Earlier this year, Darren Simpson made a career-changing move from 947’s breakfast host to the host of the station’s drive show. He revealed that breakfast radio has caught up with him and that he is looking forward to a new start. “Breakfast radio is physically and emotionally exhausting. I don’t think people realise all the demands that are placed on a breakfast show – the extensive preparation that goes into it and all that is required for the station and for clients,” he said. “As the host, I am often here until 9pm at night. I have a young family and last year, I hit a point where, despite being in Johannesburg, I hadn’t seen my kids awake for three straight days. It set off alarms for me, and I realized that something had to change.” However, his break didn’t last long. Today, 947’s sister station KFM revealed that the DJ will be relocating to Cape Town and will take over the station’s breakfast show from the 3rd of July.
“This is a dream come true for me and my family. To do the breakfast show on KFM in Africa’s most beautiful city, is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I am incredibly excited,” said Darren. Joburgers will still get their fix as the two stations are both in the Primedia Broadcasting stable, and Darren will remain on Xpress Drive on 947, which he will broadcast from the Cape Town studios, from 4pm to 7pm.
“Darren has earned his reputation as a heavyweight in the South African radio industry and we are thrilled to be able to share his radio magic with audiences in both of our broadcast regions,” said Primedia Broadcasting CEO, Omar Essack.
This means that current breakfast host Ryan O’Connor will be moving into the weekday work slot, from 10am to 1pm. According to the station, the weekday work slot has been a major focus area for KFM as it offers the station a chance to connect with audiences in the busy part of their day whether they are in their cars, offices, homes, or wherever they are going about their business.
Ryan has become a massive media personality in Cape Town. In fact, he recently won the Best Breakfast Presenter title at the 2017 Liberty Radio Awards, becoming the only presenter to win this award twice. “Ryan has a fantastic connection with listeners,” said Trish Taylor, CEO Primedia Broadcasting Western Cape. We believe that he’s going to turn this show into ‘can’t-miss-it’ radio and are thrilled to have such a dynamic broadcaster steering us through this new chapter as we shake up daytime radio.”
Other changes on the station will see Sechaba G taking the reigns from 1pm to 4pm while Carl Wastie replaces Rob Vember as the drive-time host.
The weekday line up from 3 July 2017 will be:
06h00 to 09h00: Darren Simpson
09h00 to 10h00: What’s up @ Work (all music requests)
10h00 to 13h00: Ryan O’Connor
13h00 to 16h00: Sechaba G
16h00 to 19h00: Carl Wastie
19h00 to 22h00: Brandon Leigh
Feel free to comment, share or tweet @ElBroide