Dave ‘Hughsey’ Hughes takes ruthless swipe at his former employer as the axed radio star confirms I’m A Celebrity! Get Me Outta Here rumours

David ‘Hughesy’ Hughes has opened up about his shock radio axing for the first time, as the comedian confirms his career change was long overdue. 

The former Sydney 2DayFM breakfast show host, 54, is one of the first celebrity contestants to be unveiled on this year’s season of Channel 10’s I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here!, which begins airing on Sunday night. 

Comedian Kitty Flanagan, former Bachelorette Georgia Love and Married at First Sight bride Ella Ding have all been rumoured to be joining the show, which will once again be hosted by Robert Irwin and Julia Morris.  

Meanwhile, two-time Big Brother winner Reggie Bird and Bachelor star Matty J will also be packing their bags for South Africa for what will be the show’s eleventh season.

The Hughesy, Ed & Erin breakfast show sensationally came to an end in August 2024 amid spiralling ratings and ‘commitment issues’.

‘I am very happy not to be on commercial radio this year,’ Hughsey told the Herald Sun in his first comments since his axing. 

‘To be honest, I am sick to death of the songs. I don’t want to hear the same seven songs every morning for the rest of my life.’ 

David ‘Hughesy’ Hughes has opened up about his shock radio axing for the first time, as the comedian confirms he’ll be headed to the South African jungle for I’m A Celebrity! 

The former Sydney 2DayFM breakfast show host, 54, is one of the first celebrity contestants to be confirmed for Channel 10’s reality series, which airs from January 19

Meanwhile, two-time Big Brother winner Reggie Bird and Matty J will also be packing their bags for the 11th season of the show

The program hosted by Dave Hughes, Ed Kavalee and Erin Molan managed a mere 3.6 market share in its last ratings survey.

But there is no love lost for Dave, who said radio ‘is something I have done for a long time and it has been lucrative for decades … I have made wise investments.’

‘I am absolutely happy to have a break for a long time. I have had the same experience every year for 20 years and why? There is no need now. 

‘I should do what I want to do and that is partly why I am going into the jungle, for the fun of it and for something different.’ 

The Melbourne-based radio presenter said he was ‘torn’ between two cities as he commuted to Sydney each week to host the show. 

‘Initially the intention was to move to Sydney, but it just did not happen. Firstly there was Covid and my family was settled in Melbourne, my wife enjoyed her job and my kids were enjoying their school, so after a while we realised I was not going to move.’ 

Dave said he was ‘basically pretending to live in Sydney for three and half years,’ and that it was ‘exhausting.’ 

In another candid interview with news.com.au, the father-of-three said he’d fallen out of love with ‘the whole concept’ of commercial radio. 

‘I just don’t need it, if you know what I mean? I don’t need to be doing that or doing full-time radio. And look, it may never happen again, to be honest.’ 

The Hughesy, Ed & Erin breakfast show has sensationally come to an end amid spiralling ratings and ‘commitment issues’. Pictured: Ed Kavalee, Erin Molan and Dave Hughes

The program hosted by Dave Hughes , Ed Kavalee and Erin Molan managed a mere 3.6 audience share in the latest ratings survey. 

 Prior to hosting 2DayFM since 2021, the Aussie media personality had great success with his former co-host Kate Langbroek across various stations for more than 20 years. 

This will be his first stint in the South African jungle, after knocking back the opportunity several times. 

I’m A Celebrity! fans have speculated that Sigrid Thornton, best known for 1982’s Man from Snowy River, could be the ‘star of the silver screen,’ while others have theorised that it could be Bump creator Claudia Karvan.

Chicken Shop Date’s sensation Amelia Dimoldenberg has also been put forward as a suggestion for ‘the British girl’ alongside Jordana Grace and Maddie Grace Jepson.

Producers always drop huge hints about the cast members every year and they have teased that one cast member will be an ‘influencer with a taste for love’.

The clue could be referring to a number of high-profile former reality stars, with fans speculating it might be Ella Ding, Georgia Love or MAFS bride Jessika Power.

‘She’s conquered one house, but can she conquer camp?,’ teased another online clue that could point to two-time Big Brother winner Reggie Bird.

Drag Race Down Under star Kween Kong has also been tipped after producers leaked online that ‘reality royalty’ would be joining this season’s cast.

Another cast member is said to be a ‘real life’ hero that might ‘need to be rescued’, which could be a cheeky reference to Bondi rescue star Bruce ‘Hoppo’ Hopkins.

Fans successfully tipped that Dave ‘Hughsey’ would be joining the cast as the ‘comedy genius’ on the bill.