Kyle Sandilands has surprised his fans by announcing that he is returning with a brand-new show. The KIIS FM star, currently embroiled in a legal dispute with his former network ARN after the cancellation of The Kyle and Jackie O Show in February, shared the news on the Kyle Sandilands Fans page on Instagram late Wednesday night.
'Let me tell you a little secret... shhhh, don't tell anyone,' the 54-year-old began. 'I'm working on a new project and all will be revealed soon. I'm coming back guys, bigger than ever!'
Sandilands did not disclose the nature of the project; however, he was seen seated in what appeared to be a recording studio, with a sign in the background reading 'Kyle Sandilands Live.' The shock jock then addressed his long-time manager Bruno Bouchet, thanking him for standing by him despite 'not being paid.'
'That's Bruno. He's paid to say that, well actually he's not paid at the moment!' Sandilands said after Bruno remarked that Kyle looked well. Kyle explained that he has been focusing on his health and is on a new diet consisting of grapes and boiled eggs for breakfast.
The caption on the Instagram Reel read: 'EXCLUSIVE: Kyle has a little message for the fans! Returning to the airwaves? Podcast? We can't wait!' A telling clue in the sign behind Kyle showed an image of the radio host alongside the words 'Kyle Sandilands Live,' implying that the new show will go live to air. Sandilands did not specify when the project would launch.
Legal Battle with ARN
This announcement comes amid reports that Sandilands is open to a settlement with ARN as court dates loom for both him and former co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson. A source told news.com.au that Sandilands is eager to avoid a prolonged trial and would consider a 'reasonable' offer from his former employer.
'If there was a reasonable figure that made him feel like he didn't get totally f***ed over… yeah,' the source said. 'He is a righteous guy, and he could just go, 'Let's take this to the end', but no one loves the idea of court.' The source added that beyond the prospect of a lengthy court battle, Sandilands was 'not interested' in hearing any more 'unflattering' claims about him, such as those contained in Henderson's recent statement of claim.
The financial burden of the court action could also influence a decision to resolve the matter quickly. 'Kyle and Jackie are playing with their own money here,' the source said. The publication also claimed that Sandilands could be open to returning to his old KIIS FM breakfast timeslot if a deal could be reached with ARN.
Potential Co-Host Speculation
The source added that Sandilands is looking ahead to future opportunities and potential radio co-hosts if Henderson is not interested in reviving their partnership. With speculation swirling, the source claimed that Sophie Monk is the 'logical next step' for Sandilands. 'When Kyle pops back on-air, I wouldn't be surprised if Sophie is the co-host,' they said. 'She is fantastic, lovely with everyone and very giving on-air.'
Countersuit Filed by ARN
The court battle between Sandilands and ARN continued this week. Australian Radio Network (ARN), through its subsidiary Commonwealth Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), filed a countersuit against both Sandilands and Henderson last Tuesday. They allege that Sandilands created a workplace so toxic that Henderson refused to ever work with him again.
However, a source close to Sandilands told news.com.au that he was never made aware of any complaints or official warnings about his behaviour. 'I could not be more clear, there was never anything said to Kyle about his behaviour towards Jackie – not a single thing,' the source said.
A key component of ARN's statement of claim is a letter from management sent to Sandilands on 12 December 2025, in which the shock jock was told to comply with the network's safe work and code of conduct policies. However, the source claimed that the letter was sent in relation to the Australian Communications and Media Authority handing down breach findings against the Kyle & Jackie O show in October 2025. 'That was about ARN wanting to get on the front foot and putting together content guidelines, so there wouldn't be anything further from ACMA,' the source said. 'It was nothing to do with Jackie.'
ARN's statement of claim also references complaints both Henderson and her manager Gemma O'Neill made to ARN management about Sandilands' alleged bullying, but there is no direct reference to these complaints being relayed to Sandilands. The source added that Sandilands' legal team was trawling through 'hundreds of hours' of the Kyle & Jackie O show for examples of arguments between the pair that were promoted by the network, bolstering the suggestion in Sandilands' statement of claim that the 'banter and tension' between the duo was a 'central dynamic' to the show.
ARN's Allegations
ARN's statement of claim argues that the now-infamous February 20 on-air clash that saw both Henderson and Sandilands' contracts terminated was not an isolated incident. The company claims Sandilands' 'destruction of his relationship with Ms Henderson' was the culmination of 'a persistent course of workplace bullying and harassment of Ms Henderson of which she had complained' – conduct it says amounted to a serious breach of his contract.
However, the source suggested that these incidents represented a failing on the part of ARN, given that Sandilands was reportedly never made aware of any alleged breaches of conduct. 'If they're pointing out all these apparent 'horrific' things Kyle did, isn't that a failing on ARN's behalf that this is the first time Kyle has heard about their issues with his demeanour?' they said.
As the legal battle continues, the source added that Sandilands is still open to a settlement with ARN but is prepared to 'spend years fighting' if necessary.
