Lauren Phillips calls in a BIG favour from her celebrity mates as radio war with Kyle and Jackie O turns nasty
Kyle and Jackie O bill themselves as the radio show with ‘money, cars and stars’, but their Nova rival Lauren Phillips is determined to keep the stars as far away from KIIS FM as possible.
Phillips, one half of the Jase and Lauren show who KIIS has axed to make way for Kyle and Jackie’s expansion into Melbourne, is telling her celebrity friends not to do any more interviews with the Sydney shock jocks.
Although Phillips (41) already has a comfortable lead over K&J in Melbourne, she wants to take things even further by making her show with Jason ‘Jase’ Hawkins the destination for celebrity interviews.
According to sources, she has begged her “famous friends” to turn down all offers from Kyle and Jackie O and speak exclusively to Nova, while she has a black book that includes A-listers Matt Damon, Zac Efron and Chris Hemsworth.
“She’s asked them to say no to KIIS for the next few months. The plan is to ban Kyle and Jackie O from the Byron Bay set – which she’s a major player in,” an insider said. Daily Mail Australia.
‘If Lauren can get these stars to turn down Kyle and Jackie O, that’s a huge advantage, especially since KIIS prides itself on being home to Hollywood stars.
‘Kyle and Jackie O’ is the only radio show on the market to consistently feature A-list guests.
‘But Lauren’s real connections to Byron Bay’s celebrities could threaten their monopoly if she can convince the Hemsworths and all their friends to boycott KIIS.’
Kyle and Jackie O bill themselves as the radio show with ‘money, cars and stars’ – but their Nova rival Lauren Phillips (pictured with her co-host Jason Hawkins) is determined to keep the stars as far away from KIIS FM as possible
Sources say Phillips, carrying a black book featuring A-listers including Matt Damon, Zac Efron and Chris Hemsworth, “begged her celebrity friends” to turn down all offers from Kyle and Jackie O and speak exclusively to Nova. (Pictured: Kyle Sandilands and Jackie Henderson)
The source revealed that Phillips continued to build new connections with A-listers as she attended star-studded events with her fiancé Paul O’Brien, who flies stars across Australia with his private jet company.
She recently attended the wedding of personal trainer Luke Zocchi, Chris Hemsworth’s best friend and right-hand man.
O’Brien is the director of luxury air charter group AVMIN, which has celebrity clients including Matt Damon and his wife Luciana Barroso, as well as the Hemsworths.
“Lauren has been smart to connect with the Hollywood big shots and I bet she’s going to network like crazy to make these stars ‘friends of the show,'” the source said.
When asked for comment, a spokesperson for Phillips denied that she personally asked her famous friends not to appear on The Kyle and Jackie O Show.
Despite already having a comfortable lead over Kyle and Jackie in Melbourne, Phillips wants to turn things around and make her show the number one destination for celebrity interviews. She is seen second from left at the 2021 Gold Dinner with Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky (together, centre), Luciana Barroso (left) and Liam Hemsworth and Gabriella Brooks (together, right)
“She’s asked them to say no to KIIS for the next few months. The plan is to ban Kyle and Jackie O from the Byron Bay set – where she’s a major player,” an insider said. Phillips is pictured in Byron Bay with her friend Luciana Barroso, wife of actor Matt Damon
Phillips is bonding with A-listers as she attends celebrity events with her fiancé Paul O’Brien (second left), who flies stars across Australia with his private jet company
Phillips meets A-listers at the races including Pia and Patrick Whitesell (centre)
Phillips was a guest at the Hemsworths’ famous “white party” in May 2021, which was attended by a Who’s Who of Byron Bay’s elite, consisting of Australian and American celebrities who live in the NSW coastal city full- or part-time. (Pictured: Guest poses for a group photo)
Phillips is seen center left with Elsa Pataky (left) and Luciana Barroso (center right)
Chris Hemsworth surprised Phillips on the radio when she was a weather presenter for Weekend Today in September 2020
Jase and Lauren’s radio show took ultimate revenge last month by being crowned the most listened to morning radio show in Melbourne.
“The battle lines have been drawn and at this point Melbourne are not exactly impressed with what Kyle and Jackie O have delivered. These small victories can actually mean something,” the source added.
Jase and Lauren took home the coveted number one spot in the fifth GFK radio survey for 2024. The audience grew by 0.3 points and rose to a share of 9.9 percent. This gives it a clear lead over Kyle and Jackie O, which lagged considerably behind with a share of 6.1 percent.
Despite initial hopes that the provocateurs at KIIS FM would repeat their Sydney success with Melbourne listeners, the duo are only the city’s fifth most listened to morning show.
O’Brien (center) runs the luxury aviation charter group AVMIN, which has celebrity clients including Matt Damon and his wife Luciana Barroso, as well as the Hemsworths