Amanda Keller was a rare no-show on Monday, taking her second day off in 20 years.
The radio star, 63, was tucked up in bed as her Gold FM Jonesy and Amanda show went to air, leaving co-host Brendan ‘Jonesy’ Jones to helm the show.
‘I would say good morning to Amanda but poor Amanda is unwell. She’s got a runny tummy,’ Brendan, 57, revealed at the beginning of Monday’s show.
‘Poor thing. She’s at home. She’s tucked up in bed. We sent her over some flat lemonade and now she’s okay.’
He added that Amanda’s absence was a rarity in the popular radio duo’s two-decade on-air partnership.
‘For the record, this is Amanda’s second sick day in 20 years,’ Brendan revealed.
Amanda Keller was a rare no-show on Monday, taking her second day off in 20 years
‘The only other time she had a day off is was when she had a hip replacement.’
A producer added: ‘That isn’t really a sick day, though, is it,’ before asking Brendan: ‘Have you ever had a sick day?’
Like his co-star Brendan admitted that ‘sickies’ were also quite a rarity for him.
‘I had a motorcycle accident in 2014,’ he said, which Brendan also declared to be not a sick day.
Brendan said that, in Amanda’s absence, show director Jacinda Gugliemino suggested running a ‘best-of’ show, but trooper Brendan was keen to soldier on.
‘I said: “who does that? That’s just lame. I’m already here, and there’s a bunch of Farnham to play, and Rick Astley.”‘
Amanda’s rare sick day comes after she opened up about the popular radio duo’s recent shock shake-up.
It was revealed earlier this year, that the duo would be vacating the breakfast slot they had helmed since 2005 for a shift into drive, with Christian O’Connell taking the breakfast reins.
Amanda’s rare sick day comes after she opened up about the popular radio duo’s recent shock shake-up that will see the duo move from breakfast to drive in 2026
Speaking to News Corp, Amanda admitted that the news came as quite a shock – particularly following a successful ratings period.
‘First, it was a kick to the ego. ‘We’d had our best ratings here ever last year, so it was a surprise,’ Amanda said.
However, after getting over the initial shock, Amanda added that she quickly warmed to the idea of the 4-6pm slot.
‘Life doing breakfast radio is hugely frenetic. It’s a flowing river, and it’s a voracious need to fill it with information, with stories, with everything,’ she said.
‘So, mixed in with my: “well hang on a minute,” was: “oh phew,” and that’s how I feel now is the “phew”.’
The radio hosts addressed the news on-air back in August, saying they would drag their listeners ‘kicking and screaming’ to the drive slot with them.
‘You and I have some big news. We have re-signed here at Gold. I don’t want to say “but”, but it’s “and”—there are going to be some changes,’ Amanda said.
‘Brendan and I are going to go to the drive shift… We could have stayed doing breakfast for years. We’ve never fought the hours.’
It was revealed earlier this year, that the duo would be vacating the breakfast slot they had helmed since 2005 for a shift into drive, with Christian O’Connell taking the breakfast reins
‘We’ve spent 20 years with you guys. And this is the thing. We’re going to drag you kicking and screaming with us to drive,’ she continued.
‘We’ve spent every morning with you guys for 20 years, and now we’re going to spend time with you later in the day. We’re really excited about that.’
Amanda went on to say: ‘As long as you guys come with us and listen to us in drive, all is right with the world.’
