Concerns for Kyle Sandilands’ health amid court battle as his former Australian Idol co-host Mark Holden issues a sobering plea

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Mark Holden has cautioned his former colleague Kyle Sandilands about the ongoing and difficult legal dispute between Sandilands and his employer, ARN.

Oh my gosh, Ian ‘Dicko’ Holden! He’s, like, a legend! Seventy-one years young and still amazing. He was one of the original judges on Australian Idol, and I seriously lived for those seasons! He and Kyle Sandilands together? Perfection! They were a judging duo for three whole seasons – 2005, 2006, and 2007 – and honestly, those were the best years of my life. I watched every single episode!

Holden told the Daily Mail he worried the stress of the legal fight was negatively impacting Sandilands’ health.

After being let go from Idol in 2008, Holden pursued a career in law, practicing as a barrister from 2010 to 2023. He understands firsthand how demanding high-profile legal cases can be.

‘He’s unfortunately boxed himself into a corner,’ Holden said.

After thirteen years of dealing with the court system, the last thing I ever want to do is set foot in a courtroom again.

Holden understood Sandilands’ frustration with being fired, but he urged him to focus on taking care of himself.

‘There’s no denying that radio is Kyle’s life – he lives for it,’ Holden said.

‘But my advice to him would be: “Get your health correct, because you don’t look healthy.”‘

Holden asked Sandilands to think about how the situation was affecting his wife, Tegan Kynaston, and their three-year-old son, Otto.

He told him, ‘You’re already under enough stress, and your health is what matters most. You don’t need to worry about earning any more money – please take care of yourself.’

‘You’ve got a son and a wife. Look after your health. His money is making him money.’

Over the past year, concerns about Sandilands’ health have emerged. Last February, he announced he needed urgent surgery after doctors discovered two aneurysms – one in his brain and another in his chest.

Although Kyle Sandilands is known for creating drama with colleagues and competitors, Amanda Holden stated she didn’t witness any of that on the set of Australian Idol.

I really care about Kyle, and I truly believe he’s one of the most hardworking people I know, he shared.

It’s hard to fathom the pain he and Jackie must be experiencing while dealing with this court case.

Following recent statements by Holden, it’s been confirmed that Kyle Sandilands and Jackie Henderson will no longer host breakfast radio on KIIS FM. The station has stated that their relationship with the duo has deteriorated completely, with no chance of reconciliation.

Details came to light in Sydney’s Federal Court on Friday during legal battles between two radio personalities and their former employer, ARN (owner of KIIS 106.5). The stars are suing over the cancellation of their combined $200 million contracts.

The Kyle and Jackie O Show concluded on February 20th after a heated on-air argument. Kyle Sandilands criticized Jackie Henderson’s interest in astrology and then made fun of her when she became upset.

Sandilands argues his dismissal was unfair, and Henderson claims ARN didn’t shield her from what she describes as bullying by Sandilands, violating workplace laws.

Outside the courthouse, Kyle Sandilands emerged from a black Rolls-Royce and told reporters that he and Jackie O are not currently talking. He stated simply, ‘I haven’t spoken to Jackie.’

Sandilands hinted at issues with his ARN superiors and previous co-host Henderson, referencing ‘truth’ and how the media works, and publicly asked ARN to reinstate him on the radio.

According to ARN’s lawyer, the relationship between the parties has completely deteriorated, and they believe there’s no chance of resolution. They described the situation as ‘hopeless’ and stated that ‘trust and confidence has utterly broken down’.

He believes there’s no chance a court will order the involved parties to collaborate for the next nine years.

Henderson and Sandilands had nine years left on their contracts by the time they were terminated.

Sandilands’ lawyer, Scott Robertson, explained to the court that there was no question about what his client said to Henderson. He compared the KIIS 106.5 studio to the reality show Big Brother, pointing out that everything was recorded, even if it wasn’t broadcast.

Mr Robertson also referred to ARN’s defence as ‘the kitchen sink defence’.

Commenting on Sandilands’ on-air behavior, Mr. Robertson stated that what you see is what you get with Kyle – his personality is consistent and unchanging.

He explained that Mr. Sandilands did what the contract required – the contract specifically used that word – and he was paid for it.

He argued against combining Sandilands’ case with Henderson’s lawsuit against the radio company, explaining that Henderson’s case was more complex and would likely take longer to prepare, causing an avoidable delay if they were heard together.

Any delay could potentially result in further costs for Sandilands, he said.

Henderson wasn’t present at the court hearing, but her lawyer confirmed that ARN doesn’t deny claims that Sandilands bullied her.

Her main claim, the lawyer said, was whether ARN was responsible for Henderson’s wellbeing at work.

She argued against hearing both cases together because, even though Henderson is suing ARN and not Sandilands directly, her lawsuit claims Sandilands caused her serious emotional distress.

According to her lawyer, combining these issues would involve Henderson in a significantly bigger case than just her claim about unfair dismissal.

The case involving Henderson will present information regarding her mental health and how the events have affected her overall wellbeing.

The lawyers for ARN requested that the cases be combined, citing significant overlap in the evidence presented.

Everything was documented, so we don’t anticipate any disagreement about what happened. Ms. Henderson described these events as workplace bullying, and we concur with that assessment of the behavior.

While Mr. Sandilands likely won’t admit this was serious wrongdoing, the court will carefully examine his actions, determine what they were, and establish the facts surrounding them.

He said those conclusions may end up being very different if the cases were heard separately.

Justice Stewart scheduled potential hearing dates for October 12th, but hasn’t yet decided if the cases will be combined.

Outside court, Sandilands said: ‘I can talk to anyone – it’s the media business.

Relationships can change quickly – you might dislike someone one day and be close to them the next. There’s a difference between what people present and what’s actually happening, and once you truly understand the situation, everything will become clear and the truth will emerge.

He described the disagreement as having become quite harsh, and said he’d told ARN to reinstate him on the radio.

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2026-04-25 14:52