10 combinations in 12 years: The impossible task Kyle and Jackie O left in their wake at 2Day FM

The vacuum left by Kyle and Jackie O's 2013 exit from 2DayFM turned the network's breakfast slot into a fascinating, albeit brutal, experiment in audience loyalty.For years after the duo moved to rival KIIS FM, 2DayFM threw every celebrity and "big name" at the wall to see what would stick, only to prove that fame doesn't always translate to ratings.It's the ultimate "poisoned chalice" job: a revolving door of talent that's left listeners wondering if the slot is actually just unfixable.Want the official inside scoop on MAFS, unfiltered and unseen? Watch After The Dinner Party hereThe root cause is still up for debate – which is part of what makes it so interesting to look back on.Even more so with rumours swirling on the radio future of Sandilands and Henderson, with some predicting she could potentially make a grand 2Day FM return in future.2014: Merrick Watts, Jules Lund, Sophie Monk and Mel BA stacked crew opened the post–Kyle and Jackie O era, pairing established radio hosts Merrick Watts and Jules Lund with high-profile names like Sophie Monk and Mel B. READ MORE: Kyle's contract has been torn up. His next move is 'obvious'READ MORE: Radio star Beau Ryan weighs in on pal Kyle's axingREAD MORE: Kyle, Jackie O lost Sydney listeners in final ratingsMel B's six-month contract ended early in the run and Monk resigned, saying she "has enjoyed the role but felt she needed to move on and seek new challenges."The remaining line-up was dismantled within the year.2015: Dan Debuf and Maz ComptonA more conventional approach followed, with Dan Debuf and Maz Compton moving into breakfast after working across other shifts.The show leaned into a familiar FM structure – music, light chat and tighter segments – aiming for something steadier after the previous year's overhaul.However, the numbers didn't improve. Sitting around a 3.6 per cent share, the program struggled to compete and was reshuffled within eight months.2016: Rove McManus and Sam FrostA pairing built around recognition came next, bringing together Rove McManus' hosting experience and Sam Frost's television background.Early ratings hovered around the three per cent mark, and momentum never followed.By early 2017, both had been moved out of the breakfast slot and into a national night program that was cancelled in July that year.2017: Em Rusciano and Harley BreenEnter Em Rusciano and Harley Breen – more personal, more unfiltered and less polished, the show stood apart from earlier versions and developed a loyal following.https://www.instagram.com/p/BO56UaWDeyn/?hl=enIt finally felt like something with a clear identity, though that didn't translate into broader audience growth.Breen announced his departure within a year to focus on stand-up, and the partnership ended not long after.2018: Em Rusciano, Ed Kavalee and Grant DenyerRather than start over again, the station expanded the existing team. Ed Kavalee and Grant Denyer joined Rusciano, adding more pace and variety.However, it was short-lived – Rusciano announced on air she would be stepping away, explaining she had made the decision earlier in the year after learning she was pregnant.2019: Grant Denyer, Ed Kavalee and Ash LondonA new configuration brought Ash London into the mix alongside Denyer and Kavalee.There was a clearer focus on music and entertainment, with a format that aligned more closely with the station's audience. Even so, ratings remained low, sitting around 3.1 per cent in one survey.Denyer later described the experience as one of the most difficult of his career, recalling how he had been told he would be staying on long-term before being let go shortly after.The show was ultimately scrapped, replaced with a music-only breakfast slot.https://www.instagram.com/p/B1K9WIxn_1l/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=70ea22a4-a171-4571-96a0-2ce804fd41f52021: Dave 'Hughesy' Hughes, Ed Kavalee and Erin MolanA return to a host-led show brought in recognised names, including Dave Hughes alongside Kavalee and Erin Molan.The program combined comedy with a more news-driven perspective and a clearer structure than several earlier attempts.Even with that, the show struggled to make ground in the ratings, with KIIS – of course, Kyle and Jackie O – continuing to dominate the market.2024: Jimmy Smith and Nath RoyeAnother rebuild introduced Jimmy Smith and Nath Roye in late 2024, with a tone aimed at feeling more current and conversational.2025: Jimmy Smith, Nath Roye and Emma ChowEmma Chow joined at the start of 2025, expanding the show to three hosts.The ratings remained strained, with one survey placing the show at 2.9 per cent.Later that year, Smith stepped away from the program effective immediately to focus on his mental health.Roye and Chow continued hosting through the rest of the year.2026: Nath Roye and Emma Chowhttps://www.instagram.com/p/DV97-0kEvoT/2DayFM has confirmed Nath and Emma will remain at the helm for 2026, marking a rare period of stability for the Sydney breakfast slot.Whether this commitment to consistency will finally stabilise the ratings remains to be seen, but it marks a significant departure from the station's previous approach.FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. 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