Kyle and Jackie O’s longtime radio offsider has dropped a bombshell.

Peter Deppeler, known on KIIS FM as ‘Intern Pete’, announced on Monday morning that he will be joining Christian O’Connell’s Gold FM breakfast show from May 25.

Pete will be a roving reporter for the show covering events from around the country, and will also serve as a senior producer.

“I’ve known Christian for years,” Pete told news.com.au. “The last couple of months (at KIIS FM) have been a bit crazy, and he (Christian) touched base and said ‘g’day’.

“We started chatting and maybe a month or so ago he broached the idea of ‘would you be interested in perhaps joining the show?’” Pete said.

The offer was a dream come true for Pete, who was unsure of his next move following the demise of The Kyle and Jackie O Show, of which he’d been a huge part for 12.5 years.

Apart from newsreader Brooklyn Ross, Pete was arguably the most well known person from the KIIS FM breakfast show’s supporting cast.

What did Kyle have to say

When asked if he’d received Kyle’s blessing to jump ship to Gold FM, Pete told news.com.au, “I haven’t spoken to Kyle and Jackie since they have been away from ARN, so no is the short answer.”

He’s fairly certain though that Kyle would approve.

“Kyle’s always wanted happiness for me. I hope he’s happy for me,” he said.

What the new boss had to say

Christian O’Connell already has a pretty full team for his Gold FM breakfast show.

There’s Riordan “Rio” Lee, a producer who is heard on air each day, there’s newsreader Patrina Jones, and ex-Today personality Alex Cullen who serves as the show’s sports guru.

But Christian was more than happy to add Pete to the team.

“Pete is one of the most genuinely loved voices in Australian breakfast radio, and he’s chosen this as his next chapter,” the Gold FM star said.

“He’s an extraordinary talent who’s ready to evolve, and I couldn’t be prouder that he’s chosen the Bright Side of the Dial to do it on.”

Pete’s biggest fan

Kyle and Jackie O listeners would be well aware how close Pete was to his mum, Helen, who sadly passed away five years ago from cancer.

Helen was a fan favourite who frequently called into the radio show, and once even auditioned to be a producer on the program.

“Yesterday was Mother’s Day and the first phone call I wanted to make when I agreed to do this was to my mum,” Pete told news.com.au.

“She would have been on a plane straight away, and she never drank but I just know that she would have gone, ‘we’re having a champagne today.’”

The ‘Sydney Play’: Can Pete help Christian’s ratings

The Christian O’Connell Show entered the Sydney market earlier this year, after broadcasting in Melbourne only since 2018.

He replaced Jonesy and Amanda on air, who had been hosting the breakfast show on Sydney’s Gold FM for 20 years.

In the latest round of radio ratings, released in April, The Christian O’Connell Show came equal fourth in the Sydney FM breakfast ratings with a 5.5 per cent audience share.

That’s well behind market leaders KIIS FM (11.7), Smooth FM (10.9) and Nova (9.0).

There will be some who will think that hiring Pete, a much loved Sydney personality, is a ratings play by Christian as he tries to win over the harbour city and convince some of Kyle and Jackie O’s old listeners to give him a go.

But Pete doesn’t agree.

“No, I think he got me for me,” he said. “I think Christian and ARN are putting me there because that’s where I belong, as part of a strong, solid show.”

Pete will farewell the KIIS FM listeners on May 22 before making his Gold FM debut on May 25.

You can listen to The Christian O’Connell Show from 6-9am weekdays on GOLD101.7 in Sydney, GOLD104.3 in Melbourne, and on GOLD DAB+ in Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane