July 9th 2024.
The Ray Hadley Morning Show has once again secured the top spot in Australia's morning show ratings, making it the 158th time in a row. This is an incredible feat for the show's host, the iconic broadcaster Ray Hadley, who has been dominating the airwaves for the past two decades. When asked about his thoughts on this milestone, Hadley humbly tells 9News that he has no plans to celebrate. In fact, he's already focused on his next tasks - calling the State of Origin decider next week and then leaving for Paris to cover the Olympic Games. With such a busy schedule, there's little time for Hadley to reflect on his achievements, but he sees that as a good thing. He believes in just keeping going and not dwelling on past successes.
Hadley, who is 69 years old, first topped the Radio 360 Survey ratings in 2004, just two years after joining 2GB. Since then, his show has maintained its position as the number one morning show. Hadley considers this 20-year milestone to be one of his greatest career achievements, alongside calling Cathy Freeman and Ian Thorpe's Olympic wins in 2000 and being given the go-ahead to call his first race by legendary commentator Johnny Tapp in 1984. But when asked about the secret to his success, Hadley insists that there is none. His only advice is to be yourself, a lesson that his mentors, like Gary O'Callaghan, instilled in him from the start of his career. Hadley recalls being told to show his emotions - laugh when happy, cry when sad, and get angry when angry. He also learned the importance of showing up before everyone else, a lesson he took to heart by working on public holidays and even Christmas Day for many years.
Hadley's hard work and dedication have undoubtedly paid off, but it hasn't come without sacrifices. He admits that his ambition and drive have affected his personal life and his four children, Daniel, Emma, Sarah, and Laura. He acknowledges that they have been the "non-participating victims" of his ambition, and if given the chance, he would do things differently. When he first started in the industry in 1982, he was consumed by his ambition and didn't have the balance that many people have in today's world. However, despite the missed holidays and time away from his family, Hadley's children are still immensely proud of him. His wife, Sophie Baird, has also been a pillar of support, showing him a "special kind of loyalty" throughout his career. Nowadays, Hadley makes more time for his family, including his seven grandchildren, who he refers to as "Ava, Noah, Ella Rae, Lola, Tommy, Remi, and Milla." Some of the older kids understand that their "Poppy Ray" works on the radio, but his many awards and achievements often go over their heads. And Hadley is perfectly content with that. He hopes that in the future, his family will simply remember him as a good "pop" who was always there for them, regardless of his successful career.
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