Christian O’Connell reveals he almost gave up on his radio career in Australia

He’s the British radio personality who now fronts his own show on Melbourne’s Gold 104.3 FM.

But on Sunday, Christian O’Connell revealed he almost gave up on his radio career in Australia and returned back home to the UK with his family.

‘The first couple months on air, the ratings went down, down, down,’ the 47-year-old said on Jacky Road Studios podcast.

He added: ‘Suddenly I realised there was a bit of a disconnect between me and the audience because every time I speak, they are reminded I’m not from around here.’

Christian went on to say he thought ‘he’d be welcomed with open arms but it wasn’t like that’.

‘I’d built a momentum and an acceptance from the audience, because I’d been a big part of their lives for years, whereas now I had none of that,’ he said.

He added: ‘But what’s been great about the show doing well is growing through that, it’s been the most exciting thing I’ve ever done in my career.’

According to Radio Today, Gold 104.3 FM. had a 8.7 per cent share in breakfast radio prior to Christian’s arrival.

The ratings number slipped to 7.4 per cent in 2018 and further to 6.7 per cent before climbing back up to 8.4 per cent by the end of that year.

In 2018, Christian was announced as the replacement for Gold FM’s breakfast duo Jo and Lehmo.

At the time, the 47-year-old described leaving the United Kingdom for his new role as ‘the hardest decision of my life’, in an ARN Network statement.

‘The chance to move to Melbourne was an opportunity just too good to pass up because, well, who wouldn’t want to move to the world’s most liveable city?’ he stated.

‘My family and I chose Melbourne for the lifestyle, comedy and arts culture, and, obviously, the coffee. And the wine. Did I mention the wine?’ he continued.

‘The decision to leave the UK has been the hardest of my life, but we can’t wait to start this new adventure,’ he added.