Alan Jones ends his last ever radio show with an emotional sign-off - as stars of sport, screen and politics send in farewell messages
- Alan Jones, 79, has begun his final show on Sydney radio after 35 years on the air
- The top rating host announced earlier this month he would be retiring from radio
- Jones put together an incredible 226 consecutive ratings wins in breakfast slot
- Snippets of interviews with Hollywood legends and political titans were played
- His farewell has not been without controversy over a video from Roger Federer
Legendary radio host Alan Jones has ended his final breakfast program by telling his loyal listeners: 'Together in spirit always, but for now goodbye.'
Jones, 79, called time on his top rating 2GB radio show at 9am on Friday, after more than 35 years in the host seat and an incredible 226 consecutive ratings wins.
The top rating host's final show was broadcast from the studio inside his home at his private estate in the NSW Southern Highlands, where he has been living throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jones' announcement earlier this month that he was retiring on the advice of doctors led to an outpouring of tributes and congratulatory messages from listeners, and the thousands of famous faces he has interviewed over the years.
Snippets from some of those interviews were played throughout his farewell show.
They included chats with Hollywood stars Jane Fonda and Sir Michael Caine, singers Bette Middler, Lionel Richie and Frankie Valli, political titans Bill Clinton and Donald Trump and sporting greats Manny Pacquaio and Sir Donald Bradman.
In signing off, Jones said: 'Together in spirit always, but for now goodbye. All the best to everyone out there, thank you for your company and we’ll see you somewhere I’m sure.'
Legendary radio host Alan Jones has begun his final breakfast program ahead of his retirement from the airwaves after 35 years. Jones' last broadcast will be made from his studio in his home in the NSW Southern Highlands, where he has been residing during the COVID-19 pandemic
The top rating host announced earlier this month that he was retiring on the advice of doctors after decades of pre-dawn starts. Jones has put together an incredible 226 consecutive ratings wins in the hard fought breakfast slot
But Jones' final show has not been without controversy, with a congratulatory video message from tennis champion Roger Federer criticised by sports fans online
Jones also read out a poem by Robert Lee Sharpe, called Princes and Kings.
Close political friends including former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Nationals leader in NSW John Barilaro and Sky News commentator Peta Credlin, as well as NSW Police commissioner Mick Fuller, were among those to call in on Friday.
As were sporting greats including soccer star Mark Bosnich, jockeys Hugh Bowman and Darren Beadman, and former rugby union players who he coached during the Wallabies' 1984 Grand Slam tour of the United Kingdom.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison called in on Friday to praise Jones for championing the causes of his listeners, including in recent times during the COVID-19 pandemic.
'Thank you Alan, enjoy the rest of the morning and enjoy a bit of time off too. I'm glad you are taking the doctors advice,' Jones said.
'You've been one of those who are championing the current cause of getting the economy back up and running.'
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But Jones' final show has not been without controversy, with a congratulatory video message from tennis champion Roger Federer criticised by sports fans online.
'Hi Alan, it's Roger here. I wanted to wish you all the very best for what's to come and many congratulations on an amazing 35-year career in the media business, take care and all the best. Bye,' Federer said.
That message came as a surprise to tennis fans and journalists, who claimed the 20-time Grand Slam winner clearly did not know about Jones' history of controversies.
'No way in the world Federer knows who Alan Jones is,' one punter wrote.
'Why is Roger Federer sending a congratulations retirement message to Alan Jones? Yuk,' another wrote.
But despite the claims of social media fans, Federer has previously been interviewed by Jones on numerous occasions in the wake of his six Australian Open victories.
Jones (pictured with Jennifer Hawkins), 79, made the shock announcement to his listeners on Tuesday morning, telling them he had been told by doctors it was becoming detrimental to his health
At the time he started his radio career with 2UE in 1985, Jones coaching the Australian rugby union team (pictured)
Jones (left) signs the contract to join 2UE in March 1985, taking over the morning show from Mike Gibson (right). He remained at 2UE until 2002, when he signed a major contract at 2GB
Jones started his radio career with 2UE in 1985, taking over the morning show role which had been vacated by the undisputed king of Sydney radio John Laws, who himself moved to 2GB.
But when Laws returned to 2UE in 1988, Jones was switched to the breakfast slot, a move that saw his popularity skyrocket.
Together the pair formed a formidable partnership, with Laws among those to call and wish Jones well after his retirement.
'I'm going to miss you. You and I have had the friendliest bitterness in the history of radio,' Laws said.
'I have nothing but the highest regard for you... you and I don’t agree about everything, but you are fantastic.'
The former Wallabies coach will continue his roles as a columnist for News Corp Australia's newspapers and on an evening TV show on Sky News.
His breakfast show replacement, Ben Fordham, is due to take over from Monday.
Jones told listeners earlier this month that he had been given advice by doctors that he could not continue operating such a busy schedule
Close political friends including current Nationals leader in NSW John Barilaro (pictured) were among the many callers, while former Prime Minister Tony Abbott visited Jones at his Southern Highlands studio for the final day
Mr Abbott's former staffer and Jones' Sky News colleague Peta Credlin (left) also called in to wish him all the best
Jones will be replaced on the breakfast shift by Ben Fordham (left), who is currently 2GB's drive host. He told his listeners that despite the close friendship between them, he had 'absolutely nothing to do with the appointment'
Successful mornings host Ray Hadley (left) had long been expected to take over when Jones retired, but said he was 'very supportive' of the decision to give the job to Fordham (right)
Fordham's replacement in the drive time slot is yet to be announced by 2GB bosses.
Jones switched to 2GB in 2002 after persuasion from Macquarie Radio owner John Singleton and immediately took his new employer to the top of the ratings.
Jones had previously been a speech writer for Liberal prime minister Malcolm Fraser and in 1978 ran unsuccessfully as a Liberal by-election candidate in the state seat of Earlwood in Sydney's south, famously wearing Greek costume in a doomed bid to enter politics.
He then switched attention to rugby, becoming Australia's head coach and guiding the Wallabies to their famous 1984 Grand Slam tour of the UK and Ireland, and a drought-breaking Bledisloe Cup win over New Zealand in 1986.
Jones then established himself as the most powerful broadcaster in Sydney with his mixture of conservative talking points and a common touch that endeared him to a loyal listening base.
His radio career was occasionally marked by controversy such as the Cash for Comment affair in which he took personal payments from companies for unscripted promotion of their products on air, and was subsequently forced to disclose such deals.
He had to apologise in 2012 for saying then Labor PM Julia Gillard's father John had 'died of shame' to a Young Liberals function.
Jones weathered many controversies with the support of Macquarie Radio owner and his close friend John Singleton, who had convinced him to switch to 2GB in 2002
When the phone lines were opened just minutes after his announcement, his good friend and former Prime Minister Tony Abbott (pictured), NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian and one time colleague John Laws were among the first to congratulate him
The broadcaster had called for Australia's first female PM to be 'put in a chaff bag' and thrown in the ocean.
Just last year he called for Prime Minister Scott Morrison to 'shove a sock down the throat' of New Zealand leader Jacinda Ardern, after she criticised Australia's stance on climate change.
Those comments saw advertisers desert the station, some of them never returning.
Regardless of his controversies listeners stayed loyal, with Jones domination ratings surveys with 226 straight consecutive breakfast wins since joining 2GB in 2002.
Before being a political adviser and broadcaster, Jones taught English at the Kings School at North Parramatta.
Future deputy prime minister and Nationals leader John Anderson was one of his students.
