ECR welcomes new breakfast show co-host after Keri’s departure

East Coast Radio (ECR), KZN’s No.1 Hit Music Station, has announced the addition of Carmen Reddy to the Breakfast team.

This comes after the radio station announced Keri Miller’s departure in March.

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CARMEN REDDY JOINS DARREN MAULE AND SKY TSHABALALA ON ECR

A proud native of KwaZulu-Natal, Reddy brings with her a wealth of experience in radio and journalism that spans over 15 years.

Reddy’s journey with the team began a month ago when she joined current Breakfast host Darren Maule and co-host Sky Tshabalala as a Friday guest co-host.

The chemistry and energy she brought to the show were undeniable, and the response from the listeners was overwhelmingly positive. It was clear that Reddy was the perfect fit for the team.

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ECR’s Programming Manager, Travis Bussiahn, believes the addition of Reddy to the East Coast Breakfast team will further strengthen the already hugely successful show.

“Carmen’s broad experience, inquiring mind, and passion for radio is truly exceptional. We couldn’t be more excited to have her come home, join the station, and contribute her talent and caliber to our already incredible line-up,” he said.

The official announcement of Reddy’s appointment was made on Monday, 10 July, during an on-air segment with Darren and Sky, who called Reddy to let her know that they would like her to become a permanent co-host.

In true Darren and Sky fashion, they then left ECR’s headquarters in Umhlanga and headed to Johannesburg to personally bring Reddy back to Durban.

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BREAKFAST TEAM TO EMBARK ON ROAD TRIP WITH NEW CO-HOST

Over the next few days, the Breakfast team will embark on an exciting road trip with their new co-host in tow. They will broadcast from various locations along the route as they journey home together.

The road trip presents an excellent opportunity for the team to get better acquainted with Reddy and to allow her to reconnect with the beauty of her home province.

Bussiahn emphasised that while Reddy is a fresh face, the station remains committed to retaining KwaZulu-Natal’s favourite radio personalities.

“As a station, we take pride in recruiting and nurturing the best talent South Africa has to offer. We only make changes to our line-up when necessary, and this time around, we’re keeping KZN’s favourites.”

KERI MILLER’S DEPARTURE

Following her exit from ECR, Keri Miller set the record straight on why she left.

During a Facebook live, the yoga instructor said that she no longer felt a part of the team, adding that it had become harder to overlook the sexual innuendos on the show.

“I felt bullied, I have to say that. I felt very bullied. I felt victimised. I felt picked on. I felt not heard,” Miller.

“For the first time, work began to feel like work,” Miller said.

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Miller explained that she and Darren had conflicting views on many topics; including religion and Covid-19, which she says made it hard for them to get along.

“It was suggested that me, him and Sky sort it out, with Sky almost being asked to be a mediator. I just said on that day that I don’t think it’s appropriate for Sky to mediate for us. It’s not him. Sky’s not a fighter. Anyway, that day I got suspended for insubordination because I didn’t stay,” Miller said.

After legal advice and ECR hiring an external investigator, Miller said that management told her it was Darren Maule’s show and her contract was terminated.

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A post shared by Keri Miller (@kerimillersa)

Responding to Miller’s allegations, ECR said it always engaged Miller supportively and tried repeatedly to part ways with her respectfully and amicably.

“Whilst we acknowledge that this has been an emotional journey for her, we differ on many points of ‘fact’ as alleged in her statement, and the context around her contract termination. What we agree on is that there was a breakdown in the on-air and off-air relationship with her co-host, and the station provided extensive interventions for many years in an attempt to work around and through these interpersonal issues,” ECR said.

The station also said there was no evidence of bullying.