Byron Cooke returns to breakfast radio

Byron Cooke has returned to host the breakfast shift at KIIS 101.1 Melbourne’s breakfast shift. 

He will be back behind the microphone taking over Jase and Lauren in the Morning, until their return next month. 

Jase Hawkins is expecting the birth of third child any day now and KIIS FM have delayed his return so he can spend quality time with his family.

Byron, who left rival station FOXFM at the end of 2020, said he is looking forward to his temporary on-air stint: “Stepping in to KIIS breakfast while Jase and Lauren are on a break is a dream.”

“I get my fix of live radio for a few weeks, before resuming my other great love - sleep ins,” he added.

Byron’s return to commercial radio comes after he quit FOXFM’s Fifi, Fev & Byron show after five years on the show to focus on his podcast and spend more time with his family.

Since leaving live radio, he has gone on to create and launch his own independently run podcast, The Byron Cooke Show.

His show explores a range of topics from cyber-bullying to politics, and is set to take a personal and revealing turn in the year ahead.

“Even though there have been plenty of challenges for everyone over the past two and a bit years, like lots of people I’ve just got on with life,” the radio presenter said of his time away from radio.

“Being able to finally visit my American son Zephyr (13) this past December in Los Angeles was a great start to 2022. It had been a very long two years without seeing him in the flesh.  I call him Z Man! He’s an amazing young man and I’m so very proud of him,” he added.

In the past, Byron has received a slew of radio industry awards including Podcast Host / Presenter Of The Year Finalist at the 2021 Radio Today Podcast Awards.

Last year, he also entered politics and is set to run for a seat in the Senate in Federal Parliament with the Sensible Centre party.