The Bachelor‘s Abbie Chatfield is set to host the Hit Network’s night show this year.
The 26-year-old, who has never hosted a radio show before, will take to the airwaves weeknights from 7pm, replacing outgoing hosts Tom Bainbridge and Oliver Morris.
She will continue to record her popular podcast It’s A Lot, which remains part of Southern Cross Austereo’s podcast platform LiSTNR.
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It’s official! The Bachelor’s Abbie Chatfield, 26, (pictured) is set to host Hit Network’s night show in 2022
Chatfield’s plum new gig at Southern Cross Austereo’s Hit Network was revealed this week by industry podcast That’s Entertainment! with Vivienne Kelly and Jake Challenor.
While the Hit Network is yet to formally announce the news, Kelly confirmed that Chatfield’s gig is ‘a done deal’.
Kelly also noted that Hit may receive industry backlash for hiring a Bachelor star, rather than a radio professional who has done the hard yards.
Busy: It is believed she will continue producing her mega-popular podcast It’s A Lot in addition to her new radio job
‘There will be a lot of people who’ve done the hard yards in the regions for $40K a year and feel hard done by,’ Kelly said.
‘But I don’t think it’s a situation where Abbie went on reality TV and now suddenly has a radio gig. She’s done a lot in between that to build up her profile and to me, it’s no surprise she got this gig,’ she added.
Chatfield already has a working relationship with Hit Network, having inked a deal to stream her It’s A Lot podcast with SCA’s streaming service LiSTNR in October.
‘A done deal’: Chatfield’s plum new gig at Southern Cross Austereo’s Hit Network was revealed this week by industry podcast That’s Entertainment! with Vivienne Kelly and Jake Challenor
SCA Chief Content Officer, Dave Cameron, said at the time: ‘Abbie is fast becoming one of this country’s fiercest and most important voices for a new generation of passionate audio fans, and her talent and star-power is rising sky-high.’
The Hit Network is no doubt hoping Chatfield will reinvigorate 2Day FM’s on-air product following years of poor ratings.
Chatfield is known for discussing sexually-explicit topics on her podcast, often describing lewd acts in detail and discussing her own sexual experiences.
On board: Chatfield already has a working relationship with Hit Network, having inked a deal to stream her It’s A Lot podcast with SCA’s streaming service LiSTNR in October
Shaking up the airwaves! While it’s likely she wont be able to bring her famous X-rated discussions to the national airwaves, Kelly believes Chatfield will still have the opportunity to spice things up
While it’s likely she wont be able to bring her famous X-rated discussions to the national airwaves, Kelly believes Chatfield will still have the opportunity to spice things up.
‘Nights, I don’t think, have to be as safe as they’ve been in recent years. I think we could have more spice,’ she said.
‘Abbie is very sexually explicit in her podcast content. I don’t imagine all of it – including her very, very explicit tutorials on giving blowjobs, will translate directly to radio,’ she said.
‘But I guess that’s the benefit of podcasts versus radio. She can have her very free-flowing, explicit, unedited chats on her podcast It’s A Lot, and then shake up nights [on radio].’
Chatfield rose to fame on the 2019 season of The Bachelor Australia, and went on to star in Bachelor in Paradise and I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here.
Reality star: Chatfield rose to fame on the 2019 season of The Bachelor Australia, and went on to star in Bachelor in Paradise and I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!
