Radio icon faces third drink driving charge amidst tumultuous career
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A prominent figure in Australian radio is facing legal trouble following a recent incident.
The well-known talkback radio host, celebrated for his influential voice and decades of service in the industry, has been charged with a serious offence.
This unexpected development has sparked considerable discussion and concern among listeners and colleagues alike, casting a shadow over an illustrious career.
Adelaide's airwaves have been graced by the voice of Jeremy Cordeaux for nearly six decades, a testament to his enduring presence in the world of talkback radio and television.
However, the esteemed broadcaster has recently found himself on the wrong side of the headlines. Jeremy Cordeaux, a name synonymous with Adelaide's media landscape, is facing legal repercussions following a drink driving charge, marking the third such incident in his long career.
On a fateful evening on November 11 last year, the 79-year-old host was apprehended by police in the car park of Feathers Hotel in the affluent suburb of Burnside, east of Adelaide.
The incident led to a charge of driving with excess blood alcohol after he allegedly recorded a blood alcohol concentration of 0.108.
This figure is more than twice South Australia's legal limit of 0.05, raising serious concerns about road safety and personal responsibility.
The ex-FIVEaa presenter was absent from Adelaide Magistrates Court for a scheduled hearing on Tuesday, September 10.
It was reported that his lawyer, Hugh Woods, informed the magistrate that he required additional time to confer with his client.
‘Your Honour, I'm asking for an adjournment to take final instructions from my client,’ Mr Woods said.
Magistrate Christopher Smolicz postponed the case, scheduling Cordeaux to appear in court in October.
Cordeaux had previously been caught drink driving after attending a Christmas party in 2016.
He had his licence suspended for six months, received a $950 fine, was required to pay $520 in court costs, and a conviction was also recorded.
Cordeaux explained that the 2016 incident occurred because his wife drove to a Christmas party but was unable to drive back home.
‘I decided I would do the chivalrous thing, and that was a very bad thing to have done,’ he said.
He was also charged with the same offence in 2019.
In 2021, he faced another six-month driving ban after admitting to driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.056 on Glen Osmond Rd.
Later that year, Cordeaux was dismissed from his long-standing role at FIVEaa radio station following his on-air dismissal of Brittany Higgins' rape allegations as simply being ‘a silly little girl who got drunk’.
‘I just ask myself why the Prime Minister (Scott Morrison) doesn't call it out for what it is—a silly little girl who got drunk,’ he said at the time.
FIVEaa breakfast host David Penberthy subsequently announced that Cordeaux’s contract had been ‘terminated’.
In an on-air statement, Penberthy apologised to Ms Higgins and retracted his earlier comments.
‘Mr Cordeaux's employment has been terminated, and FIVEaa and Nova Entertainment have immediately taken broader action to ensure this can never happen again,’ he said.
‘The views expressed by Jeremy Cordeaux do not reflect those held by FIVEaa and Nova Entertainment, and we unequivocally withdraw them.’
The termination ended a lengthy career in television and radio across Sydney and Adelaide.
As the spotlight shines on the legal troubles faced by Adelaide talkback radio legend Jeremy Cordeaux, it is clear that high-profile figures in the media industry are not immune to the consequences of their actions.
Similarly, former television personality Andrew O'Keefe is also grappling with legal issues following a recent encounter with the law.
Both cases highlight ongoing challenges within the industry, shedding light on the broader implications for public figures navigating their personal and professional lives.
How do you feel about the responsibility of public figures to set an example? Have you or someone you know been affected by the consequences of drink driving? Let's discuss the importance of accountability and the impact of personal actions on public perception in the comments below.
The well-known talkback radio host, celebrated for his influential voice and decades of service in the industry, has been charged with a serious offence.
This unexpected development has sparked considerable discussion and concern among listeners and colleagues alike, casting a shadow over an illustrious career.
Adelaide's airwaves have been graced by the voice of Jeremy Cordeaux for nearly six decades, a testament to his enduring presence in the world of talkback radio and television.
However, the esteemed broadcaster has recently found himself on the wrong side of the headlines. Jeremy Cordeaux, a name synonymous with Adelaide's media landscape, is facing legal repercussions following a drink driving charge, marking the third such incident in his long career.
Adelaide talkback radio legend Jeremy Cordeaux faces his third drink driving charge. Credit: Facebook / Jeremy Cordeaux
On a fateful evening on November 11 last year, the 79-year-old host was apprehended by police in the car park of Feathers Hotel in the affluent suburb of Burnside, east of Adelaide.
The incident led to a charge of driving with excess blood alcohol after he allegedly recorded a blood alcohol concentration of 0.108.
This figure is more than twice South Australia's legal limit of 0.05, raising serious concerns about road safety and personal responsibility.
The ex-FIVEaa presenter was absent from Adelaide Magistrates Court for a scheduled hearing on Tuesday, September 10.
It was reported that his lawyer, Hugh Woods, informed the magistrate that he required additional time to confer with his client.
‘Your Honour, I'm asking for an adjournment to take final instructions from my client,’ Mr Woods said.
Magistrate Christopher Smolicz postponed the case, scheduling Cordeaux to appear in court in October.
Cordeaux had previously been caught drink driving after attending a Christmas party in 2016.
He had his licence suspended for six months, received a $950 fine, was required to pay $520 in court costs, and a conviction was also recorded.
Cordeaux explained that the 2016 incident occurred because his wife drove to a Christmas party but was unable to drive back home.
‘I decided I would do the chivalrous thing, and that was a very bad thing to have done,’ he said.
He was also charged with the same offence in 2019.
In 2021, he faced another six-month driving ban after admitting to driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.056 on Glen Osmond Rd.
Later that year, Cordeaux was dismissed from his long-standing role at FIVEaa radio station following his on-air dismissal of Brittany Higgins' rape allegations as simply being ‘a silly little girl who got drunk’.
‘I just ask myself why the Prime Minister (Scott Morrison) doesn't call it out for what it is—a silly little girl who got drunk,’ he said at the time.
FIVEaa breakfast host David Penberthy subsequently announced that Cordeaux’s contract had been ‘terminated’.
In an on-air statement, Penberthy apologised to Ms Higgins and retracted his earlier comments.
‘Mr Cordeaux's employment has been terminated, and FIVEaa and Nova Entertainment have immediately taken broader action to ensure this can never happen again,’ he said.
‘The views expressed by Jeremy Cordeaux do not reflect those held by FIVEaa and Nova Entertainment, and we unequivocally withdraw them.’
The termination ended a lengthy career in television and radio across Sydney and Adelaide.
As the spotlight shines on the legal troubles faced by Adelaide talkback radio legend Jeremy Cordeaux, it is clear that high-profile figures in the media industry are not immune to the consequences of their actions.
Similarly, former television personality Andrew O'Keefe is also grappling with legal issues following a recent encounter with the law.
Both cases highlight ongoing challenges within the industry, shedding light on the broader implications for public figures navigating their personal and professional lives.
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