Fans of talkback radio king Alan Jones have savaged the 2GB host’s successor Ben Fordham in the wake of his historic ratings slide.
After Fordham acknowledged his loss to KIIS FM’s Kyle and Jackie O Show in the latest radio survey, his critics were quick to suggest the 44-year-old was losing listeners due to his perceived political leanings.
‘2GB sealed their fate when they swung to the left,’ tweeted one listener.
Brutal: Fans of talkback radio king Alan Jones have savaged the 2GB host’s successor Ben Fordham (pictured last month) in the wake of his historic ratings slide
Ben had tweeted on Tuesday: ‘Congrats @kyleandjackieo on the win in the radio ratings. You’ve worked hard over decades and deserve the victory. Congratulations.’
However, 2GB listeners were less graceful, with one responding: ‘Go woke, go broke. Lost me a long time ago, Benny. Not prepared to make tough calls, like the man in the seat before you.’
Another commenter described Fordham as ‘a mad leftie’ – which is bizarre given that his views are hardly left wing.
The criticism follows a report in The Australian that said ‘a common refrain within the industry is that Fordham is “too safe”‘ compared to his predecessor.
Too far left? Fordham’s critics attributed the ratings decline to his perceived political leanings, which are considered further to the left than those of Alan Jones (right, with Peta Credlin)
Gracious: Ben had tweeted on Tuesday: ‘Congrats @kyleandjackieo on the win in the radio ratings. You’ve worked hard over decades and deserve the victory. Congratulations’
Savage: 2GB listeners were less graceful, with one responding: ‘Go woke, go broke. Lost me a long time ago, Benny. Not prepared to make tough calls, like the man in the seat before you’
Before the latest ratings survey, which saw 2GB toppled in the breakfast ratings for the first time since 2003, Jones had indicated he’d be open to coming back to radio.
The veteran broadcaster, 80, who retired last year after claiming the workload was ‘detrimental’ to his health, told The Australian he was pondering a talkback return.
‘If someone wants to put a piece of paper in front of me I’ll be able to give them a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’ in five days,’ said the former 2GB star.
Too safe? The criticism on Twitter follows a report in The Australian that said ‘a common refrain within the industry is that Fordham is “too safe”‘ compared to his predecessor
Coming back? Jones (pictured in May) indicated on Monday he was open to a return to radio
Jones also railed against his former contemporaries, claiming many are ‘too intimidated to say what needs to be said’ in the face of ‘cancel culture warriors’.
It’s a topic with which Jones has some experience, with ‘about 80 advertisers’ publicly distancing themselves from the former talkback king in the wake of comments he made about New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
In 2019, Jones said the politician should have a ‘sock [shoved] down her throat’.
Down: Jones’ comments come as Fordham continues to slide in the breakfast radio ratings
The Sky News host told The Australian the country was ‘screaming out’ for more conservative voices, with many commentators ‘too intimidated’ to speak up.
‘There’s no point to being in the chair or behind the microphone if you haven’t got any balls, and that’s what the public expect,’ he said.
Jones’ comments come as his 2GB successor, Ben Fordham, continues to slide in the breakfast radio ratings.
The former drive-time host has held onto Jones’ top spot in the AM rankings, but ABC Sydney’s breakfast duo Wendy Harmer and Robbie Buck have significantly closed the gap between first and second place.
Meanwhile, KIIS FM’s Kyle and Jackie O Show beat Fordham in the ratings for the first time ever, making them Sydney’s number-one show across both AM and FM bands.
Shots fired: ‘There’s no point to being in the chair or behind the microphone if you haven’t got any balls, and that’s what the public expect,’ said Jones. Pictured here in 2008