Inside ARN’s desperate push to make Sophie Monk the next Jackie ‘O’ Henderson – as insiders reveal she’s been approached several times for the radio gig

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With Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson currently in a legal dispute with their employer, ARN, Sophie Monk is now the likely candidate to take over their radio show.

According to a source, the network has contacted the 46-year-old TV personality on three separate occasions since Kyle Sandilands and Jackie Henderson’s contracts ended. News.com.au reported this on Tuesday.

There’s just one problem with the idea of having Monk host a show on Sydney’s KIISFM radio: she’s not interested in the job.

According to a source, she’s ended things and isn’t looking to reconnect. She tried collaborating on breakfast before, but it failed because she didn’t get along with her partner.

After cancelling The Kyle & Jackie O Show last month, ARN is now urgently searching for new, highly-rated talent to fill the gap left by the show’s success.

Mike Etheridge is currently hosting the show on his own, and Ben Fordham, Carrie Bickmore, and Karl Stefanovic are all potential replacements being looked at.

According to reports, Monk was a strong contender for the role due to her professional connection with ARN, as well as her close friendships with Kyle Sandilands and Jackie Henderson.

Interestingly, she took over the morning show on 2Day FM in 2014 after the popular radio hosts moved to a different station.

Despite trying radio with Merrick Watts and Jules Lund, the show didn’t attract many listeners and ultimately failed to gain popularity.

Apparently, she’s been waiting for the right co-host before going back to a full-time breakfast radio show, someone who would be a good fit with her friendly and genuine style.

According to a source, she’s focused on the challenges of the busy breakfast period, the approaching colder weather, and a recent decline in ratings.

This situation could harm her career prospects beyond radio. A reputation for failure can make it harder to find other work.

When contacted by Daily Mail regarding the recent reports, ARN chose not to offer any additional comments.

Daily Mail has also reached out to Monk for comment. 

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After a significant disruption, should radio stations prioritize giving opportunities to new, unproven performers, or continue to rely on established, popular ones?

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Ever since leaving ‘The Kyle & Jackie O Show’ on February 20th, Monk has been the top pick among fans to team up with Sandilands as a new on-air pairing.

The host of Love Island is known for being relatable, funny, and not getting bogged down by seriousness. She’s popular for her playful personality and ability to not take herself too seriously.

Because of her skills, she was the leading choice to partner with Sandilands after Henderson’s temporary leave, as they expected Henderson to come back after two weeks.

Unfortunately, those hopes were quickly extinguished when Sandilands’ temporary leave ended last month, and ARN decided to terminate his contract.

When Henderson unexpectedly quit live on air on February 20th, it signaled the likely breakup of a long-running and popular Australian radio duo.

Following the broadcast of a heated argument on The Kyle & Jackie O Show, KIIS FM’s owners, ARN, stated that Henderson had informed them she was unable to continue working with Kyle Sandilands.

The split led to ARN terminating Henderson, before ripping up Sandilands’ contract two weeks later.

ARN is facing serious financial and legal challenges. Following lawsuits filed by Sandilands and Henderson last month, the company’s market value has dropped significantly, now dangerously close to $100 million.

KIIS 106.5’s owner, once a major player in Australian radio, was recently valued at around $100 to $110 million as of late March 2026 – a significant drop from its previous worth.

At one point, ARN’s value dipped even lower, briefly hitting around $98.5 million. 

The lawsuits themselves are nothing short of explosive.

Sandilands is seeking damages potentially worth as much as $85 million in an ongoing case. Meanwhile, Henderson has also filed a lawsuit, claiming unfair treatment and a violation of her contract.

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2026-04-15 02:49