Due to health concerns, Jackie O Henderson has indefinitely stepped down from her radio hosting gig on The Kyle and Jackie O Show.
After several weeks of sounding unwell on air, the 47-year-old revealed on November 14 that she’s been struggling with ill health since contracting COVID-19 some months ago.
The longtime host of KIIS FM’s top-rating breakfast show said she’ll be off-air for the next “couple of weeks” to recover; however, she did not specify a return date.
Despite broadcasting from home recently, Jackie O admitted she was having trouble with the show’s demanding early starts, which moved her doctor to suggest she take extended leave.
“I’ve been not very well ever since I’ve had COVID, I’ve been struggling with this fatigue,” she explained.
“I’ve been to the doctor several times, and he said because I’ve been pushing myself every day… After the show, all I’ve been doing is sleeping, and I’m not getting better.”
Her co-anchor Kyle Sandilands confessed he could “feel it’s got worse”.
“I can hear it,” he said, noting that Jackie O couldn’t laugh without entering a coughing fit.
The mum of one said stepping down from the show wasn’t a decision she took lightly, but she knew it was integral to being “all better”.
“I just have to take some time off,” she added. “I’m ending the show today. As in now.”
Has Jackie O Henderson Been Replaced by Brittany Hockley?
Following Jackie O’s early departure, The Bachelor Australia‘s Brittany Hockley stepped in as host after an interview ahead of her The Challenge Australia debut on November 14.
“You know what? You seem fun,” Kyle confessed to the reality star. “Jackie’s away. Do you want to hang around?
“Unless you’ve got other things on?”
“I’d love to say I was busy,” Brittany mused, adding, “But I’m really not.”
While we’re under no guise that the 35-year-old’s tenure on The Kyle and Jackie O Show wasn’t planned, it does beg the question — is Brittany Hockley permanently filling in for Jackie O until her return?
According to an ARN spokesperson, the answer is yes!
It comes after So Dramatic! exclusively revealed that the Bachelor icon and her Life Uncut co-host (and fellow Bachie alum) Laura Byrne copped their own drive-home radio gig on KIIS FM for 2023.
Want even more goss? Listen to episode 228 of the So Dramatic! podcast with Megan Pustetto below!
Know something that we don’t? Spill the tea here!
Get the tea first! Follow So Dramatic! on Instagram and tune in on Mondays to get your reality tea fix with the So Dramatic! podcast with Megan Pustetto.
