Ali Clarke: Mix 102.3 radio star reveals heartbreaking cancer diagnosis live on radio

A popular radio host announced live on air that he has been given the heartbreaking diagnosis of cancer.

Mix 102.3’s Ali Clarke, who co-hosts the show Max & Ali in the Morning with Max Burford, told listeners on Tuesday that she is taking a break from the show while she undergoes treatment.

“It was important to tell our listeners because I’ve had the privilege of them trusting me with their stories, and I trust them with mine,” she explained.

“I also know that so many of our listeners have experienced cancer or know someone who has… even worse, there will be many people listening this morning or reading this who have lost someone they love to this terrible disease. Over the past few weeks, I have thought a lot about their loss.”

Ali then asked one of her co-hosts to hold her hand before making the devastating announcement.

“But the bottom line is I’m going to have a full mastectomy. And if you’re playing at home, that means they’re going to remove one of my breasts. And if I’m really honest, that’s probably the part that’s been a lot more confronting than I ever thought it would be,” she continued.

“I thought it was very small and manageable. But I found quite a few small cancers. And that means I have to have quite a major surgery later this week, and I’m going to have to take some time off to recover, as you can imagine.

“You know, you know me, I’ve never dressed scantily, I’ve never put my breasts on display. They’ve been absolutely functional. In fact, when I was growing up, you know, they were almost in the way of me playing sports.”

Ali Clarke, who co-hosts Mix 102.3’s Max & Ali in the Morning with Max Burford, announced on Tuesday that she is taking a break from the show as she undergoes treatment for breast cancer.

The radio presenter burst into tears as she spoke emotionally about ‘losing a part’ of herself.

“I really fought with myself. I was angry with myself because I almost felt vain because I lost a part of myself,” Ali added.

“But when I stop and think about it, I lose a part of myself that society has always told me makes me a woman and that it’s absolutely necessary. The other, big part of my brain knows that this is really what needs to happen to be good.”

Despite the heartbreaking diagnosis, Ali admitted she has been “very lucky” with the quality of healthcare she has received so far.

Ali then asked one of her co-hosts to hold her hand before bravely making the devastating announcement

The radio presenter burst into tears as she spoke emotionally about ‘losing a part’ of herself

According to the Adelaide AdvertiserTwo women have already been approached to take over Ali’s position while she is on leave.

In January, Ali’s morning show Mix 102.3 underwent a major overhaul following rumours that The Kyle and Jackie O Show would be axed due to its expansion to Adelaide.

The programme changes its name from The Ali Clarke Breakfast Show to Max & Ali in the Morning after Max Burford joined the team last year.

In January, Ali’s Mix 102.3 breakfast radio show underwent a major overhaul following reports that rumoured The Kyle and Jackie O Show expansion to Adelaide was being scrapped. Pictured: Ali Clarke (R) and Max Burford

Burford, who is also a presenter at Channel Ten in Adelaide, brings his knowledge of sport and local news to the team.

The full team now consists of hosts Clarke and Burford, alongside Shane Lowe and Eddie Bannon.

In August 2023, Mix 102.3 achieved the highest ratings of any radio station in Adelaide with 376,000 weekly listeners.

Ali Clarke’s show had an audience share of 11.2 percent, making it the second most popular morning program in Adelaide.