between Melbourne and Sydney studios.
Insiders stressed that timing and logistics were central to the current changes at Nova. While the company has publicly framed the sacking of Harvey, Stapleton and Jackson as a decision tied to performance and audience connection, the broader context is a network-wide refresh of both talent and format. The staff notification described the December 12 finale as a moment to celebrate what the trio achieved during their tenure, rather than a retreat from the market. The message underscored that the door would remain open for the group in other capacities should opportunities arise, even as the current roles come to an end.
For listeners, the news closes a chapter on a trio whose evolution mirrored a decade of national radio shifts. After moving from Triple J to Nova, Harvey, Stapleton and Jackson helped steer a late-maf drive slot that sought to blend humor with contemporary pop culture commentary, a combination that earned them a dedicated following. The departure leaves a void in the late-drive window, at least in the near term, as Nova calibrates its slate ahead of the next ratings period and the next phase of its national strategy.
Industry analysts note that such moves are not unusual in radio markets that face changing listening habits and increasing competition from streaming platforms. The ongoing fade of traditional morning and drive-time formats has prompted groups to re-evaluate host pairings and bench strength, prioritizing cross-market appeal and syndication potential. In this environment, the shifts at Nova could be seen as part of a broader realignment rather than a sudden rupture in the network’s approach to audience engagement.
As Nova prepares for the next quarter, producers, staff and on-air personalities will be watching closely how the network positions its remaining talent and whether additional announcements will follow in the wake of the sacking. The company has not indicated an immediate replacement for the Late Drive slot, though observers expect some form of national cross-promotion or a new pairing to emerge as early as the next sweep period. The public-facing narrative from Nova has focused on celebration and gratitude for the years of collaboration with Harvey, Stapleton and Jackson, while quietly pursuing a path toward a refreshed on-air strategy that better aligns with evolving listener preferences.