Dave Hughes calls the Logies 'rubbish' after David 'Kochie' Koch branded ceremony the 'participation awards'

Dave Hughes has slammed the annual Logie Awards in a live radio interview, calling the star-studded ceremony 'rubbish'. 

The comedian, 55, took aim at TV's night-of-nights on Wednesday when he appeared on KIIS Network's Will & Woody Drive Show. 

Filling in for Will McMahon, the media veteran told co-star Steven 'Woody' Whitelaw the Logies had 'no respect' after they got onto the topic of the Gold Logie nominees.

At the end of the radio show, Woody asked Hughes a cheeky question in an attempt to get him to say something controversial. 

'The Gold Logie nominees came out yesterday... It's Poh Ling Yeow, Lisa Millar, Sam Pang, Ally Langdon and Julia Morris,' Woody began. 

'Who is the most undeserving nominee there?'

'That's a terrible question. No. I can't answer that. I'm not answering it,' Hughes said.

Then he fumed: 'The Logies are rubbish anyway. It's rubbish. And I've performed in it 20 times. No respect.'  

It comes just a few days after ex Sunrise presenter David 'Kochie' Koch expressed anger over this year's Logie nominations.

The Channel Seven star was furious to learn that his former breakfast television show, Sunrise, missed out on any nods in the 2026 ceremony.

Kochie, 70, who left Sunrise in 2023, was especially upset that Channel Nine rival Today show was nominated, despite rating lower in viewership.

In an Instagram Story post on Monday, Kochie shared the nominations for Most Popular News or Public Affairs Presenter and Best Current Affairs Program.

Both categories featured Today and its stars, including Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo.

'Have the Logies become a participation award?' he raged in his caption, adding, 'Once again ignoring the domination of breakfast by Sunrise.'

On a second slide, Kochie wrote: 'Now you are really taking the p***. A program that has lost ratings for 20 consecutive years is nominated when Sunrise isn't.'

He continued the tirade on his Instagram grid, writing: 'So let me get this straight @tvweeklogiesawards @tvweekmag.

'Most Popular News or Public Affairs Presenter nominees for this year's Logies contains both @today.show hosts but neither @sunriseon7 hosts.'

He continued: 'A couple of facts you may have missed; Sunrise has won every single day this year.

'Sunrise is averaging 424,000 viewers daily (+4% YOY) while Today is averaging 308,000 (-3% YOY).

'This has been going on for years. If you ever complain you're seen as a bad sport. But now I'm out of it I can say honestly WTF?'

This year's award for Most Popular News or Public Affairs Presenter sees A Current Affair's Ally Langdon go up against ABC's David Speers, Channel Seven's Michael Usher and ABC's Sarah Ferguson.

The Best Current Affairs Program gong is a battle between Nine's 60 Minutes, ABC's 7.30, Nine's A Current Affair, Nine's Today, and the ABC's Australian Story and Four Corners.

Kochie left Channel Seven's Sunrise in 2023, announcing his retirement after 20 years in the role.