Industry insiders name frontrunners to replace Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson on KIIS FM - with some VERY surprising stars in the mix

With the dust starting to settle around the shock axing of The Kyle & Jackie O Show, the big question still remains: who's next?

After terminating Henderson and Sandilands' contracts, the Australian Radio Network now faces the unenviable task of finding new talent to fill the breakfast slots in both Sydney and Melbourne.

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Mumbrella publisher Tim Burrowes said the vacant chairs could not have come at a worse time.

'It is a terrible time of year to try to make that hire because the most talented people currently in radio are probably contracted until the end of the year,' he said.

He also claimed that instead of one show to serve both the Sydney and Melbourne markets, ARN were 'likely' to create two. 

However, in spite of those hurdles, there are quite a few names emerging as potential candidates, according to industry chatter.

Chief among them are broadcasting veterans Carrie Bickmore and Dr Chris Brown.

However, it could be a case of wishful thinking as Bickmore currently helms a 2Day FM show with Tommy Little and is reportedly under contract until the end of the year.

Further, Brown had been a frequent guest on The Kyle & Jackie O Show.

However, it has been suggested that KIIS are 'likely' to give Will McMahon and Woody Whitelaw, who currently host the network's national drive show, the Melbourne breakfast slot.

Sophie Monk had also previously been earmarked as a contender to take the chair beside Sandilands', which now seems unlikely given the shock jock's departure.

However another name that has been thrown into the mix is Mitch Churi, who was axed from KIIS FM in December 2024 after a decade with the station. 

Churi certainly knows the KIIS ropes, having also frequently filled in for Sandilands on The Kyle & Jackie O Show.

One Aussie celeb but forward as 'an outside chance' is comedian Jim Jeffries, with one insider revealing to The Daily Telegraph that his name had 'definitely been mentioned'. 

When it comes to outside chances, Burrowes added that Sunrise weatherman Sam Mac could very well be a contender.

The affable star began his career in radio and has enjoyed stints on Triple M Adelaide, and for Austereo in Perth and as the host of its national Hot 30 Countdown. 

Coincidentally, he helmed the same show Sandilands and Henderson captained from 2000 to 2003.

The end of The Kyle & Jackie O Show was announced on Wednesday when Kyle released a statement at 7am on Wednesday announcing that KIIS' parent company, ARN, had terminated his 10-year, $100 million contract.

Just an hour after his bombshell statement, news.com.au reported that ARN chief executive Michael Stephenson sent an email to staff announcing that The Kyle & Jackie O Show had been axed.

 News of the show's axing sent shockwaves through KIIS staff, with the publication reporting that not all show staff are directly employed by ARN, but instead through Sandilands' company, King Kyle.

An insider told news.com.au that staff were worried for their futures and angry at how the situation was handled.

'Many staff found out through social media instead of an official statement. It wasn't until after the news broke that staff were advised officially,' the insider said.

'I am just so angry about how it has all been handled. It's not how the situation should be handled, especially when the team that worked on that show are still showing up every day to work.'

Daily Mail reached out to ARN, who declined to comment.