Former Nova stars Ben Harvey and Liam Stapleton have spoken out about their brutal axing from the network and subsequent gagging.
The network revealed in September that the Late Drive hosts Ben Harvey, Liam Stapleton, and co-host Belle Jackson would not have their contracts renewed.
Following the announcement, rival Australian Radio Network (ARN) confirmed in October, that Ben and Liam would take the reins of the breakfast show, with Belle as producer, on KIIS FM Adelaide, formerly Mix 102.3.
While their last day on air was supposed to be December 12, after news of the ARN show broke, they were kicked off air immediately, with their final Nova show broadcast on October 24.
Speaking to News Corp, the popular duo revealed that they were surprised to learn that Nova had enacted a non-compete clause in their contract – effectively gagging them from the airwaves.
The non-compete clause meant that Ben and Liam were barred from broadcasting at another station for six months.
Former Nova stars Ben Harvey and Liam Stapleton have spoken out about their brutal axing from the network and subsequent gagging
Australian Radio Network (ARN) confirmed, in October, that Ben and Liam would take the reins of the breakfast show, with Belle as producer, on KIIS FM Adelaide. The popular duo revealed that they were surprised to learn that Nova had enacted a non-compete clause in their contract – effectively gagging them from the airwaves
‘We didn’t think they would, but then they did,’ Liam told the publication.
Despite the pair’s shock, Liam added that it’s all water under the bridge.
‘We’re here now [at KIIS 1023] and we’re ready to give it a red hot crack,’ he said.
Ben added that the enforced time away from the mic had given the pair a fresh perspective.
‘I think it does make you more grateful that you get to do the job that we do,’ he said.
‘It’s pretty unbelievable that our job is to come in five days a week and talk to each other like that.’
News of the trio’s Nova sacking emerged in October, with staff receiving an email from management stating the final show would serve as ‘a farewell celebration’.
‘Ben, Liam and Belle are a hugely talented team who have delivered excellent results for Nova and developed a unique connection to their audience,’ Brendan Taylor, Nova’s group programming director wrote in the message to staff, per TV Blackbox.
!['We didn't think they would, but then they did,' Liam told the publication. 'We’re here now [at KIIS 1023] and we’re ready to give it a red hot crack,' he said](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2026/03/30/23/107537777-15692551-_We_didn_t_think_they_would_but_then_they_did_Liam_told_the_publ-a-1_1774908929020.jpg)
‘We didn’t think they would, but then they did,’ Liam told the publication. ‘We’re here now [at KIIS 1023] and we’re ready to give it a red hot crack,’ he said
Ben added: ‘I think it does make you more grateful that you get to do the job that we do,’ he said. ‘It’s pretty unbelievable that our job is to come in five days a week and talk to each other like that’
‘They have consistently given their all, and I would like to thank them for being such valued members of the Nova family.’
Ben and Liam kicked off their radio careers in Adelaide on community station Fresh 92.7.
In 2016, they took the reins from Matt Okine and Alex Dyson as the co-hosts of Triple J’s breakfast show.
The pair returned to Adelaide in 2020 to host Nova 91.9’s breakfast show before relocating to Melbourne in early 2023.
They were bumped by Lauren Phillips and Jase Hawkins, who launched a fresh breakfast show on Nova 100 at the beginning of 2024.
At the time, Media Week revealed the popular trio only learned they were losing their jobs ‘shortly before’ Lauren and Jase posed for a ‘secret’ photo shoot in the Nova studio.
