If you’ve been following the action, you’ll know it’s been a jam-packed week for triple j. Just 24 hours after beloved Breakfast hosts Matt Okine and Alex Dyson announced they would be leaving the station in 2017, the national youth broadcaster announced their replacements and the departure of a whole slew of other presenters.
In a statement released by triple j, the network confirmed that popular Lunch host Lewis McKirdy would also be leaving in 2017, along with Roots n All host Sarah Howells and Kyran Wheatley, who’s spent the last six years as presenter on Weekend Breakfast, Weekend Afternoons, and filling in on triple j Breakfast and Drive.
However, it goes without saying that the departure of triple j’s Lunch slot host McKirdy, who’s become something of a cult figure amongst triple j listeners, has hit fans the hardest. In fact, the sorrow could even rival that of those mourning the loss of Okine and Dyson. But one fan has a solution.
Whilst we’re sure they have nothing against Gen Fricker, the comedian and current Weekend Arvos host who will be taking over McKirdy’s Lunch post in addition to appearances on Breakfast, a group dubbing themselves FeelsClub have launched a petition to turn triple j’s digital sister station, Double J, into an all-Lewi McKirdy network.
Sad to see McKirdy departing for the UK, FeelsClub write, “It’s for the good of the nation! He was the only man who knew whathat was up! He had legends every Friday throw down on the platters that matter, he has classic banter, he just gets the common man!”
“Anyway I say we ditch Double J and just play the greatest moments of the last 10 years of Triple J (every Lewi segment) plus great new content from the Old Boy of the Beug everyday!” At the time of writing the Change.org petition, which is addressed the ABC and Richard Kingsmill, is just one signature short of the 100 it’s looking for.
