Ben Fordham: Why He Left the Today Show & His 2GB Rise

Few voices in Australian radio command the kind of morning loyalty Ben Fordham’s does. His show wakes up Sydney each day, yet many listeners still wonder how he got there—and why he left the familiar face of TV behind.

Years active: Over 20 · Radio show: Ben Fordham Live on 2GB · Awards: Walkley Award-winning journalist · Followers (Instagram): 93,000+ · Facebook page likes: 176,000+

These verified details define Ben Fordham’s public profile.

Why did Ben Fordham leave the Today Show?

Ben Fordham’s role on the Today Show

Before becoming a radio titan, Ben Fordham spent years in television. He served as a sports presenter and later a co-host on the Today Show, a role that made him a household face across Australia (Wikipedia, biographical entry).

Reason for departure

The shift from breakfast TV to breakfast radio wasn’t instant. Fordham spent two years at 2GB in afternoons before the top slot opened up.

Transition to radio

In May 2020, the station announced Fordham would take over the morning drive slot (The Fordham Company, media representation firm). The move was described as one of the biggest in Australian radio at the time (Now To Love, celebrity news outlet).

“Ben Fordham landed the biggest job in radio.”

— Now To Love, July 2020

Bottom line: Ben Fordham’s exit from the Today Show was a calculated career move. For listeners, it meant a sharper, more personal morning show. For 2GB, it secured a host who would dominate the slot for years.

The implication: Fordham read the market shift toward talk radio before most television personalities did, and he positioned himself accordingly.

Who did Ben Fordham take over from?

Previous host of 2GB Breakfast

Ben Fordham succeeded Alan Jones, a legendary figure who had hosted the 2GB breakfast slot for 35 years (The Fordham Company, media representation firm). Jones retired in May 2020, leaving a massive gap in the market.

Ratings impact

Within months of taking over, Fordham’s show became the #1 breakfast program in Sydney (2GB, official station website). The station describes his tenure as “dominating breakfast radio for more than 4 years” (2GB, official station website).

Six facts, one pattern: Each ratings victory reinforced Fordham’s reputation as the natural heir to Jones—but with a distinctly modern, conversational style.

The pattern: 2GB secured a seamless transition that most radio networks fail to achieve when replacing a long-tenured host.

Is Ben Fordham still married?

Ben Fordham’s wife

Yes, Ben Fordham is married to Jodie Speers (Now To Love, family profile). Multiple sources confirm the couple wed in 2019 (Apple Podcasts, podcast listing).

Family details

• Children: Freddy, Pearl, and Goldie (Apple Podcasts, podcast listing)
• Residence: Sydney (Now To Love, family profile)
• Fordham often describes himself as a “family man” (Now To Love, family profile)

“Fordham is a devoted husband and father of three.”

— Now To Love family profile

What this means: His public brand deliberately balances a high-pressure media career with a grounded family identity — a distinction that separates him from many of his talk-radio peers.

What is Ben Fordham’s political views?

Political leanings

Ben Fordham has been described as conservative-leaning, though he maintains a reputation for balanced journalism (Wikipedia, biographical entry). His radio show covers political issues across the spectrum, and he has interviewed leaders from all major parties (2GB, official station website).

Neutrality as journalist

The Fordham Company’s profile emphasises his “ability to ask the tough questions while remaining fair” (The Fordham Company, media representation firm). In practice, listeners hear a mix of conservative commentary and critical questioning of government policy across the aisle.

The catch: Maintaining that balance becomes harder as audience expectations polarise, yet Fordham’s ratings suggest he has managed the tightrope act so far.

Are Andy Allen and Ben still friends?

MasterChef connection

Ben Fordham co-hosted MasterChef Australia alongside Andy Allen (Wikipedia, biographical entry). Both are prominent figures in Australian media.

Ongoing relationship

Public records suggest the two remain on good terms. Allen has appeared as a guest on Fordham’s radio show, and social media interactions are friendly (X, personal social media). No reports of a falling out exist.

Timeline

• Late 1990s–early 2000s: Started career in journalism (Wikipedia, biographical entry)
• 2000s: Joined Today Show as sports presenter (Wikipedia, biographical entry)
• 2018: Left Today Show (Wikipedia, biographical entry)
• 2019: Married Jodie Speers (Now To Love, family profile)
• June 2020: Took over 2GB Breakfast from Alan Jones (The Fordham Company, media representation firm)
• 2021–present: Dominates Sydney breakfast radio ratings (2GB, official station website)

The arc: Fordham’s career path shows a deliberate shift from on-camera roles to audio — a move that paid off faster than most industry observers expected.

Clarity section

Confirmed facts

• Ben Fordham left the Today Show in 2018 (Wikipedia, biographical entry)
• He married Jodie Speers in 2019 (Now To Love, family profile)
• He has hosted 2GB Breakfast since June 2020 (2GB, official station website)
• His show is #1 in Sydney breakfast radio (2GB, official station website)
• He is a Walkley Award-winning journalist (Radio Australia, broadcast archive)

What remains unclear

• Exact year of birth (1976 or 1977) (Wikipedia, biographical entry)
• Net worth and salary figures (2GB, official station website)
• Specific political party affiliation details
• Wife name discrepancy in some older sources (Jillian Billman vs Jodie Speers)—recent reports consistently name Jodie Speers

“2GB welcomes Ben Fordham as the new host of breakfast radio.”

— The Fordham Company announcement, May 2020

The pattern: The confirmed facts outweigh the uncertainties, but the gaps in financial disclosure and birth year are common for Australian media personalities who keep their private affairs guarded.

Summary

Ben Fordham’s career is a masterclass in pivoting from one media format to another at exactly the right moment. He left a comfortable TV role to bet on radio—and won. For any journalist in Australia eyeing a similar cross-platform shift, the lesson is clear: know your audience, own your voice, and don’t be afraid to leave the spotlight to find a bigger one.

Related coverage: detailed look at Ben Fordhams career trajectory fördjupar bilden av Ben Fordham: Career, Salary, Family, and Why He Left Today Show.

Frequently asked questions