Veteran Perth broadcaster Dean ‘Clairsy’ Clairs will present his final Clairsy & Lisa Breakfast show on 96FM this Friday, 15 August, stepping away from radio after a 43-year career.
Clairs began in 1982 at just 17 years old in Merredin, on the same night Australia II claimed the America’s Cup. His career has taken him from Bunbury to Canberra, Adelaide and back to Perth, where he realised a long-held ambition to join 96FM in 2021.
In his four and a half years alongside Lisa Shaw, the pair helped drive 96FM to the number one position in Perth, with the station recently recording its highest share in more than 20 years at 17.1 per cent.
“From the age of 16 I was lucky enough to know what I wanted to do and my obsession was to work at 96FM. Thirty-eight years later the legendary Gary Roberts gave me the chance to do that. I also got to work with my long-time friend Lisa Shaw. You can’t buy the kind of chemistry we have together,” Clairs said.
MIX94.5’s Dean Clairs
Across his career, Clairs has interviewed artists including Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Nicks and P!NK, as well as actors Hugh Jackman, Sir Ian McKellen and Angela Lansbury. He has been part of some of Perth and Adelaide’s most successful on-air line-ups and undertaken memorable stunts such as abseiling from the WACA light towers for Telethon despite a fear of heights.
96FM content director Greg Edgeworth said: “Clairsy is one of the most respected and genuinely loved figures in Australian radio. He brings heart, humour and humility to everything he does. He’s been instrumental in 96FM’s incredible success over the past few years and will always be a part of the station’s story.”
“I love broadcasting, and I’ll miss talking to listeners and stuff,” Clairsy told Perth Now. “So it doesn’t mean I won’t do that ever again, but I’m just not getting up early.”
Shaw will continue hosting 96FM Breakfast, with a new co-host to be announced soon.