Dubai-based radio star Kris Fade has confirmed he was in talks with the Australian Radio Network about replacing the Kyle and Jackie O Show after weeks of speculation.
Fade, an Australian-born radio host who is hugely successful in the Middle East, told GameChangers podcast host Craig Bruce ARN did approach him for general talks during the recent Radio Days Toronto conference.
Bruce told listeners he asked the broadcaster directly whether the rumours were true, to which Fade replied he “had a conversation with ARN” but said there was “nothing on the table from them in terms of a specific offer”.
The former boss of 2DayFM also posted a cheeky video to Instagram a few days ago, approaching Fade at the Canadian radio event while recording him.
“Great presentation, mate,” Bruce began, ”I’m not even going to ask you the question, Kris.”
In the video, Fade grabbed the camera, seemingly addressing the rumours.
“I’m saying nothing. I’m saying absolutely nothing,” he responded.
“You think I’m going to say anything?
“Listen, firstly, I want to say thank you for all the beautiful words you’ve said.
“I’m happy in Dubai, I’m in Dubai. But, you know, whatever happens, happens. We’ll see where life takes you, you never know.”
KIIS has been cycling through temporary hosts following the axing of the Kyle and Jackie O Show and its hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson.
Fade’s name has come up repeatedly about a potential replacement, but he has stayed silent about the potential role.
The Dubai radio star has been dodging questions for weeks about whether he would be moving to Australia permanently to fill the gaping hole in KIIS’s breakfast radio slot.
The headlines started after industry veterans Jen Seyderhelm and Steve Ahern revealed the “hot tip” regarding the potential replacement for Sandilands in an episode of RadioToday posted on April 9.
Nine.com.au managed to get in contact with Fade at the time, who declined to comment.
If Fade were to move his show to ARN, questions remain over whether they can offer a pay packet appealing enough to the wealthy Dubai socialite.
“Kris Fade is the biggest name in entertainment in Dubai,” a source told nine.com.au.
“He’s interviewed all the biggest names in Hollywood – Kim Kardashian, Will Smith… Smith actually helped him propose to his wife.
“He’d have to be offered a huge amount of money – we’re talking millions a year – to leave Dubai which he has called his home for so many years,” the source explained.
Fade’s wife Brianna Ramirez (now Brianna Fade) and his son have been seen in Sydney in recent weeks, only spurring on speculation.
Interestingly, Fade already has a history with KIIS FM, with the network picking up the Australian-focused version of his show on weekends in 2018, which aired every Sunday for a few years.
Fade is an Australian national who moved from Sydney to Dubai in 2008, landing a job on Virgin Radio and taking the UAE by storm with his breakfast program The Kris Fade Show.
Like The Kyle and Jackie O Show once was in Australia, his is the biggest and most listened -to radio breakfast show in the UAE.
Fade also featured in Netflix’s reality series Dubai Bling alongside his wife Brianna.
The media personality is so famous in the Middle East that Madame Tussauds Dubai honoured him with a wax figure.
ARN pulled the $200 million deal they had with Jackie O Henderson and Kyle Sandilands over a now-infamous on-air blow-up.
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