Alan Jones (Image: ADH.TV)

After hanging up the microphone, Alan Jones is returning to radio after agreeing to host a daily segment at a small community radio station. 

Earlier this week, Central Coast radio station COAST FM 96.3 announced the radio shock jock would be joining the Gosford-based station to host an “Ask Alan” segment each weekday to be aired twice a day, at the invitation of Rich Lister and recently announced patron John Singleton.

“The story is very simple: John Singleton and I have been mates for 1000 years,” Jones told Crikey.

“And he, apparently, has become a patron of this Central Coast [radio station].

“He’s had a bee under his bonnet for years — I think legitimately — about the fact that the Central Coast is ignored. I mean, they get nothing. So, he asked, would I do something one day a week, obviously for free.”

Jones said the format of the show, which he’s so far done twice already, sees callers phone in with questions on a range of topics, and he answers them. The former talkback titan’s motivation, he said, is “simply to give a voice” to people on the Central Coast “who don’t have a voice”. 

After a long, influential and controversial career in radio, Jones left 2GB in May 2020. Not long after, he was recruited by Sky News Australia to host a heavily promoted flagship nightly program.

But amid dismal ratings, Jones was dumped by Sky News Australia in 2021. After, he embarked on a new venture at Australian Digital Holdings (ADH), an online conservative video network that has slowly expanded since, partnering to livestream CPAC Australia and featuring videos from conservative figures such as Lyle Shelton and Daisy Cousens. 

Jones said his pro bono work with COAST FM, as well as taking up another recent guest spot alongside former 2GB talk show host Chris Smith, won’t take away from his efforts with ADH, which he said still has his full focus. 

TNT Radio announced in February that the controversial radio hosts would take up a shared slot on air every Monday from about 3pm. Smith, after being sacked from 2GB and Sky News for alleged “inappropriate” drunken behaviour towards women, has taken up a permanent slot on TNT on weekdays.

“I’m not one to dance on people’s graves. Chris was going through difficult times; he got this gig. To be honest with you, I don’t even know who they are. But he got this gig with them, and I do a slot with him — unpaid,” Jones said. “It was fun with him on Monday.”

Speaking on air about Jones’ arrival at COAST FM, Singleton said he hopes the broadcaster’s profile will help challenge local government.

“I think we’ve become so frustrated because after 20, 30 years, we’ve had a lot of success but we’ve had little successes up here changing the attitude of the government, opposition. In the end, it’s just politics. We just don’t count,” he told the station. 

COAST FM station manager Sarah Warry said they’ve been receiving questions for Jones to answer from the station’s listeners. 

“Donating his time to do this, volunteer, at a community radio station is a big get. It started on Monday and people are already emailing in,” she told Crikey.

Singleton praised Jones’ “vast intellect and talent” as making him the perfect person to draw national attention to the issues affecting the Central Coast.

“Who better to get the answer, know it or find it? There’s one thing Alan will do, he won’t let us down. He will turn up with the correct answer. And, yes, there are some difficulties with Alan Jones. He’s a super intellect. He has some eccentricities.”