Ray Hadley stops with 2GB

Former taxi driver turned talkback radio titan Ray Hadley has announced he is retiring from Nine’s flagship post after four decades dominating the microphone.

The award-winning 2GB host announced the unexpected news live to listeners just after 9.30am on Thursday morning, saying he wanted to spend more time with his wife Sophie, children and grandchildren.

He will remain on air until the end of this year’s radio ratings season on December 13, before hanging up his mic for good – although a successor has yet to be announced as he only confirmed the decision with Nine’s chief executive last week.

The industry legend rose from humble beginnings to become one of the biggest names in Australian broadcasting.

Hadley has ruled the radio in the fiercely competitive morning timeslot for the Sydney-based station since his debut in April 2002, after more than two decades at rival outlet 2UE, where he had started his radio career as a casual traffic reporter.

The tireless broadcaster, who celebrated his 70th birthday just six weeks ago, is also known to sports fans across the country for his undefeated reign, which includes rugby league State of Origin matches and the NRL Grand Final.

Hadley’s record-breaking career has led to him receiving 35 Australian Commercial Radio Awards for his work in news, current affairs and sport – more than any other broadcaster – and being inducted into the ACRA Hall of Fame in 2017.

He was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2002 for his services to rugby league and in recognition of his charity work, and was inducted into the Media Hall of Honor at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 2021.

Ray Hadley (pictured with wife Sophie Baird) has announced he is retiring from 2GB after ruling the airwaves during his two decades at the station

Announcing his retirement, Hadley spoke candidly about his rise – and how it all started when he gave a Sydney radio executive a lift in his taxi almost half a century ago.

“Forty-six years ago I was an auctioneer and wanted to be a race caller, so I quit my job to pursue my dream,” Hadley told his listeners on Thursday morning.

‘I fought for two years and eventually had to get a taxi driver’s license to earn a living.

“Eventually I got a job calling the dogs at Appin every Saturday afternoon for $37.50 for 15 races.

‘Driving the taxi led to me choosing 2UE news director Mark Collier, who ultimately decided they needed a traffic reporter.

‘After 12 months of being in a helicopter every morning, I ended up assisting Des Hoysted and then John Tapp at the races every Saturday.

‘In the meantime I called the harness racing club at (Sydney’s) Harold Park.

‘After a few years of practice at the gallop, on January 7, 1984, John Tapp released me on Saturday during Race 1 at Canterbury.

‘For the next three years I was his understyd on both 2UE and Channel Nine.

‘Almost everyone was terrified of going up against Hollywood and Zorba [Greg Hartley and Peter Peters] at 2 GB – so by elimination I was the last choice and I took the job.

“The first few years were tough, until about 1990, when we finally won the ratings and were never defeated.

‘For the next 30 years, the Continuous Call Team won every survey.

“In 1992, John Brennan called me while I was calling footy in Britain and asked me when I was coming home.

‘HE told me to be back in time to fill in for John Laws during his off-air breaks.

‘I did that for the next nine years.

‘In 2001, I had been working full-time at 2UE for 19 years when the CEO of Southern Cross, 2UE’s new owners, told me I would no longer be filling in for John Laws because I was a good sports commentator but not a talkback host.

“I quit and John Singleton threw me a lifeline to get Bob Fulton, Peter Frilingos and Steve Road to call the footy here on 2GB.

‘Fortunately, our success in terms of viewing figures continued here.

‘In March 2002, after some encouragement from Singo, I took over the morning shift at 2GB, while still calling in rugby league.

‘For the next twelve years I worked seven days a week from March to October.

‘Singo told me it would kill me, and it almost did.

“The rest of you know that we recently won our 160th radio poll and haven’t been defeated in twenty years.

“I have called almost 3,000 rugby league matches and presented the Ray Hadley Morning Program about 5,000 times.

‘I have won 35 ACRAS and have been inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame.

‘I have achieved much more than I thought.

“My children, Dan, Laura, Emma and Sarah, have made many sacrifices over the years to achieve my ambitions.

‘Seven years ago I had no grandchildren and now I have seven, and I want to spend more time in the company of Ava, Noah, Ella, Lola, Tommy, Remi and Millar, together with their parents.

‘Over three years ago I married the most wonderful woman, Sophie.

‘She has been my colleague for over 18 years.

“She is the most supportive, calming and loving woman anyone could ask for, and she deserves a break.

‘If I mention it in the newspaper or other media, she gets even more upset than I do.

‘I turned 70 in September and started thinking about how long I have left on this earth and whether I want to get up at half past three in the morning.

‘I started my conversation with [Nine Radio] CEO Tom Malone about my future some time ago, and while I was in Paris we talked to him about him possibly looking for a replacement.

‘I discussed the subject again with Tom last week.

“He listened, but I don’t think he thought I was serious, but I was, and because he’s known me for almost 40 years, he came to the conclusion that I was serious.

“So December 13th of this year will be my last day broadcasting the Ray Hadley Morning Program.

“It’s been a great ride from a young guy who wanted to call the races to the old guy who was in this studio for so long – but the time has come for someone else to do the job.”