Jacaranda 94.2 announces new breakfast team

Media personality Rian van Heerden will host the breakfast show on Jacaranda 94.2 from January 2012.

The station also confirmed that Rian is joined by television personality Ashley Hayden who makes her debut on breakfast radio. Also on the show will be popular Jacaranda presenters Dianne Broodryk, who is the heart of Good Morning Angels and presents the news, and Robbie Kruse will man the sports desk.

As the current host of Jacaranda 94.2’s “That Show” on weekday evenings, Rian has built a solid reputation as a well-informed entertainer on radio and television during his 20-year broadcasting career.  “My relationship with Jacaranda started many years ago and I’m taking this new role with great excitement. I’m looking forward to taking my relationship with the listeners to the next level,” said Rian.

Rian’s career started at Tuks FM in 1992. He then hosted the Punt FM breakfast show between 1998 and -2000 whilst at the same time launching a television career with Kyknet. Rian also hosted the drive show on OFM for 2 years before returning to Gauteng.

Ashley Hayden started her media career at M-Net at the tender age of 20. She followed this up with a successful spell on radio at the same time as presenting “Bon Voyage”. Today she is one of the most recognisable faces and voices in broadcast media, especially after her appearance in Survivor South Africa. Ashley says she is looking forward to being part of Jacaranda 94.2’s listener’s lives every morning.

Station Manager, Kevin Fine, said: “I must thank Frankie Du Toit and the team of the Frankie and Co. Morning Show who, in the face of adversity, have steadied the ship and created great radio on Jacaranda breakfast for the past three months. They really pulled together to produce magical moments and to their credit, our listeners and loyal fans have been consistently entertained and informed. Frankie will return to “The Workzone” between 10am to 1pm on weekdays where he will continue to bring his particular brand of fun to the day”.

 He further added: ““Rian and Ashley have something unique to offer, and teamed with Di and Robbie, I have the utmost confidence that our audience will quickly grow to know and love the team and the show.”

Jacaranda 94.2 Programme Manager Neil Johnson said: “The next step is for the team to get together in a series of dry runs and work on the features that will make this the number one show on South Africa’s airwaves. We will let you know as soon as we’ve got more detail to tell you. I have no doubt that this show has the right balance of experience and energy to make it unique and compelling.”

Weekdays at Jacaranda will now therefore start with Rian and his team, followed by Frankie Du Toit in the first session of the Workzone from 10 AM – 1 PM, after which Barney Simon will rock the second session till 4 PM, leading up to the Martin Bester Drive from 4 – 7 PM. Julio Garcia will keep you company in the evenings from 7 – 10 PM.