Sophie Monks Leaving 2DayFM Breakfast Show

Sophie Monk is leaving the ailing 2DayFM breakfast show “Jules, Merrick & Sophie.” The 34-year-old radio host newbie has decided not to renew her one-year contract with Southern Cross Austereo.

According to the Confidential, Monk’s management confirmed that it gave notice to Southern Cross Austereo, which owns 2DayFM, on her behalf. She joined the network in January with Jules Lund and Merrick Watts after long-time DJs Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O left the station for rival KIIS FM.

Apparently, Monk has been receiving offers from outside SCA, and her decision to leave the show was prompted by SCA’s procrastination with its plans for 2015.

“We gave notice on Sophie’s recently after she carefully re-evaluated her position on the breakfast team,” Nick Fordham of Fordham Company management told the Web site. “She has enjoyed the role but felt she needed to move on and seek new challenges.”

She may be out of the morning program after a couple of months, but there are still plans for her to work in other roles.

“SCA readily acknowledges Sophie’s talents,” Fordham said.

SCA announced the news on its blog on Saturday, saying, “Soph has let us know that she’s not up for the early starts anymore.”

“Sophie has resigned from breakfast. Jules and Merrick are both aware of her decision. We’re all completely comfortable with her position,” SCA Head of Content Craig Bruce said.

Watts is believed to be at the end of his contract as well, while Lund has allegedly another year.

Monk’s departure follows Mel B’s exit from the show three months prior. There have been talks about Hamish Blake and Andy Lee taking over the breakfast show in 2015 in an attempt to reclaim the network’s rating spot at the top. Since the exit of “The Kyle and Jackie O” show, the network has struggled to take a decent share of listeners.