Alex Cullen has announced he is leaving his role as sports reporter on GOLD FM's The Christian O'Connell Show, less than a year after joining the breakfast radio program. The 45-year-old presenter, who also delivers the afternoon news on Channel Seven, made the announcement on Monday morning, explaining that balancing two jobs with raising three young children had become too much.
Struggling to Juggling Two Jobs
During Monday's broadcast, Cullen told host Christian O'Connell that the past year had been chaotic but wonderful. However, he admitted that holding down two jobs at both ends of the day was proving too demanding. After serious conversations with his wife, Bonnie, he decided to step away from the early morning alarm clock to focus on his television roles and family.
“I told the kids yesterday, I sat them down and said, ‘Guys, Daddy’s not going to be doing breakfast radio anymore,’ and they were so pleased,” Cullen said.
Gratitude and Farewell
Cullen thanked O'Connell and their colleagues for the laughs and GOLD FM listeners for tuning in every day. O'Connell expressed that it had been a joy working with Cullen but noted he was not surprised by the decision, given Cullen's young family and demanding schedule.
GOLD FM has confirmed that Cullen will not be replaced. Instead, newsreader Patrina Jones will expand her role to deliver sports headlines alongside the biggest news stories of the day.
Background: Sacking from Today Show
Cullen made headlines last year when he was sacked from the Today Show after accepting $50,000 from billionaire Adrian Portelli. The payment came after Portelli offered a reward to any journalist who referred to him by his new nickname, McLaren Man, instead of Lambo Guy. Cullen used the moniker during a live cross from Melbourne Park during the Australian Open and later posted the footage on Instagram. Portelli responded by sharing a screenshot of the bank transfer with the message, “We have a winner, well played, sir.”
Following his sacking from Nine Network after five years, Cullen described it as a very difficult time and thanked fans for their support. His wife, Bonnie, a property reporter for Nine, appeared to comment on the network's double standards after his successor Danika Mason broadcast from the Winter Olympics 2026 while under the influence of alcohol. Mason apologized, but Bonnie replied to a friend's comment saying, “100%,” when the friend wrote, “Well they sacked Alex Cullen for less.”
