Bust-up puts radio star on leave

By ALAN PERROTT


Morning Madhouse co-host Jason Reeves is on indefinite leave from radio station The Edge's award-winning breakfast team apparently after a bust-up with his husband-and-wife sidekicks.

Reeves' position on the morning radio show is being filled by Mike Puru.

The working relationship between the Jay-Jay Feeney and Dominic Harvey pairing and Reeves has been strained since he began appearing on TVOne's afternoon magazine show Headliners.

An industry insider close to Reeves claimed the final straw came after Reeves began receiving unsolicited text messages. It was claimed jealousy over Reeves' higher public profile played a part in the breakdown.

All parties concerned have refused to comment. The station said Reeves was on leave.

Reeves' agent, Liz Delaney, said her client would remain on leave until an amicable resolution was found.

The Morning Madhouse won the best music and entertainment team award at this year's New Zealand Radio Awards.

It is not the first time telephones have caused problems at The Edge.

In September 2000, the station's drive-time host Iain Stables was convicted and fined $1100 after impersonating a detective from Interpol.

He called Los Angeles police and claimed his co-workers Reeves, Feeney and now C4 host Clark Gayford were trying to enter the United States with kiwi eggs hidden in their "rear cavities". The trio were subsequently held for two hours at LA Airport, questioned and searched and US wildlife protection officers called.