Radio host Jackie 'O' Henderson was conspicuously absent from the KIIS FM studios on Tuesday morning, sparking a wave of speculation from her co-host Kyle Sandilands about a potential new romance.
Mystery Absence Sparks On-Air Banter
The 50-year-old media personality called in sick to The Kyle & Jackie O Show, citing cold and flu symptoms. However, her long-time co-host Kyle Sandilands, 54, was quick to offer an alternative theory to their listeners. Sandilands joked that Henderson's absence might be linked to a new 'boyfriend', suggesting she opted to stay in with him rather than nurse an illness.
"No Jackie today everyone," Sandilands announced at the opening of the broadcast. After a producer relayed Henderson's midnight message about fevers, Sandilands quipped, "She must have had the boyfriend over." He proceeded to clarify his remarks, stating, "Now let me clear things up. If you've been listening to this show, Jackie seems to have got herself a fella on the sly."
Co-Hosts Reflect on Keeping Romance Private
Sandilands mused that the reason for the secrecy might be because Henderson genuinely wants this relationship to work out, contrasting it with past romances where he had "piled onto these blokes." Newsreader Brooklyn Ross related to the situation, confessing he had acted similarly when he first began dating his now-husband, Damien Dirienzo.
"I did the same with my husband Damien," Ross said. "I used to come in here on a Monday morning and tell you about all the s***ty behaviour I had over the weekend. But then when you find someone you're actually interested in, you just want to take it as slow as possible."
Looking Back at Jackie 'O's Recent Relationships
Henderson was last romantically linked to former toyboy Jack Tyerman, a 30-year-old tradie. That age-gap romance reportedly fizzled out, partly over mentions of Tyerman in Henderson's memoir, The Whole Truth. Tyerman has since announced his engagement to another woman, Asha Dillon, in a December Instagram post.
Prior to that, Henderson's marriage to ex-husband Lee Henderson ended in 2018. The pair share one daughter, Kitty. On her show, Henderson has previously hinted that a lack of spontaneous romance was a catalyst for the split.
Her unexpected absence and Sandilands' playful teasing have now shifted focus to her current private life, leaving listeners wondering if the popular host is indeed embarking on a new, carefully guarded chapter.
