Veteran ABC broadcaster Red Symons sacked without reason

Veteran broadcaster Red Symons has been dumped from ABC radio after 15 years.

The 63-year-old former musician and television personality told his listeners on Friday morning the show would be his last, and that he had no idea why he was being taken off the air.

‘This will be my last year doing this program on the ABC… Why am I going? They haven’t said and I haven’t asked,’ Symons said on his Melbourne show.

The 63-year-old former musician (pictured) took to the airwaves on Friday morning to announce his departure but admitted he doesn’t even know why he was sacked

His mystery exit from the ABC follows an exhausting year for the Skyhooks guitarist

His mystery exit from the ABC follows an exhausting year for the Skyhooks guitarist

‘Other things have been offered here but I think it’s better to make a clean break.’

Red also thanked his producers and his listeners.

‘I shall miss [producers] Katrina Palmer and Ross Kavanagh, I can pretend that I’m doing this alone but I am not. They make me more interesting than I really am,’ he said.

‘And I shall miss you, dear listener. Thank you.’

His mystery exit from the ABC follows an exhausting year for the ex-Skyhooks guitarist.

In June, Symons apologised for his controversial interview with fellow ABC host Beverley Wang which was slammed as ‘racist’ after he quizzed the Asian-born journalist with a bizarre tirade of questions such as ‘What’s the deal with Asians?’ and ‘Are you yellow?’

The English-born radio host told his listeners the interview had unintentionally come across as racist, and defended his actions by claiming it was ‘not who I am’.

In June, Red (pictured) apologised for his controversial interview with fellow ABC host Beverley Wang which was slammed as 'racist'

In June, Red (pictured) apologised for his controversial interview with fellow ABC host Beverley Wang which was slammed as ‘racist’

And in July Red suffered a fall while walking home from the supermarket and was off air for two months while he recovered.

The host’s shock departure was lamented by a brigade of loyal listeners online, some of whom described Red as ‘irreplaceable’.

‘Gutted to hear Red is leaving ABC Melbourne. He’s irreplaceable,’ ABC journalist Tim Callanan wrote on Twitter.

He began his career with the ABC in 2002 while filling in for maternity leave on the breakfast radio segment before switching to full time in 2003.

Red’s replacement on the early morning ABC show is yet to be announced.  



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