Royal prank DJ wants to return to radio

Radio DJs Michael Christian, left, and Mel Greig appear during an interview on Australia's Channel Nine over the infamous and ultimately tragic royal prank phone call. Photo / AP

Australian DJ Mel Greig has told a radio industry conference in Britain she wants to get back behind the microphone and she's prepared to move to the UK if that's what it takes.

Greig prank called the hospital treating the Duchess of Cambridge in 2012 and subsequently suffered from depression after the nurse who fell for the hoax took her own life.

But the radio host realised she was ready to return to the airwaves when she picked up a microphone at her engagement party earlier this year.

"When I held that microphone I realised I did want to return to media," the DJ told a 150-strong audience at the Radio Festival 2014 in Manchester on Tuesday.

"When I held it and felt so comfortable that's when I thought, 'No, this is what I've always known, this is what I've done, it's such a powerful medium to get our messages across, I don't want to give this up'."

Greig said that broadcasting wasn't a job but a passion and she'd be a wiser announcer after a tough two years on the sidelines.

Asked if she would move to the UK the DJ replied: "It's beautiful here so absolutely I'd love to move here if the opportunity came up."

Greig later told Australian reporters she wasn't in discussions with any networks "at the moment".

She has a regular slot on breakfast TV in Australia but otherwise is "being patient with it and hoping the right opportunity comes up".

Greig and co-host Michael Christian rang Kate Middleton's hospital in December 2012 posing as the Queen and Prince Charles.

Jacintha Saldanha, who transferred the call to the Duchess's ward, was found dead a few days later.

English broadcaster Daisy McAndrew began Tuesday's on-stage interview by asking Greig why she was appearing in England now.

Critics accuse the DJ of playing the victim to rebuild her own career - but the Australian insists that's not the case.

"We need to see what we can learn from a tragic situation," the 32-year-old said.

"I'm hoping that even if one person walks out of this room and it changes their mindset the next time they go to do something that might affect someone, then my job is done."

Greig also openly discussed a stalker who's been harassing her for 18 months.

The abuse started in early 2013 as the DJ was having surgery for endometriosis.

"I was convinced he would find out I was in hospital and would start prank calling the nurses," Greig said.

"I understand mental health better (now) but I thought I'd have nurses potentially committing suicide if they were harassed because of me being in hospital."

Endometriosis can affect fertility and Greig convinced herself "because I took a mother (Ms Saldanha) now I don't deserve to be a mother".

"That's not the case," she said.

"But I am going to have difficulties being a mother. Is that karma? Possibly."

On the issue of internet trolling the DJ said, "You really need to ignore them but that's too hard".

So instead Greig came up with two fictional characters she imagines are behind the hate: beer-guzzling, celibate "Old Mate" and an unwashed "Cat Lady".

"Trolls are not real people, we can't see them as that," Greig said.

"A lot of them have their own issues and that's why they attack us. Try your hardest to not let trolls get to you. For me the fictional characters work."

- AAP