Respected journalist Sharnelle Vella is exiting as co-host of ABC Melbourne’s breakfast radio show.
Vella joined the breakfast show alongside former AFL star Bob Murphy in January 2025, just weeks after quitting Channel Seven, where she was a top reporter in the Melbourne newsroom.
Vella, who has been on maternity leave since the birth of her daughter, Eve, in March, was expected to stay on with the ABC in 2027 and return to the co-hosting chair alongside Murphy, a former Western Bulldogs player.
However, five sources with knowledge of her departure, but not authorised to speak publicly, revealed Vella had informed management in recent days that she would like to take a different path.
The sources said ABC Melbourne staff were informed on Thursday that Vella was departing.
Vella’s exit continues the shake-up underway in the local radio market, with Carrie Bickmore and comedian Tommy Little calling time on their Carrie & Tommy national drive show on Wednesday.
They will exit the Hit Network after a decade on air at the end of the year.
Bickmore fought back tears while announcing to listeners, while her co-host Little said it was “certainly not how I wanted it to end”.
Meanwhile, the KIIS drive shift is up for grabs with the Will & Woody drive show, hosted by Will McMahon and Woody Whitelaw, also ending at year’s end.
Vella and Murphy launched their breakfast show in 2025, taking over the highly scrutinised shift from comedian Sammy J.
The pair endured a baptism of fire as their ratings dropped, sparking a storm of media criticism.
In March 2025, Murphy had to apologise to Vella on air for making a “gross” joke that insinuated that she had once worked at Melbourne strip club Spearmint Rhino.
The show made headlines again in April 2025 when Murphy slept through his alarm and missed most of the first hour of the program. Media commentary at the time questioned if the fledgling team would last six months.
The show’s ratings recovered somewhat; however, in March, when Vella went on leave, the ABC’s overall share of 5.4 per cent in Melbourne constituted the largest drop of any station, with its breakfast, afternoon, drive and evening shows all losing share.
Despite this, listeners responded warmly when Vella announced she and her husband, Nicholas Koutrigaros, were expecting their first child after four years of trying and numerous rounds of IVF.
In making the announcement in November last year, Vella described her pending parenthood as a dream come true.
“Our journey to get here hasn’t been easy, but we’re grateful for the support of our loved ones and friends. We hope our story can offer hope to others navigating endometriosis and infertility,” she said.
Richelle Hunt joined ABC breakfast in March 2026 as Vella’s maternity leave cover. Whether Hunt will stay in the role in 2027 is unclear.
Both Vella and the ABC were approached for comment but neither responded.
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