Alexandria Funnell: TV producer and host of The Beefing podcast on the Kyle and Jackie O feud

One of Australia's biggest radio shows has come to an explosive end after an infamous on-air spat.

Kyle Sandilands and Jacqueline ‘Jackie O’ Henderson will no longer present the KIIS FM breakfast program together after Sandilands berated Henderson during a live broadcast last week. 

TV producer and host of The Beefing podcast, Alexandria Funnell, is questioning why this particular incident ended the show.

"The two are known for the biggest stunts in Australian radio history, aren't they? So this is a pretty clever one if it is, it's getting a lot of coverage, they're giving a lot of information about things that are going on behind the scenes." 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Ever duper Cee Ellen eighteen past five Now is huge
news in radio over in Australia with their highest paid
by a mile duo, Kyle and Jackie O from Kiss
off air after a falling out.

Speaker 2 (00:13):
So what's happened is? The drama started after Kyle Sanderlands
went after his co host Jackie O Henderson's work ethic
live on air. She walked away from the show. He's
been placed on a two week suspension, being told to
remedy the situation or his one hundred million dollar contract
will be canceled. Alexandria for Now is a TV producer
and host of the Beefing podcast. Hi Alexandria, Hello mate?

(00:34):
This isn't this like is not even close to the
worst thing that these guys have done on air? So
why is this the thing that blows the show up?

Speaker 3 (00:42):
See? That's where I'm skeptical. I smell a rat. I
find it so hard to believe that Kyle saying Jackie's
astrology is getting annoying is enough to blow up a
partnership of twenty years and a million dollar deal?

Speaker 2 (00:57):
Are you suggesting it's a stunt?

Speaker 3 (01:00):
I mean? Is that the craziest thing the two are
known for the biggest stunts in radio Australian radio history,
aren't they. So this is a pretty clever one if
it is. It's getting a lot of coverage. They're giving
a lot of information about things that are going on
behind the scenes, which if it was real. Do you
think we'd be so privy to all these negotiations and

(01:22):
things at ARN are saying to Kyle about he has
ten days to do this.

Speaker 1 (01:26):
I don't know.

Speaker 3 (01:27):
It feels like a stunt to save their brand and
save space, is my theory.

Speaker 2 (01:32):
So is it possible? An alternative theory is that they
just priced themselves out of the market right. There was
a plan to take the show from Sydney to Melbourne
to Brisbane around the country. They signed new contracts a
couple of years ago two hundred and forty million dollars
over ten years, which is eyewatering. It's not going to plan,
and the employers have looked at it and gone, we
need to get out of this, We need to get

(01:53):
rid of them, and this gives them the opportunity.

Speaker 3 (01:56):
So I think it's a combination. So yes, I do
think that that has cause this, because you know, there's
been a lot of activism against commercial sponsors, so they
are lost and Kyle and Jackio have lost a lot
of commercial sponsors as a result of all the activism
and fury. Obviously it was a failure in Melbourne, so yes,
all those commercial failings have contributed to a market where

(02:18):
having these eyewatering figures it is just not sustainable. But
the way in which they had to go about it,
I think is where the planned kind of the planned
facade or prank, sorry, the planned stunt has sort of
come into it to help Kyle and JACKIEO kind of
save face in a roundabout way, is what I believe,

(02:41):
instead of just axing them and giving them that humiliation,
I feel like they've made it like this so it
seems more organic and not just that the company network
has had to completely act.

Speaker 2 (02:54):
I follow that. So she is offered a show, another
show on the station. Does she take it? And what
happens to him?

Speaker 4 (03:02):
My theory is that eventually they're going to reunite under
a different contract not so expensive. Maybe I also think
that this could help save their brand.

Speaker 3 (03:14):
With Kyle actually having to suffer consequences, Jackie's now angry,
Jackie's the good woman who you know has finally stood
up to Kyle. Does she take him back? Well, yeah,
she might take him back, but he's learned his lesson
and he's changed his tune and he's a new man
and he's not going to be as offensive anymore. That's
my prediction for what could happen in you know, six

(03:34):
twelve months. I don't think she's going to take the
radio without him. Could be wrong. She does have a
fairly successful podcast separate to Kyle. I believe so could happen,
but I wouldn't be surprised if the pair reunite under
a you know, the provisor that Kyle is a changed man.

Speaker 2 (03:52):
Now would anyone believe that? Alexandria, Thank you very much.
Alexandria forel TV producer, host of the Beefing podcast. For
more from Hither Duplessy Allen Drive, listen live to News
Talk Set B from four pm weekdays, or follow the
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