Kyle Sandilands is no stranger to shock moments (delivering and receiving them) but his 54th birthday surprise on The Kyle & Jackie O Show this morning may have truly blindsided him.
In a move that blended clever radio theatre with timely media commentary, the KIIS FM team invited none other than Steve Price, his long-time arch nemesis and former The Project panellist, into the studio for a face-to-face confrontation.
The encounter was orchestrated by show producer Peter Deppeler, better known as ‘Intern Pete’, and while fans had speculated about everything from luxury gifts to live animals, few anticipated a sit-down with one of Sandilands’ most outspoken detractors.
Kyle Sandilands
From feud to fragile truce
Price, who admitted he was paid “a lot of money” to appear on the show, didn’t waste time getting into character.
“The grubby buffoon himself,” he quipped as he greeted Sandilands. But the broadcaster quickly returned fire: “How did they get you involved in this rubbish?”
Their past disagreements, particularly around media coverage and ratings wars, came bubbling back to the surface. But this time, something shifted.
Jackie O took the mediator role, pushing the pair to air out their long-standing grievances. Sandilands’ recounted feeling let down after publicly defending Price during a previous controversy, only to receive criticism from him later.
Price, on the other hand, accused Kyle of leaning too heavily on shock humour, especially if the aim is to make inroads in more conservative Melbourne markets.
Still, despite the pointed barbs, there was a sense the pair had hit pause on the feud. Even the insults carried a thread of mutual recognition. As Price conceded, “He’s an extraordinary talent.”
Steve Price
The Project cancellation looms large
While their showdown was ostensibly about old grudges, it couldn’t have come at a more symbolic time.
Price had just exited The Project, following Network 10’s confirmation over the weekend that the long-running current affairs program will not return in 2025.
The show’s cancellation marks the end of a 15-year run, with dwindling ratings and shifting viewer habits cited as key reasons behind the decision.
Sandilands, never one to pass up an opportunity, brought up the topic with gusto. “What happened at The Project? When did this happen? Because we’ve heard these rumours forever. And now it’s true?”
Price reminded him that while rumours may have circulated, the human cost was real. “Eighty people lost their jobs yesterday,” he said, pointing to the broader implications of the show’s demise.
Market rivalry continues
Another layer to the encounter was the undercurrent of market rivalry.
Melbourne, long considered a tough nut to crack for Sydney-based shows, came up repeatedly in their exchange. Price threw shade at Kyle and Jackie O’s appeal in the southern capital, critiquing the pair’s strong sexual undertones.
Price began: “All this sex stuff, which has obviously worked for you two…” only to be cut off by Sandilands’: “Everyone has sex!” Price pressed on, suggesting they didn’t need to lean so hard on explicit humour, calling both hosts “far too smart” for it.
But Sandilands’ fired up: “Why hold ourselves back because of a couple of oldies that are pearl clutching?” he shot back, before the Melbourne rivalry took over.
Price joked that only “three people” were listening in Melbourne, prompting Sandilands’ to fire off this clanger: “We’re not changing the whole show to suck Melbourne’s d***.”
Price recoiled, “don’t say that”, but Sandilands’ doubled down. “You know what I’m saying,” he said.
The verbal jabs ended on a fitting note, with Price revealing he’d organised a birthday gift that doubled as one last dig.
“I’m getting you a membership to the North Melbourne footy club,” he said, “because they always come last in Melbourne. I thought you could jump on board with them.”
Sandilands’, unmoved and characteristically blunt, replied, “I don’t like football,” before adding, “We’re not last either. Triple J is last, ABC is last. All these sh**heads, they’re all last.”