Ross Stevenson (born Ross Campbell; 25 August 1957) is an Australia radio presenter on Melbourne station 3AW. The lighthearted breakfast news and gossip show, ''Breakfast with Ross & Russel'', is one of Australia's most successful radio shows.

Career

He attended Trinity Grammar School, Kew, in Melbourne, where he was Dux of the college. Stevenson's initial career was as a lawyer at Melbourne law firm Darvall McCutcheon and then at Slater & Gordon. In 1985, while still a lawyer, Stevenson began his radio career on community station

3RRR 3RRR (pronounced "Three Triple R", or simply "Triple R") is an Australian community radio station, based in Melbourne. 3RRR first commenced broadcasting in 1976 from the studios of 3ST, the student radio station of the Royal Melbourne Institut ...

where he partnered with fellow lawyer Denis Connell on a show called ''Lawyers, Guns and Money'', a reference from a Warren Zevon song ("Send lawyers, guns and money, the shit has hit the fan").Ross and shine , The Age 30 June 2002. Retrieved 19 April 2013
/ref> Denis Connell was known as "Donoghue", and together as "Donoghue & Stevenson", in reference to one of the most famous negligence cases that every legal studies and law student would have heard about in class. After four years building a cult following at 3RRR Stevenson and Connell were recruited by

3AK 3AK is the call sign of SEN 1116, an earlier the on-air name of a former Melbourne talk-back radio and music station, which, in 2003, leased its licence to sports network SEN 1116. A number of unusual events and precedents throughout the stati ...

and joined by anchorman Dean Banks. In 1990 they crossed to 3AW where they continued to build audience following. Connell was sacked in 1991 by program director Steve Price. For the following 10 years Stevenson and Banks established themselves and their style as a ratings success. In December 2000, Banks decided to retire; again leaving Stevenson to find a new partner. From 2001, John Burns joined Stevenson as co-host. Burns had previously been a regular Friday morning contributor to the show as the character, 'Sir Lunchalot', providing humorous restaurant reviews and tips on dining etiquette.The Interview , The Age 22 June 2006. Retrieved 17 April 2013
/ref> Burns retired in July 2020 and was replaced by

Russel Howcroft Russel Howcroft (born 1965) is an Australian businessman and media personality best known as a panellist on the ABC television program ''The Gruen Transfer''. Howcroft is currently host of '' Breakfast with Ross & Russel'' on 3AW Howcroft grew ...

. ''Breakfast with Ross and Russel'' is the station's top rating program and Stevenson is a highly regarded radio presenter by the public and by many of his peers. He is believed to be Australia's highest paid breakfast broadcaster and in 2011 signed a lucrative eight-year contract with 3AW.

Television

Stevenson is also known for co-writing the comic television series '' The Games'' with John Clarke which starred Clarke, Gina Riley,

Bryan Dawe Bryan John Dawe (born 21 March 1948) is an Australian writer, comedian, political satirist, songwriter, photographer and social activist. He is known predominantly for his long-running collaboration with fellow satirist, John Clarke, which las ...

and Nicholas Bell. ''The Games'' satirised the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (SOCOG). They also co-wrote ''A Royal Commission into the Australian Economy''.

Awards

* 2011 Australian Commercial Radio Awards (ACRA) Winner Best On-air Team – Metro AM (joint winner with on-air partner, John Burns)

Personal life

Stevenson's partner is Sarah Fallshaw and they have a son and a daughter. He has two other sons from a previous relationship. In 1971 at 14 years of age, Stevenson was part of a choir which featured on the Colleen Hewett song "Day By Day" produced by Molly Meldrum. Stevenson is a keen punter, horse-racing enthusiast and owner.Celebs racing off to the bank , Herald Sun 8 November 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2013
/ref>

Interests

* Hawthorn Football Club

References

External links

3AW

The Games

The Games on John Clarke's official website

The Royal Commission on John Clarke's official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stevenson, Ross Radio personalities from Melbourne Writers from Melbourne 3AW presenters 1957 births Living people People educated at Trinity Grammar School, Kew Australian lawyers