Nova radio stars Ben Harvey, Liam Stapleton and Belle Jackson have been sacked.

The network confirmed that the trio, who host the national Late Drive slot, will be finishing up on December 12.

Nova staff received an email from management saying that the final show would serve as ‘a farewell celebration’.

‘Ben, Liam and Belle are a hugely talented team who have delivered excellent results for Nova and developed a unique connection to their audience,’ Brendan Taylor, Nova’s programmer, wrote in the message to staff, per TV Blackbox.

‘They have consistently given their all, and I would like to thank them for being such valued members of the Nova family.’

The trio, who launched their careers at Triple J, shifted to Nova to host Nova Melbourne‘s breakfast show in 2022.

Nova radio stars Ben Harvey (left), Liam Stapleton (right) and Belle Jackson (centre) have been sacked

Nova radio stars Ben Harvey (left), Liam Stapleton (right) and Belle Jackson (centre) have been sacked

They were bumped by Lauren Phillips and Jase Hawkins, who launched a fresh breakfast show on Nova’s 100 FM at the beginning of 2024.

At the time, Media Week revealed that the popular trio only learned they were losing their jobs ‘shortly before’ Lauren and Jase posed for a ‘secret’ photo shoot in the Nova studio.

It comes Nova radio stars Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli and Ryan ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald hinted their long-running breakfast show may be coming to an end.

Fitzy, 48, made the shock admission on their show back in July, saying the co-hosts’ contracts with Nova may not be renewed by the end of the year.

During a discussion about the program’s future, Fitzy said: ‘I don’t think they are being renewed. I’m gonna miss it, but we gotta hang up the mic at some stage.’

The long-running breakfast show premiered in January 2011, with actress Kate Ritchie, 47, joining the programme as co-host in March 2023.

There is insider speculation that Fitzy was bound for drive without sidekick Wippa, 45.

However, there is there’s no suggestion they’ll remain a duo.

The network confirmed that the trio, who host the national Late Drive slot, will be finishing up on December 12

The network confirmed that the trio, who host the national Late Drive slot, will be finishing up on December 12

Ben, Liam and Belle were bumped from their morning slot at the beginning of 2024 by Lauren Phillips and Jase Hawkins (both pictured)

Ben, Liam and Belle were bumped from their morning slot at the beginning of 2024 by Lauren Phillips and Jase Hawkins (both pictured)

Tim Blackwell and Ricki-Lee Coulter are said to be locked in to replace them, but there is a rumour that third co-host Joel Creasey won’t be joining them.

‘Not sure if it was his decision or the network’s decision,’ a source told Daily Mail.

‘But, honestly, he’s got so much on outside of radio with his comedy and TV gigs, I’m not sure how he’s balanced it all.

‘He was the only one based in Melbourne, with Ricki-Lee and Tim in Sydney.’