Clarke, radio ratings leader at the ABC until she quit at the end of 2021, will be joined on-air from next Monday by existing Mix announcer Erin Phillips and comedian Eddie Bannon – a long-standing regular guest on ABC Radio Adelaide in the breakfast and afternoon shifts.

Bannon has been a fixture on ABC breakfast for years, beginning back when Matt Abraham and David Bevan were the announcers, and is also a movie reviewer on Sonya Feldhoff’s afternoon show.

Mix announced today that the “Ali Clarke Breakfast Show” would include Phillips, who presented breakfast last year with Mark Soderstrom – who has left the station – and Bannon. Clarke returns to the station where she began her radio career nearly 20 years ago.

Mix’s breakfast show had been sliding last year, finishing 2021 in a distant fourth place. Clarke, on the other hand, was triumphant in breakfast, leading the ABC to defeat Mix overall in the ratings for the first time since 2016. It was the first time Mix had lost a ratings period in Adelaide since 2017.

Clarke, who stunned ABC management and listeners last year with the announcement she was leaving, said today she was happy to be back at the station where her career began.

“I have always been a massive fan of Erin, knowing her through the Crows, so to work with her every morning will be a joy,” she said. “Eddie Bannon followed me home from the Fringe Festival and we have been mates ever since. I’m glad to be back at ARN and Mix where my radio career started in 2003. It’s a full-circle moment for me and I’m very happy.”

Phillips said she had known Clarke for a long time and she was looking forward to learning from her in the role.

Bannon said his full-time radio gig was a “dream come true”.

“All jokes aside – this is a spectacular job for me,” he said. “What comedian doesn’t like to have a laugh and share stories every morning and, cherry on top, get paid for the privilege? It’s a dream come true, especially alongside Ali who I’ve worked with for years and Erin who I am looking forward to working with.”

The belated announcement, which was no secret in Adelaide media circles, sets up an intriguing first ratings period.

The ABC started its new breakfast team – journalist Stacey Lee and rural broadcaster Nikolai Beilharz – last week.

Ali Clarke will be a regular columnist in InDaily this year. Her next column will be published on Thursday.