Fox FM’s Byron Cooke breaks down in tears as he announces his departure from the radio station

Byron Cooke has announced he is leaving Melbourne radio station Fox FM after five years to focus on his new podcast and spend more time with his family.

The radio presenter, who co-hosts the Fifi, Fev & Byron breakfast show, broke down in tears live on air on Thursday morning as he told listeners of his decision.

‘I’ve been here quite a few years. I don’t know how to say this but this is going to be my second last show with you guys,’ he began his resignation speech.

He added: ‘As of next year, I won’t be on the show. I’ve made a decision to move on to other challenges. This is actually quite difficult but I’m moving on.’

Byron added that he’d struggled getting up at 4.30am every day for the past five years, and this schedule meant he hadn’t be able to do ‘much else’.

‘It’s just hard… It’s not because I don’t love being it, but I just can’t do seven things at once. This has not been easy,’ he said tearfully.

‘To be able to do some other things I want to do, I can’t do this as well because I just don’t have the energy,’ he explained.

‘Hopefully how I set up my life now, I’ll have more flexibility to spend time with my son and my beautiful girlfriend Alex.’

Byron joined the radio station in 2015 after it was announced Dan Anstey would be leaving.

He has co-hosted Fox FM’s Melbourne breakfast show with Brendan Fevola and Fifi Box since 2017.

Th radio star will be replaced by comedian Nick Cody, who currently co-hosts Triple M Brisbane Breakfast.

Byron launched his new podcast The Byron Cooke Show earlier this month.