Ugly Phil
Encyclopedia
Ugly Phil O'Neil is a radio DJ
/announcer
. He was born in the United Kingdom, and lived the majority of his life in Australia. Before adopting the on-air name of Ugly Phil he was known on-air as Phil O'Neil. Phil has hosted the Hot30 Countdown
, Drive at Nova 969, and Evenings at Triple M
several times.
Phil also hosted a National Charts Show across the major and regional markets ("Ugly Phil's Hot Hits") previously known and currently known as The Hot Hits before and after his association with presenting the show. From December 2008 - June 2009, he was the co-host on the breakfast shift of Triple M Sydney
with Sami Lukis
.
(aka, Jackie Last) on Triple M
in Adelaide called "Phil O'Neil's Hot 30". FOX FM
snapped him up later, where he and his wife moved their popular show onto Melbourne's airwaves where it was renamed the Hot 30 Countdown. When the Austereo network decided to syndicate the show nationally, Phil and Jackie O moved to Sydney where the show was broadcast locally on 2Day FM
and across the other 5 major Australian Radio Markets owned by Austereo, FOX FM Melbourne, SA FM Adelaide, B105
Brisbane, NX FM Newcastle, and FM 1047 Canberra.
The Hot 30 would air between 7-10pm Monday to Friday. But on average the show go onto 10.30pm, frustrating the host of the following shift, which was loved by Phil's listeners.
During the Hot 30 between 1998-2000 "Ugly Phil" would often call unaware late night shop attendants at petrol stations and convenience stores and random places, with prank calls. The pranks often entailed using an "Asian accent" ["you eat my dog... Why you eat my dog"] or he would call and the first thing he would say was ["Who are you?...Who are you?"]
Prior to his Hot 30 days, Phil worked at Newcastle's NEW FM!
, before moving back to Australia to host drive on the newly launched Nova 969 in Sydney. Ugly Phil, had the highest rating shift on Nova in the drive timeslot. Ugly Phil left this position around the end of 2002, citing management difficulties.
network - ditching the 'Ugly' name and opting for The Phil O'Neill Show. The program included interviews, prizes and lighthearted talkback - which was a first for the Triple M network. However, the experiment didn't pay off and Ugly Phil's contract was not renewed at the end of 2003 due to falling ratings and another overhaul of the network.
, in the United Kingdom with the Ugly put back onto the front of his name. This program was co-hosted by Rachel New. As of September 2007, Ugly Phil's Breakfast program has ceased, replacing his program with The Morning After starring Tim Shaw and Kate Lawler
, Big Brother (TV series)
3 UK winner, in the Breakfast shift. During the autumn of 2007, Phil could be heard covering at weekends on London's indie station XFM
, leading to him fronting the weekday breakfast show over Christmas and New Year, filling in for Alex Zane
.
, with Sami Lukis
however the show was cancelled in June 2009.
In October 2010, despite Ugly Phil winning the ACRA award, Austereo did not renew Ugly Phil's contract for 2011 and shifted a new show called 'The Sweetest Plum' to the night time slot on Sydney and Melbourne's Triple M.
In December 2010 96fm
Perth announced that Ugly Phil would be co-hosting their breakfast program with Brad "Fitzi" Fitzgerald from January 2011. Unfortunately the show was so boring that most listeners remained asleep and were late for work. Local business leaders complained about the economic impact of having so many staff sleeping in every morning and subsequently, Phil's show was axed.
On Monday 17th October, Ugly Phil joined Central Coast's Star 104.5FM to be apart of drive time with the station
produced program Ground Zero
(1997–1999) co-hosted by Jade Gatt
, Penne Dennison
and Jackie O. He also appeared on SBS's
Pizza
series.
He made a cameo appearance as a radio DJ in the Australian movie Occasional Coarse Language (1998)http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0177061/.
In a recent Stanley Poll, O'Neil was ranked as the most unlikable presenter on air.(9 June).
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
/announcer
Announcer
An announcer is a presenter who makes "announcements" in an audio medium or a physical location.-Television and other media:Some announcers work in television production , radio or filmmaking, usually providing narrations, news updates, station identification, or an introduction of a product in...
. He was born in the United Kingdom, and lived the majority of his life in Australia. Before adopting the on-air name of Ugly Phil he was known on-air as Phil O'Neil. Phil has hosted the Hot30 Countdown
Hot30 Countdown
The Hot30 Countdown, is an Australian radio show hosted by Matty Acton and Maude Garrett. It is broadcast on the Today Network to every state in Australia, following 'The Dirt'....
, Drive at Nova 969, and Evenings at Triple M
Triple M
The Triple M Network is an active rock radio network in Australia owned by media company Austereo, who also own the Today Network.- History :...
several times.
Phil also hosted a National Charts Show across the major and regional markets ("Ugly Phil's Hot Hits") previously known and currently known as The Hot Hits before and after his association with presenting the show. From December 2008 - June 2009, he was the co-host on the breakfast shift of Triple M Sydney
2MMM
2MMM is a radio station broadcasting in Sydney, Australia. Triple M Sydney is part of the Austereo Triple M network and broadcasts on the 104.9 MHz frequency.-The Early Days:...
with Sami Lukis
Sami Lukis
Sami Lukis is an Australian television and radio personality. She appeared on the Nine Network as the weather girl on Today, and for Network Ten on the children's educational program Totally Wild...
.
Early Years - The Hot30 Countdown
In 1993-94 he hosted a nightly program with his now ex-wife Jackie OJackie O (radio host)
Jacqueline Ellen Marie Henderson, better known as Jackie O, is an Australian commercial radio host, actress and television presenter. She is best-known nationally for presenting The Hot Hits, the Hot 30 Countdown, Take 40 Australia and the Kyle & Jackie O on 2Day FM with Kyle Sandilands and for...
(aka, Jackie Last) on Triple M
Triple M
The Triple M Network is an active rock radio network in Australia owned by media company Austereo, who also own the Today Network.- History :...
in Adelaide called "Phil O'Neil's Hot 30". FOX FM
Fox FM
Fox FM may refer to:*Fox FM , a radio station in Melbourne, Australia*Heart Thames Valley, a radio station in the United Kingdom formerly known as Fox FM*Port FM, a radio station in New Zealand...
snapped him up later, where he and his wife moved their popular show onto Melbourne's airwaves where it was renamed the Hot 30 Countdown. When the Austereo network decided to syndicate the show nationally, Phil and Jackie O moved to Sydney where the show was broadcast locally on 2Day FM
2Day FM
Not to be mixed up with Today FM in Ireland.2Day FM is a commercial FM radio station broadcasting in Sydney, Australia, on a frequency of 104.1 MHz, and part of Austereo's Today Network.- Transmission :...
and across the other 5 major Australian Radio Markets owned by Austereo, FOX FM Melbourne, SA FM Adelaide, B105
B105
B105 or B-105 may refer to:*B105 FM , a Mainstream CHR radio station broadcasting out of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia*WUBE, a country music radio station broadcasting out of Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America...
Brisbane, NX FM Newcastle, and FM 1047 Canberra.
The Hot 30 would air between 7-10pm Monday to Friday. But on average the show go onto 10.30pm, frustrating the host of the following shift, which was loved by Phil's listeners.
During the Hot 30 between 1998-2000 "Ugly Phil" would often call unaware late night shop attendants at petrol stations and convenience stores and random places, with prank calls. The pranks often entailed using an "Asian accent" ["you eat my dog... Why you eat my dog"] or he would call and the first thing he would say was ["Who are you?...Who are you?"]
Prior to his Hot 30 days, Phil worked at Newcastle's NEW FM!
Nova 969
After leaving Austereo he worked briefly in the United Kingdom for Kiss 100Kiss 100 London
Kiss is a UK radio station broadcasting on FM and Digital Radio, specialising in hip hop, R&B, urban and electronic dance music. It also broadcasts on DAB Digital Radio around the UK & nationally on Freeview, Sky and TalkTalk TV...
, before moving back to Australia to host drive on the newly launched Nova 969 in Sydney. Ugly Phil, had the highest rating shift on Nova in the drive timeslot. Ugly Phil left this position around the end of 2002, citing management difficulties.
2003: Return to Austereo
In 2003, he signed onto evenings on the Triple MTriple M
The Triple M Network is an active rock radio network in Australia owned by media company Austereo, who also own the Today Network.- History :...
network - ditching the 'Ugly' name and opting for The Phil O'Neill Show. The program included interviews, prizes and lighthearted talkback - which was a first for the Triple M network. However, the experiment didn't pay off and Ugly Phil's contract was not renewed at the end of 2003 due to falling ratings and another overhaul of the network.
2004: Return to the UK
In 2004, it was announced he would front the breakfast shift on the newly licensed Kerrang Radio 105.2Kerrang! 105.2
Kerrang! Radio is a specialist rock music radio station broadcasting to the West Midlands, England. The station's format mixes modern & classic rock with speech programmes targeted at young people and an adult rock audience. Broadcasting on FM in the West Midlands and DAB & Freeview and online,...
, in the United Kingdom with the Ugly put back onto the front of his name. This program was co-hosted by Rachel New. As of September 2007, Ugly Phil's Breakfast program has ceased, replacing his program with The Morning After starring Tim Shaw and Kate Lawler
Kate Lawler
Kate Louise Lawler is an English reality TV personality, DJ, and model. She was the first female winner of Big Brother UK, winning the third season of the reality television show. Since leaving Big Brother, she has worked as a television presenter and personality, a model and as a disc jockey...
, Big Brother (TV series)
Big Brother (TV series)
Big Brother is a television show in which a group of people live together in a large house, isolated from the outside world but continuously watched by television cameras. Each series lasts for around three months, and there are usually fewer than 15 participants. The housemates try to win a cash...
3 UK winner, in the Breakfast shift. During the autumn of 2007, Phil could be heard covering at weekends on London's indie station XFM
Xfm
Xfm is a brand of two commercial radio stations focused on alternative music, primarily indie pop, and owned by Global Radio.-History:Xfm was created in London in 1992 by Sammy Jacob, who later co-founded NME Radio in 2008. Xfm subsequently expanded to a network of four stations; there are...
, leading to him fronting the weekday breakfast show over Christmas and New Year, filling in for Alex Zane
Alex Zane
Alex Zane is an English television presenter and DJ.-Background:Zane was born in Leeds and attended Boston Spa School before going on to study Medicine at University College London, a course which he left after a year, and then Media and Communications at Goldsmiths College.-Stand-up comedy and...
.
July 2008: Triple M Nights
In July 2008 he returned to Australian airwaves hosting a night time show on Triple M Sydney once again. http://www.livenews.com.au/Articles/2008/07/16/Phil_ONeil_hits_Triple_M_with_the_Ugly_stick. When the show commenced on this date, it was given the 6pm to 10pm timeslot. The title for this program is Ugly Phil - It's A Rock Show.December 2008 - June 2009: Triple M Sydney Breakfast
On 1 December 2008, Phil hosted the Sydney Breakfast shift on Triple MTriple M
The Triple M Network is an active rock radio network in Australia owned by media company Austereo, who also own the Today Network.- History :...
, with Sami Lukis
Sami Lukis
Sami Lukis is an Australian television and radio personality. She appeared on the Nine Network as the weather girl on Today, and for Network Ten on the children's educational program Totally Wild...
however the show was cancelled in June 2009.
July 2009 to October 2010: Back To Triple M Nights
After the two week non-ratings period at the end of June 2009, the Ugly Phil and Sami breakfast show did not return. On 30 June 2009, O'Neil made a return to the weekday evenings time slot.In October 2010, despite Ugly Phil winning the ACRA award, Austereo did not renew Ugly Phil's contract for 2011 and shifted a new show called 'The Sweetest Plum' to the night time slot on Sydney and Melbourne's Triple M.
In December 2010 96fm
96fm (Perth radio station)
96fm is a radio station broadcasting in Perth, Western Australia.-History:96fm began broadcasting on 96.1 MHz on August 8, 1980 as Perth's first commercial FM radio station. The first record played at the 4pm launch was Steely Dan's "FM " with Gordon O'Byrne the first live "jock" to air...
Perth announced that Ugly Phil would be co-hosting their breakfast program with Brad "Fitzi" Fitzgerald from January 2011. Unfortunately the show was so boring that most listeners remained asleep and were late for work. Local business leaders complained about the economic impact of having so many staff sleeping in every morning and subsequently, Phil's show was axed.
On Monday 17th October, Ugly Phil joined Central Coast's Star 104.5FM to be apart of drive time with the station
Awards and nominations
He was announced as Commercial Radio's Best Music Personality in 2000.Other media
He appeared briefly on the Network TenNetwork Ten
Network Ten , is one of Australia's three major commercial television networks. Owned-and-operated stations can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while affiliates extend the network to cover most of the country...
produced program Ground Zero
Ground Zero (television show)
Ground Zero was a late night Australian music show on Channel Ten that featured music videos and live appearances. It aired from 1997 to 2001 and was initially directed by Bernie Zelvis and was hosted by Jade Gatt , Ugly Phil and Jackie O.By 1999 the program was no longer filmed in a studio and was...
(1997–1999) co-hosted by Jade Gatt
Jade Gatt
Jade Gatt is an Australian actor who appeared in TV commercials, films and TV shows, and has hosted many Australian TV specials....
, Penne Dennison
Penne Dennison
Penne Dennison is an Australian music and television entertainment presenter.Penne's first role as a television presenter was on WIN television Wollongong. Penne has previously appeared on a national radio program hosted by Barry Bissell, "Barry Bissell’s Weekly Countdown” as an entertainment news...
and Jackie O. He also appeared on SBS's
Special Broadcasting Service
The Special Broadcasting Service is a hybrid-funded Australian public broadcasting radio and television network. The stated purpose of SBS is "to provide multilingual and multicultural radio and television services that inform, educate and entertain all Australians and, in doing so, reflect...
Pizza
Pizza (TV series)
Pizza is an Australian black comedy television series on the Australian television network, SBS. It has also spun off a feature length movie in 2003, and in 2004 released a highlights video/DVD which also included previously unshown footage and a schoolies exposé theatre show entitled "Fat Pizza"...
series.
He made a cameo appearance as a radio DJ in the Australian movie Occasional Coarse Language (1998)http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0177061/.
In a recent Stanley Poll, O'Neil was ranked as the most unlikable presenter on air.(9 June).