ARN Media has made longtime The Kyle and Jackie O Show censor Missy Balfour redundant, with staff departures continuing across the business following the show’s collapse earlier this year.
Mediaweek understands Balfour – known to listeners on-air as “Censor” – is the fourth member of the former breakfast team to exit the organisation in the past 24 hours.
Balfour had worked with the show for more than 12 years, dating back to its time at 2DayFM.
Balfour’s workload also gradually increased across the years as more and more conditions were placed on the show by ACMA.
The latest departure follows confirmation that three former producers from the now-defunct show had also been made redundant by ARN.
Former producers Alfie Laguzza, Eliza Brown and Dean Royston – better known to listeners as “Alfie The Gronk”, “Mouth” and “Hulk” – each confirmed their exits via social media.
Dean Royston, Eliza Brown, and Alfie Laguzza
Producers confirm departures on social media
Laguzza announced his departure through Instagram Stories, posting an image of the new-look KIIS team without former hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O Henderson captioned: “Bye KIIS FAM”.
In a follow-up story, Laguzza shared a meme referencing a meeting with HR and tagged Roysten.
According to Laguzza’s LinkedIn profile, he joined the show in 2023 after completing a Diploma in Journalism at Macleay College. His profile also lists King Kyle Group as a current employer, where he held the title of Operations Officer.
Brown also confirmed her departure through Instagram Stories, using the same team image and writing: “Feeling very grateful to have worked alongside some of the best in the business. I leave with memories that will last a lifetime. Love this team, love this show”.
Brown had been with the company for just over a year.
Royston, meanwhile, joined the team in 2023. Prior to his stint at KIIS, he worked as Head of Audio at Yahoo and has spoken publicly about his career in the Australian military.
Laguzza’s Instagram Story v Brown’s
ARN says majority of staff redeployed
The departures come as ARN continues reshaping its KIIS Sydney breakfast line-up following the exits of Sandilands and Henderson earlier this year.
In reference to Laguzza, Brown, and Royston’s exits, an ARN spokesperson told Mediaweek that the company had redeployed most of the staff associated with the former show.
“ARN has been able to redeploy the majority of team members from The Kyle & Jackie O Show. Unfortunately, a small number of roles could not be accommodated elsewhere in the business, and those individuals will be leaving ARN,” the spokesperson said.
“Our focus is on ensuring everyone impacted is treated with care and respect and supported through this transition. We thank them for their contribution during their time at ARN.”
The latest redundancies add to the ongoing fallout surrounding one of Australian radio’s highest-profile breakfast programs, as ARN continues to rebuild its Sydney KIIS operations.