Triple J breakfast broadcaster and “youth spokesperson” Robbie Buck has announced his departure from the station to take a gig at old people’s network ABC 702 Sydney.
Described in his send-off by ABC director of radio Kate Dundas as “one of the smartest, funniest and nicest people in broadcasting today” (a view endorsed by several radio industry insiders this morning) Buck has come under mounting pressure over his age, which according to his unofficial MySpace profile is at least 34, but possibly closer to 40.
In January, Buck will move to evenings on 702, which is syndicated across NSW and the ACT, and whose audience consists almost entirely of gnarled baby boomers and television refuseniks.
While a breakfast replacement to serve alongside Marieke Hardy and Lindsay McDougall is yet to be revealed, several commentors on Triple J’s Facebook page were calling this morning for the immediate reinstatement of McDougall’s Frenzal Rhomb bandmate and former co-host Jay Whalley.
Fantastic news, for Sydney listeners at least. Robbie follows in the footsteps of some great JJJ talent who have graduated to 2BL-as-was, such as Angela Catterns and Adam Spencer. I’ll probably continue to listen to Lindsay and Marieke in the mornings, but I’ll certainly tune in to 702 on those late drives home. Think of it as a promotion Robbie!
I have it on good authority that Robbie is 38.