ARN has announced that the popular drive-time duo Will McMahon and Woody Whitelaw will depart KIIS FM at the end of 2026, concluding an eight-year tenure with the network. Kerri Elstub, ARN's chief content officer, confirmed the decision in an email to staff on Thursday, acknowledging the duo's significant contribution and loyal national audience built since their arrival in 2019.
"They have been an important part of the KIIS family for the past seven years and have made a huge contribution to the network," Elstub stated. "Since joining KIIS in 2019, they’ve built a loyal national audience and established themselves as one of Australia's most innovative and engaging radio partnerships. We wish them all the very best for the future and look forward to seeing what they do next."
Will and Woody, known for their comedic interviews with global celebrities and advocacy for mental health, expressed their sadness at the decision. In a joint statement, they conveyed their disappointment about not continuing their show and thanked listeners and ARN for the opportunity to pursue their dream for the past eight years. They humorously noted they would now have to learn how to create LinkedIn profiles.
The departure of Will and Woody comes as KIIS FM is reportedly undergoing a significant programming overhaul, particularly following the earlier collapse of "The Kyle and Jackie O Show" in March. The station had teased a "new era" on social media, signaling a search for new hosts.
Speculation is mounting that Carrie Bickmore, an afternoon host at 2Day FM, may be moving to KIIS FM to fill the drive slot. This potential move follows reports of Bickmore's exit from her current role at Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) due to the company's merger with Seven West Media.